Pedestal: Chapter 49

"…And then he made a tower out of us. It wasn't so bad since I was near the top, but I was still a little scared being that close to Kamala," I explained.

"Who was Kamala again?" Zoe asked, taking a delicate sip of her tea. We were back in Goldenrod, waiting for our flight back home. The vacation hadn't lasted all that long, but in a way, it felt like forever.

"My friend Nick's Medi-thingy. She sort of has issues, most of them with me."

"…Medi-thingy? Meditite?"

"No."

"Medicham?"

"That one." I nodded, mostly to myself. Nick had told me Kamala's species several times before, but for some reason, it never stuck with me for very long. "Anyway! So I was near the top, and Kamala was stuck beside me--it didn't seem like she realized what was going on, or maybe Konstantin just hadn't asked her for permission to do that. It was sort of funny to see her expression, though. And then Ike was on top of my head, and Kamala had been put under Carlita, so she had to hold her, and neither of them were very happy with that. I still haven't figured out how he did it, either."

"Sounds like some sort of move." Zoe seemed completely fine with letting me talk and continued sipping at her tea. She agreed to wait with me in my room while Hanna was off with her dad for the day, and Nick was off… doing something. I wasn't sure. "Maybe Teleport or Shadow Sneak…"

"It didn't feel like a Teleport. What's Shadow Sneak?"

"A ghost move. It's probably what your Duskull used. Did you feel like you were being tugged into your shadow?"

"It was at night. We didn't have shadows."

"We always have shadows; it's just whether or not you can see them," she replied philosophically.

"…Well, maybe," I conceded, sighing. "Do Duskull learn Shadow Sneak?"

"I think so. I've never owned one, so I can't be sure…"

"Do you have Pokemon then?" I asked curiously. She knew all about myself and my team, but it seemed as though I hardly knew anything about her. Just that she worked as a maid in her free time, and was apparently from Johto.

"Oh yes. I have quite a few," she replied with a bright smile. "I'm a dark type trainer."

I had never met any specialized trainers, aside from Gym leaders. I leaned forward excitedly. "Really? What Pokemon do you have? What was your starter? Why do you like dark types?"

"Slow down there." She set down her cup and turned to me, looking rather serious. I frowned and leaned back again, wondering why. "First off, I only became a dark type trainer accidentally; I didn't plan on becoming one. I just sort of gathered Pokemon of that type."

I opened my mouth to speak again, but she silenced me with a raised hand.

"Don't get excited about dark Pokemon. They are dark for a reason and aren't easily trained. I wouldn't suggest you getting one for another year or two."

"But--"

"But nothing. I started training late in the game, and I had help with my team. Don't go looking for a Pokemon you can't control. It seems as if you've got your hands full with that Duskull alone," she said, still serious. I looked down at my lap. I had my hands full with my entire team, not just Konstantin. Maybe taking on a Pokemon renown for a temperamental and difficult nature wouldn't be the best of ideas. (Actually, then I started wondering if Ike was somehow part dark. He sure acted like it.)

"…Okay."

Zoe was all cheeriness once more. "Okay! Well then. I have a Murkrow, an Umbreon, and a Sneasel. Those are actually my only dark ones right now, but sometimes I watch my boyfriend's Houndoom, and he's a handful at times."

I knew vaguely of all of them, which worked for me. At least I was getting better at recognizing species names (except for that Medi-thingy that was Kamala). "Is that all you have?"

"I also have a Skarmory. This basically means that my entire team can pretty much stop any psychic in its tracks," she proclaimed proudly.

"Why?" It seemed like an odd thing, wanting to stop only psychics. Unless she had something against them. Or was paranoid. She didn't seem too paranoid, though…

"One of my best friends had a couple psychics as we were growing up, so I constantly had to deal with that. Eventually I just started hanging out with my team more and more. It doesn't hurt that I can stomp any psychic into the ground without using dark moves, too." I couldn't help but grin; her enthusiasm for the subject was contagious. Definitely not paranoid, too. Zoe wiped some of her black hair out of her eyes, curling it on her finger thoughtfully. "But in all seriousness, she used to tease me pretty bad with them. Watch out for any of your friends with psychics. Sometimes, the temptation is just too great. And don't you dare--if you ever get one--use it on others!" she preemptively scolded.

"I definitely wouldn't," I promised.

"And if anyone tries to use one on you, you just call me, okay? I get more of a thrill than I probably should stopping psychics, but that's what you get when you specialize your team. You get to be proud of their strengths." She laughed lightly, then took my hand. She pulled the pen out from behind her ear and wrote out a number on it. "You can call me for other reasons, too, of course. Especially if you come back to Johto sometime."

I was a little amazed by the sudden display of outward friendship. Zoe had always seemed a little shy. Then again, I wasn't complaining. Plus if Kamala kept on my case, I might just want her help. "Wow… Thanks." I didn't have a cell phone yet, since Hanna insisted on getting one for me back in Sinnoh, but at least I'd have one number to put into it.

