Chapter 15: Starter

Before beginning lunch, Demi wouldn't let me touch my food until we prayed. Then, halfway through the meal, she noticed Aaron sitting alone, nibbling on a sandwich. Without my consent, she grabbed her tray, urgently asked me to come with her, and jogged over to Aaron's table, where she politely asked him if she could sit down and join him. I decided not to put up a fight, knowing she'd force me if I refused to switch tables. I just wanted to eat my lunch in relative peace, so I followed her, knowing I was already getting less peace than I desired.

He seemed just as shocked by her behavior as I did, but said yes. I sat down without asking for permission, which caused the shy boy to scoot unconsciously away from me despite being across the table, diagonal from him.

"So how's Vibrava?" Demi asked.

"Nurse Joy says he's going to be absolutely fine." Aaron said cheerfully, "But he's resting right now, though I think after lunch she wants him to go out for some sun."

"We're going to do the same thing with Paul's Salamence." Demi announced, "We should go together."

Aaron's mouth dropped open, "You have a Salamence?"

"Yes. Is that so hard to believe?" I said, my voice a tinge venomous.

Aaron gulped, "No, it's just... wow. You must be a very strong Trainer."

"He is." Demi agreed, "But he has a lot to learn."

My fist tightened around my fork. Aaron noticed and didn't say anything.

The two children talked, Demi leading the conversation and asking polite questions about Aaron, which he answered in an almost formal tone, like he wasn't used to people asking so much about him. Or perhaps he wasn't used to people caring and thought that by being on his best behavior, Demi would continue to be friends with him.

I was fairly certain that she would befriend criminals without giving it a second thought, so really, if that was his fear, he should change it to the little girl across from him being murdered just for being too friendly.

"Yeah, I went to public school before being a Trainer." He picked at his plate, "But really, I didn't have any friends."

"Well, that stinks. You're really nice. Those kids must not have known how great you are." Demi leaned back and crossed her arms.

"I don't know."

"Hey, we're friends. You can't say you don't have friends. Plus you have your Pokemon too and they love you."

"How do you know?" Aaron asked, baffled.

"I just know."

I mentally rolled my eyes, but yet again wished she'd stop saying that.

"Well, thanks."

"No problem. It's only true, after all." Demi smiled, "Well, I guess we need to check on the Dragons. Meet us outside, Aaron. We'll be right there."

We cleaned up our table and went our separate ways. I glanced at Demi trotting next to me, "I never said he could come."

"Well, you need my help. So you're stuck with the two immature kids." Demi said. I could sense a bit of angry defensiveness from her and decided not to continue the subject.

We walked back to Salamence, who let out a happy, yet weak growl when I opened the door.

My heart released tension I hadn't even know I'd had as his eyes softened, "Hi, hatchling."

His tail whipped once in irritation, but he smiled. I remembered Demi was standing behind me, probably restraining herself from speaking for once, "Salamence, this is Demi. She's going to help get you outside."

"It's an honor to meet you." Demi stepped forward, raising her hand first to Salamence's snout, allowing him to sniff it, before trailing her fingers up his neck to his jaw. Her other hand traced his spikes on the other side of his face. A rumbling, content sound I'd never heard him make came from his throat. Demi put her forehead on Salamence's mouth before lifting it to stare into his eyes as she said softly, "You are a warrior of the skies with a gentle heart. May the thermals always lift you higher."

Salamence made the sound again. Demi stepped away, seeming just as pleased. I looked between the two, trying to figure out how this little girl seemed to make such an extreme impression on everyone she came into contact with. And how she even knew that kind of language. She was nine.

"Alright, time for business." Demi took out a Poke Ball and released her Ralts, which floated down onto the ground with so much control that I wondered how it hadn't yet evolved. I hadn't had time yesterday to really observe her Ralts in action during the competitions.

"Grace will help you get you outside, Salamence."

Salamence's eye grew pretty wide as he analyzed the very tiny Grace. He could open his jaws and snap her up. She'd be gone in a fraction of a second.

"You do realize that Psychic types normally don't have the ability to lift very much weight compared to their size, correct?"

"That has nothing to do with it." Demi sniffed, "It's not a matter of physical strength. It's a matter of the mind and, if you're smart, of the heart too. Go ahead, Grace."

            Grace hummed, lifting her head to reveal glowing blue eyes from under her helmet. Salamence's body became outline in a blue encasing as he was lifted out of his harness slowly, seeming secure.

