I Knew You Would Be Coming
Pokémon: The Quest


'I knew You Would Be Coming'



Chapter Three


She had a right to be there. There were no 'Binx Bradley Only' signs hanging anywhere in this garden, and Binx knew it. Now he felt foolish for acting defensive when there was no danger in sight.

The young girl stepped forward so Binx could get a better look at her. She was a bit shorter than he was but just as young, with coffee colored skin and frizzy black hair tied up in the back. Her black shirt matched her long purple skirt, which hugged her legs loosely down to her feet, where it split up the left side only to her knee.

"I'm sorry for scaring you..." the soft spoken voice stated. "I saw you in the PokeMart and I had to be sure it was really you."

"Well, you shouldn't go sneaking up on people like that," he said, still feeling foolish until he realized what she had said. "Hey! Why were you following me?"

"I already told you," she repeated herself. "I had to be sure it was really you."

"Really me? What the heck is that supposed to mean?" Binx was tired of being confused all the time.

"You wont believe me," she said matter-of-factly.

"Wha...do I know you?" he asked, sure that he didn't.

"No...but I know you.”

"WHO ARE YOU?"

"My name is Renna Rowley." She paused. "What's yours?"

"MINE?" Binx was outraged. "YOU SAID YOU ALREADY KNOW WHO I AM!"

"Well..." she started, a bit wounded by his outburst. "...I mean that I know you like I know that you never miss a sunrise...and that you hate not being noticed by anyone...and that you like scrambled eggs for breakfast...and..."

"How do you know all that stuff?" he said, finally lowering his voice.

"Can I sit down?"

Binx looked around, hoping he could bring himself to say no and walk away. "I guess..."

"My Aunt," Renna said, sitting on the hard concrete ledge where Binx now was. "She tells me."

"How does she know?"

"Well, I don't really know, exactly. Dreams, I suppose. I always figured she dreamed about you."

"Binx." he said.

"What?"

"My name is Binx. Binx Bradley."

"Vulpix!" came a small voice from Binx's feet.

"...and this is Vulpix."

"I know. She said you would be traveling with a Vulpix." Renna began. "In fact, that's what I looked for."

"What?"

"Vul-vulpix?"

"When my aunt told me what you looked like, I started looking for people who fit her description. Believe me, there are a lot. But you're the only one I saw with a Vulpix. In the garden. Where my aunt said you would be on the day we would meet."

"She told you we would meet?" Binx asked.

"Yup. Right here in this garden."

"Did she tell you that you would scare the heck out of me?" Binx smiled.

"No, I think she forgot to mention that part..." Renna smiled back.

"So, does everybody know that I'm supposed to be here?" Binx asked, thinking that if that horrible Team Rocket believed this story, then they would know right where to look for their egg.

"Oh, no.." Renna said. "She said that it's important that no one knows. And besides, everyone would think she's insane."

"So how do you really know that it's me and not some other guy with a Vulpix?"

"That's simple,” she said. "Because you like to watch the sun rise."

He couldn't argue with her anymore. He did like scrambled eggs for breakfast. He did hate not being noticed by anyone. And he did like watching the sun rise.

"My aunt will probably want to see you," Renna said after a long silence.

"Where is she?" he asked, not knowing whether or not he really wanted to see her.

"She has a small store in the Shopping Center. That's what I'm doing here." she said. "She sells some of her home-made crafts there. You know, she makes baskets and centerpieces and stuff with dried flowers, along with some other knick-knacks. Anyway, sometimes she'll have me help her bring in more things to sell."

Binx wasn't sure if he wanted to go see this woman or not. He wanted to set out for Violet City soon so he could travel as far as he could before nightfall. And yet, there was something nagging at him inside to go hear what this woman had to say.

"Well," he said, standing. "...I guess let's go, then..."

"Okay. Follow me..."

"Vulpix!"

Binx and Vulpix trailed the girl out of the garden, where the sun was getting hotter by the minute. The walk back to the shopping center seemed shorter than the one to the garden, even though they took the same route. There was only silence, though, interrupted now and then by Renna mumbling 'She'll be so excited' and 'I can't wait for you to meet her.'

They finally arrived, and Renna led them through a door which was propped open next to a sign that read 'Kaya's Creations' in blue and white. The three of them stopped at the counter, which held only a cash register. Behind it was a short, dark, stout woman, a little older than Professor Elm, bent over putting away empty glass vases on a shelf.

"Auntie Kaya?" Renna called softly.

"Baby, where have you been? I had to put away all these vases by myself. I thought you were gonna help me," the woman chided her niece.

"But Aunt Kaya..."

