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Feel It Turn	By : JohnFreechman Category: Pokemon > General Views: 1623 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon nor any of the characters and make no profit from this writing. I don't own song quotes either.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
Feel It Turn

Chapter I

Outdebox

September 5^th, 2002

A rather lousy and rainy day in Twinleaf Town today, the father commented mentally; in no mood for going out in the downpour as he watched it out his bedroom window, still laying in bed. Nor his wife as she sat up and looked out with him, sighing wearily at the weather. But alas, they had been promising their twelve-year-old son a trip to the PokeMart all week. Since Monday to be precise. Well today was Saturday, the day they both had off work. Their son Warren knew better than to wake up his parents early on the weekend, so the couple had managed to sleep up to nine this morning before the thunder had roused them. Warren had probably been up earlier, though.

As Wayne and Judith stepped out of their room, still in their pajamas, they made their way into the kitchen. Next to the kitchen was the dining room, with an open doorway leading between the two rooms. Warren was waiting right at the table with a long finished breakfast plate in front of him. Though his chair was pushed back to allow their pet Eevee, Fawkes, to sit on his lap and be pet by his young human owner. Warren looked up at them when they entered, his green eyes expectant.

“I do remember an 'I promise' a week ago,” was all he said.

“Let us have our damn breakfast and we'll go,” Wayne grunted, stepping back to the kitchen to make some coffee. Eh, sleeping late didn't cut it anymore in his growing age. Mornings were getting worse year by year, and coffee was becoming more and more of a daily necessity consequentially.

“How do waffles sound, hon?” Judith asked Wayne as he placed the coffee grounds in their stove-top percolator's ground chamber.

“Good,” he replied, going to the sink and starting to fill the percolator with water.

Back in the dining room, Warren said to Fawkes, “It'll be cool to have a Pokemon from the Mart instead of being given a starter at the academy; that's too years away anyway.” Becoming a trainer wasn't just run and gun; maybe it was in that stupid cartoon about Pokemon (why even bother with an imitation when one could do the real thing?), but there were rules in the real world. In two years time, Warren would turn fourteen; that was the age that a Trainer Academy would accept new students, and they gave their choice of either a Fire, Water or Grass type starter Pokemon. One could still buy a Pokemon from a PokeMart that wasn't offered by the academies, but one could not train with them until they graduated from the academy with a license. That was the road Warren was taking. He wanted to have a good relationship with his starter before enrolling in the academy.

Fawkes looked up at his trainer with a smile on his muzzle. “(It'll be fun having a new friend in the family,)” the Eevee said in the universal Pokemon language. It was quite an oddity, the Pokemon to Human languages. Humans always had to learn to speak a new language, from birth. And even when they already knew one language, they would have to learn another language to understand that one as well. Pokemon, however, seemed to be born with the full knowledge of their own language, and can equally understand human speech. They as well have the capacity to learn to speak English.

Even owners of their respective Pokemon can form an almost-psychic bond with their companions and be able to generally understand what they say, even if they can't understand the Pokemon speech. Warren, having had been born around the time when Wayne and Judith took Fawkes into the household, had that understanding best, as the two had been inseparable for the twelve years Warren and Fawkes grew around each other. Judith and Wayne had it a little less than Warren, but they still knew Fawkes very well. 'Like a short, four-legged furry son,' Wayne would say of the Eevee.

Warren looked out the large window that revealed the front lawn. The day was dim and gray, and the rain tapped away on the roof, made the leaves of the trees droop and drip, and created tiny streams along the sides of the roads.

“Sure will be,” he answered. “I'm not sure what Type I want...guess I'll see when I get there.”

“(Just get one that'll take kindly, okay?)” Fawkes said. Warren snorted with a smile.

“I wouldn't get an ass of a Pokemon that would pick fights with you, Fawker,” Warren teased.

“I heard that!” his mother's voice called in from the kitchen, making Fawkes snigger while Warren rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, don't say the fuck word,” his father's voice next drifted in, followed by the sound of a slap in the arm accompanied by Wayne's snickering.

“I better get dressed!” Warren said. Fawkes hopped off his lap to let Warren get up and hurry to his room, the Pokemon trotting at his heel. Warren went through his door and let Fawkes in before shutting it and locking it behind him.

“I was thinking an import Pokemon from a different region,” Warren continued as he went into his dresser and fished out his clothes for the day. “I'm thinking between Bug and Poison...shake things up a little. Allot of people around here don't really seem to care for those Types.”

“(Sounds fun! You can take them by surprise,)” Fawkes responded as he watched the boy dress from the end of the bed.

“Yeah...Poison sounds great...” Warren settled as he pulled his shirt over his head. “I guess I'll see when I get there.” He finished by pulling on his socks and headed out the door, Fawkes still at his heel. Back in the dining room Wayne and Judith had just begun their meals and coffee.

“Scarf it down already,” Warren called as he passed by the door, heading for the mudroom and front entrance.

“If you want us to throw up later,” Wayne called back, making Judith smirk as she read the newspaper beside her plate and cup. Warren got to the mud area, simply a tiled section around the door with a bench and coat hangers hugging the wall to his right. He shoved his feet into his hiking shoes and threw his rain coat on. With that done, he sat on the bench and began fiddling with an old PokeDex he had gotten at a yard sale a month ago. It still worked pretty well, and had decent features. A GPS map, cellphone capabilities and of course information on known Sinnian Pokemon.

“(Are you really gonna take that with you when you head out on your journey?)” Fawkes asked as he sat next to Warren on the bench, watching him work on the Trainer PDA. “(Doesn't the academy give you a brand spanking new one when you graduate?)”

“Yeah, but I like this one...it's got...character. It's been used before, seen places,” Warren answered, studying the map of Sinnoh.

“Warren, (the new ones are touch screens! They're so cool, don't tell me you're gonna forsake those for that thing!)” Fawkes protested, which prompted an annoyed look from Warren.

“Lay off, will ya? This thing is fine; it's still got all the essentials the new ones have. Not like you're gonna be coming anyway.”

“(Whatever...)” Fawkes sighed, looking away from his friend. I am gonna be staying home... he thought with a pang of sadness. Well, that was still years off anyway. No need to feel bad for something that isn't happening yet. They waited in silence until Wayne and Judith at last came down the hall.

“Let's get this over with,” Judith said as she reached for her jacket over Warren's head. He shut the PokeDex off and said to her indignantly, “It's just rain and the Mart is only three minutes away.”

“Yeah, and it's a Saturday morning and I'm thirty-seven years old,” she retorted.

“You wanna come, buddy?” Wayne asked Fawkes, but the Eevee shook his head. “Pussy. At least we actually are braving the rain.” Fawkes gave him and irritable look as Wayne grinned back playfully.

“Yeah, Fawkes, you'd never survive if you came with me on my journey,” Warren helped tease with his father.

“(Sod off, I hope you step in a pothole,)” Fawkes sniffed.

“Ooooh, hardcore stuff,” Warren shot back. His tail swishing in annoyance, Fawkes padded away without looking back.

“Come on,” Judith said, ushering Warren out the door. They strode through the rain and into one of their cars, a silver Toyota Venza. When they had all climbed in, Judith started the engine and backed out of their drive way.

“I hope you know what you're gonna get,” Wayne said to Warren.

