The door to Rika's apartment was being unlocked, lock rattling in its cage. Objectively weird, because Rika was home and she was expecting no more guests.
The door opened, a women stepped through, with ridiculously long and thick hair, cut with blue accents. "Rika—my apologies for dropping in unannounced, but I just wanted to check on—oh." She paused. There, pausing in their conversation, were three unexpected guests.
There was Larry, and there was Hassel. And a third man who she did not recognise. They were seated at a table with four chairs, an array of cards in front of them, and the ensemble facing a wall-mounted TV. Playing a rerun of one of Rika's preferred telenovelas on mute.
"Boss." Larry greeted. Hassel waved, with a smile screwing up his crow eyes. The third man raised his hand perfunctorily, a greeting of a stranger. Geeta noted all of them with a polite but dismissive smile. "Rika's just freshening up, she'll be back soon."
"Thank you Larry." Geeta came forwards and rested her arms on the empty chair. "I'll just wait here, please. Forget I'm here."
Ever dutiful Larry obeyed, "Linh," he gestured to the man Geeta did not recognise. "Your turn?" He said.
Linh, presumably although Geeta has made bigger mistakes and has avoided consequences through being quiet about it, coughed, and checked his hand. He placed two cards face down on the pile, "Two queens. And Hassel, what were you saying about your student? A... Darcy, right?"
Larry cut in, flipped the two cards, showing a king and a three. "Bullshit."
Linh scowled, and took the entire pile, adding it to his hand.
"Work on your poker face young sprout!" Hassel chuckled at the look on his face. "And yes, Darcy. Fine young woman. Why, her latest submission brought me to tears! And, three two's."
Larry laid down four cards. "Four queens."
"Oh screw off." Linh flipped over the cards good-naturedly. "There, see? Garbage. Take your cards back." He turned to Hassel.
"And I thought you didn't like those sort of... well it's a troll piece. It's absurdism taken to the point where it’s mocking the viewer."
Hassel nodded, "Naturally, I'm fully aware I am biased towards naturalism. Nothing Darcy could make could appeal to me, not without destroying her unique style. But that is precisely why I like her. Such passion! Such unafraid baring of her soul! I have instructed her to make me hate each and every one of her sculptures more and more.
"Darcy has succeeded every time, I couldn't be prouder."
Linh's eyes widened."You're not her target audience, you can't be. So she must seek to appeal to her fans as much as possible, instead of creating something milquetoast and bland."
Hassel grinned, and reached over, and gently laid a hand on Linh's knee. "Precisely, join my art class."
Linh gently brushed the hand off, but he smiled apologetically. "Ah, would like that, I think." He paused, "But I'm actually going to be busy for the foreseeable future. Almost enough now. Three two's."
"Your country tour?" Hassel said. "Two one's."
Geeta, still leaning on the empty chair, had been content to watch in silence—until now. "Planning a trip? May I ask about that?"
"Oh, I never did the badge challenge in my youth." Linh remarked. "So I'm going to do it soon, T-M. Once I've got enough."
"Never had the opportunity?" Geeta asked.
"Yes—actually."
Geeta smiled, "Well, I'm happy you've chosen to have your much overdue journey here. Paldea's a fine place to adventure. Safe and strong. You'll be in good hands here."
Hassel chuckled. "She's very proud about that, Linh."
"Why wouldn't I be? I'm proud that my country is so safe that many children can journey. Just look at Poppy!" She kept her smile, then she frowned, "Although, few do. Children that young tend to prefer staying with their parents then adventure."
Three people gave her questioning glances. Then Linh pointed to the pile. "Also, Cheat Hassel. Don't think we didn't see th—Don't! Pull a face, you're at one card, of course someone will call!"
Hassel chuckled and shook his head. He flipped the cards and showed off two one's. Linh groaned, Larry tossed down his cards in disgust. "Ah, Poppy. Real adventurous girl. This'll be her third gym challenge, you know?"
"Third?" Linh asked, "Why would she do it again, then?"
Geeta answered that. "To train up a new Elite Four capable team, of course. Completely unnecessary, but it lets her have her fun."
A non-committal noise, letting the conversation die. Larry made an outrageously audacious lie and was called out for it. And Geeta let her gaze drift around the room. Waiting for Rika to come back.
Linh broke the silence again, "It's surprising that this country's so peaceful, if kids can roam the country side with a pack of fire breathing Pokémon. Or water breathing, or hurricane summoning. Surely somewhere out there, there is a band of rugrats looking for people to happen to."
Before anyone could respond, Linh continued.
"It’s a wonder Poppy hasn’t started any trouble. You know how impulsive kids at that age can get," Linh muttered offhandedly.
Truly? Geeta hadn't considered so—not before. But then Geeta did not keep a close eye on Poppy as she was out there, having fun.
