Chapter 141: The Next Generation (Part A) by Michael Keens/Exodus Twenty or so years since the legendary trainer Tetsubo Capture resigned from Pokémon Training to settle down and raise a family, he and Emily were inseparable after their long journeys together; they married, and moved closer to where Tetsubo could dedicate his life doing what he loved. At this time, their daughter Ellie was fifteen, and a typical teenager. Most of the time she was a good kid, but she sometimes rebelled, what with the pressure she was usually under what with a lot expected of her in terms of Pokémon Training. Tetsubo had written several novels about his battles and journeys, several advice columns in the most famous of Pokémon Magazines, he’d had several victories around the world and was one of the most respected and admired teachers in Pokémon Tech, the place he used to attend when he was a child. Despite all this and the fame her father had earned, Ellie didn’t think he was as special as everyone made him out to be, nor did she appreciate being told, “It must be so cool to have a dad like Tetsubo.” She didn’t think so, she loved him and everything but felt it was a pain throughout life, constantly being lectured on how to take care of Pokémon and a lot of her time being devoted to his frequent lessons in order to prepare her for her own journey. Ellie wondered what would happen if she didn’t actually want to train Pokémon. She did of course, what child didn’t? The world was full of them and every person no matter the age, gender or interests wanted one, even if not trained to battle, they made great entertainment, pets and lifelong friends. Ellie had had more lessons in Pokémon Training than anyone else, even those studying at Pokémon Tech, which was something Ellie refused to do having known more than students several years into their studies thanks to her father. She knew he wanted her to be the sort of trainer he and many could be proud of, but these pressures drove Ellie to despise that. She only wanted to travel away from home (something she’d never done due to the protectiveness of her parents), train some Pokémon and participate in a Pokémon League Tournament someday; despite her father’s wishes she had no real desire or expectations of winning any. It was a big day for Ellie, the day her father and his old sponsor Professor Blossom gave her first Pokémon to her. Her father was two years older than she when he had gotten his first Pokémon after studying for five years, but there were times Ellie didn’t believe that, she was desperate to get a Pokémon and couldn’t imagine having to wait any longer to go on a journey like many others she’d known. She’d even gotten her Trainer’s License three years back since reaching an appropriate age and getting her father’s approval to do so. Usually trainers would be issued a sponsor to legally travel and send Pokémon to immediately after receiving their license but she reckoned her father had something to do with that, thinking she knew enough to get the license but not enough to train Pokémon to a high level, nor have grown enough as a person to venture out into the world away from his gaze. The new Capture residence was located in Cerulean City, the landmark closest to Pokémon Tech, and a safe town compared to some others, even Fuchsia City where Tetsubo was raised. Summer had just ended so Tetsubo would return to Pokémon Tech for the most part of the next few weeks, usually this was a blessing to Ellie as it meant she’d get less tutoring from him, but this time she’d no longer be here, she’d been promised a chance to get out into the world and be allowed to train Pokémon after proving her knowledge about Pokémon after Tetsubo had finally deemed her skilled enough to do so. Ellie walked down the stairs rubbing her tired eyes, just like any other day she was still tired even though she’d slept for several hours, she was wearing her favourite brand of clothing, a tight black shirt and matching shorts, yellow gloves, a red sleeveless jacket, magenta boots, and finally, after adjusting her striped shoulder length pale green and turquoise hair with two long strips that fell to the sides, her favourite yellow hat with green feather-shaped attachments on the sides that went straight onto her head as always and tied tightly around it. “Ellie, sit down, breakfast was ready five minutes ago.” said her mother Emily softly but firmly. The typical day in the Capture residence comprised of Ellie’s mother being around in the morning but working late in the evening as a nurse for people in the city (and occasionally Pokémon if the Centre were ever short staffed or in an emergency) and her father working early morning to afternoon at the college but being around for Ellie at night, usually teaching her. “Sorry Mom.” Ellie apologised, sitting down opposite her. Emily’s light green hair was cut shorter nowadays, a hairband pulled it back, and two curling ends stuck out to the sides. “It’s no problem Ellie, I just thought you’d be up early for a change seeing as today’s the day you get your first Pokémon.” “I might if I hadn’t had to wait three years for