"So, what are the plans for the day?" Misty casually asked as she finished buying new clothes and souvenirs at the hotel shop. "I'm pretty sure Ash is planning on leaving for Pewter as fast as possible and I will tag along with him, you coming us?"
"I have to go back to the Pokémon Center, actually," Vanessa replied, feeling all too pleased with herself as she paid for a nice small Nidoqueen figurine. "I have to go get Magikarp back and see how she is doing and after that... I arranged to battle a trainer. Shade was pestering me early in the morning because he was excited. Also, I will have plans to stay in Viridian for at least a few days so I won't cross the forest with you guys, but I really hope we can see each other in Pewter, if that is ok."
Misty looked disappointed by her answer but did not make any attempts to change her mind, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to convince that idiot to wait for you, but I won't make any promises though."
Vanessa made sure to shoot the girl a chastising look that soon turned into a smile, "Take care of those two, ok? I am pretty sure they are gonna get in trouble soon. They need a voice of reason nearby."
"You could be that voice, you know that, right?" The ginger girl asked, almost pleading.
The black-haired girl shook her head in response as they walked the streets of Viridian together, snapping some pictures with the camera she brought, "I already made up my mind. It's not happening. Ah-by the way, Misty, what Pokémon do you have on you? I know that you got a Staryu and a Goldeen, but is there any other?"
The girl hummed and nodded her head, "I got my Starmie. Water types are the best! "
"Where are you from again?" Vanessa suddenly asked, feeling like she was about to remember something important.
"Cerulean City..." Misty looked uncertain for a while before sighing in resignation, "You figured out, didn't you?"
"I remember now, your sisters are the gym leaders there, I knew I had seen you before," Vanessa said enthusiastically but suddenly stopped seeing the scowl of the other girl. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, it's not... it's not your fault," Misty replied in a tired voice. "It's just... you don't understand what it's like to be the fourth sister of the 'Sensational Sisters'. They treat me like I am some petulant child that doesn't know any better, even when I was the one covering for them at the gym when they had to leave on tour! It's the reason why I left you know... to become a better trainer and prove myself, but so far... I feel like I am a bit lost."
Vanessa thought to herself and she could not argue with the fact that she did not know what that felt like indeed. She didn't have any sisters or brothers- she had cousins on her dad's side, but they weren't that close- it was always just her and her grandmother and her dad, occasionally her dad would call and visit, but he was busy in Hoenn leading his research team lately. She never felt like she had to prove herself to them, only to herself most of the time. Advancing so far in the Academy, all the years of studying, preparing for her journey, and training with Shade, there was always little time for other things. Friends and proper social life included. In that sense, perhaps she was a bit lost too.
Still, this was a price she was happy to pay and it was paying off now.
"You're being too hard on yourself," She finally said to the other girl. "This whole journey thing... it doesn't have a manual so there is no real right and wrong. You will figure it out on your own and at your own pace. If it means anything, I am very glad you were there by the river yesterday... and that you helped us when we were in need. Now you have Ash to travel along and me... a new friend if you would accept that, of course."
Misty crestfallen expression slowly recovered and she nodded in agreement, smiling in gratitude. "Thanks for that... seriously."
Vanessa let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding in relief. She was glad that Shade was resting on his pokeball otherwise he would tease her so badly for this. She did it! She really did it! She made new friends, human friends, real friends that weren't her relatives. She even exchanged contacts with Misty on the PokéNav! Ash said he had no money to afford one yet (despite being sponsored, he didn't recieve his payments yet), but when he bought one he would call her up too. She was feeling very proud of herself, not that she would ever admit that out loud or to Shade.
"Finally!!!" A loud voice called down in exasperation. "Why did you take so long?!"
"We were exploring a bit, of course," Misty explained in annoyance seeing the approaching boy. "You could try it someday, it's not like Pewter City will suddenly grow legs and run away from you."
Ash shot her a glare, but chose to ignore her words, turning his attention to the other girl, "Let's go see your Magikarp! You promised to show her to me yesterday and I gotta thank her too. Pikachu as well, right, buddy?"
"Pika-Pika!" The Pikachu on his shoulder firmly confirmed while his little hands turned to fists.
"Alright, alright! I was on my way there," Vanessa replied smiling at them. "You coming with us, right, Misty?"
