I own nothing except Aliet, the Fslami language and any other non-Nintendo owned stuff. Anyway, this is not SI, it's just where my name comes from, k? SO, on with the story!
Chapter
One
In which we learn of the Council, Chars, dreams, human instincts and why
you don't take chars on ferries.
The great doors burst open. An enormous beast tumbled in, almost tipsy in appearance. Its skin was like that of an orange, with the same texture as a young child. Long, hard, headknobs crowned its head. Its blue eyes sparkled with a dazed, almost childish excitement as it gazed around at the humans it knew so well. It swished its tail slowly from side to side, loving the astonishment and slight panic it had created.
An old, bald man stood, his face tight with both suppressed anger and amusement. He had to keep his authority visible while allowing the others to see his sense of humor. His job was not an easy one. He banged his hands on the table. "Aliet! How many times must I remind you to enter this Hall with your poke'mon?"
A slim, mud-haired girl of medium height peeked out cautiously from around the huge fire type. She had hazel eyes that were given to dancing slyly at any time she thought something amusing. Her facial features were sharp, as if chiseled from fine Pewter granite. The girl was dressed in a simple, flowing crimson robe-a gown like garment-belted at the waist with a soft orange, leather belt; a belt adorned with empty poke'balls. Eight badges from the Kanto gyms were pinned to the shoulder of her cloak, evidence of her status as a Master. Her hand held a walking staff, polished with years of use. "I'm terribly sorry Blaine," she called, striding around the creature to take her seat at the bald man's right. "He loves to see all his friends, you know that. Plus, Charizard here wouldn't hurt a fly."
"The stupid lug would too," the short, round man at Blaine's left grumbled. A Flareon growled softly beside him.
"Brad!" Blaine barked. He was the Leader of the Council and would darn well show his authority. Beside him, his Magmar cocked its head questioningly. "We are not here to be drawn into another type debate! Let us turn to the issue at hand!"
The meeting of the 6 Council of Fslam began.
The six best fire type Trainers, called Fslam in the old language of Kanto, had formed into a council to protect and guide their fellows. They met often to discuss things plaguing them and their people. Each member of the Council was traditionally from a different city in Kanto.
Today, the Council was discussing the problem of where to hold the Festival of Moltres during the summer equinox. Blaine had something else on his mind, everyone else could tell, but what they couldn't begin to fathom. Sometimes, the meetings were so controversial that the Council lived in the hall until the issue was resolved. Aliet hoped that this wasn't one of those times.
She was a very active girl, hailing from Pallet town. It was a very small place with woods and fields surrounding it. She hated confinement. Her poke'mon were much like that as well. Aliet Eaton Trained the "Char Trio" as they were called. Bored even now, she threw a look at Charizard. He lay curled beside her chair, dozing slightly. She smiled tenderly at him and turned her attention back to the meeting.
Everyone was throwing out random ideas, not even thinking about the merits of them. Eventually, Blaine decided on the Safari Zone. It was a quiet place, not many people and the native poke'mon wouldn't mind. "Now," Cinnabar Island's Magmar Trainer sighed, sounding relieved that his fellow Councilmen/women had decided. "the next order of business," he paused, glancing around for something. "Magmar! Where's that letter?"
The fiery, duck-like poke'mon waddled, ungracefully up to its Trainer. Handing Blaine a rolled up paper, it waddled, ungracefully out into the courtyard. Blaine hurriedly unrolled it. "Thank you Magmar," he called after it. Everyone knew how disorganized their Leader was-Magmar was basically his secretary at times.
"You should really switch to Training Flareon Blaine," Brad said haughtily, stroking his where it lay in his lap. "They're so much more graceful than that thing."
Each one of the 6 Council Trained a type of fire poke'mon. Evolutionary patterns were considered as a single type. The arguments over which types were better occurred often. Most hated it.
"He likes Magmar, always has," Sheila, Arcanine/Growlithe Trainer, shrugged. "Leave it there."
"Right, now about this letter," Blaine tried to redirect the conversation.
"I still think he should switch."
"Shut up Brad," Aliet snapped. "Blaine's talking."
The Flareon Trainer looked sullen. Blaine cleared his throat and began. "This letter, is from a young boy who wishes to become a fire Trainer..."
"What's the big deal with that?" Sheila asked. The Lavender Town woman planted her feet on the table, boots making clonking sounds. "If he wants to, let him. We're not THAT picky. Leave pickiness to the Psi's."
"Just make sure he" Aliet began.
"Or she," Jess prompted. "Could be-wait. Did Blaine say it was a boy?"
"Yes, O Queen of Idiots," Brad muttered.
"Brad!" Scott of Vermilion voiced his anger. "We do not need any of that today!"
"Will you all be quiet and let me finish!?" Blaine bellowed.
