The Dream

The Irony

((Characters or their designs that you don't see in the show/game belong to me and mustn't be used without consulting.))

The streets of Rustboro were as busy as always. The businessmen from Devon corp. were rushing to deliver parts to various places and commence deals. Almost all of them hid their heads under a hat from the sun's bright rays. Of course, there were kids and other people taking strolls to the forest or the mart.

"Mom!" a girl with long brown hair flowing behind her rushed out of the trainers' school, a big grin on her face. "Mom, mom! I did really well today!" she pranced around her tall and proud mother who watched her with joy.

"I'm sure Tohr will be very happy as well, Nike," she grabbed Nike's arm gently to make her stop and started leading her to the Devon corp.'s employee building.

The little girl put her arm on her forehead and rubbed it there to check if her ribbon was still there. Yes, it was. The green ribbon started from her forehead and circled around her hair 'til the very tip. Even though her hair was tied together like that, it didn't stop her from looking messy. It fitted her emerald eyes and Nike made sure that her school clothes fitted just as well. Almost her whole wardrobe had green and brown in it.

Both girls arrived at the building and made their way inside. They aimed for the elevator immediately and went up almost to the top. The whole way Nike was telling excitedly about one of the many days in the trainers' school. How she learned about the status effects and treating pokémon injuries. She spoke almost without taking a breath; that's how excited about becoming a pokémon trainer she was.

They finally arrived at their apartment. It was quite big and it almost seemed as though it was a house. But then again, you could call it a one storey house as it took almost half of the floor.

Out of a room, deeper inside, rushed out a cheerful Torchic and ran up to Nike. She picked him up quickly and hugged him with all her heart as if they were separated for years. "Aww, Tohr! I missed you too!" she stopped squeezing him and, while holding him in her arms, tickled his chin. "Mom, why can't I bring him to school?"

"Nike, please, get changed first and then we'll talk again," her mother had pretty high standards and made sure that her family follows the best etiquette. Nike sighed and placed Tohr down. He obviously didn't want to leave her grip as he kept trying to rush up to her hands by her legs. She laughed and remembered the day she got him.

Nike was about 5 years old when she was sitting by the television on a cushion and watching the Hoenn League battles. She was waiting for this show since the last years ended because that time she accidentally switched to it at the last 2 battles. The girl has been craving for a pokémon ever since. And now Nike was watching it from the start. She was so caught up that she had forgotten it was her birthday and was startled to see a present placed next to her while she was watching. Back then she thought a Digglet placed it there.

She took the box and carried it to her parents who were eating the cake. The wish-making was already done, though her slice was still next to the cushion, and she had already opened her presents. The guests laughed at the surprised child's adorableness as they told her to open the box. Nike did and started crying tears of joy as there was a pokéball in there.

Nike's mother rushed up to her daughter to calm her down. She then released the pokémon sealed inside, which turned out to be a Torchic. "A gift from professor Birch," she explained. Afterwards, the two were inseparable and shared almost everything together, including the dream of beating the Elite Four.

Nike snapped out of the memories and saw herself in her room, already changed in her creamy, baggy shorts and forest green tank top. Her brain had remembered the daily needs and done it without Nike's participation. She was frozen for a second in the middle of changing her green socks and looked down at Tohr sitting nearby. He had a slightly worried look but his owner's grin cheered him up.

Both of them went to the dining room and saw both parents sitting at the table. Nike stayed in the doorway and listened in as they were talking about something and didn't notice her.

"The Torchic was given to her as a pet, not a starter," her father mashed his arm in his short, dark hair as he controlled his temper. He was still wearing his suit since he returned just now while Nike was changing.

"I know you want her to take your place in the company one day, but you can't take her dream away, Mark," her mother, although looking firm and worried about their wealth the most, was actually soft and caring. She just made everyone act as respectable people to not shame them.

"Clara, I'm more worried about her surviving out there! When I listen to the children's dangerous adventures, my heart jumps out of my chest when I imagine our little girl in their place," Mark looked more nervous than angry now, which actually looked like he's just under stress.

