Chapter 2 – A Trainer's First Steps
A/N: This is an original Pokémon Fan Game made by Amethyst. If you wish to check it out and play the game, download it at Reborn Evolved. Search for it on your web browser to get to the website.
Edited/Rewritten as of 12/29/2023. Updated with a new point of view after a devastating train crash. Gives the characters more feeling and lines the Pokémon battles with more theatrical points.
Location: Grand Hall Suites (Opal Ward)
Water dripped from a facet. Silently echoing as each drop hit the bottom of the sink. Drip, drip, drip, clack, clack, clack...
The rhythmic pattern of the falling water, instead, started to echo the familiar clack of a train. As soon as that dripping started to echo an unwanted memory, a porcelain hand grabbed the faucet head, "Stop... please stop..."
Looking at his reflection in the mirror, his blue eyes held determination for a fun challenge of a powerful Pokémon League... Were now tired, fearful of the experience of no longer than four days ago. Percival stood in front of the mirror, one of three known survivors of what's now known as The Grandview Explosion. Percival still recalled the visions of fire that burned the old train station, the smoke that filled the air, the horrid screech of tearing metal...
Thinking more back on it, Percival didn't know what was better. The impact of jumping from the train at the last minute put Lucille, the girl he had met for the first time, unconscious and unable to see the aftermath. Or that he never heard any cries of pain from the train wreckage. The latter was a grim thought, but Percival was grateful for it. Just knowing that he almost died from a planned explosion terrified him.
From what Percival overheard from Ame's discussions, the Reborn City's Police Department and a Gym Leader. The explosion was deliberate. Somebody had rigged the train to destroy Grandview Station. Percival had yet to learn who or why someone would want such a thing. Now that the station had been destroyed, Percival or anyone could leave Reborn. Well, they could, but that would entail trekking through an entire desert on foot, which few people had plans to do.
"It's not like you had..." Percival sighed once more, staring at his reflection in the mirror. "You came here for a reason. You are not going to quit now. You said you would fight the Reborn League and be victorious."
Percival forced some confidence back into his smile. He had said it himself: what's a journey without a stumble? Sure, this was a far more significant stumble than he had anticipated. But he had to persevere. How else would he survive or even help out Lucille?
Lucille, rendered unconscious after escaping the explosion, woke up later that night. She looked whiter than a sheet when told the details of what happened. She was just as surprised and scared as Percival. The next few days passed like a blur for them, mainly with the two staying together in the Grandhall. The two couldn't leave the building because the Trainer Registration had been put on hold for investigation. Aside from a small escapade with a Magikarp Scammer, earning Lucille a new team member, it was relatively uneventful for the two trapped in the Reborn Region.
Though that would change in just a few hours, while the investigation had not been very successful, Ame felt they could only stay locked up in the Grandhall for a while. So today, they would be obtaining their licenses and earning their freedom to explore the City.
Knock, knock.
A fist softly tapped the wooden door. The white-haired boy stood waiting for a response while things finally seemed natural... There was still an air of awkwardness. "Hey, it's almost time... Are you ready?"
A light click rang through the door as the handle turned, and the door swung open. Behind it was a girl with long blonde hair, her bangs hiding one of her silver eyes. Her face seemed tired; it was hard to tell how she was dealing with the aftermath of the Train Explosion.
"*cough*" The blonde girl, Lucille, cleared her throat. She put on a bright and brave smile so as not to worry the one in front of her. "Ready as I'll ever be. So... We're going downstairs to see Ame, right?"
"Somewhat." Percival answered, "Ame said someone would be coming here to pick us up. They should be here soon."
"Oh, That's good. Are you excited?" Lucille said, brushing her bangs out of her eyes, "You'll finally be able to start your league challenge."
"Uh... right," Percival copied Lucilles, brushing his white hair from his shoulder. "Julia said she was the first Gym Leader to fight in the region."
"Julia? Who's that?" Lucille asked Percival who she was, hearing an unfamiliar name. "No, wait... that was the woman with bright green hair and a thunderous voice, wasn't it?"
"You would be correct." Percival chuckled.
