I sat upright on my knees at the centre of the living room. The grey-brown carpet complimented the beige walls, and there were several pieces of furniture and decoration that felt almost antique to me-since they'd been in style about 15 years ago. I particularly felt that the strangely carved wooden flowerpot resting on the table by the reclining chair was a bit tacky.
Don't get me wrong, I don't particularly care about interior design, I was just looking for any excuse to direct my gaze away from my mother's glare of justified righteous fury.
My mother, Cerulean Hughs, was a tall woman in her thirties with thick deep blue hair cut to a short ponytail. Her eyes were a bright amber yellow, the same as my own, and she was wearing the same combo of grey sweater and blue jeans that she wore in nearly every memory I had of her.
She was also wearing a rather nasty scowl at the moment, but I was trying not to let that bother me too much.
"So." She finally spoke, her words frosty like the morning snow at the top of silver. "Would you care to explain where you two were, Cyan?" Her voice was hollow, with barely a hint of genuine interest. She already knew where I'd been, she just wanted me to admit it.
"I was in the woods..." I began quietly.
"You were in the woods." She cut me off like a quick claw Ice beam to a defenceless Pidgey. "Pray tell, which woods were these?"
"The woods you told me not to-"
"The woods I EXPLICITLY told you NOT to go to?"
"...Yes mother."
The silence was deafening as I avoided meeting my mother's eyes like a Tropius averting it's gaze in the depths of a blizzard to protect itself.
Finally, my mother let out a deep sigh.
"All boys leave home some day, it said so on TV." She started slowly. "But not yet, you're not ready for the world outside..."
I let my gaze drift up, finally letting myself take in the expression plastered on my mother's face. My eyes met hers, and I could tell that more than anything, she was concerned about me. She was biting her lip and averting her own gaze, but she genuinely cared for me.
"You... You've really been interested in battling lately, haven't you?" She continued, voice wavering slightly.
"That's right." I answered stiffly. "I need to train with Yeller, to get stronger."
My mother closed her eyes, for a moment, an expression I could only read as frustration crossing her face, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by a motherly smile. "I never wanted the life of a Battler for you... But if you're this determined, I can find you some training partners in the village, okay? You don't need to be sneaking away at night..."
I stayed quiet.
"Cyan. I need you to promise you won't run away anymore."
I nodded quietly. "...Alright, I promise."
My mother let out a heavy sigh, then waved a hand to dismiss me. "Alright, you can go to bed now. I'll sort some training partners in the morning..."
I escaped from the tense living room atmosphere to the relaxing ambience of my bedroom, where a small Rattata was waiting for me, looking a bit sheepish. ...How did it go? His eyes asked, looking a tiny bit sorry.
"It went fine, but don't run out on me next time." I answered, jokingly chopping the mammal on it's furry yellow head.
I flopped down on the bed, letting my gaze drift over to the window I'd been using to escape from my mother's notice. It was now locked with a padlock, preventing me from opening it far enough to get outside. It probably wouldn't be impossible to pick or break the lock and continue using it as an escape route, but...
After seeing my mother's reaction, I didn't really want to anymore.
"Looks like that's the last of our night-time training buddy." I sighed. "We'll just have to grow stronger at a regular pace."
I closed my eyes, and slowly, I drifted off to sleep...
...
The bright yellow morning rays shone peacefully through my bedroom window, softly rousing me from my sleep. I yawned and stretched as I got out of my bed, steeling my will for the training ahead of me.
When I went downstairs with Yeller, I noticed my mother was seated the kitchen table, slowly and gracefully tracing her pen across a piece of paper. Whatever she was writing it seemed important, so I made an effort to tread quietly as I crossed the carpet so as not to disturb her.
"Good morning Cyan." She spoke suddenly, with a dull tone implying that her full attention wasn't focussed on me. "Not trying to sneak away again, are we?"
"Good morning Mother..." I answered hesitantly. "You seemed to be doing something important so I didn't want to bother you... Don't worry, I won't go to the woods anymore."
