I feel a pinch of belongingness due to Jenny and her Pikachu. Come to think of it, the pair are really effervescent. Their bodacious characteristics always make me giggle since the first day I've met them. Although, they may be rambunctious and childish at times, but I'm fine with that. Laughter seems to cure my woebegone spirit during times of sadness or even grief.
Aside from Jenny and Pikachu, it looks like Ralts has also come to play with me. I never knew that a Pokemon would come and look for me just to play. Hopefully, Sabrina is right, could it be that Ralts is a wild Pokemon? Or does she fall under the ownership of another trainer?
"Luna where are you taking me?!" Jenny questions with somewhat a stumbling tone as I drag her hand through the corridors of this grand orphanage. Just by dragging her and taking her to places she has never been before in the orphanage makes my heart feel ebullient and enthusiastic. Is this what it feels to have a friend? A jolly and spirited heart?
"You'll se, see..."
Today, I'll be showing her one of the orphanage's greatest places, the Miriam Library.
Yes, Master Miriam owns this library. She's the one who suggested the idea for the orphanage to establish a library during the earlier days of Saffron City. For years, bookworms squirm to the place to read countless books and novels.
"A Library?! This orphanage is massive. First a park, now a library? This place couldn't get any better!" Jenny's eunoia takes over as exuberance burst forth like a nuke falling into city depths.
"Do... do, you love to re, read?" My voice stutters while looking at Jenny's exhilarating face. Even her Pikachu clinging unto her shoulder is extremely happy to see the "Library" label in front of us, however, Ralts and Petilil are filled with confusion about the term "Library"
"Um... I usually go here with my mother when I was young. I'm a girl who loves to read books as long as there are pictures on it. My imagination and ingenuity are a bit off, hehe." Jenny utters with an embarrassed voice as she scratches the side of her head. I respond with a giggle, pushing the two heavy doors of the Library.
Our eyes marvel at the beauty of the library. Spiral staircases, large royal chandeliers, and glamorous redolence shrouds the house of books and novels.
Row after row of neatly lined up books with their spines facing outward, colour coded with dots, fiction section arranged in alphabetical order, young adults section, children's section with low shelves and floor cushions, comfortable leather arm chairs, tables for quiet study.
"Good morning Luna, Jenny, welcome to the library." Miriam greets from her desk while flipping a thin page from the book she is currently reading. We respond back with an eloquent smile as we walk through the halls of the library.
Not a single noise emitted. Not even a slight murmur or whisper could be heard. This place only houses limited people since not everyone loves to read books.
On a large black tinted bench is where me and Jenny sit. In front of us is a pair of brown lustrous circular tables, sending off a vibrant reflection.
"You didn't come here to read didn't you?" Jenny sighs, watching me scramble my bag for a certain object. Ralts and Petilil are starting to become best friends since they interact with each other more often.
I concur with Jenny, I am not here to read novels and books. Places like this give me a calm sense of peace and tranquility while drawing and sketching. My mother bought me a new sketch pad like what she promised. This leaves me with two pads in total.
I take out my worn-out sketch pad and revive it by the use of my creativity and imagination. It is boring to watch especially for rambunctious people like Jenny and Pikachu.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not quite fond of watching people draw. Is there anything fun we can do?" Jenny questions with a sanity filled with lackluster. She continues to stare at the product of my imaginative mind.
"It...it depends, on your def, definition of fun." My voice stutters again. At the same time, my hands try its best on applying everything I've imagined to my sketch-pad. It's like painting whatever your mind captures with the help of aptitude and fine mind artistry.
"That's the first time I've heard you say a long sentence. If only I could communicate with you easily. Anyways, how were you able to get Dysphemia anyways? Were you born with it?" Jenny questions with an eagerness to know the answer. I couldn't respond since my explanation would be too long. I just gave her a good smile and continue to draw on my new sketch pad.
Jenny got extremely bored ever since we've got here. All she could do was to stare at either me, Pikachu, or Ralts and Petilil.
"Luna, is Ralts there with you? Her trainers are waiting for her outside." Athena enters the library and queries while taking small glimpses on my artwork.
My heart feels sorrowful after hearing about this. All this time I thought Ralts would fall under my ownership, but I guess twists could really happen. I have no choice but to smile and say goodbye to Ralts.
Jenny came with me and my mother to the counter of the orphanage. From there, I see two fine-looking men wherein one of them has a mustache. Their jackets are made out of fine wool and fiber, while their shoes are forged with leather and hide.
I am put to a halt after seeing their familiar faces. I know something isn't right. Of course, for Jenny and my mother they seem typical since they've never encountered them before, but me? I feel like I've seen them somewhere.
"Ralts! There are you are. You made me and Lucas worried! Where have you been?" One man stands up from the white soft couch. His voice seems sincere but familiar. Everything comes rushing back to me like a flash of light blinding one's eye. Team Rocket grunts, pretending to be innocent civilians.
Ralts is definitely in trouble. I tighten my grip on her and stand back as far as I can from these grunts who call themselves "innocent" Even Petilil hides behind my legs with a shivering body.
"Go away!" I shout harshly while trying to protect Petilil and Ralts. Even a clueless future officer couldn't notice that they're team Rocket.
"Luna! Show some respect, these men are older than you." Mother scolds with a slight increase of tone.
"Ralts doesn't be... belong to them." I try to explain but my voice holds me back. Even Ralts is trying to avoid these two men from getting closer.
"What are you talking about? Ralts belongs to us... right little one?" The absurd imposter wiggles his finger on Ralts's face causing his finger to be bitten. The imposter swears and tries to slap Ralts's face but good thing I am able to protect her by rushing behind my mother's back.