"That's what pokémon are there for, dad," Nike couldn't hold back from interfering anymore. Her hands were made in fists now firmly and shaking slightly. Her ability to keep herself together and talk in a calm voice when angry was inherited from her father. The man who thought she was helpless.

"N-Nike, it's not good at all to eavesdrop on conversations...!" Clara turned around on her chair to face the doorway; a surprised look was on her face when she saw her daughter's. Nike ignored it and so did Tohr. The pokémon was offended by the fact that Mark thought he couldn't protect his trainer. Both him and her had almost the same look on their faces. Except the Torchic exaggerated a little...

"Hunny, I don't mind if you learn about pokémon and battle your friends sometimes, but I am not letting you go farther than Petalburg woods and the Rusturf Tunnel until you're older!" Mark's determined expression and fist on the table made it clear that there's no point in arguing. Nike's body relaxed with her sigh as she turned around and walked to her room. Tohr got carried away with playing the insulted one and only started running and tripping after Nike when she was halfway there.

Nike's eyes opened slowly as she felt the sun's rays on her skin. She was so frustrated last night that she forgot to close the curtains. Now she regretted it; her body rolled to one side of the bed to the other and she couldn't get any sleep until finally her alarm clock went off.

The girl sat up in her bed and her arm placed itself on the clock's switch turning it off. Her head hung back loosely now as she looked outside the window. The day was going to be as good as the previous. When she figured that, her head returned to a normal position. She scanned her room. It was big enough to fit three couches and Nike's bed, which was, by the way, made of quality wood and had green bedclothes. The floor was from parquet and on it stood a desk and a wardrobe across from the bed. There were shelves and posters on the walls, and all of those had something to do with pokémon: plushies, pictures, books.

Nike finally got the strength to get out of her bed. She carefully placed her feet on the ground so to not wake up Tohr sleeping next to her bed in a basket with a cushion in it. Then she tip-toed to her closet and changed her simple checkered pajamas for her school clothes. After grabbing her backpack, she quickly made her way to the kitchen to have some breakfast. Nike was slightly disappointed that her father wasn't there. Then she could lay out the reasons why he should let her go. Clara wasn't there either.

"So, why didn't you bring your Torchic this time?" a girl with lighter brown hair tied in a pony-tail frowned on Nike, whose head landed on the desk.

"I forgot to ask mom...! And besides, he was sleeping, Lona," Nike mumbled and raised her head just to let it rest on her arms.

Lona sighed. She walked back to her desk and sat down beside a green haired boy by the name of Harwey. He was said to be better than Steven one day. The Steven: champion and son of Devon corp.'s president. Nike ended up believing that all good trainers start out here, in Rustboro. Probably because Roxanne is such a good teacher and a role-model. And just when she imagined about her, the gym leader herself entered the classroom.

"Now then, children," she started when she had reached her desk, "today we'll practice pokémon battles. I hope those who have their own pokémon have brought them today-" Roxanne was interrupted by a slam caused by Nike's head hitting against her desk once again. "Nike?"

"Yes, ma'am..." Nike mumbled.

"Um, are you ok?" the teacher was startled by the sudden slam and the girl's unresponsiveness didn't help.

"If you mean my head, it's not... I forgot to bring my Torchic," she explained as her head rose. If not for her ribbon, her forehead would be bruised and red from all the times she slams her head against something. It's all because of her forgetfulness. Some of the kids in the class chuckled quietly, others sighed. Even Roxanne let out a calm laugh. This wasn't the first time so it wasn't as funny anymore though.

"Then why don't you run on home and bring him? We'll get started while you do," she walked up to the disappointed student and encouraged her to go by pulling her up on her feet. Nike nodded and rushed off.

Nike ran in the apartment and saw Clara and Tohr in the living room. Her mother was drinking coffee while her pokémon was enjoying some breakfast. The view was melancholic and the girl almost forgot about the practice battles. But when she heard Tohr's chirp of delight, she got so excited that there was no way she could forget now. She rushed in the living room and Tohr almost immediately started dancing around her thinking that his dear trainer can spend the day home.

