Her amber eyes opened as she noted that it was approaching morning, and she checked her bag, smiling as she saw all four pokeballs in her pouch, of which three of them contained pokemon. Letting out a quiet smile, she sat down, and gazed around.
If only I didn't have to head back to New Bark town, she groaned, flinching as memories of her abuse echoed though her mind. Picking up a small twig and halfheartedly drawing in the ground, she closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. As soon as we have breakfast, we'll head on out and hopefully get to this Mr. Pokemon's house before nightfall, she mused, tossing the twig and rising up, stretching a bit.
Taking out the old paper mirror...well...mirror, she brushed her hair the best she could. I remember that day...so long ago...she sighed, shuddering as she remembered the day everything changed, that day when she was chased out of her home supposedly because of her family's supposed debt. She assumed supposed because she had never heard of it, and her father had bought her a PlayStation one console with the entire launch library mere months before she was chased out, and thus her suspicions on the manner.
Well, best not to dwell on that, though I'd love to investigate that. Maybe someday I can look into it, she sighed, before setting out her Pokemon's food, and then unleashing them.
"Eat up fellows," Aacob smiled, sitting to watch them eat their fill. As for her, she glanced around, spotting a wild Yuzu tree and picking one of the fruits, before pealing it and eating it.
She paused as she saw her Pokemon staring at her and she laughed a bit. "Don't worry bout me guys, I eat wild fruit all the time like this," she reassured them. One doesn't have much of a chance when you are homeless after all, she added as the took another bite, trying not to flinch too much from the sour juice.
Her pokemon took her word for it only after she opted to nab a second and eat it, and she watched as they finished their food, making sure to snag a few more fruit and place them in an old container while they ate. Once they were done she cleaned up their plates and gave them each a small pat on the head before returning all but Spinarak to their pokeballs, and headed out.
"Spin spin...ark..." the spider noted as he made a small web around her leg and settled into a makeshift cocoon.
"Well that's one way to go about it," Aacob smiled, grateful that she was wearing pants. The silk did wrap the material a bit tighter around her leg, but not uncomfortably so. Smiling, she slung her purse around her arm and began walking.
I have to wonder when we'll begin making money. There are usually minor temp jobs trainers can take a day or two to help out with, like clearing out forest or harvesting berry fields, and then there is money you get from winning battles...but that is kind of hit or miss...
"Spin spin?"
Glancing down, Aacob realized that the spider had noticed her intense thought. "Just plotting our moves once we get back to professor Elm's lab," she noted gently.
"Spi..."
"Guess your right there," Aacob laughed. "Anyways..."
"Hey you, you're one of them bug catcher types, aren't you?" a girl shouted at her.
"Who me?" Aacob asked.
"Why else would you let a Spinarak on your pants-leg like that? Well since you're a trainer..."
"Ah I see," Aacob smiled. I like this girl's gusto! She smirked, before nodding to Spinarak.
"Go, Wooper!" the girl smiled, unleashing what to Aacob looked like a blue walking tadpole fish.
Watching as Spinarak made his way toward the Wooper, it suddenly darted forward and took a good swipe at the walking tadpole, his first two strikes missing.
"Spinarak, use your Stringshot!" Aacob yelled.
"Trent, dodge it and then use Mudslap!" the girl noted.
So you named him Trent huh? Aacob smirked. "Don't let it hit you in the face with the Mudslap!" Aacob countered. "If you know how to use Absorb!" she added.
Her Spinarak got hit with a Mudslap on his left set of legs, but instead of slipping he remained calmed as the Wooper ran up to him, and at the last moment a spot of green appeared on one of Spinarak's right legs and made contact with the Wooper.
"Trent!" The girl cried. "Return," she shouted, before producing another Pokeball. "Let's go Kayla!" she shouted.
"A Marill huh?" Aacob smirked. "Return Spinarak, you've done good!" she added. "Let's go Hoothoot!" she added, watching in fascination as the spider returned to the ball, the mud that had been covering his left set of legs falling to the ground.
"Kayla, use bubble!" The girl shouted.
"Dodge and use Hypnosis!" Aacob yelled.
The owl gave a nod and beam energy shot out of it's eyes, hitting Kayla thoroughly. The pokemon began to act somewhat dazed, like it was seeing double.
"Great work Hoothoot, now Peck it!" Aacob growled.
"Dodge it, quick!" the girl commanded, causing Kayla to jump out of the way.
"Recover it with a Tackle!" Aacob shouted, causing the owl to change direction and slam into the blue mouse.
"Finish it off with an echoed voice!" Aacob hollered, prompting the owl to let out a deafening screech, which caused the mouse to run to her trainer.
