FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

We followed May's Father as he led us somewhere. I wonder where he was taking us? Better question, why am I following him? I only came here because Calvin wanted me to beat May so why was I following her father now?

We entered some sort of living room, TV, Chairs, and a Recliner. "Make yourself comfortable," May's Father said as we entered, "Can I get you anything to drink?"

"Soda," Calvin said," and some water for Ziggy."

"I'm good," I turned to Treecko," do you want some to drink," he nodded his head. Should he get water or does he want something else? "Sorry, I don't know what to get him."

"I'll just get him some water then," May's Father said as he went into an adjacent room. He came back a minute later with a dish full of water and two bottles, one soda and the other water. He placed the dish on the ground and Calvin placed Ziggy next to it. He handed the soda to Calvin and handed me the bottle of water to me.

"So can I ask why we are back here," I ask as I hand the opened bottle for Treecko.

"Sure, let me explain, "May's Father sat in one of the chairs, "first off, I want to apologize for the way my daughter has acted."

"That's okay, May should be the one to apologize. And I only recently met her, You should really apologize to Calvin and Ziggy." We looked at Ziggy as he lapped water from the bowl. He seems better at least.

May's Father turned to Calvin, "I apologize for the way my daughter acted towards you and your Zigzagoon. As both a gym leader and a father, I will apologize as much as is needed for forgiveness."

"That's okay Norman, you don't need to apologize, "Calvin said turning away. He looked embarrassed.

"So Norman, you're the Gym leader?" I ask.

"Yes," he answered," I am Norman Senri, the newly appointed gym Leader of the Petalburg Gym. If you came for a battle, I would like you to come back at another time."

"No, I didn't come for a battle for anything. Calvin just dragged me here so-"

"You were helping me, I didn't drag you." Calvin interrupted.

"Anyway," I continued, "we had an argument and that's how I ended up fighting your daughter."

"I happened to overhear what, May said before your battle," Norman looked depressed, "to think my own daughter would say such things. I'm, I am," Norman struggled to say it, but I can guess what he is trying to say.

"Look you don't have to say it, it's not your fault she had such views."

"Sorry," he said trying not to cry, "But I do believe I do have something to do with it. See we were from the Johto region before we moved here. She was going to get her first Pokemon and go on her own journey with some friends of her, but the League moved me here. I didn't want to be in a separate region from my daughter so I took her with me. I'm sure she resents me for it." I heard some gym leaders move to different cities to run gyms, but an entire continent for work. Must be hard on them.

"Couldn't you left her with your wife or someone else when you left Johto?"

"No, my wife died years ago." Norman fidgets with the wedding band on his finger, "while I was close to some people, I couldn't just have my daughter off while I was in a new region. She's the only family I have left." Norman fell silent for a moment, "enough about me, I'm curious about you, Young Man."

"I really don't think I'm interesting."

"You sure?" He stared at me, "from what I saw, the way you battle is interesting. Where are you from and your name as well."

"My full name is Innes Frala. I'm from Orre."

"I see."

Calvin pulled up a chair and joined us at the table, "What's Orre?"

Norman answered, "Orre is a region far from here, it's quite different from Hoenn. While Hoenn has many forests, Orre is mostly desert. Instead of gyms, Orre is filled with coliseums throughout the region."

"Really, that's awesome," Calvin's eyes lit up, "I wonder what the Pokemon there are like?"

"There are none. because of the climate and geography, wild Pokemon are rare there. Most Pokemon you would see there came from one of the other regions. So Innes, is it true that there is a coliseum in each city?"

"Only the large ones, the place I lived had one. The place was always crowded and loud. Every month, it had some tournament with some rule or conditions or anything to make the battles interesting." Sweet Arceus, I can remember all the traffic around that place. "My parents participated in their tournaments, so I was there a lot growing up. The other kids will always pretend to be my friend to be able to get the front row seats for the battles."

"What about you, did you participate as well?"

"No, I didn't own any pokemon."

"But what about Treecko and Poochyena?"

Treecko looked at Norman when his name was called, "didn't have them, I only had them one day at this point," Norman started to laugh, "what's so funny?"

"Sorry, it's just," Norman struggled to keep his laughter under control, "it explains so much and you still beat my daughter."

"What does it explain?" is it something I need to be concerned about?

