So there I sat on the bench, completely gobsmacked and mouth imitating a beached Magikarp. I was beyond shocked and why was that?
Well, to properly explain it. We first had to go through
what exactly a starter was.
Okay, so starter Pokémon were an intrinsic part of a trainer’s career. You'd have to be living under a rock if you didn't know this. They were the first any trainer would know and bond with. They were your partner, your best friend, your closest companion and the one you'd trusted your very life with.
Many trainers started out with simple Pokémon. Bidoof, Starly, Budew, Shinx, just to name a few. Basically any Pokémon that could be found in your local route just a few meters out of the city or town. They weren't particularly strong but they were easy enough to train and were incredibly reliable in spite of their lack of potential.
There were exceptions, of course. If you were in a place that had a gym and subsequently had the grades for it, you could sign up to receive a Pokémon with a typing matching the local gym’s specialty. It didn't take a genius to realise that having a gym-raised Pokémon who were incredibly disciplined and taught to understand orders made a big difference to one’s budding career. Hundreds of trainers would travel to a city and stay there weeks prior to be the first on the list to receive a starter.
Shaking my head, I brought my attention back onto the scene before me.
There was a young girl, happy, cheery and chatting joyfully with her partner. A hand jabbing and picking up trash with her stick all the while looking nothing like the nervous and grumpy kid from before.
My attention lingered on the two for a minute longer as they wadded through the park. They were cute, the two of them were relaxed, adoring each other’s presence like they'd been best friends for many years.
I really wished I could say my mind was enjoying the sight and the pleasant atmosphere around me.
Instead, I couldn't help but focus on the implications, the thoughts and questions swirling in my head.
How on earth does she have a regional starter? A Johto one at that. How long have they known each other? How does a little kid that barely looks nine have a Pokémon that I, no so many others have, struggled so hard to obtain?
Was it because her Pokémon changed, like how Sun had disappeared? Did it change whatever flower Pokémon she had into a Chikorita? That…
No. I shook my head. That wouldn't work. If Charlotte had a normal Pokémon, it made no sense a criminal would steal from her. A Budew, Oddish or Cherubi would be nowhere near valuable enough to warrant kil–ending my vision, let alone kidnapping a child's pet.
Then what could it be? Was her family loaded? A regional starter was
expensive and
rare. Practically extinct in the wild and endangered in captivity despite the decades of conservation attempts. Finding one on your journey was practically a miracle.
And that wasn't even mentioning their battling prowess. Like imagine having a Pokémon that was not only incredibly easy to train but also capable of obtaining a huge surge of power early on and maintaining said strength throughout their later years.
By all accounts, since Charlotte had a Chikorita while being nowhere near the age requirements to be a trainer, it
should mean that she came from a rich family.
But…
My eyes wandered back to the girl, hefting a bag full of trash over her shoulder, her starter steadying her with his vines when she almost fell over. I looked at her closer, eyes squinting as they roamed her figure.
On first inspection, she wore clothes that didn't look all that far off from a middle-class family. She had one of those cute Clefairy hair bands that tied her ponytail, her orange shirt meshing well with her sky blue skirt in a warm gradient. On her back, was what appeared to be a Silphco brand backpack, and she was wearing a pair of slightly tattered but well-maintained white shoes.
Yet, the longer I stared at her, the more imperfections I began to notice.
On her outfit, I saw stitches, barely perceivable patches where the colours were just a tad shade darker or lighter. Heck, it was still nearly impossible to keep track of them despite my knowing of them now.
Her backpack likewise had the same stitches, in some places they were uneven and noticeable, like an amateur’s first handiwork, and in other spots, it was again very hard to even notice.
How long had she been practicing to get results like that?
I looked down at my own shirt, noting the discoloured string on my shoulders. The stitches on my own clothes were well made, almost professional at first glance and yet, not even Terra could sew things that perfectly blended in with the original fabric.
A nine-year-old with a rich family would have no need to learn how to sew if they could just buy another outrageously expensive outfit.
So, was Daisy a gift? Given to her by a relative? Maybe she had an older sibling that went on a journey and miraculously found or bought one?
I shook my head. No, no, that still didn't make sense. A veteran trainer wouldn't be so irresponsible as to let a little kid run around the city, doing odd jobs with a regional starter. That was just begging for him to be stolen.
Heck, that
did happen!
And that wasn't even mentioning the fact that it sounded like her grandmother was taking care of Charlotte… or was it the other way around? The two acted exasperated with one another in the short while I knew them.
I shook my head, getting sidetracked here.
Okay, let's see.
A grandmother needing a cane yet walking around by her lonesome to get heavy groceries, a child working odd jobs despite her age with a Pokémon that many would literally kill for. A child that looked neither rich nor had a relative that gifted it to her.
Hm…
A kid having a Pokémon that could only be obtained through either money, connections… or through an exam roughly five percent of trainers could pass...
That… wait. Why did that sound familiar?
Let's see… I wracked my brain hard, trying to remember just why this situation seemed so familiar to me. Was it something I read online? Why did it feel like I knew something about her that I normally shouldn't–
And then it hit me like a sledgehammer.
