I scurried back to the Pokemon Center, protecting my exhausted Pokemon from any further harm.
…But only after I spoke with Pryce about my loss.
In all seriousness, Buddy and I did fine. Pryce had sent out a Sneasel, and we weren’t completely outmatched during the battle, but it was clear that we were operating on a different level of battle experience. We couldn’t catch the Sneasel, but our Embers could potentially catch up… if we trained, and Buddy had experience with being able to shoot where Sneasel was going to be, and not where he was at the time of firing.
Now, let me be clear. It isn’t Buddy’s fault at all. Even if we faced a Pokemon with strength for a zero-badge trainer, I wholly understand and respect that Buddy was, quite literally, born yesterday. We needed to train, and that thought has been at the forefront of my mind since yesterday.
I just kind of hoped we could take out someone so we could get some equipment that could help us train instead of just stepping outside and shooting balls of flame at a rock. Lesson learned, take what you can get. Just shoot the balls of flame at the rock next time, Silas.
After Sneasel gave Buddy an uppercut with its claw (it being so close to where Buddy’s jugular should be scared me senseless), I checked him out and recalled him after the match was called. Pryce approached me, literally laughing at how the battle went.
“Ah ha ha ha! Ah, feels good to kick some ass with Sneasel. He doesn’t get enough wins nowadays. Good battle, boy. D’you know how you can improve?”
“Yes,” I said, facing the gym leader. “Buddy and I haven’t conditioned or trained for battling at all. I won’t give excuses, so suffice it to say I accept my loss and will return as soon as I’m allowed.”
“For fucks sake, boy, stop being so damn stiff,” Pryce complained with a sneer. “Look, I get it. I’m a gym leader, I’m in a nice, old gym. Nobody else is around, you feel like you gotta treat me with respect. Well fuck that, there’s no need. Imagine I’m a twenty-something babe that just kicked your ass in a battle and talk to me like a god damned normal trainer.”
“...Sorry. Sure. I’m not about to ogle you though, bro.”
“Ha! That’s more fuckin like it, son. Okay. No need to wait for the two week waiting period for rematches. Get your shit in order and come in as soon as you feel like you can take down Sneasel,” Pryce tells me with a grin, slapping his weathered hand on my back. “My piece of advice? Go hang out on the front level of Mount Mortar for a bit with your dog. Don’t go more than 100 paces or so past the sign at the front, and keep an eye out for some Zubats. They don’t flock that close to the entrance, so you’ll only see a few every hour. Soon as you can routinely manage them without windin’ yourself or gettin’ hurt, you’ll be right as rain to take me on again.”
Thinking about what I know about Mount Mortar, I realize I have…no real context for this, not really. I guess it makes sense that bats wouldn’t clump together right at the entrance, though.
“Thanks, boss. I’ll go get Buddy healed up and come back better prepared.”
“That’s the spirit, son. Okay, fuck off now. I’m gonna get a drink, I’m in the mood to enjoy one. See you and your dog ‘round,” Pryce walks out of the battlefield and into the foyer, turning right and heading into one of the side rooms at the entrance, leaving me alone. I give a sigh, disappointed in how it turned out, and I leave the gym and head back to the Pokemon Center.
I arrived back at the Center, lacking a certain good boy running circles around my pace, as he’s resting in his ball. I’ve thought a fair bit about the battle with Pryce in the ten or so minutes it takes to return, and I think there’s no other problem than something some training can fix. Whatever the real-Pokemon equivalent to levels are, Buddy certainly doesn’t have them, but neither does what Pryce is sending out for this gym battle. Control and precision are the name of the game.
I’m sure I could elect to try to overpower Pryce with some…power leveling? If that’s even a thing. But I feel like it would behoove both Buddy and myself to work more on technique than power. Arcanine are pretty strong Pokemon, if the base stats I’m familiar with are anything to go by, but they’re far from the strongest. If working on technique can flip a battle on its head, then Buddy will be the most skilled doggo in all the land.
There’s another unfamiliar nurse behind the counter, though she dons the same naturally bright pink hair as the rest. This one… looks like she’s Taylors age? Wow, they start ‘em young in the Center business I guess. I approach the counter and she looks up from…her phone. Yeah, of course the teenager was on her phone.
“Hello, welcome to the Pokemon Center! How I may help.. How may I help you, sir?”
