Until Time Stops Chapter One: The First Meeting

 The First Meeting

 

 

    I stepped out of the Pokémon Center, my Snivy at my side. He was my very first, and only, Pokémon so far on my journey, but we had defeated every trainer that we had battled so far. Our journey had started over two days ago when I left my home town to go on my Pokémon journey. I left with my two friends, Cheren and Bianca. I had known them since we were kids, and loved them like they were my brother and sister. Cheren was a know-it-all with dark hair and glasses, and Bianca was a sweet blonde who had a...tendency to forget things. But I loved them both.

    We had already made it to Accumula town, and that's where I am now. But I suddenly hear a ruckus coming from the center of town. I picked up my Snivy, straightening my hat and walking towards the small park in the center of town. When I arrived, I saw Cheren. He beaconed for me to come and join him where he was standing. The commotion seemed to be coming from a rally of sorts, with a bunch of strange men in uniforms. However, one person caught my attention immediately.

    He had strange gray-green hair, and one red eye that seemed to be an implant, or a disguise of some kind. However, his facial features weren't the strangest part of him. He wore a long cloak that drooped to touch the ground under him. It had two large eyes on either side, painted blue and gold. Finally, the man raised one hand. The crowd immediately fell silent. It was certainly odd how much of an effect he had on the people surrounding him. When he lowered his hand, he began to speak.

    "My name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon liberation." He said, pausing to glance around the crowd for a moment. The group of people that surrounded me began muttering to each other. However, my attention remained on the mysterious man...Ghetsis...

    "I'm sure that most of you believe that humans and Pokémon are partners that have come to live together, because we want and need each other. However, is that really the truth? Have you ever considered that perhaps we humans...Only assume that this is the truth?" he said, pausing again. I took a moment to consider. Is that really the truth? I guess I had never really though about it that way...And guessing from the amount of talk around me, no one else had either....

    "Pokémon are subject to the selfish commands of their Trainers...They get pushed around when they are our "partners" at work...Can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth in what I am saying?" he explained to us. A man next to me stroked his hair back.

    "Maybe he's right...Have we been treating them badly?" he mumbled, more to himself than to anyone else around him in my opinion. However, Ghetsis seemed to hear him, and he smirked. There was something about his smile that I didn't like at all...

    "Now, ladies and gentlemen, Pokémon are different from humans. They are living beings that contain unknown potential. They are living beings from whom we humans have much to learn. Tell me now, what is our responsibility towards these wonderful beings called Pokémon?" he asked the crowd, raising his arms for extra emphasis. I heard a voice in the crowd to the left of me say something quickly and quietly. So quickly that I could barely make out the word that he had said.

    "Liberation..." he mumbled. I looked around for the source of the voice, but there was none to be found. It must have come from the opposite side of the group...From somewhere I couldn't see. However, Ghetsis looked very pleased.

    "That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon...And the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention." He finished. The group of uniformed men picked up the signs that they had placed in the square and filed down the street. With some final words, the group of people around me disassembled.

    "Now what was that all about?" Cheren asked me. I shrugged, looking blankly at the square where only moments before the men had been standing. I then heard footsteps softly walking towards Cheren and myself. At first, part of me thought that it was Bianca, but it was a boy. He had long, tea green hair and blue-gray eyes. He approached us, walking to stand directly in front of us.

    "You're Pokémon...Just now...it said..." he said quietly. I instantly recognized his voice as the one who had muttered, 'Liberation' moments before. Cheren looked at me and Snivy, puzzled. I also looked at Snivy, and it cried out happily. I smiled, placing it down. It stood in front of my legs, but slowly crept over to the boy. He looked at it, smiling faintly. Snivy then walked back to me, standing pressed against my legs again. I was confused. It had never been so friendly to anyone...Not even the professor...

    "What? Stop talking so fast...And what on Earth are you talking about?" Cheren said, looking at him in confusion. The boy glared at Cheren for a moment, making me uncomfortable. Then, he turned his attention back to me in one swift movement.

