Akima’s Tale: The Jalare League

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Thoughts raced through my head. I couldn’t cease the flow; there was too much to think about. Gradually, I managed to cease the flow a little, and relax. Soon I could feel the familiar pum, pum, pum of the almost inaudible pulse in my mind.

{Feel the pulse. Train your breathing into time with it.} I nodded subconsciously and, my eyes resting closed, concentrated my breaths into a rhythmic regularity until it was automatic. {Now empty your mind. Do not think of what is to come, what has already happened – think of nothing.} This was rather difficult, as I could barely contain my excitement. I tried again and again, but nothingness continued to elude me. My guide was increasingly patient though, and I mentally thanked her before finding an answer to my problem. Facing the window with the bright morning sun filtering through, there were dim yellow, orange-like flares underneath my eyelids. I just watched them, not thinking of what shape they would take next, when they would suddenly expand and flare again, just watched. I thought of nothing. I watched and waited for a long time after that, waiting for what I would have to do next.

{Good.} Came the soft, melodic voice echoing in my mind. {Now I want you to listen. Tell me what you here.} I ceased to watch the flares underneath my eyelids and strained my ears. This was something I had already done many times before this week, when I had started this type of meditation with my mum’s Mew, Nienna, whom had travelled around with her in her teenage years. I had felt very stressed and under pressure, so mum had suggested meditation sessions twice a day with Nienna, one before I went to school, and one before I slept to calm my troubled sleep. So far it had worked tremendously, and I couldn’t resist one last session before what was to come this morning.

I cast out my senses. I could feel the vibrations with my hands of several different paws pattering around, some heavier than others, some merely little flitters on the floor. I could feel the bare breeze on my arms, lifting my hairs straight up. I sighed and tilted my head back a little bit, the peaceful feeling building inside me. I could hear, feel, a distant, far-away rush of some sort… Then it gradually decreased, into nothing. I could hear the playful barks of some Growlithe pups, Pidgeonite the blue Pidgeot’s clear, amused trill… outside, the sounds of trees swaying a rustling in the wind, the distant call of a Pidgey, followed by a Taillow, two Sentrets calling to each other.

{I am going to try something, Akima. It is a mind-link, which will allow you to speak to me through your mind whilst we are in this state. If you do not wish to try this, open your eyes now.} I continued to sit here. A mind-link? I had never heard of it. But it sounded interesting. It was worth a try. {You accept the mind-link.} My head nodded absently. I wasn’t sure if she had seen it or not. {It is a very delicate process because I do not know the way your mind works, but I will base my knowledge on what I know of your mother’s. Whatever you do, do not break from the state you are in until I say you can.} I wondered what would happen if I did, but it probably wouldn’t be too good.

Deep inside my head, I could feel something nagging at the edge of my mind. Nienna? There was no answer, of course. The feeling continued for a few moments, and a slow, pounding headache gradually came to rest right between my eyes. I wondered what was causing this, but before I could think about it, something suddenly rammed into my right side and arm. My eyes flicked open, and an immediate, jolting streak of pain shot through my head, pain chorusing all along it. I gasped and doubled over from my cross-legged position, dimly realising that one of my legs were numb. The jolts then suddenly stopped. I slowly opened my eyes to see Nienna scolding a young Growlithe pup, her bright blue eyes alive with anger.

"What just happened?" I asked a little weakly.

"Are you alright?" Nienna’s pale pink face turned from anger to concern.

"Yeah, I’m fine. Now anyway."

"Oh, good." The Mew smiled in relief, speaking in the human language with aid from her Pokemon Translator attached to a wristband. It reminded me of my watch, and I automatically glanced down at it. My eyes widened. "Holy… agh!" I fumbled to push myself up from the floor, muttering little curses. "I need to go! I’m going to be late…" I stumbled through the room’s door, grabbing my little shoulder bag on the way out. "Sorry!" I slipped the black strap over my shoulder so the bag rested comfortably on my hip and ran outside of the building. My house lay in front of me, up the slight hill of our large backyard. I ran up the side of the house so it would be quicker, unlatched the gate and locked it again behind me as I ran through. I looked at my watch again. It was 8:44am. I had to be at the school by nine, for that was what was expected. It took me twenty minutes to get there usually, but if I jogged it should cut down the time considerably. I think.