Oh.
The realisation settled in my chest as the deepest dredges of my mind dug up the information buried within, and shock filled my veins.
Oh.
A few years ago, a year before Professor Rowan went on that four year long research trip. I saw it online in the Sandgem Library when browsing for Pokémon facts. There was a report. An article of someone, of a five-year-old child who managed to score not just with straight As but with perfect scores on a test meant for trainers like… me. The child’s face and name weren't documented as the family didn't want the attention and I never cared too much about it when nothing came of it a year later.
A dud, I’d thought, rolling my eyes. The news
loved overblowing things out of proportions after all.
But now that I was here, sitting and staring at the duo in front of me. That memory struck me silent, my eyes widening and mouth hanging as the revelation rang cold. There was no way Charlotte could be that kid. There was no way she was a–
“H-hey, Cyg-Cygnus?" Her voice was timid and meek.
I blinked and suddenly, she was standing in front of me, poking stick, gloves and plastic bag gone from her hands. She was rubbing her arm as she fidgeted in place, afraid and nervous as if this was the first time she'd really talked to someone. Her Chikorita stood by her side, glaring at me with distrust and his vines barely sprouted from his neck as a warning.
I looked at the girl before me once more. I still couldn't wrap my head around the revelation. This was an actual prodigy, a
child prodigy. Someone who was so in tuned with Pokémon that they could take on entire criminal organisations singlehandedly and do what no other champions could.
Jealousy. I felt that ugly prickle of a familiar emotion rise in me. Here was a kid who didn't even have to work half as hard as I did, acing an exam that brought me to tears several times a month for
years. A kid that barely stood up to my height had the potential to become a legend like that of Kanto’s Red, Johto’s Ethan and Hoenn’s May…
My hands clenched into shaking fists. I wanted to complain. I wanted to lament and cry about how unfair that was, how someone could be so gifted, be so blessed by life. I wanted to scream and yell about the unfairness of it all.
And yet, despite the revolting emotions writhing beneath my veins…
… all I could see was the teary visage of her pain-stricken face.
Disgust broke through the shackles that my envy created. I felt sick to my stomach, shame quickly took its place, weighing heavily over my heart.
I can't believe I thought about her like that. Not working half as hard as me? She's literally picking up trash in a public park for gods’ sake, she's working odd jobs just to feed herself and her grandma!
My fists clenched tightly as shame berated me.
I, Cygnus Plein, truly was a despicable character.
Mentally shaking off my thoughts, I flashed her a grin even if it didn't reach my eyes. I still had to pretend I wasn't such a selfish loser. “Yeah? What's up?"
Her features creased in unease, her feet shifting under my gaze. "I… I'm all done with my work here… You uh, you can go now. I won't waste any more of your time.”
"Oh? But how are you gonna carry–” I smacked myself. She was gonna do it with her starter, duh. Didn't have to be a genius to figure
that out.
Ignoring her confused look, I continued, "Right, right. Your Chikorita’s gonna be helping you with them, correct?”
My question snapped her out of her confusion and her eyes took on a slight edge. "Yeah, and what's it to ya?"
Her tone held that fire that I'd gotten to know, her posture tense and stiff. Her brows narrowed into an unflinching glare, yet there was something about it that looked like she was resigning herself to whatever fate was about to happen to her.
To say I was a little thrown off guard by the sudden shift in attitude was an understatement… and it was a little concerning. What brought this sudden aggression?
Creeping like a Spinarak down my spine, a thought popped up.
Was… was that thief not the first time this had happened?
The thought weighed on my mind like a solid ball of lead and then it dropped with a loud thud into my stomach. A little girl, presumably an orphan living in poverty with a rare Pokémon, and in a city as big as Jubilife, the capital of Sinnoh. Was there really any need for an explanation?
My vision had already shown me that crime in Sinnoh wasn't as low as I'd initially thought.
I used to believe that since Sinnoh wasn't a place like Old Kanto or Orre that crime was a distant thought. Plus, living in a peaceful place like Sandgem Town where everybody knew each other, cemented that idea, it was almost unfathomable for me to think of crime. Heck, I couldn't remember a single crime that wasn't just petty theft, and even then those were mostly from Pokémon in marketplaces.
Suddenly, all of the suspicious looks and wary glares made sense. She was distrustful of me, of a rando who just showed up and started treating her like he knew her. My mom always did tell me to be careful whenever we went out… but I never really thought I'd have to watch out for myself in Sinnoh.
I chewed on my lips, bringing a hand to rub the nape of my neck as I glanced down at the girl. “It's…nothing,” I said as my eyes dropped to her Pokémon beside her. "It's not like I don't have a starter of my own. I’ve just… well I've never seen a Chikorita before. He's a lot cuter than on TV."
Charlotte blinked, brows furrowing for a moment before she turned her head up and scoffed. “Well then, take a good long look at him and bask in his cuteness. I can assure you there's nothing on earth that's cuter than my Daisy!”
