nestleswritingblog

[nestleswritingblog]

Swsh Rewrite- Business Ahead

I know it must be frustrating”

“ You and your men will still be compensated, We just wanted to be sure we factor out every possibility”

“You have a nice night as well, goodbye.”

The phone clicked. 71 calls. 71 angry managers, execs, and colleagues called in one day complaining, lashing out, and overall outraged at the horrid state of their region. A region on the brink of despair and its provider for 15 years couldn’t even develop a comprehensible solution. And honestly, she was sick of it.

 A room that can occupy up to 20 people was robbed of those 19.  She sat centimeters away from the screen, the blue radio rays engulfing her and the small area of her desk, refusing to share that very light within the vast office. From the screen held tabs upon tabs of Galar’s history.  For an event so infamous and still celebrated to this day, there’s little to no actual knowledge of what truly transpired that day? Week? Month? Of course, one storm could only emit a finite amount of energy but why now? Her head ached in frustration and exhaustion only to be fueled by a golden glow from behind. She didn’t have to shift her eyes to recognize that oh-so-irritating silhouette.

"Oleana, love, is that you?"

With the little strength left in her body, all she could muster was an approvable smile," Yes it's me, how can I help you this evening, Mrs. Rose?"

"I was wondering if you had the company's electrical recovery plans for the next meeting. I'm in no particular rush but I try to be as prepared as possible"

"Well, I'm sure Mr. Rose would've given you those documents already if you needed them.  There's no need to go through me, ma’am”

"I understand but considering you're his right-hand woman, it wouldn't be hard to assume he gave those to you out of force of habit. And even if you don’t it doesn't hurt to check."

Even with the light overshadowing her,  Oleana could see her cracks.  Maybe not wrinkles in her smile or creases on her suit, but the scales you see on Arboks.

"Mrs. Rose, why exactly are you here?"

"Simply for the documents. But if you don't have the time, you can just forward it to me when you do"

"Oh, my apologies, let me rephrase; why did you actually marry Mr. Rose?"

"I beg your pardon? If you're really that curious, you should be asking  Mr. Rose, but as far as I’m concerned, I don't think it's your prerogative to know, miss.”

"No, I think it is because of how you maneuver yourself; it may very well affect my job"

Cinna was taken aback.  With the slight octave raised in her reaction, you would've assumed that Oleana insulted her lineage. 

"Why do you say that?"

"With how you carry yourself, it almost seems that you think of yourself as the second chairman here.  And frankly, it's not just me who is concerned, but several colleagues of mine"

"Well rest assured I'm not nor do I have any interest to be. And even if I were, I'd be so much as bothered to interrupt anyone's job.  So if that was your main concern I don't understand why we’re having this conversation."

"It’s not my only concern with you. I looked you up and I found a lot about your past involvements, especially your time with a certain group. And it's so interesting that there were so many photos with you featured way before his alleged plans."

"What are you accusing me of?"

"I’m accusing you of nothing, I just want answers; Why are you here?"

"I'm not here for anything"

"Everyone is here for something, so spill it"

She stared intensely at the woman in front of her and yet was met with the same pair of dull eyes as before.

"If you truly are worried about my prior involvement with that team, I must remind you that all of it is public knowledge for everyone. Rose already knows, he’s known for years  and if he didn't he was bound to either by passing or by questioning"

Despite Cinna’s claims, nothing she could say could sway Oleana’s opinion and she knew this. 

“But I understand, It’s not as if it was all sunshine and rainbows right after, I paid my dues and my home knows that, but it doesn’t change the fact that some people still are hesitant towards me”

“Well maybe there’s a reason for that”

“I never denied that, but that’s why Rose married me and why he trusted me well enough to ask for my help. And if Rose could trust me, why is it so hard for you?”

“Yet he doesn’t trust you with papers?”

The businesswoman had to refrain from the initial words that almost seeped.   For what now replaced her stagnant formality was an annoyance, but it simmered down to a sigh. 

“I know that you of all people know how Rose operates – that man is stingy about sharing his ideas with anyone up until they’re far executed. I don’t know if it’s out of neglect or if he’s that stubborn, but either way, it clashes with my own style of business”

“That still doesn't give me the incentive to give you anything”

“Then I don’t know what will”

Cinna took her gaze away from the tired worker and shifted her focus to her side, retrieving something from her pocket.  In her hand held a sleek black phone with a silver casing.

“What is this for?”

“In case you change your mind”

Oleana’s fingers stood stiff at even the thought of grabbing it.  But after a moment of consideration, she grabbed it.

“I’ll think about it”

            Only then did Cinna shift her face into a slight smile and took the clue that she might’ve overwelcomed her stay.  But Oleana waited.  Watching the figure who was just inches away from her be reduced to millimeters down the hallway for the secretary to secure her office.

She didn’t realize it til now, but the once eye-strain she was feeling prior felt like it evolved into a migraine.  Even walking back to the work behind her felt like torture now than before. But at the same time, she couldn’t avert her eyes from what she was holding, only resorting to placing the device on an empty desk.  That phone was just the final nail in the coffin.  But it wasn’t anger, no, it was frustration. 

Oleana has worked for this place for 15 years and for all of them she has met billionaires, C.E.O.s, and celebrities in and out of Galar.  Yet all of them were the same: power-hungry, robbed of any humanity, blood under their fingernails, and willing to sell the souls of legends for a quick buck.  But for all her time here, none were ever this close to Rose.  So why her and why now? 

[nestleswritingblog]

SwSh rewrite- First Match

“After all this time, we are brought back to our two beloved rivals brought by our sponsors, Macro Cosmos, I’m Rally!”

“And I’m Michelle”

“And welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to the annual exhibition match!”