"Obviously..." The girl stated as if it was the most obvious of facts. "I can't let him have all the fun now, can I?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes at the antics of the two but in good humor. Ash and Misty were growing on her despite everything. Ash's Pikachu as well, after they got over their differences the little mouse seemed to have undergone a sudden and dramatic personality change, the previously lazy and rebellious little guy turned into an excited and awfully cute partner, fiercely loyal to his trainer, always perched on his shoulders. In a way, he reminded her of Shade, even if they are very different from one another.
The road to the Pokémon Center was a fairly short one and once Vanessa arrived Nurse Joy herself came to deliver her Magikarp back to her.
"How was she doing?" Vanessa asked, feeling the pokeball in her hands. "I hope there wasn't anything wrong with her, is there?"
Nurse Joy shook her head and replied in a kind tone, "Oh, don't worry, your Magikarp is perfectly fine. Her species is a hardy one and they can eat anything and survive in all sorts of water habitats, you know? However, based on her on the exams we ran and her results... I should inform you that she is very very young, a young hatchling. Her egg must not have hatched long ago, which is why you must be patient with her, alright? I advise you to be careful about using her in battles before she grows a little more. Even if she is not exactly a baby, she is inexperienced."
"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Vanessa said in genuine gratitude. "Can I release her at the Center's pond?"
"Sure, no problem," The older woman said in an amused tone before her smile vanished as her eyes wandered towards the working Machokes and the construction team. "I'm afraid I gotta leave now, dear... before they break something by accident. If anything happens you know where to find me."
"The League did not waste any time fixing the damage," Misty commented with a giggle watching the commotion unfold before them. "They usually take two or three days to act, but they sent the construction company in less than a day."
"The Machokes are so cool! Look at them, they look so strong!" Ash added, his eyes almost shiny with stars as he looked at the working fighting types.
Vanessa thought about it and could tell that this was probably her fault on some level. The night before she called her grandmother and informed her a clean up version of the story that did not make her look stupid or reckless- and she must have called her sister, Agatha. Still, she preferred not to tell them anything just yet. Finally, the girl got to the pond and released her Magikarp and Shade.
"Gasstly!" She started hovering above the water with curiosity.
"Karp! Karp!" The little orange fish excitedly swam and greeted them.
"Hell, there, little one," Vanessa said, approaching the shore to talk to the Magikarp. "Nice to meet you again. I'm Vanessa and this guy here is Shade. I know I told you this before, but I am gonna say it again. I am a Pokémon Trainer and my dream is to be the best. Right now I am challenging the Indigo League, so my team will fight a lot of strong pokémon and I will do my best to make them stronger so there will be lots of training. I want to make sure that you understand what it means to come with us."
"Karp Karp Karp!!!" The little one said, swimming closer and playfully pushing her head against Vanessa's hand in affection.
"I guess, she knows," Ash stated in amusement. "Magikarp likes you and wants to come with you, Vanessa."
"I fear that, for once, Ash is right," Misty said looking mildly wary of the orange fish, "you said yesterday that you liked to give nicknames to your team, do you have one for her yet?"
Listening to that question, feeling suddenly self-conscious, the black-haired girl nodded silently keeping her attention on her new team member. "Do you want a nickname?"
"Karp Karp Karp!" The response was another playful push.
The night before Vanessa spent a decent amount of time looking for a proper name for her new partner alongside Shade, discussing which one would be fitting for their teammate and she did find one that she liked, now it was time to see if Magikarp would approve of it as well.
"Huh... when I was studying, a few years ago actually- I came across an old folk story from a distant region called Alola. In one of the many islands there, they have the tale of a great warrior queen who led their ancestors there and protected them from threats. She was both a guardian and a ruler, and even centuries after she passed away her story lives in the hearts of her people," Vanessa told the tale in a kind and warm tone, never breaking eye contact with Magikarp, 'Her name was Kaika, The One Who Brave the Waves. It's just a suggestion, but I think it's a powerful name for you. As your trainer and friend, I am gonna do my best to make sure that you will grow powerful and brave, just like this warrior queen."
"Karp!!!" The orange fish suddenly leaped a few meters above them and dove in excitement. "Karp Karp Karp!"
"Gastly!!!" Shade said in a smug tone.
"I never heard about that story before or heard from this Alola place, she must have really been the coolest!" Ash said and continued. "I think she liked that name though."
"My mom told me this story when I was little," Misty suddenly said in a wistful tone, almost sad. "It's a great name, Vanessa."
Vanessa looked at her friends in gratitude and turned back to the Magikarp, "Welcome to the team, Kaika."
