Disclaimer: Pokemon is owned by the Nintendo, Hakunon/Fate is owned by the all-powerful Mushroom(Nasu), and all that stuff.
Hakuno was tired as she arrived in the small room she had temporarily claimed as her own. Explaining her story to them was a lot more than she intended. And with how easily they accepted her story?
Well, from what she gathered, this world was like that. Less on pure Magical like the Moon Cell, but when you have children that can befriend Creatures that can go faster than the speed of sound? Or even the myth of a child being brought back from time and sent to the past to stop the world from ending?
Hakuno's journey in the Moon Cell wasn't as crazy of a tale when there was a Pokemon known as the Wish Granter. Apparently, the last few years have been a crazy time, and things have finally fully calmed down at least in this region with gangs and eco-terrorists being arrested.
According to Nurse Joy, one of her cousins in the 'Alola' Region recently heard about a Pokemon that can eat light and fought their local Legendaries to a standstill, a few of their Champion-level trainers worked with them and brought the Legendary down.
This… world was a lot more dangerous than the Moon Cell. Even if… she didn't have to do the 'Journey' she still would at least find one Pokemon to help her, if not she might be killed without realizing why.
Not that they could fill the gaping hole in her heart.
Hakuno ran a hand through her hair, before glancing at the bag. Kurt mentioned that it worked on a similar idea of Pokeballs but instead of Pokemon, more or less, turning into light they become under the effect of the move 'minimize'. There seems to be a more expensive version that turns the items into data but…
She picked up the bag and felt the heft of it, she sighed before pulling things out one by one to inspect it.
A small tent, a purifying water bottle, a lantern, a flint and steel, a small cooking set, a sleeping bag, some type of note, an old map, some canned food, a multitool, and… a compass.
All handy items, Hakuno nodded, and the bag seemed sturdy enough to be taken out into the wild. The note referenced a Bank Account in her name, but she currently doesn't have the identification to use it. But… she guesses it would encourage 'Fallers' and 'Drifters' to become trainers, she was unsure how else to get an easy identification.
She really was going to do this huh…
Saber would love to hear her stories. Hakuno nodded to herself.
First thing first, she will need… an… ally.
Hakuno took a shuttered breath... No matter who joined, they could never fully replace her Rose.
"I'm just saying, Pidgeys are prey for most Pokemon and like to run away while Spearows… they are all just mean." Hakuno nodded along as she followed towards the large hill at the edge of Azalae town. There was a Slowpoke Spigot in front of a large dark cave.
"Come on Hakuno! One of the Slowpoke might wanna be your starter!" Hakuno gulped, the cave that led into the well was pitch black. Hakuno set her backpack down and pulled out her lantern, luckily it seemed to be solar-powered, it flickered on as she attached it to her side.
She hesitated before she entered the cave, the air was damp, "Maizie… are you sure this is ok?"
"Super ok! The Slowpoke down here are a lot calmer than the Ratatata or the bugs in Illex." Hakuno nodded slowly, her eyes not leaving the younger girl's back as they descended.
She heard them first, their yawning, the dripping of water, the snores, all a strange cascade of sounds as Maizie tossed her Heavy Ball and her Slowpoke came out.
The pink salamander trilled as its eyes lazily looked around, she could almost see a glimmer of recognition in its eyes. "Pokey come on~!" Oh, the Slowpoke fell asleep, their trainer heaved as she lifted the Pokemon holding him like a child. She glanced at the Slowpoke… he winked at her before pretending to doze off.
Hakuno chose to ignore that.
"So, with Slowpoke you really got to get them to understand what you're asking for, they are… well… dull Pokemon, it takes them a few minutes to understand things so you got to be really patient with them."
Hakuno gave a small nod, she approached the nearest one, who was awake, and leaned down to meet its eyes "Do you want to join me?" Vacant eyes looked into her own.
The Slowpoke yawned before falling asleep.
She stifled her yawn, "Yeah… they do that a lot." Maizie sighed, "But, there are loads more!"
It turns out, that Pokemon widely known for being dim don't typically have a reason to even think to leave a safe home. So many of them had just looked at her like she was the dull one.
Except for Pokey who usually had a slightly mischievous glint in his eyes, she now fully believed that Maizie's Slowpoke was gifted.
"Pokey use Confusion!" The pink salamander's eyes flashed briefly as purple energy held the flapping Zubat shoving it backward into the wall. The Zubat broke free, rightened itself, and screeched as sound waves hit the Slowpoke.
"Finish it with Water Gun!" A burst of water shot out of its mouth knocking the Zubat to the ground. Teddy, Maizie's Teddiursa, tapped the fallen bat before giving them a nod. "How about a Zubat Hakuno?"
She shook her head, "No… if they are going to join me it… should be of their own free will." Nero had done so when she was facing death, her… next ally could not replace her.
But could help her heal.
Maizie shrugged in response.