Later that day, Hanna managed to drag us out on one last expedition before we left completely. Though it was more of a spy mission than anything else. We all donned hats, sunglasses, and even trench coats and literally tiptoed past her father's room's door. She wouldn't let either Nick or I talk until we got down to the lobby. Even then, she stayed serious and silent, tipping her hat down over her eyes and putting her collar up around her face until we were well away from the hotel.

"…I feel like we're doing something illegal," Nick said cautiously. I bobbed my head in total agreement.

"We're not. It's just--Daddy doesn't want me seeing him."

"Who?" Nick and I chorused. Hanna didn't reply and continued leading us through Goldenrod. The buildings eventually started getting sparser and sparser, until it was nothing but grasses and a path. We were in trainer territory, and Nick and I instinctively realized that. Hanna just barreled on ahead cluelessly. We took over trainer watch then, since we were obviously on a mission and couldn't be held up with battles. It helped that Nick let Chase out, who glared most of the young trainers down and kept them at bay.

Eventually, we reached a forest. We were well out of Goldenrod now, and I felt uneasy being that far out of civilization in an unknown country. I could tell Chase was just as nervous as I was, because of the way he kept circling around us. Nick and Hanna seemed perfectly fine, though.

"Like, you guys lost or something?" Hanna jumped--suddenly nervous--and turned to face an older trainer who was leaning nonchalantly against a tree, arms crossed. He pushed off of the trunk and sauntered over.

"Where did Jude go? He was supposed to--"

"He's, like, a bit busy now, you know? I'll take you, like, to him, though, if you, like, want…"

"Yes, yes," Hanna replied impatiently. The man shrugged lazily and gestured us over. Nick and I glanced at each other; really? Were we really sneaking out, meeting some unknown guy in the woods who was leading us to another mysterious guy? It made me feel all too much like one of those spies in the old movies. Only usually about this time some guy in a sports car pulled up and started shooting…

We followed Hanna, though, since she at least knew what she was doing. (And, if all else failed, we could always hold her ransom for the money or something. Or fight our way out.)

We went through the forest and out onto a trainer path again, though with a suspicious lack of people. Our guide chatted airily. "…Like, are those two your, like, bodyguards? Because they're not… real threatening, you know?"

"Hey!" Nick squawked. Chase growled behind him, lip curling.

"Chill, man. It was just an observation," he drawled. I could easily imagine him with a cigarette right then; he seemed like the type to take a drag and then breathe it out and likewise take a long time to answer anything properly. Or maybe it was just his way of speaking.

"They are my escorts," Hanna interjected primly, turning to give us both a look over her shoulder. I put my hands up defensively. I knew I wasn't threatening and I wasn't going to pick a fight with either the mysterious forest guy or Nick or anyone. Least of all Hanna right then. She had that sort of effect sometimes. Returning her attention to the man in front of us, she asked again, "Where's Jude?"

"He's, like, busy, I told you," the older trainer replied, with something vaguely resembling irritation.

"With what? We're not from Johto, so it's not like I come here all the time to meet with him--"

"Circumstances were, like, extenuating, okay? So chill, miss prissy chick."

I had a feeling that the guy was about to regret saying that, but fortunately for him, we came upon one of those buildings guarding the entrance to a city. We all quieted again and pulled our hats down over our sunglasses as we walked through the building--all except for our guide, who smiled lazily and waved at the guard.

Much to my surprise, on the other side of the second door wasn't a city. Instead, it looked to be ruins of some sort. I hardly had any time to marvel, however, since we were soon assaulted. Something feathery, purple, and with a very sharp beak swooped down at us, taking a swipe at Hanna and then pecking me on the head. Nick, who had hit the ground in time to avoid that, pulled me to the ground beside him.

"What the--What is this?!" he shouted. Chase jumped into the air, trying to catch up to the purple bird that was giving us a very distinctive caw-like laugh. His Garchomp was soon shot out of the sky, however, by what I immediately recognized as an Ice Beam. I reflexively followed the icy trail down to its source and went cold.

A Froslass turned and looked at us with a very dark glare, air shimmering around her with ice crystals.

"Chase!" Nick scrambled to his feet, covered his head with his arms as the purple bird crowed again and dive-bombed him.

I was dimly aware of Hanna screaming something and someone else yelling before a blue thing rammed into my stomach and knocked me to the ground. I blinked blearily up at wide bug eyes and a grinning mouth belonging to a Heracross. "Hera!" it barked, pinning me to the ground with relative ease.

I heard Chase roar and the very familiar screech of the Froslass, and then Nick and Hanna shouting something, too. I was too numbed by the Froslass--was it my Froslass? No, that couldn't be. She was still in Sinnoh. And she would never follow me all the way here--would she?

"Get off, dude!" The older trainer with the lazy drawl was suddenly pulling the Heracross off of me. He extended a hand down to help me up, but I ignored him and got up on my own.

"You led us into a trap!" I accused immediately. The Heracross snorted and hit me on the shoulder with its horn.

"No way. This is all, like, a huge misunderstanding. Totally a misunderstanding," he shook his head while I rubbed my shoulder. "See?" He motioned over to the other three, who had more or less calmed down.