Thousands of adoring fans and watchers cheer and shout at the recognizable silhouette amongst the smoke and sparks of technicolor fireworks.  Leon, a champion with a decade-long winning streak, took in his annual applause as he did his iconic pose, raising his hand with three fingers reigning up to the sky.  The crowd's response mimicked the same gesture.  

Ahead of him, a sandstorm was kicking up along with the raised “oohs” and “ahhs” amongst everyone as a man adorned in orange and indigo breezed past the storm as if it was a light breeze.  What followed was a green and red Pokemon, soaring through with speeds and agility like no other. 

“You’re soaking up the attention this time because you know it’s about to be the last?”

“Not at all! In fact, I’m saving you the embarrassment of your three followers”

“That’s THIRTY MILLION followers to you, Lelon!”

“Lelon? I don’t know if you’ve checked recently, but there’s only one L in my name”

“Trust me, you’ll need it after this battle”

With a chuckle, the two opponents threw out their ultraballs, an Aegislash opposing brutal blows from Flygon with an indomitable shield. But as soon as it let her guard down, it was whipped by the long flaked green tail.  Wounded, but not down just yet.

The audience split their chants, one boosting the energy of the limber Flygon, while the other half strengthened the king shield of Aegislash.  But amongst the thousands, two seats towered above them.  Behind an ornate set of opera glasses were the piercing black eyes of a woman adorned in a three-piece suit of white, velvet, and cherry and golden jewelry. With one leg resting on the other, right below her elite seat was her Furfrou, matching her trainer down to the personality.  A pooch resting on a £600 velvet pillow, so uninterested in the scene in front of her, not even an ear was lifted by either the sparks or lights of the show.

As the lady viewed the ongoing spectacle, she could feel her unoccupied hand be lifted from her lap and a pair of lips gently touch her knuckles. 

“How are you enjoying the show, my lady?”

A man of similar standing, dressed down in steel-grey and hair slicked back except for a long curl, green eyes looked lovingly at the beautifully dark face in front of him. 

“It sure is different from what I’m accustomed to”, Her fingers swayed with her eyes to lighten her implications. 

“I bet they don’t have stadiums this big in Kalos, huh?”

“They don’t have any stadiums in Kalos”

Her words were barren of any light blows. The only response her partner could muster was,

“Fair, I guess”

“OOH, and that's gotta be a critical OHKO hit from Leon’s Seismitoad!”

The cringed, pitiful remark was spewed from one of the commentators as Torkoal fell to his side. But in Torkoal’s place stood a purplish-mauve dragon with sticky and slimy skin, roaring a high-pitched cry to strengthen himself.  However, the cry was cut short by the shaking and rumbling of the ground below him and he lost his balance.  The Goodra was so busy trying to find steady ground, that he couldn’t even pay attention to the 2 m tall brick wall of a toad rapidly approaching with full pent-up strength behind those fists.  The dragon reared his head back up only to be met with the force of a truck directly in the face.  For a wingless dragon, it flew the ring of the stadium, hitting the Macro Cosmos’s C-like logo that glowed behind him.  But, somehow, it still stood with only 1 hp to his name.  He shook off any rubble that littered its skin before hearing his trainer call out, “GOODRA, USE ENDEAVOR!”.  Like a bullet, it darted back at his foe with a force equal to what he had faced mere moments ago.  With a clean uppercut, the Seismitoad that took out his friend and nearly himself was vanquished 

Leon was faced with his long-standing Seismitoad, belly up, and fainted.  With a subtle sigh, Leon returned his Pokémon back to her ball. With a moment of relief, Raihan rushed to heal his resilient Pokémon back to green.  Like clockwork, Goodra was up and moving like early morning.   The two trainers were at a standstill. Each of them left with only two Pokémon, a fair man’s game

“Leon”

“What?”

For all of those 20 minutes, the woman beside him didn’t even mutter as a snort. It’s only now she says anything.

“Leon is going to win the battle”

“What led you to say that? They’re both left with only two Pokémon”

“What Pokémon does Raihan have left?”

“Turtonator and Duraladon”

“Then I said what I said. He has two dragon types while Leon’s standing Pokémon can utilize both Ice Beam and Dazzling Gleam”

“Yet you seem to forget that both of those Pokémon are not just dragon type”

As he whispered that, the mime-like Pokémon was blown off his rhythm by both a fire blast and a shell trap, mistaken for safe grass.  The once fully healthy Mr Rime is now left with zero hp.  

“Don’t tell me you’re getting rusty already, Ms. ‘champion’s duchess’?”

“My point stands nonetheless. He would’ve won minutes ago if he had just diversified his team a little bit”

“So what, you’re expecting him to throw away his whole gimmick?”

“No, not necessarily, just adding to it.  Perhaps getting a rain setter – an Azumarill would be a good pick.  It’d certainly help that Goodra and deal some good damage."

“We don’t really have any Azumarills over here in Galar. But there’s probably a couple on that one island if my memory serves correctly.  You think I should tip him on that?”

The same hand that the man kissed was soon raised to halt his voice,” Let’s not be hasty.  What if Raihan does win? All anticipation of him winning or not would be lost just like that. They’d already have their prize, and they'd all be off to chase something new and shiny.” Her eyes drifted from the ongoing battle and higher at the scenery around it. Thousands of people, the audience yearning for the next jaw-dropping move.  One move can make or break the audience.  Every move those two trainers make is no different than two dancers entertaining judges; Both must give it their all and synchronize their all lest they’d be thrown off their rhythm.  But instead of a handful of judges in a small isolated room, it’s a region’s worth of people in and out of the stadium, watching their every second, speculating on their teams, abilities, movesets, and strategies.  That thought almost made the duchess respect the two, almost.

