Into the Unown (Pokemon Fanfiction OC)

“For what it’s worth, we never intended to look down on you and Lady Espy.” Mash assured, before letting out a helpless sigh, the most emotion that Nina had ever seen from the boy.

“It’s just that Mob has an irrational distaste for TMs.” The boy continued, looking a little sheepish as he did. “It is a shortcoming that we are trying hard to overcome, I assure you. But it takes time.”

Nina nodded in understanding. She did not mind the loss too much, it was just Espy’s ego that was bruised, who she should note, is now fully healed and sulking in her Pokeball.

In fact, Nina was glad that she passed out. Because by the time she recovered from the infirmary, the free for all was nearing its end, allowing just enough time for Nina to battle with Fuyumi and Matsuri, the only two challengers that she actually had any personal care for. It was unfortunate that she couldn’t battle Thomas, but the student council president promised to engage with her anytime she wanted, since they went to the same school and all.

“Even the illustrious Aqua Girl can lose with all her fancy Pokemon. Heh.” Matsuri smirked in her usual teasing manner, prompting Kerry to look up at her with a deadpan look.

“It’s Aquarium Girl, and didn’t you lose to Nina as well?” The young Joy asked in return, causing the senior student to break out into a coughing fit.

Nina chuckled and squeezed Kerry’s hand in appreciation. “Congrats on Polly evolving by the way. I’m sad that I missed it.” 

Nina’s friend and future travel companion had joined in on the free for all as well, and her Poliwag finally evolved after months of hard work. Unfortunately, this happened whilst Nina was still passed out at the Verdant Orchid’s infirmary bed.

Kerry huffed her chest up in pride and thanked her friend for her kind words. She had asked Nina to take a look at the newly evolved Polly earlier, and the Gym Trainer assured her that her Poliwhirl was in great shape thanks to all the physical conditioning that Kerry put her through.

Polly was the first of Kerry’s Pokemon to achieve Evolution, and the apprentice nurse felt an immense amount of satisfaction at the feat. From nurturing the injured Polly back to health at the Poliwag stage, to training her into a battle-capable shape, all the victories and losses they experienced all the way up to her Evolution. The entire journey felt gratifying, like all their hard work up to that point had been duly rewarded.

In fact, Kerry was so moved by the moment that she broke out into ugly sobs on the spot. Something that she was worried she might be made fun of afterwards, but surprisingly, everyone just approached her with warm wishes and congratulations. After all, it was a moment that nearly every kid who attended a trainer school could empathize with.

“You know what that means!” Matsuri exclaimed. “Time for a party!” She cheered, only to be met with silence from her peers. “Oh, come on! Get excited, people!”

Thomas sighed. “And where do you propose we have this party of yours? The inn has strict rules on conduct to maintain a standard of peace for the other guests. We can probably ask permission from the Verdant Orchid, but that leaves the question of catering. And I know for a fact that you’re just going to offload the work onto everyone else — I’m sure no one present is willing to break their backs just to satisfy your personal desires.”

Matsuri pouted. “Aren’t you forgetting something!” The older girl said as she pointed a finger at Lilian. “We got rich girl over here with us! We can just go party at her place! I’m sure you have servants or whatever that can cook for us right?”

If Lilian was offended by Matsuri’s rudeness, she did not show it, merely shaking her head in response. “A noble Dragon is a guardian, not a tyrant.”

“She means to say that she doesn't want to impose an unnecessary burden on her butler.” Nina translated. The girl was very well versed in Lilian-speak by this point. “Also, Alfred's been busy lately and it's usually him who does the cooking. And I certainly do not trust Sebastian's cooking prowess.”

Matsuri wilted in disappointment as she looked around the group of students to try and find some sort of support.

“However,” Lilian continued. “Might I suggest an alternative solution instead…”

***

The alternative that Lilian proposed was an outing in Celadon City, an idea that Nina and the rest of the gang had all cheered out in support of. As a result, the group of students now found themselves in Celadon City’s famous Department Store.

“Nina, Nina! Look what Lilian got me!” Kerry excitedly ran up to her friend with an expensive looking bottle of perfume in hand. The thing was about the size of Nina’s palm, but based on the gilded look of the packaging, she had no doubts that the liquid contained within was more expensive than gold.

Lilian chuckled. “It is but a trifle. Lady Erika asked the store to reserve some of their stock for me. But unfortunately the scent is too… floral for my liking. Consider it a celebratory gift from me to you.”

Kerry thanked the girl with a beaming smile and pulled her into a hug, causing Lilian to stiffen up at the sudden contact, before loosening up again and reciprocating with an awkward pat on Kerry’s back.

“Aww… Must be nice.” Natsumi muttered as she gazed longingly at the bottle in Kerry’s hand.

“Fret not, they have some more in stock.” Lilian assured. “However, you will have to pay your own due as is appropriate.”

Natsumi nodded with an excited thanks before wilting a little as she checked on her available savings.

Seeing the troubled look on her junior’s face, Nina smiled and pulled Natsumi into a hug. “It’s okay, I’ll buy it for you.” 

“Really?” Natsumi squealed with teary eyes full of gratitude. “Thanks, Big Sis! You’re the best!”