After that Vanessa played with Kaika for a while, while talking with her friends, eventually she recalled Kaika back. She didn't have to wait much longer until Andrew showed up. The blond boy was visibly nervous, but as soon as he saw her and the others he calmed down a little and approached them.
"Hi, there!" Andrew awkwardly and shyly said greeting Misty and Ash, before turning his focus to Vanessa. "I saw on the news what happened yesterday here, are you guys ok?"
"All is right," The girl replied in a casual tone, before following with a much more serious one. "I confronted them with Misty here. Ash finished it up with Pikachu. It was a stupid decision. We were lucky they were not very bright trainers and they only had two pokémon-three if we count their talking Meowth."
"Wait, what?!" Andrew exclaimed looking at the three of them in shock. "So it was you! The news didn't mention the names of anyone, but the reporter said that young trainers were responsible for foiling the thieves' plans."
"Pikachu!!!"
"Yeah! It was easy!" Ash brightly said offering a friendly sunny smile to the other boy and offering his hand for a handshake. "I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and I am gonna be a Pokémon Master! This is my partner, Pikachu!"
Andrew was unsure of just a few seconds before he smiled in relief accepting the handshake, "I'm Andrew Lockwood from Viridian City and my dream is to become a ground-type specialist and a member of the Elite Four!"
"I am Misty Hanada from Cerulean City" The ginger girl stated smiling in amusement, but seeing the boys look at her with expectant gazes, she sighed heavily, but still amused. "My dream is to become the best Water Type Pokémon Trainer."
"I suppose it's my turn now," Vanessa said in resignation, but equally as amused as the others. "I am Vanessa Sayre of Lavender Town, my dream is to become the best Pokémon Trainer that's ever been or will be."
Misty was the first to react as a glint of recognition crossed her eyes, "Sayre as in... Sayre Industries?!"
"Now way!" Andrew exclaimed in shock and excitement, unlike she had seen his display before. "Sayre like Agatha Sayre of the Elite Four?! You are her relative?! Can you tell me more about her? What is she like? Oh-your Gastly-her Gengar-wow! This is so cool!!!"
"Guys, what is going on?" Ash asked with a clueless and bothered expression. "What is going on?"
"Oh, I'm regretting this already..." Vanessa said with a helpless tone.
"Did you really prepare at all for your journey? How do you call yourself a Pokémon Trainer from Kanto and you don't even know about Sayre Industries?" Misty pointedly asked, not unkindly, just in pure disbelief. "They are like- the dream sponsor to all trainers and the biggest company in Kanto right now."
"Forget about that she knows Lady Agatha!" Andrew quickly said. "The oldest and longest Elite Four member in the world and the most powerful ghost-type specialist of Kanto! She is a living legend! She trained the most powerful Gengar in recorded history, her record is ridiculously good!"
Ash seemed to finally understand what was going on and turned his focus back to the black-haired girl, "So... are you crazy rich? What about it? I don't understand, Vanessa is just Vanessa. It doesn't change anything, does it?"
For a moment Vanessa felt like she could hug Ash for just being himself. It was so refreshing that he thought of her like that. In a way, she understood. Ash had grown up knowing the Professor Oak and treating him like a family friend and part of his own family, he didn't even realize just how people would see that.
"You know what... you are right," Misty said, the last part almost struggling to come out. "Vanessa is just Vanessa."
"Well, I don't know you very well and I won't pretend that I don't want to make tons of questions about Lady Agatha, but I still want to have our battle!" Andrew said in a genuine tone. "Wait, we're still having our battle, right?"
"Battle?!" Ash said finally interested. "You two are having a Pokémon Battle here and now?! Really? Can I watch it? Wait-can I battle too?!"
"I can serve as the referee!" Misty said, winking conspiratorially to Vanessa. "I've done it a lot of times before."
"Gastly!" Shade said, nudging her forward.
"You're right, thank you, buddy," Vanessa said, "Fine, I'm going to battle with Andrew, and then if Shade feels like it we can battle you, Ash, but I am not making any promises. Kaika is not ready for battle, especially against your Pikachu... and I only have them on my team."
"Yes!!! Perfect!" Ash said, jumping in excitement and looking at his Pikachu with a fiery gaze. "Let's show them what we are made of, buddy!"
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PS: Thanks for the Power Stones and Collections! It means a lot to know you are enjoying this fanfiction so far and that you are interested in joining Vanessa, Shade and now Kaika in their journey through the wonderful world of Pokémon! The Author here is very happy!