The whole room went as silent as a grave. The Leader looked around at his fellows angrily before picking up where he left off. "This boy wishes to become a Fslam because he doesn't agree with the way his old type was made to be trained.
"He's here now, please everyone... keep an open mind."
A small, gaunt boy stepped through the huge doors cautiously. He had stunning red hair and large, liquid-brown eyes. Freckles dotted his cheeks and nose. The only clue to his identity lay in the Shelder bouncing by his side. Except for his poor choice in poke'mon to bring before the 6 Council, he didn't look very threatening...
At the sight of the boy's poke'mon, the fire types and Trainers made uncomfortable noises. "This is Thomas," Blaine waved the boy over. "He was once a Jha'ik, water, Trainer in Cerulean City."
Outrage worked its way through the Council. How dare such a fool enter the hall of Fslam? "Throw the kid out," Brad shouted.
"Wait!" Sheila stayed the Pewter native's hand. "Blaine told us to keep an open mind!"
"Is the 6 Council so much like those we befriended?" Aliet asked quietly. "I thought the Psi's were the picky ones."
Sheila shot her a look of gratitude and turned her attention back to the two young men and Jess. "Listen, if the kid's serious enough to come before US," she gave the disbeliveers a hard look. She had an amazing array of expressions for the same mood. Lavender Townies often did. "then I think he's serious enough to become one of us!"
At length, the rest of the Council agreed. "Good," Blaine smiled at his Council. "We will hold an interview so you can judge him. Uh, Magmar?"
"Mag?" Magmar was at Blaine's side instantly.
"Ah, there you are!" Blaine stood stiffly. "Who gets interviews first?"
The fire type slapped his forehead before explaining to Blaine, for the fifth time, that the Senior members, Aliet and Brad, came after HIS interview and then the other members. Blaine nodded understandingly. "All right, I go first, then Aliet, Brad, Scott, Sheila, and then Jess."
Aliet leaned back casually in her chair. It was her turn to interview the boy. Nothing should escape her scrutiny. At least she hoped it wouldn't. Charizard sat beside her. He was bored. He lay like a dog, head between his forearms. His eyes swiveled around the room, watching dust specks fly around, caught in the spring sunshine that filtered through the huge windows. The fire type yawned, sitting up.
The jittery boy jumped. A spark of amusement came into Charizard's eyes. He reached out a clawed foot towards the boy, as if to harm him. He was rewarded with the boy giving a yelp and darting behind the folding chair. The kid crept back out again as the foot idly scratched its owner's neck. Aliet had to stifle her laugh.
"So," she began, folding her legs under her. She wasn't very imposing-or tall-and any extra height was welcome when meeting someone like this. "What poke'mon do you have on your belt?"
The familiarity of the term momentarily reassured him. "I only have Shelder, ma'am," he said in the crisp, un-slurred accent of Cerulean natives. His voice was somewhat loud, as most from his city were. "I just started Training and... Daisy won't let me have another."
The Fire Master frowned at the pause before Daisy's name. Any Trainer learning under a Master-as was the practice in most gyms-always learned their Leader's name before anything. But, then again, the boy was most likely just overwhelmed. "Are you planning to ever evolve your Shelder? Even if you become a fire Trainer?"
"Yes ma'am. When he's ready." The poke'mon bounced in agreement.
"Do you know how a Shelder evolves?"
"Yes ma'am. Waterstone."
"Do you have a Waterstone?"
"No ma'am. But once I have gotten some badges, I plan to go to Celadon and buy one."
She frowned again. Great, a Trainer of fire was going to have Fire's-bane on him. This would only add to her worries. "Are you aware," she put all her seriousness at the moment into her words. "of what happens to a fire poke'mon that eats a Waterstone? What if one of your fire poke'mon eats it before you can use it on Shelder here?"
"If they were sick after, I'd take them to a Center," he replied smoothly. "I don't really know what happens if they do though, ma'am."
Aliet questioned him for an hour. She drew her own conclusions and privately voiced them to Charizard, who growled his out in reply. Finally, she left him at the mercy of Brad. She pitied the boy. Brad was the worst member of the Council to be trapped in a room with for a long period of time. As she exited through the vaulted doors, Blaine's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Magmar looked up at Charizard, waving to his much taller friend. The big fire type growled with amusement. "What do you think 'Et?" the old man smiled at her. His voice, though raspy with age, was always kind when he spoke to her. He thought of her as a daughter.
To Aliet, Blaine was one of her best friends. He had taught her so much. "I think he'll be okay," she grimaced. "Just needs the lecture on Waterstones."
The old man nodded. "I'll brief him, don't worry yourself." Magmar made a note on the clipboard he always carried at meetings. "Go on home, you've done your part," he smiled again and waved the pair away. "I have my own work to finish."
Aliet shook his hand before racing down the staircase to freedom. Charizard stumbled awkwardly on his short legs. He wasn't suited for running. As they burst into the sunlight, he roared and spread his wings. The momentum from running carried him into the air, barely missing his Trainer's head by inches. She ducked out of reflex and laughed. "Watch it!" she barked playfully.