By the time I got to the youth centre just nearby Tor Kawais Senior High School, I didn’t even bother to look at my watch. The peace of this morning forgotten, the Butterfrees fluttering madly in my stomach, I panted up the ramp and stopped just outside the door to catch my breath before entering. I could see inside separate desks set up like in the upper school exams. Almost every desk was filled with teenagers around my age, most of which I knew. Up the front speaking to all of them was our fat headmaster wearing a pink shirt and a dark tie, of whom I averted my gaze from with disgust. I could see similar expressions on fellow classmate’s faces. Next to the headmaster stood Professor Alaia, Tor Kawais’s resident Pokemon expert. I walked into the hall, and was met by about three dozen different faces. However, our headmaster did not falter, just kept on talking. My Society and Environment teacher stopped me. What on earth was he doing here? Mr Richards insisted on checking my water bottle to make sure I had ripped off the label so I couldn’t write notes on it, and went through my little bag just in case I had hidden precious points from some essay found on the internet by some world-famous philosopher to put in the essay we had to write. He poked through my tissues reserved for emergencies, but aside from that I only had my pencil, a pen, an eraser and a sharpener. Hahha!

I found a seat near the front because all the back seats were unfortunately taken, so I was catching the full impact of my headmaster’s neverending chitchat. On and on he went, talking about how you should ‘be brave and confident’ and ‘the life of a trainer is dangerous and tests you to the extremes’. All the stuff we already know. I craned my head around to spy Adam, the male mirror image of myself, smirking from the very back row. I scowled in return and glared, before facing the front again. Whilst swishing my gaze ahead again, I caught a glimpse of most of the rest of the students sitting the test. Having a pretty good photographic memory, I captured the picture in my mind and replayed it over. Adam was sitting there, leaning back in the hard wooden chair, his feet poking out from the bottom of the small wooden desk, that sickly sweet smile still evident on his face. I couldn’t believe I had such an irritating, frustrating, up-himself twin brother. I could see him now – running a hand through his short red-tinted black hair, deep brown eyes grinning at me. It made me feel like getting up right now, marching down there and screaming at him, but of course I didn’t. Everyone would stare at me. Lucky guy, he had gotten mum to drop him off at a friend’s house this morning before she went to work and so he had had a free lift here.

Next to Adam, a metre length between them, was a blond boy with blue, almost grey eyes. It was strange, but I felt as if I had seen him before… I was going through all the names I could think of currently, trying to match one to his familiar face, but then gave up and went on to the next person to see if any of my friends were in the crowd. On and on went the rows of random people I knew, and some I didn’t know, until I hit a girl my age with brown-blond hair and blue eyes. I turned around and smiled at her. Natasha grinned back and mouthed some words to me. I gave her the ‘what?’ look and she mouthed it again. I gave her the same look and tried to mouth to her that I couldn’t interpret mouthing words with a few hand gestures and shrugging of shoulders, but then Mr Richards caught me and shot me a warning look. I didn’t dare try again, just in case he decided to kick me out for being rude.

"…So do your best, all of you. And without further ado, you must all be anxious to complete your tests." Our headmaster finally finished, and Professor Alaia stepped forward, her arms full of papers stapled together for each person. She went about handing one bundle out to each student sitting the test, I being one of the first. When everyone had the papers, we were told to start. I looked at what we had to do.

In the first box I wrote my name, Akima Oronar.

In the second, my age, fourteen.

The third, my address. 8 Goldane Road, Tor Kawais, 6980. The list went on for a little bit more. Phone number, email address if I had one, all that sort of stuff. Then I flipped the page and went on. I bit my bottom lip lightly. I had to write an essay about why I should be picked as one of the top ten students to be welcomed into the Pokemon League as an official Pokemon Trainer, and receive a starter Pokemon as well as a backpack full of all the supplies and essentials that would be needed on my journey, excluding things like clothes and the that sort of stuff. On the spare sheet of scrap paper that was provided, I brainstormed all my ideas, scribbling things out and adding to my explosion diagram and made sure everything was clear in my mind. The essay also had to show our understandings of the life of a Pokemon trainer, that we knew what we would be getting ourselves into and a knowledge of Pokemon and their needs. Finally, not wanting to waste any more time, I put my pen to the neat lined paper and wrote.

I proofread my essay with pride. Although I sounded a bit up myself in the second part of it, hey, I was aiming to stand out. I didn’t want to sound like a timid little girl who was afraid and nervous of everything. It was like a résumé. You had to sound confident and knowing as to what you’re doing. Even though I don’t like the thought of seeming stuck up at all. And everything I had written was also true, so it was straight from the heart. I hoped that the judges would be impressed with my words. Anyway, I was reasonably confident that my essay would be given a second glance, as I was used to getting good comments of praise from Mr Richards on my essays, of which we did about once a term. Speaking of Mr Richards, he was cruising around the hall glancing over everyone else’s essays, as were the headmaster and Professor Alaia. Mr Richards went to walk past my desk but glanced at my triumphant expression and stopped.

