PFFF. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?
Title: From Konoha To Twinleaf
Author: muchenthusiasm
Fandom: Naruto/Pokemon
Pairing: N/A (beginning of Volkner/Ino)
Rating: PG.
Summary: Yamanaka Ino is a damn good kunoichi. She wakes up in Twinleaf Town in an unfamiliar bed with a note on her chest: "Beat the Elite Four and you will return home". She finds help from a young girl named Dawn and her friend/'rival' Pearl. Dawn agrees to accompany Ino on her quest to get back to her old world.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Pokemon~
Notes: Game!verse Platinum. Do not ask me what came over me to do this, because I do not know. Um. Probably just a one-shot for now, until I fill in all the holes.
Beat the Elite Four and you will return home.
She read it over several times, her heart breaking each time. She was clearly in a new world, a world where her chakra was not able to work. So how was she supposed to beat this Elite Four?
Ino got out of the bed, looking around the windowless room for the first time since she'd woken up. There was a plain wooden door on the other side of the room. She hesitantly walked to it, expecting something to happen once she opened it.
Instead she saw a woman in her thirties sitting at a table, eating breakfast with a young girl - presumably her daughter. Ino walked forward.
"Hello," Ino said. "Where am I?" The woman looked at her and smiled wide. The young girl just looked up and continued to eat. She was paying attention to Ino, though, curious about her.
"Twinleaf Town," the woman replied cheerfully. Ino's heart ached. She reminded her of her mother. "I'm Joanna, and this is my daughter, Dawn. Last night you seemed to just appear out of nowhere in our house! You can imagine how horrified we were, until we noticed that you were just a lost girl. Now, I remember you saying one word... hm... oh, yes! 'Shikamaru'. Do you remember?"
Ino did not remember that, but she remembered what happened before this. She shook her head.
"I don't remember," Ino said. "But I thank you for your hospitality, Joanna-san. I'm Yamanaka Ino."
"Oh, it's no problem," Joanna said, putting an arm around Ino's shoulders. "I'm sure you're hungry. Would you like some breakfast?"
"I have something important to do," she handed Joanna the note. "I need to get back to my world."
"Your world?" Dawn asked from the table. Ino nodded to her.
"Yes, my world," Ino said. "I don't know how I got here but I need to get back to my world." Dawn didn't seem to believe her.
"Are you from another region?" Dawn asked. "Like Hoenn? Or Kanto? You're really pale, but you're dressed as if you live in the desert." She gave Ino a squinty stare, as if that would make things any clearer. Ino was beginning to become annoyed by this girl.
"No, a different world," Ino said. "A world where I can use my chakra." Dawn still didn't look convinced.
"Hey, what's that?" Dawn asked, pointing to her thigh. Ino looked down to inspect it and her eyes widened. A chakra seal? Was that why she couldn't use her chakra? Her hands lightly traced the intricate design.
"A chakra seal," Ino said. "That might be why I can't use my chakra."
"Mom, I have to go!" Dawn shouted in alarm. "Pearl said that if I didn't show up at the Lake, he'd fine me a million dollars!"
Joanna, who had been silent since Ino handed her the note, nodded with a smile. "I'll be here when you get back. Oh! And don't go out into the tall grass! You don't have any Pokemon." Dawn ran out the door, her bowl of cereal still on the table. Joanna looked at Ino.
"Do you know who the Elite Four are?" Ino asked. Joanna nodded and gestured for Ino to have a seat on the couch she was heading to.
"Of course! Everybody does," Joanna said. "But, if you are serious about not being from this world... I guess it's time for a quick tutorial on the Elite Four.
"Ino, this world is probably very different from your world. I am not sure what demons are, but here we have Pokemon. There are several regions on this planet. You are in the Sinnoh region, and our Elite Four is the best of the best. They are all Pokemon trainers, meaning that they have captured Pokemon and became such good friends with them that the Pokemon have no problem battling alongside them.
"But we are not without evil in this world. There are people here that like to take Pokemon from other trainers for their own needs. Of course, our police take care of common thugs easily enough. Team Galactic, however, is an organization of thugs who have taken a habit of taking Pokemon.
"Oh, just explaining all this makes me regret letting Dawn become a Trainer! But, it's for her own good... they all have to leave the nest sometime, right, Ino?" Ino nodded, the ghost of a smile on her face.
"Dawn is lucky to have such a caring mother," Ino said. "You and my mother could be great friends." Joanna laughed softly.
