The crack of dawn shined against my eyelids once more...another day I woke up again. Great.
Yu hasn't spoken to me in ages...Maybe he gave up on me.
"Hey Zorua," I mumbled, sitting up with a heavy grog to my voice, Zorua chimmed from below my bed, still curled up into a fluffy little furball. I couldn't help but smile at that...
With a grunt of effort I lept out of bed, padding to my bag and grabbing my pokeballs. "Alright you guys..."
It's been about twelve years since I've been reincarnated in this world...and in that time I've met pokemon of all different shapes and sizes...I have no idea why arceus decided to bring me here, or what job it had set out for me. But I do know one thing.
I still have to find celebi...but I have to look for jeffery too... I need to see him again.
"Come on out!"
In a burst of red light my team came to be, Eevee, Kabuto and charmeleon...of course with Zorua still in the corner. We've been on the road for quite some time, I think I managed to get a total of six badges? after my rematch in saffron obviously...
"Have you seen a guy around here? brown hair, very messy, probably has a gengar?" I asked around fuschia city, in hopes he'd linger around a bit longer...though no luck.
I stood in the streets, watching as people pass me by with my Pokemon at my feet.
Maybe it's time to move on...
"well...come on, next stop cinnabar island," Zoura couldn't help but look back at the crowd of passers by, before falling into step besides me, Eevee and the others doing the same.
We pathed through vermillion, waiting for the boats to push off as usual...I'm getting weird dejavu from this...the cold morning air bit against my skin as I stared at the empty waters ahead, everyone starting to gather in hopes of claiming themselves a ticket.
"Excuse me sir!" I heard a chippy voice call out to me, the man practically dancing in place, holding up a sign. He wore tight close, that of a performer, his eyes narrow yet gleeful.
"Are you perhaps interested in battling by chance?"
"I suppose--"
"Well would you be interested in our very own contest?!" He shoved the sign in my face, and its as he says...it's a battle contest. "You'll be fighting strong trainers who're also going to cinnabar, and the prize is a ticket to the world's second ever Pokemon drift event!"
"Pokemon...drift?"
"Yeah, it was kinda a thing a year ago, and it was so big they're hosting a second event! Cool right!?"
I took a minute to think about it, wasnt that the thing Chloe left for... Zorua looked up at me, brow furrowing over concerned cyan eyes.
"You wanna see her too, huh bud?" I murmured, the pokemon instantly yipping at my question, bouncing around with energetic wag of the tail.
"Yeah, I'm interested,"
"Then buy these tickets! Don't worry says right here they're approved by the SS.Mary!"
I bought the ticket without anymore second thoughts, holding it with a tightened grip. "O-oh, right."
I looked up to the man. "Have you seen a guy around? Brown messy hair? probably has a Gengar with him?"
He took a minute, leaning his head to the side before shaking his head no. My heart only dropped, my shoulder slumped...disheartened by the news.
"Understood..."
* * *
I laid down in my room they've given to me, staring at the ceiling with a dazed look in my eyes. Zorua leaned against my bed, as though she was trying to get up with me. Eventually she made it up and curled into my side, my hand instantly reaching to pat her head, as though it was a reflex.
"It's just us buddy..." I murmured randomly, Zorua raising her head to look at me with a confused glance. "We don't need anyone else..."
"Just me and my pokemon...right?"
Zorua whimpered and lean into my arm, snuggling closer to my side.
Right, who was I kidding, I'm just saying anything at this point- I know I'll still look for them...
"Attention everyone!!" A familiar voice echoed throughout the ship, causing me to snap up from my bed in attention.
"It has begun! The SS.Mary's very own tournament! All ticket holders meet at the deck this instant or risk being disqualified!"
"That's our queue," I muttered, jumping out of bed and running out into the hall.
THUD.
I someone ran into me the minute I stepped out of the door, both of us knocked to our feet with a groan.
"Watch where you're going..." I grunted, peeking up to see mindy, he girl ruubbing her head, in hopes to dispel the pain aswell.
"Me?! You watch-" She paused, staring at me with eyes of disbelief.
"Ayuna?"
"Mindy?"
"Is-" Before I even got to ask I got cut off, the girl's hand in my face as she stood up aswell. "before you ask me anything, no Chloe isn't with me."
"oh..."
"Are you in the tournament aswell," I pondered.
"Heck yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She announced, pointing to herself with a declarative huff. "I lost before I even got to the top five! So I didn't get a reinvite, that's why I'm here."
"So does that mean..."
"Yeah Chloe got into the top five last year." There was an overwhelming sense of pride hearing that, though guilt also followed...
"Are you just doing this to see Chloe again?"
"Well..."
"Nevermind, that's none of my buisness." She waved off dismissively, walking ahead of me all the while. "just know I wont go easy just cause you two have a lover's quarrel."
"it's not a lover's quarrel!" I snapped, running after her, Zorua soon making way at my feet aswell.
"I don't care what it is! I'm the one who's gonna be claiming those tickets!"
"Over my dead body!"