Disclaimer: I don’t own Pokemon! I do, however, own Jessica.
Writer’s Notes – “This was inspired by the few femmeslash fics out there! This story centers on Winona and her journey across the regions to save Altaria. I hope you find Wind Chimes moderately entertaining. (Based off the GAMES!)”

Wind Chimes: The Violet

Chapter 01: Ill-fated Friend

From a global view, the world spins with a practiced grace attained through a carefully calculated celestial cycle. And just below its gaseous visor lies the regions; zone in on one particular region, to one particular building, in one particular city, and it is here that my story begins.

I am Winona, leader of Fortree Gym, and bird-pokemon expert.

And this…

“No, my Pidgeotto!” A fair-haired beauty cries. She holds onto her bird with delicate hands and stares teary-eyed up at me. “You didn’t have to go so far!”

…..is my soon-to-be trainee, Jessica.

I shake my head and reply, “I didn’t go far at all. Your poor battling skills are what brought your Pokemon down.” I can see the words sting her like a wasp, but I have to get my point across.

This girl came to my gym, seeking to make her Pokemon stronger, but she lacks the grace every decent trainer possesses.

I kneel down beside her and pat the poor bird along its chest; its plumage is matted from Pelipper’s watergun. “If you want your Pokemon to be stronger, you need to be stronger first. Stay and maybe I can help you achieve your goal.” A common way for Gym Leaders to recruit trainers, I know, but it is the most effective way. Break down their confidence, and then offer them solace, a place in the Gym; this strengthens the gym’s image.

Thinking about it this way, I sometimes feel guilty, like I am being greedy. But then I remember that this is also good for the trainers.

She closes her eyes and sobs, unable to open them due to the overwhelming flow of tears.

“Will you stay?” I ask a second time, to which she weakly nods her agreement.

“I—I… I don’t want to see Pi—Pidgeotto like this again!”

This girl, I like. She’ll be sure to get the proper training she deserves. I stand up and call down one of my trainees, who come to help the girl and her injured bird off the floor and to the Pokemon Center.

Now, normally I could stand here and battle all day, but today I had no time to waste dawdling. I quickly head for the rooftop to check up on my Altaria. It tends to enjoy being up there, so I let it do as it pleases when there are no challengers.

“Altaria!” I call.

Altaria does not quite respond the way it usually does. It usually crows loudly in correspondence, but now, I’m only met with silence. I finally scale the top (via the stairs, of course!) and find it sitting in its usual spot. I command it to come inside, but it won’t stand up.

It offers a chirp, its first and only response, but that is more than enough… I’m not daft enough that I would not notice the off-pitch tone. It stares at me with its perfectly round eyes, trying to tell me… No! I fear the worst! How could I not have noticed before? Its cottony feathers are ruffled, but I can feel a substantial loss of weight.

Birds are delicate creatures; they have the unique ability to catch and spread human colds, and it is very damaging to their systems.

I never looked for it before, but now I can see the signs. Birds ruffle their feathers to hide weight loss… It’s just their natural instinct—they have to look strong. It’s a sad trait in these domesticated pokemon… I have no choice, this can’t wait, I pick up the mass and make way for the Pokemon Center—Jessica’s pokemon will be having some company.

The automatic doors shift open and I’m immediately greeted by the sight of Ruby. He looks at me with recognition and concern, but I hurry past him to the counter. Sorry but I’m in a hurry!

“Oh, nurse! My Altaria, it’s ill. Tell me you’ll get it treated right away…” I rest Altaria down on the counter as gently as I could, watching the nurse hurry into the back room to pull out a stretcher. In no time at all, Altaria is zoomed away, out of my grasp, and behind closed doors…

Footsteps sound quickly behind me. I know it’s Ruby. “Winona, what’s up? I didn’t think I beat you that badly.” He jokes, trying to lighten the mood.

I am not amused. “Save the funny business… My Altaria is sick.”

“Sorry…” He bows his head, sincerely apologetic. I suppose I can go easy on him this time around. I notice that his headband is missing, but make no comment as he continues, “I hope everything goes well and all. I mean, I’d hate it if my pokemon got sick like that. Oh yeah, have you seen Sapphire around?”

Sapphire is the girl with the brown hair, if I remember correctly. I think her hair is unique, because it looks like a puppy dog’s ears… But I digress. “No, not since a couple weeks ago. Why do you ask?”

His face is flushed now and I think I deserve an explanation. “Well, you see, I—“

“Winona? Your Altaria…” The nurse cut in. She is holding a clipboard to her chest, and her expression gives me no comfort. “I’m afraid we don’t have the necessary equipment to help you here… This is a bacterial infection we’ve never seen before… all we can offer you is pain killers. Is Altaria still eating?”

“Yes…” My mind is spinning! Ah, there’s a pain in my chest. “What am I to do for Altaria? Isn’t there anything I can do?”

The woman bows her head. I know now there is nothing… until a light reaches her eyes. She brightens up considerably, raising a finger in an afterthought, “Oh yes, Altaria’s sickness is in its earliest stages. It’s a good thing you got it here so quickly. We don’t have the medicine to do anything here, but there is a well-known practitioner of medicine in Cianwood who might be able to help you!”