"I cannot imagine how painful it is for you to be yanked from your world into this strange world," Joanna said. "If you need anything at all, just ask! Ino, there are more nice people than evil here, so don't be afraid to ask of things from strangers. Having a Pokemon changes a person, makes them nicer. There are, of course, exceptions, but they are few and far between."
"It is painful," Ino said, fiddling with her hands. "All my friends, my family... but if I beat the Elite Four, I'll be back there with them in no time!" She smiled, optimism loud in her voice. "Where can I get Pokemon?"
"Ino, first you need to graduate from the Trainers' School to know all the basics. I'm afraid it will take you longer than just a few days, especially if you expect to beat the Elite Four in 'no time'." Ino nodded and looked at her hands, her long ponytail tickling her back as it so often did.
They sat in silence for a few moments. "How old are you?" Joanna asked.
"Sixteen," Ino said, looking back up. "Why?"
"Well... Dawn already knows all the basics and is on her way to become a Trainer," Joanna said. "I'm sure she won't mind having you as company! I know how easily she gets lonely, and I can't fathom having her out there all by herself."
"That's great!" Ino said, a smile on her face. Joanna nodded.
"What was your world like, Ino?" Joanna asked. Ino's smile faded a little as the memories flooded in. She told Joanna of her life as a kunoichi of the Leaf, of her teammates and Sasuke, the one who, quite literally, got away, of how chakra worked. It felt good to talk about it to somebody, especially somebody as nice as Joanna.
"Aren't you cold?" Joanna asked when Ino was done telling about her world. Ino shook her head.
"Hardly," Ino said, then she frowned a little. "I probably will be. I used to use my chakra to keep myself warm."
"I wouldn't mind buying you new clothing," Joanna said. "Or at the very least, a warm jacket. It's a small price to pay to know that my daughter will be protected by such a strong girl." Ino blushed a little.
"You're too kind, Joanna-san," Ino said, thankful for her hospitality. "I will not let you down, it's a promise! This is my A-rank mission while I am here." She didn't explain mission ranks to Joanna, but the woman did not look like she required an explanation.
"Why don't you go out to Lake Verity and get Dawn?" Joanna said. "It's just outside of town. Let her know that we are going to Jubilife City, and that Pearl is welcome to come."
"Hai, Joanna-san," Ino said, getting up and heading out the door.
Joanna watched her go, confident that she had chosen the right girl to watch over her Dawn.
As soon as Ino left Twinleaf, she saw Dawn standing with a rather jumpy boy of the same age with blond hair. He reminded her of Naruto. They were getting ready to run into tall grass, and then Ino remembered what Joanna said. Just as she was ready to shout out to them, an old man ran up to them.
Ino walked closer, hearing the end of a lecture of him chastising them. Then another young boy ran up behind him, carrying a suitcase, among other things that looked like they were about to topple out of his hands.
"Ha! There you are, Lucas," the old man said. He turned to Dawn and the boy, not noticing Ino standing a few feet away. "Here in this suitcase are three Pokeballs, containing three Pokemon. Choose wisely!"
"Dawn-chan!" Ino called out now. She walked up next to Dawn. "Joanna-san wants you home now."
"Now? But I'm going to get a Pokemon from Professor Rowan!" she whined.
"I'm sure her mother won't mind," Professor Rowan said. "Go on, Dawn, choose one." She chose a small blue bird - Piplup, Ino was told - and the boy allowed Ino to choose one.
"Oh, no no, Rowan-sama wanted you two to have Pokemon," Ino said. "I can get one of my own later."
"You want to become a Trainer, too?" Rowan asked. "Well, better late than never, I always say!"
"You never say that," Lucas said in a deadpan. Rowan didn't seem to notice.
"Go on, listen to Pearl, choose one," Rowan said.
"If you say so," Ino said, looking into the briefcase. There were only two left - a fire and grass Pokemon, Rowan explained.
"That one's Turtwig," Rowan said of the ball in Ino's right hand. "That one's Chimchar." Ino went with Chimchar, handing the other Pokeball to Pearl. Rowan and Lucas left soon after Rowan wished all of them luck, running off and shouting back at Lucas. Lucas hurried along, trying not to drop anything.
"Sweet!" Pearl shouted. He turned to Dawn. "Alright, you ready to battle? I won't lose!"
"I won't lose either!" Dawn said, determination in her eyes. "Let's go!" Ino watched in amazement as the two battled. They both seemed to know what they were doing... somewhat. Dawn ended up beating Pearl, though, as Pearl later said, his Pokemon had a type advantage.