While Lucille met Julia for a short time... Rather, Julia managed to wake Lucille up after being knocked unconscious. Lucille was quite surprised to hear from a woman who seemed passionate about explosions and how the train destroyed the station. Lucille had suspicions about that woman.
"Are we sure she didn't destroy the train station?" Lucille tilted her head; to her, this sounded very plausible.
"No... While Ame was initially suspicious, she has dismissed any allegations that the Gym Leader could be responsible."
"Alright. Fine." Lucille relented.
As the two continued to converse. A woman with black hair and onyx-colored eyes. She wore a kimono similar to that of kendo practitioners; the top section was white with yin-yang symbols embroidered to the sides and a black sash tied together. The women saw the white-haired boy and the blonde girl talking. "Hey, are you two, Lucille and Percival?"
The two blinked, not noticing when the woman appeared. She seemed about two years older than Lucille and Percival. Lucille, shifting her fingers through her hair, took the initiative. "Lucille, that's me... Though you can call me Lucy."
"Percival is quite the abbreviation," Percival smirked at this moment with a playful tone. "I'll have you know I am Percival Jeramiah von Decibel Leonardo De Whitehall III."
"Ignore him." Lucille brushed Percival aside.
"Alright, I'm Victoria." The girl smirked at the back-and-forth of the two before her. It is a pleasure to meet both of you. I hope what had happened at Grandview Station wasn't too bad."
"Well... we're alive." Lucille was still uncomfortable with what had happened, but she knew that she had managed to survive.
"Um... let's not get too far into it. I suppose you're the one Ame sent to come to get us?" Percival smiled; he would rather avoid the subjects of trains for some time.
"Yes, Ame asked that I bring you down for registration." Victoria bobbed her head in affirmation. "I'm also registering for the league. It shouldn't take too long."
"Oh, you are also fighting in the Reborn League?" Percival's ears perked in the appearance of a soon-to-be rival.
"That would be correct; my sensei has instructed me to grasp the world better. To do so, I am facing the Reborn League from square one." Victoria answered, showing that she currently had no Pokeball at her belt.
"Really?" Lucille sighed, hearing Victoria was facing the league. Two of the few people she knew in this region were both facing off in the Pokémon league
"If you're feeling left out, you can always join," Percival smirked. He always dreamed of having many rivals. Friends and foes to face while he faced gym after gym, climbing the league ranks.
"I'll see how Deme and Livia feel about it." Lucille shrugged. Pokémon Battles just didn't seem that important or exciting to her at the current moment.
After being led through the glorious halls of the Grand Hall, Victoria led the duo through the main lobby. Up to the front desk, where a woman with white hair and amethyst-colored eyes sat. Her eyes were glued to the monitor in front of her; now and then, she would mutter something, sometimes in annoyance. As the trio approached, they noticed she was muttering some minor curses.
"Um... Ame?" Victoria called out to the woman first.
Ame stood up in surprise, looking at the three before her, almost forgetting about her current appointment. "Oh, you're here already. That's good."
"If you're busy, we can come back later..." Lucille muttered, having seen the stacks of paperwork and the other desk workers running around in the background.
"No, it's fine... it's fine." Ame sighed, "There haven't been any signs of any suspects yet. Though there are still officers out searching the area."
"They... haven't found who blew up the station yet?" Percival said, swallowing his anxiety.
"Not yet..." Ame answered honestly, "But we'll find them. Since that day, we've had travel restrictions between the wards... However, some other issues arise because of that. But you three don't need to worry about all that; it'll be taken care of." Ame let out a sigh before placing a smile on her face. "Right now, let's get your registrations finished. But really, the main event is picking up a starter. As a reminder, the starter room holds starter Pokémon from Kanto to Alola."
"Well then, why not ladies first?" Percival looked toward his two companions. Lucille just raised her eye in what seemed to be suspicion. "Don't accuse me of trying to pick a pokémon with a type advantage against you. I have a pokémon type preference, and there is only one up there that I will choose."
"A-and who said I didn't want to get a type stronger than yours?" Lucille rebuked in a stutter.
"Well, then I'm sure any water type would be a good counter," Percival said with a smirk.