Nina felt a jolt of lightning shoot through her heart at Natsumi’s endearing proclamation. Whether in her past or current life, it was always fun to spoil cute girls with gifts.

“What about me…” Fuyumi whimpered with a pout, eliciting a swoon from Nina as she pulled the other twin into a hug as well.

“Of course, Fuyu, anything you like. Though I doubt you’re into cosmetics the way that your sister is.”

Fuyumi nodded as she talked about how much she loved her senior apprentice. “Yup, I want a Thunder Stone… If that’s okay with you?”

Nina laughed and readily agreed. Her junior had caught a Pikachu at some point, which she actually used against Brucey during their battle previously. “Sure, but be careful not to Evolve your Pikachu too early, okay?”

“Of course, I haven’t forgotten everything that you taught us, Bis Sis Nina. Pokemon need time to develop in their juvenile phase if we want them to reach their full potential.”

Nina nodded in approval as the girls continued on their shopping spree. The Celadon Department Store had about seven floors, including the basement which contained the food court and the roof which housed a miniature amusement park and ferris wheel. It very much reminded Nina of the high-end Japanese department stores that Miles visited in her past life, except with more of a focus on Pokemon related goods instead.

The first floor where they were currently in was predominantly selling fashion geared towards humans, with a majority of the space being taken up by women’s clothing and cosmetics. Nina could almost respect the pragmatism on display there, if not for the residual male ego within her feeling a little offended at the insinuation.

The second floor contained the Trainer’s Market where one could find pretty much every single Pokemon Training related product in existence, the largest of its kind in Kanto. Nina and the gang, being the bonafide trainer school kids that they were, were especially enamoured by this floor and spent an inordinate amount of time looking around.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Nina walked past the dizzying array of exotic Pokeballs on display and came across Mash, who was frozen in front of a shelf selling TMs.

The boy stirred and looked towards Nina with a confused tilt, before reaching a palm out at her, eliciting laughter from the girl.

“I didn’t mean that literally, Mash. I meant to ask what you were thinking about.”

The boy, who was still wearing his school uniform even during an off day, gaped in realization. “My apologies, I’m not very adept in social interactions. This is all very… new to me.” He said, but Nina could sense a subtle undertone of warmth in his voice, invoking a warm smile from her in return.

“No worries, I can relate. Just take it easy and don’t ever feel pressured to go along with anything that makes you uncomfortable. It’s perfectly okay for you to speak up and voice your dislikes. Not everyone can read minds after all,” Nina joked.

Mash nodded and thanked his new friend for her consideration. “I was thinking if I could find a TM that Mob might not be averse to.” The boy explained as he returned his gaze towards the colorful TM discs in front of him.

“Why’s Mob not good with TMs anyway? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a Pokemon with an issue like that before.”

“Because TMs involve a direct infusion of foreign thoughts into a Pokemon’s mind.” Mash replied. “Which for Mob’s highly sensitive self, feels very invasive. Almost like… for lack of a better term, like being raped in the mind.”

“Ahh… I see. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.” Nina said. “Are all members of his species like that?” The girl was starting to rethink her approach to TMs, so far she had been using them liberally without any protest from her Pokemon, but Nina thought that maybe she should be a bit more mindful in the future. 

“Makes sense that not all Pokemon might be okay with such an invasive procedure. Luckily, Espy isn’t as sensitive as Mash’s Alakazam.”

Mash shook his head in denial. “No, not at all. Mob is among the minority. Not that I’ve met others with the same issue either.” The boy sighed as he picked up one of the TM cases to read the label on the back.

Nina was tempted to offer Espy’s help to the boy. “Maybe the lighter touch of Espy’s mind might be more acceptable to his Alakazam?” The Espeon’s creative use of her empathic ability wasn’t as effective as a TM, but that might be a good thing in this case.

Ultimately, the girl held her tongue. Given their respective affiliations to Pokemon Gyms, it was doubtful that Sabrina had not uncovered a similar method with her own Pokemon. And even if she hadn’t, Nina wasn’t sure if the Cerulean Gym would be okay with her divulging training secrets like this willy-nilly.

The third floor was electronics, kind of like Yodobashi Camera but at a smaller scale. Nina had a grand time on this floor as she and Thomas went around playing all the video game demos they had on display.

The two nerds got to play a game that was similar to Super Smash Bros but featuring an all Pokemon cast, as well as a racing game with various Ride Pokemon. There was even a familiar feeling game called Shadow Souls which caused Thomas to pull at his hair in frustration, and another handheld game about rearing creatures that looked suspiciously like Digimon.

***

Author's Note:

I had originally intended to write more for this janky little tournament arc. But I got all burnt out by this point. I honestly don't know how some other writer's go from one battle to the next. Feels really exhausting to me.

Someone once told me that tournament arcs are basically a means for a writer to buy time to work on the next big story point, since it's just mindless action in a structured format. But for someone who struggles to write action like myself, it is quite an ordeal.

Anyways, I did write a side story of Nina vs Fuyumi. Which I will release a little later on as a bonus chapter, maybe after chapter 150.