I chuckled at her prideful expression and crouched down, getting a better look at Daisy. His coat was a fluffy shade of grassy green, his head leaf bright and healthy, and his body a little plump around the waist. He stood tall and proud, with the most ferocious little glare on his face but honestly, it'd just made him even more adorable.
Putting my hand out, I reached out to pet the little guy but he swerved his head away at the last moment. I tried again, moving my hand closer and once more, he dodged it, jumping away and barking at me.
Feisty little guy, eh? Like trainer like starter.
I stood back up with a smile, hand still out from the failed attempts.
“He's cute,” I commented, staring at my hand as a devilish grin formed on my face. “But I could think of one thing that's cuter than a Chikorita…"
I turned around, leaning down slightly as I put my hand on her head and smiling. “And that’s sweet little Charlotte riiight here."
A second passed, then another and another and then ten without a response.
There was a blank look on her face, her eyes bare of emotions and thought.
Oops, I think I broke her.
“Bwah!" No sooner than I finished that thought, she shoved my hands away and leapt back, face as pink as her hair. “Wh-what the hell are you doing? Yo-you can't just say something like that! That's… that’s–"
It started small, light, murmured snickering escaped my lips but seeing her act so flustered, so embarrassed about a little teasing broke me down as I burst out laughing, guffawing with a hand on my stomach.
“The look on your face…” I sputtered out between breaths, body quaking in amusement. "Absolutely priceless!"
Scarlet red. Confused, embarrassed and with a hilariously scandalised expression. It took her a moment to figure out that I was playing with her and her eyes narrowed in anger but that sudden transition from embarrassed kitten to angry puppy only made me laugh harder.
She's even growling! Oh my gosh, that's so adorable–
“Daisy, teach him a lesson!"
Before I could even process her words, something struck my face, blocking my vision. I yelped in surprise, hands quickly rising to take off a… leaf?
Yeah, sure enough. It was a leaf, bright, fresh and weirdly enough, it was glowing a bit.
Huh, odd. Where did this come from–
"Chiko!” Daisy exclaimed, grabbing my attention. The thorns around his neck were glowing brightly. The same shade of white-green as the… glowing leaf in my hand.
Oh. Realisation sank deep within my chest and with it came a sense of dread.
Oh crap.
Charlotte smirked, taking in my mounting panic and snapping her fingers. “Leafage."
As those words left her mouth, Daisy attacked. The leaves started small, quick and precise, and striking me at every angle. It stung with every shot, though it wasn't really that bad, just irritating, like getting poked constantly by a thin blunt object.
But it wasn't the pain that was the problem.
Rather it was because there were just so many leaves. Left, right, above. The entire sun was blotted out completely and I could only stare in nervous bewilderment at the sight.
And… yeah, as much as I would like to say that my current predicament was well within my expectations of her… the uh, involuntary shriek that escaped my lips suggested otherwise.
Swallowing down my nerves, I glanced at Charlotte, raising my hands in surrender. “H-hey, let's talk about this. You don't have to do this.”
The smirk on her only widened. “Oh, I have to.” She nodded slowly as she turned to her starter.
"Daisy, bring it down."
And with a loud boosh, the leaves all came crashing down and my world became a massive pile of green.
…
“Pleh!"
Ah
gross. Some of it got in my mouth.
Shivering in disgust, I spat out the leaves, wiping my lips and began to make my way out. But just as I managed to poke my head out, a sudden weight jumped onto my back, keeping me pinned.
"Chikorita!” Daisy exclaimed in triumph, his stubby paws implanting themselves onto my back.
“Awesome work, Daisy! That'll teach him to mess with me!" Charlotte came walking into my view, a hand covering her giggles.
Glancing down at me, she crouched low, her eyes lighting up with a teasing gleam. "Oh, look who managed to worm his way out. What's wrong? Was Daisy’s Leafage too strong for you to handle? Because–" Charlotte giggled. “–I don't think I've ever heard anyone scream that high before.”
Red flared across my cheeks. “That's… that's not. I wasn't–”
"Being a big wuss? Like who even gets scared of a
Leafage of all things? And here I thought I would have to initiate phase two to get you to stop.” She snorted, putting her hand under her chin in a thinker pose. "But with how you reacted, maybe I should've had Daisy do a wittle Tackle on you instead? Show a little mercy for the big ‘awesome’ trainer.”
Embarrassed as I might be, I wasn't gonna let my pride be scalded this badly without retaliation. Putting on a haughty tone, I remarked, "Pssh, if this was your idea of a comeback, then I say it's just as adorable an attempt as you are. I've been through way worse when I was a kid than–"
She silenced me with a deathly glare and with a subtle jerk of her head to her Chikorita, she simply demanded, "Daisy.”
"Riri!"
Those were the last words I heard before my world was engulfed in leaves once more.
Lying under the pile of leaves, I blinked.
Okay, maybe taunting her wasn't the best idea.
Bleh, some got in my mouth again.
Spitting out the glowing leaves, I waved my arms around, shoving them away and carving a tiny tunnel for me to crawl through.