-Sorry!- he roared down. He flamed upwards, expressing his joy at being up in the air. The poke'mon hated the stuffy meetings. Only times when he was allowed to go into the courtyard were the times when he liked them. -Um, 'Et?-
"What?" she squinted up to where he hovered. The sun was in her eyes. "What is it?"
-Are we going to ride the ferry?- he looked towards the docks.
"Yeah..." she trailed off as a whistle broke the air. "Dang it!" The fifteen-year-old Fire Master broke into a jarring run. "We gotta catch it Charizard!"
He roared in reply. Aliet sucked air into her lungs and ran faster. Poke'mon Trainers were normally in great shape after their journeys. The constant walking greatly improved one's stamina. She urged herself to go faster. As her sandals slapped against the plain wood of the ferry dock, the boat pulled away from its moorings. Aliet stopped dead. Despite its mass, the passenger ferry moved quickly; there was no way she could catch it now...
Or was there?
"Charizard! Catch!" She threw up her arms, palms outstretched. "Get us on!"
He swooped in low, grabbing her wrists. With great care, he adjusted to her extra weight, as he always did for a moment, and shot out over the water. She gripped his thick wrists back, hanging on for dear life. Her feet almost skimmed the water's surface. At their speed, it would have ripped her sandals off. The wind whipped her face, tangling her long hair.
Finally, they soared over the ship's dock. He hovered briefly before dropping her down a few inches. She landed in a crouch, flexing her rather sore wrists. He swooped around the boat once before landing beside her, drawing "ooh's" and "ahh's" from various passengers. -Two points!- he laughed. -That's better than last time!-
"Much better," she agreed, stroking his neck.
-Little lower,- he growled, leaning into her touch. -It itches real bad down... Oooh... right there... ah.- The big fire type rumbled deep in his chest; a sound of pleasure that frightened those not familiar with the type.
Aliet smiled at her poke'mon's contented sounds. She gave him a harder rub, causing him to lie down, enabling her to get at his wing muscles as well. He half extended his wings and neck, trilling with pleasure.
To an outsider, the sight of a small girl interacting so fearlessly with such a huge creature might be a cause for alarm or selfless intervention. But, to most, this tender scene was the normal sight of a deep poke'mon-Trainer bond. The kind where you could say or do anything without being afraid of what the other might do to you. A great deal of Trainers were fortunate enough to experience that deep understanding... but some were not so fortunate. Those poor few lived in constant fear of what their poke'mon could do to them. They usually ended up either abandoning their poke'mon, joining Team Rocket or being arrested for abuse.
"Excuse me?"
Annoyed, Aliet turned to see who had disturbed her during such a private moment. A deckhand gave her a startled look. "M-M-Ms. Aliet!" he stuttered. "I-I didn't realize it was you!"
"Oh that's fine," she stood, smoothing out her robes. She reached into her pocket to pull out her tickets. "Here you are sir! Sorry about the abrupt entrance, but the meeting ran longer than I intended."
He checked the tickets, then his face flushed red. "I'm sorry Miss, but I gave this cabin to someone who was here when we left the dock..."
Aliet checked her annoyance. The man was trying to be polite about giving a Council member's cabin to someone other than herself. "That's all right," she sighed. A quick scan of the sky promised a clear night and morning. Trainers' weather senses were something that everyone valued... and the Trainers were usually right too. "It'll be good tonight... We'll be all right here. Will we be in the way?"
"Um... no Miss!" he stood up straighter. "Back here'll be fine!"
She smiled. "Good."
As he walked away, the two visibly relaxed. Across the blue waters, the sun deepened to a red, sinking into its watery bed for the night. Charizard yawned, lazily stretching. He curled up on the deck, laying his big head on his tail. Aliet removed her cloak, draping it around him to keep out the chill coming off the water. Only then did she sit down herself and leaned against her friend's side. Together, they watched the invisible artist paint his masterpiece across the canvas of the sky in oranges, reds and pinks. Bits of purple and a splash of yellow also worked their way into the painting. Like a mirror, the lapping waves reflected the sunset perfectly, marred only by the ripples of the tide.
Aliet shifted forward as Charizard shook his wings to get comfortable. "Sleepy?" she smiled.
-Yeah, ki...- a yawn caught him in mid-sentence. -Kind of.-
"Get some rest, big guy," she leaned back. "We were both up earlier than usual."
He settled down to sleep. Soon, the poke'mon was snoring softly. The vibrations made Aliet drowsier. She too, was soon asleep... but with much less noise.
The cool night air ruffled Charizard's makeshift blanket playfully. He shivered slightly, waking Aliet. Half awake, she readjusted it, falling back asleep instantly. Charizard licked his lips. That had been an odd dream.