“You must not know Leon at all if you think he’d give all of this up for his only rival”, he sneered with a gentle smirk,” If anything, he’s come back swinging twice as hard, just for him”

That inclination gave the man something he didn’t expect but never realized he longed for: a curious raised brow.

“Instead of Leon keeping that crown for himself, it’d be a back-and-forth of them fighting for the crown. It’d almost be like we’d have two champions. Surely, that’s more engaging for the masses, wouldn’t you say?”

“Hm, I suppose”

The woman almost curled her lips to what could be a smile, eyes more taking in the feast of this riveting battle.  Two men, stuck in their opposing corners.  With all their Pokémon fallen, they were left with one Pokémon each, their aces.   Like duels preceding their time, they drew their Pokémon.  The crowd cheered and whistled.  But those praises would be short-lived with the once vibrant light being consumed.  

The couple stared at the onslaught of distress brewing.  One stood unamused, damn near disappointed witnessing her spouse lead staff to a directionless scramble.  He could only save face with a pitiful smile in response, having to hear those same commentators apologizing to the sea of disappointing faces.

“I’m so sorry, Cinna, this doesn’t usually happen. It’s getting handled within no time”

“None of the power seems to be working, Mr. Rose, sir. We fear the stadiums or the surrounding dynamaxing may be consuming energy more quickly”

“I know. I will address it eventually.  Are the backup generators still up and moving?”

“There are people already working on it”

“Thank you, love”

With two formal nods, the stressed-out worker excused herself before scurrying off before anything else dire could happen

The now confused, weary, and disappointed masses surrounded them.  But amidst the dark, they looked at each other, Pokémon still facing them and their opponents.  Maybe it was an archaic ability, perhaps the true rivalry bond they shared for two decades, but even with everything obscured, Leon knew Raihan gave him a nod. A nod of agreement unbeknownst to anyone but the two foes on the field. And without any further words,  Leon nodded back. 

It sparked; maybe it was one or two Dynamax stars or even a hundred before one of the commentators grabbed the attention of everyone. No artificial light could replicate the now magenta-tinted titans standing guard.  Igniting the scene, Charizard blazed the skyscraper with wildfire.  But much to her dismay, not even an ounce of metal melted off of Duraladon.  He steered his head up, charging up for a finishing move.  So much so that Wyrmwind was nothing but a mere second thought.  Even if Duraladon was losing HP, even if he had one Pokémon standing, Raihan was determined to take Leon with this defeat.  But as the steel serpent took aim, the ground shook in the wake of Leon’s request.  The last thing everyone saw before the earth consumed Duraladon was a force more powerful than the stars themselves charging at Charizard.  Duralodon succumbed to the earthquake as the last Pokémon that remained was Charizard.  0-1 once again. But with a victory at a hand’s reach, Raihan sealed their rivalry with Leon with a firm handshake and a promise to defeat him soon.  

As much as Rose can thank the hero of Galar himself for saving the battle and his business, his true regard should be forced on the two trainers who never ceased to fail him. But by the look of the crowded lobby, the two were receiving more thanks than Rose could ever think of. That’s not to say Rose and Cinna weren’t crowded as well.  But while the two greatest trainers received love mail and banners, Rose and Cinna were bombarded with questions that invaded the very air they breathed.

“How long have you known Mr. Rose?”

“Is Macro Cosmos going to expand to Kalos?”

“What’s going on with the power?”

“How do you plan to stop these ongoing outages?”

“Are you working with Rose to stop these incidents from continuing?”

“I do apologize, but neither of us will be answering questions for the time being",  The businessman kept a kind face despite the flashing camera and invading reporters.  Silent as she is, Rose’s companion did nothing but stare at them with a demeanor unlike her husband’s. With a strong grip on Furfrou’s bedazzled leash, the couple left without a further word.  

The flight back to their abode was a breath of fresh air. The sound of incessant yammering would be engulfed by the flapping of Corviknight’s wings.  Cinna stared out, elbow on windowsill, hand on chin.  She stares out at the sky, the stadium that could shelter a town reduced to the size of a speck.  Streetlights and cars, and people looking like the constellations for the ground.    Turning to the opposite side, she once again meets her husband focused on a call.

“We shouldn’t have to delay. We’re already pushing back enough events as it is! Do you know how much we’ll lose if we push the challenge for another month?”

“I know, I know, maybe I can talk to Milo or Nessa. I don’t think they’d have any problem.”

“Okay, thank you, thank you so much”

Even with his back turned Rose could still sense the burning ire from his love.  And with nothing to say, he stood still, waiting for her next move.

“Do you care to explain to me what that was?”

“It was nothing, just a call from Oleana”

“Not the call, the outage!”

“Listen, I’m sorry, I really am, but we’re trying to fix them.”

“Oh really, by the looks of it, your little 'postponing' plans have already run their course”

Rose struggled to let out a single word, let alone a sentence

“Honestly, look at yourself.  For a man who was able to build a multi-billion-dollar business conglomerate and call himself a philanthropist, you sure can’t give the people the energy they need.   What’s going to happen when you can’t call it a ‘rare occurrence’? What’s going to happen when you can’t drag any more battles? What are you going to do when everything is drained?"

“We don’t need to worry about that because trying to find a solution, is just a slow process that’s all”

“‘A slow process’? Do you think the people of Galar are looking for a slow process?"

“And do you think rushing things is any better? Listen to yourself, if we try to force a solution out of nowhere, we’d be doing more harm than good”

“Well, I would’ve considered your ‘slow process’ if I had nipped te source by the bud already”

“You’re saying that as if we’re any closer to the source then we were months ago” 

“What? Is it not a shortage?”