The scribbling noises of the pen came to an abrupt halt, and she turned to look at me. Her eyes were appraising, scanning for traces of deceit. There were dark rings under her eyes.
"M-mother? Are you alright?"
"...Well, when did you get so mature?" She mused quietly, turning her head back to the letter. Slowly, the scratchy scribbling sounds resumed. "I'll be alright dear. Just writing some important letters."
I opened my mouth to speak, but I found that no words came out. After a few long moments of silent, I quietly voiced my acceptance. "...Okay mother."
Yeller and I left the room without another word.
The rest of our morning was largely uneventful, with the usual mixture of morning exercise and being stared at by the town's populace. The other kids all seemed to think I was crazy for spending my morning going for a town-wide sprint instead of playing, but I wasn't about to stop just because I was alienated.
The sun was reaching it's peak in the sky as Yeller and I took a brief break in the shade of a particularly large tree by the sandy park we'd been using for training. Just as I was about to get back to teaching Yeller new manoeuvres, I spotted an unexpected familiar face.
The park was filled with around ten to fifteen kids, but they all made way for the scowling figure who approached me with Pokeball in hand. His chestnut hair rose almost like a spike at his forehead and he wore a purple t-shirt and jeans. His silver eyes glowered at me with an intense disgust.
Blue.
Whispers and murmurs could be heard all throughout the park. Even though we were all still young, we were yet old enough to have started forming cliques and groups of 'popular' kids. Blue definitely fell into the latter group, largely owing to a combination of his overbearing attitude and his status as grandchild of the Professor Oak.
"I can't accept it!" Blue shoved a Pokeball inches from my face, issuing a declaration. "You and I are battling, for real this time!"
The murmurs intensified as I stood in dumbfounded silence.
"Uh... Sure, but what can't you accept?"
"You were trouncing all around the Lab yesterday. Even... Green was spending all her time with you. There's no way that a punk like you is worthy of being a part of the program!" Blue responded with a bunch of meaningless nonsense.
"I don't really know what you're talking about..." I tried to de-escalate the situation, raising my hands in a gesture of surrender, but the murmurs and whispers only grew louder and more fervent.
Blue gave me an expression of disgust, as if to say. Are you really this stupid?
I was pretty sure I could have figured that one out even without Eye to Eye.
"Shut up Loser! If you're worthy of my time, prove it with Battle!"
The crowd of children went silent, everyone eagerly waiting for my response. I could feel a cold sweat building on the back of my neck, but from the beginning there could only be one answer.
I lowered my hands, psyching myself up as I met his glare with a determined stare of my own. "You're on Blue."
...
"Hey hey! Come quick! Blue is having a Pokemon battle with someone!"
"Woah-For real!? Who is it?"
"I dunno, but I can't wait to see Blue battling again! Doesn't he have a super rare Pokemon?"
"A Charmander right?"
"No idiot, he has a Squirtle!"
"I thought he had a Pidgey..."
"I hear they're fighting over some girl..."
In the few minutes it had taken for Blue and I to prepare the park field for battle, even more kids had shown up to see their local celebrity in action. The relative popularity of Blue once again caused me to question the ignorance of my past self.
How did I miss someone so popular?
Whatever the reason, I was determined to give it my all in this fight. Based on the things Blue had said, he and Red had battled in the past, and it didn't look like Blue had much respect for Red. With that in mind, he might be a trainer that even rivalled him.
Or rather, I expected that was the very reason that Oak had all three kids together. Not that I'd seen Red yet.
"Are we doing this or what?" Blue growled, arms crossed in indignation.
I glanced at the makeshift field in front of us, marked white lines designating the area of our battle.
"...Yeah, I'm ready. You're up Yeller!"
Yeller stepped bravely out onto the flat dirt battlefield, raising his tail and heckles in a display of his strength. He looked more cute than anything, but the attempt was admirable.
Blue gave me a confident smirk as he nonchalantly flicked his wrist into the air, allowing the Pokeball to float skyward gracefully, before it burst open in a flash of blinding blue light. Appearing on the opposite side of the field to Yeller, a blue-skinned brown-shelled turtle raised it's head and blinked a few times.