It didn't take me long to finally poke my head out again but having to trod through what must've been a full five metres of leaves took a bit of a toll on my physically unfit body.
I really regret not joining my mom’s daily run when I could've. I heaved, panting slightly at the strain in my arms.
And to add insult to injury, the leaf pile dissipated into nothingness the moment I got out, leaving me staring blankly at the vanishing foliage.
My eyes followed the fading pile up, noting just how humongous that Leafage must've been. It had likely reached the height of two trees at its peak.
“Someone that cute has no right being this strong,” I murmured. If this was just a warning, how powerful was that little prick if he actually wanted to hurt me?
"What was that?” Charlotte shouted from behind me, her voice promising a fury that knew no bounds.
I startled, jumping in surprise.
How long had she been standing there? Turning to her, I raised my hands in a placating gesture. “Nothing! Nothing…"
The girl grumbled, waving her fists in a menacing manner. "It better be nothing ‘cause otherwise you'll regret it."
Her glare only made me chuckle sheepishly. "Right, right, I won't. I promise, I promise. You don't have to worry your pretty little face."
Charlotte harrumphed with a hint of pink in her cheeks and looked away. “Whatever. Come on, Daisy. Let's go home and put these away.”
"Rita!” Daisy nodded, moving on over to the bench where I left the groceries, his vines out. He moved them through the handles, lifting them up and pausing for a moment. Daisy frowned, looking back at his trainer and shaking his head. “Chikorita…”
“What? Seriously, even
you can't lift all of them? Just how much did granny buy?" Charlotte groaned, covering her face.
"I knew I should've kept our funds better hidden after she spent half of her share on useless clothes…" she complained, moving to grab her own load. “...already told her I didn't need any new ones when my old clothes still fit but nooo, a genius like me can't walk around in ‘drabs’...”
She sighed, pausing to get a better grip of the bags, head low and her voice barely a tremor. "Like I'd care about what anyone else says about me… If being a genius was supposed to be a good thing, then why did it get mom and dad…"
Though I struggled to make out the exact words. I didn't really need the exact specifics to understand what she was talking about, as it was… something I could relate to.
"Kori,” chirped Daisy, a gentle vine patting her leg.
Life had dealt her a bad hand. My heart clenched and ached, a quiet somber empathy played through my mind. Just the small glimpses I'd gotten of her life tugged at my heartstrings and knowing just what lied ahead in her future, what she would experience in return for her persistence and determination.
I clenched my hands, fists shaking. I was going to make sure that criminal rot in prison for the rest of his life, even if it was the last thing I'd do. That thief was going to pay.
Taking in a long deep breath to calm myself, I plastered a grin onto my face, strolling over to her and getting her attention with a clear of my throat. “Hey, I couldn't help but overhear that you might need some help?”
Charlotte flinched as if remembering that she wasn't alone, stiffening up and taking a step back. “Wh-what are you still doing here?" She glared at me. “Don't you have better things to do than bug me?"
I opened my mouth, about to answer but… she wasn't wrong. I did have better things I needed to do. I needed to reach the library to figure out this psychic vision thing as well as find any leads about the weird changes to the world, and I still needed to prepare myself against that criminal. I had only a single day and a half to prepare, surely there were better ways to spend my time.
Yet, despite knowing that I had a time limit, I couldn't just leave someone in need! Not if I could help it! After all, I had the responsibility as a future champion to do so!
I shrugged. “I can't exactly leave a little girl to fend for herself in the big city, can I? Any aspiring champion should do the bare minimum of helping their citizens!"
"A champion? You?” She snorted, giving me a blank stare. "Don't make me laugh. You couldn't even handle Daisy's Leafage. In what world do you think you can become a champion?"
“Tsk tsk tsk." I wagged a finger at her. “Another non-believer in the making, I see. But don't worry, I'll let it slide if you let me help you."
I reached out a hand to help but Charlotte swerved her arm away. “Yeah, no." She shook her head. “I don't need your nor anybody’s help. I can handle things all fine by myself."
“Really?" I gave her an incredulous stare.
It sure didn't look that way to me. Her injured leg was shaking a bit and while I didn't think she would fall or collapse like she did earlier, her sweaty and slightly strained expression didn't exactly give me the impression that she was gonna be ‘fine’.
I moved my hand again as I spoke. “Regardless if you're fine or not. I couldn't in good conscience let a hurt kid wander around, carrying heavy things when I can help."
“And I told you I'm
fine.” She stepped back, just out of my hand’s reach and sucking in a breath. "I've been at this long enough to not let a small injury slow me down.”
Holding up three fingers, I said, “Well, I’m thirteen, a guy and you're a nine-year-old kid, that automatically means I'm obligated to help little girls in need.” She opened her mouth, no doubt about to refuse me again but I seized the momentary distraction to grab a hold of her hand.
