Jaret King belongs to Aggies2015
Virgil sat down at the base of a tree with a soft exhale, and looked at Jaret with a grin, and his brow went up in confusion.
"You're a mess," he said with a small laugh. "Frustrated and uncooperative at first and now you're all elated and chipper. You don't really seem to make sense as a person." Virgil shrugged.
"I guess I'm just a little happy to be in another town. I forget how close Happy Town is."
"Yeah, you're not wrong about that." Jaret looked over the rows of homes, equidistant and carefully manicured to form one large block of boredom. "Don't you think laying out in the open here might draw some attention?" His attention was still toward the homes.
"You did say you needed a sparring partner, and you did just see how easy it is for you to tank me. You also cleared me in the conference last year." There had been an edge to that last bid. "So why find me?"
"Because, you're top 8 material, at least." He paused. "I never knew I battled someone related to the Alice Tonelia Brayson." Virgil reared back in disgust.
"Did you have to say her whole name? And, it's Mathison these days. My mom doesn't battle anymore. Or at least, not like she used to."
"That makes sense," Jaret relented. "But, I could see that she might have taught you a tiny bit of how to train a bit. Why wouldn't I be confident in you with a mom like her?" He smiled, but Virgil's frown stayed. "Did that loss really get you down?" Virgil said nothing. The smile wilted. "I really don't understand why it's such a big deal. Isn't the top 16 enough to let you know you have some serious skill?"
"The conferences are televised. And they can be streamed in high quality," Virgil replied sharply. "You got all the fame you needed, so you don't have to show up now and twist the knife deeper."
"Would it make it any better to say that I think you're better than Salvador?" Virgil whipped back around in surprise.
"You battled Salvador too?" Jaret nodded, still grinning.
"I did, and for being so common, I think his Furret is the real deal. But I think the real shocker was that really strange Girafarig he had."
"I wasn't at the Silver Conference that year…"
"But they are televised like you said," Jaret reminded him. "Most Girafarig have those weird tails."
"I don't know if the Girafarig thing is as weird as the fact that you really seem to have it out for trainers from Cherrygrove."
"To be honest, there might be something in the air because to be honest, you guys are pretty strong compared to some other places I've been."
"Yeah, whatever."
Virgil turned his back to him then, rigid and tense eyes looking down the paved walkway toward the Pokemon center. Jaret's first impulse was to tear into him, but thought better of it. Jaret grinned.
I think I have an idea…
He took a poke-ball loose from his belt and opened one with a suppressed click. The Pokemon emerged, covered in foliage or something like,and turned to Jaret in confusion. With a small smile, he pointed over to Virgil with a nod. The Pokemon did the same and made its way over to Virgil. Jaret could only hope that the startled yelp that followed didn't attract too many eyes.
"What the hell is that thing!?" The Pokemon had moved back toward Jaret, also a bit startled but it kept its eyes on Virgil not entirely fear, but concern. Virgil furrowed his brow. "What is this thing supposed to be, my mother?"
"I couldn't help it," Jaret patted the Pokemon, his laughter dying down. "I had to do something to get you out of your funk. Besides, I think she helped."
"Who?" Jaret pointed to the Pokemon beside him.
"Leavanny. She's a bit nurturing, But then again, most Leavanny are. Although, she might be a bit overzealous sometimes." Virgil stared at the Pokemon; his eyes went to Jaret and back to the Pokemon.
"You mean…someone like you actually has a Pokemon like this?"
"Well, yeah. You have a Dewott, don't you? You've never seen a Sewaddle, or any of its evolutions before?" Virgil shook his head.
"Well…no. I only got Dewott because my dad has a long-term planning project over in Unova…He invited me and my over to…" Virgil stopped. "H-Hey! What am I telling you this for anyway!?" Jaret's hands came up in surrender.
"I was just asking about the Dewott. No need to get touchy, trust me."
And then the two were staring at the other again. More aptly, Virgil was glaring at him, and despite his best effort, Jaret managed to pick out the smallest pull at the corners of his mouth. Virgil couldn't be as annoying as he let on, and from what Jaret could tell, he might have just started to win Virgil over just a little too.
"Hey, why don't we get from out in the open and head to the Pokemon center? Something tells me that the people in Happy Town are weird about all this noise."
Jaret was strange. Virgil had always had a hard time with other people but was surprised that Jaret wasn't only persistent, but genuinely unbothered by anything Virgil had thrown his way. If anything, Jaret seemed to know just what to do to flip their conversations on their head. He leaned back in one of the chairs in the main lobby of the center. The center in Happy Town was relatively new, and impressive, even by Cherrygrove standards and Virgil made note of the fact that not only did the lobby house the front desk, but also a food stand that showcased the local cuisine that was relatively busy with other trainers that had stopped in town as well; the place was spacious. He saw Jaret breaking away from the stand, coming over to find him.
