Project: Titans -- A Pokemon Story (OC x Piers)

Chapter 16

"Turffield sure is pretty," Meowsie sighed, stretching her arms once I'd let her back out of her luxury ball. "It's kinda homey, you know?"
"Turffield is a small, rural town built around a geoglyph from ancient times," I read aloud from a little tourist board in the center of town. "Home to the Grass Gym, Turffield is surrounded by rolling hills and many acres of farmland and Wooloo fields-"

"Like the one you almost died falling into," Meowsie recalled.
"Yep. Anyways, blah blah blah, touristy stuff, yada yada yadah, aha! 'Turffield Goods'. It's at the other end of town, and it's got a ton of stuff we can use in our battle against Milo. TR's, evolution stones, they've even got some Dark Glasses!"

"Lemme see that," Meowsie clambered down my arm to get a better look at the sign. Sure enough, on a little flyer add for the shop, an item to boost Dark-type moves were on display. "That'll definitely give us a boost of power when we face off against Allister," I said while mentally taking note of the price. "Or it might be a waste of cash if we face Bea," Meowsie reminded me. "Let's get them! You still owe me for the pillow anyways."
"Fine."

We walked over to Turffield Goods, which was a brief walk away from the stadium and even closer to the route we would be taking to get to Hulbury, the next town with the gym I'd be challenging. The store itself was a tiny little building on the edge of town, quiet and cozy with a tiny, brick chimney that spewed out little puffs of silver smoke.

Inside was a quaint little shop with assorted forms of healing herbs and battle items for Pokemon arranged in neat little rows and jars. It was mostly deserted, with the occasional Pokemon breeder wandering around and a middle-aged woman with silver hair tied back in a neat bun at the cash register. Immediately after entering, Meowsie singled out the Dark Glasses and went to try them on.

I made my way over to the TR section, hoping to purchase some moves that would be useful whenever I challenged the next gyms. I picked up a few TR's of Dragon Pulse, Flamethrower and one of Thunderbolt, just in case I needed an extra helping hand when I faced Nessa.

"Hey, Gia," Meowsie beckoned me over when no one was around to hear her. "Check out my shades!" She gave a little twirl, the oversized glasses obstructing my view of most of her face. "What do you think? Tacky or swaggy?"
"Definitely swaggy," I smiled, pulling out my wallet. 

"You are aware you don't know any Dark-type moves, right? Those glasses are going to be virtually pointless."
"Yeah, I know," she sighed. "But they make me look stylish! And, if I ever learn a Dark-type move, it won't hurt to have them."
"You got me there," I admitted, taking them from her so I could pay.

**********

The Turffield gym was HUGE on the inside, bigger than any gym I'd been to before. The interior design was modernized and sleek, with rounded corners and walls that reached up and curved inwards to form a dome-like ceiling at least 20 feet high. And if this was only the waiting room, I could only imagine how big the battlefield was.

I signed in at the receptionist's desk and changed into my uniform in the changing rooms. Meowsie had been stored away securely in her Luxury Ball, Espeon was out and following me, and I now had about ten minutes before I was due to start the mission. So, I took the time to steal some Dynamax bands.

A few of the challengers were hanging out in the lobby; some looking dejected, and others celebrating their victory over Milo. And, luckily for me, a few of them possessed the tell-tale white cotton wristbands with the cherry red Dynamax symbol on them. Slowly slinking over to one of them--a girl with bouncy blonde hair that was almost white--I started to make casual conversation.

"Hello!" I greeted them enthusiastically, plastering a huge grin on my face and switching to a Dominican accent--a rarity for me. "My name is Dharmira. What is your name?"
"My name is Clemantis," she replied with a flick of her whisper-thin locks. "What are you doing bothering someone as important as I?"

"I just wanted to ask how you were doing in the Gym Challenge," I said, struggling to keep up a smile. What a brat, I thought to myself.

"I was endorsed by the Chairman himself, so obviously he saw talent in me," she smiled, her teeth slightly yellowed by the gums. Espeon turned away at the sight of her grimace. Disgusting, I resisted the urge to gag at her halitosis. Does nobody practice basic oral hygiene anymore? "Though I wonder how much you had to beg to get a letter of recommendation from anyone. Did you use tears, or throw a tantrum?"

"I actually beat the professor's assistant in a Pokemon battle," I lied, proudly puffing out my chest to sell the alibi. Espeon chirped happily as well. "Sonia was so impressed, she gave me a letter." Clematis scoffed and fluffed her hair again. I followed every move her Dynamax band made, waiting for the opening to strike.

"You, get a letter from the professor? Clearly she was off her rocker to endorse the likes of you."
"And am I to assume you have defeated the gym leader already?" I retorted with a smirk, sick of putting up with her. Clematis immediately flushed pink before muttering something incoherent and flouncing off, and Espeon quickly slid the band off with Psychic and handed it to me.

Mouthing a thanks, I slipped it on my own wrist to give the illusion that it was mine. Unfortunately, I couldn't steal any more because I had no pockets. Oh well, I thought as a gym trainer beckoned me to follow her to the gym mission. I guess one is better than nothing at all.