It was settled then.
Everything had been set into motion. Except…
“So… what's all this in the bag?” Lucas asked.
“Quite simple. That, Mr Grey, is your pokédex. I'm sure you already know what it does. You will find it useful to know that this latest version allows you to link it to that Pokétch you're wearing on your wrist. On a related note, I've also placed a Technical Record or ‘TR’ as you youngsters call it that I thought you would appreciate.”
Lucas pulled out a shiny jewel case from the paper bag and feasted his eyes upon the arctic blue CD.
“No way… this is so cool, Professor. What is it?”
“That particular Disk contains a powerful ice type move. Blizzard.” the old man said, fixing his tie, “One of your pokémon will find it quite useful. Be sure to use it wisely, Lucas; and remember: there is a time and place for everything. Now… get going. I have given you a very important task and there is no time like the present.”
Lucas nodded his head in a mix of nervousness and excitement. This was really the beginning of his very own adventure! How many adventures have you been on? He couldn't wait to Get out there, all the mysteries of the past calling it to him in a sort of song!
“Excuse me, Professor Rowan, but now that you've sorted Lucas out, I wanted to ask about my task in—”
“Right, I asked you to survey a hive of combees near Floaroma Town, and how did that go?”
“What? Sir, that was my last task; I left the report on your desk two weeks ago—you mean you didn't see it?” Dawn's voice began warming up, hitting the walls harder than before.
"As you know I have been occupied with our joint research of Mount Coronet with Professor Oak, I have scarcely had the time to revise your report.”
Lucas felt a sudden thud under the soles of his feet, soft and yet hefty like a rock solid pillow. He glanced at Dawn's boots to see a buneary putting all its might into not crashing all the way out; its beady black eyes scared the hell out of him!
“It's okay… It's okay…” Dawn sighed, although it was ambiguous whether the message was to herself, Toffee or the Professor,“I understand. But, yes, I'd like to discuss my next task.”
The Professor nodded. “Good to hear, I have another research assignment for you, a school of Magikarp near Route 208—”
“Actually, I was thinking I could help you and Professor Oak on your research—I've already started looking through a few books I borrowed from Canalave Library and I’m even trying to decipher Unown—”
“That's quite alright, Dawn.” He put up a hand, “Paul is already assisting us with that, as you already know…”
“Yes sir, it's just I really think I can help with—”
“I'm sure a smart little girl such as yourself does not need me to repeat myself.”
Dawn's curated brows trembled for a split-second before pulling her calm, finely-ironed mask back over her face. She fixed her beanie.
It wasn't worth it.
“Of course, sir.” She said.
“Good. Now, as for your next task: I would like you to show Lucas the ropes; be his guide and help him on his journey. Of course, you will still have your own tasks, but right now you must assist him to your best abilities. Is that all right, Ms Diamond?”
A thunderous bang shook the floorboards, more violent than the last. Like a feverish animal Toffee jittered with uncontained rage, stomping forwards at the Professor; a heartbeat away from—
“Stop it!”
Toffee barely stopped in her tracks, her ears spiked up like spears; sharpened twin blades ready to swing; begging to swing. He deserved it, that stupid old man! Who did he think he was? Did he have any idea what they'd been through with those Combees?
If it wasn't for Dawn, Arceus himself wouldn't be able to save that decaying old man from her kicks. Nope, not even Arceus.
“I told you to get yourself together, you can't just blow up like that, how many times should I tell you it's not a good look?” Dawn said as her partner begrudgingly (mercifully) made her way back to her side, “I apologize, so does she—and yes, Professor. I'll help Lucas.”
The Professor nodded his head.
“Very good. Be sure to get him fully equipped at the Poké Mart, I am sure you still have something remaining from last month's payment; make sure he has all he will need.”
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
“Of course, sir.” Dawn nodded and turned towards the door, giving Lucas an frighteningly flawless smile as she and Toffee exited.
Lucas could feel the molecules in the air quivering even without them around. It was a paradox; she was so calm and yet her eyes could've made your blood clot and freeze in your veins.
“Frankly…” The Professor placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, who almost sprung up as if he'd had a little heart attack, “She's quite capable, but her rashness; her temper… I fear it could cloud her judgement. To put it bluntly: she is too emotional for bigger responsibilities.”
Lucas swallowed the clot of tension in his throat and nodded at his comment, though he didn't exactly think he had the right too. If she was too emotional, what about him? Barry always told him how 'soft-boiled' he was.