Charlotte blinked at the contact, her features twisting into a snarl. “I don't care about your obligation or your ‘help’! I can do this all on my own!" She swivelled on her feet, pulling away from my hand and growling. “Gods, why are you so insistent on this? Is there really nothing interesting for you to do? I thought trainers were
supposed to be super excited and be all
happy about their ‘big day’ but you're just bugging me instead of focusing on yourself!"
For the first time since I've met her, she looked like she was genuinely angry, her posture was tense and defensive, her voice sounding almost… bitter. Her eyes narrowed as sharp and thin as knives, her body shaky with laboured breaths.
I stayed silent, grimacing away from her eyes as I mulled over her words. She… Was… was I going too far with this? Stopping her from running around…
What she went through that night was not something anyone should experience, let alone an orphan. It was a horrible, festering feeling that crawled under my skin, knowing that I had failed to keep my promise, knowing that I lost when it mattered the most, knowing that I was
set to fail no matter what I did–
The taste of copper filled my mouth. The pain of biting my cheek tearing me out of the dark recesses of my mind.
No, that didn't matter right now. I could help her, save Daisy. I had a second chance now, I knew the future, I couldn't just throw this chance away.
My fists clenched in tight resolution and yet and yet, uncertain thoughts still lingered.
Was I going about this right? Was I doing more harm than good here? Like she said, I could spend my time better training my Pokémon, preparing for the worst, prepare for my de–
No no no, I couldn't. I shook my head.
Even if I could ignore this aching need to help. There was… an obstruction in my mind. A mental barrier that pushed me away from the thought.
I didn't know why but just thinking of going out there and training, of… interacting with my team, with… Camp made my blood run with apprehension, made my head spin with sweat, made my throat clam up in dread.
It made me feel like I was replacing Su–
I bit the edges of my tongue. Was I still hung up about that vision? I thought I'd convinced myself that they–that
it wasn't real. That I should move on and forget they ever existed.
I swallowed a dry gulp. My eyes headed low, down my body, down my plain red shirt and to the pokéballs on my belt. Volta’s and… I had to force myself to really look at it, at Camp’s pokéball. I hadn't realised it until now, but I'd placed it on the farthest end, still within my peripheral vision but far enough that my eyes would easily gloss over it as part of my clothes.
Was I being unfair to Camp without even realising it?
No. I denied that thought. I shouldn't have–
wouldn’t have done such a thing.
I gave him a name, trusted him to have my back when I threw Volta out, and let him lounge on my beanbag back home. I wasn't being unfair about not letting him out when I was searching for Klick. Volta just had better vision than a Torchic, it was simple fact, simple kindergarten textbook fact that made my decision.
Besides, I was pretty sure he enjoyed staying in his pokéball. Whenever I had him out, he always beelined for a soft area to sleep. I wasn't a Pokémon but I read that pokéballs were a really nice and comfortable place to stay in.
Yeah, that's right. Camp loves lazing around anyway, so why would I wanna force him out and bug him with training? I'm just being considerate, that's all.
I nodded at my own reasoning but the creeping guilt still didn't recede.
A glance back at Charlotte showed her having stepped a few meters away but had paused to speak to her Chikorita. From the looks of things, it didn't sound like they were talking about the weather with how angry the two appeared. Were they having an argument because of me?
Gods, I really am the worst, ruining the happiness between two partners and forcing myself in as if I had any business.
If only Terra was the one who had this power, if she could see the future then I was sure she'd know what to do. Instead, this stupid future vision was wasted on an incompetent talentless loser like me.
I gripped my left arm, fingers digging into my skin as I bit my lip. Maybe… maybe I should just excuse myself and leave. Find something, do
anything that wasn't out of my league.
As I stepped forward, their argument began to settle down. Charlotte looked frustrated, her brows furrowed in irritation. When she noticed my approach, she froze, her head moving up to look me in the eyes. The frustration vanished, covered up by an unsure nervousness and her fingers started twitching.
She glanced back at Daisy for a brief moment and I took the chance to speak.
“So… I… I'm sorry about the whole ‘trying to help’ thing and I did some thinking and I… well, you're right. I do have things I need to do and I guess, I was trying to hold off on that by being a nuisance. Sorry about being overly pushy, I didn't mean to seem so persistent or annoying, I was just… concerned, y’know.” I rubbed the nape of my neck, playing it cool.
At times like this, it was best to not let others know that there was more going on beneath the act. No need to make others worry about me.
Charlotte blinked as she processed my words and she muttered beneath her breath with an eyeroll, "Isn't everyone?"
She sighed, the words coming out of her with a struggle. “I’m sorry too… I guess. I was being a bit stubborn.”
"Chiko?" Daisy bantered to Charlotte’s heated glare.
“And… um…” she trailed off, twiddling with her fingers. With a heavy breath, she exhaled, her cheeks flushed slightly. "Look, don't take this the wrong way, okay? I might ne… neeeeed your he… help."
Her face looked like she bit into a lime for the first time and absolutely despised it.
I snorted.
“He-hey! Don't laugh! I'm not doing this because I want to! I'm… I'm doing this because of Daisy! And… and my leg’s maybe a bit more injured than I thought! But it's certainly not because of you, got that?” She turned her head away with a harrumph, crossing her arms.