“No, I wanna look. Don't rush me,” Warren returned grouchily, annoyed by his parents'...annoyance.

“It'll probably be fun,” Judith said. Wayne gave her a look, and she replied to it, “Coffee's kicking in.”

“It doesn't do that for me anymore...” Wayne grumbled. Judith left their street and turned down the main road, which lead straight into Main Street, Twinleaf. It was a fairly rustic looking small town. The most 'modern' looking buildings were the PokeMart and the Trainer Academy; and the Academy wasn't even on Main Street. All of the other buildings were typical of a small rural town. Not hick, by any means. As far as small towns go, Twinleaf was actually somewhat lavish and a little snobbish in some cases. It was pretty religious and conservative too. But that didn't matter to Warren; he loved the town. He always intended on staying here, even after his journey was over. Oh yes, he was planning on going after the Gyms, E4, Cynthia: the whole kit and caboodle—but not the Championship itself. That was too much pressure; the thought of battling all those people was intimidating in its own right, so he didn't think he'd be able to handle being the figurehead of Sinnian Pokemon trainers everywhere...not to mention at the same time those people that would admire him would be after to ring his neck for the title. No thanks; there are annoying bullies here in his very town that wanted his ass as it is.

Warren was aroused from his thoughts as Judith turned the car into the Mart's parking lot. The building, which sat across a lot that was about the size of a cut-in-half football field, was a long rectangular structure. Large windows lined the front, tinted somewhat, with automatic sliding doors in the middle. Like the typical medium box stores one would see in the less rural areas of Sinnoh. Signs were plastered in some of the windows, advertising special Pokeballs and other Trainer items that would enhance their Pokemon's performance.

Judith parked as close as she could to the entrance; the lot was barely inhabited, so that was easy. The small family climbed out of their vehicle and hurried into the Mart. When they were safe inside the doors of the building, the sound of a Poke Mart filled their ears. The chatter of many different types of Pokemon could be heard, along with the sound of two or more employees joking and horsing around on the bland business day, and the usual supermarket play list of music on the overhead ceiling speakers; usually consisting of a mix of Classic Rock and obscure New Age bands.

Warren hurried in first, striding through an aisle straight to the area where they kept the Pokemon contained. He arrived at the area, a backroom where most of the Pokemon were allowed to be out and about. Most of them in their infant evolutionary forms, some played with each other happily, while others sat around in corners watching their surroundings curiously. Several employees were standing by, sitting in chairs on the sidelines in case a real fight should break out. But that didn't look likely, they all seemed to get along.

When one of the employees noticed Warren surveying the Pokemon (some had paused to survey him back), she stood and approached him.

“Looking for a buddy?” she asked in a kiddish tone, which somewhat annoyed Warren. He was twelve, not freakin' six. But he replied evenly, “Yeah, just looking around.” One Ralts approached him, levitating itself as it glided to his leg, looking up at him, eyes partially obscured by its helmet hair.

“(Oi, back off, fairy; this one's mine!)” another Pokemon called out to the Ralts, though the words were lost to the humans; but the tone indicated enough the baby Absol that had called the Ralts out and was ready for a scrap.

“Don't start your garbage right here, both of you,” the female employee snapped at them. Absol sulked away under the stare she gave him, and Ralts decided to leave it as well.

“Does that usually happen?” Warren asked her.

“Between those two, yeah, they always get into it,” she replied, watching the two Pokemon carefully. “They don't really hurt each other...but it's still not a pretty sight seeing an Absol wrestle a Ralts.”

“Jeez, don't bring them home,” Wayne said behind Warren. “They might pick a fight with Fawkes; he wouldn't like that.”

“Believe it or not, it's Ralts that's usually the troublemaker; Absol just reacts out of impulse now,” the woman chuckled.

“Where are your import Pokemon?” Warren asked. The Pokemon in this room were cool enough, but they weren't types he really wanted as a starter. “Poison or Bug would be nice.”

“Next room over,” she said and lead the trio to a door to the left side of the room. They entered another free-roaming area. This wasn't so full as the last one, but the Pokemon were indeed foreign. A Hoennish Poochyena, a Unovan Oshawatt, a Johtin and/or Hoennish Cynadaquil, and several others.

“They're nice,” Judith commented as she crouched before the Oshawatt which approached her and let her affectionately pat its head.

“Yeah...” Warren agreed, albeit dismissively. “But don't you have any Poison or Bug types in stock?”

“Just one, but we've just about given up on him,” the employee told Warren. “He doesn't hurt anyone...but he has almost no listening skills. He's stubborn as heck, and he bosses the other Pokemon around when amongst them.”

“I'll give him a shot anyway,” Warren said with a crooked smile. He liked those types, they were fun to get at odds with. The employee, and his parents, gave him odd looks.

“You sure?” the employee asked.

“Warren, do you really have to make this a pain in the ass for us?” Wayne chided. “Look at it this way, 'future Trainer:' it would be a more 'professional' decision to choose an obedient starter.”

Warren largely ignored his father as he asked the woman, “What Pokemon is it?” Wayne just huffed indignantly and shook his head while Judith gave Warren an irritable look, but she said nothing. In fact, the description of the Pokemon wasn't that much different from her son's personality. Maybe they'd get along famously because of that. Birds of a feather flock together.

“An Ekans. He's in the back with the other Pokemon that don't behave,” the woman said, leading him to another door that lead even farther back into the building. “The only plus with these Pokemon is that their price is slashed.”

“At least this saleslady is honest...” Wayne murmured, making Judith smile wryly. They were taken into a bland and colorless portion of the store. Just a wide hall with gray flooring, grays walls and just as gray aisles of cages. Most were empty, but the ones that sported Pokemon...well, the Pokemon didn't look all that thrilled.

“All the guys here are due to be shipped back into the wild since we couldn't tame them,” the woman explained as she lead them to one cage, where the Ekans slept soundly, coiled up in the center of the cage. “He actually seemed to like the idea when me and the guys were talking about it here the other day. Got all smug.”

Warren approached the cage and studied the Poison Pokemon. It opened its eyes at that, yellow with thin black slit-pupils. It raised its head and stuck its tongue back and forth, watching Warren with bored curiosity.

“So I heard you're a faggot,” Warren said first with a smirk. Judith slapped her palm over her eyes while the woman and his father began laughing. The Ekans raised its head straight, narrowing its eyes as it studied Warren closely. It didn't say anything in reply though. “I've heard things about you,” Warren continued, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “Interesting things.”

The Ekans stretched its head forward to examine Warren more closely; Warren had never seen such critical eyes in a Pokemon. He was judging Warren as much as Warren was judging him.

“He's listening, that's a plus I think,” the woman said. Ekans shot her a brief condescending look before focusing on Warren again.

“Warren, you really want that thing to be around Fawkes?” Judith asked worriedly. She could tell Warren's interest in the creature was at its max.

“Fawkes'll be fine,” Warren replied, still watching Ekans. “He's an Eevee,” Warren said to Ekans. “He's twelve years old, around the same age as me. In Eevee years that makes him around twenty or a little older. I think you'd like him; he's got a rough but also easy-going personality. Gets it from me,” Warren said with some pride.

Ekans raised its head, and a smile spread on his face. He still said nothing, though.

“That's a new face,” the woman noted.