And, last year, there were a group of trainers running around and being... disruptive. At Poppy's second run. Poppy wouldn't have taken part, likely stopping it if she'd stumbled on them. But still, having Poppy in the area while Geeta was handling it would have been... chaotic.
"Alright! I'm back, what'd I miss—Geeta?" Rika stumbled, surprised at her visitor. She rubbed the back of her head.
"Ah, Rika. I was looking for you." Geeta stood up and smoothly moved past Rika, a light touch guiding her away for some privacy. "I wanted to follow up on some things..."
There was a man sitting at the battle court on the roof of the League's headquarters. Geeta was watching him through her office's blinds. He was sitting on the edge, leg's hanging off. By his side, a Bramblin.
Geeta glanced up towards the clock on her wall. Almost time for lunch, she called it early, and came down the elevator. Curious.
"Linh yes? I don't recall this area being open to the public." She called out, stride quick but unhurried.
"I gathered," Linh unexpectedly confessed. "Given the context clues. But is it really trespassing if no one checks?"
"Yes." Geeta said, but instead of escorting Linh out, she stood behind him, staring out towards the horizon. The headquarters sat at the top of a slope, hugging the great caldera of Paldea. It overlooked Mesagoza, with its skyline cutting up the great hills in the distance.
"Darn. You hear that Menace?" Linh looked down at the Bramblin, "Guess we're criminals. Might as well enjoy the view before it's jail for a thousand years."
"...It is quite a view." Geeta agreed. "But no, there's no harm staying up here. It'll be 'a little secret'."
Quiet, as they watched the world. Linh fiddled with the plastic container, bits of leftover rice stuck to the inside. Bramblin dozed in the sun, and Geeta simply took in the air.
A minute passed, before Geeta noticed Linh wasn't watching the view, but scrolling on his phone.
"What could be better to look at then Paldea?" Geeta chuckled.
Linh startled, and then turned. "Mmm, better—not at all. But it's more stimulation then the land." He mumbled to himself the next part, 'Internet's still got its grip on me'. Then spoke up, "'M just doomscrolling—browsing the media and the algorithm's demented desire to show sad things."
He flipped the phone around, a rolling list of news articles on LCDs. "Look—story about copyright theft. Story about some influencer doubling down on being terrible. And here! Some kid getting hypothermia because they saw a Pokémon in a blizzard and rushed out without thinking."
Geeta saw a flash of cracked skin, "That's enough, thank you." She looked away. She had heard the horror stories, and had no interest in seeing any more. Not in her shining Paldea!
...Although she weeps to say, Geeta knows that her Paldea isn't as safe as she wants it to be. The air taxi's have the supplies and training needed to pararescue anyone within range. But their coverage isn't infinite, and sometimes an injury can tip over before someone can arrive and stabilise.
And what if Poppy runs into those troubles? Not any danger from the wild Pokémon—not with how strong Poppy is. But from the environment itself. If she gets lost or her equipment gets damaged or—
Well. Geeta won't dare to think about it any further.
"... Terrible situation. Journeys shouldn't be like that." Geeta muttered.
"Huh? No—this wasn't—ah." Linh shifted. "You worry that Poppy may encounter something like this? When she'll leave in...what, a month from now?"
Geeta sighed, and stepped forwards. She ignored Bramblin's warning hiss and thorny vine and sat besides Linh. Her legs to her chest, immaculate dark fabric stained at the bottom by grass. "Her safety has been on my mind more recently. Yes. She's handled herself just fine both times before. But... well. It's proper to worry still."
Because Geeta was leaning forwards, she did not see Linh's satisfied smile at that statement. "Well." He began. "Perhaps, if you worry that much. Why not get Poppy to delay—or just not—go? Can't get into any trouble or danger if she's safely home."
Geeta could—no, no... "It's not impossible. But I don't want to hurt Poppy like that—she want's to go, her parents approve of it. But she's strong, she's Elite Four. Her Pokémon are strong—I'm proud of every trainer in Paldea, 'her shining jewels'. But most of all her."
Linh frowned. One leg crossed over the other, and finger tapping on the ankle. Something unreadable was across his face.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Its not about how powerful her Pokémon are, its about whether she should even be unsupervised. He did not say. "As you say, she is a strong trainer." He said instead.
There's a community centre in every district, and each one hosts a party for the blocks abound for various reasons. In this case—a fine couple has married, and their families decided to splash money around. A big excuse for communities to gather around and mingle, pensioners with tennis-ball-canes and old families with pedigree bellies and business suits on break and kids with sticky fingers.
Geeta makes a habit of being seen at a few.
Linh, for instance, is lurking near the buffet table; exploiting the bacon wrapped shrimp. He's surrounded by old people from old money, sharing their greatest hits and doing the same. Stories from their past, with only the slight exaggeration common to many a fishing tale. They put up the air's of urban gentry, but they're regulars at bingo night.