"See ya later, Dawn!" Pearl said before sprinting off back to Twinleaf. Ino watched him go.
"He's really excitable," Ino commented as she and Dawn made their way back home. Dawn nodded.
"He's always been like that," she said. "So what does Mom want?"
"She just wanted you home so you could come to Jubilife City with us," Ino told her. "I'm coming with you on your adventure, and she didn't want me to freeze."
"That's Mom," Dawn said, smiling. "Always being nice to strangers." Ino nodded.
x
On the way to Jubilife, Dawn wanted to teach Ino about battling. Ino accepted eagerly.
"Alright, Piplup! Bubble!" The Starly went down immediately. Dawn and her Piplup cheered. Dawn turned to Ino. "Your turn, Ino!"
"Chimchar, go!" Ino called out, throwing her Pokeball. Chimchar growled a little, seeming to like sleeping on the ground better than listening to Ino. The Bidoof stared at Chimchar inquisitively and poked it with its tail. The Bidoof sniffed around the Chimchar when it didn't respond to the tail-poke.
"What do I do?" Ino asked Dawn. "It's not doing anything."
"Um," Dawn said. "It's a fire Pokemon, so try a fire move like Ember."
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino shouted. Chimchar responded by rolling over on its side. Ino's eye twitched.
"I wonder why it isn't responding..." Dawn said, frowning. Joanna just watched this in amusement, feeding a Poffin to Piplup.
The Bidoof ran into Chimchar, waking it up. Chimchar glared, causing the Bidoof to shake in fear. Ino smiled and got ready for action.
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino shouted. Chimchar inhaled and hit the Bidoof with small balls of fire. The Bidoof dodged some of them, greatly damaged by the ones that hit. "Again!" Chimchar listened and finished off the Bidoof. "Alright!" Ino returned Chimchar back to its Pokeball.
"You two would be a good team if your Chimchar listened to you," Joanna commented as they finished walking to Jubilife City. Ino nodded.
"Maybe it's just a mischievous Pokemon," Dawn said, carrying her Piplup in her arms.
"If I spend more time with it, would it listen better?" Ino asked. Dawn shrugged.
"Probably," she said. "Hey, look! We're here!"
"Wow," Ino whispered, looking up at the huge city.
Joanna handed Dawn and Ino some money, telling them that she would meet them back at the entrance of the city in an hour. Dawn took Ino to the Trainers' School first, giving her a mini-lesson on everything. Ino was a bit amused that she seemed to be the oldest in the entire school - even the teachers looked younger than her.
"Dawn-chan, let's go shopping!" Ino said, dragging Dawn out of the school and into a store down the street. Dawn didn't seem too happy about it but went anyway.
"Why don't you wear clothes?" Dawn asked, staring as Ino went through a rack of jackets that would hardly keep her warm on a windy day. Ino looked back at her.
"I do wear clothes," Ino said. "But where I came from, the less fabric to hold you down, the better. This is as little clothing as a girl can get away with."
"Why don't you buy new ones?" Dawn asked.
"I've grown fond of these," Ino said, pulling out a purple and black jacket. "What do you think about this?" She turned around, slipping it on.
"Looks cute," Dawn said, scratching Piplup's head. Ino smiled.
"Definitely," Ino said, shrugging it off and putting it over her arm. She motioned for Dawn to follow her to the check-out counter, where she bought the jacket.
"I want to battle you and your Piplup," Ino said as they left the store. "I'm sure I can beat you."
"Don't be so confident," Dawn said, a sly smile on her face. "Your Pokemon won't listen to you all the time."
"I don't need it to listen to me all the time," Ino said, giving Dawn a smirk. "Just once or twice."
"Are you calling my Piplup weak?" Dawn asked. Ino pretended to be shocked.
"Not at all," she said, shaking her head. "Just that it isn't strong enough to beat Chimchar." Before Dawn could reply, a man approached the two of them, an entrepreneur's aura about him.
"Are you two Trainers?" the man asked, a charming smile on his face. He was wearing a suit and had hair that looked to be professionally styled every day.
"You bet we are!" Dawn said, while Ino only nodded, wary of this stranger.
"Ah, but I see that neither of you own a Poketch," the man said. He held out two watch-like things for both of them. Dawn's eyes lit up, her eyes glazed over as she saw them. Ino just stared at them, a little confused.
"What are these?" Ino asked, poking one of them. The man and Dawn looked at her in horror.