"Hey," he said, chewing. "While we're here, do you have any plans?"
"You…really shouldn't chew with your mouth open…" Jaret swallowed his food.
"Right," he said sheepishly. "Sorry about that. But, that was an actual question. Happy Town is pretty small, but I'm surprised they have such a massive center, and with their own food stand. Most of the time the staff has to cook in the kitchen and…that can be hit or miss depending on the staff." Virgil chuckled at that.
"You must really like food if that's the main thing you've noticed." Jaret rapped a fist against his chest.
"I am a growing boy," And then he laughed, and Virgil almost did too; he rolled his eyes instead.
"Well, there isn't really much to do in this town, but I also haven't been here in a long time. It's more like a pitstop between Violet and Cherrygrove. I really don't understand why the center they built here is so fancy either…"
"I think you might've answered your own question." Jaret pointed to the food stand. "There are a lot of trainers here and between two major cities makes sense." Virgil was silent. "But I'd be surprised if all you planned on doing was traveling with your Pokemon, not that there's anything wrong with that. But you placed top 16 and–"
"I. know." Virgil snapped.. "I haven't thought about the Indigo Conference again but since you wiped me out in that, I figured I'd try something a little closer to home."
"The Silver Conference?"
"Not just the Conference, but the League."
"Whoa, really? You're going to the Silver Conference too? Talk about a coincidence!" Virgil's heart sank.
He's gonna be there too…? Would he be stuck with his nightmares forever?
"Why don't you just enter the Indigo Conference again," Virgil blurted, wincing a little at how desperate it might've sounded.
"Hm? Oh, well, I'm already registered for the Silver Conference. I placed in the top 4 the year before last. And, with the Indigo Conference being as tough as it was last year, I think I actually have a decent shot at the Silver Cup and maybe even the Johto League too!" Silence. "Oh…and, I live in Pallet Town and don't want to have to go all the way back and do the gyms too…" Virgil could only stare, loosely, in Jaret's direction. He was never going to get away from the bloodshed in his nightmares or from the names that faced him in the mirror every morning. Jaret was going to win, and his father would have to wait until the year after that for funding, and that was time that Virgil simply didn't have.
Something pinched him and Virgil came to, forcing down the urge to jump from his seat. Jaret came into focus.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Virgil murmured. "Just a little tired…" Jaret frowned.
"Well, maybe a nap'll do you some good. I think I'm gonna' hang out and get some info on who the rising stars are for the region!"
"Hey," Jaret tensed to a stop, almost tripping over himself and turned to VIrgil with a sheepish half-grin.
"Yeah?"
"You really want to become a regional champion, huh?" Jaret straightened himself and something passed through his face.
"Well, being champion could work, but honestly…I think I'd like to land on the Elite Four. They get all of the reputation without nearly as many duties as a regional champion." His eyes went to the side of him and on the floor. "A lot of kids in Kanto look up to the Elite Four, and being an inspiration for them and taking care of their Pokemon is…well, awesome to me. And in order to do that, I'm gonna have to make an impression and battle to, and through them flawlessly."
"...That's just about impossible," Virgil replied sardonically.
"Maybe, but it doesn't hurt to try it, right?" Then, Virgil shrugged.
"Ya know, it's a good thing they have an open field for Pokemon here too. If I learned anything from last time, I would say that you know Leavanny will try to cheer you up, or scold you in the process. It's hard to tell sometimes…"
"Thanks for reminding me."
"You really do get down on your luck too easily, you know that?" A shrug. "And your despondent…" Jaret had said that a little irritably. "What did you have weighing so heavily on the battle from the conference that's left you like this? Was getting beaten in a conference full of really strong trainers really the embarrassment you're making it out to be?" Virgil's eyes cut to Jaret to retort who held firm. "I'm listening," Jaret added.
"Don't worry about it. We could probably just make our way to Violet City if we're gonna' be doing this Silver Conference thing…" Jaret folded his arms.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Getting to Violet City from here feels like it could be longer than we're giving it credit for, and besides, I still say we should get more info about up and coming trainers and whatnot."
"But that was your thing. Not mine."
"Yeah, but you don't want to get back up to par? With the training I mean."
"Didn't you say that you didn't want to travel with me?"