It had been dark all around. Someone had pushed him off something. He'd fallen for a long time. He had hit water, but, for some strange reason, he hadn't died. He was drowning, something pulling him down no matter how hard he tried to stay afloat. Suddenly, an obscene face had loomed from the blackness, cackling at his misfortune. "Die Lizard," it had chanted as the waters closed over his head. The water rushed into his lungs... then he'd woken up.
He wanted Aliet to wake up and console him, as she always did when he'd had nightmares. But she was sound asleep again, snuggled deeply into his side. He curled protectively around her, growling out of protective instinct. Somewhat out of instinct herself, Aliet draped an arm around his neck comfortingly. The growling instantly stopped. Odd, he thought. How come we are comforted by habit? Why is instinct crushed by familiarity?
So warped were his thoughts that, it was impossible to sleep again. He found himself searching among the dregs of his mind for an almost forgotten link to an old friend. -Hope he's kept it up all this time,- he chuckled to himself.
Ah, there it was. Like a small tunnel out of his head. Pursing his lips, he concentrated on snaking a call through the hole, out into the world. He called several times, loud and long, hoping the receiver could ease his troubled mind.
*Yes, yes! I'm coming Char...* an impatient voice snapped in his head. *Stop broadcasting so loud!*
An air shimmer revealed the psychic's presence. Gradually, the shimmer merged into a solid form. Charizard blinked as the strong form of a Kadabra materialized in front of him. -Hey... Kadabra,- he murmured confusedly. -You evolved. Nice spoon.-
*You evolved too,* Kadabra stroked his mustache. *Nice wings. Now, why'd you call? I have to get back to Jen soon, she knows when I'm gone too long.*
-Thanks for being so sympathetic,- he chuckled again. -Anyway, I had a really weird dream and I can't get it out of my head.-
*Hang on, let me get the details,* Kadabra aimed his spoon at Charizard. *Relax, I'm only gonna probe the dream, nothing else.*
The fire type felt the quick mental sting of the probe rooting around. He tensed, but made an effort to remain calm. It was soon over, leaving him with the natural feeling of being violated. The psychic stroked his mustache again, thoughtfully this time. *Interesting dream...* he said. *I know the water is symbolic of death... for a fire type... the face is... drat!* He banged his spoon hand into the other. *I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I'm not a blasted ghost... All I can say is: watch out and guard Aliet well. Don't let it get under your hide.*
-Thanks Kadabra,- Charizard yawned hugely. -Sorry,- he flushed. -I guess I'm getting sleepy.-
Then I've done my job,* he bowed. See you around, Charizard. Take care.*
With that, the psychic vanished back to his Trainer. The scene he left behind was greatly unchanged. Although, now, snores vibrated throughout the sleeping body as the boat chugged its way to Pallet Town, moonlight glinting on its bow.
"Good, you have arrived promptly. You show much promise boy."
"Yes, milady."
"You shall be ready to receive the sacred fish soon, boy... Have you infiltrated them yet?"
"Yes."
"Good. Their puny religion shall be crushed beneath our might. Be prepared for the operation this summer. Do you still have it?"
"Yes."
"Very good indeed. Hmm... are you sure you can get close enough?"
"I will, you don't need to worry. I shall carry out the task."
"Hah hah, you have much to offer us, boy. Good, good... Now, where is the victim for the ceremony?"
Aliet was jerked out of a sound sleep by the blast of the ferry's whistle. "Ladies and Gentlemen," the crackling speaker blared. "All those wishing to disembark in Pallet Town, please do so now. Thank you and good day!"
The Fire Master jumped up, whisking her cloak off of Charizard. He grunted in his sleep, ignoring the blasts of the whistle. "Come on you great lug!" she shouted affectionately in his ear. "Time to go!"
He gave a dazed snort, blinking in the morning sun. Aliet swirled her cloak around her shoulders, doing up the clasp with deft ease. Her poke'mon heaved himself to his feet, yawning. She grabbed his arm, propelling the four-hundred-pound creature behind her.
Pallet Town was a place where everyone knew each other. Nothing much happened around here, save the boats coming and going and poke'mon Trainers going to Professor Oak. The town's dock was swarmed with people waiting for the shipments and passengers the ferry brought. Ferry days were always interesting; Aliet remembered them herself. There was always mischief to be made in big crowds when no one could see a small girl. Smiling with reflections of younger days, she scanned the crowd. A familiar ponytail of reddish-brown hair stuck out as its owner watched the people exiting the ferry. She smiled and hauled Charizard along. Together, poke'mon and Trainer descended the slick ramp. Charizard's claws skidded slightly on the smooth steel. He yelped and caught himself on the railing, almost ripping the metal off its brackets. Aliet was forced to help him down to the solid wood on the dock. The brown haired woman began to worm her way through the crowd towards them, smiling. Aliet waved. "Mrs. Ketchum!" she called. "Mrs. Ketchum, we're over here!"