She also didn't know how to feel about having such a loud Pokemon. Nero's plays were loud and well…
She didn't want someone to be a constant reminder of her.
"I getcha, that's how Pokey and Teddy joined up, well Teddy's slightly different…" She mumbled something about another trainer.
Hakuno hummed slightly as she placed a few of the strange blue-colored berries on the ground next to the Bat Pokemon, they taste like Oranges… but are blue, and supposedly have minor medicinal purposes.
Such… a strange world.
Nero would have loved it.
A large red-colored fish flopped out of the water, "Karp! Karp!" Maizie sighed.
"Hakuno, you definitely don't want a Magikarp. Gyarados are hard to control and it takes forever to get one to evolve." Hakuno nodded, the fish tried to flop towards the Zubat but couldn't reach it, it flopped harmlessly before Teddy nudged it back into the water.
Hakuno sighed, "Don't you worry as your Senior in Pokemon Catching I will make double sure you get something today!"
Hakuno hummed as Maizie grabbed the hose as the younger girl washed the mud out of her hair, "I know Feebas are stubborn but did that one really have to use Mud Slap at us?"
Hakuno lightly shrugged, "If they have it good down there… it wouldn't make sense for them to leave?"
Maizie stuck out her tongue, "Well, um… only other ones I can think of is the Rattata… or we stay up late and see about a Hoot-hoot. Maybe a," her face had a tint of green, "Grimer?" Hakuno shrugged as she washed the mud out of her hair.
Perhaps she was going about this the wrong way? "Maizie… how did you ger Slowpoke and Teddirusa?" She honestly hasn't seen any Teddirusa in the area, or heard about any.
Maizie blushed slightly, "Ah um, well, I thought Teddirusa were cute… and Pokey was my first, I went down the Well after Team Rocket left, and managed to find one that still had their tail, he was smart as he hid behind a few rocks. As for Teddy… a passing trainer had caught his mom and him, he was too young then to fight and I offered some Apricorn Balls for him."
Hakuno nodded, Strange was a way to put it, but this world's customs were vastly different than hers, "I see…" Hakuno handed the hose to Maizie who started to clean her two Pokemon. "Perhaps we should study I still have time before I leave and my test is tomorrow… you have a final of sorts soon as well, correct?"
The young girl froze, "Uh… yeahhhh," She bashfully hid her face focusing on Teddy "Teaching you has helped a lot! Grandpa doesn't really have a lot of time right now he used to have his apprentice Karna do most of the orders, but with my Journey starting soon she decided it was best to head on her own, she was pretty much already ready to be on her own though."
He did mention that their finances are as good as he had hoped, perhaps she should help out more? Maizie saw the question in Hakuno's eyes before shaking her head, "No, um Grandpa wouldn't show you the secrets unless you become his apprentice and that takes years of learning to even get on my level!" She puffed out her chest, her hand moving down slightly, blasting Teddirusa's face with water.
"Ursa!" The Tiny Bear put its hands blocking the torrent as they tackled their trainer knocking them to the ground, Hakuno grabbed the hose.
"Perhaps you should study with some friends?" Rin and Rani were almost her friends… A flash of purple and the water shut off. Before she could respond they heard shouting and crashing.
"SHUK-SHUK GET THAT THIEF!" Hakuno saw the scampering small pink gnome as it dashed from Kurt's forge holding his tongs in one hand, pink dust coming off of it causing the Shuckle to cough as it lumbered in its direction. It was far too slow to catch the pink thief.
"Teddy give chase!" Teddirusa huffed at her. They shook their body getting water everywhere before plopping down and crying out its name in response, "…Pokey?" The Slowpoke huffed at her before yawning and falling asleep.
Maizie huffed, and Kurt arrived clutching his knee, "That thief came at the perfect moment, it must have been waiting for my knee to flare up and for Shuk-Shuk to grow complacent." He grunted then glanced at the four of them, "Why are you wet? Did you two go and mess with the Slowpoke?"
Hakuno sighed as Maizie explained where they had been.
"I see… a starter…" Kurt sighed, "I promised some help, let's see what I got that isn't for an order…" Hakuno nodded as Kurt pulled out his notepad and flicked on a pair of glasses, "I can spare a Moon and a Friend Ball at the moment, still working a large order of Level Balls for Bugsy, I need to head to the Store, and buy some new tongs as well…"
Hakuno shrugged, it appeared that the Moon would never leave her she gratefully accepted the two spherical objects. "We… probably should have gotten a Pokeball before heading out." Maizie whispered to her, "For tomorrow then?"
"Naoko wants to see you tomorrow, I'll bring you there while Maizie's at school, and then you two study. Your test is the next day, I'll talk to Nurse Joy about helping." Naoko? Maizie was… putting her hand on her face like a oh, the crazy Spinarak lady.
Hakuno gave a slight nod, "Alright."
