Chapter 9: Before I was Cool

'I remember a tall tower, my first memory. Stepping inside I saw a wooden beam that would sway from side to side. I kept an eye on it, finding patterns in the grain of the wood. My mother and I climbed higher, but I still couldn't tear myself away from that beam. Shouting. The flapping of wings. Hoot. The image of an eye in the wood.'

'And like that, I was in front of an old man with a ring of beads around his neck.'

-"What is your name, young acolyte?"

'Years later I graduated from trainer's school. Couldn't afford to go see Professor Birch, so I had to intern at the local prof's lab instead. Wasn't much of a lab, more of a run down camp in the ruins near town. He didn't give me a pokemon for free. Said I had to earn my keep. Earn the "right" to start my adventure. I saw on the news that we had a new champion. Wish that were me.'

'My parents broke up. They were too different. I stopped staying in contact, not because I wasn't nearby, but because they wanted me to get a "real job". I was working towards becoming a trainer! So what if I was too poor to get a starter? I had finally convinced the prof to hire me officially so I could get paid something, anything! Minimum… I spent my first pay check on a pokeball.'

'Something about that ball was broken. I tried it on a Mareep. It shook three times and clicked closed, but when I picked it up, the pokemon escaped. I looked it up online. "Sudden release safety feature." Something about how older style pokeballs worked, there was a small chance that the ball would "misfire" or "miss" for short. Don't know why they bothered shortening it. I learned to code and repair balls that year.'

'I love the color green, it reminds me of a sunny day surrounded by grass. A Bellsprout wandered right up to me! It was so cool. I held out my ball and it looked so excited… Another trainer ran up to me and accused me of being a thief. The Bellsprout wasn't their pokemon, that trainer just wanted it. I slept in the jail that night. I saw Bellsprout again, but it was another trainer's pokemon. The person who was so envious of me that they had me arrested traded it to someone else. I still love the color green, it reminds me of what could have been.'

'Damn my memories are pretty shit. Why is it I can only remember bad things about my life? I had good times! I had friends! My friends from school, the bird kid who worked as a trainer at the gym. We got into so much trouble, I can't help but laugh! I had people who cared about me. My old master. He was a fun guy, even when he drank. Was there to celebrate my 21st birthday with me… I had a boyfriend. He was beautiful. Kind.'

The current opens up into a bay, wide glittering waves stretched over the horizon. Long, slow crashing sounds echo for miles. All at attendance stall for just a moment, amazed at the sight.

"The ocean… Heh, well go on. You've earned it!"

All 14 fish survivors perk up and rush ahead. Nibbling on plants, taking in the sights, chatting with local pokemon, wonder filled their eyes. Hope filled their hearts. Tentacool feels their own swell, pride drowning out any sense of longing or pain.

'This is my life now. I'm still Jessie, but I could use a new last name… Should I go with something cool? Something edgy?'

-"Karp?"

"Yeah! Yeah, I just realize I never told you guys my name in all that time at the lake. My name is-"

"Jessie Cooledge."