Chapter 1 – Life
My pencil scratched away at my desk. A small TV was on in the background, the volume turned down, so it was just louder than background noise.
-"Do you think last week's finals signal a change in the power structure of the Masters Circuit? We saw newcomer Nathan Greene unseat last year's winner, April Hask, in a"-
I stopped listening to the TV. It was just talking heads, anyways - the match in question was long over, and my focus needed to be on studying for my exams. My make-up exams. I had missed the actual exams a week ago while I was out sick with the flu. This was a problem, because the results of these exams determined if I would get my trainer's license or not. I couldn't afford any further setbacks if I wanted to get my license in time to register for the upcoming league season. I returned my attention to the mock question in front of me.
If a grass type Pokémon is wilting, and you have been ensuring steady exposure to sun and water, what are your next steps in diagnosis, and how would you remedy the situation?
I suppose I would – Wha? The sound of the TV changed, abruptly louder.
-"We interrupt this program to bring breaking news. WSOZ reports the incident earlier today of Pokémon League officials closing public access to Viridian Gym was not in relation to damage to the structure from a battle gone wrong, as was earlier suspected. Multiple sources within the league state that Viridian Gym leader Sakaki Giovanni was arrested early this morning on charges of criminal activity"-
I sat bolt upright, staring at the little screen.
– "including relations with the notorious criminal organization known as Rocket. If true, this bombshell will undoubtedly paint a black eye on the League and cast a long shadow on the upcoming annual meeting discussing next year's Kanto Circuit. Only time will tell how it affects Viridian citizens, and others who may have been affected by Rocket activities."-
Well, there went my focus for the evening. Giovanni was widely considered to be the toughest gym leader in Kanto – very few Earth badges were awarded each year. This is a seismic shift in Kanto politics, much less the league structure. He had his hands in everything these days, it would seem. It looked like one got caught where it shouldn't have been. I leaned back in my chair, balancing it on two legs as I rested my pencil between my pursed lips and my nose. This was something I hadn't been sure I would see, and confirmation of my fears.
-"Again, breaking news that"-
I hit the mute button with one hand and resumed thinking. In a way, this was good. I could now place myself within the timeline, to an extent. I already had some idea, based on the technology level and known Pokémon, but this really dialed it in much tighter, depending on if you counted Ash as an analogue for Red or his own person. I suppose it only matters insofar as it helps determine the setting, rather than worrying about details I couldn't truly recall. It would now seem that this was the year that one of them had finished their rookie conference, and that the Rocket organization would soon be defunct in Kanto. This was good news for me, as I was currently a Celadon resident.
"Jun! Dinner~!"
"Ok, mom, I'll be right down!"
I slowly leaned my chair flat again and set my pencil down on my mock test. It could wait until after I ate.
A Week Later*
"What? What do you mean, I missed the deadline? This is a make-up exam! The whole point is to allow people who were indisposed to take it!! I was ill!!"
I stared at the counselor at my school, anger palpable on my face.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Mitchell, but that's exactly it. The make-up exam allows you to test for your Trainer's License, but the deadline for the Oak Scholarship entries for this year passed 2 weeks ago - as did several others. We have no input over the timing of those awards. If you wish to take part in this year's conference circuit, you will need to obtain a Pokémon from another licensed source by the start of the season - or you will need to wait until next year."
I felt an incandescent fury at the unfairness of it all start to build in me before I shoved it back down. "Thanks for nothing, I guess." I snarled and shoved my new license into my pocket before storming out of the school office, past the startled secretary, and outside into the street. Fuming, I got on my bike and rode off angrily, the late spring sun beating down overhead.
That Evening*
The door shut with a thud as I walked into the house, dirty.
"Jun, what's wrong? Jun? Jun!" My mother called from the kitchen as she saw my expression. The low evening sun threw a long shadow across the floor from the entryway as I ignored her after removing my shoes and headed to my room as if on guided rails. I slammed the door shut behind me and flopped onto my bed. I heard steps, and then a soft knock on said door. "Sweetie, what's wrong?" I closed my eyes in frustration for a moment, before getting up, bed creaking, and walked over to the door, opening it, and then hugging my mother, my face in her apron. "I didn't get the Oak scholarship. I didn't get any of them," I said softly, pain in my voice. Her arms enfolded me. "Oh, Jun…"
"It's not fair!!" I said, looking away.
"I tested top of the school, second in the whole city! But they said the deadline passed 2 weeks ago and there's nothing I can do until next year…" She squeezed me more tightly. "There, there, it's ok… Everything will turn out just fine." She turned my head up so she could look me in the eyes. "We'll talk to your father about it when he gets home tonight. He'll know just what to do."