“Like I said before. Honestly, I’m just as lost as you”, His eyes could only focus on the lights that flicked and danced below them.  The stress of her led him to massage the side of his forehead with his fingers. Cinna, however, was not as concerned.

“Then have your men investigate the mines then”

“ They’ve ventured those mines long enough.  Any deeper would endanger their lives”

“And risk leaving Galar powerless?”

“I’d rather we have none at all than by getting any energy by blood”,  The face that was once drained of energy, stared back at her with umbrage.  Cinna could only sneer at the utter audacity her own husband could respond with.  But even she could admit that prolonging their conversation would only damage her in the end.

“Fine, have it your way.”

Those minutes of silence multiplied to hours by the tension of the situation.  As the once Durant-sized buildings gained their true height and the pushing winds dissolved, Cinna only muttered one thing to herself,” Didn’t know this region needed more saving than I bargained for”

[nestleswritingblog]

Moving on (Prologue)

TW: near drowning

"703…702…701…700!", A man counted the numbers of the identical black mailboxes, only exclaiming with excitement when his line of vision finally reached his location.  However, his glee muted when his dull mustard eyes met the house.  While the neighboring houses clone each other with their pristine appearance, the house can only try to imitate. Compared to the other's brand-new feel, the decades peeped through the paint and rebuilt hinges. His muted words and dreadful expression can only be hidden by a wore down smile.

"I swear the pictures my sister sent me looked better than this"

"What do you mean? It looks the same?"

"You think?!"

Expecting some sort of reassurance, there was only shock when even his own wife disagreed with him. But alas, she did nothing but give a gentle nudge to her lover's shoulder.

"You always worry so much, Ain't that right, Cal?"

Her eyes set on the little redhead girl in the backseat. She was almost hypnotized by the house. From the ivy-curved door to the rusty ruby-bricked roof, Cal paid attention to every detail. "Seems that somebody disagrees", She quipped at her still worried husband. And with that, a door swung open. A woman decorated with flora with crinkly hair of light rose took in new air. She tapped on the side of the car," No time for sitting around, come on!"

One by one, two by two, boxes on top of each other followed the same trail from the car and to the door. The man, whistly carrying a tower of cardboard boxes, opened the door with his free hand. The living room was more open than expected, covered with a warm brown tiled floor, oak stairs that hid their age fairly well, and patio windows from afar.  

"See, told you nothing to worry about!" The woman nudge against his side, giving him a relieved chuckle. As the lady already stepped forward, the guy stayed behind as Cal was adjacent to him.  He crouched to a similar height to hers.

"I know a lot has happened all at once, but I promise that we all can get through this together, alright?"

"Okay, Ralph."

Cal killed the silence before scampering straight into the house as well.  Ralph was stunned by that response, but he knew that she was too far gone to stop her. "You know you don't have to call me that!", He shouted out to the void. Each step squeaked as Cal took a step to the higher floor, ignoring any fragment or toy that escaped the box. The tunneling hallway that met her was daunting as she peeked through each corner, window, and door. Cal stopped in her tracks when her eyes met one room. Out of all the painted white rooms compared to the healing teal hallway walls, this room was painted a silly pink, somewhat peach.  She stared, she wondered.  However, her thought process was halted when the shadow of her mother was visible. "Never knew they painted the rooms.  You want this one?". The woman smiled seeing her child nod," You can go unpack everything while we go get the rest of the boxes, okay hon?". Before Cal could make a full response, her mom was already on her way down the stairs. The once bright blue day descended to an ember twilight as Cal gazed down at her two parents still bringing down everything from the car through her window. With all her two boxes unpacked and organized to her liking, all she could do was lie and wait.  From her salmon walls to her half-empty closet, to her stuffed animals, her eyes looked around for anything interesting.  And interest did come when she heard footsteps.   But not the familiar footsteps of her parents, these sounded smaller, more careful but quick. She jumped to her feet and hurried to the door. With only an edge of her face out, she saw somebody. Somebody small just like her with a bright beige shirt, a head pacing left and right, and holding something.  Cal squinted her eyes to see what exactly it was, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't comprehend. As she saw the kid hurry down the stairs, she found no other choice but to follow this kid.  When the kid took a quick turn, Cal did the same.  When the kid squeezed through the shelves, she squeezed through the shelves.   When she finally reached the small crevasse, Cal was met with nothing. No kid, no special room just nothing. All that remained was the same hollow teal wallpaper and a bump in the unwept floor.  With the open poking floorboards, Cali decided to claw through the floor. And dug she did until her fingernails scratched what felt unnatural to the ground.  It was a book, in fact, it was a journal. Its brown cover was scratched and decayed. The spine was on its life bed.  Cal tried to blow away the dust, but some still remained.  And as much as she observed the book, it was blank of any title or name.  But when she opened it, its mildew yellow pages revealed its identity. There were pages with words erased or words specifically torn out.  Words that looked like chicken scratchings and some with big bold words.  By just the first few pages, she could tell it was a diary.  Was this what the kid was carrying? She crept out of the shelf space, only to see her dad with more boxes.

"Oh, hey kiddo! Exploring the house?"

Without a word, Cal showed him the book "Haven't seen that one before. Tell me more about it when I come back! You know my reading days are behind me", but before Ralph could chuckle at his own jokes, Cal was already up the inclining stairs. With the pink hello kitty lamp being the only light that emanated from her room, the now curious girl reviewed the first few pages more clearly.

"xxxxxx March 15 1973

I hate this place.  Every house looks the same, and every neighbor looks the same. The only thing that was not the same was this house as if it was any better. This house reeks of spoiled age and disgust. Everybody keeps telling me to look at the bright side, but where is it?"

"xxxxxx March 18 1973

I saw her last night. I thought she was a neighbor, but she didn't do anything.  All she did was stare at me. I tried to wake up my brother, but he wouldn't wake up. What does she want?"

