Hello all. Here is the next chapter. Sorry for the delay; it took me three hours yesterday to write it. Enjoy it, ladies and gentlemen.


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Chapter 2
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It has almost been a week since Vinzer adopted his Torchic. He had been taking Torchic to the park daily and their relationship got closer. Today, however, Vinzer decided to pay his old instructor at the Ceness Open Pokémon University a visit.

“Torchic, today we will visit an old friend of mine at the university which I studied in,” informed Vinzer as he laced up his shoes. Torchic responded by giving Vinzer a sweet chirp. Once again, his front door opened automatically as he and Torchic neared it.

“Hiros three-two-eight. Shut down all apartment systems, please,” he requested his apartment defense system.

As always, Vinzer entered the advanced teleportation pad, which acted as an elevator in his apartment complex, or in this case, every other complexes around the Onaria region. Once in the lobby, Vinzer headed to the guest room where there were free newspapers to read.

Once again, no interesting news, thought Vinzer as he glanced through the popular newspaper, The Ceness Chronicles. Apparently, no news were interesting to Vinzer except the ones about the annual Pokémon league and the new advancement in Onarian technology. Vinzer returned the newspaper to the stand and headed out into the bright outdoors.

The subway station wasn’t too far from Vinzer’s apartment complex, but it did take him about ten minutes to get there, for Torchic was floating quite slowly. Once at the entrance of the station, Vinzer explained to Torchic that this is a rapid transport system that connects all corners of Ceness Island underground. He paced twenty steps into the station when a teleportation pad was in sight. Once on it, he said: “Ticket booth,” and they were immediately transported to another room, but much crowded. The ticket machines revealed a hologram of the entire Ceness Subway System and its stations. When Vinzer approached the machine, he heard a robotic sound from it greeting him and his Torchic.

“Greetings, gentlemen. Which destination do you wish to go?” said the ticket machine.

“University station, please,” replied Vinzer.

“Affirmative, that will be two Onars per person, please,” informed the ticket machine.

“All right, here,” said Vinzer as he inserted two silver coins into the coin slot.

“Your tickets are ready, gentlemen. Enjoy your ride!” stated that machine as a phosphoric card came out of the ticket slot.

“Thank you,” said Vinzer as he headed for a queue at the teleportation pad labeled “Platform 1” on the top. Passenger after passenger teleported to the first platform when Vinzer finally got his turn. He inserted his ticket into a slot in the teleportation pad, and it immediately came out. Simultaneously, he teleported.

Platform one wasn’t nearly as crowded as the previous chamber, but there was a large number of passengers waiting for the next train bound for University Station, which came once every three minutes. Torchic, apparently, was ahead of Vinzer now when they neared the boarding platform, which had a glass screen-door separating the platform and the rail. The curious chick Pokémon flew a little higher to take a brief look at what’s beyond the platform. Once it saw the single rail on the other side of the screen-door, it immediately floated down onto Vinzer’s shoulders.

One minute later, Vinzer heard a feminine voice from an intercom: “Attention passengers: The University-bound train is approaching, please stand clear of the platform screen-door.”

Ah, at last thought an impatient Vinzer. The lights got brighter at the end of the tunnel, revealing a train which looked liked a bullet at the front. Torchic flinched a little, but managed to keep itself airborne. It stopped abruptly, opening both the train and the platform screen-door. The interior of the train looked as if it was made an hour ago. All the seats aligned along the left and right walls were all perfectly polished. Vinzer managed to get himself a seat and briefly closed his eyes, but he knew all too well that this trip won’t be long enough for a nap.

The speed of the train was undeniable; it took only ten minutes to reach the terminus of University Station, which was roughly twenty-five kilometers from his home station. Back outdoors, Vinzer wasted not one second to find his old university. He knew the university area as if it was his life-time home, and dashed quickly to the lawn where he first set foot on the university grounds. Without hesitating, he ran directly towards the structure with the word “Technology” on the top, with his Torchic still perched on his shoulders. The automatic doors at the entrance opened as Vinzer neared it and five meters behind it was a teleportation pad. Once on the pad, he immediately recalled his knowledge of where his old instructor’s lab was.

“Forth floor,” Vinzer stated as his vision shifted from the familiar lobby to a lab.

“Ah, Vinzer! How are you, my boy?” asked an old man with a British accent.

“Hello, Professor Larkin. It’s great to see you again. Are you busy at the moment?” said Vinzer in return.

“No, Vinzer. I’ve just completed my research of the new Pokédex. Unfortunately, it has some flaws,” replied the professor.

“That sounds truly amazing. I would like to tell you that I have a new Pokémon,” said Vinzer as he revealed his Torchic.

“Ah, a Torchic, eh. Where did you get it?” Larkin inquired.

“This may sound disturbing, but he was...rejected by his former trainer,” answered Vinzer. “I guess that trainer had no ethical sense.”

“Ah, yes. It is disturbing to see a Pokémon rejected. I wonder how many Pokémon will have to endure that. It may be a lot, and it’s really sad,” said Larkin.

“But I am a different person, Torchic will be a life-friend of mine,” said Vinzer with a small smile.

“Yes, I can see that, Vinzer. You are a kind heart person from the beginning. Never have I imagined you being an abusive person,” said Larkin, as he put his hand on Vinzer shoulder and gently patting Torchic. “ I don’t believe you have Pokéballs, do you?”

“Unfortunately no, Professor. I didn’t have the time to go to the mainland and buy some,” informed Vinzer.