Chapter
One
In which we learn of the Council, Chars, dreams, human instincts and why
you don't take chars on ferries.
The great doors burst open. An enormous beast tumbled in, almost tipsy in appearance. Its skin was like that of an orange, with the same texture as a young child. Long, hard, headknobs crowned its head. Its blue eyes sparkled with a dazed, almost childish excitement as it gazed around at the humans it knew so well. It swished its tail slowly from side to side, loving the astonishment and slight panic it had created.
An old, bald man stood, his face tight with both suppressed anger and amusement. He had to keep his authority visible while allowing the others to see his sense of humor. His job was not an easy one. He banged his hands on the table. "Aliet! How many times must I remind you to enter this Hall with your poke'mon?"
A slim, mud-haired girl of medium height peeked out cautiously from around the huge fire type. She had hazel eyes that were given to dancing slyly at any time she thought something amusing. Her facial features were sharp, as if chiseled from fine Pewter granite. The girl was dressed in a simple, flowing crimson robe-a gown like garment-belted at the waist with a soft orange, leather belt; a belt adorned with empty poke'balls. Eight badges from the Kanto gyms were pinned to the shoulder of her cloak, evidence of her status as a Master. Her hand held a walking staff, polished with years of use. "I'm terribly sorry Blaine," she called, striding around the creature to take her seat at the bald man's right. "He loves to see all his friends, you know that. Plus, Charizard here wouldn't hurt a fly."
"The stupid lug would too," the short, round man at Blaine's left grumbled. A Flareon growled softly beside him.
"Brad!" Blaine barked. He was the Leader of the Council and would darn well show his authority. Beside him, his Magmar cocked its head questioningly. "We are not here to be drawn into another type debate! Let us turn to the issue at hand!"
The meeting of the 6 Council of Fslam began.
The six best fire type Trainers, called Fslam in the old language of Kanto, had formed into a council to protect and guide their fellows. They met often to discuss things plaguing them and their people. Each member of the Council was traditionally from a different city in Kanto.
Today, the Council was discussing the problem of where to hold the Festival of Moltres during the summer equinox. Blaine had something else on his mind, everyone else could tell, but what they couldn't begin to fathom. Sometimes, the meetings were so controversial that the Council lived in the hall until the issue was resolved. Aliet hoped that this wasn't one of those times.
She was a very active girl, hailing from Pallet town. It was a very small place with woods and fields surrounding it. She hated confinement. Her poke'mon were much like that as well. Aliet Eaton Trained the "Char Trio" as they were called. Bored even now, she threw a look at Charizard. He lay curled beside her chair, dozing slightly. She smiled tenderly at him and turned her attention back to the meeting.
Everyone was throwing out random ideas, not even thinking about the merits of them. Eventually, Blaine decided on the Safari Zone. It was a quiet place, not many people and the native poke'mon wouldn't mind. "Now," Cinnabar Island's Magmar Trainer sighed, sounding relieved that his fellow Councilmen/women had decided. "the next order of business," he paused, glancing around for something. "Magmar! Where's that letter?"
The fiery, duck-like poke'mon waddled, ungracefully up to its Trainer. Handing Blaine a rolled up paper, it waddled, ungracefully out into the courtyard. Blaine hurriedly unrolled it. "Thank you Magmar," he called after it. Everyone knew how disorganized their Leader was-Magmar was basically his secretary at times.
"You should really switch to Training Flareon Blaine," Brad said haughtily, stroking his where it lay in his lap. "They're so much more graceful than that thing."
Each one of the 6 Council Trained a type of fire poke'mon. Evolutionary patterns were considered as a single type. The arguments over which types were better occurred often. Most hated it.
"He likes Magmar, always has," Sheila, Arcanine/Growlithe Trainer, shrugged. "Leave it there."
"Right, now about this letter," Blaine tried to redirect the conversation.
"I still think he should switch."
"Shut up Brad," Aliet snapped. "Blaine's talking."
The Flareon Trainer looked sullen. Blaine cleared his throat and began. "This letter, is from a young boy who wishes to become a fire Trainer..."
"What's the big deal with that?" Sheila asked. The Lavender Town woman planted her feet on the table, boots making clonking sounds. "If he wants to, let him. We're not THAT picky. Leave pickiness to the Psi's."
"Just make sure he" Aliet began.
"Or she," Jess prompted. "Could be-wait. Did Blaine say it was a boy?"
"Yes, O Queen of Idiots," Brad muttered.
"Brad!" Scott of Vermilion voiced his anger. "We do not need any of that today!"
"Will you all be quiet and let me finish!?" Blaine bellowed.
The whole room went as silent as a grave. The Leader looked around at his fellows angrily before picking up where he left off. "This boy wishes to become a Fslam because he doesn't agree with the way his old type was made to be trained.