I recognised it immediately. Squirtle, the water-type Pokemon I had seen Blue capture the same day I'd caught Yeller. If my theories were correct, it would later find itself in the hands of Red the hero, who would use it on the battlefield.
The turtle looked around a little dazed for a moment. It looked to Blue as if asking for help, seeming to shake a little. Blue glowered back. "I told you Squirt. You've got this." He grumbled.
This seemed to calm the creature, who turned to face Yeller with a look of determination in it's eyes.
The entire park went quiet, only the sounds of the mild wind rustling tree leaves and spreading dust across the ground breaking the silence. Blue and I locked eyes, both waiting for the other to take the first move.
Yeller waited patiently for his command, posed and ready for battle.
Squirt looked slightly less assured, glancing back at his trainer every few seconds to confirm it hadn't missed a command.
""Tackle!"" We both exclaimed in unison, and our Pokemon immediately took to action. Yeller and Squirt both charged and collided with each other, attempting to damage the other with pure power. A moment later they both flew apart, the energy of the attack having finished. I focussed on Yeller.
Status!
[Yeller
Rattata* (Lv 5)
Status:
HP: 16/18
Atk: 12
Def: 9
Sp. Atk: 7
Sp. Def: 9
Spd: 13
Skills:
-Empty-
Moves:
Tackle
Tail Whip
Quick Attack]
I nodded thoughtfully, but my thoughts were interrupted by Blue.
"Looks like we have the upper hand in a battle of brute force, albeit only slightly. Fortunately that's not the only trick we have."
Blue pointed aggressively at Yeller. "Squirt! Prepare to use Water Gun!"
The Squirtle immediately opened it's jaw wide, a ball of compressed water forming in it's mouth.
"Yeller, tackle before it can-!" I called, but it was too late.
"Now! Counter with Water Gun!" Blue cut me off, pointing to the space Yeller was running into.
The water compressed into a pressurised stream, slamming into the yellow Rattata as it tried to charge the Squirtle.
[Yeller
Rattata* (Lv 5)
Status:
HP: 6/18
Atk: 12
Def: 9
Sp. Atk: 7
Sp. Def: 9
Spd: 13]
That did so much damage!?
Yeller clumsily got back to it's feet, stumbling for a moment but flashing me a raised thumb to show he was still doing alright. I got this chief! We can still do this!
I let out a sigh of relief.
Sure enough, Blue's Pokemon was strong. And Blue himself was a good trainer, able to accurately predict the exact location he needed to attack in order to land a ranged attack like water gun as a counter.
I was going to lose at this rate.
"Ahhh... It's always like this." One of the kids watching said a little too loudly. "Blue's battles are just so one-sided."
"That's a part of what makes him so cool~" Another voice chimed in. "Nobody stands a chance against him."
I felt a strange sense of motivation welling up from my chest. It was true that even in my past life I was a total nobody, but the boy in front of me couldn't possibly have even half of the experience that I did.
Not to mention, I was trained by Red himself. How could I let myself lose to a civilian kid?
Time to stop fighting like a kid, and start fighting like a soldier.
I took a deep breath, tightening my focus. I needed Blue to think he had me on the ropes still.
"Damnit! I won't let it end like this!" I cried, mustering my best impression of a stereotypical 'loser' as I could comfortably. "This time for sure!"
I thrust my right arm forward, palm skyward. "Yeller, Tackle it again!"
And as I said the word 'Tackle', I snapped my fingers. Yeller's ears pricked immediately, and I could tell he caught my message.
"Hah! Loser, did you really think it would work if you tried again?" Blue chuckled, raising an arm as he once again predicted our course. "Water gun, right there Squirt-"
But he was cut off as my Rattata slammed headfirst into his Squirtle with astounding speed, white energy trailing behind it.
The white energy that any seasoned soldier would be able to recognise as the Pokemon move 'Quick Attack'.
Soldier battle lesson Number 1! Don't rely on what moves your enemy SAYS they're using!