“I'm gonna cut to the chase. You're my last option. I'd like a Poison starter for when I enter the academy in two year's time. I'd like to see who you are...how tough you are...it's all up to you,” Warren pitched.

Warren and his way with words...but judging by the look on his face, he was trying to play the Ekans. Ekans had the same look though; it was very intrigued with Warren as it thought of the offer.

The kid watches too many movies, Wayne thought with amusement.

At last the Ekans leaned in towards Warren again, flicking its tongue as a last minute study before saying, “(We'll see.)” But it sounded like a confirmation to Warren as he smiled triumphantly.

“Ma'am, I wish to purchase this Ekans. Have him transported to my automobile!” Warren proclaimed humorously. Wayne chuckled and said to the woman, “We'll be getting a Pokeball with the Ekans.”

“Sure thing, come over here for a sec,” she said, leading Wayne to a corner of the room with a small stock of standard Pokeballs and a cash register on a counter top. While Wayne purchased the item, Judith stood next to Warren.

“You have to make everything difficult, don't you?” she said.

“Yeah,” he replied simply.

“You better keep it in line,” she told him sternly.

“You hear that?” Warren said to Ekans. “Guess what I'm going to do.” It just smiled and flicked its tongue mischievously.

“I'm serious, Warren, if he hurts Fawkes...” Judith told her son darkly.

“He won't...you won't,” Warren's sly playfulness had turned dark as well as he gave a dead stare to the Ekans. Ekans seemed to take that seriously. Good.

Before any more could be said, Wayne and the woman returned. She handed Warren the Pokeball then opened the cage for him. The Ekans raised its head again, staring at Warren expectantly as he decompressed the containment sphere to its full size.

“Let's go home, brah,” Warren said and underhand-tossed the ball before the Ekans. It opened up and transformed the Snake Pokemon into a mass of red light, gathering up the light into itself. The ball registered the Pokemon immediately as it didn't put up a fight to be released. When the object made a confirming beep Warren scooped it up from the cage and released the Ekans once more.

“Don't be afraid to bring him back if he causes trouble for you,” the woman said.

“That'll be easy to do,” Wayne responded. Warren crouched in front of the Ekans.

“Gonna take me a while to think of a name,” he said to it. “I don't pick boring human names, you need something fitting.” Ekans gave him a satisfied look.

“Is he mute?” Warren suddenly asked, turning his head the store worker.

“No, he just doesn't talk much. He only does it to other Pokemon,” she answered.

“Figures,” Warren said, facing Ekans again. “Well, time to go home then.” Warren stood again and returned Ekans.

“I'm gonna regret this...” Wayne muttered as he began walking away.

“Have a nice day,” the woman said to them.

“You too,” Judith returned as she and her son followed Wayne out of the back room.

* * *

The rain had let up a little as they entered their house again, taking off their rain coats and swapping shoes for slippers. Warren didn't have a chance to call Fawkes as the Eevee came jogging up to them.

“(Let him out already!)” he said excitedly.

“Settle down, jeez,” Warren said back, pulling the Pokeball out of his pocket and expanding its size. Holding the bottom half in the palm of his hand, he pressed the release catch. The top half lifted open and spilled its contents with a white, luminous light. The light formed into the Ekans, coiled on the floor of the entrance hall. It blinked and looked around, letting its eyes get re-accustomed to light. He saw Fawkes next and flicked his tongue.

“(Don't invade my space and I won't invade yours,)” was the first thing Ekans said to Fawkes. Fawkes snorted in reply.

“(Fair enough.)”

“(Good, this is swanky compared to the cage,)” Ekans commented, looking around the hall and through a doorway at the living room.

“(One would think,)” Fawkes returned.

“I guess Ekans' personality is contagious; what's with having a wet dishcloth attitude all of a sudden?” Warren asked Fawkes.

“(Oi, I've had a dishcloth attitude longer than the new meat,)” Fawkes rebuked, making the Ekans smirk. “(How old are you?)” he asked the Ekans.

“(I wouldn't know, I don't know human time dates,)” Ekans returned.

“(Helpful.)”

“Jeez, Fawkes, it's almost like you want to fight,” Wayne remarked.

“Yeah, what happened to 'bring back one that'll take kindly?'” Warren questioned dryly.

“(Yeah, Fawkes, what happened to that?)” Ekans asked coolly as he slithered past the Eevee into the living room. “(Swanky.)”

“(They're only middle-class,)” Fawkes told him off.

“Yeah, it's beer o'clock,” Wayne said, headed for the kitchen.

“It's only nine-thirty,” Warren pointed out.

“And?” Judith countered, following her husband into the kitchen. Shaking his head at his parents, he followed Fawkes and Ekans into the living room. Ekans had just slithered up onto the couch, but Fawkes said from the ground below, “(Uh-uh, string-cheese, laying on the couch is invading my space.)

“(Is that so? I since reclaim my previous statement, and rephrase: let's share.)” With that, Ekans coiled up and closed his eyes to sleep. Fawkes scoffed.

“(If I knew better you got him from one of those quarter machines in the entrance lobby of the grocery store,)” Fawkes said to Warren, making the boy laugh. Ekans probably heard that but chose to ignore it. In fact he had a little contemptuous smile on his face. It seemed he thought he was above cheap-shots.

“Everyone knows he's slin-kee!” Warren sang jokingly, Fawkes laughing next as the Eevee and human boy left Ekans to nap.

* * *

The dreaded Monday. Everyone has to go back to work on Monday; the desk, the welding iron, the police cruiser, the Emergency Room. For Warren and many kids his age: elementary school. A whole day of going class to class, through the grind. Some didn't mind, most did. Tough either way, you had to go to school. Warren was indifferent. Some classes he liked, some not so much. The only downside was no Pokemon allowed on campus. So he had no Ekans in his ball, or Fawkes at his side as he waited at the end of the his driveway for the bus to come. Mom and Dad had left for work earlier, so they weren't around either.

Warren was once more studying the oldish PokeDex as he waited for the big yellow rig to come and haul him off to Twinleaf Elementary School: Grades One through Eight. He had recently discovered the cellphone feature did not work anymore, and some of the buttons were starting to stick.

Guess you were right, Fawkes...it's getting old... Warren said to himself as be studied the map of Sinnoh once more, panning to the Pokemon League Castle to the East.

“Snowpoint is gonna be a bitch...” he murmured, panning next to the northmost area of the region. The distant roar of the school bus could now be heard in the distance. He switched off the Dex and slipped it into his jacket pocket, looking down the main road from where the bus came from. Within a few moments it was turning down his minor road and up to his driveway. The door opened up and he stepped forward.

“Morning,” Gertrude, the driver, said to him.

“Morning,” he replied, Country music playing on the bus's radio through the overhead speakers. 105.8 Nelson FM, Sinnoh's Number One frequency for Classic Country music! The babble of other students were accompanied with the music as Warren made his way down the aisle to the usual spot where his buddies sat.

“Hey douchewad,” one boy greeted him as he passed; Eric his name was. Ironic of him to call Warren that.

“Mah boiiii,” was Warren's only reply without even looking at him. Typical punk that thought he was tough. Black denim jeans with a silver chain shoved into his pocket, connected to his wallet. He wore a Slipknot band t-shirt and had hair spiked up by gel. His backpack took residence beside him on the seat near the window, also covered in ironed-on band patches. Eric and his buddies all laughed as if they had 'owned' Warren. He didn't really give two shits, especially when he was amongst his three best friends.