"Alright! It's obvious that you don't own Ralts! Show your true identities!" Jenny demands with a voice belonging to an officer. That's when I realized her potential in taking her mother's place.
"Ah! That's it, I give up. Surrender Ralts to Team Rocket right now!" The imposter bitten by Ralts infuriates like wildfire. His friend seems speechless and guilty.
"To infect the world with devastation!"
"To blight all people in every nation!"
To denounce the goodness of truth and love!"
"To extend our wrath to stars above!"
"Team Rocket! Circling Earth all day and night!"
"Surrender now, or you'll surely lose the fight!"
The two grunts finished off each other's statements to form one catchy motto. It seems frightening to my mother and to my friend, but I am somehow interested in their catchy motto.
"Alright! Let's make this a quick win, Growlithe come out!"
"Zubat, you're up!"
These two absurd grunts throw their Pokeballs to the sky, not knowing about the troubles they're heading to.
"You came to the wrong place Team Rocket! It's time to battle, Flygon!" Athena's spirit beams with motivation as she gives it her all to protect us and the walls of the orphanage. My mother also instructs the guards to leave the match to her.
Flygon resembles a slightly insectoid, bipedal dragon. It is primarily light green and has a pair of large rhombus-shaped wings with a red trim, toeless hind legs, and skinny arms with three-clawed hands. Its tail has several dark green stripes and three small green rhombus shapes with red trims at the end. It has large eyes, and a pair of green antennae that point back. The eyes have red covers that prevent sand from getting into its eyes. With its wings, it kicks up sandstorms to hide itself. Its wings make a "singing" sound when they are flapped, earning Flygon the name "The Desert Spirit". It uses this unique ability to attract prey, stranding them before it attacks.
"Growlithe! use Ember right now."
"Zubat Astonish!"
The two grunts called out beginner Pokemon moves. This means that their Pokemons aren't fond of training and battling probably due to constant defeat.
"Flygon, finish Growlithe and Zubat with Dragon Claw!" My mother commands, giving the two grunts a serious smile. Mother's Flygon is also known as a cautious one, meaning she's aware of using attacks without breaking orphanage properties.
"Well what can we expect?! We're battling against a strong trainer! Come on Luke, we have to go now before they call the cops on us." His friend panics as he sends back his Growlithe to its Pokeball.
"What do you mean calling the cops on you? You're already surrounded by them!" Athena laughs sarcastically while two bulky guards block the exit of the orphanage.
Both of them gave the grunts a vicious smile while their strong-looking Pokemons preparing to detain them either by "sleep condition" or "paralysis condition"
"Please, let us pass. We promise not to cause any problems anymore. Give us one more chance." Luke, the one who sacrificed himself for his family begs desperately. He even knelt in front of my mother.
"Everyone does indeed deserve a second chance. Guards, vengeance is not needed, let these grunts go out." Athena instructs. I marvel at how my mother shows mercy at these grunts. Maybe if I do the same with Chloe, I could earn a new friend perhaps.
"But, Headmaster?! Are you sure about your decision?" One bulky guard asks for certainty before letting the grunts go.
"Of course. Just promise me that the two of you will never cause chaos and turmoil anymore. If I see you lurking in the streets, trying to capture or even steal Pokemons, I'll be reporting you to the Pokemon Department. I care not if you own this city." Athena warns with glaring eyes.
"Yes! We promise we'll not cause any trouble again. Please let us go!" Luke's friend cries with obvious crocodile tears. My mother isn't buying it, but she let them go anyways. Impressive, it's impressive to see how my mother deals with people who have wronged her. I think I should do the same to Chloe, perhaps she and I could befriend one another.
"How foolish of me to place posters around the city. I'll be asking the Master Five's assistance on removing them later on." My mother sighs to herself while a small sweat tear fell off her face.
"But, headmaster Athena, what will we do with Ralts? We can't just let it roam the streets again right?" Jenny questions with concern and worry. Her dented eyes say everything about how nervous she is for Ralts.
"Maybe we could consider things. Luna, why don't you ask Ralts to be your Pokemon instead? I'm sure she's interested in you, that's why she jumped inside your window in the first place."
"R... Really mother?" My spirit burst forth like a dam containing euphoria instead of water. I accidentally tighten my grip on Ralts while my eyes sparkle and glisten. My heartbeat pumps harder and my mind fills in with eunoia and sanguine.
"Of course! Ralts is happy to be your Pokemon right Ralts?"
"That's great Luna! This means you'll be getting your second Pokemon. Imagine if you were a skilled trainer, maybe you and Ralts could grow closer together!" Jenny cheers and leaps with joy. Her heart fills with contentment and satisfaction as she watches me and Ralts look at each other.
Yes, me and Ralts looked at each other like time suddenly stopped. I think I skipped a heartbeat, I couldn't remember since I am more focused on Ralts rather than my surroundings. I've watched my mother catch a Pokemon before, all I need to do is to gently tap Ralts's head with the pure white button.
Ralts is then absorbed by the Pokeball. Her skin turns into a flare and enters the inner reaches of the ball. The ball shakes once, shakes twice, and finally, In thrice, Ralts didn't hesitate to be captured. Stars glisten out a signal of ownership and success. Ralts is officially under my ownership.
With Ralts joining my adventure through life, only time will tell what challenges we'll be meeting in the future. Hopefully, through our adventure, me and Ralts will grow deeply rooted into one fertile mind, with a bond as strong as diamond. We may not be excellent battling tacticians, but through other ways? Our connection will grow deeper. Even deeper than the depths of oceans and seas.