"A POKETCH!" the man shouted, handing one to each of them. "It's a marvelous device that'll make being a Trainer even easier."
"I've always wanted one..." Dawn said, holding it carefully. "Why are you just giving them out?"
"You two were the millionth customer at that store!" the man said, smiling as he pointed to the store they had just exited. "And, due to a promotional event, we had to give one out to the lucky customer! Or, in this case, customers. Have fun, and don't forget to visit the Poketch Company!" The man ran off, shaking random people's hands and bowing down to random women.
"That was odd," Ino said, slipping on the Poketch. She pressed a few buttons. "What does this do?"
"Oh, it's amazing!" Dawn said. "Every Trainer who hopes to get somewhere has one. There's an app for everything!"
"I see," Ino said, zipping the jacket up to the middle of her chest. "I think it's time that we go find your mom."
"Yeah, I gue - Is that Professor Rowan?" Dawn asked, pointing off in the distance. Ino frowned and squinted. He and Lucas were standing in front of two teens with bright blue bowlcuts - Lee flashed in her mind - and strange outfits on.
"We should go see what's going on," Ino said, holding her Pokeball just in case. Dawn nodded and followed behind her, not admitting to being a little scared. This could be her first real Pokemon battle! Well... second real Pokemon battle. But the first against a stranger!
"Give us your Pokemon," one of the two teens said. Ino watched them carefully.
"Hello, Rowan-sama," Ino said. "Are these two giving you trouble?"
"No, not at all," Rowan said. "That jacket looks nice. Is it new? Oh! You have a Poketch! And you, too, Dawn! Wow, how did you get those? Those are really expensive."
"Some guy gave them to us," Dawn chirped from beside Lucas, who was beginning to get irritated at the teens.
"Hey! We're speaking to you, old man! Give us your Pokemon," the other teen said. Ino scowled at him.
"Why don't you pick on somebody else?" Ino asked, her hands on her hips. The teens smirked.
"Fine! Give us your pokemon, Blondie!" the first teen said. "Stunky, go!"
"Glameow, go!"
Ino snarled and stepped back. "Chimchar, come on out!" She looked back at Dawn with a pleasant look on her face. "Don't worry, Dawn. I'll take care of them in no time."
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino commanded. Chimchar listened, attacking Stunky.
"Glameow, Quick Attack!"
"Stunky, Scratch!"
"Get out of the way, Chimchar!" Ino shouted. It managed to miss the Scratch, but Glameow pounded into it with Quick Attack. "Ember!" Chimchar glared at Glameow and ran at it, ignoring Ino's command. Chimchar scratched it instead. Glameow bit Chimchar's hand, Chimchar screeching in pain.
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino tried again, concerned about Stunky coming at Chimchar with another Scratch. Chimchar refused to listen again, scratching Glameow with its feet. Glameow fainted when Chimchar finally listened and used Ember.
"Look out!" Ino and Dawn shouted. Chimchar was fast, but it wasn't fast enough. It fell to the ground, out. Ino's face fell. Dawn stepped forward.
"Piplup, Bubble!" she shouted. Piplup landed in front of Chimchar, knocking Stunky back into its owner.
"You've not seen the last of Team Galactic!" the teens shouted at the same time, rushing off. Ino returned Chimchar, forlorn.
"Thank you," Rowan said to both of them. "I have no doubt in my mind that the two of you will become great Trainers one day! Come visit me in Sandgem, I have something for each of you." And with that, he ran off with speed impressive for his age. Lucas followed, nothing in his hands this time.
"C'mon, Mom's waiting," Dawn said, trying to cheer Ino back up. Ino nodded.
"Hey, you did really good," Dawn told her, smiling up at her. "It was a two-on-one battle and you would have won if Chimchar hadn't tried to get revenge on that Glameow."
"Thanks," Ino said.
"There you guys are!" Joanna exclaimed. "I thought you two got lost. But I didn't worry, of course. You both have Pokemon now."
"We got in a battle with Team Galactic!" Dawn told her mom. "And we won! Well, Ino weakened them, then when her Chimchar fainted, my Piplup finished them off. You should have seen it, Mom! It was amazing!"
"Sounds like it," Joanna said, smiling. "Shouldn't you rest your Pokemon at a Pokemon Center after a battle?"
"Oh, yeah! I forgot about that," Dawn said. She dragged Ino by the arm back into the city.