"What is it, Nike?" Clara's eyes peeked at the corners of her sockets. When she saw her daughter's excited arm-swishing and searches for something, she added, "The pokéball is in the bottom drawer. Now, Nike, I know you want to go on a journey one day. I completely approve of that. But... Your father..."

"It's okay, mom. I understand," Nike pulled the pokéball out of the drawer and sealed Tohr inside it.

"I'll try to work something out, okay?" a soft, reassuring smile appeared on Clara's face and when her child noticed, she smiled back.

Lona didn't have a pokémon yet so she was using a Nincada provided by Roxanne. She was opposing another girl, Melany, and her very own Zigzagoon. The moment Nike arrived at the training field, she saw the Zigzagoon Headbutting Lona's Nincada, which knocked him out. She guessed that the strategy was to make Nincada flinch all the time and unable to attack. Nike would never be able to believe that Roxanne's raised pokémon could loose.

Melany grinned proudly throwing back her long, blonde hair. She summoned her Zigzagoon and went to the side of the field while Lona dragged after her - disappointed by the loss. The kids gathered around the winner and praised her. Harwey was one of the few students who didn't rush up to Melany and kneel down beside her.

"Nike, so you made it quite quickly. Where's your pokémon?" Roxanne asked as soon as she saw her student. The others teased that she forgot again, but Nike could be proud; she released Tohr out of his ball and they both showed their tongues as soon as he appeared. The girls of the class were spellbound by the Torchic's cuteness but the guys knew what it evolves into. "I have set you up against Harwey even though he minded..."

For Nike it was the golden chance to show what she and Tohr had learned. She walked to the field's edge at the marked spot and so did Harwey at the other side. Both were silent, mainly because there was nothing to say. The only thing Nike could ask would be if he had his own pokémon, but she was about to see.

Harwey chose a pokéball from the case presented by Roxanne without hesitation; not worried about types or power. With the announcement of the battle's rules, he released the pokémon inside. And it was, of course, a Maril. The little blue mouse giggled with bubbles coming out of its mouth and stood in front of Tohr in the center of the field. Nike was worried but she did well at keeping her cool.

"Now, start!" Roxanne shouted and stepped back. A second passed and Harwey made Marill use Water Gun on Tohr. Nike didn't have enough time to command her pokémon but he seemed to have enough common sense. Tohr fell to the ground purposely and rolled to the side just like the times him and Nike rolled down the hills or escaped the water sprinkler.

"Hm, that was a lovely start, Nike," Harwey laughed at Tohr who was now struggling to get up.

"Tohr, Ember!"

The kids didn't expect the Torchic to know that move yet. They thought it could only scratch and peck. But now they saw the pokémon fly up slightly as he used the flames as a jet to get on his feet. Harwey turned serious, "Marill, use Bubble!"

Marill giggled loudly and bubbles swarmed at Tohr. Nike realized that Harwey is more of an attacker and Marill is a long-range. For a fire type, getting close would be dangerous but Tohr's Ember won't do much. She had to make him dodge until she thinks of something.

Tohr stayed at the side were there were the least bubbles but Marill kept making more. "Use Peck!" Nike yelled and the Torchic started popping the bubbles with his beak and running towards Marill unknowingly.

"Marill, stop and use Water Gun!" Harwey noticed him close in and used the advantage. Marill barely stopped laughing. The water rushed at Tohr who was busy popping the remaining Bubbles. Once again Nike and he were caught off guard but this time Tohr was hit. He took it bravely as he remained standing but facing the gun with his back. The water flow was strong for such a small body as Marill but it stopped and Marill was commanded to use Rollout. The first batch of rocks was slight pinches in Tohr's back. Nike took it as a provocation and by Harwey's smirk it probably was.

"Tohr, use Ember!"

He listened and, while avoiding the second batch of rocks, breathes fire balls at the mouse. It knocked it back slightly but Marill got back up with ease. While it was doing that, Nike made Tohr use Peck. Harwey saw that the Torchic was fast and knew that this Marill takes some time to spew water. And at this moment it was getting up so he made it use Defense Curl. It reduced the attack's power to a normal one since at the speed Tohr was dashing it would of have hurt a lot more.