Allie Brook, a long black-haired girl in cargo pants, and a red t-shirt with a Stantler-skin jacket over her petite frame; her father was a hunter and had made the jacket himself. She was a tomboy through-and-through, knowing the inside and out of Ursarings, Stantlers, and Persians. Quite literally; she knew how to gut her own food. She had even gone out to hunt with her father before, and was learning the art of being a mechanic; she was close to being able to take apart and reassemble an entire car engine by heart. Her family were very active in machinery, hunting, outdoorsmanship and self-sufficiency. The girl knew just about everything there was to surviving in the wilderness.

His second friend, a boy named Stonewall Ellsworth (shortened to 'Stone;' or 'Ellie' when teasing), was one of the few rich kids that didn't go to the private school nearby the Stoebart, Ellsworth and Lanz Drives. Those three private drives going up a long but moderately elevated hill to the West of Twinleaf were where the wealthy residents of Twinleaf lived, and so it made sense to have a posh private school situated nearby. And as the name Ellsworth Drive implies, indeed Stonewall Ellsworth is the descendent of Darius Ellsworth, one of the founders of Twinleaf Town many many years ago.

Back in the day, each drive lead to the private estate of each of the three founders of Twinleaf, up into the woods where the manors resided. To this day the original buildings still reside there, but the original drives had a few extra roads to veer off for later-built mini-manors for other wealthy people that moved to the town. Today: nicely paved, with a divider in the middle of the road separating each lane; said divider featuring Victorian lampposts lighting the way until they stopped before the treeline leading to each of the Founding Manors.

Stonewall and his family were indeed rich and posh like the other families, but they weren't the types to stick their noses up at the 'peasants.' None of the Founding Families were, in fact; although the same couldn't be said for the 'secondary' manors that resided below the Founding Manors. Wayne and Judith speculated the reason the 'secondary' wealthy families of Twinleaf Town were like that was because the Founding Families, with their greater wealth and influence among the town, made them feel inadequate; so they compromised by treating those less wealthy than them like second-class citizens...or at least viewing them that way; they probably didn't have the guts to do it outright to anyone of Twinleaf. Certainly not to Richard Bierce, the owner of the hardware store and appliance store (his daughter was also the manager of the supermarket, and she was a good one too; not a brat to her father's status). Richard and his family were just as respected as the Founding Families; they helped the town in little ways that mattered most to the common folk; while the Lanz, Ellsworth and Stoebart Families did their best to preserve the town's heritage by not compromising it to heavy commercialism. No Sprawl-Marts or any of that riff-raff for Twinleaf; those places never gave back to the community.

And the final close friend of Warren was Olujimi Ajanlekoko, the child of two West African immigrants that had moved to Sinnoh before his birth. He was a tall boy with a small afro, wearing a fleece windbreaker and light blue jeans. He was the most determined to become a good Pokemon trainer of the four (and to become the Champion, unsurprisingly); he took it quite seriously, although he took allot of things seriously for a pre-teen boy. Funny that, his parents were light-hearted compared to him. And next to his Pokemon training, his culture was the most serious. Having come from the Yoruba People, he knows their language, of the gods and goddesses (more specifically known as Orisha), and other aspects of the culture. His own parents sometimes critique his seriousness, but there are instances where a typical twelve-year-old boy emerges. Usually to do with his own previously bought starter Pokemon, a male Pontya by the name of Aganju. Aganju can most easily reach in and touch Olujimi's inner child, and thus they have had a very close relationship during the month-and-a-half since Aganju was purchased.

The name Aganju also happens to be the name of a specific Orisha; one generally associated with volcanoes, mountains and deserts. Although there are more aspects to the deity Aganju, Olujimi chose the namesake because fully grown/evolved Rapidash have been known to reside in mountains; the Fire type aspect of the Pontya combined with living in a mountain made Olujimi think of volcanoes, and thus the deity Aganju. The actual deity, specifically, is a catalyst for human growth; such as cultivating of civilization, and the generation of wealth, and is also thought to help humans overcome physical and psychological barriers. The volcano signifies his strength and ability to bring about drastic change. To Olujimi, his Pontya made him feel that way; he is a very supportive Pokemon that makes Olujimi feel wealthy of the heart and spirit.

Warren was pretty sure he had the most interesting group of friends in the whole town...maybe even the region (and he realized he himself was pretty plain and boring compared to them). He liked having such friends, they always brought something new into the mix of life. But the best of all is that they plan on heading out on their trainer journey together. It'll be significantly easier going when the four of them can support each other and pool resources over the long trek around the region.

“Warren, did your parents get you your starter the other day?” Stonewall asked as Warren plopped in a seat across from him. Olujimi was in the seat behind Stonewall, and Allie behind Warren's seat. She sat up straight in her seat and folded her arms on the top of Warren's seat while waiting for him to answer.

“Yeah, got an Ekans,” Warren replied.

“How's he?” Allie asked.

“Kind of a pain. He hasn't done anything bad, but he has zero respect for anyone else in the house and rarely listens. He thinks he's above anyone...” Warren grinned. “It'll be fun ironing the cheese-stick out.”

“'Cheese stick?'” Stonewall repeated with a laugh.

“That's what Fawkes calls him. Don't ask me, I don't know: but it works, trust me.”

“Take dat Ekans to my place, Aganju will sort 'im out well for you,” Olujimi said with a small smile, his deep African accent matching that of his parents'.

“I thought about it sometimes, but I've gotta do it on my own. Otherwise I'm a lazy-ass trainer,” Warren answered, leaning back on his backpack against the window. “Are you two gonna buy your own Pokemon, or are you just gonna get them from the Academy when we enroll?” Warren asked Allie and Stonewall, looking between the two.

“Eh, too lazy,” Allie replied with a shrug.

“Can't,” Stonewall answered.

“Okay dat's bullshit right dere,” Olujimi said, rolling his eyes. “Allie, you're de most energetic girl I've ever known! Cut it with de 'lazy' crap!

“And Stone! What do you mean you 'can't'? You're rich and live in a mansion, I'd say you're perfectly capable of buying a Pokemon and raising it in that giant house of yours.”

“Yeah, Olu's right, what's with you two?” Warren asked.

“Well excuse me for making my own decisions!” Allie returned hotly.

“Yeah really, we'll get our starters from the Academy if we want to,” Stonewall added.

“Whatever-”

“Whateva,” Olujimi and Warren said together, dropping the subject.

“You guys need to take some chill pills,” Allie commented.

“Why do I need to? Olu's the one that was yelling,” Warren shot back.

“I wasn't yelling!” Olujimi exclaimed.

“Yeah you are, right now,” Stonewall told him.

“Hey, keep your voices down back there!” Gertrude called from the front of the bus, taking Olujimi off guard. His three friends snickered along with other students.

“Hick-ass crackas...” Olujimi muttered indignantly, further intensifying his friend's mirth.

* * *

The school day had carried on normally. Mediocre classes, a lunch with just as mediocre food (well, not for the foursome, they brought their own fresh lunches), and a recess where the foursome just hung together in a corner of the schoolyard. After school was where the day became fun. With their parents' allowance, the four usually walked from school to downtown to do some sort of treat for themselves (after they each used a phone booth to leave a message for the parents, telling them of their whereabouts). Sometimes a movie at the small theater, sometimes a meal at a diner, sometimes going to one of their own respective homes for the afternoon. They were still deciding as they headed into town for the phone booth they usually used, at the end of the South end of Main Street coming from the school.

