Author's Note: Hey, guess what? I'm updating! Yep, better believe it. I- being the loser I am with no life- am sitting in front of my computer on a Friday night updating a Pokemon fanfic. Yes, I clearly am regressing in, um, age?
Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own Pokemon or certain characters (if you own them you know who you are…I'm too lazy to write this.)
For my own amusement I'm going to time how long it takes me to write this…
Current time: October 13, 2006, 7:29 p.m.
Um, okay, I'm going to warn you now that the gym leader in here says some harsh things (this might affect you more Fire Spirit because she says it to you're character…sorry, it adds to the plot though). Yeah, you've been warned. I don't hate your characters…Oh yeah, and I'm focusing on Nell and Sofia this chapter. Next chapter will be Kyle, Kelly, and the evil cult.
Chapter Six: The Ghosts of Marionette Town
He stood at four foot eleven, his head high and his eyes set towards the sky. His name was Falcon and he was finally Nell's. It had taken half a day and about ten trips to the Pokemon Center, a stubborn effort from Ao, and most surprisingly, Palee, but he stood now at her side, like the loyal dog he was.
This was it- Nell was prepared for her first gym battle against Marionette Town's ghost trainer Lucia St. Mark. Cold, and possibly unfeeling, the young woman was known to be ruthless in her battles, pressing her Pokemon to do the unthinkable…and the unbeatable. It was all up to Falcon, and Nell wished on her life that the battle would only be one on one so that she wouldn't have to put her other two Pokemon in harms way- not that Palee would agree to put himself in harms way or anything. The closer the Lotad got to evolving, the more defiant he became. It was actually starting to worry his trainer.
"Well, I suppose we should go in, don't you?" Nell asked Falcon quietly, as if not to disturb any resting spirits. It must have been because of their grave yard surroundings. This gym was starting to scare her, yet intrigue her at the same time.
"Yes." Falcon replied, trudging his paws through the thick, white mist around them. The duo walked past a pair of tombstones. Nell couldn't tell whether humans or Pokemon were buried here, the writing on the stones were so worn down that it was illegible.
The walk to the entrance of the gym was slightly slower than what they would have wanted, though only because a mix of nervousness and fear held them back from what they were meant to do.
Nell gulped as she grasped the bronze knocker and she slammed it against the door two times. When it was opened, she stood face to face with a tall, pale man. He looked skeletal, which was fitting for the gym's environment.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a low voice, one that didn't suit his physical appearance at all. His light grey eyes bore into Nell's soft violet ones.
"Um…Yes. I-I want to challenge Miss…Lucia." Nell stuttered up at the frightful man who never seemed to notice her hesitation.
"Mistress St. Mark is currently engaged in battle. You may watch if you please." He said in a monotonous voice, directing the girl down a long hallway before she had a chance to reply.
The walls of the St. Mark fortress were of pure grey coloured stone. Very few frames hung on them, and those that did were undoubtedly holding portraits of Lucia's ancestors. All had gleaming silver hair and pale complexion with grey eyes made of sheer cold. They looked like ghosts themselves.
"In here Miss." The butler said, opening a wooden door for Nell and Falcon.
Upon entering, Nell could see four figures surrounded by a lot of silver mist. Among those figures was Marionette Town's own gym leader, Lucia St. Mark. She stood on a platform made of silver on the right side of the large arena. Opposite her was a younger girl with black hair, frustratingly calling out to her Umbreon who was attempting to attack a swift Banette. The ghost Pokemon appeared to be taunting the dark dog as it continued to try hitting its opponent with a bright Swift attack. Things weren't looking good for the challenger.
"Cut it out St. Mark! I came here to battle you, not play tag!" The black haired girl yelled in irritation. Lucia just stared at her and laughed coldly.
"Why did you even come back Sofia? You didn't stand a chance against me yesterday, you don't today, and you never will? Isn't that why you left in the first place? Pathetic, that's what you are." She said, running a hand through her sweeping silver hair.
"Why don't you shut up? Twilight! Pursuit!" Sofia commanded.
Nell watched as the Umbreon once again charged at the ghost unsuccessfully. The mist must have been strategically placed, because the Banette seemed to disappear into it to evade oncoming attacks.
"Do you really want me to finish this? Do you want it to end? If I do, will you hold up you're end of our bargain? Will you leave for good?" Lucia asked.
"I won't leave until I beat you! Twilight, try Toxic!"