Geeta leaned on the balcony railing above, listening in. She noticed Linh's glance upwards, and gave a little wave. Linh nodded back.
"Ah, the summer of 'seventy nine! Now that was a year." The current spinner of yarn was Gilbert. Old, very well to do, with a waistcoat and a moustache straight out of a regency drama. "A great big summer storm—it caught me right as I left the grand underground! Why, were it not for my brilliant Toady," he gestured to the Seismatoad besides him, in a pristine valet outfit and holding Gilbert's platter. Very incongruous to the setting. "I would have been swept away!"
"So, your the kind that prefers to explore alone, mm? Just you and your Pokémon against the world!"
"Precisely my boy!" Gilbert laughed, and clapped Linh on the back a little to hard. "Oh, I'm sure many a man will say otherwise, but I've always found a solo hike is best!" Gilbert turned questioning. "Do you say otherwise?"
"Going with a companion just sounds nicer. Doesn't it? Someone to talk to. To relate to. To help you and get helped back." Linh started wistfully, before turning into something more sly. "And someone to drag you out of any messes caused."
Gilbert laughed uproariously. "Reminds me of dear Lea! Why, have I ever told you about..." Geeta didn't listen, her glass hung from her fingertips. A drop of wine trailing down it.
"Someone to look out for you, huh..." She mused, looking into the distance. Poppy's already had two solo journeys, perhaps she'll like a companion for her next one?
Linh's boss was a very lax one, all things considered. The 'don't bother coming back from lunch for a half hour. I won't be there either,' kind. He was Sakai Hannei, short, smug like a cat, and very much in love with his husband, Adam.
He was also leaning back in his chair, balanced on two legs. Taking in the news Linh broke. "Leaving in two months, huh. Thanks for the heads up, but its a bit far away, ne? No two weeks notice."
"It's not like this is a weekend thing, I'll be gone awhile. Aiming to get things done within the allotted vacation days, but I'm probably going over."
"Mmh." Saika plucked a bit of ham from the bento box in front of him and tossed it to the ground. Where Casket, Linh's Greavard, fought Saika's Lechonk for it. "Actually, I think I have a few things still at home that could be useful to you. Notes, maps to hidden areas, a journal."
"Oh you don't have t—"
"I'll have to check with Smashie." Let it never be said that Saika doesn't love his husband, because he'll never miss a chance to drop his affections to Mr. Smasher. He leaned forwards, his chair legs clacking against the floor, "Think of it as a substitute for your pay raise. Cuz—" he waved over to the door to the server room, "You've done well enough."
"...Thanks boss."
"So, yeah—it'll take a bit, but I'm sure it's somewhere in the attic. Should be able to give it sometim—"
A knock on the door behind them. Both looked up. "Come in!" Saika called.
It was Geeta, her hair hanging out as she leaned in. "Excuse me, is a mister Linh here? I'll like to have some words to him. In private."
"Oh, Champion! Of course," Saika immediately stood up, hastily packing up some stuff. His food, a few pens, Casket and Lechonk. He was less packing up his things and more picking up items in an effort to seem busy.
The door shut behind Geeta as Saika hurried through it. Arm full of puppy, pig, and food. He didn't have the spare hands to keep his food from being eaten, but getting out of the champions way was more important. C'mon, she was the Champion!
"So," Linh said, once privacy was established. "What can I do for you?" He asked, casually. No celebrity worship in him.
Geeta took what was Saika's seat, her hands lacing together. "So. I'm... sure, you are aware about our dear Poppy. And her... situation... with her planned journey?"
"I am." Linh said.
"And I hear from my delightful secretary, that you are planning your own journey, one later."
"I am." With a hint of a questioning lilt.
"And I was just thinking." Geeta looked down at the desk, and idly adjusted the lamp on it. Two fingers on the top and a thumb on the bottom. She tilted it up and met Linh's gaze. "Paldea's a large place, perfect for adventure. For exploration. But it's also..."
"Dangerous?"
"No, no. But there are things to be cautious about. Thing's that no normal journeying child would would stumble upon. Poppy's no normal child."
"And...?"
"Welll." Geeta dithered. "It would be nice if Poppy had someone to keep an eye on her. Someone to make sure she's eating well—and calling back home and doing her homework. And yes, to keep her out of any trouble that may occur."
Linh leaned back and crossed his arms, "I know when someone's trying to manipulate me—you want me to volunteer to follow Poppy around Paldea."
Geeta leaned forwards, "...If you're offering."
"I wouldn't do it for free." Linh lied as easily as he breathed. "And while I am close to having enough money saved up, I don't have everything."