“'Ey, maybe Ekans and Aganju should actually meet each utha,” Olujimi suggested. “Let's pick 'im up and head to your house, Warren.”

“Sure, why not? But let's grab a snack from Bart and Hill's before walking all around town,” Warren said; Bart and Hill's being the town's resident convenience store. Matching the rustic style of the town, it was a two story building with the store on the first floor and the owner's apartment on the second. Only a single 'Bart' remained from when the store was opened about fifty years ago by his father Darnell Bartholomew and his father's friend Timothy Hill. He lived on the second floor of his store; alas, sadly it didn't seem he would have kids any time soon, being an anti-social boozer and all. His patrons were more responsible for keeping the store afloat than he was, in some degrees. He left most of the managing to his assistant-manager; though she was actually happy to do it in his place, as she liked and cared for the store allot more than he did.

“Alright, let's get the calls over with,” Allie said as they came to the end of Main Street, heading for the phone booth at the end of the sidewalk. When they had all left messages at each parent's respective home, they headed for Bart and Hill's. Grabbing some ice cream bars from the freezer, they purchased their items and exited the building, joking and laughing as they walked to Olujimi's home. It was right in town, Walsh Street, which veered sharply off of Main Street. The rows of houses on that street were nice and well furnished. Tall oaks and maples were on some lots, along with a few extravagant gardens. There was a small book store and a church as well. The street carried on out of the main town and towards a community of farms to the West of town. They contributed well to the food stocks of the food co-op; veggies, meat, poultry, dairy – the works.

They came to Olujimi's house, which had a slightly longer dirt driveway going into a patch of trees near a brook. It was simple but nice; a square two story building with cedar sideboards and dark shingles. In on the well-sized lawn that surrounded the house, the Pontya Aganju grazed the grass in the sunlight.

“Aganju!” Olujimi called. The boy waved as the Pontya looked up at him with a delighted expression. Aganju trotted up towards the children, snorting softly.

“(Welcome back,)” Aganju said to his trainer, letting the boy stroke his head.

“Hodi rafiki yangu,” Olujimi replied. His parents had taught him Swahili next to English as he had grown up.

“Jinsi gani siku yako ya kwenda?” the Pontya replied in the same language; Allie thought a Pokemon knowing Swahili was infinitely cute, as she smiled at the fire pony.

“Ajabu! Wewe ni kupata bora,” Olujimi answered.

“What're you saying?” Warren asked curiously.

“I was just telling 'im he's getting better at The Language,” Olujimi replied, patting the side of Aganju's neck.

“How're you doing with English, Agan?” Allie queried, petting his fiery mane. Though the fire traced around her hand, she was not burnt. Pokemon flames were odd, as they could somehow control them enough to not burn people or things if they desired; but it was a pleasant sensation, if an odd one. It was like feeling both warm water and air against the skin. Funny that, fire feeling more like water when the pain of a burn didn't override the actual feel of the flame.

“Good, it is going good,” he said back, reveling in the affection he was receiving. Aganju always loved company, especially when they hung out and paid attention to him; he was quite the social animal.

“Aganju, I wanna take you to Warren's house to meet his new Ekans,” Olujimi said.

“Okay,” he replied.

“I'm getting my Pokeball,” Olujimi said to his friends before running into his house.

“Hey, if your parents aren't home we can probably sneak into the woods and battle,” Allie murmured, making Warren grin.

“Hell yeah!” he proclaimed.

Stonewall frowned but said nothing, he knew arguing with Warren when he really wanted to do something was tough. But Allie wanted to do it too, so it was all but impossible now. Even if Olujimi came and lent his own voice of reason along with Stonewall's, it wouldn't help. Allie wanted to do it with Warren.

Olujimi came from the house now, his Pokeball in hand as he jogged up to them.

“Just in case, Aganju; I'll let you walk with us,” the boy said to his Pontya. Aganju neighed softly and lowly in reply, pleased. Olujimi slipped the containment sphere in the pocket of his windbreaker and began walking with his group of friends up the driveway.

“Hey, Olu, we wanna see if we can get Ekans to have a small spar with Aganju,” Allie said to him. Olujimi gave her a troubled look, then turned his head to Warren.

“Nothing serious. Just to see some moves...or if Ekans will listen at all,” Warren told him. Olujimi now looked at Stonewall, and he simply returned a look that said, 'It's Allie and Warren, Olujimi.'

Stifling a defeated sigh, Olujimi said, “Okay...” he paused, “Well, actually,” he spoke up again, now turning to his Pokemon. “Aganju, do you want to fight?” To Olujimi's disappointment, Aganju replied enthusiastically, “Ndiyo!” Allie laughed.

“Nice try, Olu, looks like both of you are outnumbered,” she said, giving a sly grin to an aback Stonewall.

“I didn't say anything!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Allie chuckled, looking to where she was walking again.

“Conspirators they be,” Warren joked with Allie. The lot walked down Walsh Street and back to Main Street, following it out of town and taking the turn down the street that lead to Warren's house and several others. No cars were in the driveway, and it was around four by now. Wayne and Judith didn't come home until five or later, so they had plenty of time for a small fight.

“Hurry up!” Allie urged, jogging ahead of her friends. Aganju didn't hesitate to gallop after her, leaving the three boys behind.

“I'll take my sweet time!” Warren called back, not adjusting his pace as he walked up the pathway to his doorstep. Allie had let herself in while Aganju waited outside.

When Allie stepped over the threshold Fawkes was there in a flash.

“Allie!” he called, running up to her as she crouched down and spread her arms.

“Fawkes, come'ere!” she said delightedly. She scooped Fawkes up into her arms and stood, nuzzling her nose into his puffy mane. “How you doing, buddy!?”

As the girl and Eevee continued being mushy with each other, Ekans slithered from the living room and peered at them, flicking his tongue. Allie saw Ekans and smiled at him.

“So you're the new fry, eh?” she said to Ekans, letting Fawkes down. Behind her the three boys came through the door.

“How'd you like your human-free day, boss?” Warren asked Ekans as he stepped towards the Snake Pokemon.

“(Wonderful; eating Fawkes crossed my mind a couple times, maybe I'll must up the courage to actually do it tomorrow,)” he replied.

“(Oh, the new kid on the block thinks he can talk big,)” Fawkes sneered haughtily, circling Ekans, letting his fluffy tail skirt across Ekans' face. Ekans ignored it.

“If I come home the next day to find the place wrecked, you'll both get it from me; I don't care who started it,” Warren told them.

“(He means it...I'll be hiding when that time comes,)” Fawkes stated.

“Anyway, you can get into it today if you want,” Warren told Ekans. Fawkes stopped dead at that and shot his gaze upon the boy.

“(Say what?)” the Eevee asked, eyes widening a little, not liking what that sentence implied.

“My Pontya Aganju is waiting outside all for you, Ekans,” Olujimi said to him. The Pontya stuck his head at the mention of his name and looked to the Ekans, his red eyes glowing and ready for a fight.

“(They really want me to fight him?)” Ekans asked Fawkes. Fawkes just continued to stare at Warren.

