Anomaly

Chapter 2: A Rocky Start

Chapter 2: A Rocky Start

As we waited in the lobby of Professor Arbutus’ lab, I could feel my nerves catching up with me. Ed sat next to me, his Treecko standing by his feet. The lab was larger than I expected, with glass windows that let in the soft afternoon light, and shelves full of gadgets and books I couldn’t even begin to understand. The hum of the air conditioning was the only sound as we waited for the professor to finish whatever it was he was doing.

A few minutes later, Professor Arbutus appeared, wiping his hands on a cloth. He was much younger than I imagined—no white hair or hunched back like the professors I’d seen on TV. His smile was friendly, though, and there was a certain energy in the way he moved that made me relax a little.

“Francesca Novak, is it?” he asked, his eyes twinkling behind round glasses. “You are the spitting image of your mother, Celeste.”

Hearing my mom’s name surprised me. “You knew my mom?” I asked, blinking. My mom didn’t talk much about her life as a Pokémon Coordinator. She always mentioned how hard she worked to win contests, but I never realized just how far her reputation went.

“Celeste and I traveled together through Hoenn when we were younger,” Professor Arbutus said with a nostalgic smile. “I watched her rise to the top as a Pokémon Coordinator, earning the Hoenn Ribbon Cup. It’s hard to forget someone with that much talent and determination.”

I glanced over at Ed, who didn’t seem too surprised. He just nodded, as if he already knew the story. I supposed I shouldn’t be shocked—Ed had clearly spent more time with the professor than I had.

“I’ve heard all about her successes,” I mumbled. “It’s just… a lot to live up to.”

“You’re your own person, Francesca,” Professor Arbutus assured me. “But the journey your mother took was incredible. Maybe you’ll find a path that’s just as fulfilling.”

I wasn’t so sure about that. Mom had always been a natural with Pokémon, and I felt like I was barely holding it together. I wasn’t even sure I’d make it through my first week as a trainer, let alone become a top anything. Still, the professor’s words gave me a little hope.

After a bit more small talk, Professor Arbutus gestured for Ed and me to follow him upstairs. “Now, let’s get to what we’re really here for. Francesca, it’s time for you to choose your starter Pokémon.”

My heart raced as we climbed the stairs. I had always dreamed of this moment, but now that it was here, I felt… conflicted. When we reached the second floor, the professor led us into a room where several Poké Balls rested on a large table, each containing a different starter Pokémon from various regions. There were Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos starters—basically every choice a new trainer could dream of.

But instead of feeling excited, I felt a pit in my stomach.

“Professor,” I said hesitantly, “I don’t think I can pick a starter Pokémon. You see… something happened at the airport.”

I explained the situation with the Glameow—how the wild Pokémon had caught itself in one of the old Poké Balls I had stashed in my bag. Ed listened with wide eyes, and even Professor Arbutus chuckled.

“Well, that’s quite an introduction to the world of Pokémon,” the professor said, still smiling. “But it seems Glameow may have chosen you, Francesca. Sometimes that’s how it goes in the wild. Pokémon can be unpredictable, but they can also form strong bonds.”

I stared at the Poké Balls on the table, still feeling conflicted. Part of me wanted to choose a starter and follow the traditional path like any other trainer. But Glameow… I felt like it was my responsibility now, even if it didn’t seem to like me much.

“I think I’ll stick with Glameow for now,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly.

Professor Arbutus nodded. “That’s perfectly fine. It’s important to feel connected to your Pokémon, and if Glameow is the one, then that’s a great start. Though I’d still recommend having her checked out to make sure she’s healthy.”

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea,” I agreed.

One of the professor’s assistants came over and took Glameow’s Poké Ball to run a health check. As we waited, Professor Arbutus handed me a sleek and small lavender-colored device.

“This is your Pokédex,” he said. “It’ll automatically record data on the Pokémon you encounter, whether you’ve seen or caught them.”

Ed leaned over with a grin. “It can also show you the gender of the Pokémon and list all the attacks they know. Pretty handy.”

I turned the Pokédex over in my hands, feeling a little overwhelmed. “Thanks,” I said, tucking it into my bag carefully.

The professor wasn’t done yet, though. He handed me a small case with five empty Poké Balls inside. “You’ll need these, too,” he said. “If you’re going to fill up that Pokédex, you’ll have to catch some Pokémon.”

I nodded, trying to absorb everything all at once. As I put the case in my bag, the assistant returned with Glameow’s Poké Ball, handing it back to me. “Your Glameow is in great health,” the assistant said with a smile.

“Thank you,” I said, taking the ball.

I hesitated for a moment before releasing Glameow from the Poké Ball. The red light faded, and there she was—her sleek, purple fur shining under the lights of the lab. But instead of being calm, she immediately hissed and glared at everyone in the room, her tail flicking back and forth with irritation.

“Oh, no,” I muttered, as Glameow’s fur bristled. Before she could cause any chaos, I quickly returned her to the Poké Ball. I scratched my head, embarrassed. “Sorry about that. She’s… a little grumpy.”

Ed just laughed, but I could see the concern in Professor Arbutus’ eyes.

“It’s okay, Francesca,” the professor said kindly. “Glameow’s behavior is understandable. She’s probably scared and unsure about everything that’s happening. It’s your job now to help her feel safe and trust you.”

I sighed. “I don’t even know where to start. I’ve never trained a Pokémon before.”

“You’ll learn,” Professor Arbutus assured me. “It takes time, patience, and a lot of understanding. But you know, your mother’s starter Pokémon was a Skitty, and it wasn’t much different from Glameow when she first caught it.”

Hearing that surprised me. “Really? Mom’s Skitty?”

The professor nodded. “Skitty was just as feisty as your Glameow at first. But over time, with care and patience, Celeste was able to bond with her Skitty, and it eventually evolved into Delcatty.”

I thought of my mom’s Delcatty back home. It was so gentle and affectionate now, always letting me cuddle it. It was hard to imagine that it had ever been a difficult Pokémon to train.

“Maybe there’s hope for me and Glameow, then,” I said with a small smile.

Professor Arbutus smiled warmly. “There’s more than just hope, Francesca. You have the potential to do great things, just like your mother. But remember, it’s your journey. You get to decide how it goes.”

I felt a little lighter after hearing that. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. Glameow and I had a long way to go, but I was starting to believe that we could figure it out together.

With a newfound sense of determination, I thanked the professor and Ed, slipping Glameow’s Poké Ball back into my bag. As we headed out of the lab, I couldn’t help but feel excited about the adventure that lay ahead—even if it was going to be a bumpy start.