I chortled, feeling the weight on my shoulders lifting just a tad bit.
“Stop it! Stop laughing at me!" she protested, waving her fist threateningly but to no avail. “Grah! Daisy, this is your fault!"
And to add salt to injury, said starter was currently laughing at his partner.
For once, it seemed like the little guy and I had come to an agreement as we laughed our hearts away.
The capital city of Sinnoh was in full bloom. The sounds of Jubilife City bathed the air. Hundreds of voices, Pokémon and human, all hushed in conversations, calls, and vrooms and whooshes from vehicles driving by. People, beginning trainers, little kids and working adults all walked around, all… well actually, saying that everyone was
walking would be a bit of a stretch.
Because holy crud, if tomorrow’s crowd resembled raindrops in a storm then today was like a hurricane brought on by Lugia. There were so many people I couldn't even see anything past a blur and smudge of contrasting colours.
Unfortunately, that also meant Daisy, Charlotte and I were basically stuck and subjected to a speed that greatly reminded me of that one video I saw of a Slowpoke Vs Slaking race.
And just like how I’d felt from the torture I'd forced myself into that time, Charlotte was clearly
not happy with our current situation with how much she was tapping her foot while trying her best to not look like she was about to scream her heart out.
The flow of the crowded sea came to an abrupt stop. Thankfully, the way parted quite a bit and I could actually see the reason why. The stoplight turned red.
And that was apparently the last straw as Charlotte groaned, smacking her head in indignation. “Oh, come on. Now, it turns red? Really?”
I snorted. “Well, it could've been worse. You're not the one having their hands occupied and tired." I wiggled my arms for emphasis, one holding groceries and the other grasping Charlotte’s hand.
Charlotte scoffed. "Your other hand wouldn't be tired if you didn't force me to hold it. I told you I won't get lost.”
I raised a brow, giving her an incredulous look. "Uh huh. And the first ten minutes after we left the park didn't exist, huh? You literally got swallowed up by the crowd and it took Daisy and I five whole minutes to get to ya."
“That's not–!" Her cheeks flushed before she turned away. “Whatever. I was just distracted earlier, that's all! It's not like I'm bad at directions or anything, I was just… surprised by the crowd. Usually, I'd work a bit longer before getting lunch but granny decided to ruin my schedule… again."
She sighed in exasperation but a hint of fond amusement betrayed her stance and the tiny creasing of her lips told me otherwise.
Shaking my head with a smile at her blatant denial, I turned my head back to the light. Somehow, the darn thing was still red. Urgh, how annoying.
I let out a sigh but didn't let it get to me. The waiting did present another opportunity to gather more information of Charlotte’s situation. If I could figure out why she stayed out late that night, maybe I'd be able to stop the criminal before the theft even happened.
But first, an ice breaker was needed. "So,” I said, setting the foundation gently. “How's school going for you?"
“Huh?" She glanced at me, brows furrowing in confusion. "It's… fine? I guess? I mean it's school. It's not like there's much going on right now, what with the league start. Though it's not like much happens anyway, it's… boring...”
Right, kinda forgot that schools let out early for the beginning days of the league.
The extra time was usually so families got to see off their budding trainers and bid them farewell and good luck on their journeys. It also doubled as an easy way to let younger kids check out all the various cool Pokémon everyone threw into mock battles and spars.
Looking down at Charlotte, I couldn't help but feel like she might've used that extra free time to well… not exactly act like the kid she was.
Yes, I was still on about that. There was just something fundamentally wrong about having a kid constantly work just to take care of her grandmother. Seriously, did nobody
care about the literal kid genius?
Shaking my head, I asked, “Well, have you made any friends? Got anyone you're interested in?"
She raised a brow before realisation settled and that confusion turned into disgust as she shuddered. "Ew, gross. Why would I care about any of those brats, let alone have a crush–” Charlotte scrunched up her nose. "Bleh, that's so gross! Why on earth would you ask that?”
Although somewhat depressing, that was another possibility ticked off the list. She wasn't out because she had friends wanting to hang out nor was it because she snuck out for some secret date or something.
I chuckled at her expression. "Just curious, that's all. Can't exactly ask for your grades, can I? I assume you've probably aced them. What with you, y’know, being a geni–”
Her grip tightened around my hand, her body tensed as she sucked in a breath. “
Don't call me that," she hissed.
I flinched, jerking back slightly but her iron grip held me still. Her glare was glacial, sharp like the edge of an icicle.
Okay, okay! Topic’s off limits! I get it I get it!
Ouch, her nails were digging into my skin a bit. As the apology bounced on the tip of my tongue, I sa–
The light became green.
–was jerked forward, biting down the words as she dragged me ahead. Her steps were shallow and quick, manoeuvring around the crowd with surprising grace for someone with an injured leg.
I
could pull my arm back, stop her from dragging me around. I wasn't a physically strong teen, but Charlotte was a little kid. I wasn't that weak, okay.