“Warren, (are you serious?)” Fawkes asked incredulously.

“Serious business, Fawker,” he answered. “You game, boss?” he said to Ekans. Ekans thought about it briefly before raising his head and rattling his tail. He grinned wolfishly next.

“Thought so,” Warren said, kneeling before the Ekans. “Now then, boss...first of all...you think 'boss' should be your official name?” Ekans leveled a thoughtful stare with the boy, wondering if it was a trick question. He decided to take the bait and nod an affirmative.

“Then I dub you: Sir Boss,” Warren announced and flicked the Ekans' head playfully, making him hiss and rattle his tail in annoyance at the contact.

“The next thing I wanna ask you is if you accept me as a trainer.”

Ekans watched him carefully for a second time, mulling the question over. He nodded, but not with certainty. Warren still had a little bit of a way to go with him. It had been only two days since he got the stubborn Pokemon, after all.

“If so, then that means you have to listen to my orders when we fight Aganju. By clicking this button you agree and accept the terms of service.” Ekans was lost to the joke, but nodded anyway. It looked like he meant that at least, so Warren hoped he wouldn't be a prat during the battle.

“Excellent!” Warren proclaimed in a mock villainous tone, touching his thumb and fingertips together in a webbed steeple as he stood straight. “S'go!”

As Warren walked away with Boss slithering at his heel, Fawkes just watched them go worriedly. When all of the kids had gone through the door, the Eevee quickly ran after them.

“Warren, (wait, if somebody finds out you were battling you could get in a load of trouble! They'll suspend your ownership of both of your Pokemon!)” The children stopped and looked down at the Eevee, hesitating in the fight now; even Allie. “Warren, Olujimi,” Fawkes growled, looking between the two. Unlike most Eevee, Fawkes was very mature for his species. He was like an older brother to Warren, who was now thinking this through carefully.

“I can tell he was talking about how they might take away Aganju, Warren,” Olujimi finally said firmly. “I don't want to lose Aganju for even a week.”

“And neither do you wanna lose Boss,” Stonewall added. Allie bit her lip, but didn't argue back (a first).

“...yeah, okay,” Warren settled. Aganju and Boss looked disappointed, along with Allie; but Fawkes, Stonewall and Olujimi looked satisfied.

“(Look who's coming home early anyway,)” Fawkes pointed out with a sly grin, jerking his head at the road. The lot of them looked in the direction to see a cool metallic blue Honda Civic sedan coming down the road. Through the windshield Judith waved at the kids, whom all waved in return. She slowed the vehicle and pulled into the driveway. She put it and park and killed the engine, stepping out of the car.

“Everyone's meeting Ekans I see,” she said to them, shutting the door behind herself and stepping towards them.

“His name's Boss, he likes being called that,” Warren said to her.

“Oh good, encourage his behavior,” she said sarcastically, looking down at the Snake Pokemon as it smiled up at her with a mock-innocent expression. “You sure you're giving him that name?”

“He likes it, I can't argue with him,” Warren responded. Judith sighed.

“Well at least the extra challenge of a pushy Pokemon will add to your experience,” she said, going into the house.

“Yeah, have fun with the little pain,” Stonewall joked. “I've gotta get home anyway I think. I'll see you guys tomorrow.”

“I think I'll head home too,” Allie said with a stretch.

“Yeah, I've got chores to do,” Olujimi added.

“Alright, I'll see you guys,” Warren replied, waving at them as they began to make their way to the street to walk home. “I'm glad I've got a second brain that hangs out with me and gives me good advice,” Warren told Fawkes, crouching down to scratch the Eevee under his chin. Fawkes smiled and closed his eyes contentedly and extended his neck, as to give Warren's fingers easier access to his chin. Warren finished his little display of affection by ruffling his head, then stood straight and made for the house.

“Boss, if you actually do play ball with me when we get the Academy...you won't regret it, bro,” Warren told the Ekans as he and the two Pokemon entered the house.

“(Yeah, sure,)” Ekans replied dismissively. Warren traversed the single-story ranch styled house to his room. Fawkes and Boss went up onto his bed while the boy stooped over his desk and looked at his small CD collection. He didn't have much. Mostly Grunge/Alternative rock with a few Classic Rock bands. Choosing a Stone Temple Pilots CD, he threw that into his small stereo and turned it up.

“Just think of it...” he sighed wearily, flopping onto his bed with his two Pokemon. Fawkes snuggled up in the crook of his arm while Boss coiled up and watched him from the end of the bed; Warren imagined it would take the Ekans a while to get completely comfortable around him. “Once I hit the Trainer Academy...the homework will actually be stuff I want to study for...which means I won't do it half-assed on purpose just to get an average score.”

“(I take it you have homework to do right now,)” Fawkes assumed.

“Yeah...after dinner...or something.”

* * *

August 24^th, 2004, Twinleaf Town; two years later

“Fuckin' rockin',” Warren said with a wide grin, looking at the acceptance letter he had received from the Twinleaf Pokemon Trainer Academy. It was around two PM in the afternoon. The early-teen boy sat at the kitchen table with a half-eaten plate of nachos in front of him while he read the letter. As he finished reading it and placed it on the table, the familiar weight and pressure of Boss coiling around his neck and slithering up his body could be felt. The Snake Pokemon coiled up in his lap, raising his head to look at the letter.

“(Is that it? We get in?)” he asked.

“Sure did,” Warren replied, taking a fingerful of nachos stuffing them into his mouth. By now he had a good understanding of Boss's speech patterns, like he did Fawkes'; though he still understood his lifelong pet's patterns better than the Ekans', whom he had only been around for two years almost.

Boss was still the boss, mostly. He still liked to laze and be his own Ekans. A few months back he had first showed some actual obedience to Warren when he was getting into a fight with one of the usual bullies from elementary school. At the time, Eric Deschan, the usual ass, had gotten his own Pokemon from the Mart: a Gastly. Since both Pokemon were very low level, having never been in a serious fight, the battle hadn't been extremely harmful. Although Eric himself had gotten physical with Warren, using that stupid wallet chain to attack him. Warren had gotten some welts and a cut on his cheek. The fight had been broken up by nearby adults before Warren had had a chance to retaliate. Needless to stay, both stayed far away from each other now, and didn't even regard each other's existence when passing on the school bus.

But during that fight, Warren had had the mind to give some orders to Boss when Eric had sent his Gastly to try and screw with Warren. Since Gastly were incredibly resistant to Poison attacks, Warren had ordered Boss to use Wrap when the Gastly had veered close enough to him while it had been teasing him. Although Gastly had been able to easily escape Boss's coiled body, being a ghost able to unsolidify itself, Eric had taken great offense to Warren's 'nerve.' That had prompted the other boy to rage and flail the chain like a psycho at Warren. Yeah, they had both been given a good lecture and the threat of Pokemon suspension; although both boys knew the first-time impromptu battle like that wouldn't have really warranted a suspension of Pokemon privileges. But it was all said and done now, and Warren didn't imagine he'd be getting into it with good ol' Eric Deschan again. Well, maybe not in town. Warren had a feeling Eric would start his shit again once they had graduated from the Academy and went on their respective tours of the region; whenever they happened to cross paths.

“What the fuck ever,” Warren murmured, taking another bite of his afternoon snack.

“(What?)” Boss asked, giving Warren a look.