            Salamence gave a small cry of fear before Demi shushed him, "Don't worry. Grace won't drop you."

            She walked over to the other wall, where a giant Pokemon-sized door was located. She pressed the button that opened it like a garage door folding up. Grace walked, still humming, out of the room, careful with Salamence's steady progress.

            Demi hummed along, grabbing my hand and leading me to follow. I frowned, wanting to shake off her hand, but decided it'd be too rude. She was doing me a favor, after all. We made it out of the Pokemon Center doors, which were fortunately big enough for Salamence to fit through. He was uncomfortable the entire time, but we persuaded him not to thrash around like a rampaging Gyarados.

            We walked until we got to a grassy field. Demi stopped, studying Salamence's leg, "Well, I think his leg will be ok as long as he doesn't move. What do you think, Paul?"

            "I agree. Nurse Joy wouldn't want him outside if he couldn't handle lying down."

            "Go ahead and let him down, please." Demi requested.

            Grace brought Salamence down cautiously. My Dragon cringed as his forearm touched the ground, but apparently only in expectation of pain. He stayed very still as the Psychic levitation wore off, watching his padded forearm as if waiting for it to begin hurting.

            "Seems like you're fine." I said wryly, feeling a wave of relief.

            Salamence nodded and craned his head to the sun, closing his eyes blissfully as the warmth seeped into him.

            The sound of very quick, insect-like wings reached my ears before I heard a boy's voice, "Vibrava! You shouldn't be flying yet!"

            A tannish green blur rushed past me straight for Salamence, aiming for what seemed like an attack. Before I could even move to try to block his path, the Vibrava was stopped midflight, a blue aura surrounding the fast Dragon type. I looked down to see Grace's eyes glowing.

            Aaron rushed into the clearing, breathing hard, "I'm so sorry. Vibrava smelled another Dragon type and just had to say hello."

            "You should watch your Pokemon better. Salamence is recovering and so is your own." I frowned.

            Aaron flinched, "Sorry."

            "It's ok." Demi said, "Right Paul?"

            My eyebrows pulled down until I remembered that I owed Demi for helping Salamence get outside, as well as for her Pokemon stopping Salamence from getting hurt, "Right."

            "Good. Alright Vibrava, Be careful. You're both not at your best yet." Demi chided.

            The Vibrava nodded and Grace released it. His wings flicked to a standstill. Panicking and unable to stay airborne, he dropped a few feet. Grace caught him with levitation before lowering him onto the ground.

            "He shouldn't be flying yet." Aaron explained, "But he's very stubborn."

            "They're fast, but their defenses are very frail and their endurance isn't the best among Dragons." I stated.

            "That doesn't mean they can't be good Pokemon." Aaron said, standing up a bit straighter.

            "Hey guys, all Pokemon are good. So there's no need to fight about it." Demi said, already hugging Vibrava and whispering into his ear, causing his wings to vibrate and produce a very pleasing ringing sound, like a bell.

            "How'd you do that?" Aaron asked Demi.

            Demi shrugged. Aaron and I exchanged glances. Good to know someone else thought she was a bit freaky too. And he didn't even know the half of it.

            We let out all of our Pokemon to let them play. Aaron ended up having a Marshtomp, Nuzleaf, Makuhita, Mightyena, and, to my surprise, a Lairon. Demi's Pokemon immediately began playing with them, though mine took some warming up. Aaron even joined in while Demi and I watched. This child seemed like she shared Dawn's parasitical habits.

Everyone seemed to be having a decent time, but one. Electivire sat in the shade of a tree with his arms crossed, watching. Demi's Dedenne approached every once and awhile, chatting with him, but he looked away and ignored the small Electric type until he went away.

            "Your Electivire is very different." Demi said to me, watching him.

            I thought back to the competition yesterday, remember how he cringed at his thoughts being put under a microscope. My eyes met his and he looked away.

            "Do you know what's wrong?" I asked her.

            "I'm not going to read his thoughts without his permission." Demi leaned back on her hands, "This is something you need to talk about with him, not me."

            I nodded, glad that she wouldn't interfere, but also knowing this would be a difficult task. Electivire was just as stubbornly closed off as I was. Talking about problems, let alone acknowledging them, was a feat in itself.

            "You'll have to later when you two are alone." Demi said, "Hey, so Torterra was your first partner, right?"