"Oh, you were also going for a Fire-Type, Percival?" Victoria interjected upon hearing the weakness of Percival's type.
"Yes," Percival nodded, turning toward Lucille, "Well, now all the more reason to pick a water type. Or better yet, join the bandwagon."
"..." Lucille responded with a dead stare, however. "I'm picking a grass starter just to spite you."
"Pfft…" Percival smirked at Lucille's deadpan expression. While her expression was annoyed, very familiar with this expression, Percival couldn't help but poke the fire.
With a huff, Lucille walked around the desk with Victoria, following Ame to the starter room, leaving Percival stranded in the middle of the Grandhall with nothing to do.
"Heyyy, you're cute." while wondering what to do while waiting for the two to return, Percival suddenly heard a voice call from behind him.
Turning to the voice, Percival caught sight of a slender boy with spikey purple hair and deep purple eyes. Percival smirked as he looked at the boy's clothes, Purple, with a fishnet t-shirt underneath. "You're pretty beautiful yourself, aren't you."
"Wh-what? Haha… I didn't say that…" The boy was caught off guard by Percival's confident grin, his cheeks blushing, "I was wondering if you've seen Ame around?"
"She's off giving people a starter Pokémon," Percival simplified the versions of events. "When she returns, I'll be grabbing one myself."
"Ohhhh, so she's with someone else. Kay," the boy smiles. "My name's Cain. How about yours?"
Percival's white hair bobbed as he bowed forward. "I am Percival Jeramiah von Decibel Leonardo De Whitehall III, but please call me Percy."
"Percy… what a pretty name," Cain's eyes sparkled as he watched the angelic movements of Percival. "Uhhh… So you just said you'll be getting a starter, huh? So then you're challenging the league?"
"That would be correct." Percival nodded, Catching a lack of Pokeballs on Cain's belt. "Are you here to take on the league as well?"
"Yeah, I was just coming here to start over…" Cain's voice sounded surprisingly dejected, contrasting his earlier perkyness. "I figured I should try taking on the league instead… maybe."
"Why not have a Pokémon battle to decide then?" Percival taunted; he'd been itching for a good fight, and Cain seemed like someone who would scratch that itch.
"Sure, why not? I'm always down to go a round~" Cain said, batting his long eyelashes at Percival. "Hope you're ready 'cause Nidorino doesn't like to hold back!"
"Nido!" Cried a purple four-legged pokémon, and the horn atop its head seemed dreadfully toxic.
"A Poison-type, well Steel, let's see how well it can do against you!" Percival smirked, throwing out a blue metal disk with red eyes and two metal arms. The blue metal monster hovered before the Nidorino prepared for what it might throw.
"Oh, you just know how to screw my types, huh~" Cain chuckled. "No matter, c'mon Nidorino! Show 'em who's boss, Fury Attack!"
"Nido!" The purple rhino shouted, charging at the Metang. Digging its poisonous horn into the blue metal. While the force was strong, Steel felt minor damage to the hits.
"Alright then, Steel, follow back with Metal Claw and bullet punch!" Percival shouted.
"..." Steel's red eyes glowed in confirmation. Its left arm glowed, making its blue coat ever more vibrant, slashing across the Nidorino, pushing the beast back. Though the Nidorino found no solace in its gaining distance, the right arm of the Metang glowed a bright orange, shooting right into the stomach of the Nidorino.
"Doooo!" The Nidorino coughed, taking a beating from that hit combination.
"Wow, getting so bent here. Okay, show 'em what a surprise you are, my good partner!" Cain smirked. His Nidorino getting back to its feet.
"How about another combination strike, Steel!" Percival shouted.
"..." Steel's eyes glowed, flying at the nidorino quickly. As its left arm started to glow blue
"Nido!" The Nidorino parried the strike, following back with a backleg to the Metang's underbelly. Knocking Steel away.
"!" Steel's eyes were jumbled from the unexpected sucker punch. With invigoration, Steel shot off both its arms in a new bullet punch combination. Leaving the metal core, two Beldum now slammed into the Nidorino.
"Ni…Do?!" The Nidorino shouted in surprise. Not expecting this attack strategy. Getting knocked back, left unconscious on the ground.