“Was just thinking about Eric, nothing important,” he answered, downing a glass of iced tea. The Led Zeppelin ringtone of his cellphone jingled in his shorts pocket. He reached in and plucked the device out. Flipping it open he asked into the mouth receiver, “Hello?”

“Warren, did you get your acceptance letter!” the ecstatic voice of Allie asked over the other end.

“Of course; I'm awesome enough to get into the Academy,” he answered, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs.

“I'm so getting a Piplup! He'll be getting into Empoleon, motherfucker!”

“Hell yeah!” the voice of her father proclaimed in the background. The man didn't have a care in the world concerning his daughter's vulgarity, nor her mother; hell, even her grandmother had a colorful vocabulary, and a much used middle-finger. They were pretty rednecky to be honest. In the woods near Warren's street, they lived down a private dirt road that veered from the main road. They had everything you would expect from a 'redneck.' A mini shooting range farther behind their house in a meadow; a shack for butchering game; an old garage surrounded by old cars they liked to take apart and fiddle with to kill time (where Allie had learned all of her mechanical skills since the age of six); and another garage with an ATV, dirt bike and snowmobile. But really, they were wonderful people. Darnell Brook was a good man that was nice to his family, and rarely got drunk (even though he liked to drink a good fill; he had good alcohol tolerance). Leta Brook was a very smart woman that could out-bargain a greedy CEO and could fix the tire of said CEO's limousine without breaking a sweat, or concentration on the discussion. But they were total hunting, ATV rampaging, NASCAR gawking hicks to the core. Just smart. Though still conservative and religious like the majority of Twinleaf Town residents, save for Allie and her grandmother; both of them were liberal compared to the parents. They didn't let that get in the way of familial bonds nevertheless; even if Allie ever turned out to be omnisexual, meaning not only having sexual attraction to both male and females humans, but also Pokemon. That was a touchy subject around the world, same with homosexuality and other such subjects.

Although once Warren had been around good-ol'-boy Darnell when the topic of homosexuality had come up. He wished he had gotten a recording of what Darnell had said so he could spam the video on conservative websites.

“I don't care what a bunch of faggots do to each other, none o' my business. Ain't no one's business what they do and if they get married and shit. Let Arceus sort 'em out, not our job to sort 'em out. The Lord 'imself said it.”

Yeah, even Wayne and Judith had wished with Warren to have recorded that and imagine it would become a viral sensation across the Interwebz.

“That'll be awesome,” Warren answered. “Knowing Stonewall, he probably won't decide until he's offered one of the three in the flesh.”

“Mister Careful, yeah. Speaking of him, let's grab Olujimi and sneak up on moneybags. I wanna explore those old cellar tunnels under the manor,” she replied.

“Of course you do. Guess I'll meet you at Olu's place,” he said.

“Yup, see ya.” She hung up the phone before he had a chance to reply. Snapping his cellphone shut and putting it back in his pocket, Warren turned his gaze Boss, saying, “Guess we're going out.”

* * *

The three friends trotted beside each other up Ellsworth Drive's sidewalk as the early afternoon sun glowed down a light gold color, hanging in the cloudless blue sky providing its late-summer warmth. They joked amongst each other, Boss coiled around Warren's upperbody, but in a way that allowed the teen to still move freely. Aganju followed the small group, listening in on their words as they discussed their coming Academy training. When September rolled around, they'd be heading in at last for the four year enrollment. Minor battles would give the Trainer a head start on commanding his Pokemon, while the Pokemon itself gained more experience on its natural fighting techniques as well as the strategies of its Trainer. After that, when hitting the open road...it was a free-for-all; the best experience of the lifestyle and the one both Trainer and Pokemon most desired.

The hill became slightly steeper as they neared the treeline the drive cut into. The road itself was about three-quarters of a mile long, and one quarter of the drive lead into the woods and up to the manor. It was a very healthy and lavish estate. Within a wide clearing, surrounded by a neatly trimmed lawn, was a two story small-mansion. Its exterior style was Graceland-esque with Roman styled pillars, and white brick siding with large shuttered windows lining the walls. The road swerved to the right and wrapped around the lot to a two-vehicle garage to the right of the main building. There was a flagstone path cutting down the middle of the frontal lawn to the wide stoop and front door, lined with flower bushes; a secondary path leading from the driveway near the garage building created a junction near the stairs that climbed up to the granite porch, where the pillars were aligned, holding up a jutting roof overhead.

The teens walked down the path and up the stairs to the grand set of double doors that lead into the lobby of the old manor. They let themselves in, stepping onto the black and white polished tiled floor of the lobby. The walls on the left and right sides of the room featured a doorway each leading to another wing of the manor, along with sets of stairs that lead to the second floor, a balcony up ahead. The ceiling was way up ahead, the entire lobby a tall empty box. The wall directly behind them had windows on the second floor, letting outside light filter into the lobby. The first-floor wall perpendicular featured another set of double doors, which lead into the large kitchen of the building. It was a pretty grand building. The left wing featured the dining room and living room, and the right wing featured the parlor and a small ballroom. There hadn't been many changes architecturally and aesthetically since the manor was built more than two centuries ago, other than the implementation of a full plumbing system and electrical fixtures when those things had been invented. The Ellsworth generations had taken good care of the manor, and good care of the town along with it.

The Ellsworth family was a little funny. Each generation had always wanted to leave Twinleaf Town and do their own thing elsewhere, while just one child remained behind with the parents until he or she had inherited the manor. The other children only affirmed their settlements elsewhere when receiving their share of the monetary inheritance, so the child that remained with the estate gained money his or her own way and created the next generation. So far, Stonewall was an only child, although his parents still had the mind to try for another child. Maybe Stonewall's possible sibling(s) would break the cycle and vie for the estate (well, Stonewall wouldn't; although he said having it when he got older would be nice, he wouldn't fight his own family for ownership).

“Yo!” Allie called out, her voice echoing in the great lobby.

“They're probably out back,” Olujimi stated.

“I know, I just never get tired of the echo in here,” she shot back with a smirk.

“Me neither!” Warren shouted loudly, making Allie jump. Warren snickered as she kicked him in the shin.

“Ass hat,” she grunted. Anyone who startled her was on an instant shit list; the length of the stay on the shit list depended on how badly she was startled. She'd probably only be pissed at Warren for a few moments.

“Let's just go,” Olujimi sighed, easily made weary by Allie's erratic temper. Sometimes she could be the most collected and patient person in the world; the next a Carrie White covered in pig blood. The three of them cut straight across the lobby and into the kitchen. Though the kitchen was initially designed and sized for a multitude of cooks to operate, the Ellsworths made their own food most of the time. It was usually during open-house parties that they hired cooks and caterers to use the kitchen to its fullest potential; and its potential is wonderful. They cut through the kitchen next and out the back door leading to a sizable garden and swimming pool. Flower beds and neatly trimmed and designed hedges surrounded the concrete walking borders of the pool, and different pathways lead into maze-like trails in the large garden. One could describe it as a North American styled Zen garden.

Sitting in chairs next to the pool were Stonewall's parents: Helen and Leonard, a small glass table between their chairs with tall glasses filled with tequila sunrises. And in the pool was Stonewall, swimming beneath the surface from one end of the pool to the other. Helen spotted Stonewall's young friends as they approached and waved at them.