This time Marill fell back much farther; almost to Harwey's feet. Nike's respect for her opponents and pokémon made her hesitate to use the chance for an attack. Marill still had enough power to get up and as soon as it did, Harwey made it use Water Gun.

"Tohr, jump!" Nike yelled and the Torchic did - as high as he could. He couldn't stay in air for long, Nike knew that, but she had an idea. "Now, use Scratch!" Tohr fell down at Marill with his little claws bared.

"Marill, use Water Gun!" Harwey attempted an offensive defense and Marill once again spewed a strong water gun.

"Now, use Ember!" Nike made the audience confused but Roxanne intrigued, Harwey just figured she's stupid.

The two pokémon used their most powerful attacks keeping Tohr in mid air. The water was turning into steam but still threatened to knock him out. When the water was almost at Tohr's beak, Nike made him throw a flip backwards; meaning up. A little bit of water did push him a little but that only made him go higher. "Use, Ember!"

"Is she trying to make Tohr fly or something?" Lona said trying to understand what Nike was attempting.

When Tohr finally heard the words 'Combine with Peck', fire balls started flying all around Marill keeping it in one spot. Some were thrown at Marill's head to prevent it from using an attack. When Tohr was close, the fire stopped coming down, but there was nothing Harwey could do as the Torchic's beak knocked Marill out.

"Marill is unable to battle! Tohr wins - the victory goes to Nike!" Roxanne swung the flags and pointed one at the winner. Though the winner rushed to the Marill.

"You okay?" she asked it. The Marill nodded with one giggle that made a bubble come out of its mouth. Tohr didn't seem to notice anything at that moment except the fact that he had won. Harwey sighed and kept telling himself that she got lucky. But then again, he did underestimate her.

The kids rushed up to Nike to congratulate her and ask about where she came up with that weird combination. Nike laughed and picked up Tohr who was again left out and now tried to get in her arms. "We practiced!"

When Nike said that she has been practicing, she meant that she has been making Tohr imitate the things they saw on television. She taught him the attacks she could as an inexperienced child and picked up a few things from contests, which she loathed, by the way.

Nike was about 6 years old when she started training with her Torchic. Inspired by the battles she saw occasionally near the Trainers' School. The girl kept asking her parents if she could enter and, even though her father was against it, 2 years later she was in.

Nike kept Tohr a secret at first but eventually she realized that there was no reason for that. Or maybe she forgot the reason. Lona was her first friend in the school. She always supported her and kept reassuring her friend that they'll start on their journey together. Though Nike believed that Lona would much rather go with Harwey, and she couldn't understand that. He also came from a wealthy family and it was very apparent from the start. There were a few others like that: Melany, Monty, Elevadora. Nike's mother has been too kind for money to affect her though.

"Have you battled some wild pokémon too?" Lona was sitting next to Nike and leaned close to her to make sure that she would be heard. Sometimes Nike felt that she thinks she's deaf and stupid, not just forgetful.

"A few," Nike shrugged and remembered her first battle. It was a Nincada and, even though Tohr was ready to try out the tricks he had learned, Nike didn't seem ready at all. She was still quite young and very nervous too. Tohr sensed her feelings and his confidence dropped below zero. Of course, the battle was lost. So were a few other attempts but she got the hang of it eventually. This school helped mostly.

"No wonder then! I bet Harwey thought you brought a fresh-chic," Lona laughed and went back to sitting with the boy once info was drained. That opened a spot for others to sit in. And those kids weren't satisfied with the simple 'We Practiced!' two hours ago. Nike didn't want to start telling everyone as she was afraid to sound vain like Melany. And there wasn't time either when she finished her match. Soon after her, others fought. The students really shined as they showed off their skills. Nike kept wondering if she could beat the others too.

"Tooor!" the Torchic yawned as it was released from the ball. He looked up at his trainer with pleading eyes and Nike understood that her friend was hungry. She just knew she should of have brought some poké-food with her. Then she would be able to hang out with Lona right after school.