it, it doesn’t quite feel real. Why couldn’t I get my first Pokémon when I got my Trainer’s Licence three years ago? Loads of other kids my age got to go off on Pokémon Journeys but I’m still stuck here.” “That’s not true, Calvin, Aaron, Wanda and Vincent have waited this long for their first Pokémon, and they waited so that they could embark on their first Pokémon Journey with you.” “They don’t count; they’re just friends of the family.” “But at the end of the day, they’re the ones you can fall back on, I know all too well of trusting people you think are your friends but finding out otherwise.” “Mom, why did they wait? I can’t be that important to them, I haven’t even seen Aaron or Wanda in years.” “Well Aaron has kept himself busy with his part time job and his final year of school, and you know very well why Wanda hasn’t been by.” “I’m sorry Mom...” As bad as Ellie’s family situation was, Wanda was worse off, her mother, the woman considered family to the Captures, ‘Aunt Abby’, passed away a while ago, some sort of problem with her brain that couldn’t be cured apparently. Her passing got the Capture elders depressed for months, and it nearly destroyed Wanda, she’d become very withdrawn and had to be taken care of by doctors until she recovered, she was stable now and despite her young age, she wanted to train Pokémon and make a name for herself. “Mom... I didn’t mean it that way, I just don’t see why they’d wait this long to train Pokémon on account of me. I’m not That special to them.” “Well Ellie, it’s...” Ellie scowled, wise to her mother when she trailed off like this, “Dad put them up to this, didn’t he? He made them wait so they could look after me throughout the whole journey. Damn he is unbelievable!” “Your father loves you, and he just wants you to be safe since you’ll be so far away from home for the first time.” “It’s not fair, how come all the other kids get to go wherever they want but I have to be sheltered all my life?!” “Because!” snapped Emily, making Ellie jump, “Because... This world is a very dangerous place, even with the support of friends and Pokémon. Me and your father have seen all kinds of things while travelling the world, we protect you as much as we can because we don’t want anything bad to happen to you, can’t you understand that?” “I’ve had no choice up to now, but you can’t back out this time, you promised I could train Pokémon this year, and I’ll be doing Dad and Blossom a favour, going to the unchartered region of Hoenn to find some undiscovered Pokémon.” “I know Ellie, but as your mother, I want you to promise me that you’ll act responsible and stay away from danger, I don’t know what I’d do if...” Ellie couldn’t face her mother’s tears so she took one last mouthful of toast and walked to her side and hugged her, “I will be careful Mom, I promise.” “Okay, I didn’t mean to get all tearful like that, it’s going to be lonely around here without you, your father’s a very busy man. Speaking of which, you should be getting to Pokémon Tech to see him.” “I won’t forget about you Mom, I’ll vid-phone you every day.” “Ellie, that’s very nice to say, but your leaving isn’t until tonight, there’ll be plenty of time for goodbyes then.” Ellie smiled, grabbed her bag and left the house... After a short trip on the bus, Ellie entered the gates of Pokémon Tech, there were several trainers younger than her starting their first day here, and would be staying for five years just like her father once had, Ellie was glad for once of the fact that Tetsubo home trained her for years and sent her to a normal school instead of a place like this, but she did wonder why he didn’t push her as hard as he usually did to make her study here all the same. “Hey it’s her.” “That champion’s daughter...” Ellie scowled at the whispering and blurted out, “Take a picture, it’ll last longer!” The two kids scurried away, leaving Ellie relatively alone, the other kids standing around didn’t seem to know who she was and that was a real relief. It didn’t last though, but at least it wasn’t a total stranger recognising Ellie, “Hey there Turquoise Delight, how’s my favourite girl in the whole world?” “Calvin, stop calling me that, and I’m not a girl, I’m a woman now.” “You may be older but you’re still a little girl on the inside, just as I’m still an immature boy.” he grinned. “You’re half right.” Ellie smirked. Calvin was also the son of a famous trainer, just not as famous as Tetsubo, Uncle Rick and Aimee Zane were close friends of the family, and Ellie had known Calvin ever since she’d learned how to walk and talk. He had red spiky hair that fell to his shoulders, an orange sleeveless shirt and trousers plus a black waistcoat. Calvin was cool, but he did tend to wind Ellie up whenever he could, the two were always competitive with each other and so Pokémon Training would only enhance that. “So today’s the day you get your first Pokémon, wanna see mine?” “You got yours already?” asked a slightly surprised Ellie. “Yeah, but I’m not leaving for my journey without you, I don’t mind that your dad asked me to delay my journey so that you could tag along.” Calvin smiled. “That’s