“He got an acceptance letter too!” she called.

“He better have,” Allie stated; Leonard and Helen grinned.

“That's what we said,” Leonard told them when the children and Pontya stopped before them. Stonewall surfaced finally and smiled when he saw his friends there.

“Rolling on down the highway,” said he.

“Hell yeah!” Allie, Warren and Olujimi responded enthusiastically, fists in the air.

“Your battles with Eric will be legit, Warren, so you can screw him up good,” Stonewall told his friend as he climbed out of the pool.

“I don't give a crap about him,” Warren said, giving a dismissive wave.

“He'll probably still give a crap about you,” Stonewall countered, drying his head with a towel.

“I think you missed the part about me not giving a crap,” Warren returned with a smirk.

“Alright then smart ass, let me get dressed and we'll head to town to celebrate,” Stonewall told them as he walked by his friends to the manor.

“Okay, we'll meet you out front in a few hours,” Allie called after him, making fun of the length of time it took Stonewall to traverse his large home.

“Ha ha ha, haven't heard that one before,” he sighed sarcastically, not looking back.

“Say, Allie,” Leonard began to say to the group before they headed around the house to the front. She turned to him. “Looks like you'll be getting a starter from the Academy along with Stonewall. You know what kind you want?”

“Piplup for sure! He'll be so badass when he evolves,” Allie replied with a ferocious grin.

“Heheh, yeah, Empoleons are pretty impressive,” Leonard replied. “Stonewall's actually been thinking about choosing a Piplup too.”

“Oh nice, mine and his'd have a time together when we finally get to head out.”

“You kids have fun,” Helen said to them. The teens said their goodbyes and hurried around the house to the front lot. Stonewall was waiting for them.

“Holy hell, if I had stood here any longer I might've gotten arthritis,” Stonewall teased them when he had seen their approach.

“Ha ha ha, haven't heard that one before,” Allie echoed Stonewall's words from earlier.

“I don't think you have,” Warren answered smartly.

“This ain't your business, Warhead,” she rebuked.

“Enough with that retarded nickname, it's so fucking gay,” Warren grumbled.

“Which is it? Gay or retarded? Make up your mind, whitey,” Olujimi joked, slapping the back of Warren's head.

“Wyeupe Shetani hawezi milele kufanya up akili yake,” Aganju remarked, making Olujimi snicker.

“I know 'wyeupe shetani' means 'white devil,' Olu. Now you've gone 'n' made your Pokemon racist,” Allie said with a laugh.

“You're a little redneck kahaba, what do you know of race and equality,” Olujimi shot back with a smirk.

“'Kahaba' better not mean what I think it means,” Allie growled mischievously, knowing full well what it might mean; she was just looking for an excuse to fight. Just as Olujimi opened his mouth to reply, Aganju piped up, “Whore!” With that, Allie pounced on Olujimi, bringing him down onto the lawn. The two shouted and laughed as they wrestled. Stonewall and Warren however grabbed one of each and pulled them apart.

“We were going somewhere if I recall,” Stonewall said as he hefted Olujimi onto his feet.

“Yeah, but not specifically where,” he replied, dusting some grass off of his body. Stonewall looked to Warren and Allie, both of whom shrugged.

“What? Dinner, movie, arcade, bowling alley, strip club?” Stonewall asked indignantly.

“Throw in 'bar' and I'd pick 'all of the above,'” Allie answered.

“Enough!” Warren proclaimed, waving his hand expansively. “Our ship sails for dinner.”

“Squadallah! We are off!” Allie cried, striding down the driveway with her hands in the air, not waiting for the others. They quickly caught up with her.

“So where to?” Warren asked.

“Marlintini's,” Allie told them.

“Wow, really?” Warren asked, grimacing slightly. The last time they had eaten there the food had been dull and gross. Very unsatisfying meals.

“Yeah actually,” said Allie. “I heard the new cook is...actually a cook.”

“Hmm, who said that?” Olujimi asked skeptically. Allie hesitated at that, then answered with uncertainty, “Hazel Step...” The three boys scoffed, but in amusement. Hazel Step, aka the girl of bad taste and the most easily impressed person in the entire town.

“I don't think I wanna take a chance like that in celebration of our acceptances,” Stonewall said.

“Yeah really,” Warren agreed. “We should pool our cash into a fancy dinner at Cleonice.”

“Dude, I was saving my money to buy some shit for my Piplup,” Allie said.

“Look at it this way: we're not hitting the trails until we're eighteen,” Warren debated. “You have four years to save up for some really nice shit to use on our tour. Just blow all the stuff you have now on overpriced food.” Warren gave a goofy grin to Allie's scowl. She got ornery when it came to spending money. Plus the food of Cleonice, while expensive, was anything but overpriced. It was well worth the money.

“He's got a point,” Stonewall said.

“Thanks for the input, moneybags,” she retorted. Olujimi just snickered.

“Okay, you can wait outside while we have...oh I don't know,” Warren taunted playfully. “I think I'll order that Spanish dish. The one with the smoked pork and red sauce, the potatoes and steamed clams. Mmmmm-mm!”

“Okay, fine, asshat,” Allie grumbled, then murmured lowly, “I think I'll get that too.” She smiled when her three friends snickered.

“You're awfully quiet,” Warren remarked to Boss next, trying to look at the Ekans over his shoulder. He saw then that the Snake Pokemon had fallen asleep. “Oh come on, we're not that boring,” Warren said loudly in Boss's face, making him start.

“You're pretty douchey this afternoon,” Allie joked to Warren.

“I am, aren't I?” he agreed smartly while Boss glowered at him.

“(Yes, you are that boring,)” he remarked.

“We're going to Cleonice, Boss. I'll order that Octillery appetizer you like with the spicy sauce,” Warren told him. Boss stretched out his head over his shoulder and smirked at his trainer. Then he said in English, “Oh boy! I'm so hungry, I can eat an Octillery!” Warren was left speechless as his friends guffawed.

“Oh Warhead, I think your Pokemon beat you at your own game,” Stonewall laughed. Warren narrowed his eyes at the smug look his Ekans was giving him.

“You win this round, you scaly cheese-string.”

* * *

Later that night, Warren's home

Warren climbed into bed tiredly, the only dressings on him being a pair of briefs and a t-shirt. Fawkes was curled at the head of his bed next to his pillows, while Boss was coiled on a wooden stand-up coat hanger by the window. Warren had joked to Boss once at a yard sale that he would buy the coat rack for him as his official 'bed.' Boss had actually liked the sound of that, and the owner had been willing to part with the antique at a very modest twenty dollars. It was an antique, but his neighbor that had been hosting the sale was somewhat of an altruist.

Warren yawned loudly as he pulled the covers over himself, turned off the lamp on his nightstand and in turn switched a stand-up fan on its highest setting. He always liked sleeping with a breeze on his head, even during Winter.

“Just a few more days, Fawkes,” Warren sighed, anticipating his coming enrollment at the Trainer Academy. “Finally get the show on the road...”

“(Mmm...)” Fawkes responded sleepily. “(You'll be getting on the road when you graduate and hit the trails...you're just going to school for the next fours years...)” Warren knew the little bugger had a smirk on his half-asleep face, so he smiled himself.

“Goodnight to you too, wanker.”

Four years...what a long time that would be. But hey, time flies when you're having fun.

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