Hakuno blinked, she rubbed her eyes as she couldn't believe them, "Come on child! I don't have all day." As soon as she arrived she was ushered into her home, dozens of small Spinarak were climbing over the furniture making way for her, and a large purple-gold Ariados rested on her couch.
"Ahh, don't mind Boppin Senior, he doesn't bite… anymore." She cackled.
Hakuno was many things, Victor of the Holy Grail War, The former master to Nero Claudius, and a former NPC, however, she had no idea how to react in a room full of spiders. At the very least she knew she was afraid more of the power of the many Pokemon than the fact that they are spiders...
She did sit closer to the door as she was forced to sit beside the large, tired, arachnid. "Now, Kurt told me your situation that little girl Maizie left out too much, bah that City Slicker Jenny, you don't gotta worry bout paying girlie, just try them on and let me see they fit cha."
Three different outfits, a long white dress with a red sash around the middle, a light blue jinbei dotted with pink Sakura petals, and a dark crimson turtleneck atop black shorts...
"What…?" Hakuno was absolutely confused.
"Bah, I don't got all day! A Drifter like yourself rarely stays long in this town, try them on me and the Boppins will make sure they fit right before you head out. You're a classic beauty I haven't seen since all those strange hairstyles came about, a little dull in the eyes and mind but you got this funny air boutcha. Got an emblem yet?"
"Emblem?"
"I'll take that as a no if you ever do swing back and I'll make room for it, but for now hurry up and try 'em on!" The large spider gave her a look of exhaustion as it used one of its long legs to point at a door.
The outfits… fit incredibly well. Ms. Naoko was an amazing seamstress. The material felt strange but it wasn't unpleasant. Hakuno was fairly sure none of it was fully made of spider silk and was slightly glad.
She had no idea how that would even feel, when she donned a garment she walked out and Naoko huffed, picking at certain parts of her arms or waist, once she was done testing each article she put back on her School Uniform.
"Good, my eyes haven't gotten worse!" She barked out a laugh, "Ariados and Spinarak venom does wonders to their silk," Venom!? "Don't give me that look, I've been making clothing for over five decades I know how to make them sturdy enough for a Journey." How does venom even get spun into clothing?
"Thank you, Ms. Naoko." Hakuno did a slight bow, at least now she has some clothing to call her own, starting tomorrow that is, she did feel that the black t-shirt/pant combo was missing something…
She had been lucky her School Uniform was a minor Mystic Code, while it seemed to have lost the Od Reserves aspect, it was still highly durable, at least now she wouldn't have s be wearing it or Maizie's clothing...
Naoko waved her hand dismissively, "Don't mind it child, gave this old timer somethin' to do, now get, I got some corrections to make, I'll even make ya a spare or two depending on my mood, might need to pick up a few things from that bastard at the 'Mart. Swing by after your test and I should have the ones here ready." Naoko pushed her out the door, the older lady had a surprising amount of strength, before slamming it.
Bobbin Jr gave her a shrug and a look that she read as, 'What are you going to do?'
Hakuno has crammed as much information about survival basics and Pokemon as she could, Hakuno and Maizie did their best.
Maizie had to score a seventy to pass, and Hakuno who didn't take the prerequisite courses needed a ninety. If not she will be forced to go to school and miss out on the current 'circuit', which she can't do as she doesn't have identification.
She did learn that most Drifters don't even bother to get identification, they are only here for a few days to a week compared to her living here the rest of her life. Maybe that is why Officer Jenny didn't believe her and seemed annoyed about the Care Package.
Walking into the testing center counting herself there were only six kids. Hakuno noticed she was the oldest, the rest seemed to be closer to Maizie's age in appearance… Three girls sat together, keeping a small distance from Maizie while the lone boy was by himself in the corner furiously looking over his notes.
That left Maizie to be alone, the girl's expression perked up when she noticed Hakuno and waved to her to sit beside her. Hakuno gave a slight nod to her housemate as she sat beside her.
Were they friends?
Hakuno didn't know.
Nero would have been able to tell her.
Nurse Joy walked into the room, Chansey gave a small wave with one of their flippers as she pushed a cart inside. "OK kids, I hope you studied, no one wants to start late on their journey!" She flashed a tired but cheerful smile.
Being the manager of a Pokecenter had to be difficult for her. Even an AI like Sakura seemed to become more tired as the weeks went on. Maybe once she has 'finished' her journey she could come back here and help out.
Hakuno glanced down at the test, each student now had a small packet of paper in front of them.
"You all have sixty minutes, time starts… now."
Author's Notes: Well, that's a wrap for this chapter, her clothes shopping aint done yet, her 'basic' look will be explained when she gets all the pieces, there will be a few more pieces added.
And for her Pokemon team… I do have a few specific ones planned but I am interested in hearing recommendations~ (I specifically have 2 planned, one im debating on and 3 im so-so on, I do have a naming scheme that I intend to use that will be revealed with her Starter… in a few chapters~)
The first part of Hakuno's test to become a Pokemon Trainer shall begin~
Cya laters~