"Really?"
"Really. Now why don't you go get cleaned off and change into something nice for dinner. I'm cooking your favorite, so buck up, mister," She smiled and nudged me gently. I let go of her and turned away to go shower, alone with my thoughts.
The hot water hit me, and I wasn't sure if it was soothing or just numbing. I stood there, letting it run over me, and just existed. At some point, my mind began to function again, and I washed, rinsed, and dried off. As I toweled, I began to think again. Maybe mom is right. Maybe dad knows someone, or something, a procedure, or some loophole, and can get me back on track for the Oak scholarship. Maybe this can turn out ok. Maybe I just need to make my case.
Maybe the goal I've been working towards for 10 years isn't shot.
I dressed, and looked in the mirror. Pale blue eyes stared back at me, rimmed in red and still a little puffy. A straight nose, full lips, and wet, messy black hair completed the 'I just cried' look. Crap. I feel bad all over again. I left the bathroom without brushing my hair and went downstairs for dinner.
It was clear at dinner that my mother had caught dad up on the news while I was in the shower. He was all fired up, talking about how he would set this straight and that a great injustice had been done. I appreciated the effort to cheer me up, and I tried to pay attention, but my heart just wasn't in it tonight. I ate half my food and excused myself from the table, cleaning off my plate and putting it in the washer. I headed up to my room.
Mr. Mitchell POV*
I exchanged a look with my wife as our son marched by, headed upstairs. After a few moments, I spoke softly to her, "Carol, I'll do everything I can, but it might not be possible to do anything." She looked at me, "George, you just told our son that you would fix this. I told him that you could fix this." "Honey, it's not so simple in this case. These are academics. They love their rules and their deadlines. It makes them feel powerful. It usually takes millions of dollars or a well-connected favor to try and do something about a situation like this with something as prestigious as the Oak Foundation."
She bit her lip, looking down before meeting my eyes again. "What does that mean for Jun?" "It means exactly what I said earlier. I will do everything I can to get him on that scholarship - but we might need a backup plan. I will start on both tomorrow." I reached my hand out to cover her smaller one, squeezing gently as I leaned in. "I promise, this will be made right, one way or another." She smiled tremulously, lacing her fingers through mine.
Jun POV*
I was lying face up in my bed, just staring at the ceiling. My thoughts were going in circles. What was I going to do? How could I achieve my goal of becoming a professional trainer if I couldn't get a quality starting Pokémon? It seemed pretty universal among trainers that you wanted a good starter to get you off on the right foot - and so when you were deep in the league and the chips are down you had a Pokémon with a powerful potential that could help bail you out of a jam. Visions of Charizard blasting enemies danced through my head, vanishing. This was not the start I was envisioning for my career.
That moment of choosing your starter from the Professor?
I might not get it.
And I know that didn't mean I couldn't be a good trainer. But I was so, so looking forward to that moment now that I was here, in the world of Pokémon. It was devastating. My mind circled around again. Maybe dad can still fix this. Can he really, though? - avoice kept niggling me in my head. My knowledge of these things from my first life spoke to the difficulty of the situation and made me want to rage against it all. I caught that stupid flu from Will, anyways. He had it a week before me, the prick, I thought uncharitably. I knew Will had tested well. I also knew it wasn't his fault I caught it from him. I still hated him in this moment.
He would probably get accepted for the Oak scholarship, pick his chosen starter and be off to the races while I was stuck here trying to source something better than a freshly caught pokémon from the local area. I had a decent amount of money saved for my rookie conference from part time jobs the past several years, but nothing like the amount I would need for anything good. We weren't poor, but I knew how expensive it could be to get quality pokemon that was also certified for beginners, and it wasn't a cheap expense at all.
The cycle continued, until at some point in the night, I fell asleep, dreaming uneasy dreams.
AN: Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy what I've come up with. This is my first fiction I am publishing (all rights to their respective holders, though of course my OCs are my own). I do hope for some feedback for a little motivation. I have about 5-6 more of these drafted that I plan to edit and post without too much delay, with a very rough idea of where I want to go. I have been sitting on this story for a while, but frankly, I have the spine of the story, and still need the rest of the skeleton.
This being my first fiction that I am sharing, I'm not really sure about the writing process I will find best or easiest - but I figure I can take the plunge with what I have and figure out the rest as I go if there is any interest. With that being said, expect irregular updates past those first half dozen chapters until I can find a groove as a writer.