"Finished, Akima?"

"Yes." He nodded and went on. I raised an eyebrow after him. What was that all about? I glanced around me. Natasha was looking really worried as she nibbled the end of her pencil. At the back Adam was furiously writing and the unknown guy next to him had a pleased, confident, almost arrogant look on his face. I grew tired of waiting for our time to run out and went about drawing little Eevees on the bottom of my scrap page. I did one running. I did one lying down. Another was poking out it’s tongue and making a funny face while another was growling and about to pounce on it’s unsuspecting sibling, who was eating from a bowl of pokechow.

"What do you thing you’re doing, doodling when you should be writing your essay?" I looked up with a little jump to see the evil headmaster looming over me.

"Uhm… I’ve finished." I said quietly.

"Well read it through."

"I have!" I countered.

"Well proofread it again!" With that he half stalked, half waddled off to find his next victim. Eh.

I stared after him. Now he was truly evil in my eyes. I glanced at my watch. How long was this going to last?

"Okay everyone, pens down, time’s up!" The evil headmaster suddenly said, his loud voice shocking a few people nearby me. I sighed with relief and handed in my papers.

*****

The next few months went by and by the end of them I felt like I was on the edge of a mental breakdown. Because I had never attempted the essay before, I was always caught up in my thoughts with fear of humiliation if my essay was rejected, worry mounting in my mind until my head was constantly thick with it. The only refuge I found was my gradually increasing meditation sessions with Nienna. Over time I could think of nothingness within a minute and remain that way for ages, extend my hearing sense to listen for new things, to judge what was happening nearby from the vibrations on the floor.

She didn’t try to link our minds again.

However, she could tell that Adam was going through the same sort of fears as me, and had invited him to sit down one morning for our meditating session. Although he had accepted, he denied that he was nervous and worried, and after a few minutes with us he had thrown his hands up in the air in exasperation. He had claimed that this was doing him no good and that he could be doing better things. It was the Christmas holidays at the moment, and that was the only reason we weren’t both at school. He had absorbed himself in being hunched over the laptop, typing things out and playing computer games. This was where I found him a few minutes after he had grown angry and abruptly left.

I looked at him and frowned. He couldn’t keep on doing this forever.

Then I smiled. It was a once a year event at least. Adam looked devoid of energy; this meant that he couldn’t be bothered arguing with me. It must be a good sign or something. I grabbed a chair and scooted up next to him.

"Hey, what’s up?" I chirped cheerfully.

"Urkmrgrll." He mumbled through the hand covering his mouth. I raised an eyebrow.

"You feel like you just got trampled by a heard of mad Stantler? Yeah, I get that feeling often." I grinned. There was no response. I could see the computer screen reflected in his eyes as his fingers flew over the keyboard. Bags of tiredness hung from underneath them. "You sit in front of the computer for eighteen hours straight for six days in succession, and at the end of it all you emerge energy-drained. It’s not healthy, Adam. What was your last meal?"

"Noodles."

"Two minute noodles. You’re a growing guy, you should eat more than me. I’m the two-minute-noodle girl in the family, so you have to eat something else. Let me cook you an omelette or something."

"I’m fine."

"Adam, don’t be a dumbass. Go back out there, apologise to Nienna, and STAY THERE until I come out with some food! No more computer for you! And you’re going to go to sleep at eight o’clock tonight, no buts! I’m sure mum will agree with me. And I swear on the laptop’s flickering screen that you’ll still be snoring by midday tomorrow. Now go!" I snapped, pressing down on the power button. Adam moaned wearily.

"Noo…"

"Man, you’re just like mum…" He moped as I yanked him out of his chair and gave him a little push in the direction of the back door. Once he was gone I went about finding a healthy snack for him, when I heard the sound of the postie’s motorbike. I absently looked out the window and watched him stop right in front of our mailbox with perfect ease, poking in a fat wad of mail. I smiled. I hardly ever got to check the mail - Adam usually was the first one to the mailbox. I closed the pantry door and went out to the front of the house. My heart started to pound, as I realised that the letters from the Pokemon League could be in there. It was about time, too. I reached into the mailbox and pulled out all the mail, automatically flicking through it. This was it. I could feel it.