"Well, yeah but…" Jaret smirked. "I think I might be winning you over a little." Virgil followed his gaze out into the lobby, watching innumerable trainers come together, interacting. The mesh of voices and Pokemon cries came together in a low hum of activity. "And besides," his voice was gentle. "We don't have to battle again. It doesn't even have to be until we face off in the Silver Conference, if you don't mind and have the confidence again."
"What?"
"I can't say that I really get it, and that I kind of think you're being a big baby about it, but I can tell that you're scared to battle me again."
"Me? Scared to battle you?" Jaret turned to him with a nod.
"You did ask me about the Indigo Conference pretty desperately." Virgil had hoped he hadn't heard that. "So, instead of training with me or battling me, why don't we try our hands at some of the other trainers here, and we can coach each other from there? I thought I saw Salvador somewhere around here too." Virgil didn't say anything, and watched the trainers move about their business. Some had come into the building with their Pokemon outside of their balls, usually a showcase of their lead Pokemon. A Houndour here, a Jynx or Marowak there, Virgil was certain that at the very least, Dewott or any of his team could handle them without much of a problem and when he scanned his eyes across the lobby a second time, there had been numerous other trainers that seemed, for lack of a better phrase, easy.
"You know what? Count me in."
The rest of that day had been interesting to say the least, and much to Virgil's disbelief, surprising. It had been the first time in a while he had really made his attempts to openly challenge and battle other trainers, mostly at Jaret's annoying but also welcome insistence, even if the results ended poorly. He had been pleasantly surprised when Salvador had proven Jaret right and had shown up to the Pokemon center battlefield and handed Virgil a narrow but convincing loss by way of his infamous Furret and that backwards Girafarig that Jaret had mentioned. Virgil had also been reminded of Happy Town's distinct distaste for being overshadowed by Cherrygrove, personified in the grandiose Pokemon center they had built, to all of the native veteran trainers challenging (and losing to) Salvador.
It had been during the numerous skirmishes between the trainers that Virgil realized that Jaret King was known by way of his hard fought victory of the Whirl Cup, and for all of his snide commentary earlier, Virgil couldn't help but feel jealous, especially once he had seen how some of the other trainers had been awestruck by exactly who he was. Alice Tonelia's son, on the other hand, was a nobody, something confirmed and reinforced by snickers from some of the die-hard battle fans who knew that Alice had even had a son; it made his crucifixion as a failure, his televised embarrassment, even worse. But he was startled by a new and unfamiliar thought came to his mind immediately after:
Jaret King thought differently of him.
He lay in his bed, across from a slightly snoring Jaret too tired to move, but too terrified to sleep. The only mirror was set in the bathroom, which meant his sprint would not go unnoticed, and Jaret would bombard him with all of the questions under the sun. Jaret had also offered to cover their expenses for the night, all Virgil needed to do, in Jaret's words, was to "get his soul back". For a moment, Virgil stared at him through the dark.
How could someone outside of his mother, and someone like Jaret have their faith in him, when even his own Pokemon questioned his confidence? It was easy, Virgil figured, for Jaret to think the most of him. He had been too upset with his loss to watch Jaret's next battle, which ironically, had been the match that had him eliminated from the tournament. But Jaret had the skill, power and quick-witted thinking that Virgil thought he had, fully on display as Jaret had utterly swept his three challengers with an indomitable focus and fierce exaltation that Virgil couldn't quite believe and was only matched by the Pidgeot he had chose. None of the challengers had even managed to touch his Pokemon. Watching his own humiliation was surreal; it was an easy thing to encourage others when you never lost. The self-righteousness made Virgil want to rip Jaret's face asunder, and Virgil felt his blood boil; How dare Jaret make an example of him?
And then, Virgil froze. When did he come to this rage? He frowned, turning his back from Jaret to face the wall; he forced himself to sleep.
The dream was different. This time, he wasn't Marus. He was next to him instead, Mira's hand in his, her eyes faded and skin cold, and one arm wrapped lovingly around the Rattata. Bitey. Ho-oh would come down, and Marus would challenge it to die. He would see fire in Ho-oh's eyes, and Virgil would feel those very flames in and across his body, then the dreams would end. This was normal; this was the same.
This time, he watched Marus fight, and Marus fought distraught. She moved fast, but un-naturally, her limbs jerking erratically in her fighting art, cracking and snapping as they made their way to their target. Virgil wasn't sure why Mira was alive now, silent and mechanical but he could see that her body had begun to deteriorate, bloated for her thin frame and foul smelling when she moved. Virgil hadn't realized at first that Ho-oh watched as well, perched a little ways away.