"Ain't no buts, girl. You said..." One of the glass vases Kaya was holding met its demise on the ground when she turned and saw Binx standing there before her. Her eyes grew wider and her chin dropped lower. Binx thought that with they way she was clutching her chest, she was going to pass out, but she was only in shock.

"Aunt Kaya, are you okay?"

"We gotta get home, baby," was all she could say, though she never took her eyes off of Binx.

"What?" Renna was obviously confused.

"Put up the 'closed' sign, baby, we gotta get home..." Kaya started slowly to the back to retrieve her purse and belongings, turning back once to make sure Binx was really there. She returned, this time at a jogging pace. "We gotta go now, baby."

Kaya ushered Renna out the front door, and Binx thought they were just going to leave him there until the woman turned back toward him. "You better put your Vulpix away. It's a long walk to our house."

"Well," he said as he returned Vulpix, "...probably not as long as the one I took yesterday."

"No." She gave a knowing smile. "Probably not."

They rushed out, leaving the shattered mess on the floor of the shop for another day. This time, Kaya was in the lead. Renna and Binx were almost running to keep up with the woman. They exchanged glances from time to time, but there was no talking during the whole trip.

The two-story house they arrived at had a decently sized front lawn, with a bench, and was surrounded by several similar houses spaced equally apart. They jogged down the sidewalk, which led onto a wooden porch, and burst through the door. Kaya threw her purse down and headed through to the kitchen, followed by Binx and Renna, and sat at the table.

"Aunt Kaya, are you okay?" Renna asked.

"Honey, why don't you go and clean up your room while I talk to this young man here." Renna looked disheartened, but she gave her aunt no arguments and left the room. "I knew you would be coming. What is your name, boy?"

"Binx," came the reply.

"Binx." Kaya repeated his name. "I've been waiting the better part of six months to know that."

"Why?"

"So I could know I'm not crazy!" she laughed. "I have seen your face so many times, I couldn't begin to count'em." Her expression quickly became grim. "I have seen what lies behind you, and I have seen what lies ahead for you, Binx."

"What do you mean you've seen it?" Binx asked.

"Oh, sometimes in a dream, and sometimes just when I close my eyes. It all melts together after a certain point, you know?"

"Well, how do I know you're not crazy?" He didn't think she was crazy now, but he wanted to hear what she had to say.

"You're here, aren't you? Kaya laughed again. "Sweetie, you're right to be a skeptic. There're lots of crazies in the world, but I ain't one of 'em. How else would I know about what you got tucked away in that backpack of yours?"

"The egg..." Binx muttered softly.

"Yes, the egg. The same one you found in your front yard."

"Well, then, tell me what's going to happen. Why did I get stuck with this egg?" Binx was frustrated now. "Why do I have to be the one that has to run from Team Rocket?"

"Hold on, hold on....Hasn't that Mr. Pokemon taught you anything? I'll have to talk to that man...going around, spewing all his theories out at everybody, and then not talking when he needs to...."

"No, no....we talked," Binx reassured her.

"Well, then, I'll spell it out for you. You have the egg because ain't nobody else on this planet supposed to have it but you. Because you have it in you to do what's right," she paused. "Now, as for what's going to happen, that part's not for me to tell, because it isn't set in stone. You have to make your own choices on the way. I can tell you that it won't be easy doing what you have to do, but I think you already know that. There's a storm brewing, baby, and it's looking to be a nasty one. You're gonna have some tough decisions to make and some tough bad to beat."

Binx was frazzled. "I...I can't do this. I'm not a trainer! I can't beat Team Rocket! You've got the wrong guy!"

"Sweetie, you can, or you wouldn't have that thing in you pack!" Kaya sighed. "Do you know why you like to watch the sunrise?"

"Ummm.....I dunno...I usually just wake up right before it happens..." Binx was at a loss. Her question took him by surprise.

"You like it because each sunrise represents a beginning. Your whole life you've watched other people go off to become trainers and the like, while you were left behind and overlooked. You've needed a change for so long, you've forgotten what you felt when you saw your first sunrise. But I remember. You felt new. You felt like that was your day to shine - your beginning. And ever since, you watched the sunrise, secretly hoping that it was your day, until you just got used to the feeling. And now, here it is, baby. Your day to shine." Binx just stared at her. "You can learn a lot about a person through six months of dreaming about'em, huh?"

The boy didn't say a word; he just sat there staring down at his hands. Kaya watched him for a moment. "Sweetie, I'm gonna let you sit in here and think. You need some time to yourself. I'll be in the living room if you need anything."

"B-but ....but I have t-to get to V-violet..." He was near tears. Again.

"Nonsense, baby. You can stay the night here. We've got an extra room you can use. You just worry about working things out in your head." Kaya paused. "You've got a lot on your plate. More than even I do. But, you gotta remember that if you couldn't handle it, it wouldn't be there in the first place."