“Well, I will give you six Pokéballs as of right now, which one of them is for your Torchic to rest in,” said Larkin as he reached for a large box full of red and white metallic orbs. Vinzer has always wonder what those orbs were made of. Maybe they were made from a powerful alloy which never breaks? No, if they were, you can capture any Pokémon successfully without even touching it. It still remains as a mystery for Vinzer.

“Thank you so very much, Professor Larkin. I can’t simply thank you enough for your kindness,” said a grateful Vinzer as he received the six Pokéballs.

“Well, Vinzer. It seems you have what it takes to compete in the Onarian League!” said Larkin smiling.

“You know, Professor, I was thinking about that since I graduated; however, I needed money for a trip back to the mainland, so I couldn’t begin my quest straight away. That’s why I’ve worked on this island for the past three years. I was overjoyed when I met Torchic, because now, I have my first Pokémon and I can finally return and see my family,” replied Vinzer, giving him the same smile.

“The ship, S.S. Eauis for the mainland, will arrive here in next week, I suggest you start packing your bags today!” said Larkin. “You will also be getting a monthly salary while on your journey.”

“That’s great, Professor. It would be nice to earn a neat living while traveling!” said Vinzer, who seemed to be almost joking.

“Well, we will meet again before you leave Ceness, good bye for now, Vinzer,” said Larkin nodding.

“Good bye, Professor. I’ll see you next week before my journey begins!” Vinzer said as he reached out his hand for a handshake. The two men shook hands and Vinzer left for home.

It took him almost fifteen minutes to reach home, but once there, he was glad a new journey awaits him. What will he encounter? What gyms will he fight? Will he meet Torchic’s old trainer? All those questions clouded his mind for a moment as he reached the twentieth floor of is apartment complex, his home floor.

“Hiros three-two-eight. Operate all systems in the apartment, please,” Vinzer called out.

“Access code denied!” a robotic voice shot back.

“What? What’s going on here?” Vinzer inquired.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Shakespeare,” a familiar voice from behind called.

“You, Torchic’s former owner. You haven’t had enough have you?” Vinzer asked.

“You bet! I ain’t givin’ you that weakling without a price!” Torchic’s former owner shot back. “Torchic’s comin’ back with me! I’ve found out this weakling can evolve and become stronger, and I ain’t givin’ this opportunity up! Go Duskull!” The trainer threw a Pokéball in the air, it opened and a streak of white energy emerged from the orb. The energy immediately transformed into a ghost Pokémon who had a cloak covering his body and a skull for a head.

“If it’s a battle you want, then it’s one you will have!” Vinzer then directed his look at his nervous Torchic. “Torchic, my friend. I know you are still young and need a lot of training. However, I have never, from the moment I met you, doubted your abilities. So if my confidence is as strong as yours is, we can win this through!” Torchic gave Vinzer a courageous chirp, then stepped up to confront the arrogant-looking Duskull.

“Ha ha ha! What a loser! Duskull, Night Shade!” stated the devious trainer. An unfocused beam of darkness emerged from Duskull’s eyes.

“Torchic, try to evade it!” Vinzer suggested. Torchic gave a chirp, and immediately flew up, but was hit by the edge of the beam.

“Torchic, retaliate with Ember!” Vinzer ordered. Torchic’s eyes glowed for a brief moment and it opened its beak, firing rockets of fire at the unwary Duskull, but didn’t seem to damage it much.

“Ah! Duskull, don’t just float there! Use another Night Shade!” shouted the trainer. Duskull fired another beam of darkness at Torchic, this time, hitting its head.

“Torchic, no!” shouted Vinzer. Suddenly, Torchic’s body began to emit a peculiar heat. A few seconds later, transparent flames surrounded his body. “What is thi-” Vinzer suddenly remembered that Torchic had the ability “Blaze” in his university notebook. Blaze, this ability is used by Torchic when it is weakened. It powers up fire-based moves Vinzer memorized from his notes. “Torchic, since Blaze is surrounding you, why not try another Ember attack at Duskull,” Vinzer suggested with much hope. Torchic glowed an angry red when it opened its tiny peak and shot out larger fire bullets. This time, the flames caught Duskull’s cloak, burning the ghost Pokémon.

“No way! I ain’t beaten yet, Shakespeare. Duskull, do another Night Shade!” ordered the surprised, but furious trainer. Duskull, however, was too worried about putting out the flames on his cloak than listening to his trainer. The flames were uncontrollable; within a few seconds, Duskull transformed into a floating ball of fire. The flames abruptly disappeared leaving the floating ghost a defeated Pokémon, lying on the floor.

“No! I ain’t leavin’ without that Torchic, give it back!” shouted the trainer who looks like he’ll explode any second. He then approached Torchic with inhuman speed, but Torchic quickly levitated and gave the devious trainer a taste of its brilliant flames. The trainer flinched and recalled his Duskull. All Vinzer heard was his last words: “You may be strong, but you ain’t got me yet. I’ll get ya someday, Shakespeare!” He ran straight into the teleportation pad and abruptly disappeared.

“Well, Torchic. You have a great strength in you. I knew we would come through!” Vinzer said smiling, patting Torchic as it gave him three friendly chirps and a chirp of victory. Vinzer knew his troubles with Torchic’s former trainer were finally over. Later that day, the management of Vinzer’s apartment complex fixed his security system, and all systems functioned at Vinzer’s command.

I have a wonderful Pokémon friend, and of course, a reliable apartment system!, Vinzer thought to himself as he gazed out at the ever-blue ocean for one more time.