Dreamer

 

Chapter 2:  Rival Hunter

 

Gary carefully washed the glass window of a teashop.  It was his part-time job as he went on carefully searching.  The fire that pushed Gary to fulfill his dream has dimmed down to a small candle fire.  Things weren’t the way it used to be.  Before Gary felt like the king of the world with no obstacles too big for him to get around.  He seeks harder and greater challenges, a chance to prove to himself “who was the better and who was the best.”  Now it didn’t make any sense to do anything, all meaning has been lost.  Gary still battles but hardly ever.  He quietly works part time jobs trying to just get by and find the true meaning of journey.  When was the day the flame died within his soul?  It was three years ago.

 

Boss:  Hey kid work on the other side.

 

Gary:  Oh yes sir, right away.

 

It’s hard to believe that Gary was the once former unbeatable force that most trainers all feared and respected.  He’d wear a brown cloak and cover himself for a mysterious look.  His top pokemon was an Eevee but it’s no longer in shape.  All his plans and future accomplishments vanished when Ash vanished from the competitive circuit.  The first year was spent on a frantic search to find Ash but with no success.  The search was then abandoned but Gary wouldn’t give up.  He traveled alone to find Ash but so far he doesn’t have any leads.

 

Gary:  The world is no longer what it use to be.  No one knew it but Ash made a difference in the world.  When I do find you I’m gonna knock some sense right into your thick skull and make sure you don’t go abandoning your friends and our promised code.  I remember it.

 

*****

 

Ash stood at the train station on a foggy evening.  He stood there waiting the next train to arrive.  He wasn’t getting on, he was just waiting for someone.  Ash had won a few more competitions on another continent and now it was time to confront the other champ.  The train pulled over and passengers exited.  Out of the crowd there was a single person wearing a dark coat walking straight for Ash.  It was Gary and he looked serious.  He walked towards Ash then passed him but only by two feet till he stopped.

 

Gary:  I’ve heard you’re this regions champ.

 

Ash:  And I bet you’re the mysterious winner that everyone wants to find.

 

Gary:  I let fame and glory cloud me for long enough.

 

Ash didn’t turn around to face Gary but he looked to his side towards Gary.

 

Ash:  Does this mean we’ll have to settle things soon?

 

Gary:  I don’t have any plans on settling anything too soon.  We both live by a certain code of honor.  There is no limit to what we can achieve as long we keep trying to out do the other.

 

Gary touched his charm and looked down.

 

Gary:  Like a ying and yang only not good or bad.  This is to see who is the stronger.  I get stronger every time you get stronger.  We’ll both be reaching new heights, a never ending level to reach for.

 

Ash:  I’d say you’ve become more poetic while you’ve been wandering around.

 

Gary:  I guess I have.  Remember to keep your promise when I return.

 

Gary walked away from the scene, not even looking back at Ash and Ash did the same and didn’t look back.  They were going to confront each other again, someday.

 

*****

 

Boss:  Quit daydreaming and get back to work!

 

Gary snapped back to reality from his daydream.  He recalled every single detail about their code of rivalry and honor.  Since Ash hasn’t been improving and actually disappeared Gary felt the great lost of his power and lost his ability to grow stronger.

 

Gary:  What is a ying without a yang.

 

Not too far off there was a sound of loud bangs that echoed through the street.  Everyone turned in that direction.  Not too far off there was a robbery at a pokemon store.  There were two men dressed in dark clothes and had clothes wrapped around their faces.  One had a sack with appeared to be the stolen goods while the other had a voltorb in hand.  The voltorb was tossed in and detonated.  The two robbers then ran for their car to drive off.  Gary acted quickly and dashed towards the car and got in front of it.

 

Robber1:  Hey get out of the way kid!

 

Gary:  You’re not gonna get away!

 

Robber2:  Run him over!!

 

Gary reached for his pokeballs and threw out Nidoqueen.  It grabbed the front of the car and held it so it couldn’t go anywhere.

 

Robber1:  Grrr Voltorb blow them up!

 

A voltorb appeared and bounced towards the Nidoqueen.

 

Gary:  Knock it back at them!

 

The nidoqueen released one hand and punched the Voltorb back at the robbers.  It detonated right infront of their faces but it didn’t faze them.

 

Robber2:  Beedrill take care of this!

 

A beedrill flew in and confronted the Nidoqueen.

 

Robber2:  Poison sting attack!!

 

The Nidoqueen got hit and started to feel the effects of poison.  It got weak and dropped the car down.

 

Gary:  Nidoqueen . . . are you hurt?