Marus fended her off, eyes burning as he called for her name. A blow caught Marus in the ribs and Virgil heard an explicit snap and Marus howled something between yelp and a wail. Marus stumbled back and Virgil gagged when he laid eyes on a severed and rapidly rotting finger lodged in Marus's already reopened side. Mira had begun rotting fast after that, skin discolored and sagging even as she continued to move. When Marus caught another blow from her, some skin had been left across where she had struck him.
By the time Mira had reared back a third time, she had seemed to melt; Virgil found his will to turn away from her, and to Marus. His eyes were shut tight with palms over and twisting in his ears in desperation. Virgil heard Marus begging in his mind.
Stop this,
Stop…!
…Stop…
Please…!
Mira…
Mira…
Mira…!
Her voice, normal and alive came to him, and it had snagged the attention of Marus and Virgil both. Marus had been so desperate, so distraught and her voice was supposed to take that away for him. He was on his feet, eyes snapping up to see her and was met by what was left of her, rushing toward him still with her art. Marus's pain stirred Virgil and he moved to intercept Mira's rags. Virgil had stepped into her path then. For a moment, he wondered why he always saw these two, and why was it always at this gravesite and whether if him doing this would even change anything; It didn't really matter. Mira wasn't going to hurt him. She was barrelling for them, directly toward Virgil.
He heard a thump, a small thud of bodies and Virgil realized that she had somehow passed through him. Could they not see him? He was hesitant to look behind him, but Marus's harried breathing had won over and he turned.
Marus stood tense, horrified. Mira had fallen into him, her muddled mess of arms coming around him as he visibly shook. Virgil felt a sticky, cold on where she held Marus. She was hugging him, and her neck had moved stiffly to meet his eyes. Some of the discolored portions on her face had festered into bulbous and putrid sores. One eye was more deteriorated than the other, sinking backwards into the socket and her skin was suddenly overstretched across her skull. She had offered Marus a husk of a smile, and both Marus and Virgil understood that for a fleeting moment, this was Mira.
"Marus," Marus tightened at her voice. She had opened her mouth again to say something, rot putrefying the edges of her mouth. Nothing came, and instead, her body gave way, and melted in Marus's arms, blood and remnants clinging to him, a viscous gel, as she fell apart. Virgil turned away again when he saw Marus drop back to his knees, hand rummaging through and staring at what was left of her. He stopped abruptly to bring his palms slowly to his head; the scream of horror that followed left Virgil's blood frozen.
Virgil woke up screaming and hacking through choked sobs. He had attempted to rush outside of the room to anywhere that was not there. He had woken up Jaret with all of his commotion too, who had snatched him up by the hem of his shirt before throwing him on the floor and pinning him under his weight. Jaret had tried to calm him down as he struggled fervently under his weight. The noise had woken up others too, which had brought the nurses and some especially proactive trainers to batter down the door, and after a massive effort and Dewott snapping from his poke-ball to strike him, they had finally restrained him.
But that also had led to them being kicked out of the center too, mainly at the demand of the other trainers. Jaret hadn't said anything as they moved, and he had set a relatively quick pace as he muttered to himself.
"You chose to travel with me, you know." Jaret immediately stopped and so did Virgil; Jaret didn't turn around. "You know, you really could've stayed there and had a good time if you never been so dead set on 'training' with me. Salvador would have still been here, and other trainers knew who you were here. I don't get why–"
"Virgil," The air in his throat coiled. Jaret turned to him with a mix of confusion and real concern and Virgil faltered. "Who's Mira?"
"...No one important."
"Old flame of yours?"
"They're not even real."
"Clearly, they mean something to you. They had you screaming bloody murder and got us kicked out of the Pokemon Center. Unless you're really convincing, you're not gonna change my mind. So, who are they?" Virgil was silent. Usually, his snide commentary or the rough relationship he had with his Dewott was enough to deter most people that wanted to get close. No one ever stayed around long enough for Virgil to actuallylike them, or for them to care about him. He let out a staggered breath.
"I don't know. I've had dreams like this for a long time now." Virgil glowered. "Ever since I lost to you, I haven't been able to sleep a full night in weeks." Jaret frowned.
"Oh…I…didn't know that…" A sullen look crossed Jaret's face for a moment, and Virgil's scowl faded the next instant. "So, I'm guessing that being Champion might give you peace of mind then." Again, Virgil frowned.
"It's not even that. I've had these dreams a long time before you beat me, but losing to you made it worse. I never had these dreams nearly every night. My mom thinks a ghost Pokemon could be the problem…I don't need the title for the fame, I need the money."
"That's it? Just for the money?"
