Pollen glistened in the air as I opened the door to my hut, walking out into the spattered morning sun. A buzzing caught my attention, I gazed upwards and saw a swarm of Combee flitting by.
A grin cracks my lips, a foreign thing for me. Usually the only thing that made me smile was beating the shit out of Grunts. Not to impress my lowly father, but to embarrass them. Adults who had been training their whole lives to serve Team Rocket, popping under my thumb.
A branch snapping brought me back into the present.
"Who's there?" I ask, tentatively. Alarm spikes down my spine and my sleeping Pokémon are instantly awake and at my side. I don't want to seem too paranoid on this peaceful island, so I withdraw everyone aside from Arrow.
"I'm sorry to scare you. I just heard there's a new tenant and I wanted to come say hello. I'm the Landlord of this hut." A woman steps out into view, hidden by an Alolan Exeggutor.
"Wow!" I exclaim, stepping off of the porch and a little closer. "Do you mind?" I ask, "I've never seen an Alolan variant before!"
The woman let's out a tinkling laugh, "of course. He's pretty shy but he warms up pretty quick. I wanted to make sure you have everything you need in the hut."
This felt odd, talking to another person idly like this. It's not something I've done much, given my upbringing. I look down at my clothes, suddenly self conscious and realizing I never changed my clothes.
A tear across my gray t-shirt where Charizard had tried to snuff out my rib cage. Blood droplets across the collar. My pants, standard Team Rocket sweat pants. My entire wardrobe screams either 'homeless' or 'runaway'.
I smile sheepishly, "there is something you could help me with. My name is Jun, by the way."
"I saw that on the paperwork. I'm Cyla, how can I help you?" She twisted her hand in the air and Exeggutor grinned.
"Are there any apparel shops nearby? I'm in great need of… an upgrade." I say, exasperated.
She smiles, "of course. Please take this map of the islands. I give one to all my tenants, normally the only people who rent are people from other regions. Mainly trainers competing in the island challenges. Will you be competing?"
"I doubt it. I came here for the healing power of seclusion, more or less. I appreciate the map! I'm going to head into town now." I point my pokèball at Arrow, "return!" With a wave of my wrist I'm heading away.
New clothes, then I can start focusing on more important matters. First I need to catch 2 more Pokémon to finish my team. I can't beat Giovanni with a team of 4.
Lost in thought, pouring over the Alola pokèdex that I've mentally memorized. (I have a certain knack for remembering things) I hear shouting. It sounds like some self inflated dick wad, like my father. I quicken my pace until I'm level with the action.
A trainer with blue hair, pulled back into a ponytail and a smirk on his face is standing in front of a boy maybe two years younger than myself.
"Is that all you've got?" Blue Hair sneers, retracting his Incineroar. "What an absolute joke. I can't believe you just lost to a Fire Type!"
"Popplio, are you okay!?" The boy wails, falling to his knees. "I told you! I just left the professors lab this morning and I wasn't ready to battle a trainer like you yet!" Tears streak the boy's face.
My fists clench, as well as my teeth. 'Don't you do it!' My inner voice whispers. 'Fuck that! Beat the shit out of that bullying ass dude!' My other voice, who normally wins, hit the jackpot again.
"Hey, Asshole!" I challenge, grabbing a pokèball from my belt. "Why don't you pick on someone of a higher caliber?"
Blue Hair laughs, brushing his nose with a finger. "A Grungy thing like you? This should be hilarious. You're on." He smiles and jabs a finger towards me, "hell, I'll even let you have the first move."
"No. I insist you move first." My voice is taught, rage flicking up at me. I need to control myself so I don't draw attention. Too late, a small crowd had formed around us. Rare if people wouldn't have crowded around. People love watching a street Pokémon battle.
"Incineroar, show her your strength!" Blue Hair released his pokèball, out came his Pokémon huffing and stomping.
"Your Incineroar is impressive, I'll admit. It hasn't been trained well but I can tell it has astounding Individual Values! I applaud you for that." I smirk, playing with this guy was too fun. "Nidoking, I choose you!"
"Fuck you!" Blue Hair's face hardened and turned a shade of angry red. "Use Flare Blitz!" Incineroar roared, shaking windows of nearby houses. Flame energy wrapped around him as he barreled towards Nidoking.
"Grab ahold of Incineroar!" I command, punching towards the battle with a closed fist. The two Pokémon explode into each other, first resistance, then horror on Incineroar's face as Nidoking stares down. "Use Earthquake," a rush tingled through me, soon followed by disappointment. Nobody is ever enough of a challenge.
The ground cracks open, rumbling from deep within the earth. Bystanders shriek and the crowd holds it's breath with excitement. I clutch my filthy hat to keep it on my head, another grin breaking over my face.
Incineroar lay in a heap, Nidoking standing over him. "Grrrrahhhhh!!" Banging hard claws against his chest, Nidoking turns around to look at me.
"You did a fantastic job, take a long rest." I retract him and look over at Blue Hair. "Maybe next time, you won't talk as much shit. Now get outta my sight."
Rubbing his sleeve over his nose Blue Hair retracts his fainted Pokémon and dashes off. "Fuck you! I'm telling my brother!" I hear him shout as he fades into the distance.
"Tell your brother I'll beat his ass, too!" I call sweetly after him. Then I turn my attention to the boy, "you should really take Popplio to the Pokémon Center."
The boy nods his head, scoops up Popplio and runs off towards the Center.
The crowd of people had yet to dissipate though, I turned around to see them beaming at me.
A man strides forwards, "you just beat Randall down! He's always picking on brand new trainers and the elderly folk around here. I've tried to battle him but he always annihilates me…." The man then looked ashamed. "I can't understand how you beat him so handily."
Taken aback I think over a response, "my dad is a huge dick. I've just learned to put those people where they belong. Under my fucking shoe." With that I wave my wrist and walk towards the Apparel Shop. At last, some new clothes.
After about an hour of trying things on I settle on a black Elesa style dress. Black leggings and I keep the brown boots, they're practical. I like practical. I purchase a brown hat with a wide brim to keep the damn sun out of my eyes. Five thousand Poké dollars later and I'm finished.
Battling that weak ass punk had made me thirsty for a real challenge. I really don't want to draw attention so I decide instead to purchase pokèballs and head into the wilderness. My next Pokémon isn't going to catch itself, I know exactly who I want to add to my team.