Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 73: Coming On Strong
Yumi's POV
Location:-
-It wasn't just us, it was many of other trainers who were fortunate enough to escape from the Dominion of Shadows city that was now behind us. Seth, Chikorita, and I were in a 'line' of sorts, with men and women, boys and girls, and Pokemon in front AND behind us. How the three of us crossed paths with all these people is up to the write to decide, I guess. But what I did know, was where we were all staying for the night...
Location: Eggseter
Eggseter was a town located deep within the valley of the Mortar Mountains. It was where the three of us were going to regroup.
"There's gotta be a Pokemon Center here..." I whispered to myself, my eyes unable to find a red roofed building. All I saw were a bunch of ranches filled with Pokemon who just started at every passing stranger from behind the fences. "How cute." Many of these Pokemon looked to be very young. Meditite, Smoochum, Magby, and Teddiursa...Oh, how I've wanted a Teddiursa for the longest time..."Hey Seth, look at thi- Seth?" I looked behind to see a friend who was still lagging. His hands were in his pockets, and he was staring at the ground. It's been like this ever since he woke up.
I stopped and waited for Seth to catch up to me. Walking next to him even made MY mood sink a little, and I couldn't really blame him. I mean, Seth could be DEAD right now. All of his hopes and dreams, gone like that...He's never been the emotional type, but I think, for the very first time, that I know how Seth is feeling right now. Eyes half shut, eyebrows furrowed, and the once always indifferent face of his now carrying a look of despair...Yeah, Seth is depressed, and if what I thought was right, I had to do something about it.
I sighed as looked at Chikorita, who was walking right beside Seth, before I faced the dusk-set sky. It was cold, and winter was just around the corner, "It sure is nice out tonight," I said as I inched closer to Seth.
I though a little small talk would brighten the mood of the situation, but it was no use. It was as if Seth was ignoring my existence. Perhaps I should just give him time to open up...
Later...
"I apologize, young lady. You see, Eggseter doesn't have a Pokemon Center," answered an elderly man holding a basket of Pokemon eggs.
I sighed.
I had finally decided to ask for directions after being unable to locate any sort of Pokemon Center in town. It looked as if the elderly man was a local, given the fact he wasn't wearing any typical traveling clothes, AND because caring for Pokemon eggs was a domestic chore.
"You know, Eggseter wasn't at all prepared for a second wave of tourists." The elderly man chuckled.
"We're all trying to get away from Ecruteak," I said to the old man.
"So I've heard," The elderly man said, "Well, the two of you are welcome to stay in Eggseter. This town's so small, that evil organization probably won't pay it any mind. Even so, this past month has been so busy with visitors. First the Extreme Pokemon fans, and now this?"
"Chico," Chikorita nodded in understanding.
"We haven't even packed our provisions from this year's Extreme Pokemon race. But I gotta say; It's great to be kept very busy." The elderly man was silent for a moment "...It helps take our minds off Team Neo Snagem..."
"Is that why you're carrying those eggs?" I asked.
The man nodded, :We all thought we could do the same for everyone here right now. So I've been preparing these eggs for a little 'competition'."
"Chi?"
"Competition?"
"Yes, we're calling it 'Eggseter's Eggscelent Adventure'." The elderly man answered, "It'll be a scavenger hunt for these babied right here. Each of these eggs contain Pokemon just waiting to be born. Of course, those fortunate enough to find these precious eggs get to keep them for themselves."
"Wow!" My face suddenly lit up with excitement. I was smiling, and turned to Seth to ask him, "Seth, did you hear that?"
All he did was look at me, and then he stared at the elderly man, that natural scowl on his face.
The old man chuckled, "You know, maybe you'd feel better if you smile."
"Believe me, I've tried MANY times to make that happen," I said with a chuckle.
The elderly man digressed, "Anyway, if the two of you would like to participate in the scavenger hunt, just wait over there." The man pointed toward what appeared to be a huge gathering of many trainers around a nice, bright, bonfire, "There, I'll address the scavenger hunt's participants and officially begin Eggseter's Eggscelent Adventure."
"Okay, and thank you," I said to the man.
It was when the elderly man man nodded, and started away, that Seth, Chikorita, and I were left alone.
"So?" I asked as I faced Seth.
It was along moment of Silence as Seth just stared into my eyes.
...
"...What?" Seth finally opened his mouth.
"Oh, come eon!" I said as I grabbed Seth by the arm and started to drag him toward the campfire. "You've been moping all day. It's about time you take your mind off what happened and have some fun for once!"