"He's here now, please everyone... keep an open mind."
A small, gaunt boy stepped through the huge doors cautiously. He had stunning red hair and large, liquid-brown eyes. Freckles dotted his cheeks and nose. The only clue to his identity lay in the Shelder bouncing by his side. Except for his poor choice in poke'mon to bring before the 6 Council, he didn't look very threatening...
At the sight of the boy's poke'mon, the fire types and Trainers made uncomfortable noises. "This is Thomas," Blaine waved the boy over. "He was once a Jha'ik, water, Trainer in Cerulean City."
Outrage worked its way through the Council. How dare such a fool enter the hall of Fslam? "Throw the kid out," Brad shouted.
"Wait!" Sheila stayed the Pewter native's hand. "Blaine told us to keep an open mind!"
"Is the 6 Council so much like those we befriended?" Aliet asked quietly. "I thought the Psi's were the picky ones."
Sheila shot her a look of gratitude and turned her attention back to the two young men and Jess. "Listen, if the kid's serious enough to come before US," she gave the disbeliveers a hard look. She had an amazing array of expressions for the same mood. Lavender Townies often did. "then I think he's serious enough to become one of us!"
At length, the rest of the Council agreed. "Good," Blaine smiled at his Council. "We will hold an interview so you can judge him. Uh, Magmar?"
"Mag?" Magmar was at Blaine's side instantly.
"Ah, there you are!" Blaine stood stiffly. "Who gets interviews first?"
The fire type slapped his forehead before explaining to Blaine, for the fifth time, that the Senior members, Aliet and Brad, came after HIS interview and then the other members. Blaine nodded understandingly. "All right, I go first, then Aliet, Brad, Scott, Sheila, and then Jess."
Aliet leaned back casually in her chair. It was her turn to interview the boy. Nothing should escape her scrutiny. At least she hoped it wouldn't. Charizard sat beside her. He was bored. He lay like a dog, head between his forearms. His eyes swiveled around the room, watching dust specks fly around, caught in the spring sunshine that filtered through the huge windows. The fire type yawned, sitting up.
The jittery boy jumped. A spark of amusement came into Charizard's eyes. He reached out a clawed foot towards the boy, as if to harm him. He was rewarded with the boy giving a yelp and darting behind the folding chair. The kid crept back out again as the foot idly scratched its owner's neck. Aliet had to stifle her laugh.
"So," she began, folding her legs under her. She wasn't very imposing-or tall-and any extra height was welcome when meeting someone like this. "What poke'mon do you have on your belt?"
The familiarity of the term momentarily reassured him. "I only have Shelder, ma'am," he said in the crisp, un-slurred accent of Cerulean natives. His voice was somewhat loud, as most from his city were. "I just started Training and... Daisy won't let me have another."
The Fire Master frowned at the pause before Daisy's name. Any Trainer learning under a Master-as was the practice in most gyms-always learned their Leader's name before anything. But, then again, the boy was most likely just overwhelmed. "Are you planning to ever evolve your Shelder? Even if you become a fire Trainer?"
"Yes ma'am. When he's ready." The poke'mon bounced in agreement.
"Do you know how a Shelder evolves?"
"Yes ma'am. Waterstone."
"Do you have a Waterstone?"
"No ma'am. But once I have gotten some badges, I plan to go to Celadon and buy one."
She frowned again. Great, a Trainer of fire was going to have Fire's-bane on him. This would only add to her worries. "Are you aware," she put all her seriousness at the moment into her words. "of what happens to a fire poke'mon that eats a Waterstone? What if one of your fire poke'mon eats it before you can use it on Shelder here?"
"If they were sick after, I'd take them to a Center," he replied smoothly. "I don't really know what happens if they do though, ma'am."
Aliet questioned him for an hour. She drew her own conclusions and privately voiced them to Charizard, who growled his out in reply. Finally, she left him at the mercy of Brad. She pitied the boy. Brad was the worst member of the Council to be trapped in a room with for a long period of time. As she exited through the vaulted doors, Blaine's hand on her shoulder stopped her. Magmar looked up at Charizard, waving to his much taller friend. The big fire type growled with amusement. "What do you think 'Et?" the old man smiled at her. His voice, though raspy with age, was always kind when he spoke to her. He thought of her as a daughter.
To Aliet, Blaine was one of her best friends. He had taught her so much. "I think he'll be okay," she grimaced. "Just needs the lecture on Waterstones."
The old man nodded. "I'll brief him, don't worry yourself." Magmar made a note on the clipboard he always carried at meetings. "Go on home, you've done your part," he smiled again and waved the pair away. "I have my own work to finish."
Aliet shook his hand before racing down the staircase to freedom. Charizard stumbled awkwardly on his short legs. He wasn't suited for running. As they burst into the sunlight, he roared and spread his wings. The momentum from running carried him into the air, barely missing his Trainer's head by inches. She ducked out of reflex and laughed. "Watch it!" she barked playfully.