just like him; I go from one sheltering influence only to travel with another, only more annoying.” “Hey...” complained Calvin, but he shrugged it off, “Anyway, check out my cool Pokémon...” He drew out his Pokéball at lightning speed and a large round blue Pokémon appeared from out of it. “Wail...” it said in a low voice, it was a round whale-like Pokémon with a large mouth full of grinning teeth. “It’s a baby Wailmer but it’s still really powerful, I call it Titanic, cool nickname, huh?” “What’s wrong with Wailmer?” “There are surely lots of trainers who just call their Wailmer ‘Wailmer’, what’s wrong with being different?” “Nothing I guess, that’s actually a good idea...” “Hey Ellie, step up here, I’ve just got to do a small speech for the new students and then I’ll introduce you to your first Pokémon.” called Tetsubo, lately he’d let his turquoise hair grow to his shoulders and now had a moustache and beard. “Um, sure Dad.” Ellie replied, speeding away from Calvin and walking up the steps leading to the front entrance and standing up there with her dad. With the modifications that had been made to the college, the place where Ellie stood overlooked the front courtyard and many new students. “I guess everyone who’s going to be here is present.” started Tetsubo, “Welcome everyone to Pokémon Tech, where you’ll learn much about the weird and wonderful world of Pokémon, and if you study hard enough, you’ll make it out of here with either the qualifications of eight badges and instant access to a Pokémon League Tournament of your choice, or if you’re anything like me, you can travel around the world just like a normal trainer but with an edge since you’ll know more about Pokémon than the rest. I’m the coolest teacher around here, so if you have any problems at all, just come to me; I know what it’s like to be a new student with worries.” “Or you could see me, Professor Zane, seeing as Professor Capture seems to be having a minor delusion about who’s cool around here.” laughed Calvin’s dad Rick as he stepped out, his black hair was spiky and long, and he still liked to dress in red, the colour which had earned him his old nickname, “How’s about we just get the main event over with so you new students can get to your dorms and start making friends, I know you’d rather do that than listen to long speeches, and I’m sure the star attraction would also like to get on with things.” “What star attraction?...” Ellie questioned, turning towards her father slowly with a nervous expression. “Okay, okay, before you get acquainted with the college and classmates, I wanted everyone to see just what it’s like to receive your first Pokémon while having all the information you need to be a great success, I urge you to consider embarking on a Pokémon Journey at the end of your stay here instead of just rushing into a League with Pokémon you know little about. I guarantee you’ll be better off for it.” “Oh no...” Ellie groaned. “Everyone, this is my daughter Ellie, and today she receives her first Pokémon and prepares for her journey in Hoenn.” said Tetsubo, drawing out a Pokéball. “Dad!” Ellie complained as she looked up to properly face him, “I can’t believe you’re doing this! Showing me off as if I’m going to be the best trainer ever! I don’t care about any of that! I just want to train Pokémon without any pressure!” “Ellie, Honey, calm down, don’t you want to see your first Pokémon? I trained it so that it’s got some helpful basic moves to help you out.” “But I don’t want your help; I want to make it on my own! In my own way!...” Ellie replied angrily, before looking down at the Pokémon that had already been revealed, and was staring up at her with curious eyes. It was green, with several shapes and zigzags across its face and body, plus a curled spiral tail that wobbled from side to side, “Leeon?...” “It’s amazing...” Ellie purred, walking closer to it to examine it better, but as she did, it disappeared, and she rubbed her eyes and looked frantically around for it, only for a long tongue to appear, uncurl, and lick upwards across her face, shooting a strange sensation through Ellie’s body which caused her to freeze up completely and fall to the floor. The paralysis wore off soon after and Ellie looked up to see many young faces laughing at her, even Calvin couldn’t keep his laughter bottled up to spare her from humiliation. “Ellie, I’m sorry.” apologised her father, “I guess your little uproar startled it, it’s not usually like that and-” “Give me that!” she snapped, grabbing the Pokéball from Tetsubo’s hand and shooting the recall laser randomly until it contacted the invisible Pokémon and pulled it back inside its ball. Ellie then shed a couple of tears and ran into the college, nearly tripping up completely as she did, “I can’t believe you Dad! I wanted receiving my first Pokémon to be a memorable event, but you’ve ruined it!...” Ellie bolted through the doors as the laughter continued, and ran until she could be alone. “Bad move Tetsu.” sighed Rick, “You’ve really got your daughter mad now...” End of Chapter 141A Chapter 141B Back to Story List #141 - #160 Back to the Pokézone