"Watch the jacket," Ino said, a smirk on her face. Maybe being here wouldn't be such a bad thing...
x
Author: muchenthusiasm
Fandom: Naruto/Pokemon
Pairing: N/A (beginning of Volkner/Ino)
Rating: PG.
Summary: Yamanaka Ino is a damn good kunoichi. She wakes up in Twinleaf Town in an unfamiliar bed with a note on her chest: "Beat the Elite Four and you will return home". She finds help from a young girl named Dawn and her friend/'rival' Pearl. Dawn agrees to accompany Ino on her quest to get back to her old world.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Pokemon~
Notes: Game!verse Platinum. Do not ask me what came over me to do this, because I do not know. Um. Probably just a one-shot for now, until I fill in all the holes.
Beat the Elite Four and you will return home.
She read it over several times, her heart breaking each time. She was clearly in a new world, a world where her chakra was not able to work. So how was she supposed to beat this Elite Four?
Ino got out of the bed, looking around the windowless room for the first time since she'd woken up. There was a plain wooden door on the other side of the room. She hesitantly walked to it, expecting something to happen once she opened it.
Instead she saw a woman in her thirties sitting at a table, eating breakfast with a young girl - presumably her daughter. Ino walked forward.
"Hello," Ino said. "Where am I?" The woman looked at her and smiled wide. The young girl just looked up and continued to eat. She was paying attention to Ino, though, curious about her.
"Twinleaf Town," the woman replied cheerfully. Ino's heart ached. She reminded her of her mother. "I'm Joanna, and this is my daughter, Dawn. Last night you seemed to just appear out of nowhere in our house! You can imagine how horrified we were, until we noticed that you were just a lost girl. Now, I remember you saying one word... hm... oh, yes! 'Shikamaru'. Do you remember?"
Ino did not remember that, but she remembered what happened before this. She shook her head.
"I don't remember," Ino said. "But I thank you for your hospitality, Joanna-san. I'm Yamanaka Ino."
"Oh, it's no problem," Joanna said, putting an arm around Ino's shoulders. "I'm sure you're hungry. Would you like some breakfast?"
"I have something important to do," she handed Joanna the note. "I need to get back to my world."
"Your world?" Dawn asked from the table. Ino nodded to her.
"Yes, my world," Ino said. "I don't know how I got here but I need to get back to my world." Dawn didn't seem to believe her.
"Are you from another region?" Dawn asked. "Like Hoenn? Or Kanto? You're really pale, but you're dressed as if you live in the desert." She gave Ino a squinty stare, as if that would make things any clearer. Ino was beginning to become annoyed by this girl.
"No, a different world," Ino said. "A world where I can use my chakra." Dawn still didn't look convinced.
"Hey, what's that?" Dawn asked, pointing to her thigh. Ino looked down to inspect it and her eyes widened. A chakra seal? Was that why she couldn't use her chakra? Her hands lightly traced the intricate design.
"A chakra seal," Ino said. "That might be why I can't use my chakra."
"Mom, I have to go!" Dawn shouted in alarm. "Pearl said that if I didn't show up at the Lake, he'd fine me a million dollars!"
Joanna, who had been silent since Ino handed her the note, nodded with a smile. "I'll be here when you get back. Oh! And don't go out into the tall grass! You don't have any Pokemon." Dawn ran out the door, her bowl of cereal still on the table. Joanna looked at Ino.
"Do you know who the Elite Four are?" Ino asked. Joanna nodded and gestured for Ino to have a seat on the couch she was heading to.
"Of course! Everybody does," Joanna said. "But, if you are serious about not being from this world... I guess it's time for a quick tutorial on the Elite Four.
"Ino, this world is probably very different from your world. I am not sure what demons are, but here we have Pokemon. There are several regions on this planet. You are in the Sinnoh region, and our Elite Four is the best of the best. They are all Pokemon trainers, meaning that they have captured Pokemon and became such good friends with them that the Pokemon have no problem battling alongside them.
"But we are not without evil in this world. There are people here that like to take Pokemon from other trainers for their own needs. Of course, our police take care of common thugs easily enough. Team Galactic, however, is an organization of thugs who have taken a habit of taking Pokemon.
"Oh, just explaining all this makes me regret letting Dawn become a Trainer! But, it's for her own good... they all have to leave the nest sometime, right, Ino?" Ino nodded, the ghost of a smile on her face.
"Dawn is lucky to have such a caring mother," Ino said. "You and my mother could be great friends." Joanna laughed softly.