I peaked behind a large A4 package and, sitting right there in my hand, a long, bright red envelope with a golden pokeball image on it. The Jalare League symbol. I gasped at it in anticipation. I placed the rest of the mail down on the driveway and went to open it up, when I read the name on the front and realised it was Adam’s. My breathing faltered, and my gaze instantly rested on the pile at my feet. There was no sign of another red envelope. Panic suddenly set in and I dropped to my knees, searching frantically. I spread the letters and packages around, disparity filtering my head. Please, please, please… I begged in my mind. An almost silent car drove past slowly, and I could feel someone’s eyes on me. For once I ignored the compulsion to look up and compose myself, and as a pushed some hair out of my face and behind my right ear, I caught sight of another envelope. A bright red one. I jumped up.

"YES!" I cried ecstatically, holding the Jalare League envelope up above me in triumph. I turned and saw the people in the car shooting me odd looks. I didn’t care!

I fumbled and ripped at the seal desperatly, fear building up. I paused as I ripped the seal off completely, revealing the fine white paper. I stroked it gently. It had a silken, authentic feel. My mouth went dry, and I stood there just staring at it for a moment, before gathering my small amount of courage and licking my lips. I slowly slipped the sheet out, a lump rising in my throat. I almost dropped it in my hand. I had an immense feel of foreboding about this letter, but the suspense was killing me, and I still had a tiny little hope left that perhaps, just maybe…

What are you waiting for? A voice called from inside my head. You’ll have to take a look eventually! It’s inevitable! Just do it!

"Now!" I said aloud, and unfolded the smooth paper delicately. It had a dappled texture, the font of the writing small and fine, with a feel of authority about it. I bit my lip and read.

I blinked and stared at the writing, shock setting in. Then it suddenly hit me. Oh my goodness. I screamed with pure happiness, scooping up the pile of mail and rushing inside. I dumped everything on the bench, then grabbed Adam’s letter along with mine and stumbled outside in a daze. I almost tripped over Yuranda my mum’s Mightyena from her childhood, along with Nero the Houndour.

"Whatcha got there, Aki?" Nero tilted his head, watching the golden pokeball on the envelope flash in the sunlight. He had the ability to speak thanks to the Pokemon translator clipped to his collar.

"You… are not… going to believe this!" I cried, waving my letter in his face.

"Och, ye’re of to discover the wide world!" Yuranda said knowingly with her mysterious accent.

"Aye!" I imitated her voice as I did quite often, unable to wipe the wide grin off my face. The two dark dog Pokemon accompanied me into the building in our backyard where all the Pokemon resided. A little Eevee confronted me.

"Aki, Aki!" He cried, an odd look on his face.

"Yes, Teal?" I asked kindly.

"Neo won’t stop bullying me! He’s being such a real meanie! Stop him!"

"What’s the magic word?"

"Please?" He flashed me an innocent look in his massive black eyes and drooped his ears.

"No, not with the face!" I snapped. Teal’s expression changed back to normal.

"Please?" He asked.

"Yeah, whatever." I said. "NEO, get here right now!" I yelled. I don’t have time for this…

Another young Eevee tumbled into the hallway. His fur was a dark brown, his eyes glittering with an inner fire.

"I didn’t do it, Aki! I swear on my life I didn’t!" He gasped, tripping over his large bushy tail.

"He’s lying! Get the truth out of him!" Teal countered, grinning maliciously. Suddenly Neo gasped.

"YOU! You little liar! You purposely tripped yourself up and blamed ME! Aki, can’t you see?! Admit it, you little Mankey!"

"Hey! Look, he’s dissing me!"

"Shut up!" I said. "Can’t you guys just work this out yourself? Take your case to Free." Teal paled.

"Hah! See, he’s worried! He knows he’ll be found out if we ask Free about it!" Neo said, and pounced on Teal. "You little…"

"We’ll sort this out." Yuranda said. Nero nodded, and I thanked them quickly before rushing off to find Adam. I went top the meditating room, but only Nienna was there, deep in a trance. I knew better than to disturb her. I searched every room, dodging flying Eevee kits, tripping over racing Growlithe pups, and asking for Adam all the while to the adult Pokemon. They all pointed in one direction, and that’s where I found him. In the very last room, the living room for the Pokemon. Free, mum’s Arcanine and very first Pokemon, was lying in front of the fireplace as she always seemed to, warming her stomach. Adam sat flopped in one of the chairs, his eyes closed. His breathing was rhythmic, and it took me a moment to realise he was asleep, and a warning glance from Free to stop me shouting at the top of my lungs at him. She motioned for me to sit down on one of the free chairs. I could barely keep the excitement off my face, and her calm, knowing silence only made me more ecstatic for some reason.