 

Robber2:  Grrr drive off!!

 

Once the car was fully on the ground its tires started to skid trying to make a get away.  Gary tumbled out of the way and recalled his Nidoqeen before it got run over.  The robbers drove off far enough to no longer see where they went.  The police arrived a few minutes later to examine the situation.  Gary got up and dusted himself off but cursing in the direction the robbers went.

 

Gary:  Even if it wasn’t a battle I count that as a lost.  I lose to just about anyone now at days.

 

A police officer interviewed Gary about the robbers and Gary told them all he knew and what he tried to do to stop them.

 

Police1:  Nice try son but next time leave it to us.  So incase we need you to come down and identify the robbers please let me know your full name, age, school, phone number and so forth.

 

Gary:  My name is Gary Oak and I’m 19.  I don’t go to any colleges . . .

 

Gary felt embarrassed explaining who he is and why he isn’t enrolled to any schools.  Gary couldn’t remain focus enough to enter any schools.  Also he was on his constant search for Ash.

 

Officer:  Yur name sounds like some type of a big shot from the league games.  Oh well I must be mistaken.  We’ll give ya a call if we need anything more.  Good day sir.

 

What that officer said made Gary very frustrated with himself.  He was losing his touch and he had to regain his strength back otherwise it may be gone forever.  Gary decided it was time to push himself a bit and maybe get some training done and also search harder, things must return to the way were otherwise who knows what else might happen.

 

*****

 

Ash found himself high up in the sky running across metal beam.  He chased after someone who he didn’t know but he was just chasing after him.  At the edge of the flying ship he trapped whoever he was.

 

Ash:  You don’t have anywhere else to run.  Just give up and hand me back my pokemon belt.

 

The man turned and smiled at Ash.  He was a dressed in some yellowish and gold attire and he had long red hair.  He man looked up and saw Misty and Brock looking from an above beam.

 

G/S?:  I don’t give up so easily.

 

The man took out a hidden whip weapon and whipped at Misty.  Misty lost her balance and was going to fall but Brock managed to grab her.  Ash turned quickly to see what was going on but it was a big enough distraction for the man to whip Ash.

 

Brock:  Ash eyes forward.

 

Ash turned saw the end of the whip just coming straight at his eyes.  In a quick move he lowered himself and ducked the first attack.  A second attack was to follow but Ash prepared himself for it.  The whip attack resembled his bulbasaurs vine whip, this was handy information, and Ash knew exactly how to counter.  He raised his arm up and angled it just right.  The whip wrapped around his own arm so now he had control of the whip.  He pulled on which threw the man off balance.  To gain back his balance he accidentally threw the pokemon belt up.  It looked like it was too high up for Ash to catch it but it flew right towards the dangling Misty.  Misty grabbed it and caught it with only one hand.  Unfortunately Brock started to lose his grip on Misty and their hands slipped.  Ash calculated quickly and jumped up to catch Misty and also land safely on another beam.  It was like a quick attack that his pikachu does so often but Ash adapted and learned his own version of it.  Ash forgot the whip was still tangled on his arm and he felt a strong tug and both Ash and Misty flew forward.  Misty fell down on the beam while Ash was heading straight for the man, he collided with him, and he also tackled him down and right off the airship.  Misty saw Ash and the other fall.

 

Misty:  Ash!!!

 

*****

 

Misty woke up sitting on her couch with a book in her lap.  She fell asleep reading a book about water trainers.  There was something strange about her recent dream, something was telling her something.

 

Misty:  Okay I must remember the dream.  Wasn’t it the airship accident?  The day when Ash fell and disappeared from us all?

 

The dream was fully remembered.  Images of memories flashed through Misty’s head about seeing Ash fall from the airship.  They were so high up that they didn’t see land but only clouds everywhere.  Once she was on the ground she alerted the authorities about the accident.  It’d been a three-week search for Ash but they couldn’t find the body.  It was hard to believe he would still be alive but without any trace of his death it can be concluded he was missing.  Having Ash missing rather than dead was better.  There was still hope he was around and thus the great search for Ash Ketchum began.  It only lasted for a year with everyone that knew Ash searching in a big network.  Unfortunately they never found Ash and there were no leads to where he could have gone.  Everyone pretty much gave up on the search.  Misty remembered seeing Gary walking off alone into the forest outside of Cerulean.

 

*****

 

Misty:  Gary?

 

Gary:  What is it?  I’m busy.

 

Misty:  What are you doing here?  Or should I say where are you going?

 

Gary:  I’m going to find Ash.  What does it look like I’m doing!