-Sorry!- he roared down. He flamed upwards, expressing his joy at being up in the air. The poke'mon hated the stuffy meetings. Only times when he was allowed to go into the courtyard were the times when he liked them. -Um, 'Et?-
"What?" she squinted up to where he hovered. The sun was in her eyes. "What is it?"
-Are we going to ride the ferry?- he looked towards the docks.
"Yeah..." she trailed off as a whistle broke the air. "Dang it!" The fifteen-year-old Fire Master broke into a jarring run. "We gotta catch it Charizard!"
He roared in reply. Aliet sucked air into her lungs and ran faster. Poke'mon Trainers were normally in great shape after their journeys. The constant walking greatly improved one's stamina. She urged herself to go faster. As her sandals slapped against the plain wood of the ferry dock, the boat pulled away from its moorings. Aliet stopped dead. Despite its mass, the passenger ferry moved quickly; there was no way she could catch it now...
Or was there?
"Charizard! Catch!" She threw up her arms, palms outstretched. "Get us on!"
He swooped in low, grabbing her wrists. With great care, he adjusted to her extra weight, as he always did for a moment, and shot out over the water. She gripped his thick wrists back, hanging on for dear life. Her feet almost skimmed the water's surface. At their speed, it would have ripped her sandals off. The wind whipped her face, tangling her long hair.
Finally, they soared over the ship's dock. He hovered briefly before dropping her down a few inches. She landed in a crouch, flexing her rather sore wrists. He swooped around the boat once before landing beside her, drawing "ooh's" and "ahh's" from various passengers. -Two points!- he laughed. -That's better than last time!-
"Much better," she agreed, stroking his neck.
-Little lower,- he growled, leaning into her touch. -It itches real bad down... Oooh... right there... ah.- The big fire type rumbled deep in his chest; a sound of pleasure that frightened those not familiar with the type.
Aliet smiled at her poke'mon's contented sounds. She gave him a harder rub, causing him to lie down, enabling her to get at his wing muscles as well. He half extended his wings and neck, trilling with pleasure.
To an outsider, the sight of a small girl interacting so fearlessly with such a huge creature might be a cause for alarm or selfless intervention. But, to most, this tender scene was the normal sight of a deep poke'mon-Trainer bond. The kind where you could say or do anything without being afraid of what the other might do to you. A great deal of Trainers were fortunate enough to experience that deep understanding... but some were not so fortunate. Those poor few lived in constant fear of what their poke'mon could do to them. They usually ended up either abandoning their poke'mon, joining Team Rocket or being arrested for abuse.
"Excuse me?"
Annoyed, Aliet turned to see who had disturbed her during such a private moment. A deckhand gave her a startled look. "M-M-Ms. Aliet!" he stuttered. "I-I didn't realize it was you!"
"Oh that's fine," she stood, smoothing out her robes. She reached into her pocket to pull out her tickets. "Here you are sir! Sorry about the abrupt entrance, but the meeting ran longer than I intended."
He checked the tickets, then his face flushed red. "I'm sorry Miss, but I gave this cabin to someone who was here when we left the dock..."
Aliet checked her annoyance. The man was trying to be polite about giving a Council member's cabin to someone other than herself. "That's all right," she sighed. A quick scan of the sky promised a clear night and morning. Trainers' weather senses were something that everyone valued... and the Trainers were usually right too. "It'll be good tonight... We'll be all right here. Will we be in the way?"
"Um... no Miss!" he stood up straighter. "Back here'll be fine!"
She smiled. "Good."
As he walked away, the two visibly relaxed. Across the blue waters, the sun deepened to a red, sinking into its watery bed for the night. Charizard yawned, lazily stretching. He curled up on the deck, laying his big head on his tail. Aliet removed her cloak, draping it around him to keep out the chill coming off the water. Only then did she sit down herself and leaned against her friend's side. Together, they watched the invisible artist paint his masterpiece across the canvas of the sky in oranges, reds and pinks. Bits of purple and a splash of yellow also worked their way into the painting. Like a mirror, the lapping waves reflected the sunset perfectly, marred only by the ripples of the tide.
Aliet shifted forward as Charizard shook his wings to get comfortable. "Sleepy?" she smiled.
-Yeah, ki...- a yawn caught him in mid-sentence. -Kind of.-
"Get some rest, big guy," she leaned back. "We were both up earlier than usual."
He settled down to sleep. Soon, the poke'mon was snoring softly. The vibrations made Aliet drowsier. She too, was soon asleep... but with much less noise.
The cool night air ruffled Charizard's makeshift blanket playfully. He shivered slightly, waking Aliet. Half awake, she readjusted it, falling back asleep instantly. Charizard licked his lips. That had been an odd dream.