"You have been chosen." Free said simply, her voice clear and strong despite her age. I nodded. How could she have known? Then I mentally slapped my forehead. Of course she knew! It was pretty obvious. Anyone could tell from the letters in my hand from the Jalare Pokemon League and the smile on my face. "Months of waiting, and now it’s finally come to you. Your ticket out of here. Your doorway to freedom to do whatever you wish." I sat in silence, slowly cooling down with her soothing voice. "So, what are you going to do now?" The question came slowly to me. What am I going to do? That’s right… What AM I going to do?

"I… don’t know." I said after a moment of silence. Free nodded and smiled.

"Any questions for the big day?" She asked. I blinked at her. She was going to give me advice? "If you think I’m just a dumb old Arcanine because I lie in here in front of the fire every day, getting out only to eat and instruct young Arcanines, I’m afraid you’re deluding yourself." I blushed.

"I’m… sorry." I stuttered. It was all I could think of.

"That’s alright. I get it a lot from the younger ones. That’s before I drop kick them into the dirt." Free replied simply. I raised my eyebrows.

"Um… I really don’t know what to ask." I said.

"You really don’t have a clue, do you? Just like your mother. You’ll improvise and somehow miraculously manage to elude death at least once a week after you leave, with your ‘faithful’ Pokemon by your side. Times have changed, dear. You have to be prepared, or have an enormous amount of luck until you learn to survive properly."

I looked down and stared at the flames flickering across the walls. All conversation fell silent for a minute or so, then I spoke.

"How do I pick my starting Pokemon?" I asked. Free glanced at me.

"Don’t just go for who you think will be the most powerful first off. Go for whoever likes you the most. Better to have a weaker Pokemon that loves you rather than a powerful one that won’t listen. Follow your heart. You’ll know which to pick when the time is right. Anything else?"

"…How do I deal with Team Rocket and that?" I asked.

"Do the unexpected. Make them think they have you, then kick their arse! Oh, and never challenge someone you think is too powerful for you. That always ends badly. If you’re attacked and all else fails, escape. It’s better to live and redeem you’re honour another day rather than die trying. The people who would rather die than run from danger are just fools."

I sat and contemplated these words. She seemed to be talked directly from personal experience, and probably was.

"And you’ve… done all this?"

"I’m over 30 years old, what do you expect?"

"Oh."

"Could I please see the letter?"

"Sure." I passed my letter over to her, a little surprise when she started to read easily.

"What are you so surprised about?" Free asked, glancing up.

"Uh…"

"I’m not stupid!"

"Sorry!" I said quickly.

"Forget it." Free replied. She skimmed through the rest of the writing, then snorted mockingly and handed it back.

"What is it?" I asked, suddenly wondering if she doubted my ability to become a trainer. She abruptly looked up.

"Oh no, dear, I wasn’t laughing at you. It’s just… Ricky. I know him from a long way back. When he was only your age." Free said.

"You do?" I asked. "How?"

"Your mother knows him also. She probably doesn’t know he’s the head of the Jalare Elite – he’s only been accepted recently, right?" I nodded. Free smiled fondly, recalling some distant memory. "They always used to fight and argue. They’re so similar it eludes me as to why they were at each other’s throats most of the time." I raised an eyebrow. It sounded like Adam and myself. Speaking of Adam, he was starting to stir. I carefully placed his own letter on his lap and watched him with a smirk.

He awoke suddenly, as if waking from a dream. He stared about him at us both for a moment, then his gaze rested on the envelope in his lap. His eyes widened and he seized it quickly.

"The letter…" He gasped.

"The letter." I imitated him sarcastically, waving my own around in the air half-heartedly.

"I… did you pass?!" He suddenly said, brown eyes flashing dangerously. What’s wrong with him?

"Open yours and tell me what you got."

"Tell me first!"

"No!"

"I asked first!"

"So what? Just open the envelope!"

"No!"

"Adam, Akima passed." Free said calmly.

"Hey!" I said.

"So… that doesn’t leave a very good chance of me getting in." Adam said slowly. I could see by the expression on his face that he was suffering as much as I had.

"Just open it!" I snapped. He fumbled at the seal with shaky hands. I found myself hoping he could get in. I just felt sorry for him at the moment. He flicked the letter out and none-too-carefully unfolded the paper. He read through it quickly and slowly lowered it from his face, a look of sheer ecstasy on his face.

"I… I…"

"You got in!" I cried, and we cheered simultaneously. This was it. We were BOTH out of here. We jumped up from our chairs and hugged tightly.

Free smiled lightly. "Good luck…"