 

Misty:  But everyone gave up.

 

Gary:  You of all people giving up so soon?

 

Misty:  No I didn’t say that.  I’ll never give up.

 

Gary:  So am I!  I’ll never give up.  I made a promise to him that I’ll never give up till I show him I am the better!  . . . You should look for him too.  He probably misses you.

 

Gary walked off into the forest without saying anymore.  Misty just watched Gary go until he disappeared from sight.

 

*****

 

The memory struck Misty in a frightening way.  It had been two years since she last saw Gary and still no word from him about finding Ash or where he is.  It was assumed he got lost too but monthly mail from Gary to Prof. Oak keeps everyone worry free about Gary.  Several years of searching and still going on, Misty thought how dedicated Gary was to finding Ash.  She wished she could be just as dedicated but she was afraid that she might find him dead.  Thoughts started to strain Misty’s mind for the worst and she needed to think of other things.  Her sisters would normally be the first ones to check the mail for any letters from any of their guy friends but since they’re not around it was Misty’s duty to bring in the mail.

 

Misty checked the mail for anything interesting.  A lot of junk mail for her sisters and herself but there was a unique letter.  It was a free tour of PKMN Society.  It’d be interesting to see the high class PKMN Society.  Brock did mention about school and maybe Misty has a chance of enrolling in.  Being invited to PKMN Society is a great honor.  Normally tourists and interested people have to pay nearly a hundred just to enter into the city.  Not to mention they had to wear outsiders uniforms before entering so they could be identified easily.  It was an entire city of powerful students all trying to get high classes careers in pokemon related jobs if not work in the city itself.  Misty smiled knowing it was a privilege handed down to her plus she was getting bored just sitting around doing nothing.  At once she prepared for her trip and got together a good amount of pocket money.  PKMN was expensive to get in but everything else was pretty much a bargain.

 

Misty:  PKMN Society.  Didn’t I dream about going there once?

 

*****

 

Ash sat on his computer and typed out his reports.  He wore his glasses to reduce eyestrain from the computer screen and also give him that extra intellectual look.  The steady sound of typing could be heard across the room.  It was musical to hear the tap and pounds of each key, almost good enough to turn off the mp3 player and actually listen to the typing.

 

Ash:  Yay!  All done!

 

Ash printed out a hard copy then filed it in his drawer.  He pressed the send button and it was shipped to the main office.  Ash got up and stretched out a bit.  Being behind the keyboard and seeing nothing but the monitor for the pass two hours was a bit stressful but he had to keep up on his studies.  Normally it’d take a days work to finish the assignments that Ash received but Ash easily finishes them ahead of time.  He hopes of receiving a perfect score for the papers, it’s been awhile since he got a 100 percent.  With nothing left to do and it was still early in the afternoon Ash pondered on what to do next.  He didn’t have work that day and everyone was probably busy doing their assignments so, which means his choices were very limited.

 

Ash:  Can’t stay cooped up in here all day, gotta go out.

 

On his way out Ash met a few of the other tenants of the building.  They were carrying books and food back to their residence when they noticed Ash exiting the elevator.

 

Tenant1:  Not going to do your studies Ash?

 

Ash:  I’m actually done.

 

Tenant1:  Wow, now that’s skill.  Well I guess I’ll see you later.  I have to study a bit to finish my assignments.

 

Ash:  Good luck.

 

Ash exited the building and entered into the streets.  Things were quiet, not much happening.  Traffic was much different on assignment days because everyone was busy studying and working on their reports.  Assignments were assigned weekly to everyone, it was to keep the main office informed in educational developments of the community.  Even if Ash was someone who finished early he wasn’t the only one walking around.  There were hardly anyone around but at the least there were some walking, driving, or doing some type of task.  With so little people doing anything it would be hard to find something to do.  Part of the reason why Ash worked was to keep himself busy.  He hated doing nothing and felt compelled to do anything productive.  The only thing that took priority over everything was the restoration of his memory.

 

Ash:  What is there to do in this city anyway.  Makes me wish it had a little action now and then.

 

The only people that roamed the streets were the tourists.  They were easily recognizable because of the attire they wore.  Ash thought about giving out free tours around the city, it’d be something to do rather than just walking aimlessly.  There were a few tourists across the street and Ash thought it’d be good to start there.  He carefully walked across and joined in with the tourist.  He explained some city info and entertained the tourist but many of them soon departed and left in their own way.  There was this one girl though who didn’t have any idea where she’d go next.

 

Ash:  So miss, do you have a set destination next?

