The Path of Sacrifice

It was like Oak was an old computer; took too long to boot up and process all the information coursing through his CPU. His face was still that of no particular emotion, and yet all of them at once. It was like he couldn\'t finish thinking whatever he was thinking. Probably processing what he was going to charge her with, and whether sending her to the cops was worth his effort. She would plead no contest, but even then she might get herself some fines or jail time. But there he was, for the longest time, thinking. Or maybe he wasn\'t even thinking at all; maybe he was too asleep and too upset to be thinking at all. Angel knew she was likely thinking far too deeply for it to be healthy; her brain was whirling a mile a minute. Perhaps that was her problem; over-thinking when it wasn\'t helping, and under-thinking when it was crucial. That would be something she\'d work on; after all, she had the time. Jail was where she\'d likely find herself, very quickly.



“Angel.” Oak said, finally, flicking his complex eyes at her. “Do you have any idea what would have happened to you, if I hadn’t’ve discovered that you were the thief? Do you know what could have happened if you’d gotten away with that Bulbasaur, and I’d discovered it stolen?” his tone wasn’t it’s usual calm, happy, and cheery tone that he usually had – and with good reason.

“Yes, sir – I would have gone to jail.”

“For a few years, yes; but, not only that, you would have a black mark on your name for the rest of your life. There would be no chance of you gaining a legal trainer card with jail time for kidnapping and petty theft on your name, Angel. They would never let you into trainer school, and even if you did get a trainer card, the elite four may decide to not let you compete; you would be a criminal, just like Team Rocket...”

“But I’m NOT a criminal!” Angel shouted, clenching her fist at the suggestion. Comparing her to Team Rocket was enraging. “I’m nothing like those bastards!” Oak frowned at her outburst, and put a finger up to his lips, signalling Angel to hush up.

“In the eyes of the law you’d be no better. Theft? Kidnapping? And what is it that you think Team Rocket does, bake cookies and give them to old ladies?” Angel resisted shouting again – yelling at the professor in her position probably wasn’t going to give her any merit points – even if she totally disagreed with him. The aggravating part was, he was right – she would be no better than Team Rocket was – even if her morals and ambitions were one hundred percent different. “Just because you have a goal, doesn’t mean you can get there however you like. The end should never justify the means. Would you kill someone who stood in your way, just as you would steal a way to get a pokemon?”

“Never!” Angel bit back, not even thinking about her response. “I would NEVER do such a thing, and the fact that you think I can makes me wonder if you graduated from CLOWN COLLEGE, not pokemon school.” Oak’s brow raised as an expression of disappointment at her outburst.

“Slow yourself down. Acting and speaking based on instinct will not win you anything, Angel. Wisdom comes with time and thought, not rushed words and actions.” Angel frowned. What was THAT supposed to mean? Heaving a large sigh, Oak continued. “Look. It’s very early – or late, I don’t know which. I’m not going to decide what to do with you at this hour. Come back in the morning – and I’ll decide what you’ll be doing to work back this moral debt. I trust you’ll come – because if you run off, Angel – there’ll be no mercy, and I’ll speak to the police about this, and have you charged. If you come, I promise that there’ll be no police involved.”



Angel nodded, solemnly, as she made her way through the lab’s door, not bothering to wait for Oak to follow behind. Her mother was going to kill her, if not ground her for the rest of her life. Her existence would become a collection of days spent either working her buns off, or in her room, staring out the window as everyone else enjoyed their lives. Stooping so low to gain a pokemon was most definitely not her proudest moment. At least she could vow to herself that she’d try not to break the law ever again.