"Woah, Nidorino, you did your best," Cain said, holding a Pokeball that shot a red laser at his purple rhino. Cain chuckled, looking up at the victor of the battle. "Cute AND talented~ Huh? I so didn't expect for your Metang to revert into two Beldum like that."
"It's nothing much, just a small strategy I made to counter sucker punchers," Percival smirked as his two Beldum reconnected to the Metang hub before returning them to their Pokeball. "Not my most impressive strategy. But one that will be stuck in your memory, I hope."
"Uh… yeah, definitely," Cain responded, covering his face with his hands. Cain was falling for Percival's smile.
"Oh, Cain… Right, I forgot you were coming by." The two boys looked over and saw a white-haired woman, followed by two girls. While Percival and Cain battled, it seemed that Victoria and Lucille had picked starters from their Starter room.
"Heyyy, Ame, Victoria!" Cain smiled, wrapping his arm around Percival's shoulder. "No worries; while you were busy, I met Percival here and had some fun~."
"'Had some fun'? I didn't know you were like that, Percy…" Victoria gave Percival a strange look. However, Percival understood what she meant.
"!..." Apparently, from Lucille's blushing, so did she.
"What?" Cain laughed. "ha-ha, nah, we just had a battle."
"Oh! I just finished a battle against Lucille upstairs." Victoria smiled at the innocent actions of a pokémon battle.
"Fair reminder to everyone… Grass does not beat Fire…" Lucille grumbled at her loss against Victoria.
"Okay, so with these two done, could you please come grab your starter for now, Percival?" Ame asked.
"Surely," Percival nodded with a smile.
"Cain, when I get back, I'll start on your registration. So please be patient." Ame bowed her head, asking Cain.
"Sure thing, Master~" Cain smirked, catching the eyes from everyone around him.
""Master?"" Ame huffed at Cain.
"Nothing~," Cain said, though his mischievous smile did not fade.
"Uh… huh." Ame sighed, "We'll be back soon… Cain, please be nice to the new trainers."
"What? I'm only rough if they like it that way." Cain chuckled.
After a while, Percival returned with Ame. Percival chose his own fire-type Fenniken. Knowing the typing of this pokémon's final evolution and his natural preference for psychic types, Percival was a No-Brainer on who he chose. Returning downstairs, registration was quickly finished.
"And that's about everything. Good luck out there, everyone!" Ame said with an exhausted sigh. "Oh yeah, maybe send a tip to your local officer if you happen to see anyone who looks like they might want to blow up a train station… Julia doesn't count!"
"Will do." Cain, Percival, Lucille, and Victoria nodded.
"Until next time!" Ame waved with the best smile she could give them.
"Well, I'd love to stay and say things that would turn Lucille a brighter shade of red. But I gotta get going!" Cain smirked,
"H-hey!" Lucille shouted unused to the innuendos and dirty jokes that Cain had made.
"Stay safe, Cain; another battle is always welcomed," Percival smirked, calling out to his new friend.
"Well, I should get going as well. I need to go check in with my teacher Kiki." Victoria bowed her head, saying goodbye to Percival and Lucille.
"Yes, I think you mentioned her before." Percival nodded, recalling Victoria said she was facing the league at her Sensei's orders.
"I'm an apprentice at Apophyll Academy," Victoria nodded, "It's across the lake from the city. I'm sure you'll be headed there eventually, Percival. Kiki, while Sensei of Apophyll Academy, she is also a Gym Leader."
"Thank you for that knowledge," Percival smirked.
"Also, Lucille here. A small present from me to you!" Victoria smiled and handed Lucille five spheres with red tops. "I know a lot of people say that Pokémon are rare in the city… But you can still find them. Sometimes, they like to stay hidden but just look around a bit! But with Percival by your side, I'm sure you'll manage. See you guys around!"
"And then there were two," Percival said as he and Lucille were left to their own devices. "Unless you wish to travel by yourself?"
"Haaa… Fine, let's go." Lucille sighed, hiding a smile at the corner of her lips. This certainly wasn't the perfect start to a journey… and not knowing what dangers she could face. Traveling with someone that she courted death with previously would be the most ideal decision.