    "Yes, it is talking. Oh. Then you two can't hear it either...How sad. My name is N." He said, extending his hand to me. I slowly took it, looking at him cautiously. When he released my hand, Cheren extending his hand as well, but N didn't take it. Cheren was frozen for a moment, but then he slowly placed his hand back by his side, looking quite annoyed. But N didn't notice. He wouldn't stop staring at me.

    "Who are you?" N asked, looking over the two of us. Cheren jumped at the chance to talk to N. I knew a lot about Cheren after all of these years, and I certainly knew that if even one person in the world didn't find him absolutely brilliant and amazing, he wasn't satisfied.

    "I'm Cheren. And this is my friend White. We're new trainers here. Professor Juniper gave us each a Pokédex. So, I guess that you could say that we are her assistants." He said proudly. I looked at him in disapproval. He was over exaggerating this far too much for my taste. We weren't her assistants at all, we were just helping her with a project. N looked at us with raised eyebrows.

    "The Pokédex, eh? So...You're going to confine many, many Pokémon in Pokeballs for that then. I'm a Trainer too, but I can't help wondering...Are Pokémon really happy that way?" he asked, picking up a charm on his necklace and twirling it around his finger. It seemed to be a planet with a single ring around it. Very strange...I stared at him for a minute.

    Actually, every part of him was strange...But I didn't know why. He wore a simple white shirt and khaki pants. His hat was black and white, and resembled mine in a way. However, a void cube hung at his side, a chain attaching it to his belt loop. When I glanced up, I saw that he was studying me. I jumped slightly, blushing. Why couldn't I stop acting weird...Even when I first met someone, I immediately began to creep them out...But, I guess that's just who I was...

    "Well, White is it? Let me hear your Pokémon's voice again!" he said, taking out a Pokeball out of his pocket. I looked at him, confused. Then, I understood. He wanted to have a Pokémon battle. Even though I had only battled about seven times, I didn't want to decline. I stepped back from Snivy, smiling at it encouragingly as the boy named N released his Purrloin. I took a deep breath before shouting out my command at Snivy. I believed in Snivy, but part of me was still very worried.

     "Snivy, vine whip!" I shouted out. Snivy leapt up, releasing its vines, trying to strike at it's opponent. However, the Purrloin swiftly dodged the vines. I looked up at N in astonishment, but his face was completely unemotional.

    "Purrloin, use tackle!" He said. The Purrloin lunged at Snivy. However, I thought quickly.

    "Snivy, wrap it in your vines!" I cried out. Snivy sent out its vines, capturing the Purrloin and squeezing it until I told it to stop. By that time, the battle was over. I had won. N ran over to his Pokémon, picking it up sadly and staring at it.

    "I never expected to hear Pokémon say such things..." He mumbled to himself. he drew a revive out of his pocket, using it on his Purrloin before returning it to its Pokeball once more. He smiled, mumbling something to himself in a very soft voice. He then stood up, his beautiful blue-gray eyes staring at me intently.

    "As long as Pokémon are confined in Pokeballs....Then Pokémon will never become perfect beings. I have to change the world for Pokémon. Because they are my friends." He said, and with that, he turned at walked off. I raised my hand as if to make him come back and explain everything that he had just said to me, but he was already gone. Cheren huffed softly, crossing his arms. We stood in silence for a moment before he turned to look at me.

    "Weird kid..." he said simply. I stared off into the direction that N had gone, sighing. Yes, he was indeed a very weird person...But for some reason, I still wanted to talk to him. What had he meant by all of that? Could he really understand my Snivy?

    "Well White, I think I'll head off to the next town. I'll see you later, alright?" He asked me. I nodded, picking up my Snivy and allowing it to crawl onto my shoulder. I then walked into the Pokémon Center, healing it up. It was going to be a while until I got to the gym, and I didn't want to take any chances.