Her hand fell on the cold door handle of her home. She could almost see the look on her mother’s face on the other side; the angry voice that would berate her for sneaking off in the middle of the night and breaking into Oak’s lab. Wincing, she tugged open the door, trying hard to stay quiet, as if the noise just might be silent enough to get in unheard. None of the lights were on, she noticed right away. Her eyes darted about the living room – nothing. What? Had her mother honestly slept through the whole thing? The yelling at the lab, all of it? Angel was almost worried. Her mother never slept through even a pin dropping; why had she stayed asleep now? True to her thoughts, there was her mother, fast asleep on the couch. Had fate seen her deed, and decided to show her a sliver of mercy? She didn’t deserve it. Not in the least. Mouthing a silent thank-you at whatever god out there had smiled out there, Angel slid back into her bedroom, and slid the door silently closed, as if nothing had happened at all. She felt like hell, but at least she wouldn’t have to be locked up – at least, not until Oak said something. Tugging the black hoodie off her figure, she let it fall to the floor. She wouldn’t bother changing out of her black sweats and tee; they were just as good as any of her pyjamas. Flopping down on her bed, which she’d left unmade from the previous morning, she slid herself into the sheets, and flicked on her alarm. What little sleep she could get, she’d better – something told her she’d be all day at the lab, doing whatever work Oak made her. It was sure a nicer deal than “leave and you’ll go to jail”, in any case. Closing her eyes, Angel almost wished that the whole thing would just go away – like it was just a dream. Yeah; please let it be just a dream...



* * * * *



BEE-BEEP! BEE-BEEP! BEE-BEEP! BEE-BEEP! BEE—rang out the alarm, piercing its horrid buzzer into her silent, calm slumber. Her hand flew out from under the sheets, and flopped hard down onto the off button of her alarm. Was it morning already? Eight am, just because she hadn’t been given a time to get to the lab, and it was already programmed into her alarm. But, as soon as she had the money, she would get an alarm with a much softer alarm – like the call of a Pidgey, or Persian, or something. A sound not as annoying, or brain-seizure-inducing as the regular alarms were. She hated that damn thing with a passion. Yes, a new alarm clock was in order, she thought, as she rose from the bed, carrying herself out of her room and straight into the bathroom. Surely she had time for a shower and make herself clean before the professor needed her there. Angel turned the taps onto their usual position, and pulled the stopper to turn on the shower. She wanted one of those turn-and-pull taps, but they weren’t as lucky in this place as some other people were.



As the water heated up, she lazily kicked off her pants, tossing her top aside and onto the floor in a heap. It was too early to be neat and tidy with such things. Finally, off came her blahzei bra and every-day-dull blue panties. There was no one in her life at the moment to look at them; why get anything fancy? Neither Gary nor Ash had taken any interest in her. She was just another every-day Lass, after all. As Angel stepped into the shower, her average B-38 chest almost seemed her for the warmth that struck her and softened her cold, hard nipples. They seemed to solidify any time she wasn’t wearing more than two layers. Maybe it was time she rewrote her identity; as a symbol of her moving on and growing up, as well as her ambitions of leading a crime-free life. Maybe it was time to shelve the Lass and bring out someone original.



The hot water flowed down her brown hair, which with the weight of water in it, reached almost all the way down her back to, then along her cream-tined flesh, washing off the dust and dirt, as well as her old identity. Her slight curves once held her dress, but now, would for the first time, hold pants. Big step for her; she was used to wearing feminine things, and looking very prim and lady-like; but no one had taken any notice of her, not in a long time. Not even that horn-boy Gary had made a pass at her. But now, dressing in pants would most likely murder any chance of a boy looking at her. Not that it mattered much; there weren’t anyone worthwhile left in Pallet town.



* * * * *



Angel sighed, pulling on the last sneaker onto her feet. Her new outfit, which felt completely out of character in a good way, comprised of her painting clothes that she hadn’t used yet; black flared jeans, and a red turtle neck. Her long wavy hair was held back in a pony tail, minus a few side pieces that fell affront her ears. Stepping from her room, she pulled on her hip-length black pleather coat. November was nearly over, and the temperature wasn’t nearly as nice as it had been only thirty days ago.

“Oh, Angel!” greeted her mother, whom looked a little surprised. “Up so early? I thought it was your day to sleep in.”

“Uh, yeah, it is. I was just thinking of going to see if Professor Oak needed some extra help in the lab...You know, try and fill some of my extra time, since you said I can’t go to Pokemon School...”

“That’s a wonderful idea, sweetie. I’m sorry I can’t afford classes, dear. Maybe Professor Oak can take you to Viridian City to get pokeballs one day. Will you be home for lunch?”

“I don’t know. It depends if he wants help today or not.”