I completely ignore her stumble over her words. “Hi, I’m staying here and I had a…failed gym battle with Pryce. I was hoping my Growlithe could get checked over?” I pull the ball off my belt and hold it in my hand above the counter.
“Of course! Chansey, do you mind?”
You got it, Dani!
The Chansey reaches out and I offer her the ball as I unwittingly murmur “Dani?”
The nurse jumps a little, giving off a look of… oh. Shit. I fucked up.
“Um, sir? Will that be all?” She nervously asks me.
Fuck, she’s legit panicking. I’m an older creep that just muttered her name when she’s obviously supposed to be Joy. How do I even get out of this?
I sigh. “No thank you, Nurse Joy. I’ll be up in my room, thank you.”
I decide to just beat it out of there and make her think she’s hearing things. I get back to my room, lay in bed fully clothed, and close my eyes, thinking about the best way to approach training.
A couple hours later, there’s a knock on my door, as I’ve fully settled in after the gym battle and determined the next best course of action. Expecting Chansey with Buddy, I stand up, slick my hair back out of my face with my hands, and approach the door.
As I open up the door, saying “Thanks…. What?” I see a man about as tall as I am, wearing… a police uniform.
“Are you Silas Green?” he asks me, no nonsense in his deep voice.
“I am,” I say, realizing I do not know my rights. Dammit. Why would this be happening? “How can I help you, officer?”
“You’ve been reported for stalking and a restraining order will shortly be issued against you,” he says, pulling out an envelope from his vest. “You are to vacate the premises within the next hour and are not allowed to visit this Pokemon Center in particular at any point between the hours of 8am and 4pm, nor are you allowed to be on the eastern side of Mahogany town at any point outside of those hours.”
…That woman reported me because I said her name?
“Officer, I understand, but I’m afraid there’s been a misund..”
“There has not been a misunderstanding, as the video tape recording the lobby has been reviewed and it was clear that you threatened the acting nurse on duty by sharing her identity,” the officer gruffs at me. “You can either comply, or I can throw you in a cell until we get somebody to escort you to a more secure prison away from the nurse in question and this town in its entirety.”
…Fuck. Think quick, Silas. Damn. Okay, lets try…
“I..understand officer, Allow me to get my things. Would you mind escorting me out? I do have a Pokemon being treated, and I’d like to pick him up. Perhaps you can do it for me? I’d also like to have a short conversation with you, if you would allow it.”
He looks at me with a sneer and sighs. “Fine. Go on.”
I have literally nothing to grab besides my trainer ID on the nightstand, so I grab that and head out. I walk downstairs with the officer behind me, and when I reach the bottom of the stairs, he pokes me in the back with a fist and tells me “I’ll get the Pokemon. Wait outside.”
I do so.
A few minutes later, the officer steps out. He reaches out his hand with what I can only assume is my Buddy in his ball, and I reach out to take it from him. He hangs on to it as I grab it for a moment, looks at me, and lets go of the ball.
“Go ahead. Talk.”
“Okay. Thank you for your time,” I say. I take a quick breath, knowing what I’m about to say will sound bonkers based off what I’ve observed, but… “I did not intend to threaten her. I didn’t even realize it was her name when I said it. I…think?... I said it in a questioning way? I’m pretty sure I did, anyway, and that’s because the Chansey she spoke with said her name.”
He looks at me with no emotion in his face, expression betraying nothing. “You’re saying Chansey told you her name?”
“If you can think of any way I can prove to you that I understood the Chansey, I will. I’ll voluntarily leave the town if I can’t. I promise, I am not here to cause any trouble.”
Still with the unchanging expression, he sighs, and tells me to “hold on then,” and he walks back inside.
I let out a big breath and sit down on the bench outside the Center. What…the fuck? I was hoping to keep that in my back pocket. No idea how common something like understanding Pokemon is in this world… But whatever. It’s my own fault for being careless. Why did I have to repeat it, for crying out loud? It’s obviously her name.
The officer comes back out with .. the Chansey in question, notably. Less notably, the Chansey is holding a notepad in its hands.
“All right. Face in the direction of the gym. I’m gonna write something down, Chansey is gonna read it ‘cuz she’s smart like that, and you’re gonna tell me what she said.”