"Oh, money is nothing to get in the way of a journey." Geeta smiled, eyes closed. "Please, allow me to cover that for you. We can even make it offical. A proper job title: Elite Four assistant."
"Then I have nothing to complain about. One journey, two members." Linh nodded firmly. "Was there anything else, 'boss'?"
Geeta stood up, cheerful. "Oh, no. Thank you for your time—I'll leave you to your break." She called back as she walked out of the door. "Keep an eye on your email! We'll make arrangements from there!"
Linh nodded, then glanced at the clock. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. Once satisfied she wasn't coming back, he chuckled.
In that room, by himself, Linh smiled a secret smile. He feared he'd been too subtle, the way puzzle-makers overestimate the obviousness of their clues. But he'd also feared being too obvious. It's threading a needle, but being unaware of the dimensions. It seems, however, that Linh succeeded in his amateur games. After all...
The easiest way to get someone to do what you want is to get them to come to the conclusion themselves.
‘It’s a wonder Poppy hasn’t started any trouble. You know how impulsive kids at that age can get.’
‘Oh no, I was just doomscrolling… Here’s a story about some kid on their journey getting hypothermia.’
‘Going with a companion just sounds nicer. Doesn't it?’
He wanted Poppy to be minded; Geeta wanted Poppy to be minded, he gets hired to pick up things after her. Everyone’s happy!
… Well, no. Linh wanted the pre-teen to be told she can’t just wander around Paldea without parental supervision, but he takes what he can get.
A small barking puppy came through the door. A second later, it opened, Saika.
Linh swivelled his chair and leaned down, a more honest smile on his face as he caught the Greavard. "Oh, did you miss me so much that you ran through the door? Did you miss me girl? Did you?" He pulled her up to his lap and let her push into him as hard as she could.
"She did." Saika said. "It only took thirty seconds before she was pawing at the door. You haven't trained her to handle you going off without her, have you?"
Linh pulled Casket away, doggy-paddling in the air. "No? Why would I?"
There was a man waiting at the gates of the great academy of Mesagoza. It had lessons to all, from young to old. With ridiculously flexible timetables, to accommodate even the most abnormal schedule. And it had a great tradition—one that every lesser school and learning-place in Paldea copies.
In the middle of the school year, a break is offered. The 'Treasure Hunt'. Go anywhere, do anything. Explore, adventure. Find your unique treasure somewhere in Paldea. If you just spend that time lazing around at home. Oh well. If you use that time just keeping up with the lessons offered remotely, oh well. Both are fine, both are accepted.
Most people use the Treasure Hunt as a time to start the Gym Challenge. Most fail and give up before they hit four badges, but they've been doing that for generations. And that makes it a tradition. One the League encourages—so of course Poppy starts her journey at the academy. Even though she doesn't actually go there.
"Hello Mister Linh!" Poppy waved, running up to him. Linh stopped leaning on the gate's pillars. The banner faded where it hung, rubbed raw by countless others leaning on it just as Linh did.
Behind Poppy, a Tinkaton followed. A big bag slung from the head of her hammer. Tinkie was the only Pokémon Poppy would take with her from her own team. Safety, and also someone to lug around her supplies.
"You said your goodbyes?" Linh asked Poppy.
"Yeah!"
"You have your starter Pokémon?"
Poppy nodded, "Mm-mm!" And she released a Pokémon from the shiny and new one at her waist. Five more shrunken ones right by it. The flash of light revealed a Riolu. "Meet Riolu! He's one my dad got me! He's going to evolve into Lucario and—"
And Poppy babbled about all the things Lucario can do. Meanwhile, Linh watched Riolu sniff the air, standing up on his tippy toes. And then sat on the floor and scratched her ears with her legs. Acting like a dog instead of the humanoid jackal he's supposed to be. There were not a single thought behind those eyes. None of sentience or sapience.
Certainly a unique specimen. Linh smiled and nodded, and then spoke in between Poppy's excited breaths.
"Then, and this is most important." Linh continued.
Poppy leaned in.
"Have you told Casket she's a good girl today?" Linh looked down, where Casket was sitting by his feet. Staring forwards dumbly.
Poppy broke into a wide grin. "You're a good girl, Casket!"
Casket did not respond, bar her mouth opening and a dumb tongue tasting the air.
"Then lead the way." Linh gestured. And Poppy ran down the road away from the academy. Arms straight out like an air plane. Linh followed along more sedately, with the sun on his left and the morning chill in the air.
It smelled of fresh beginnings. A fresh start waited and prepared for, gladly taken.
ARC END: HOME.
cool oc who every1 should like!!!) is the idea of where competence in something, becomes a responsibility to do it. Look at Poppy. She’s completely capable of acting in the traditional duties of an E4. Training up strong Pokémon. Fighting off challenges to the Champion. Helping out in disaster situations by being the fuck off big stick that nobody wants to fight.