"It's no use kid; you aren't going to be able to catch me in any way. Give up now and I'll spare you your miserable life." The gym leader said harshly. "Banette. Finish it with Hyper Beam."
Out of the mist came the marionette shrouded in a white glow. Only seconds later was a large, golden beam discharged from its mouth towards the helpless Umbreon. When the smoke cleared, the Banette was the only one standing.
"…what?" Sofia managed to mutter, returning her Umbreon to its pokeball.
"Have you learned nothing sister? Once you betray the St. Mark family, you will always be hated- not only by us, but by this entire town! Never show you're face in my city again you dismal being. Leave. Now." Lucia ordered, pointing at the door, in the process noticing a horror stricken Nell, who was staring at her in disbelief.
"Fine. You want me gone? Consider it done? I was stupid to even give this idiotic family another chance." Sofia said bitterly, lifting her hazel eyes from the ground. She walked briskly out the door, prepared to follow her older sister's wishes.
"What are you doing here girl?" Lucia asked Nell once her former opponent left the room. "I don't allow spectators during my battles."
"I…um. Your butler, he told me to watch in here. I, um, came here to challenge you, but…I think I've changed my mind. I'm not ready." Nell squeaked before running from the arena.
"Ugh. Pathetic beings. Every single one of them." Lucia sighed, angrily watching the young girl run with her fears.
Outside in the graveyard, Sofia tried her hardest to catch her breath. She gasped for air and her heart was thumping hard and fast in her chest. Was she really so foolish as to think Lucia would accept her? Although Sofia was only younger by five years, her sister had always treated her like a baby, often bashing and harshly insulting her and her skills. Was that the way older sisters were supposed to act?
Sofia had left home when she was eight. She thought that if she waited and trained for a few years- four to be exact- she would be able to challenge her sister and gain some respect. Apparently she was wrong.
Shrugging it off, she looked around. She was slumped against a cold tombstone. It must have been two hundred years old. The fortress must have been about that old to, and the St. Marks had lived there the whole time.
St. Mark. Sofia had abandoned that surname when she originally left town, changing her last name to Hitoshi. That way nobody would know she was related to the infamous gym leader Lucia St. Mark of Marionette Town. The Ghost Trainer.
Small footsteps sounded from a few feet away. Surely it was the young girl that had to experience the brawl. Sofia looked up to find the girl with her head down, short pink wisps of hair scattered in her face. The poor girl was probably terrified.
"Hi…are you okay?" Nell asked, raising her head slightly to allow one violet eye to gaze down upon the older girl.
"Yep, why wouldn't I be?"
"Well, I mean…she was pretty harsh back there, wasn't she? Who is she to insult you like that?" Nell asked, brushing disheveled hair from her face.
Sofia shrugged. "She's my sister. Her insults don't bother me as much anymore."
"You're sister?! She's a mean one." Nell said in disbelief.
"Yeah, well, I suppose we all are once in a while. Anyway, I'm Sofia." The black haired girl stuck out her hand.
"Um, Nell." Nell replied, taking the girl's hand.
"So, are you here to challenge my dear sister? Approach her with caution; her icy glare might freeze you on the spot if her eyes meet yours directly." Sofia laughed, getting no response from the younger girl.
"I was going to challenge her, but I think I've changed my mind. I'm really not ready yet."
"Yeah, it doesn't look like you are. You look…" Sofia stopped, trying to find a word.
"Inexperienced?" Nell offered.
"Yeah. Sorry."
"No, its okay. I am." She paused, forcing a momentary silence. "So, what are you going to do now? Surely you can't stick around here any longer…"
"Of course not. I should really get as far away from this place as possible, and as soon as possible…I just don't know where to go." Sofia said bluntly, bringing herself to her feet. She turned out to be about three or four inches taller than Nell, a normal height four a twelve year old.
"I have an idea." Nell declared. "How about you come with me?" When she received a strange look from the older girl, she add, "I mean, you don't know where you're going, and I don't know where I'm going. We can make it work! Let's wing it!"
Sofia brought her hand to her chin, considering Nell's proposition. "Yeah, that could work. Sure, why not."
Nell clapped her hands together and leapt up in the air, almost falling upon landing, and reached out to clutch a nearby tombstone.
"Um, yeah. Let's get out of here…fast." Nell said, wiping her hand on her skirt, thinking there was grime on it.
"Will do."
A/N: Time! 9:00 p.m. of the same day. Score. Okay, once again, don't mind the harshness. It had to happen. And I'm listening to rather depressing music, so I was in the mood.
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