Chapter 5: Chapter 4 "Top 3/ Choosing"
After waiting for a half an hour, we finally get moving. Several more people showed up, some with parents. The bus isn't full, but it is easily over half full. I notice several things in all of this. One, is that the majority of these kids look at least slightly well off. Even I do, though I'm in much more practical clothes than some of them.
It makes sense though. The families with more money are more able to allow the kids to study and learn the materials needed to even get the NTSP. Otherwise, kids are left to figure out their own starter pokemon. Some people even don't have any pokemon, as they can't afford the cost of raising one. Granted, living on a ranch I have a slight advantage. But not having even a Rattata or a Sentret? I'm not used to seeing people like that.
Out of twenty kids on the bus, I think maybe two are from poorer families. Neither came with their parents, they both are wearing clothes that are well kept but have obviously seen some time, and they are looking at the other kids with looks of both amazement and slight disgust. This is because the other seventeen are obviously the children of the more well to do. Not quite well enough off to send their kids to Pokemon Prep or one of the other official academies. But well enough off that they were either home schooled or tutored to be able to pass the NTSP.
Most of these kids have their parents with them as well, and no one is really sure how to respond to me. On one side, it is obvious that only a few of these kids pay any attention to the Gym Circuit. Only the poorer kids and one or two of the others recognize my mom. Sure, she stopped being a gym leader about a year and a half ago, but that's not long enough to forget who one of the strongest trainers in the region is.
On the other side, the adults are clearly aware exactly who my mom is. And they vary from being near terrified to pretending she doesn't exist. Granted, none of them are at the social level to even casually converse with her according to what "high" society says. Though my mom is much more down to Earth. You almost have to be to work on a ranch.
So our twenty minute ride to the Pokemon Lab is almost comical. Me and my mom are sitting at the front of the bus, and everyone else behind us are conversing at normal levels, but clearly avoiding certain subjects. Like what type of pokemon they want, and what people are hoping for. It doesn't help that at least one of the parents is clearly a reporter. She doesn't come right up and start saying all of the info she's collected to write her story, but when someone asks, "Who is that?" Both me and my mom hear, "That's the number one selectee of the NTSP, Arthur Goldenrod. His mother is the former Gym Leader of Goldenrod City, having just stepped down from the post recently."
The following five minutes of gossip filled speculation tells me everything I think I'll ever need to know about the media. They suck. We hear everything from how Whitney managed to beat my mom's entire team with one pokemon, to my mom stepping down to promote more female gym leaders to the Alliance. I'm not sure why this is such a big deal. I mean, I know why she actually stepped down, but both my parents told me I'm not allowed to tell anyone about it.
Once we arrive, everyone quiets down again as we leave the bus. I have a moment of déjà vu as we look at the lab complex. Something doesn't quite seem right, but I can't figure out what for the life of me. The lab itself is a large complex that covers a large area, and I can see a field and forest that are enclosed by some fences. Part of the lab looks very modern, while other parts look a bit older. Still nice, but it's clear that this lab has grown from something else.
As the bus pulls up to the front of the lab, we see a thin man in a lab coat, with what looks like a sweater on underneath the coat standing at the entrance, with his hands behind his back. He smiles as we get off the bus.
"Nicole," he says, "So good to see you. And this must be Arthur, a pleasure to see you again as well. Though as I recall, the last time I saw you, you were only two or three years old." And that tells me exactly who this is. Professor Elm.
"Good to see you again Professor. It has been a while, now that I'm not officially working for the League." My mom says, giving me a minute to collect myself, as I really didn't know that I had met the Professor before.
"Hello Professor," I say. Think that's the safest response I can give right now. I know he's done a lot of work on Pokemon Eggs. Everything from how to breed, and what pokemon can be bred, to how long an egg will take to hatch once incubated.
He chuckles for a moment, shaking my mom's hand. "Well, let's get this show on the road. If you two will follow me, my assistants will lead the rest to the other available starters."
We quickly leave behind the other kids, as the professor leads us into the lab. As we walk, I see a lot of scientific equipment. In one room, a group of people are observing a herd of Tauros and Miltank through what are obviously cameras. In another, a pair of researchers are manipulating holographic images of different fire type pokemon.
Finally, we enter another room which looks a bit like a garden conservatory. I can see several pokemon wandering around, though they are all first stage pokemon. Hoppip, a pair of Mareeps, and a small group of Woopers are wandering around or playing. But more importantly are the two people who are facing each other next to a park bench.
Ethan Gold and Lyra Crystal.
"I'm just saying, contracts with a few of the big companies isn't that hard to negotiate. Especially when you've got the reputation of a NTSP top three."
"And I'm saying you're an idiot who lets money go to his head. Those sponsors don't give a damn about you. If you were smart, you'd listen and take cover under the Contract Annulment Act. You haven't even signed yet, but if you had, that's your only chance."
Apparently we showed up in the middle of an argument. The Professor just smiles and says, "These two are constantly on opposite sides of just about everything."
At that, the two look over and see us, with Lyra looking relieved to see the Professor. Meanwhile Ethan is looking at me with a weird look.
Of course, I promptly ignore him. He really isn't worth the time and effort anyway. I can already sort of tell that I'm not going to be fond of him. With light brown hair and hazel eyes that drift from green to gold at the center, I can already tell that if I wasn't here, he would have been in first place. Enough money and people willing to invest in you will do that. But more importantly, the slight smirk on his face tells me he knows that, and isn't impressed by the fact I got first place instead.
Either that, or he's thinking since my last name has Gold in it, I might be part of one of the side branches of his own clan. In which case, he could tell me to do something, and I won't have any choice.
I look up at my mom for a moment, before motioning her to bend down so I can whisper in her ear. When she does I whisper, "He's going to try and start something. Already know. How far down can I put him before it becomes a problem?"
My mom stands back up, laughing. Then she says, "Honey, if the Gold family thinks that they can try to insist we are part of them again, I will gladly give them a repeat lesson. But more importantly, you can rub his face in the dirt, and as long as you do it for good reasons, I'll support it."
Now Professor Elm is putting his head in one hand while looking at the floor, Lyra looks very interested, and Ethan is glaring at me. Ha, like I was going to deal with your crap!
Before anything else can happen, the Professor says, "Please, not here. If you want to start with the families and social status bits, please do it after you get your pokemon. Now," he turns to look at me, "Arthur, you are first. I'll let these three out so you can get to know them." As he finishes, he pulls out three pokeballs and lightly tosses them up where they open and release their residents.
Sure enough, the Royal starters of any region are kind of awe inspiring, even at the first stage. Totodile quickly looks around, before jumping up onto the bench to start…. dancing? Weird, but okay. Cyndaquil looks around and starts to explore. Meanwhile, Chikorita is … looking at us in an almost state of panic!?
I slowly move closer to Chikorita, getting down to it's level and make some calming noises. When I'm sitting cross legged in front of it, it jumps into my lap, quickly curling up in the open spot between my legs and carefully looking out at everyone else. I take some more time to calm it down, but I already know. Neither Ethan or Crystal can handle this one. She's so timid, she's basically terrified of everything around her.
I say without even looking up, "I found my partner Professor."
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Smileykiller2797
Smileykiller2797 Not what anyone expected, was it?
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