Norman laughter died down and spoke normally, "I saw the way you battle and I can tell how inexperienced you are. Still, I wasn't expecting you to just have your Pokemon for only a day."

"Well, what was wrong?"

"First off, take out your Poochyena."

"Okay," I grabbed his ball and released him. I wasn't surprised when he bit me again, "this sums up our relationship," I said as I try to pry Poochyena off my arm. He seems grumpier than usual.

"Now at the start of the battle, you pulled something out before May told you to put it away."

"A Pokedex."

Norman reached into his back pocket and pulled something out, it was another Pokedex.

"Wait, why do you have one?"

"I planned to give it to May when she started her journey. I was testing it so I can explain how it works for May. I take it you are familiar with battle mode correct?" I nod, "first point it at Poochyena. You should see something like a bar on the screen."

I pointed the Pokedex at Poochyena. The screen filled with numbers and symbols. In the right-center screen was a bar, colored yellow, "Okay found it."

"That is info about a Pokemon's health, or HP if you want to use video games terms. It's an estimate on the physical health of a pokemon. Now, I want you to compare it to Treecko's."

I pointed it at Treecko and new info appeared, Treecko's bar was red, "it's red."

"Yes, when the bar is red it means a Pokemon is close to fainting."

"But Treecko hasn't been hit once in the battle, why would he be exhausted?"

"You said that you only had them for a day? If I'm correct you got Treecko from Birch and caught Poochyena. Treecko is tired because he simply isn't used to battling, The way you handled him in battle also didn't help in the matter. Poochyena, since he was wild, is more used to battle and has built up the stamina to last longer during the battle. Once they get used to battle, they should be fine. you also micromanage your Pokemon, showing you haven't created a strong bond with them yet. Pokemon are creatures of intelligence, you don't need to tell them every little thing to do in battle."

"I see," I feel like I'm getting scolded.

"Another thing, you were lucky with Treecko. If Blazer hasn't tired himself out trying to hit him with Ember, your Treecko would have lost. You can't just use a move constantly, it would tire out the pokemon before you opponent even hits you." wait is that why Torchic went down so fast? "But there's potential in you, just as in all newbies, the question is can you reach it or not."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Nothing I haven't told all my challengers. Though I hope you improve by the time you challenge my gym."

It took me a minute to process what he was saying, "wait no, I'm not taking the pokemon league challenge."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I assumed you were wanting to do the challenge. Are you a coordinator then? A performer?"

"No, I'm...nothing really. My parents forced me to take a journey to get rid of me." The room got silent. No surprise there, I just casually mention getting kick out and all.

"It might be wrong here, but I think you got the wrong impression on your parents. I don't think they would send out their child if they really wanted to get rid of him. Do you have any reason to believe otherwise."

I didn't hesitate with my response, "I'm sick, in some way. Growing up, I was sick with something. My parents wouldn't tell me the details at all, so I mainly tried to find out on my own. What I found, does not really say I'm gonna a long life." the room once again got quiet, proving what a fun guy I am.

"So Norman," Calvin said, "what's going to happen to May?"

"Hard to say," Norman pondered, probably still thinking about what I said, "while it pains me to do it. I will take her Pokemon away from her." I could say that I was shocked by what Norman said, but I can't find fault with it. Not only has May proven she is not ready for a journey, but she also is a sore loser and nearly attacked Treecko. I have to agree that taking her Pokemon would be a smart move.

"Stop it you two," Calvin picked up Ziggy, moving it away from Poochyena. Poochyena growled and jumping at him, "Innes call him off."

"Enough, Poochyena back into the ball," I recalled Poochyena. I looked at Treecko, finished with his water bottle, "you too, Treecko." I took him off my shoulder and recalled him back into his ball. "Thank you for the drinks Norman, but it is time I get going."

I turn around ready to leave, "one moment," Norman said. "I know this is stepping over my bounds, but I think you should go to Rustboro City."

"Why?"

"If you are as sick as you claim to be, it would be good to have either of your Pokemon go through Service Training. The Trainer's School has multiple courses that will help you on your journey."

"I see," Besides the stuff in my bag, I really am underprepared for a journey. It might be better to get some classes.

"Let me see you both out," Norman said, being followed by Calvin and Ziggy.

As we approached the entrance, the door opened and a young boy stepped inside, "excuse me, is Norman here?"