Instead I stayed quiet. It was better to let her cool down from whatever landmine I tripped on than to aimlessly run my mouth. My nervous fidgeting with Rachel previously had taught me that much at least.
Charlotte continued moving forward. One minute, two minutes, three minutes of just nonstop running. She let go of my hand once we reached a less populated space, slowing to a halt and catching her breath, panting with her hands on her knees.
Concern began to seep into my mind as I watched her heave for a full minute.
Is… is she okay?
Thinking back, it wasn't like we ran that far to exacerbate her injury this badly. Like wasn't her injury just external? There was a bit of swelling and bruising sure but I didn't understand how it could cause her to pant like she'd hiked a mountain.
“Hey." I stepped forward, reaching out a hand to help. “Are you okay?"
“Yeah." She pushed my hand away, still breathing heavily. “I'm fine. Just gotta catch my breath... That's all."
“Right…” Blinking at the casual dismissal, I turned to my side to see Daisy finally catching up, a worried gaze following his steps forward beside me.
“So uh, little guy.” I caught his attention with a cough and he looked at me. "Is there… something up with Charlotte? Why she's so… out of breath?"
The Chikorita grimaced, his vines drooping slightly, dodging my eyes with a guilty whine.
Huh… why is he? I furrowed my brows in thought, eyes slightly widening.
Wait, is he the one behind her injury?
His response made me believe it wasn't intentional. Maybe it was some kind of training accident? A misfired move?
But I couldn't think of any moves a Chikorita could learn that would only cause bruising or well, at least at this level. Vine Whip and Razor Leaf weren't exactly
blunt, and having him Tackle her just sounded stupid.
“It's nothing!" Charlotte shouted, bouncing back on her feet and giving me a minor heart attack from the abrupt motion. She stared at me, sweat dripping down her chin with her cheeks a little flushed.
"It's… it's nothing, okay?” she said, giving me a nervous smile. "I'm just a little hungry. That's all. Didn't have the time to eat breakfast earlier and… well, also didn't get enough sleep last night… but that's fine. I'm fine… I'm…"
She trailed off, dipping her head low. Her left arm raised to grasp her right, fingers rubbing against it. “I'm… sorry for
that. For um, snapping at you again.” Charlotte’s eyes were still on the ground. “People don't exactly speak with the… greatest intentions when they call me that."
The girl’s body was withdrawn, her voice small and fragile. She felt oddly her age for once, this vulnerability that I'd initially gotten used to.
I chewed on my lips.
Yet, this was a different kind of vulnerability, not one of loss nor pain. Instead, it was a familiar one, a deep personal issue that resonated with me deeply.
I let out a breath, a gentle smile on my face. "Too many expectations?”
Her breath hitched and after a moment of hesitation, she grimaced. “Kinda…”
She didn't continue and while I would like to understand her better, I let it go. She could tell me when she was ready.
A bout of silence washed over us as we continued our trek. While she didn't say it, I could feel her gratitude for not prying.
The area we were at was some sort of housing district. Large two storey buildings lined up side-by-side across a large plane of land. It was a well-maintained area with plenty of greenery around and also apparently pretty close to the local trainer school. I could see the massive building that was just a couple blocks away.
As we walked down the less dense streets, Charlotte spoke up, breaking the silence. “Hey, Cygnus.”
"Yeah?” I raised a brow.
"Do you mind if I ask you something?” At my nod, she continued. "You are a trainer, right?"
“Yeah, I–” I paused, stopping in my tracks and giving her a look. “Am I a trainer? What… what the heck is that supposed to mean?”
I wave a hand to my belt. “Do you not see the pokéballs on my belt? The Silphco infi-backpack? I even gave you some ointment, what kind of person walks around with ointment?”
"An eccentric weirdo," she answered without skipping a beat. “Which… y’know, with how you've introduced yourself. I thought you were one of those ‘Pokéfans’.”
I raised a finger to refute her claims. “First of all, I don't dress up in silly costumes all day and night nor do I spend every waking moment adhering to some weird ritual like praying to a Charizard plushie or providing meals to a shrine of figurines.”
Shaking my head at the half-remembered article that resurfaced, I pointed to myself with a thumb and a smirk. “Instead what you're looking at is someone who's spent years working their butt off to become the greatest champion in the world!"
I ended my speech off with a pose; arms raised, bags up high and legs bent slightly.
To my dismay, the awe and shock I was hoping to inspire in my audience turned out to be anything but. If the way her hands were covering her quivering lips and quirked eyes were any giveaway, she was trying her best not to laugh.
At me. Like all the non-believers. And she had the audacity to hide it.
I scoffed. I wasn't hurt but there was just something about having my dreams being laughed at that irked me.
"Laugh all you want,” I said, waving a hand dismissively. “You’re staring at someone who's passed their RS exams with flying colours and got a… a Torchic to boot!"
That got her sobered up real quick, casting a disbelieving stare my way.
“Really?