            "Yes."

            "No wonder you two have such a wonderful bond even though you're so different now." Demi squirmed until she was on her stomach, kicking her feet back and forth, her chin propped up by her hands, "So why did you choose Turtwig?"

            I smiled.

"Come on, Paul! Where's your sense of adventure?" Uncle Ben yelled from the middle of the stream, where he was jumping across large rocks to the other side.

            I glanced back in the direction we'd come, where I knew his house was, even if it was miles away. I wasn't much for coming outside. Or hiking. Or falling into dirty water.

            "Come on, kiddo. It's easy." Uncle Ben encouraged, but slipped on one of the rocks. His foot plummeted into the water. His shoe and lower leg were soaked, "Oops. Well, the water feels fine!"
             "I'd rather not." I said, backing up a step.

            Uncle got to the other side and turned facing me, his face a bit more stern, "Now I told you I had a special surprise for you at the end of this hike. Do you really think you're going to get to see it if you stay on that side of this creek?"

            I shook my head.

            "And do you want all the other six year old's at school to call you a ninny?"

            "Why would they call me a ninny?" I asked, confused.

            "I might go and tell them you got Torchic." He grinned mischievously.

            My hands balled into fists as I hopped as steadily as possible from rock to rock, somehow not losing my balance at all.

            "Good job." Uncle Ben slapped my back when I made it to the other side, "All men need a good amount of anger to get them to actually make progress, don't you think?"

            I crossed my arms and kept hiking.

            "Your mom ever tell you that you act more like a teenager than a little kid?"

            "Yes."

            "Well, she's right." Uncle Ben mopped sweat off his forehead before smiling, "Well, your surprise is coming up soon. Let's keep going. Tell me all about your week at school while we walk."

            I sighed as we started, but began mundanely explaining how boring school was. Without realizing it, I'd talked the entire few miles and he'd listened to every word, not interrupting once. The only reason I noticed I'd been talking so much is when he questioned me suddenly.

            "You just said that Tanner boy has been bothering you?"

            My mouth slammed shut and I somehow uttered, "Yeah."

            "All because you're quiet?"

            I nodded. I hadn't told anyone about Tanner.

            "I'm going to call his parents." Uncle Ben said bluntly.

            My eyes widened. That didn't sound like good news, "I don't think you should."

            Uncle Ben stopped walking, "And why's that?"

            I froze, refusing to meet his eyes.

            "You're scared of him?"

            "He's not smart. There's no reason to be afraid of someone who is too stupid to even know it." I said, hoping that sounded like a good excuse.

            "The stupid people are the ones you have to watch out for." His voice softened, "I'll talk to his parents. The bullying will stop. Plus, I'll let you bring one of my Pokemon with you to school."

            "That's not allowed."

            "Oh, I know." Uncle Ben said cheerfully, "But you'll hide him till you need him, if you ever do, alright? I trust you to know if you would. You're a good kid."

            A good kid? I repeated numbly in my thoughts. No one had ever really called me a good kid before. Or if they did, they had just been talking about how great and wonderful Reggie was. And I was the afterthought. I was good. But the way Uncle Ben said it, he meant it. And he actually cared. My mom never told me to tell her about my day. But Uncle Ben did.

            "Thanks." I ended up saying, not sure what else to say.

            "Anything for my talented nephew." Uncle Ben winked, then squinted through the trees, "Oh, we're here. I have such a surprise for you, Paul."

            He pulled back the brush, pointing out to a soccer field sized clearing nestled against a rocky pond. At first, I saw only more trees in the middle, but then realized I was mistaken as they started moving. What I was looking at were Torterra. Six of them.

            "Pretty cool, huh?" My uncle whispered, "They're very rare, yet they live practically right in my backyard.

            I nodded, "Torterra are very slow, but their attacks are powerful and can cover a lot of ground."

            "Seems like you've been doing your research."

            I sat back as I watched the Torterra walk slowly, revealing a few Grotle and Turtwig among them, "If I'm going to become a Pokemon Trainer in four years, I want to make sure I choose the right starter Pokemon."

            "I see."

            "Torterra aren't all that great."

            "You don't think so?"

            "Infernape are fast and have a high attack power. Their typing allows for a lot of combinations. I would rather have an Infernape."

            "And what about Empoleon?"

            I cringed, "Piplup are girly. I've never liked them and never will."