The girl sighed as she picked up the mouse. "Well, it was worth a shot...don't worry, I don't blame you," she soothed, returning the mouse to her ball and walking over, handing Aacob two hundred yen coins. "Sorry bout assuming that you were a bug catcher back there," she smiled. "But that was a great battle," she added happily.
Taking the coins Aacob smiled in return. "Thanks, but that was my first battle," she admitted.
"Really?" the girl asked. "Oh, I'm Heather by the way, I'm trying to become an expert on land-water Pokemon battles," she added, extending her hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you Heather, I'm Aacob," she introduced herself as she accepted the handshake. I know that water type trainers typically specialized in either ground biased or pool based combat, both have their own unique challenges from what I hear, she mused.
"So, what brings you out here?" Heather asked.
"Apparently Professor Elm wanted me to fetch something from Mr. Pokemon's lab," Aacob shrugged. "No idea what it is or why he couldn't use the regular delivery services, but oh well. He let me borrow one of the starters and gave me three pokeballs to catch my own pokemon with," she added.
"What starter did you pick?" Heather gasped.
"He let me borrow a starter, it goes back to him once the delivery is complete," Aacob cautioned. "But I picked Chikorita, the same as I'd have picked if I had been allowed to own the starter as apposed to just borrowing it," she added.
"Still, Pokeballs are a lot of money so to speak, I'm still saving up for my fourth one, had to use two on Whooper," Heather sighed.
"I know, they're like what, fifty thousand yen for the base model," Aacob shrugged. "And then you have to upgrade to at least the Greatball if you want to allow captured pokemon to evolve into their finals forms," Aacob sympathized.
"And some require the Ultraball, that's like three hundred thousand yen," Heather made a disgusting face.
"Not looking forward to the idea of having to use one of them," Aacob noted.
"Well, it was nice meeting you Aacob," Heather smiled. "But I'd better let you get back to your errand. Would love to go with, but that's an all day journey and mom would kill me if I'm not back by supper."
"Would be nice to have a friend to go with, but your right, wouldn't want to make mom angry," Aacob smiled. "Good luck with the land-water battles," she waved as she turned to walk off.
"Wait, do you have a phone...or a Pokegear?" Heather called after her.
"Um...no...what's a Pokegear?" Aacob asked.
"Oh...my...gosh!" Heather gasped. "You have no way to communicate with anyone?"
"No one to communicate with," Aacob glanced away, sadly.
"You...didn't run away...did you?" Heather asked, walking up to her gently and touching her on the shoulder.
"I...intend to in a way...and in a way I did," Aacob sighed, before giving her a smile. "Heather, you're about the only one my age who's treated me as a friend...at least in a long time."
"Did...something happen?" Heather asked.
"I'd...rather not talk about it," Aacob sighed.
"Come with me, and at least let me buy you a Pokegear," Heather offered.
Aacob took a step back. "I...I appreciate the concern Heather, but I can get my own," she mummer quietly.
"Alright, but get one quickly then, okay?" Heather asked.
"Sure..." Aacob promised quietly, feeling the bile rise in her throat at the lie. There's no way that I can afford one of those! She stammered.
"Here's my number, promise that you'll call me as soon as you get one," Heather nodded as she wrote her number on a business card and handed it to Aacob.
"Will do," Aacob smiled, watching as Heather reluctantly walked away before making her way down the road.
What I wouldn't give to have mom and dad back, she whispered, not realizing that she was beginning to tear up a bit. After a bit it became too much, and she suddenly sat down, clasping her head into her hands and began to sob as the memory flooded her in full.
"By the rivers of Babylon...where we went down..." Aacob sung as she washed her face, combing her hair happily. "Sad tune, unless you're listening to that idiotic hip-hop version that some girls dance groups always dance too. That song is supposed to be a somber remembrance of the Jewish people in Babylonian captivity, not a dance off track," Aacob muttered, as she grew a bit sour, but smiled a bit. "And there we wept...when we remembered Zion..."
Rising out of the bathtub she dried her hair and slipped on her running shoes, shorts, and tee shirt, eager to get to Kinjo's.
"Mom, Dad, I'm ready..." Aacob gasped as she saw her mom being held down by two men in black uniforms, her dad knocked out in the corner.
"Run Aacob, Run!" her mother hollered, only for one of the men to clamp her mouth shut with some strange collar looking device with a ball attached to it, while the other to began approaching her. "The little kid will make a perfect way to repay the family debt," he smiled devilishly.
Aacob took off, grabbing her mother's purse from it's cubbyhole and ran for the woods, glancing behind her to see the man gaining on her.
"He's going to catch me!" she sobbed, her entire voice shaking, before a gentle sensation fell across her back, breaking up the terrible memory.
