Dear Bryan,
I'm writing to you from Accumula Town, just north of Nuvema. I met Professor Juniper here and she's been showing me and Cheren and Bianca around. This town's not much bigger than Floaroma but it feels like it. Apartment buildings dotting the outskirts, concrete everywhere, and only a small town square with a couple of rundown benches. I'm missing the meadows and the valley more than anything right now. What I wouldn't give to smell even a hint of sweet pea on the breeze.
This morning Cheren and Bianca and I began packing up to head out towards Striaton City. Cheren's been in such a rush to leave ever since he heard there's a gym leader in Striaton that he can challenge for a badge. He basically pushed us out the door!
As we were leaving, we heard a ruckus in the town square. It was the strangest thing, Bryan! Seven men dressed as knights stood in the square, all holding shields adorned with a symbol I'd never seen before. And in front of them was the tallest man I'd ever seen.
He wore a long purple robe with a collar piece at the top that almost made him look like a fortified castle!
His left eye was covered with some kind of eyepiece, angled like a cat's and tinted orange. As I passed bay with the crowd he looked right into my eyes and smiled. Bryan…his face…his eyes…they were so dark. Their was a rigidness in his jaw that I can't truly explain; it made his smile seem so sinister.
He had me almost in a trance, our eyes locked for a cosmic moment. Thank goodness for Walter! He must have sensed something too because he yelped and jumped right inside my shirt! When I looked back at the man he was beginning to speak to the circling crowd.
"My name is Ghetsis. I am here representing Team Plasma. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to talk to you about Pokémon liberation."
Team Plasma? It took everything in me not to cry out. All I at once I was consumed with HIS face…the Team Galactic member that killed dad. Those same dark eyes, full of nothing but hate and greed and cruelty. But who is Team Plasma? Could Team Galactic have possibly regrouped under a new name? My mind was swimming as Ghetsis spoke on. When I finally snapped out of it, his soldiers were beginning a new formation and he was finishing his speech.
"That's right! We must liberate the Pokémon! Then, and only then, will humans and Pokémon truly be equals. Everyone, I end my words here today by imploring you to consider the relationship between people and Pokémon... and the correct way to proceed. We sincerely appreciate your attention."
As the squadron marched out of the square, Walter poked his head out of the neck of my shirt, clinging tightly to me.
Cheren seemed unconcerned and began talking about the gym leader in Striaton again! Socrates, his Snivy shot a condescending at Walter still fastened to my neck and chattered into my ear.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a strange man approaching. He was older than us, but his face seemed young and he looked like he had never had a haircut in his life! A messy, green nest of hair stuck every which way out of his cap and down his back in a long ponytail.
"Your Pokémon... Just now, it was saying..." he said. Cheren shot him a look.
"Then, you two can't hear it, either... How sad. My name is N. Professor Juniper's got you finishing her Pokedex, eh? You're going to confine many, many Pokemon in PokeBalls for that, then. I can't help but wonder…are Pokemon really happy that way?"
I could see Cheren's annoyance rising to a boil, but just as he opened his mouth another strange thing happened. Walter jumped down from my neck and barked a few yips right at N! I'd never seen him act so aggressively before. He's usually so mild mannered and especially shy around new people.
Before I had any time to react N threw down a Pokeball and cried, "Let me hear your Pokémon's voice again!"
Fight or flight, Bryan. It's real. And can you believe I chose fight? Well, Walter really chose it for me. He's braver than I ever gave him credit for, braver than me even.
As soon as N's Purloin lunged from the Pokeball, Walter sprang into action and the battle was over before it began! Purloin laid a few scratches into Walter, but she was nothing against his Water Gun attack. Plus, I had my first aid kit with me of course, so I patched Walter up good as new right afterwards.
My first real battle! And I won!? Can you believe it? I still can't, except for Walter doesn't let me forget. He's been strutting around behind me like the King of Accumula Town ever since.
N, whoever he is, vanished out of town shortly after with Cheren on his heels, convinced N was going to challenge the gym leader in Striaton before him.
Bianca and I are staying one more night in Accumula and then headed on the road again.
There's a chill in the wind that I feel all the way down to the marrow of my bones and I can't get those dark eyes out of my head…but Bryan…at least I have Walter to keep me safe.
Love,
Mack