I comply, though this isn’t exactly foolproof… I’m more worried now that I see the loophole. That Chansey could say whatever the fuck it wants if it thinks I’m a threat to one of her nurses.
A minute goes by, and I hear the officer say “Go ahead.”
Bullshit you can understand me, you old fuck. I’m not even gonna say it, just to spite your creepy ass.
I knew it.
I’m silent for a moment after Chansey finishes speaking in that typical happy-go-lucky tone Chansey’s are known for. What a mouth on that thing!
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
I sigh. “Officer… is there any chance that there’s a thing like a Psychic that can verify what Chansey is saying is actually on the card?”
“All right, so that’s how it’s gonna be?”
“I… she cussed me out. Specifically, she said ‘bullshit you can understand me, you old fuck. I’m not even gonna say it, just to spite your creepy ass.’” I recite in monotone.
“Uh huh. Like Chansey would say something like that,” the officer says, disgust clear in his voice.
Before I can turn around to apologize and…leave, I guess, I hear the Chansey speak.
Wait, seriously? Did I say Dani’s name earlier? I’m so sorry! Okay, okay, fine, the paper said “how much wood could a bidoof chuck if a bidoof could chuck wood!” Say it! I’m sorry!
I hesitate in turning around, and immediately declare “How much wood could a Bidoof chuck if a Bidoof could chuck wood. She apologized. She thought I was lying about understanding.”
Silence ensues.
“Well I’ll be,” the officer says. “Can we do that again? You’ll understand if I have some concerns about the first try.”
Without turning around, I say “Absolutely.”
Another minute goes by, and I hear the officer tell Chansey to “go ahead again, and if you really did curse… watch your mouth, girl. Be polite.”
Sorry… Okay, it says “My name is Officer Rando, badge number 532, and I will straighten this out if this is repeated ver…bawt him. Verbawtim.”
I can’t help but sigh. “I think she mispronounced something that ruins my chances, so I’m going to… just say what I think the paper says. My name is Officer Rando, badge number 532, and I will straighten this out if this is repeated verbatim.”
“Fuck, boy,” the officer says. “Turn around. I’ll fuckin’ be. You have my word. I’ll get you back in there soon. Take a load off, sit down… maybe a couple blocks down the road, since the nurse don’t know the full story. I’ll be back in a bit.”
The officer walks off and I let out a huge sigh. I peek down the road in the opposite direction he’s heading, seeing a bench in front of a small flower garden. I head that way, and I’m about halfway down the block when I feel a tug on the back of my shirt. I turn around and see Chansey.
I am so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, sorrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
The Chansey then plops down on its ass in front of me and starts bawling.
“It’s fine, it’s fine! Stop, please, you’re going to make this worse!” I say, having an idea as to what this might look like to a bystander.
I…hic, I fucked uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup .Waaaaaaaaaaaah
Oh good lord. Idea!
“Emotional support animal, go!”
Buddy ignores Chansey completely, instead choosing to bolt towards me and joins in on the bawling.
I am so sorry, Buddy! I, rufffffff, I lost! I could not hit the winner! Rufffffff.. Buddy, Sorry!
Oh, gosh.
I end up walking to the bench with two distraught Pokemon in tow, both of them apologizing and crying the entire time. I don’t even try to console either of them, overwhelmed at the situation myself. I want to cry, I think. Not you. Both Chansey and Buddy simmer down after… who knows how long, and who knows how many judgmental glances from elderly folks later.
Hic.. will you forgive me, mister? Please? I almost..hic..did something awful to you…hic.
“It’s fine,” I say, almost in monotone, wanting this completely over with. “It’ll all be fine. You can go back to the Center now, Chansey.”
Are you..hic, sure, it’s okay?
“Yes, I am sure.”
But Buddy, what about our battle? Ruff…. Are you.. Are we…still buddies, Buddy?
“Yes Buddy, we’re still buddies.”
Hic… thank you, mister… I am so sorry again… um…
Oh Buddy! I love you!
I’m gonna go… sorry…
Buddy rushes me and jumps in my lap, tears still streaming down his face, as Chansey waddles away, still attempting to blot the tears on her face.
This has been a day, and I am ready for it to end. But the sun is still high, and I need to train. I let out an exasperated sigh, and tilt back my head, wondering how things went from zero to 100 as quickly as it did.
The summary of events was stupid, I decided.