Cal's reading was interrupted by a gentle knock. "Heya Cal! what kind of book are you reading?". Ralph's enthusiastic smile was halted when all Call did was stare at him for a good 10 seconds before resuming back to her book. At that point, he closed the door as quietly as he could.   Once he reached the entrance of his room, he fell into a limp state near his wife.

"Got the last box, Ralphy?", The same curly pink-haired woman peered down at him, only to see Ralph lift his head from the ground.

"Should've told her to give us a smaller house if I knew moving stuff upstairs would break my back"

"Well at least it was all worth it"

Ralph turned his head over to the open window.  Through the grand night, the freckled lights of the neighboring houses beamed the outdoors. Luminescence lime lights flickered on and off, swerving through the towers of trees.  Ralph could only sigh in awe at the sight before him, but his eyes swayed to the frame resting on the drawer.  It was a picture of Cal and his wife, Mary, and him. From what he heard, it was a year before everything that occurred. The tension was nearly suffocating for him to stay in the room, heading straight toward the bathroom. He had to catch his breath, leaving that room.  All he could do was stare at his own reflection.

"What am I doing? Of course, I love Mary, I love Cal… so why do I still feel like an imposter. I took his family, his life, his future.  I'm a coward, a selfish coward"

Ralph's ink-black fingertips gripped onto the new sink countertop until it felt like his fingers could break even more.  He could only slap himself out of it for so long until it was useless.  If deep breaths weren't going to help him, surely a bath will.   He submerged himself into a warm body of water as his stress steamed away. His head rested on the blankets of still waves in the bathroom as he could feel his face inch closer and closer to it.  Soon enough the water held onto him. And of what was holding him into the shallow depths was now holding him down, strangling him. Ralph gasped through the airless blue as he writhed to lift his head up, but his struggles were in vain. His eyes shot wide open when he saw him; a man. A man whose eel-like dreads drenched his face. His eyes, or what Ralph could spot, were a sickly yellow. No iris. Instead, they were replaced with symbols he's never seen anybody have. Through his fight, he can see the man moving his mouth as if he were saying something. What was he saying to him? Ralph's rasping hands couldn't claw him or fight back.  In a final attempt, he latched onto both sides of the tub and shot from his watery prison. He cried for air, finally free, but there was no sight of that man.  The bathroom remains identical to what it was minutes ago. There was nothing to show evidence of another person in there, aside from the burning marks wrapped around Ralph's neck.  

[nestleswritingblog]

Pnf- chpt. 1: traveling ahead

There was a wet crunch of water absorbed grass with each step and any pokemon cry was tuned out by the insistent buzzing of venonats. 

The sinking mud didn’t stop Peach as she raced towards the high grass, seeking to find the next starter. Not wanting to be the last one to gain their starter, Comet mirrored her. Comet was lucky to find a caterpie, let alone any pokemon. But by the looks of Peach, she was having no success either. It felt like a game of meowth and pikachu with nothing to chase. Feeling exhausted of any and all possibilities, Comet sat down, closed their eyes, and listened... 

“Boo!” 

Comet shot up back to their feet and shrieked when they heard the voice nearby 

“Peach? What was that for?!” 

“Did you catch yours yet?” 

“No, did you?” 

“Nuh-uh. You were kinda silent so I wanted to see what you were doing. Did finally get your aura yet?” 

They sighed, "No. I don’t even think I have one” 

“Well, you being like that isn’t gonna help!” 

“But at least you two got the time to train yours!” they soon began to simmer down, “But I guess I’m alright with not having any.” 

“Can’t you still mentally train for an aura? That’s what my dad says It’s all about the power of the mind or something like that” 

“What about Pecan? Wasn’t he born with that?” 

She glanced at her cousin’s arm then back at them,” Huh...well I don’t know, just think harder or something!” 

They groaned before closing their eyes shut once again. Things were sent back to tranquility. It prolonged until a feline cried could be heard only a couple feet away.

Peach rose from the grass, "The roar!” she whispered to herself before dashing towards the grand worthy call. She halts to a screeching stop when a cub of light green fur and a tail that matched the surrounding reeds. Yowling at the sky, they rested on the muddy floor. Memorizing the paper, Peach reached her hand out. But instead of a calm response, the feline hissed at the girl, ready to fight but just stayed dormant on the soil. Peach wasn’t going to backtrack now as she planted her hand on the cat’s head. A long pause stood between those two as her hand landed on the fur without any further movement. Peach visibly trembled, praying that the paper was true, until a sense something. She took her gaze away from the cub itself and towards their cub’s paw. It twitched as the claws were unleashed. Peach opened her hand carefully and slowly. The cat stared back. But with hesitation, gave her its paw.   

The paw was damp, covered with mud, but something pressed the girl’s palm. Lifting it up the front leg slowly and spotted an oak brown fragment sticking out of the feline’s toe bean 

She frowned,” Poor thing.” 

The girl took her gaze off of the yowling cat and to her matching pink bag,” Hey Pex, what did Mills say about berries? Like, which one’s hp healing?” 

Pecan was taken off-guard, nearly dropping the slithering cizzlar that was on his arm, "Huh? what- OH, I think Aguav, Oran, Enigma I think...” 

As he lists each berry one by one, Peach scrambled through her packed lunch and plushies and found her sealed bag of berries. And no time would be wasted as she ripped it opened just to grab two oran berries. She soon gave the cub one good look of reassurance, “It’ll only hurt a little bit” before yanking out the thornful nuisance out of the pokemon’s paw. And just like clockwork, the cub’s aggressive nature vanished. Peach proudly grabbed the green feline, raising them up to the air like they were the new prophet. 