She left Binx sitting in his chair, mulling everything over. It was finally catching up to him. Until now, everything he had been through had seemed like just another bad dream he would soon wake up from. Suddenly, Kaya had made it real for him. She had given him a good pinch and shown him that, no matter how much it hurt, he would not wake up. He had a job to do, and he couldn't put it all behind him until it was complete. No matter how uncertain the future was, Binx knew that he had to go forward.

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there when Renna tapped him on the shoulder.

"Binx?" she asked when he didn't respond. "Binx...are you okay?"

"Huh?" He was in a daze.

"I said...are you okay?"

"Oh...um...yeah...I'm sorry."

"You don't look it." she said, concernedly.

"Gee, thanks..."

"You know that's not what I meant."

"I know." He imagined he must be a vision right about now, staring at his hands, his mouth agape. He still didn't move.

"You're drooling all over yourself."

"I am not!" Binx said, jumping to his feet and wiping his chin. Renna laughed. "That wasn't funny! That was mean!"

"I got you to move didn't I?" She was pleased with herself. "Are you hungry?"

"Hungry? I already had breakfast."

"Yeah, maybe, like five hours ago."

"What?" Binx looked at his watch. "I've been in here that long?"

"Yeah. But I can see how you could lose track of time when you're watching your nails grow and all..."

"Okay, you can kill the sarcasm." He felt his stomach rumble. "I guess I am a little hungry."

"You like cold pizza? I could warm it up if you want..."

"No, that's okay." Binx sat back down. "Cold pizza is the best pizza."

Renna retrieved a pizza box from their refrigerator and opened it on the table. "You know, you should probably start training your Vulpix." she said as she took a seat.

"Why?"

"What do you mean why? You're supposed to be a pokemon trainer, aren't you?" She was annoyed at his ignorance.

"Yeah..."

"Trainers compete in the Pokemon League Tournament don't they?"

"Well, yeah...but..."

"...and trainers need gym badges to compete, don't they?"

"I guess, but..."

"Well, then, you'll need to train your Vulpix so it will have enough experience to battle at Violet City's gym."

Renna didn't know it, but she had just opened up a completely new can of worms for Binx. Of course he had thought about training his Vulpix, but competing in the League tournament? Battling at pokemon gyms? He hadn't even considered it. He thought he would just have to blend into his surroundings so that Team Rocket wouldn't be able to find him. Blending in is easy; training pokemon is not.

"Okay...what did you have in mind then, Miss Pokemon Master, sir?"

"Very funny." Renna did not think that referring to her as 'sir' was funny, but she let it go. "There's this place south of the city that's supposed to be good for catching wild pokemon. Nothing really rare, though. I thought we'd go there to see what Vulpix can do. Who knows? You might get lucky and catch a wild pokemon."

The possibility of catching a new pokemon was appealing to Binx, as was battling with Vulpix. "Alright, let's do it!"

Renna folded the pizza box and returned it to the fridge. "Let me grab a few things from my room and tell Aunt Kaya where we're going."




"...the boy and your parcel were headed into Cherrygrove last night, Dr." Dr. Z listened intently as his informant disclosed the location of his precious egg over the phone. "We know he's travelling with a Vulpix."

"I see. I should have never entrusted something this important to the likes of those three. I should have known better." His eyes narrowed. "Such is the price for keeping my plans secret from the directors. No matter. The child can keep the egg for now. I will inform Jesse and James of the change in plans.” He paused. "You keep an ear open out there in New Bark. Thank you, my dear."

"The pleasure is mine, Dr. Z," she replied.

"You will be compensated for you work. Good day." He deposited his phone back in his pocket and walked toward the large picture window that lit up his office, his hands clasped behind his back. "Very interesting this game has become. Unfortunately for you, boy, I intend to win the prize."




Renna had returned without delay, and she and Binx had went on their way south of Cherrygrove City. As they were walking, he noticed the red and white pokeball she was carrying.

"Hey," he said catching up to her. "You never told me you had a pokemon."

"Well, I do." she said matter-of-factly, keeping her grueling pace. "Did you expect me to just take you out there by myself? I don't know what your Vulpix is capable of. If it happens to lose, I don't want to be stranded alone against an angry pokemon."

"Sorry for noticing," Binx retorted. She was hardly the same girl he met in the garden that morning.

"I have a Houndour, if you must know. My Aunt won it at the Game Corner in Goldenrod a few months ago. She said she couldn't raise it, so she wanted me to have it."

"Are we almost there?"

"You sure do whine a lot for a pokemon trainer," she said.