"Who's going to catch you little one," a gentle elderly man asked.
"N...no one sir...just a bad memory," Aacob stammered, clutching the blanket in comfort as she tried to stop the shaking.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"I was chased by a man in a black uniform when I was six...sometimes I have night terrors about it. Day terrors too it seems," she sighed, before rising up and handing him the blanket. "Thank you for the kind gesture sir," she added, handing him back the blanket.
"It's no trouble at all young lady...my granddaughter had similar episodes...though hers was caused by a muscular cancer in her legs. The pain was so great that well after it subsided she'd sometimes shake in fear or cry over the memory of her recent bout with it."
"Oh...I'm so sorry," Aacob whispered, having heard about how cancer had a tendency to make people sad, but not exactly knowing more then the fact that it either killed the person with it or somehow got healed.
"She's in a better place now," the elderly man smiled, though his tone was sad. "She lived twenty-two years, eighteen of it with that awful cancer. Them there doctors doubted that she'd live until the age of six, but boy did she surprise everyone." He let out a tired sigh. "She was a fighter alright."
"I...I'm not very knowledgeable on cancer I'm afraid," Aacob confessed.
"Most kids know about it, but I guess the educational system does miss a few," he noted, giving her a sympathetic glance.
And boy do they ever! Aacob agreed whole-heartedly. "What kind of tree is this?" she asked, gazing toward a tree with hard acorn-looking balls hanging from it.
"That young lady is an apricot tree," he noted. "If you take some of the ones ready to be picked to Kurt over in Azela town, he can turn them into custom pokeballs for you. These...are...well they say that they have special effects, and while individually they are more expensive, if you were to give him say a half dozen or so they'd be cheaper. But...it takes him a week to get each customer's order done, and he may not do one for you if he's busy and doesn't know you," the elderly man noted. "Why don't you pick a few?" he offered.
"Hmm...I'm not too sure which one's are ready...and shouldn't you pick them for yourself?" Aacob asked.
"My Rapidash and Vulpix are the only pokemon I need in my elderly age," the man laughed. "Go on, pick five or six, I'll let you if they are ready or not."
Aacob combed through the tree, touching one and gazing at him only picking them when he nodded. "This is very kind of you sir," she smiled as she picked the fifth one and climbed down from the tree.
"I usually let trainers pick some if they are ripe...albeit most trainers don't come this way, not since that new path was built," he sighed, before handing her a box. "Use this to keep them organized," he added.
"Th...thank you," Aacob smiled before gasping. "Wait...I'm supposed to be on my way to 's house!" she gasped.
"Don't worry young lady, his house is only bout six hours away. Although...might want to be sure to get there before dark, Shadow Beedrill come out at night," he cautioned.
"Sh...shadow Beedrill?" Aacob asked.
"Well...they're like regular Beedrill, except for being nocturnal, herbivorous, and black with red stripes," He shrugged.
"I almost want to catch one now, but I have Spinarak and I wanted one of those more than a Beedrill," Aacob smiled. "Anyways, thanks for everything sir," she bowed before setting off on her journey toward Mr. Pokemon's house.
She was beginning to feel tired as she knocked on the door, and found her face to face with this Mr. Pokemon she had been hearing so much about.
"Ah, you must be little Aacob that I've been hearing so much about," He smiled. "Come on in and make yourself at home young miss," he added.
Stepping in, she gazed at all the machinery, wires, and books strewn across the lad.
"Please do excuse the mess," Mr. Pokemon apologized. "I'm not comfortable working in a dedicated lab, so I work out of this unassuming house," he added, ending in a slight laugh.
Creepy...but if it works then it works...Aacob inwardly flinched. "So what's this delivery about?" she added.
"All in due time, there's someone where whom I think you might like to meet," Mr. Pokemon smiled, before turning to another elderly man in the room.
"Professor Oak?" Aacob gasped, barely recognizing him from all the photos she used to read as a little girl.
"Why hello there young Aacob, professor elm said that you'd be coming. Why yes I am the very same Professor Oak you speak of."
"It's...an honer to meet you sir," Aacob bowed. "I used to read about you a lot when I was little."
"You look tired young Aacob, you should rest a while," Oak noted.
"Yes, the second guess bedroom is reserved for you use during your stay, make yourself at home," Mr. Pokemon offered.
"Thanks...I..." Aacob blushed as she yawned. "Think I'll take a little nap, not this used to walking," she added, heading on down into the room and practically passing out on the bed.
Oak glanced over at , his concern growing. "Is she going to be alright, going on a Pokemon journey in her state?" he asked.
"It's her only choice, according to Elm she's not likely to trust anyone with adopting her, and she is of legal age to be her own guardian, given that she's ten."