“I GOT MY CATRIELLE!” 

“W-How!?” 

“I USED MY AURA!” 

As much as Comet was proud, it felt painful. “Was this scavenger all that is? Some stupid aura training for the professor's relatives?”. Comet could only pray that they’ll get their starter last, let alone find it at all.   

“You ok, Star-kid?” 

“Yea” They smiled through their emotions  

“What do you think I should name them?” Peach stretched out her arms, presenting her new starter to both Comet’s and Pecan’s faces.   

They pondered, observing the creature to every aspect it had, “What about hotdog?” 

“Hotdog? That doesn’t sound pretty?” 

“Well, its tail looks like one.” 

Peached took notice of the plant-like tail. It swung left and right like an old cuckoo clock, and just like Comet said, the color and shape looked identical to a hotdog. Peach turned her nose in protest to such a blasphemous suggestion, “I’m not naming them Hotdog!”  

“Then what are you gonna name them then, smartypants?” 

She paused. Thinking long and hard, searching endlessly through her thoughts,” Fruit” 

“It’s not a fruit tho” 

“It’s still a plant”, she stuck her tongue out in mockery before walking away with their new catrielle. Comet could only roll their eyes again until a sudden thud punched them on the side. Their eyes set daggers to what interrupted them. A dark blue metallic tube of a pokemon with one eye stared back at them. Both of their stares prolonged for minutes on end. All Comet did was gift the beldum their hand.  Beldum slowly drifted towards their hand. 

“Beep-bop” 

In an 8-bit low hum, it spun in glee before levitating near their shoulder. Beep-bop wasn’t on the top of their plans of catching, but it was still a pleasant surprise. They sprint up from the towering grass to re-find their friends.   

“Caught a ‘mon!” 

“Me too” she exclaimed as Comet could see a speeding white bullet dancing to the wind and landing to Peach’s now closed hands. Once opened, a yellow and white fuzzball of a pokemon fluttered out, swiftly to Comet’s head and back to their original pair of hands. 

“How did you catch another pokemon already?” 

“Why haven’t you?” A proud smirk appeared on her face.   

They scowled at the petty response. However, Comet’s ears alerted them of oncoming footsteps, but the reeds and cattails and towering shrubs obscured the identity of who. However, they wouldn’t need to worry about who it was as they felt a hook scooping them off the ground. They looked up and saw a stern Pecan with pent up agitation.  

“We gotta go” 

“What why?” 

“Yeah, why? Stars didn’t even find their second pokemon yet!” 

“We can find one near Spintwelle Village” 

Comet wanted to continue the argument but the sound of something calling out for them in the distance kept interrupting their thoughts. 

“I know you can hear me Pex!” 

Peach did a quick turnaround before looking back at her cousin, "Do you know that guy?” 

“Just ignore him” 

The distant voice became more and more disrupting and their curiosity lured them to turn around. Another teen was chasing Pecan, along with their rambunctious scorbunny. In fact, the devilish cotton fluff bastard was dribbling their flaming fireball a bit too high. Comet thought nothing of it until...POW. An orange and yellow blur whiplashed the back of Pecan’s head that caused him to drop both Comet and Peach. Pecan turned 180 as fast as a carkol fueled by pent up hatred. 

“WHAT DO YOU WANT, CED!” 

“Why, Hops and I  are simply trying to continue our gym challenge just like you are. Honestly, Pex, that’s quite rude of you to say.” 

“RUDE!? YOU BURNED THE BACK OF MY HAIR” 

“Pardon” The blonde teen gazed at Pecan with innocent bewilderment, "OH! Hops must’ve been training a new ember attack, I’m sorry that he interrupted your stroll”, his smirk masked its true intentions with simple naivety.   

“You know full well what you two were doing” 

The pompous white guy’s smug smirk opposed Pecan’s anger which angered him even more. Their squabble grew greater and greater, that the two disregarded any of their surroundings. And like the hype-girl she is, Peach refused to leave her emo cousin in the dust for once. She stood between the two and attempted to outspeak the two. But alas, her contribution only made the argument more haywire. With everything spiraling out of control, Comet can barely focus on one particular person.  Scorbunny was prepping up another fireball, Pecan and “Cedar” were bickering, Peach was fueling the fire of the argument, and soon enough, another guy was walking towards them, it was havoc.   

Seconds before Pecan could tell “Slasher” its first move to use, he can feel a firm grip on his shoulder. Peach looked up upon the lurking shadow that overcast her. A somewhat middle-aged man with long hair that had a gradient of blonde to brown and freckles. 

“Morning Cedar", he turned to Pex, "Pecan, I sure hope nothing is going wrong” 

Out of shame and politeness, Pecan shifted his head down, ”No sir.” 

“Absolutely not, Father, we were just discussing about scheduling my upcoming tutoring session” 

Pecan gave the blonde nuisance a stare colder than the ice that covers Rockwind,”...Sure” 

“Well, that’s great to hear! I’m expecting to hear great things during your trip, Mr. Apple”  

“Yes, sir” 

And with a simple nod and a gentle smile, he let go of the two boys and continued his way to a nearby train station, adjacent to Spintwelle. Cedar waved farewell to his father before making a quick turn to Pecan, ”Toodaloo, Pex” he mocked before skipping away from the group without a care in the world. Pecan could only scowl. 

Comet waited until the dust settled, ”You know them?” 

"It's work-related” he gave a tired sighed, “Let’s just try and reach town, I’ll buy lunch.” 

In silent solidarity, both Peach and Comet nod to agree and allowed Pecan to lead the way to the village.   