"I cannot imagine how painful it is for you to be yanked from your world into this strange world," Joanna said. "If you need anything at all, just ask! Ino, there are more nice people than evil here, so don't be afraid to ask of things from strangers. Having a Pokemon changes a person, makes them nicer. There are, of course, exceptions, but they are few and far between."
"It is painful," Ino said, fiddling with her hands. "All my friends, my family... but if I beat the Elite Four, I'll be back there with them in no time!" She smiled, optimism loud in her voice. "Where can I get Pokemon?"
"Ino, first you need to graduate from the Trainers' School to know all the basics. I'm afraid it will take you longer than just a few days, especially if you expect to beat the Elite Four in 'no time'." Ino nodded and looked at her hands, her long ponytail tickling her back as it so often did.
They sat in silence for a few moments. "How old are you?" Joanna asked.
"Sixteen," Ino said, looking back up. "Why?"
"Well... Dawn already knows all the basics and is on her way to become a Trainer," Joanna said. "I'm sure she won't mind having you as company! I know how easily she gets lonely, and I can't fathom having her out there all by herself."
"That's great!" Ino said, a smile on her face. Joanna nodded.
"What was your world like, Ino?" Joanna asked. Ino's smile faded a little as the memories flooded in. She told Joanna of her life as a kunoichi of the Leaf, of her teammates and Sasuke, the one who, quite literally, got away, of how chakra worked. It felt good to talk about it to somebody, especially somebody as nice as Joanna.
"Aren't you cold?" Joanna asked when Ino was done telling about her world. Ino shook her head.
"Hardly," Ino said, then she frowned a little. "I probably will be. I used to use my chakra to keep myself warm."
"I wouldn't mind buying you new clothing," Joanna said. "Or at the very least, a warm jacket. It's a small price to pay to know that my daughter will be protected by such a strong girl." Ino blushed a little.
"You're too kind, Joanna-san," Ino said, thankful for her hospitality. "I will not let you down, it's a promise! This is my A-rank mission while I am here." She didn't explain mission ranks to Joanna, but the woman did not look like she required an explanation.
"Why don't you go out to Lake Verity and get Dawn?" Joanna said. "It's just outside of town. Let her know that we are going to Jubilife City, and that Pearl is welcome to come."
"Hai, Joanna-san," Ino said, getting up and heading out the door.
Joanna watched her go, confident that she had chosen the right girl to watch over her Dawn.
As soon as Ino left Twinleaf, she saw Dawn standing with a rather jumpy boy of the same age with blond hair. He reminded her of Naruto. They were getting ready to run into tall grass, and then Ino remembered what Joanna said. Just as she was ready to shout out to them, an old man ran up to them.
Ino walked closer, hearing the end of a lecture of him chastising them. Then another young boy ran up behind him, carrying a suitcase, among other things that looked like they were about to topple out of his hands.
"Ha! There you are, Lucas," the old man said. He turned to Dawn and the boy, not noticing Ino standing a few feet away. "Here in this suitcase are three Pokeballs, containing three Pokemon. Choose wisely!"
"Dawn-chan!" Ino called out now. She walked up next to Dawn. "Joanna-san wants you home now."
"Now? But I'm going to get a Pokemon from Professor Rowan!" she whined.
"I'm sure her mother won't mind," Professor Rowan said. "Go on, Dawn, choose one." She chose a small blue bird - Piplup, Ino was told - and the boy allowed Ino to choose one.
"Oh, no no, Rowan-sama wanted you two to have Pokemon," Ino said. "I can get one of my own later."
"You want to become a Trainer, too?" Rowan asked. "Well, better late than never, I always say!"
"You never say that," Lucas said in a deadpan. Rowan didn't seem to notice.
"Go on, listen to Pearl, choose one," Rowan said.
"If you say so," Ino said, looking into the briefcase. There were only two left - a fire and grass Pokemon, Rowan explained.
"That one's Turtwig," Rowan said of the ball in Ino's right hand. "That one's Chimchar." Ino went with Chimchar, handing the other Pokeball to Pearl. Rowan and Lucas left soon after Rowan wished all of them luck, running off and shouting back at Lucas. Lucas hurried along, trying not to drop anything.
"Sweet!" Pearl shouted. He turned to Dawn. "Alright, you ready to battle? I won't lose!"
"I won't lose either!" Dawn said, determination in her eyes. "Let's go!" Ino watched in amazement as the two battled. They both seemed to know what they were doing... somewhat. Dawn ended up beating Pearl, though, as Pearl later said, his Pokemon had a type advantage.