"Seems young though..." Oak sighed. "But Rusty, Leaf, Daisy, and Gary all went on their journey around her same age, heck Daisy and Russet married right before they left," he added.
"Don't forget that ten years is equivalent to ten thousand, seven hundred and ten days," Mr. Pokemon noted. "That's plenty of time for the mind to mature, even if the body still looks young.
"True that," Oak noted, before frowning. "You sure that we shouldn't just give her the egg permanently?"
"I think the backpack and three pokeballs are enough help, and besides, from what Elm told me she's not likely to appreciate too many gifts," Mr. Pokemon sighed.
A gentle knocking woke Aacob up. "Time for diner," Oaks voice echoed.
Rising up and combing her hair gently, she nodded and rose up, following him into the main room and sitting down. "So, what's this task you need me to do?" she asked as a plate of Miso soup and a side of rice was sat in front of her.
"Dinner first, the mission and discussions there of can wait until the morning, little one," Mr. Pokemon indulged.
"Thanks for the food," Aacob smiled as she dug in, making sure to eat at a steady pace.
"So young lady, any plans after you finish up with the journey?" Oak asked.
Aacob paused mid-bite, and thought a bit as she finished the bite. "Guess just get myself an apartment and a job. Never really had big ambitions since I became...well...you know..." She gazed at her hands a bit before she continued eating, hoping that neither elder would press her further on the subject.
"That's an admirable plan young lady," Mr. Pokemon smiled. "But tell me, is there anything that you'd like to do?"
"I once wanted to be a police officer," Aacob noted. "But...the officers in New Bark Town...they've turned me off of the idea, and besides I fear that I might be too aggressive when I get angry."
"Got a mean streak eh?" Oak teased.
I...I'm trying to work on it, okay?" Aacob stammered, blushing.
"Well as long as you're working on it," Mr. Pokemon smiled.
Aacob soon finished her food and rose up. "If it's alright, I think that I'll step out and feed my Pokemon," she smiled.
"Mind if I join you?" Oak requested.
"S...sure," Aacob smiled, blushing a bit in shyness, but trusting of the two elder gentlemen. She quickly made her way outside and set out her plates, before pouring the food in and releasing her pokemon.
"So you borrowed Chikorita huh?" Oak smiled. "And I see that you caught two Pokemon...a Bit surprised that you got a Spinarak of all things."
"I always liked the Spinarak line," Aacob smiled. "As for Hoothoot...that was kind of a sudden thing were it attacked Chikorita and I right after we caught Spinarak, so..."
"Ah...a catch of last resort huh?" Oak teased.
"Something like that," Aacob blushed.
"Either way, it seems like you have a team who trust you well," Oak smiled as he began setting out bowls of his own, and then proceeded to release five pokemon.
"Wow...so...cool..." Aacob whispered in awe, her amber eyes shining as she spotted the five elite Pokemon, a Gyarados, Venusaur, Exeggutor, Tauros, and Arcanine. However she shrank a bit as the Arcanine walked up to her, her amber eyes widening as memories of the last time she met an Arcanine flooded into her mind.
"He doesn't bite Aacob," Oak reassured her.
Tentatively, Aacob extended her hand, allowing the giant dog to sniff it, smiling as he gave her a hand an ever so gentle nudge and lick, before going over to it's food.
"See, gentle huh?" Oak smiled as he petted his Torus.
"Y...yeah," Aacob whispered, stunned at the difference between Oak's Arcanine and that one of the Bitch who sicked hers on her two days ago.
"Did...you perhaps have a bad experience with an Arcanine before?" Oak asked as he came over and petted the giant dog.
"I...I'd rather not talk about it," Aacob stammered quietly. She stood in silence for a while, not really too sure of what to say, and just focused on feeding her Pokemon, while occasionally petting them when they paused in their eating to gaze at her.
"You must really love them huh?" Oak noted.
"Yeah...I...haven't really had friends since I became homeless...that was four years ago," Aacob noted quietly, before stifling a yawn, and returning her pokemon. "I think that I'll take a shower and then turn in for the night," she noted as she cleaned the bowls and snuffled inside the house.
Taking off her clothes, she sighed happily as she felt the warm water wash over her. Four years ago...almost...the last time I truly had a warm bath of any kind, she smiled, almost letting out a moan of joy before mentally slapping herself. It's fine to be happy, but try not to let out anything too stupid, she scolded, before washing her hair and putting in some of the hair lotion.
Someday...I'll earn the right to a warm shower like this every day...I'll be able to make my own money, earn my own apartment, and I'll no longer be viewed as some homeless scumbag. She then let out a sinister smile. "And I'll get my revenge on all them assholes who went out of their way to make my life miserable."