Pokemon Blur - Prologue : The Fool
In the lively city of Aspertia, there was a boy that dreamt of being a hero.
Divine dragons of Truth and Ideals, heed the prayers of a foolish heart.
Before we embark on this dangerous quest, shower us with your grace so that we may have a safe journey.
...
The coming of spring is where many dreams would blossom alongside the flowers- following a harsh winter, the people of Flocessy wasted no time in tending to their lands and ranches, eager to see what the rest of the year will bring.
"February was colder than other years," Muses the town mayor. "I hear it was as cold as Sinnoh on a hot day."
From behind her teacup, a blonde laughs.
"Yes! That's what I've been telling Professor Juniper! We're experiencing temperatures never before seen in Unova- I wonder why that is?"
"It's easy to chalk it up to the times, little lass-"
He leans over to refill her teacup.
"-but the youth of today isn't gonna take that for an answer."
"And why would we? If something's up, we ought to be the ones to figure out why; not when you old folks are sitting about."
The blonde's companion, a girl with a massive ponytail, speaks from the window- she does not join the other two in their warm conversation, content with merely listening and occasionally quipping in every now and then.
"You have a point there,"
The mayor laughs.
"Ah, it's good to see you haven't lost your spark, Hilda. Still as abrasive as ever- it's a shame you've taken a break from the subway, Emmet thinks you're a wildcard."
Hilda rolls her eyes- but her companion smiles even brighter.
"Oh, she's been a delight to have around! I make sure she gets plenty of training done even while she's acting as my bodyguard in the field,"
"Bianca,"
"Sorry, sorry- that's for another time!"
Bianca giggles, setting down her teacup and tapping her fingers against the book on her lap.
"It's really nice to catch up with you, Mr. Alder. It's been, um, two years?"
"Two years."
Though the hue of the leaves remain the same, the winds have changed- his guests remain as they have, but the light in their eyes are different.
And speaking of guests.
"Where's your other friend? He was here a few minutes ago, wasn't he?"
"He went out for some fresh air," Hilda replies. "He's taking his Pokemon for a walk."
"The ranch outside of town is lovely- he told me he spent a good quarter of last year's spring season over there."
Alder's mouth makes an "o" shape as he recalls.
"He did, he did- how has he been, by the way?"
For all that she's chatted about today, Bianca finds herself unsure of what to say.
Finally, she picks a word.
"Different-"
And as predicted, Hilda immediately adds "-but better than before."
That's all Alder could ask for- and it was far better news than what he was expecting.
"Okay, that's good. I admit, I wasn't sure what they were thinking when they told me they wanted him in this position, but-"
He glances at the framed picture on the wall- one of him with a group of four youths, wide-eyed and brimming with potential.
"Perhaps you kids can dream of things us grown-ups can't."
He himself hadn't lost the will to dream- but with the reality before him, he had to set aside certain expectations.
That's what it meant to be the Pokemon Champion after all.
An air of melancholy hovers over them as the conversation takes a more somber route- Bianca looks down at her teacup, smile still present, but stiffer than what it usually was.
And Hilda, looking outside the window, speaks up again.
"Guess we're gonna lose that ability soon in a couple of years, huh, Beebs?"
"Oh, hopefully not, Hilly- not with the research I've been doing."
Alder spots an opportunity to talk about something else- this quiet, tense atmosphere was something he didn't want in his house after all.
"Oh? Working hard with Fennel too?"
"You bet! Say, do you wanna know about the effects of Dream Mist- beyond what we know now?"
As the conversation picks up again, Hilda sighs, back leaned against the wall as she gazes out into the blue sky.
They had a few more hours to kill before they were expected to head to Aspertia- and it wasn't like she hated hearing Bianca's voice anyway.
...
"I'm all set, mom!"
She hears the excited footsteps clamoring downstairs, the clicking of plastic and jingling of bells- a collection of keychains.
She exits from her chores in the bathroom, removing her rubber gloves- and is horrified to see the atrocity standing before her.
"Bye bye! I'll make sure to give you a call!"
"Now, wait just a minute!"
She grabs him by the scruff of his jacket, just as he's about to pass by her- and stares incredulously.
In the home of Marianne Blake, things were in an uproar- the day had finally arrived, when her only son would receive a Pokemon of his own from an esteemed professor.
Or at least, the professor's assistant- she was quite a busy woman, she could not be blamed.
Such should be a cause for celebration- but here she was, arguing with her child before he even stepped foot outside.
"Anak, you can't be serious," Marianne takes a good look at him, head to toe.
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
"What- anak,"
She rubs her temples, sighing deeply.
"What even are you wearing? There's a spare backpack for you to use, a much more protective cap- and is that a rash guard you're wearing under your clothes?!"
"I might want to take a dip! You never know!"
"Nathaniel, you better not be leaving the house like that!"
Through the argument, the small boy grinned mischievously at his mother's exasperation, his little cat-smile never leaving his face.
"Crazy, because that's exactly what I'm going to do!"
"Nathaniel!"
"Mamaaaa, who cares what I wear out there? This classifies as acceptable travel gear, you know!"
"Just because it's acceptable- go change into something else before you're late!"
Now came his whine- and his Lillipup eyes.
"You're making me run late here! What will Ms. Alabaster say? That I kept my future partner waiting because I was busy coordinating my outfit?"
She opens her mouth to argue- but groans.
"Ugh, fine, fine. Do whatever you like. I suppose if you think that's fit for travel-"
She looks down at the worn pair of crocs.
"-but at the very least, take these."
Her son tilts his head like a confused dog, wondering what else she has to give besides an additional scolding- but to his surprise, she digs out a box from underneath the staircase.
"I was saving this for your birthday, but since your journey is starting today, you might as well make use of it now."
Opening the box, she reveals a pair of red running shoes, ankle-length- the same ones she knew her son had been eyeing.
"Happy early birthday, Nathaniel- now put these on and go look for Ms. Alabaster."
"Mamaaaaa, thank you!"
He wasted no time settling into his shoes, tapping them against the floor as he felt himself almost standing in the air.
They were a perfect fit.
"Now, remember what I taught you-"
"Yeah, yeah! I get it!"
He opens the screen door with a bang- and promptly terrifies his family's pet Delcatty and her Skitty, awakening them from their slumber.
"Be wise with money, avoid shady characters- and have fun!"
"And come home when you're lost," She reminds him. "If you can't find your way forward-"
"Then I'll retrace my steps back from square one!"
Looking up at the big blue sky, he felt the first page of his journey being written for historians to see.
"Just my style!"
Sprinting out of his house with a loud cheer, Marianne leans against the doorframe with a look of worry- one that quickly melts once she realizes who exactly she is being fussy over.
Still.
From the distance, she hears him yelling.
"Look out, world! Nate's gonna take you by surprise!"
"Dragons,"
She shakes her head.
"Please make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble."
...
The bell of Floccesy Town tolls, it's chimes echoing throughout the area.
The Mareep bleat at the sound, and nearby Riolu peer front underneath the tall grass.
From within a hidden grotto, a figure wrapped in a gray cardigan prays in the shade of the trees-
And a gust of wind overtakes them, as the nests of Pidove and Tranquil resting on the branches soar to the skies.
They cover their face, steadying their ground,
And the ribbon wrapped around their collar unravels, carried by the wind.