"Hey! That was rude! I'm not a real trainer, anyway." Binx defended himself.

"Well, you better start acting like one. Otherwise, Team Rocket will have you for lunch." Binx knew she was right, no matter how hard he tried to deny it. He hated letting her be right.

They soon approached the southern edge of the city, where houses were sparse, and the grass grew wildly. There was a small, lightly beaten path leading into the wilderness. "This is it," she said. "Let's go."

"In there? Are you crazy?" Binx suddenly thought that Renna had lost her mind. "And what if we get lost?" Sure, he had walked the whole way from New Bark Town, but that was on well-lit, well-traveled streets and paths. This path was nothing more than crushed weeds.

"You have a compass right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"You know how to use it?"

"Sure, but..."

"Then come on, and don't be such a baby!"

Renna was infuriating Binx with every word she spoke. "I am NOT a baby!" he shouted as he went in after her. He couldn't let her out do him. He had to make her eat her words.

They wondered around for a bit, not running into anything. "I thought you said there were pokemon here." Binx said after about twenty minutes of walking.

"There are. You just have to be patient!"

"I am being patient!" Just as Binx replied, a small, sandy colored figure with brown stripes appeared before them in the grass. It began letting out a shrill cry and banging its thick tail on the ground.

"Get out your Pokedex!" Renna whispered. "You do have one, right?"

Binx retrieved his Pokedex from the pack on his shoulders and held it in front of him. "Sentret," it chirped, "...the scout pokemon. When acting as a lookout, it warns others of danger by screeching and hitting the ground with its tail."

"Sentret," Binx repeated to himself.

"Okay, so I suppose I should show you how it's done, then. Come on out, Houndour!" Renna called.

"Hooooooooooun-dour!" The black and white dog pokemon appeared in a brilliant flash of light. It was jumping furiously, ready for action.

"No!" Binx yelled. "I'll do it! Go get'em Vulpix!" Vulpix materialized on the ground at their feet.

"Vulpix!"

"Fine, then." Renna said, a touch of irritation in her voice. "Houndour, let them have this one." Houndour stood down.

"You think you can weaken it enough for me to capture it, Vulpix?" Binx asked in a low voice.

"Vul-vulpix!" Vulpix turned circles around Binx's legs.

"Alright, Vulpix!" Binx called. "Let's do it!"

"Sennnn-tret!" The sentret jumped through the air and landed on Vulpix's back.

"NO!" Binx was upset.

"I told you that you should've let me handle it." Renna had a smug look on her face.

"It's not over yet!" Binx was determined not to lose this battle. "Vulpix! Use your ember attack to weaken it!" On command, Vulpix took a deep breath and fire shot from its jaws. The sentret tried to evade the attack, but it was no use. Vulpix had burned it before it had a chance to move.

Renna looked on in disbelief. Sentret began to try and tackle its opponent, but failed miserably and fell to the ground, too weak to fight.

"All right! You did it, Vulpix!" he yelled.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix was pleased with itself.

Binx retrieved one of the empty pokeballs from its pack and threw it at the burned sentret. In a flicker of light, the sentret disappeared into the ball. "I caught Sentret!" He looked back at Renna.

"Not bad for your first battle," she said. Binx began smiling. "But don't get too full of yourself. It was just a little sentret. You might as well have been battling with a blade of grass." He couldn't believe it. He had just been the glowing victor of his first battle and had caught his first pokemon right before her eyes, and she was still dogging him. "I guess we should get it to the PokeCenter to heal it. If you want to keep it, that is..."

"Of course I'm going to keep it. Why wouldn't I?"

"Let's go, then. Come on, Houndour, you need the exercise." she said as Binx plucked the now-inhabited pokeball from the ground.

"Hound?"

Binx let her get ahead of him. "Come on, Vulpix." he whispered. "If she gets too mouthy on the way, you can use ember on her!"

"Vul-PIX!" his pokemon agreed.



Binx and Renna set out for Cherrygrove City's PokeCenter; Binx with his new pokemon, and Renna with her scarred ego. No matter how much the duo bickered and fought, each had found a new friend in the other. Although Renna didn't show it much, she was happy to see that Binx did well in his first battle. She was impressed with his catch, too. She just didn't want to give in and acknowledge that she had misjudged him. And while Binx didn't want to admit it, he was glad she badgered him into coming with her. He was happy to have another pokemon to train, and he had her to thank for that.

They didn't know what tomorrow would bring. They had no idea how their friendship would be tested along the way. They were happy now and that's all that mattered to them.




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As always, the Pokémon franchise does NOT belong to me, nor will it EVER. Some characters used in this fic belong to THOSE PEOPLE, not me. I am simply using them for personal entertainment. Thank you, and goodnight.