About half an hour of sitting in relative silence (sans Buddy whimpers of further apologies, which I’ve also decided I need to get on top of when I have a better handle on my own emotions), I catch a tall man in a police uniform escorting a young nurse with bright pink hair and a Chansey towards me. I don’t move, and only turn my head to clock them when they’re in front of me and the officer clears his throat.
“Mister Green, everything has been cleared up,” the officer tells me. “You may return to your room at your leisure, though I was requested to act as a mediator.”
I tilt an eyebrow at him, not sparing a glance for Dani and the hot mess that is Chansey. “Mediator for what?”
“Your conversation with the young nurse here.”
“I have nothing to say, honestly, as long as we’re fine, officer,” I say, emotion fully drained out of my voice.
“But I do,” nurse Dani three says aggressively. “I don’t know how to proved to them you didn’t threaten me, but that’s bullshit, and I just wanted to let you know I’ve got my eyes on you. I have a taser, you fucker.”
Chansey immediately starts lightly hitting Dani on her hips, telling her to stop it, he’s not lying! The officer also spares her an annoyed glance and a sigh of his own.
“Well, I see where Chansey gets her pottymouth from, at least,” I say. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. I never did. If you can calmly think of a way I can prove to you what I proved to them, then I’ll do it. Otherwise, I’ll do my best to avoid you and I’d appreciate you keeping to yourself as well.”
“Fuck you, guy,” she spits. “The fuck did you even have them do?”
The officer interrupts, “Would you mind allowing me to tell her how it was proven, Mister Green? It seemed to be private information you’d rather keep quiet, and I did my best on my own end to have the charges dropped while keeping it private. It’s no business of the young nurses.”
This guy sure changed his tune quick. I hum to myself, thinking. She’s already livid. Is it better to try to fix the bridge and share this, or let it burn and keep it to myself? Hm… well. There’s no guarantee he’ll actually keep it private. It’s already out, and I’ve already pouted about it being out.
“It’s fine,” I say. “I can understand Pokemon. Chansey said your name. If you have some paper, go ahead and do what you did before.”
“Like fuck you can, you pervert,” she says. “I bet you have some psychic or ghost on you, that’s how nobody knows who the fuck you are.”
That hurt. That hurt a lot, actually.
“Nurse, situation aside,” I say, trying to remain calm in the face of this issue. “You said… nobody knows who I am? I… know that’s true, but… are people really that wary of me?”
Buddy, the good boy that he is, must have picked up on the undertone of how I was feeling. The puppy-dog eyes I see through his fur almost look heartbroken.
“Yeah they fuckin’ are, asshole,” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “Some creep shows up out of fuckin nowhere, says they got shot. Big fuckin’ boo-hoo, and bullshit you did too, you’re fuckin’ fine. Shithead predator is what you are. Fuck off. Officer, please don’t let him back.”
“Miss, I’m going to have to ask you to calm…” the officer starts, before I interrupt.
“It’s fine. I’ll leave. Are there bridges on the way to Ecruteak?”
Nurse Dani three turns up her nose at the question, and the officer straightens up with a sort of solemn look on his face. “There are, Mister Green, but you are under no requirement to..”
“Thanks, Officer Rando. I’ll be on my way. Buddy, lesgo.”
I stand up, and start heading westward toward the edge of town without a word to be heard behind me. This ostracized feeling…is too much to bear, and I can get just as good of a start down the road in Ecruteak. If I have to return to Mahogany town, I’ll speed through as fast as I can. Maybe camp outside of town just to avoid issues. I’m not planning on it now, though. It’s too small and that sort of prejudice is too strong to fight. After everything I’ve been through…. I just can’t. Ecruteak, or even Goldenrod, should be a lot easier. I already have my ID and there will be no preconceived notions. It’ll be fine. I’m just another trainer.
I reach route 42 after about ten minutes of walking, and my mind is still a mess. I can see the large entrance to Mount Mortar off in the distance, and I sprint towards it, Buddy hot on my heels, not having said a word to me the entire time. I’m heaving deep breaths with a stitch in my side from the cool air penetrating my lungs when I reach the sign, and I step behind it and put my back to the rocky wall outside the cavern entrance. I slide downwards, head in my arms resting on my knees, and I can’t help but to bawl, thinking about everything coming to a head the way it did.
I whited out.