...
About twenty minutes later, about a few feet away from the crowd, Seth and I were sitting in a small noodle restaurant. Even though the many conversations throughout the crowd of trainers lit up the night, it felt quiet, and somewhat dead between Seth and I. We were waiting for the elderly man to return and begin the scavenger hunt.
While we were waiting, we were each helping ourselves to a bowl of noodles. My bowl was almost empty, while Seth's bowl remained almost full. He didn't even mind that Chikorita was happily helping herself to his bowl.
"...I...I can't...I won't..." Seth suddenly whipsered to himself. It was the longest sentence he's produced all night. I looked at him, only to see him looking right back at me, his eyes narrowed.
"Wha- what's wrong?" I asked.
"I won't just 'take my mind off Ecruteak' and pretend it didn't happen!" Seth answered with a raised voice, "I don't have fun, not as long as Neo Snagem is around."
"Seth?"
"Chico?"
"Seth, I..."
"Yumi..." Seth said as he gave a long sigh, "Sorry for raising my voice..."
It was a sight to see, Seth expressing himself like that. It NEVER happened before, and to be honest, his attitude only put me in a better mood. I didn't even mind that he raised his voice. And a GUY setting his pride aside to apologize? It was rare these days, and I couldn't help but give a very warm smile to Seth because of that.
"Seth, I-" I was immediately ready to tell Seth how I felt about him finally expressing himself, but I was interrupted.
"Excuse me, Miss, but I couldn't help but overhear that 'friend' of your raise his voice at you," A voice said.
"Huh?" Whoever was talking to me was sitting right on the other side of me. I haven't noticed anyone else here at the noodle shop. Turning to whomever addressed me, I laid my eyes on a tetenage boy.
The guy...he was 'kind of' a looker, but not a 'ripe' as Seth. He had long, brown hair that went down to his shoulder, and his eyes were blackish brown. He wore light jeans, a navy blue jacket, and a white backpack. He also wore black boots.
The brown haired boy gave me a smile, "Name's Justice, and I think you're very pretty, Yumi."
"Chi?" Both Chikorita and I looked confused at the guy named Justice.
"Thank you," I said with a smile and a slight blush, :But how do you know me?" Was this guy some sort of stalker?
"A lot of people saw you back there in the Bonitaville Contest, you know," Justice replied, "You should've sen everyone in Marion City on the night you defeated Marina."
"Oh, Marion City?" I questioned. Marion City was where I first entered a Pokemon Contest. Of course I remember the end result that day...But THAT Yumi's dead now...
"My hometown," Justice replied, "Friends and family, we all counted you out from the very beginning in Bonitaville. You sure shut us up!" Justice chuckled, "So how about you? What's your story? Why are you here?"
"Well, Seth, Chikorita and I are all traveling together," I said as I motioned for Justice to see Seth and Chikorita.
"Hmph." Justice gave Seth a very tense stare. Seth reacted by giving Justice his typical, indifferent expression, while Chikorita's eyes narrowed at the stranger.
"Chico..."
"Uh, Yumi?" Justice looked back at me, :What's with that guy? I mean, does he talk? Oh wait, he does! He likes to raise his voice at pretty girls like you," The eyes of Justice narrowed as he stared into Seth's bowl of ramen, "...Bullies like you make me sick! And this is coming from a guy who's seen domestic abuse, first hand! You hear that, Seth?" Justice's eyes widened as he snapped at my friend, "Hellooo?! So what?! You've got nothing to say now?!"
"Woah, what are you getting so worked up for?" I asked the guy.
Justice sighed heavily in frustration, and addressed Seth once more, "I have MORE than one problem with you, Seth...Not too long ago, I stood in the background, watching as you did away with some mouthy Neo Snagem grunt in Ecruteak City...Do you understand the consequences of your actions? Do you understand that thousands of people are being punished and even killed because of what YOU did?!"
Seth didn't reply. The only reaction Justice got out of him was that indifferent expression of his turning into a frown.
"Ugh!" Justice stood off hi chair. He wasn't just trying to pick a fight with Seth. His rage filled words were passionate. Chikorita prepared to defend Seth if necessary, but she didn't intimidate Justice one bit. "...All those people...Do you even care about them?!" And now he was starting to attract some unnecessary attention from the many many trainers that were outside and still waiting for the scavenger hunt to begin. "Come on! Say something! DO something! Or are you just gonna sit there and let me talk crap to your face?!"
"Justice-" I tried to calm the guy down, but I was interrupted.
