Pokémon Adventures: Gold

New Bark Town

New Bark Town

5:39 A.M.

     From the second story window of a rather quaint house, a young girl watches the mover's van drive further and further away. Once the van is out of sight, the girl lets out a sigh and surveys the boxes stacked against the wall, on the desk, in the closet, and on the bed. Perched on one of the boxes and staring intently at her was a Vivillon.

     "Wanna help me unpack?"

      It stares silently.

     "Guess not." She walks to the desk and begins unpacking. The first box, relatively small, contained an autographed photo of Kalos champion Diantha, a great ball, and a homemade trainer card that read:

Name: Beck (# 1 Trainer)

ID No.: 20575

Pokédex: All of them

Money: Yes

Pokemiles: Worldwide     

      In the next box at the top was a framed picture of a young woman of about 19 standing next to a Pokémon. She has fake butterfly wings, fake antenna, and a purple dress. The photo was clearly taken off guard as the woman looks utterly confused and embarrassed in the picture. A little smile plays on her face as Beck examines the silly face the young woman made. But when her eyes are drawn to the Pokémon just behind the young woman, a frown plants itself firmly on her face.

     She places the photo face down on the wooden desk. As she does, Vivillon swoops down and snatches it away.

     "Hey!" Beck begins chasing Vivillon around the room, but it is too fast. Boxes fall over, some managing to hit Beck as she chases the butterfly around the room.

     "Give her back you stupid bug!" Beck opens the boxes, throwing their contents at Vivillon. A pair of winter boots, a pillow, a blue hardback titled: The Power of Bonds: A Guide to Friendship with Pokémon, and a Scorbunny Pokedoll are all thrown at the butterfly Pokémon. "She was MY sister!" Hearing this, the Vivillon screeches and flies downstairs, Beck chasing after it.

     "Oh, Beck. I thought you'd be busy packing." An aged woman sits at the table, a hardback book with a golden title, The Wish Granting Pokémon, in her hands. "I'm glad that you and Vex are playing." The Vivillon, Vex, perches on the kitchen counter on the opposite side of the room.

     "Yeah," Beck mumbles. "Playing."

      "And here I thought you'd be exhausted after traveling for so long. I'm glad to see you full of energy." The old woman smiled. "And it looks like you two are becoming good friends. How wonderful!"

     "What are you reading, Granny?"

     "Oh, this? It's about a Pokémon who can grant your greatest wish if you're lucky enough to find it. It's name is-"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

     "Oh," Granny walks over to answer the door. "Now who could that be?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

     "I'm coming, dearie. One second." The door opens, revealing a blonde boy in an orange hoodie and gray pants.

     "What's up, Mrs. H? I saw the mover's van earlier. Mom said as soon as the new kid gets here, Elm would give me and Ethan and the newbie our Pokémon!" The blonde is loud, Beck observes, and talks so fast that his words start blending together. Another boy, this one with dark hair, a red hoodie, and gold and black shorts, places a hand on the blonde's shoulder.

     "Calm down, Barry. Not everyone's full of energy this early."

     "Good morning, Ethan, Barry. Give me one moment to ask Beck if she wants to do that today."

     "What do you mean if," the loud one, Barry, asked. "Who doesn't want a Pokémon?"

     "We'll wait outside, Mrs. H. C'mon, Barry."

     "But-" Barry starts barking his dissent as Ethan drags him from the threshold.

     "They are a pair, aren't they," Beck said as the door closed.

     "They're sweet children. They've been very helpful over the years, helping me with my plants and running little errands for me and Elm. Why, I remember one time when-"

     "About Elm. Why is he giving out Pokémon to random kids? He doesn't know me."

     "Oh, he's a good friend of mine. I told him that my granddaughter would be coming to live with me, and we didn't want you to feel left out. And that means you and Vex can make a new friend in this new place." Beck looked over at the Vivillon and then at the door.

      "Fine. I'll go. But I think she should stay with you."

     "Oh, you want to surprise Vex? That's so cute. It reminds me of when I surprised your mother with her first Pokémon. It was in the winter of 19-"

     "Later, Granny." Beck walks outside to see Barry sprawled out on the ground with Ethan standing nearby. Barry jumps up at the sound of the door closing.

     "Finally! Let's go!" Barry goes for a sprint but is yanked back by the hood by Ethan.

     "Hold on, Barry. I think we should introduce ourselves properly, don't you?" Ethan asks.

     "Ugh! Barry! Ethan! Beck!" He points at each person as he says their name. "Now, let's go!" He dashes off.

      Ethan sighs. "Sorry about him."

     "It's fine. Ready?"

     "Yeah. This way."

     They walk towards the "laboratory" if one can call it that. From the outside, the brown panels and wide windows resembled a house more than a lab. Ethan enters ahead of Beck.

Rustle. Rustle.

     "Hm?" Beck goes to the side of the building to see a boy with dark clothes peering into a window, muttering to himself. She approaches and begins to hear him clearly.

     "So, this is Prof. Elm's office?"

     "Uh," Beck taps his shoulder. "What are you doing?"

     "Huh? Get lost."

     "You realize that Elm's just givi-"

     "I said get lost!" And the boy shoves her to the ground, sending her rolling down the slope.

     "Hey!" Barry calls from the door. "Hurry up! He won't start without you."

     "But-"

      "No buts!" Barry grabs her by the arm, pulling her to her feet. "You can nap later!"

     "But that kid right there-"

      "Right where?"

      "Huh? Right...there... He was right there!"

     "Well, he's gone now. You okay?"

     "Yeah... I guess."

     "Good! Let's go in!"