Breaking the Ice

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

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So we arrived in a totally strange looking town, unlike I had ever seen before. Another large hint that Kanto was far behind us. We passed a sign on the way out that read;

Welcome to Pinwheel Forest!

Yup, thats right. On the way out. We entered the exit and exited the entrance. I could've swore I heard Startle make strange little remarks on the way there. I must have been really dehydrated.

"Man I'm thirsty." I said, wiping sweat from my forehead. "Its extremely hot!"

"We came from the winter of Kanto to the summer of wherever we are!" Monique said. "Though I prefer summer anyways."

"I don't!" I replied, making another ice ball and pressing it to my head. I left my old leather jacket back in the woods, so I wasn't as hot as I was. Startle was sitting happily on my shoulder, sticking out his tongue and observing his surroundings. Glaceon trailed behind angrily, since Startle had stolen her signature hangout spot.

"I have two shoulders, you know." I told her. She huffed and ignored me. She was getting very moody, nowadays.

"Sewaddle!" Startle chirped cheerfully as we approached the shop. Monique opened the door and our little group went inside.

"How can I help you?" As the cheery lady at the counter. Monique went first.

"Super Potion, please." She said. She handed the lady some cash and she gave her the red and gold bottled potion. I stepped up next to the counter.

"Can I have a dozen pokeballs?" I asked her. She nodded with her big, bright smile and handed me thirteen pokeballs.

"Here's an extra premier ball for your purchase!" She said, as I handed her my very small amount of money, since I had given most of it to Orange when I left Pallet Town.

"Thanks!" Monique and I waved and went back outside into the weird environment of this new town. Startle jumped off my shoulder and spun in a couple circles. He was a very energetic little fella.

"Ready, little buddy?" I asked him. I decided to use the premier ball since it had a prettier design. Startle stopped abruptly and stood up straight. I threw the pokeball at him and he was engulfed by the glowing red light. Taking advantage of the situation, Glaceon jumped up on my shoulder and made herself comfortable. I shot her an amused look, and she buried her face in my shoulder.

The pokeball shook three times, then clicked.

"Yay!" Monique cheered. We did a little happy dance and some passing by trainers shot us strange looks. One mom actually shooed her daughter away. We cracked up at that.

I picked up the new addition to my team and let him out.

"Welcome, Startle." I told it. It smiled cutely at me.

"We should probably figure out where the heck we are." Monique suggested.

"Excellent idea. What about that Pokemon Center? Maybe the people in there can tell us." Although I dreaded going into the Pokemon Center, because for all I knew Nurse Joy would be there waiting to lecture me. On the other hand we really needed to find out where we were and how to get back to Kanto. Startle and Glaceon were looking pretty tired, as well from all our craziness.

"Pokemon Center it is." Monique stated, and we ran to the building next door.

"Hello?" I called, when no one was at the desk.

"Audino?" A big pink Pokemon a little smaller than me, that was pink with curly ears appeared at the desk. It creeped me out a little bit, actually.

"Uh..." I stuttered, not knowing what to say. The Pokemon's blue gaze was burning into my soul. I was officially scared.

"Sewaddle!" Startle yapped, jumping onto the counter with a lecturing face. The pink Pokemon stroked his head, and Startle rolled over.

Don't give it mercy! My head was screaming, but I knew it was just a Pokemon. It wouldn't hurt my Pokemon outside of battle.

"Audino? Do we have visitors?" A sweet voice called from behind the desk. To my surprise, she looked just like Nurse Joy, but she looked a tad bit younger. She smiled at me.

"Ah, hello!" She said nicely. "Can I help you?"

"Yeah. We came in from Kanto, can you tell us where we are?" Monique asked, cutting to the point. The lady looked surprised.

"You came in from Kanto not knowing where you were going?" She asked, sounding amazed.

"Well, we were kidnapped. Long story." I said, waving the question away. The nurse blinked a couple times and smiled again.

"Well, in that case, welcome to Unova!" She said, spreading her arms. Her pink, scary Pokemon imitated her movements. Startle tried to do the same, but since technically he had no arms he fell onto his back. The scary Pokemon pushed him back to his little legs. I scooped the Sewaddle up protectively and he sat with a squeal on Glaceon's back.

"You're in Nacrene City now, but I can give you a map of around the region." The nurse continued.

"That would be great." Monique told her. Nurse Joy's Pokemon hobbled back behind the desk and returned with a full-sized map.

"Thanks, Audino." The nurse told her Pokemon with a smile.

"Audiooo!" Audino cooed. The nurse spread the map on the desk for us to see.

"You are here." She said, pointing to a place on the map labeled, Straiton City. Glaceon strained her neck to see.

"Can you tell us how to get back to Kanto?" I asked.

"If you go to Castelia City, there is a boat called the Royal Unova that travels to different regions. If you can reach it in time, it can possibly take you back to Kanto." Nurse explained.

"When would we have to arrive?" Monique asked. Nurse turned and typed something in her computer.

"12:00 three days from now." She confirmed. Monique and I glanced at each other. According to the map, Castelia was still a ways off. We would have to leave immediately to make it in time.

"Thanks." Monique said, stuffing the map in her pocket. "We better get going." Startle waved (sort of) to his new friend, the scary Audino, and the four of us shuffled out the door.

"Take care!" The Nurse called behind us. Once we were out, the sun was starting to set already.

"So Castelia, huh?" Monique said. "In three days."

"At 12:00." I added. "I wonder if she meant AM or PM." Monique went wide eyed on me.

"Arceus, PLEASE say she meant PM. I am NOT getting up at 12:00 in my morning." I laughed.

"No, me neither." I agreed. "For now, lets just rest and leave at dawn."

"As long as dawn isn't 12:00 in the morning." Monique decided. We both laughed and headed into our 'friendliest' environment, the forest.