            Uncle Ben chuckled, "I disagree a bit with you, and I'm sure all the boy Piplup would too. Besides, you need to keep an open mind. You may end up getting a Piplup, or traveling with someone who has one as their starter."

            Over my dead body. I thought.

            Right then, a Turtwig spotted us and ran over on stubby legs.

            "Stay very still." My uncle warned, "I don't want the parents to feel like we'd hurt their baby."

            The Turtwig stopped when it was five feet away, sniffing. My uncle took out a package of Pokemon food and gestured me to put my hand out, pouring the food into my palm, "Alright, you should feed him. The parents don't seem to mind."

            I looked up to see two giant Torterra walking over, but at a casual pace. Still, they were like mountains. They were so big. My mouth fell open as I watched them move, the branches on their backs rustling loudly.

            The Turtwig let out a small noise, startling me. He walked a step closer, sniffing the air with his head tilted to the side. I held my hand out, letting him sniff the food. My body was frozen as I watched, fascinated as he nibble on a piece. After a swallow, he let out a happy exclamation before continuing to eat out of my hand, licking my fingers. I held back a laugh. It tickled.

            When he was done, he nuzzled my hand with his head. I began petting him tentatively, enjoying the warmth of his skin. He climbed into my lap, jumping up to lick my cheek. I had to force him away, laughing.

            I heard a Torterra make a low rumbling call as it began moving away. Turtwig poked its head up from my lap, stared after its parents, and licked my hand once more before jumping out of my lap and trotting back to the group.

            My hand felt a bit lonely without his head against it. I put it back in my lap, studying the little Turtwig play with its brothers and sisters.

            "Here." My uncle got my attention, putting a piece of paper next to me. I picked it up, studying the drawing. It was of me with Turtwig licking my face. I was in the middle of a laugh. I couldn't really remember laughing like that before.

            "Are they always like that?" I asked.

            "What do you mean?"

            "Pokemon. Do they play?"

            Uncle Ben looked up from his sketchpad, "Of course they like to play."

            "Oh." I said, "I thought they only battled."

            "Who told you that?"

            I shrugged.

            "Well, life isn't all about battling. It's about living. And loving." He pointed to the drawing of me and Turtwig, "That, right there, is love."

            I could still feel the saliva from Turtwig's mouth on my skin. I didn't think Pokemon were like that. I looked up to the herd, no- family, again. They were talking, playing, and occasionally laughing.

            "Would you like to draw Turtwig with me? I'll teach you all about your little friend over there. I know plenty about Turtwig."

            "I would like that." I got out my own sketchpad and studied the Turtwig again, smiling as he called out to me from across the field.

            I looked up to see Demi's eyes on me. She was smiling softly.

            "You saw." I stated, not sure how to feel about her access to my memories.

            "The parts that matter most, yes. Strong emotional memories just pour out of a person. You had your mind open and not closed off, so I couldn't help it." Demi sat up again, "He really changed your life."

            I stared off at the Pokemon playing, feeling a bit distanced, "Yeah."

            "I'm glad you chose Turtwig. That must have been kind of hard when he reminded you so much of him." Demi whispered.

            I took a deep breath and nodded minutely, thinking of another Pokemon that could be difficult to be around at times, remembering the nightmares and memories that didn't belong to me. Demi touched my hand before standing up and joining Aaron with the Pokemon in a game, leaving me to my thoughts. I looked over at Electivire, who was staring at me, his eyes pained. He stood up and disappeared into the forest, quiet as a shadow.

Hey Readers!

I loved writing the memory of Paul and Ben in this chapter, so I hope you enjoyed reading it. Little kid Paul is adorable. Why couldn't they make Pokemon characters deeper in the anime? They're killing me. Still, the anime has more plot than it ever used to, so really, I shouldn't complain.

The story is about to get more complicated, so prepare yourself! I'm super excited because I've gotten to write more since I've been on winter break. I really want to finish writing this story so I can just sigh in relief that I can post without feeling bad that it'll be awhile till I have more written. Plus I've been kind of writing the next Dawn and Paul story, but that'll take a long time to post. I should be working on stuff I can actually publish and sell, but I love Dawn and Paul so much that it's hard to not write about them. So you all will have to wait awhile to read that. :)

Pokemon Question of the Day: Which fairy tale would be most epic as a Pokemon version and why?

Have a Merry Christmas! God bless!

-Flips