“Professor Rowan…” he cleared his throat, tightening his scarf, “Thank you again for this opportunity, sir. I won't let you down, I hope—no, I'll try my best. I won't let the pokémon you've given me go to waste, I promise; so don't be surprised when you see me and an awesome Empoleon getting the job done!”
“I see. Well, Mr Gray, I have no doubt you will be quite formidable; yes, it will be quite interesting to see you come face-to-face with the legends you wish to understand… in time.” He cleared his throat and fixed his tie, this time Lucas picked up an air of finality, “Now, you must go. Your journey awaits for you.”
Lucas smiled, his heart hot as iron.
“Yes sir—”
“And remember: there is a time and place for everything, Lucas. You may find in your travels that now might not be the best, and do be sure to stop by the Pokémon School once you arrive in Jubilife. Go well.”
With that (and an odd sense of confusion) Lucas left the room.
The sun had already started melting down the sky, which had been painted a mix of hot violet and blazing orange. The waves still washed against the shore in the distance and the loud squawks of wingulls synonymous with all things marine could still be heard; so too the laughs and cheers of children as they chased a lone drifloon coasting the slow evening wind of the purpling sky.
Lucas dug in his pocket for his phone almost nervous to do what he was about to do.
No missed calls.
He pressed his finger on the name at the very top of his frequently contacted list and put the device by his ears.
beep-beep……..beep-beep……….beep-beep.
An icy slush of anxious thoughts rushed into his mind, fear taking over. She wasn't going to answer. She wasn't. Why would she? Wishful thinking. Wishful—
“Hi sweetie.”
“Mom!”
…
“Yes, sweetie, what's wrong?”
“Nothing Mom, nothing… I just didn't think you'd answer,”
…
“What's that?”
“I'm saying I didn't think you'd—”
“Did you say Casey cancelled? Tell Kiera—Kiera! We need to sort this out quick before it spirals out of hand—Kiera, come here!”
“Mom?”
“Sorry sweetie, you said everything's okay? You're okay?”
“Yeah—no, I'm great mom I just wanted to tell you I got my first pokémon—”
“What?”
“Yeah! It's so cool, right? I named him Azure, he's a bit stubborn but he'll come around!"
…
“No, no, tell Jordan. He'll know what to do; and, Kiera… Kiera! If you see Dexter tell him I'll be right there just give me a few seconds, okay?”
“M-mom?”
“I hear you sweetie, I hear you and I think that's great. Listen, I've got a meeting in ten minutes. Make sure you stay hydrated, Lucas, and don't talk to any strange people—sorry, one second, just one—be safe, I love you, bye! (^3^)/”
“Wait, Mom—Nanny's been gone for a while so and—”
*Click*
“Mom? Mom!” He squeezed his phone in his hand, fighting the urge to fling it into a nearby tree. “No… No, at least she answered this time! I actually spoke to her and that's enough. She knows what's happening and that's enough…”
“You okay?”
Suddenly a voice pulled him out the mud. It was her. It was Dawn. He cleared his throat and tightened his scarf.
“Yeah, yeah—I'm fine. I'm fine. It was… just on the phone with my mom, she's okay with me helping Professor Rowan.”
Dawn stashed away curious-flavoured nosey thoughts to the back of her mind. There wasn't anything fine about anything, but the same could be said for overstepping boundaries with someone you barely know. “Oh, that's good. It's good that you told her, it's Not good to leave home without telling someone first.” she nodded, her arms folded.
“That's true, you told your mom too?”
“Umm… no. No, actually, my mom's not with us anymore. She died when I was eight… she was cursed.” Her eyes went blank, staring into the grass.
“I'm… so sorry, Dawn.” Lucas said.
“Yeah… but it's okay. Her memory is what's important now. In a sense she's not really dead.”
“Yeah. Yeah, you're right. My Dad's still with me too. They're both still here, they'll always be.”
…
Dawn smiled, wiping underneath her eye “Well, let's get on with it then, as the Professor said, you've got a lot to do.”
Lucas nodded, gripping the straps of his snow-white backpack.
“Yeah! Speaking of ‘still with us’; what happened to Toffee?”
“Oh, her? Yeah… she needed to cool off a bit. She can get a bit rowdy sometimes so I decided to give her a bit of a break, y'know? It's just… nevermind.”
“I get it. Azure's the same way,” Lucas laughed a bit.
“Looks like we've got a bit too much in common huh, Lucas?” she said, “But seriously, let's get a move on before the sky fully blacks out.”
With that, the pair of assistants got to work.