“Alright. Well, I’ll just make myself something light, then...” Angel smiled faintly, trying not to let the depressed tone in her eyes shine too brightly. She knew that her mother could tell, but what it was about, she couldn’t. Thank god her mother couldn’t read minds; she’d never make it out the front door without being nailed to the wall. “Be safe, Angel!” called her mother, as Angel slid out the door, and begun to shut it.



“Well, here goes nothing...” she muttered, clearing the distance between her home and the lab, rather quickly. It wasn’t that she was eager to get there; she simply didn’t want to keep the man waiting, and end up pissing him off worse. In she walked, holding her head high. No one else in the room would know, she assumed. Might as well look sure of herself. Oak was busy tacking on a computer in the corner; probably research of some description. He glanced up at her as she walked closer, but hadn’t reacted. After a moment, he glanced back up again, a rather surprised look on his face – the second one she’d seen like that.

“Angel! You’re not dressed in...Er, I mean, thank you for coming...” he spoke, hastily, as he turned the computer on to stand-by. “I’ve had all night and part of this morning to think.” Angel frowned. What would she owe? Ten, twenty thousand? Five hundred work hours? “I realize that you were desperate, and didn’t really think the whole idea through. That doesn’t excuse you, though.”

“I know, sir, and whatever work you want me to do-”

“Hush.” Angel bit her lip, in extra effort to keep quiet. “I don’t want you to work it off. Not only would I have to leave you alone in the lab far too often, but I don’t know if I can trust you with the kinds of research I need to do.”

“I understand, sir. Just, can I have time to talk to mom before you call the police?”

“Will you stop interrupting me, Angel? I’m not going to send you to jail; I already promised you that.” This time, Angel simply nodded, though very confused as to what was going to happen next. “Look. You made a point to me about a catch twenty two here in Pallet town, and you’re right. The only reason Ash and Gary had their chance to train was because of me, and that Bulbasaur was the only pokemon left. I can see why you were stealing it, but that doesn’t make it right.” Oak spoke, placing a hand on the lone ball on the table. Before Angel could interrupt again, he kept talking. Better to not let her have a chance to talk than to take a breath and have her say something. “And, there are many other children in this town, as well as other families and children that will be here in the future, and in other towns that have the same problem. The people in Lavender are surrounded on all sides by very high-level trainers, and you can’t just go throw a pokeball at the ones in the cave. Cinnibar Island doesn’t even have anything except tentacool and the ones in the mansion, and those you can’t just throw a pokeball at, either. You’re not the only one who has to overcome a very high wall to become a trainer. Not everyone are blessed with easy starts like Ash and Gary. Your actions were selfish and thoughtless, Angel.”





She turned her head down, staring shamefully at the floor. She didn’t realize that anyone else would have her problem, too. Then again, her thoughts hadn’t been on anyone else but herself in the last 24 hours. “I’ll tell you what, Angel. I want you to do something for me outside of the lab.” Curious, Angel glanced up. Outside the lab? What did he mean? “I will give you five pokeballs, and I’ll come with you, and we’ll go into the grass, and catch you a pokemon.” Angel’s eyes widened to just about the same size as dinner plates. Was he serious?! “But in exchange,” he continued, “You are going to be the main supplier in a new company.”

“New company? Supplier?...” she squeaked out, her head still swirling with the offer of a caught pokemon.

“Yes. You will send me as many pokemon as you can spare, and I will set up a not-for-profit organization for young, ambitious trainers who cannot catch their own pokemon.”

“That’s a brilliant idea.” She replied, even though her mind was busy thinking about what kind of pokemon she would catch. She’d seen several Pidgey and Rattata out there, but neither really caught her fancy for a first pokemon.

“Mmm. I thought so, too. This way, you can become a trainer, and help out hundreds of other kids who can’t afford to even buy the pokeball, or can’t just catch a pokemon on their own...We’ll go into the grass just as soon as you tell your mother.” Angel’s face burst into an insanely happy grin. She was going to have her own pokemon, finally. FINALLY! She gave a loud screech of happiness as she about-faced, and dashed as fast as she could out of the lab, towards her home. Her mother was going to be very excited.



----

Okay, Ch 2 is up. PLEASE R and R!