"Shush, Tohr," Nike laughed as he kept chirping for food. "The Pokémon Center is closer than home... So lets heal you there, kay?" she picked him up and he immediately closed his beak.

Tohr was healed and fed quickly at the Center and, as Nike stepped outside through the sliding door, she saw Harwey standing in front of her. Her Torchic cocked his head at seeing a familiar face.

"I want a re-match," Harw said simply as he dragged a pokéball out of his belt. "My pokémon against your."

Nike stared at him blankly while Tohr jumped out of her arms and, with his head stretched forth, stroke a battle pose. The pokémon was confident that, if he had beaten the kid once, he can do it again. And so Nike had no choice but to accept the challenge.

Harwey saw the nod and started walking down the road towards the bridge. Nike followed and in a few minutes in silence they were at the battlefield. Not the bridge itself of course. It was the grassy field between it and the city.

"Come out, Treecko!" Harwey threw the pokéball he had been holding the whole way and with a flash appeared his pokémon. Nike was more puzzled now: if he was beaten by Tohr who had the disadvantage then why would a grass pokémon work? She left the question for later and told her partner to enter the center of the field between the two trainers.

"So, what are the rules going to be?" Nike shrugged at the missing spot of a judge.

"Rules?" Harwey laughed. "This is a one-on-one: first to faint looses. That's all there is to it," he shook his head sighing. Nike decided to ignore the act and commanded swiftly for Tohr to use Ember. The little fireballs flew at Treecko but, just like Tohr, this pokémon had enough brains to dodge. Treecko jumped in the air and fell down with his big tail down-first at Harwey's command of 'Pound'.

Tohr was quick enough to dodge when Nike told him to and so Treecko slammed the ground. This time she didn't hesitate to use the chance to attack like with the Marill. Probably because this was his pokémon.'

"Use Ember!" Nike pointed at Treecko while she commanded but, as soon as the fireballs were being shot at the foe, Harwey ordered Treecko to use Quick Attack. It avoided the fireballs with ease and proved to be much faster than Torchic. Hoping that at least one fire ball will stop it, Nike didn't use a counter attack. The result was that Tohr was thrown back by Treecko's body slamming into him.

"Tohr!" Nike cried worried that the match could already be over. While the impact was strong, the Torchic managed to get up. Treecko was eyeing him carefully and waited for the next move eagerly.

"Treecko, use Pound," Harwey said, his arms crossed in front of his chest. He was sure of his victory now and that pissed Nike off.

"Tohr, use Ember below!" she decided to attempt fake aerial attacks and that way she felt safer from that quick attack. Harw predicted this and shocked Nike, "Use Bullet Seed, Treecko!"

Tohr was done using Ember and was now about to start falling down when Treecko rushed below and started spitting seeds at him. While the attack wasn't too effective, it prevented him from softening his fall somehow. At that moment Nike didn't see a way to turn this around and so she saw Tohr crash in the ground and faint.

"How ironic. We both won having the disadvantage," the winner laughed while re-calling Treecko and walked back to the city.

Nike rushed to her Torchic, sat down beside him and then picked him up to place him in her lap. "I'm sorry, Tohr. I'm sorry for letting you loose..." she hugged her pokémon who either forgave her or explained that it wasn't her fault alone. Nike hoped it was the latter but she still felt guilty that she couldn't think of a witty way to win.

"I'm home!" Nike walked in the apartment and threw her bag on the ground.

"You're late today, hun," Clara showed up in front of her as soon as she heard her voice.

"I won and lost today which makes two battles. Go figure..." the girl was obviously tired and disappointed. Mostly the embarrassment of the loss was the reason she didn't want to say much.

"You'll be 10 in a year. The time young trainers usually start their journey," her mother looked rather sad.

"Yeah, I know that. Why?" she asked curiously. A Butterfree flock was dancing in her stomach as she hoped for something good. She should of have noticed the sad expression.

"Ah, Nike… I couldn't get your father to let you leave then. He wants you to learn with him first about handling business things. At the age of 18 he said…." Clara sighed. "That's when he's letting you go."

"But that's in, like… Forever!" The Butterfrees disappeared and were replaced with flames of fury.