"See ya later, Dawn!" Pearl said before sprinting off back to Twinleaf. Ino watched him go.
"He's really excitable," Ino commented as she and Dawn made their way back home. Dawn nodded.
"He's always been like that," she said. "So what does Mom want?"
"She just wanted you home so you could come to Jubilife City with us," Ino told her. "I'm coming with you on your adventure, and she didn't want me to freeze."
"That's Mom," Dawn said, smiling. "Always being nice to strangers." Ino nodded.
x
On the way to Jubilife, Dawn wanted to teach Ino about battling. Ino accepted eagerly.
"Alright, Piplup! Bubble!" The Starly went down immediately. Dawn and her Piplup cheered. Dawn turned to Ino. "Your turn, Ino!"
"Chimchar, go!" Ino called out, throwing her Pokeball. Chimchar growled a little, seeming to like sleeping on the ground better than listening to Ino. The Bidoof stared at Chimchar inquisitively and poked it with its tail. The Bidoof sniffed around the Chimchar when it didn't respond to the tail-poke.
"What do I do?" Ino asked Dawn. "It's not doing anything."
"Um," Dawn said. "It's a fire Pokemon, so try a fire move like Ember."
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino shouted. Chimchar responded by rolling over on its side. Ino's eye twitched.
"I wonder why it isn't responding..." Dawn said, frowning. Joanna just watched this in amusement, feeding a Poffin to Piplup.
The Bidoof ran into Chimchar, waking it up. Chimchar glared, causing the Bidoof to shake in fear. Ino smiled and got ready for action.
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino shouted. Chimchar inhaled and hit the Bidoof with small balls of fire. The Bidoof dodged some of them, greatly damaged by the ones that hit. "Again!" Chimchar listened and finished off the Bidoof. "Alright!" Ino returned Chimchar back to its Pokeball.
"You two would be a good team if your Chimchar listened to you," Joanna commented as they finished walking to Jubilife City. Ino nodded.
"Maybe it's just a mischievous Pokemon," Dawn said, carrying her Piplup in her arms.
"If I spend more time with it, would it listen better?" Ino asked. Dawn shrugged.
"Probably," she said. "Hey, look! We're here!"
"Wow," Ino whispered, looking up at the huge city.
Joanna handed Dawn and Ino some money, telling them that she would meet them back at the entrance of the city in an hour. Dawn took Ino to the Trainers' School first, giving her a mini-lesson on everything. Ino was a bit amused that she seemed to be the oldest in the entire school - even the teachers looked younger than her.
"Dawn-chan, let's go shopping!" Ino said, dragging Dawn out of the school and into a store down the street. Dawn didn't seem too happy about it but went anyway.
"Why don't you wear clothes?" Dawn asked, staring as Ino went through a rack of jackets that would hardly keep her warm on a windy day. Ino looked back at her.
"I do wear clothes," Ino said. "But where I came from, the less fabric to hold you down, the better. This is as little clothing as a girl can get away with."
"Why don't you buy new ones?" Dawn asked.
"I've grown fond of these," Ino said, pulling out a purple and black jacket. "What do you think about this?" She turned around, slipping it on.
"Looks cute," Dawn said, scratching Piplup's head. Ino smiled.
"Definitely," Ino said, shrugging it off and putting it over her arm. She motioned for Dawn to follow her to the check-out counter, where she bought the jacket.
"I want to battle you and your Piplup," Ino said as they left the store. "I'm sure I can beat you."
"Don't be so confident," Dawn said, a sly smile on her face. "Your Pokemon won't listen to you all the time."
"I don't need it to listen to me all the time," Ino said, giving Dawn a smirk. "Just once or twice."
"Are you calling my Piplup weak?" Dawn asked. Ino pretended to be shocked.
"Not at all," she said, shaking her head. "Just that it isn't strong enough to beat Chimchar." Before Dawn could reply, a man approached the two of them, an entrepreneur's aura about him.
"Are you two Trainers?" the man asked, a charming smile on his face. He was wearing a suit and had hair that looked to be professionally styled every day.
"You bet we are!" Dawn said, while Ino only nodded, wary of this stranger.
"Ah, but I see that neither of you own a Poketch," the man said. He held out two watch-like things for both of them. Dawn's eyes lit up, her eyes glazed over as she saw them. Ino just stared at them, a little confused.
"What are these?" Ino asked, poking one of them. The man and Dawn looked at her in horror.