"My dad's an urban planner in Unova, and he's been working together to get the local economies up and running again."
"So, this is a political move?"
"To help fund him, yeah but also…" Virgil trailed. Why was he talking so much? "My dad had connections with professor Juniper and her assistant Fennel, and he's been wanting to help them set up a location for Fennel's research of Pokemon dreams. He said once that if they had the money to get the project started, then they could use the lab as a centerpiece for breathing life into the area." Jaret rubbed his chin in thought.
"I get it. You want to know if Fennel can do anything about the nightmares."
"They're closer to terrors, if you ask me."
"Do you guys have anything like the Pokemon Tower in Lavender Town here? I can't remember everything from the last time I was here."
"The closest I can think of would be Ecruteak. It's big on regional history and tradition…"
"Right," Jaret placed a hand on Virgil's shoulder and offered a strong smile. "Since this all seems to be something that comes from me, then how about we make our way to Ecruteak, and the gym challenge can take a backseat?" Virgil let himself smile at that; he was really starting to like this guy.
"Yeah…that sounds like a plan."
She heard the doors slide open and the rushed patter of footsteps toward the front desk, which more than likely meant that someone had been handed a pretty devastating loss at the gym. Although she would never participate in one for sport, analyzing the creativity of trainers was another thing entirely. She was also impressed that there were trainers ready to go so early in the morning.
The Pokemon Center was particularly bustling with activity. She had been asked multiple times if she wanted to trade, many of the trainers being indiscriminate in what they offered so long as they got one of her Pokemon. She hadn't expected Pokemon from Hoenn to be so coveted but declined all the same. It had also become painfully apparent that there were boys that were for lack of a better phrase, interested in her, which meant that all of the lascivious approaches she received were because of her foreignness to the region. Apparently, people from Hoenn were coveted too.
"Almach, report to the reception's desk! Please report!" She stood graciously from her seat; her team was ready to go.
Viola stepped outside, scanning over the city scene. The air was acrid and stale in comparison to home. She hacked a couple of coughs. She had heard that Goldenrod was much worse with it being the economic center of all of Johto. The mere thought made her a bit queasy. She would need to see this Falkner in action and then be done with this city. She checked her PokeNav and went to search out the gym, but her legs gave way for a moment. The air was really getting to her.
"The residents here should really pay closer attention to their air…" Of course, no one place would ever truly have air as crisp as Fortree, but she could dream. She pushed on toward the gym, her strength gradually returning.
"Hey, you look like you're lost." Viola turned around and found a boy staring in her direction.
"Do you mean me?" He nodded.
"Can I help you, miss?" Viola kept her face stoic as she took in his appearance, realizing that she was staring at one of her main reasons for being in the region. She smiled warmly.
"It looks like you came to me, Falkner." The boy raised his hands defensively with a bashful grin.
"Hey, easy there. Did you ever figure that maybe you have the wrong guy?"
"You stick out like a sore thumb. You're a little too extravagant to be an ordinary trainer." Falkner laughed at that.
"You're sharp! Well, are you battling for the Zephyr Badge?"
"Well, to be honest, I'm not actually here for a battle…"
"Is that right? For what reason if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well, I did hear about a Pokemon trainer's school out in Violet City." Falkner grinned at her.
"Yeah. You'd be right. But don't they have one out in Rustboro?" Viola blinked in surprise.
"How did you know I was from Hoenn?" He flashed another grin, eyes darting from top to bottom then back up.
"You may be tiny, but I'm sure you could toss me over your shoulder if you wanted. Only people from Fortree City are your kind of fit. Besides, did you forget? I'm Falkner, aspiring flying maestro and master. You didn't really think I've never been to Fortree, did you?" Viola chuckled.
"Well, you certainly make a good case. If you don't mind, would you mind taking me there?"
Virgil collapsed down in an actual chair in what seemed like ages. They had been moving all throughout the night, and they had each been caught off guard when they had realized that route 30 led them to the next route rather than the city itself. Virgil's chest burned as he heaved and lungful of city air didn't help much either. He glanced over to Jaret, who, also heaving though considerably less, gave him a triumphant smile and thumbs up. Virgil returned the sentiment. "Well, I guess one thing came out of it: We're finally in Violet City…"
A/N: Viola Almach belongs to Ariesbird, but I don't believe that they're a part of the fandom anymore. Either way, I wanted to throw out credit. I really hope her introduction went better this time around. She was one of the characters that I think I had a harder time with in the original but I absolutely love her like I do the rest of the original cast! Her parts will definitely be getting better pacing with the updated writing for sure!
P.S: Chapter was originally posted on ao3 24-02-09