[nestleswritingblog]

PnF- Introduction

Eyes were closed, shielded from what was upon them.  However, that laughter broke that protection.  They jolted into action, opening their eyes when they heard that voice again.  Once again, they're destined to be in the same scenario.  It was black, pitch black.  There was barely a difference between their eyes being closed or open.  The only thing that had any light or color was their own appearance.  They turned left and right, but it was still just the same ignoring midnight.  But they've been here before, and they know where to go.  They took a deep breath before sprinting forward.  The only sound that emanated through the black empty space was their heavy breathing and their feet tapping on the watery-ground with each step. With each running step, it felt like no progress was being made. But at this point, they had nothing to lose. "Just show yourself already!”

At that point, they were seething, desperate to see something, anything.  But there, in the distance, two eyes whose color resembled the heathers outside radiated through the endless shadows.  And they were getting closer.  They continued onward, faster and faster before it was too late to see the gaping mouth of mortal danger began to form through the darkness. 6:30 AM.  Those digits rang through the room as it slapped Comet back to consciousness.  

"So much for fighting"

Comet groaned, dragging themselves out of bed to stop the alarm.  Taking a glance through their window, it was still dark with only the small cracks of a rising sun just around the corner. It would be healthier to just go back to bed and wait for the bright star to waltz to their house, but they dreaded the thought of their next meeting with that...beast. Plus, it wouldn't be that bad to start the day early.  Getting ready for the day was more sluggish than ever.  Feeling like a goodra in its swampy habitat. But with a shower and some brushed teeth, at least they'd feel like a less gooey goodra. With each step concocting the horrid screeches of wooden stairs, Comet pitter-pattered down to the reach for a glass of milk and a cereal box for a simple breakfast. 6 AM grew to 9 AM as the indigo and turquoise sky delved into a refreshing pink and sun-kissed orange, as the sun began to peek out of the mountains. Comet was too focused on their Gameboy to care about minor things like the morning.  However, that focus would be cut short as a man whose hair was veiled with identical colorful green hair, albeit longer, approached the same room.

"Hey kiddo, you're up early. Guess you finally changed your mind on the challenge eh?", He had an uplifting smile, but it was no use as the only response he got was the scowl of his child.  His smile disappeared.

"I know you're not as excited to go compared to the other kids, but I know how your friends want you to join.  Plus, it might help you explore more than just this farm." 

Comet could only roll their eyes before facing their attention back to their console.  

"Say, why don't I take you to the lab myself?"

"What?"

"The way to the lab is a long way from here, I can come along with you and I can even tell you my days during my gym challenge! "

"Nope.", Comet sprint into their room to grab their bag only to quickly scurry to the front door.

"Are you sure, bud?"

"Positive.", they shut the door. They turned around only to see a yellow flying creature.

"Oh, hi abr-"

Comet's remark was cut short by their quick disappearance, which soon led their father to shriek in horror. In a flash, the once murky forest scenery transformed into a lab with a swinging blinding light like it was a sick magic trick for shits and giggles.  They frantically looked around.  Shelves filled row to row with fossils and planted plants of all kinds.  An aipom swung isle to isle like the lab was its own playroom. Along with that, Comet could identify two people in the room; a little girl with an orange hijab and peach dress and a scrawny teen with two shirts whose skull logo matched their earrings and a metallic right arm.

"What took you so long, star-kid?”

"I was- abra- Was that your abra?", they immediately stumbled on their words like a dancer without any instructions.

"Maybe, maybe not, but maybe you were taking too long!" the girl huffed as she crossed her arms.

"But there's barely anyone here." 

"Well, maybe they already got their pokemon already because you were taking too long!"

"No they didn't! He hasn't been here all day?" the teen intervened

She glared daggers at her cousin, "But still!"

"Weren't you supposed to be checking outside?"

"I got bored! Plus, Comet was more important. It's nearly 10!"

He didn't say anything else but pointed to the door.  Peach sighed as exaggerated as she could. Her feet dragged her out of the door but still had the effort to stare back at them both. Pecan stared back at her before turning back to Comet, "Sorry about Peachy"

"How long have you two been here?"

"8 AM probably, maybe 7, either way, pops should've been here an hour ago at least."

"So, you're telling me this trip was a waste?"

"I didn't say that! You know how he is."

Comet's eyes did a full circle, but their eyes darted back to the window once the two could hear Peach banging on the window the get their attention.  Although the fragile invisible barrier left Peach silent through the walls, Pecan and Comet could see her mouthing something while pointing upward.  At that time, the two can hear a faint noise.  In fact, it sounded like…screaming.  But before they could fully identify it, the ceiling crumbled to pieces as a light-pink fast force brought it to the cold ground.  Peach immediately kicked the door open before charging towards the desk.

"Uncle Cherry! Are you ok!"

"Pops… wake up"

Other than crumbles of the ceiling and potted plants falling to their demise, it was silent, especially from the man who just dropped right in front of Comet.

"...Is he dead?"

Silence still lingered.  But out of nowhere, a tall stick of a man with fluffy pink hair and a matching boa, along with cartoonish glasses, sprung up like a kid on a trampoline.

"Morning kiddos, you guys are early!"

"…It's 10, you're late" Pecan pointed at the clock that was hanging adjacent to the door.

Even with their opaque glasses, the man looked confused by the teen's remark before facing their attention to a clearly broken watch.  He soon looked at the room’s clock and then back at him. "Huh, I guess it is… WELP, it's better late than never!"

"So, where's our starters?" 

 "Don't got 'em" 

"Whaddya mean you don't got them?"

Brushing the debris off his shirt and hair, the man yanked out his pockets and searched endlessly through what seems to be a boa full of infinite space, "None, zilch, zero."

"Then, where are they?"

"That's the thing. It's a scavenger hunt!"

All three of them looked confused, "Excuse me?"

"There's only three of them, so it shouldn't be that hard. Besides, the first one is here as we speak."

