Pokémon: Midnight Blue

The Next Level

Letta and I returned to the Day Care and stayed there for a few more days. Letta cared for the smaller Pokémon, including a baby Nidoran of the female variety that grew very attatched to her. I worked on the outer edges of the homestead along with my team, making sure that no overpowering Pokémon attacked the defenseless inhabitants. Everything seemed to be going great, until Letta drew my attention to something.

"Brian," her voice was soft and tired from a long day of work, but still with an uplifting chime, "I'm really glad you're here and that you came all this way to find me, but is this really what you want?"

"What do you mean?" I looked up at her.

"I mean, look at you! You're the Indigo League Champion, and you're hanging out on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Is this how you wanna spend your days instead of getting stronger, waiting and preparing for your next challenger?"

"You know, what you're saying makes a lot of sense, but I can't leave you here. I want to be with you always, Letta."

"Then take the poor girl with you!" a feeble voice echoed the lobby. I turned to see Mrs. Carney slowly walking down an ill-lit hallway.

"Mrs. Carney," I stood up to greet her, "that's a very kind offer, but don't you need Letta to keep helping you out around the Day Care?"

"Nonsense! I ran this joint long before this little girl showed up, dammit, I can run it just as well with her gone! Go on, take her! Show her an adventure! Show her that there's more to this world than just hanging around this boring old ranch feeding Pokémon. There's a whole world out there to explore!"

"Wow, Mrs. Carney," Letta raised her eyebrows at the frail old lady, "I've never heard you say anything like that. I always figured the Day Care was your whole life."

"Now that I'm old and weak, it is; but once upon a time, when I was young and kicking, I dreamed of going out and seeing the world. My parents never approved because they thought I wasn't responsible enough to raise a Pokémon. When I finally had the chance to prove them wrong, it was too late. I had met my husband, and we settled down and opened the Day Care. Don't let me hold you back from having the wondrous experience that I never could, Letta. Go on with your boyfriend, and make the most out of your life in this beautiful world!"

"I'm really surprised, Mrs. Carney. But if it really means that much to you--" Letta sighed, "Brian, what do you say?"

"I say," my eyes darted around the room, "Mrs. Carney, if you're really sure about this--"

"Don't think twice about it," Mrs. Carney interrupted me as she walked off, "The jail is open, kids! Get out there and live your lives. But I wanna give you something before you go, Letta."

The old lady came back a few minutes later with a female Nidoran in her arms, "This Nidoran was abandoned here about a week before I took you in, and it's developed a huge liking to you. I know it'll put up a fit if you leave without it. Do me one last favor and take it with you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Carney," Letta gave a happy sigh as she took the Poison Pin Pokémon in her arms, "I'll be sure to take good care of it."

"I know you will," she smiled weakly, "Oh! I just remembered, take this as well."

She kneeled down in front of a table next to the couch, pulled out a tiny key and unlocked a door to reveal a large brownish-green egg. She handed it to Letta and retreated.

"I found this in the pasture one day, and I have no idea how it got there. I think it would be a good idea for you to look over it."

"Alright, Mrs. Carney," Letta smiled and took the egg as she let the Nidoran down onto her lap.

"Good. Now, get out," she walked off again.

"We should go," Letta looked at me.

"Wait, now?" I laughed.

"Yeah, I think she's serious. Let's pack and get going."

By the end of the night we were set to go. We jumped onto Gyarados's back and rode off, often looking back to see Mrs. Carney, along with some other Pokémon, waving goodbye.

"So, where are we going?" Letta asked.

"The Sevii Islands," I responded, "I got a friend who who went there to train, so he can challenge me next year at the Indigo League and at least put up a decent fight. As Champion, I gotta make sure he can't keep up with me."

"Sounds fun. It's pretty cool that you've got all these people competing against you and still be able to call them friends."

"Yeah, it took me a lot of time to understand this, but there's a lot of mutual respect and honor between the strongest of trainers. My closest friends in this world are some of the best of the best. Maybe someday, you will be too."

"Maybe."

With that, Letta wrapped her arms around me from behind and rested her head on my shoulder. I rested my head on hers and we huddled together as we rode off into the midnight blue.