 

Lady:  Not really.  Do you have any suggestions?

 

Ash:  Sure, why don’t I show you around a bit.

 

Ash looked at the lady, she looked very familiar.  He could have met her before or just seen her walking around the street but Ash knew he had seen her before.  It was just an odd feeling but it wasn’t too strange, more of a déjà vu feel.

 

*****

 

Misty looked up at the stranger.  He was a few inches taller than her and very built.  He wore a blue jacket and black jeans.  He also wore glasses and had such a warm smile.  At first Misty thought about asking him a question but later she changed her mind, it was a silly question anyway.  PKMN Society looked much bigger than she originally thought.  It was a city but it was big enough to be a metropolis zone.  There were many skyscrapers and tall buildings.  The environment was kept clean and tidy; it appeared to be the perfect utopia of pokemon students.

 

Misty:  How about showing me the central office, I hear it’s the heart of the city.

 

Man:  It is.  That’s where everyone submits his or her reports and evaluations.  The central office controls everything to the city.  Nothing would function right if it wasn’t for the central office.  I’ll show you there right now.

 

The man appeared to be very friendly and talked so warm and gentle.  Even if he looked strong and tough he had such a cool and sweet personality that Misty just enjoyed his company.

 

The two toured around the great PKMN Society for the rest of the day.  The man explained about how people work doing their own tasks and also finding their place in the society.  Every resident of the city has a high discipline and respect for everything.

 

Misty:  That’s awesome.  So Mister . . . um . . .

 

The man looked up for a moment.  He thought about something then looked back at Misty.

 

*****

 

Ash heard that there were strange people entering the city and started asking questions.  Probably think that the entire city is some type of cult or conspiracy something.  It was best to just give the girl a fake name so he doesn’t get too involved if she was a spy of some sort.

 

Ash:  Just call me Red.

 

The name didn’t match Ash though.  He wore a blue jacket and black pants with a white shirt, there was no trace of red on him.

 

Lady:  Pretty unique name Mr. Red.

 

Ash:  Just Red.  Well I wasn’t the one who named me.

 

Well it was a lie; he did name himself Red then and there.  It was an odd feeling though when he thought about the name he gave himself.  It sounded like an alternative name that he could have gotten when he was born.  Its probably cause he wore blue and no red colors can be found on him, just an odd feeling.

 

Lady:  So Red, I guess I’ll be going now.  I’d like to meet you again.

 

Ash:  Sure.

 

Lady:  Could I um call you sometime while I’m visiting?

 

Ash thought about it for a while, it could be dangerous but she didn’t look dangerous at all.  She looked cuter and innocent then the spy type but still one should always be cautious.  It’d be best to just give her his cell phone number, after all, if she was a spy, simple get a new number.

 

Ash:  This is my cell phone number.  Call if you need anything.

 

Lady:  Wow thanks.  Well I’m going now, bye.

 

Ash waved good bye to the lady as she walked off into her own direction.  She looked familiar, looked like he’d seen her before.  Ash couldn’t place where but he felt it, maybe he knew her from before.  It’d be weird to ask someone that question though, to ask, “do you know me from before.”  Later, Ash thought, later he’d ask her once things were more social.

 

Ash felt a tap behind him, he turned around and saw Lina look right at him.

 

Lina:  Hey.

 

Ash:  Hi Lina.  Did ya finish your assignments?

 

Lina:  Yeah, I needed to get some fresh air.  So who was that girl you were talking to?

 

Lina got nervous, what if it was Ash’s secret girlfriend.

 

Ash:  Lina, ya need to get glasses.

 

Lina:  Why is that?

 

Ash:  She was wearing a tourist uniform.  She was kinda touring the area and wanted to know some info about the city so I just said so.  I might wanna go into the tourism industry as an elective course next registration.

 

Lina sighed out in relief; she was only a tourist.

 

Lina:  Your silly.  So what ya doin now?

 

Ash:  Nothing.

 

Lina:  Hey I heard a new movie was released.  Lets go see it please.

 

Ash:  If you insist.

 

End of Chapter 2

 

In the next chapter:  A flow of memories flow through everyone as they all remember something about their own past.  Misty perhaps tries to move on and starts getting interested in the mysterious student of PKMN Society named Red.  Even though Red is a very nice person, he is still no Ash . . . or is he?

 

Author’s Note:  How was chapter 2?  It’s nice to leave feedback.  I know how many of you probably say, “oh, this story has already been done.”  Well I’m adding in some strange twists of fate and I’m hoping I have a pure original here.