"A POKETCH!" the man shouted, handing one to each of them. "It's a marvelous device that'll make being a Trainer even easier."
"I've always wanted one..." Dawn said, holding it carefully. "Why are you just giving them out?"
"You two were the millionth customer at that store!" the man said, smiling as he pointed to the store they had just exited. "And, due to a promotional event, we had to give one out to the lucky customer! Or, in this case, customers. Have fun, and don't forget to visit the Poketch Company!" The man ran off, shaking random people's hands and bowing down to random women.
"That was odd," Ino said, slipping on the Poketch. She pressed a few buttons. "What does this do?"
"Oh, it's amazing!" Dawn said. "Every Trainer who hopes to get somewhere has one. There's an app for everything!"
"I see," Ino said, zipping the jacket up to the middle of her chest. "I think it's time that we go find your mom."
"Yeah, I gue - Is that Professor Rowan?" Dawn asked, pointing off in the distance. Ino frowned and squinted. He and Lucas were standing in front of two teens with bright blue bowlcuts - Lee flashed in her mind - and strange outfits on.
"We should go see what's going on," Ino said, holding her Pokeball just in case. Dawn nodded and followed behind her, not admitting to being a little scared. This could be her first real Pokemon battle! Well... second real Pokemon battle. But the first against a stranger!
"Give us your Pokemon," one of the two teens said. Ino watched them carefully.
"Hello, Rowan-sama," Ino said. "Are these two giving you trouble?"
"No, not at all," Rowan said. "That jacket looks nice. Is it new? Oh! You have a Poketch! And you, too, Dawn! Wow, how did you get those? Those are really expensive."
"Some guy gave them to us," Dawn chirped from beside Lucas, who was beginning to get irritated at the teens.
"Hey! We're speaking to you, old man! Give us your Pokemon," the other teen said. Ino scowled at him.
"Why don't you pick on somebody else?" Ino asked, her hands on her hips. The teens smirked.
"Fine! Give us your pokemon, Blondie!" the first teen said. "Stunky, go!"
"Glameow, go!"
Ino snarled and stepped back. "Chimchar, come on out!" She looked back at Dawn with a pleasant look on her face. "Don't worry, Dawn. I'll take care of them in no time."
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino commanded. Chimchar listened, attacking Stunky.
"Glameow, Quick Attack!"
"Stunky, Scratch!"
"Get out of the way, Chimchar!" Ino shouted. It managed to miss the Scratch, but Glameow pounded into it with Quick Attack. "Ember!" Chimchar glared at Glameow and ran at it, ignoring Ino's command. Chimchar scratched it instead. Glameow bit Chimchar's hand, Chimchar screeching in pain.
"Chimchar, Ember!" Ino tried again, concerned about Stunky coming at Chimchar with another Scratch. Chimchar refused to listen again, scratching Glameow with its feet. Glameow fainted when Chimchar finally listened and used Ember.
"Look out!" Ino and Dawn shouted. Chimchar was fast, but it wasn't fast enough. It fell to the ground, out. Ino's face fell. Dawn stepped forward.
"Piplup, Bubble!" she shouted. Piplup landed in front of Chimchar, knocking Stunky back into its owner.
"You've not seen the last of Team Galactic!" the teens shouted at the same time, rushing off. Ino returned Chimchar, forlorn.
"Thank you," Rowan said to both of them. "I have no doubt in my mind that the two of you will become great Trainers one day! Come visit me in Sandgem, I have something for each of you." And with that, he ran off with speed impressive for his age. Lucas followed, nothing in his hands this time.
"C'mon, Mom's waiting," Dawn said, trying to cheer Ino back up. Ino nodded.
"Hey, you did really good," Dawn told her, smiling up at her. "It was a two-on-one battle and you would have won if Chimchar hadn't tried to get revenge on that Glameow."
"Thanks," Ino said.
"There you guys are!" Joanna exclaimed. "I thought you two got lost. But I didn't worry, of course. You both have Pokemon now."
"We got in a battle with Team Galactic!" Dawn told her mom. "And we won! Well, Ino weakened them, then when her Chimchar fainted, my Piplup finished them off. You should have seen it, Mom! It was amazing!"
"Sounds like it," Joanna said, smiling. "Shouldn't you rest your Pokemon at a Pokemon Center after a battle?"
"Oh, yeah! I forgot about that," Dawn said. She dragged Ino by the arm back into the city.
"Watch the jacket," Ino said, a smirk on her face. Maybe being here wouldn't be such a bad thing...
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