It turned out that we really hadn't been attacked. The Jude guy that Hanna was supposed to meet was a Pokemon breeder, and like our guide had stated, was busy with some rather rowdy Pokemon. More specifically, he had been trying to train a shiny Murkrow, the purple bird that had attacked us. The Froslass and Heracross had just been trying to catch it again, and had perceived us as threats when we barged onto the scene with Chase. I still felt sore from where the Heracross and Murkrow both hit me, though, and both of Nick's arms were bloody from the Murkrow's claws.

So we really weren't pleased at all when Hanna announced that the Murkrow was hers.

"Well, this here is Tenny. I was going to name her Murder, but miss Hanna here would have none of that," the boy that was introduced as Jude explained, gesturing to the purple bird perched on the Heracross' head. Tenny laughed and pecked at the bug's horn. "She has a bit of a behavior problem… Not to worry, though! She's just a bit rambunctious and mischievous."

"She's gorgeous," Hanna sighed dreamily.

"A dark Pokemon? Really, Hanna?" Nick asked, raising an eyebrow. He held out his bloody arms to her. "They're not known for being nice. Even real trainers have problems with them." I nodded, since this was not news to me as of a couple hours ago. Plus, Tenny only seemed to reinforce that lesson.

"She just wants a little attention. Don't you, girl?" Hanna cooed. The Murkrow turned her head away, swishing her tail feathers at her. "Here, I know what you want." She took off her necklace and held it out. The silver glinted in the sunlight, which immediately caught Tenny's eye. She took it greedily in her beak and allowed Hanna to pet her after that. "See, I know how to handle Pokemon. Unlike some people apparently."

Nick snorted and gingerly crossed his arms.

Jude beamed at them both. "Right-o! Perfect. Either of you want a Pokemon now, or is miss Hanna the only one going to get one?"

"I can catch my own."

"…I'm broke."

"Aw, such a pity. Well, if you ever need anything, anything at all, make sure you give me a call, eh? If it's out there, I can get it. And that's a guarantee," Jude chirped, puffing out his chest. Nick looked at him with an unreadable expression, and for a brief moment, I thought he was going to change his mind and buy a Pokemon. It turned out that he didn't, though, and instead just turned to face Chase and set his head on the dragon's shoulder.

"Can we just go back now?" he asked tiredly.

"Of course," Hanna replied happily, still stroking Tenny's feathers. I rolled my eyes. So that was how Hanna got all of her rare Pokemon. Figured.

"Come back soon! Or give me a call, love! I have all the time in the world for any of your orders!" Jude called after us, waving enthusiastically goodbye. The man who had been our guide was sitting next to the Froslass and only watched us leave mutely.

When we got back to the hotel, Zoe fretted and dressed our wounds, while my Pokemon (who had been left there, since Hanna insisted on no ghostly stalkers and the only way to get rid of Konstantin was to let him stay with the other three) excitedly chatted with Tenny. I couldn't help but notice the way Zoe sniffed in disdain at the Murkrow's presence, though.

-.-.-

Zoe and I hugged goodbye in the lobby. She really was a good friend, not just a maid who happened to feed me and thus earn my admiration and love. Plus she was really interesting once you got under her reservations.

On the flight back, however, I realized that I wasn't necessarily sick when we first came over; I got airsickness. It sort of ruined my triumphant return to Sinnoh, especially when I nearly fell down the stairs and tripped on my first step into the terminal. Konstantin laughed at me. Nick rolled his eyes and grabbed my arm to steady me.

"We're back in Sinnoh. You can officially lose the stalker," he muttered under his breath, nodding towards the Duskull.

"How?"

"…I'm not sure."

Hanna had to leave us at the Veilstone airport, somewhat tearfully. She gave me enough money for what she called a 'good cell phone', which meant that it was way too much and I would probably have a lot left over for some time to come, and apologized for not being able to pick one out with me. I told her it was okay, and instead we just hugged goodbye.

"Thank you so much for that vacation," I said quietly, meaning it. In spite of everything, it had turned out to be wonderful. Just what I'd needed.

"No problem. Anytime. Come with me next time on my next expedition, okay?" she said with a watery smile. "…But don't go and get kidnapped and almost killed to do that, okay?"

"Okay," I replied with a grimace. And here I had almost pushed that to the back of my mind.

Much to my surprise--and amusement--Hanna kissed Nick goodbye. It was just a quick peck on the cheek, which she had to stand on her tiptoes for, but it made him act embarrassed nonetheless. It was too funny to resist teasing him for.

Nick and I went out, bought a new phone, and then went to the Center to crash for the night and sleep off the jetlag. I did, however, enter in the numbers I'd received in Johto and the few I remembered in the phone before I fell asleep. My parents, Nick, Hanna, Zoe, and Jude the rare Pokemon breeder. It was the start of metaphorically rebuilding my life.

I slept on the floor with Des, who couldn't fit in the bed anymore. He was warmer than he'd been pre-evolution, but it wasn't uncomfortable. In fact, I sort of liked his longer fur and higher body temperature. It made for a very cozy sleep.