 All three of the challengers looked at each other in sheer disbelief before observing the lab up, down, sideways, behind, under and over.  But all the professor did was waggle his index finger back forth while clicking his tongue before his lunge towards his pink boa and receiving a small piece of paper.

"bright as the morning sun, but timid as a pichu, the only way you're going to find this pokemon is to look past the naked eye."

The riddle riddled in the challengers' minds. Peach pondered, "If we have to look past the naked eye, then it must be invisible"

"Do we have paint" Comet asked

"Nope, only oil"

"We can use that"

"Why do we need paint?"

"So we can see it, duh?"

Pecan ignored the younger two's bickering as he looked through the nicks and cranny on each wall corner and edge until they felt a bump.

"Huh?"

He glanced down at his feet where Pecan saw an underground burrow through the off-white tiles.  Transforming his right hand into a small shovel, big enough for the trail, the teen began to chip off the run-down floor tiles and dug.  Piles and piles of dirt began to pile up, but still, there was nothing.  Pecan sighed, "maybe it was just a drilbur or something." He dug up one more pile and there, a small orange orb of a head looked up when finding its earthy protection was no longer there.  Pecan yelped, instantly alerting the group and the snake. His dad gasped, "GRAB IT GOTHNUT BEFORE IT GETS AWAY!" Pecan changed the shovel into a mechanical claw as it extended to follow the now fleeing pokemon. For a few seconds, Pecan stood there patiently, waiting for his hand to retrieve back the creature.  And just like a patient fisher, he finally grabbed it. Reeling back his claw hand only to see an orange, black and white snake, swirling around like a morpeko in their electro ball through the grasp of the claw.  "Chill out, lil snake dude" Pecan calmed down the spinning snake or at least attempted to.  But then, the snake stopped just to stare directly at the emo dressed teenager. It was concerning for a bit. But, the older kid was somewhat relieved by the lack of retaliation.  But the snake continued to stare and stare and stare.  It was to the point that it was becoming alarming to Pecan, deciding to look away from the scornful stare.  And good thing he did as he finally took note of the silver liquid that was beginning to drip on the white floor.  Pecan screamed in horror as he retreated his melting hand before any more damage could be done, but leaving the snake to the hands of gravity.

"DAD! HELP!!"

Pecan caught it with their hand.  But with the scales feeling other than the scorching sand, the critter hopped out of one hand to another like a bouncy ball. 

"YOU GOTTA GRAB HOLD OF IT FOR DEAR LIFE LIKE A GYM BADGE OF HONOR THAT A WHITE CHILD IS TRYING TO GET RID OF, PECK"

"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN"

"GRAB IT!!!!"

Pecan was juggling the ferocious snake back and forth, hand to interchangeable tools, trying to find a conductor that would be easy to the touch.  But alas, nothing would work. Peach's head raced with thoughts to help her cousin until one particular idea jumped. "BLANKET! BLANKET" she cupped her hand into a cone-like a speakerphone Comet was taken aback by this remark. But, with one quick look at Pecan's morphing hand, they realized what she was implying.

"BLANKET, GOTH, BLANKET"

Even through his panic, he could understand what the group was saying.  As the snake was in the air, just like Pecan's fate, he morphed his right hand into a blanket, letting the critter have a soft landing. And for Pecan: a sort of glove.  

"Congrats, bucko! Got yourself a cizzlar... with only a few casualties'' the pink-haired guy walked up to his son and picked him up by the afro like a white guy picking up a fish for a photo.  

"Please don't tell me I have to catch the other two."

"Hopefully not" The professor turned to the younger two, pointing at them, "That's for you two to do!" 

While Comet was shocked, Peach beamed in enthusiasm, nearly jumping, "Where!"

"Slow down your mudsdales, Peachy," his hand blocked her, "the next two aren't too far off. In fact, the next one is just outdoors!"

"Then let's go!"

"But what about the pokeballs and dex?" Comet nudged Peach's shoulder

"Please don't let it be another scavenger hunt" Pecan was still on the ground, more deflated than a balloon.

"No need!" Out of nowhere, the professor had three bags while an orange floating rotom-phone floats around him. "Catch"

Three bags lunge at the three challengers.  While Comet and Peach swiftly caught theirs with ease, Pecan was taken aback as his attention towards his new pokemon would be postponed by a bag to the face.  The orange rectangle took its time to judge the three in silence as it soon floated to Comet, "This lil' buddy is gonna help you through your adventure!”

"Is that it?" Comet asked as they cupped their hands for the small electronic

"I believe so!"

"Then come on!" Peach grabbed both Comet and Pecan by the end of their shirts, trying to drag them out of the door with as much strength as she could gather.

"We're gonna! We're gonna!" Pecan reassured her as he placed his cooling buddy on his shoulder before taking his time to brush off any dirt he had and got up on his feet.  Comet didn't try to fight back with Peach as they just followed.   As the three were being dragged out of the door, Comet stopped mid-exit, "What about the riddles, professor Chirisach!?" He gasped as if the thought finally came back like a hard-hitting baseball, "Here!" he galloped up towards the door before it finally closed.  The two sheets of paper slid through the tiny openings of the door, letting the wind guide their paths now. If it weren't for Pecan's comparable height, those pieces of paper would've been anyone's grabs. 

"What they say!" 

He reeled back both of the riddles to his face, "One says Hidden with their tails, the beast will roar with pride." 

"And the other?"

"You will fear the one who brought down tons before you, but it's up for you to trust that it won't take you too."

"Sounds a bit counter-intuitive don't ya think?" 

Pecan shrugged, "Hey, at least it's not my problem."

The only thing stopping them now is the mile worth of a Nile, the reeds, and themselves from the challenges that await them now.