It had been dark all around. Someone had pushed him off something. He'd fallen for a long time. He had hit water, but, for some strange reason, he hadn't died. He was drowning, something pulling him down no matter how hard he tried to stay afloat. Suddenly, an obscene face had loomed from the blackness, cackling at his misfortune. "Die Lizard," it had chanted as the waters closed over his head. The water rushed into his lungs... then he'd woken up.
He wanted Aliet to wake up and console him, as she always did when he'd had nightmares. But she was sound asleep again, snuggled deeply into his side. He curled protectively around her, growling out of protective instinct. Somewhat out of instinct herself, Aliet draped an arm around his neck comfortingly. The growling instantly stopped. Odd, he thought. How come we are comforted by habit? Why is instinct crushed by familiarity?
So warped were his thoughts that, it was impossible to sleep again. He found himself searching among the dregs of his mind for an almost forgotten link to an old friend. -Hope he's kept it up all this time,- he chuckled to himself.
Ah, there it was. Like a small tunnel out of his head. Pursing his lips, he concentrated on snaking a call through the hole, out into the world. He called several times, loud and long, hoping the receiver could ease his troubled mind.
*Yes, yes! I'm coming Char...* an impatient voice snapped in his head. *Stop broadcasting so loud!*
An air shimmer revealed the psychic's presence. Gradually, the shimmer merged into a solid form. Charizard blinked as the strong form of a Kadabra materialized in front of him. -Hey... Kadabra,- he murmured confusedly. -You evolved. Nice spoon.-
*You evolved too,* Kadabra stroked his mustache. *Nice wings. Now, why'd you call? I have to get back to Jen soon, she knows when I'm gone too long.*
-Thanks for being so sympathetic,- he chuckled again. -Anyway, I had a really weird dream and I can't get it out of my head.-
*Hang on, let me get the details,* Kadabra aimed his spoon at Charizard. *Relax, I'm only gonna probe the dream, nothing else.*
The fire type felt the quick mental sting of the probe rooting around. He tensed, but made an effort to remain calm. It was soon over, leaving him with the natural feeling of being violated. The psychic stroked his mustache again, thoughtfully this time. *Interesting dream...* he said. *I know the water is symbolic of death... for a fire type... the face is... drat!* He banged his spoon hand into the other. *I'm sorry I can't be of more help. I'm not a blasted ghost... All I can say is: watch out and guard Aliet well. Don't let it get under your hide.*
-Thanks Kadabra,- Charizard yawned hugely. -Sorry,- he flushed. -I guess I'm getting sleepy.-
Then I've done my job,* he bowed. See you around, Charizard. Take care.*
With that, the psychic vanished back to his Trainer. The scene he left behind was greatly unchanged. Although, now, snores vibrated throughout the sleeping body as the boat chugged its way to Pallet Town, moonlight glinting on its bow.
"Good, you have arrived promptly. You show much promise boy."
"Yes, milady."
"You shall be ready to receive the sacred fish soon, boy... Have you infiltrated them yet?"
"Yes."
"Good. Their puny religion shall be crushed beneath our might. Be prepared for the operation this summer. Do you still have it?"
"Yes."
"Very good indeed. Hmm... are you sure you can get close enough?"
"I will, you don't need to worry. I shall carry out the task."
"Hah hah, you have much to offer us, boy. Good, good... Now, where is the victim for the ceremony?"
Aliet was jerked out of a sound sleep by the blast of the ferry's whistle. "Ladies and Gentlemen," the crackling speaker blared. "All those wishing to disembark in Pallet Town, please do so now. Thank you and good day!"
The Fire Master jumped up, whisking her cloak off of Charizard. He grunted in his sleep, ignoring the blasts of the whistle. "Come on you great lug!" she shouted affectionately in his ear. "Time to go!"
He gave a dazed snort, blinking in the morning sun. Aliet swirled her cloak around her shoulders, doing up the clasp with deft ease. Her poke'mon heaved himself to his feet, yawning. She grabbed his arm, propelling the four-hundred-pound creature behind her.
Pallet Town was a place where everyone knew each other. Nothing much happened around here, save the boats coming and going and poke'mon Trainers going to Professor Oak. The town's dock was swarmed with people waiting for the shipments and passengers the ferry brought. Ferry days were always interesting; Aliet remembered them herself. There was always mischief to be made in big crowds when no one could see a small girl. Smiling with reflections of younger days, she scanned the crowd. A familiar ponytail of reddish-brown hair stuck out as its owner watched the people exiting the ferry. She smiled and hauled Charizard along. Together, poke'mon and Trainer descended the slick ramp. Charizard's claws skidded slightly on the smooth steel. He yelped and caught himself on the railing, almost ripping the metal off its brackets. Aliet was forced to help him down to the solid wood on the dock. The brown haired woman began to worm her way through the crowd towards them, smiling. Aliet waved. "Mrs. Ketchum!" she called. "Mrs. Ketchum, we're over here!"