"Please Yumi, stay out of this." Justice said, forcing his tone of voice to quell when speaking to me.
"No, I WON'T stay out of this!" I yelled as I stood up to the guy. He was taller than me, and I was pretty tall for a girl my age, "I won't just sit and watch as you continue to attack him!"
"But Yumi...You're too good for him...He's...weird."
"Last I checked, you're the only one acting out of the ordinary," I said as I crossed my arms. I could tell the guy had problems controlling ihs anger.
"She's right," It was the owner of the noodle shop, a stocky man wearing a white apron, who approached us, "Forgive my intrusion, but this 'scene' of yours is bad for my business. I'm gonna have to ask you three to leave."
Justice sighed.
"What?" I said confused, "But you saw Seth and I just minding our own business. Everything was fine until HE showed up," I pointed to Justice.
"I'm aware of the, Miss," The owner said, "And for that I apologize. I still want the three of you out of here until you get this mess straightened out."
"But-" I was just about to continue, but Seth...
"Fine." Without a fight, Seth just stood up and put his hands in his pockets. With Chikorita following, he started away from the noodle shop.
"Uh, okay," I said as I stared at Seth. Does he even have a sense of pride as an emotion? He's so different. I like that bout him...
"I hate him..." It was Justice, and he too stared as a Seth walking away. It was all so sudden, this conflict between the two guys. All the yelling and build up, just for Justice to mutter the words 'I hate him' in a calmed voice. Justice started to slowly jog after Seth in an attempt to catch up to him, "Hey!"
"Chi?" First, it was Chikorita who stopped and turned around to face the brown haired teen, and then it was Seth. Once again, Seth and Justice exchanged high tension stares.
"Let's battle," Justice said a she stopped just a few feet away from Seth.
"A battle?" I said as I finally started outside the noodle shop.
"Hmm...So what exactly would a battle solve?" Seth asked, FINALLY speaking to Justice for the first time.
"It'll be oh-so satisfying to take out my frustration on you. And personally, it ALWAYS brighten my day when a bully gets what he deserves!"
Seth looked as Chikorita, then narrowed his eyes as he looked back to a Justice who took out a Pokeball, "...One on one, a fight to the finish," Seth said.
"It'll be my pleasure." Justice replied.
...
In the middle of a bonfire lit evening, a huge crowd of trainers and locals gathered around to watch the street battle between Seth and Justice who stared each other down from quite a distance apart. Justice's eyes were filled with a passionate hatred, while Seth's eyes focused on a Chikorita who was in her battle stance. This was more than just a 'pre-show' for the scavenger hunt. There was no 'hero' of 'villain' in this battle, there was just a deep conflict...And the two fighting in my name...I blushed.
"Yumi's too good to be seen with a 'monster' like you!" Justice then looked at me, the rage of his eyes not disappearing, "Yumi, why don't you come with me?"
"Oh?!" My eyes widened. Speaking of fighting in my honor, Justice was coming on to me very strong, much stronger than Seth, who's never even made his first move. I was kind of embarrassed because of the many people watching.
"Chico?" Both Chikorita and Seth had confused looks on their faces, but didn't say anything.
"I'll show you that I'm much better than that bully you call a friend. If I beat Seth right here and now, you'll come with me on a journey, right?" Justice was too anxious to allow me to reply, "Seth!" Justice called as he faced Seth, "This is the end for you!"
Holding up his Pokeball, Justice smirked as he threw it into the air. Every spectator surrounding us watched in amazement as the Pokeball opened up, shining a white light on us all in the night.
"No way..." Seth's eyes widened, then narrowed as he caught his first sight of his opponent's Pokemon. Chikorita took half a step back upon looking at her opponent herself. Even I was caught off guard.
"Bay bayleef."
"Chikorita's evolved form?" I asked out loud.
The Bayleef looked down to Chikorita, and smile. Bayleef's face was full of innocence, a contrast to Justice's attitude.
"Chico..." The battle had not even begun yet, and Chikorita STILL braced herself.
"Alright!" I said as I got everyone's attention, "Let's get this battle started!"
"Chikorita!" Seth called as he would proceed to make the first move, "Let's go!"
In my name, you better with, Seth...
To Be Continued...
Spending a moonlit evening battling it out in front of a noodle shop...Yup, if you've played the original Naruto: Clash of Ninja game, then you understand the reference. I still can't believe the game came out 12 years ago. Naruto vs Iruka at Ichiraku Ramen... Ah, the nostalgia...