You passed the regional starter trainer exam? The exams that everyone made a fuss about when I aced it as a kid? The exams that apparently only five percent of trainers could pass? Someone like
you got straight A’s?” She was staring at me in complete shock, her eyes scanning me up and down as if her worldview was just shattered.
Okay
wow, that actually stung.
Whatever.
I shook my head. If she didn't believe me, then I just had to prove myself. Reaching a hand to my belt, I plucked off my starter's pokéball, waving it around with a smug smirk. “Here, you can check him out if you want. Prove that I'm not a liar."
Charlotte’s eyes darted to the ball, and there was a sliver of uncertainty and a dash of apprehension shining in them along with… longing? Her lips parted slightly but she shut them down, left arm raised to grasp the other in clear anxiety.
Before I could even begin to unpack that implications behind her gaze, my pokéball sprung open all on its own, the blue beam of light shooting forward and coalescing above Charlotte’s head, forming the lazy ball of feathers that was Camp.
It took a second for both Charlotte and I to process the sudden action. And in that second, my Torchic nestled himself gently on her head and fell asleep with a soft coo.
Charlotte blinked, hands raised slowly, fingers patting his resting body as if she couldn't believe the sudden weight on her head before she brought her hands down.
“Cygnus?" she said, her voice still and profound, and eyes wide in shock. "Why the heck is he sleeping on me?”
Because he's a lazy bum. Because he always does this. Because he's just like this. I bit back the sigh.
Why am I even surprised that he'd do this?
I held back the scowl that was forming, instead trying to put on a more friendly expression as I stepped closer to scold my starter.
“Camp, you can't just sleep on people, that's not–"
Someone bumped into my shoulder hard and I stumbled back with a wince.
"Hey!” I began, turning around to face the man who shouldered me. "Watch where you're… go… ing…"
The words on my tongue shrivelled up and perished as an overwhelming cold took over my body. My legs couldn't move, my mind became blank, my eyes widened, locked on the person before me.
It was a man. A man not much taller than me, a man with dull, disinterested, glazed over brown eyes, a man who all but looked as if he held nothing important in life. His hair was black, devoid of shades and colours, neither unkempt nor groomed to fancy locks. His figure was plain, neither gaunty nor stout, his outfit as bland as his eyes, boring clothes with boring shades of white and gray.
By all means, this person in front of me, was average, painfully ordinary. In any other circumstances, my eyes would gloss over him without a single thought, my mind wouldn't even keep a lick of information about him, all traces of him would be in the background, like a faint tree in a canvas of an open field of flowers.
And yet.
And yet.
I knew
him.
And my mind, my memories resurfaced with a scathing blow.
It's him.
The man who wore a cruel smirk as he stood over his downed Pokémon.
It's him.
The man who ordered his Scyther to run down my partners, bathing in their blood like he enjoyed it, like he relished in the pain and deaths.
It's… him…
The man who murdered me in cold blood. The man who left me for dead. The man who left me bleeding all over the concrete.
And with that, the dam broke.
Horror struck me. The numb dreadful feeling of my life slipping away from me. The terror of fading away in a chilling and lonely fashion. The feeling of the cold holding me in its gentle yet painful grasp, caressing me, seizing me from any hope.
My mind gripped my body frozen solid and it screamed, it frothed, it shrieked!
It's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's him it's himit’shimit’shimit’shimit’shimIT’SHIM!
It's him.
Throbbing. Thumping. In my chest. Like a feral beast begging for release. My heart pounded. Quick. Loud. Harsh.
My legs didn't obey me. My arms laid still, fingers quivering, shivering. Fear coursed through my blood and my eyes trained on the man, on his fingers, on his legs, on any subtle twitches that might belie hidden motives.
“Hey." The words came out of him in a drawl, slow, forced as if he had better things to do than speak to the kid he murdered. “Sorry about that. Guess I had some things on my mind… and…"
His voice grated on my mind, that bored and tired drawl crawling under my skin. His head twitched to the left and I flinched, his eyes lazily wandered around me like I didn't matter, like everything didn't–
He spotted Charlotte.
A flick of his eyes to Daisy.
For the first time, something flickered in his gaze, an emotion, more solid, more firm, more
malevolent.
Intrigue. Realisation. Surprise.
Interest.
“... he was right.” His words came out like a statement. Surprise and bemusement carrying it into my ears.
My breath hitched and without any hesitation, my body moved on its own, covering his view of Charlotte and her starter with my body.
For a moment, I stood there, fingers still trembling, sweat dripping down my forehead, my throat shaky, still incapable of voicing anything.
Yet I stood straight, stiff and firm. Doing my best to keep my expression neutral despite my mind screaming at me to run.
He stared back, unblinking, unflinching, meeting my gaze with the expression of a man who had been stepped on by the world. The interest in his eyes still lingered although faint.
His mouth moved to say something but my roaring heart prevented me from hearing anything.
Realising that I wasn't going to move or speak, he let out a heavy sigh and finally turned around without uttering another word, his head lowered and body hunched.
My eyes didn't leave him, following every single trace of his slow, exhausting gait until he faded away into the sea of people and became part of the crowd.
