PW! - A Little Bit of Calm
William Rendfeld
Outside of the coastal areas, few parts of Orre could count as
lush, with most of the region being a barren desert. There were
exceptions however – a few odd oases dotted the landscape, providing
vital water to a few areas. Those occasional spots, however, were
dwarfed by the flowing rivers running past Agate Village. Near the
foot of Mt. Battle, the village was best known as one of the premiere
retirement spots for aging Pokémon trainers. It was also the location
of the Relic Stone, a shrine to Celebi and, due to the destruction of
the purification chamber, the one location left where a Shadow Pokémon
could be purified.
Between those factors, it made for a logical place to visit.
“Well, I’ll say this – whoever they had as an urban planner around
here, they knew their business.” As she and her current traveling
companion crossed the wooden bridge leading into town, Alex glanced
around at the assorted buildings. Aside from a few odd ones here and
there, most looked to have been carved from granite. “They certainly
don’t have anything to fear from a tornado.”
“Certainly saves them a great deal of money on insurance.” Glancing
idly about himself, Nicholas took note of the various winding pathways
around town, the assorted ramps immediately making him think of a
maze. “Now, Prof. Krane mentioned the Relic Stone being out here. I
know the story, its connection to Celebi, its capability to purify a
Shadow Pokémon at a certain point. I just wish I knew where to look
for it.”
As they finished ascending the ramp into town, the young woman
looked about. Spying a Pokémon Center not too far away, she smiled.
“When in doubt, check with the locals.”
-
Less than fifteen minutes later, the two found themselves in a
holding room, parked at a table, their assorted accoutrements seized
by the local authorities and their Pokémon left at the nurse’s desk.
“Not one of your more brilliant ideas.”
“In my defense, asking point blank seemed like the easiest thing to
do. Of course, in hindsight, that would be kinda suspicious.” Alex
slumped in her chair. “Slightly stupid, but suspicious.”
“Well, we won’t be in here long at least. It can’t take that long
to do a background check.” Trying to relax in the slightly
uncomfortable steel chair, Nicholas sat up straight. His eyes
wandered, and eventually found themselves back on Alex.
The young woman noticed almost immediately. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. This is just the second time I’ve seen you without those
gauntlets of yours. Speaking of, why wear them?”
A small smile. “The armor helps in one-on-one fighting. They won’t
stop a bullet, but they’ll give me an extra layer against a blade or a
stick.”
“And the fancy shooting star design?”
Alex was about to elaborate on that detail when the door beside
them swung open, a local police officer stepping in. The door swung
shut behind him as he glanced over the files. “Alexandria Masters, age
17. Nicholas Pendrake, age 18. Two Pokémon trainers, one the daughter
of a researcher and a business mogul, the other the son of a
magician.”
The young man wisely restrained himself from correcting the cop.
The cop looked at them. “We were wondering when you two would get
here. Prof. Krane contacted us after he couldn’t get in touch with
Eagun, told us to keep an eye out for you. My apologies for all of
this, but we couldn’t be too careful given the first time Cipher tried
spreading Shadow Pokémon around.”
A small sigh of relief escaped both trainers’ lips. Sitting up,
Alex looked to the officer. “No apologies necessary – I’d probably do
the same in your case. When can we get our things back?”
“Once we’re done here, your possessions and your Pokémon will be
returned.” He sat down across from them, laying his files on the table
and interlacing his fingers. “Now, I’m going to suggest that you keep
your distance from the Stone. We have people guarding it day and
night, and for the time being, they’re more than sufficient.”
“Not a problem, though on the off-chance that the Stone’s attacked,
it might be smart to tell us where the thing is.”
Just as Alex started to look at her friend in surprise, she found
different reason to be surprised. “There’s a small cave at the lowest
part of town – a small path starting just outside the center leads
there. The Relic Stone is at the opposite end in a small forest. That
cave’s the only way in or out.” The officer leaned forward.
“Satisfied?”
-
“Would it hurt to be a little less confrontational with the
authority figures?”
“Maybe, but have you ever met a police officer capable of handling
anything on their own without the help of some plucky kid hero?”
A shrug. “No, but I haven’t met many police officers.”
Nicholas relented, glad to have his things back. “So, now what?”
“Now I suppose we take the opportunity to get some rest in before
the inevitable. Besides, I’ve got a theory I want to test out before
anything else pops up.” Glancing around, Alex couldn’t help but
wonder. “Hope I can find the local Poké Mart. Think you’ll be okay
without me?”
“It’s you I’m more worried about.”
The two went their separate ways, Alex hoping that she’d be able to
find the local shop and Nicholas heading back to his RV. The young man
stopped briefly before returning to the bridge, glancing back slightly
as Alex made her way up another incline.
-
“<You could do worse.>”
Nicholas looked at the Lucario in surprise. “Sorry, what?”
“<Oh, come on, Nick!>” Plopping down beside him at the side of the
RV, Guinevere gave her trainer a Cheshire grin. “<You’d have to be a
Zubat to not see it. You like her!>”
The ‘her’ in question was Alex, fresh from her visit to the Poké
Mart and running Cologne over specific points on a large Arcanine’s
pelt, a vigilant Blaziken and Blastoise not too far away.
“<And there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m sure your father would
want you to be happy and meet a nice girl. And she is definitely a
nice girl.>”
“Well, yes…though that scares me a little.”
“<Us girls are supposed to be scary, Nick. It comes with the
curves.>”
“It’s not Alex being a girl. I’ll admit, she’s more than a little
intimidating, but it’s not her that I’m worried about. I mean, how can
you tell the difference between genuine attraction and plain
infatuation?”
The Lopunny opened her mouth to answer, then quickly grew
thoughtful. “<That is a good question.>” She turned back to Alex. “<I
guess that varies, y’know? I mean, I know who I’m attracted to, I know
they’re attracted to me on their own…>”
“<I suppose it all depends on how she feels.>” A small half-smile
on his face, Lancelot couldn’t help but feel a little hopeful. As much
as he enjoyed being with his trainer, he knew full well that he needed
companionship with other humans. If he could find it with Alex,
perhaps it could grow into something more.
Just far enough away to not get the full details of their
conversation, but close enough to have an idea of what they were
talking about, Daraxis leaned close to Surtur. “<What do you think
they’re going on about?>”
“<I doubt it is anything terrible. And if it is what I believe it
to be, I suspect it will be very good for us in the end.>” He gestured
towards his trainer. “<Notice Alexandria’s attitude. Despite the
stakes against her, she seems more at peace with herself than she has
for some time. I do not know how much of a factor our current
traveling companion is, but having him present is clearly doing her
some good. I only hope that it does not end poorly.>”
The large turtle looked at the lanky flightless bird. “<Aren’t we a
ray of sunshine.>”
“You two mind not talking about me and Nicholas in whispers? Makes
me nervous.” The two Pokémon growing silent, Alex chuckled – Surtur
did have a point. Casting that aside, she returned to the matter at
hand. “I know this isn’t doing much for you, Rush, but every little
bit helps. How’s the smell?”
The large Arcanine’s breaths were heavy, but seemed to lighten
slightly with each time he exhaled. The smell from the Cologne reached
his nostrils, and he couldn’t help but feel better, fleeting images of
old memories drifting in and out of his mind’s eye.
A smile grew on the young trainer’s lips. She had a long way to go,
but it was more than worth the effort.
TBC!
[NS - Gah! Again, I find myself delayed in being able to provide
weekly submissions! Granted, my problems are nothing compared to
what's up with Tech - again, my sympathies - but still, very annoying.
Here's hoping I can keep up.]