“Cianwood…?” I don’t recall there being any Cianwood in Hoenn…

“It’s a city on the Johto border; you should be able to get there by ferry from Lilycove.”

“I understand.”

“Miss Winona!” I turn my attention to Jessica, who has just emerged from one of the back doors. It’s probable that Pidgeotto is being treated on the other side. Nevertheless, she rushes up to me. Her eyes are still red from her previous crying fit. “Miss Winona, what are you doing here? Pidgeotto is doing just fine.”

I offer her a smile, “I’m glad to hear that. But I’m here because of Altaria.”

The look on her face changes dramatically, and she looks about ready to cry again. I quickly assure her that it shouldn’t be anything serious. I’ll be getting Altaria back soon and… “I’ll have to arrange a trip to Johto.”

“Oh, Winona,” The nurse cut in yet again. I give her my attention, and she goes on to say, “May I take a look at the rest of your pokemon?”

An odd question to ask, but I have no reason not to comply.

Nurse takes all four pokeballs to the same room she came from before, leaving me clueless.

Ruby rubs the back of his neck nervously, “Uh, I kind of have to get out of here. I’ll see you around.”

Jessica waves him goodbye, even though none of that was directed at her. She looks back to be with concern, “Miss Winona, how are you going to leave? When? What about the gym?”

Yes, what about the gym. I could ask Ruby or Sapphire to look after it for me, but I fear they lack experience. And I don’t have many friends… I let out a sigh of frustration; I know I’ll have to call him.

“Miss Winona?”

“Nothing. I will handle it.”

Meanwhile, the nurse returns. This time, she’s pale; today really isn’t a good day for me… “I’m afraid… we’ve found the same bacterial infection in all of your pokemon… I hope I don’t have to tell you, you should refrain from any battling or other strenuous activities. I’m very sorry.”

All… of my pokemon are ill? How can that be? The look of disbelief must have been more than apparent on my face, for Jessica grasped my sleeve like a child grabbing her mother’s skirt. “How can this happen?”

“I’m very sorry.” The nurse repeats. Eventually, she returns to the counter. I can only stand still in shock, my precious companions; they were all suffering while I just went about it like it was nothing?

“I am a horrible trainer!” I gasp, holding my head in my hands.

I could never have dreamed this would happen…

“No, you aren’t, Miss Winona…” Jessica tries to comfort me, though her voice is too timid and unsure to give me any sense of reassurance.

“Yes, I am. I should have seen this… I should have felt their suffering…”

“Miss Winona…”

I’m looking point blank at my pokenav, my fingertips hovering just above the numeric pad. I never called this number, but I knew it by heart. That small fact really annoys me. But I know what must be done. I swiftly enter the code into the pokenav and wait. The wait isn’t long, the call is immediately picked up, and I am met face to face with a stylish blue-haired trainer.

“Winona! You finally called me!”

“Yes.”

“I knew you couldn’t resist me for lo—“

“Skip the pleasantries, Wallace. I have a favor to ask of you.”

The man on the other end pouted into little camera. He curls some of his long strands of blue hair around his index finger and hums smoothly, “Oh, a favor. Pray tell, what may it be?” There is a glint in his eye that I am intent on ignoring.

“I need you to watch over the gym for me… I have to make a trip. It’s an emergency.”

Suddenly his face turns serious. “You aren’t eloping…”

“No! It’s an emergency! Can you do it or not?”

“When do you need me to be there?” He purrs.

“Now.”

His hair curling stops and his face is unreadable. I really hope I didn’t make an inconvenient request. Of course, it’s inconvenient, but I hope not terribly so… I think I need to apologize. “I’m sorry, you don’t have to—“

“No, no,” He raises a hand, effectively cutting me off. “I’m on my way, honey!”

I should have known. I narrow my eyes at the little screen, “I’ll leave the key on the roof.” And with that, I clicked off the device. I don’t want to hear anymore of his engaging sweet talk. More important matter is knocking on my door. I take a long glance about the gym to make sure that everything looks presentable. I know what a hassle it can be when things look messy; he always likes to be in style.

Jessica wants to assist me on my way, to make sure that I’m ok, since my Pokemon can’t battle. I’m concerned with that offer, though, since the only Pokemon she has is Pidgeotto. I suppose I have no choice. I promise her that if she does a good job of escorting me and my pokemon then I would award her with the Feather Badge. She is ecstatic and wants to start right away. I really can’t blame her…

It’s fortunate I can’t risk awaiting Wallace’s arrival. I turn expectantly to Jessica. “Is everything ready?”

She nods eagerly, “Yes, Miss Winona!” She then presents her backpack, its top flap open as if to show me an exhibit, “I have the medication and rations all packed.” I gently nod my approval, to which she says, “Miss Winona… Thank you so much… for allowing me the opportunity to go with you.”

What a silly thing to thank me for! If anything, I should be thanking her. “It is of no trouble, I assure you.”

As we head for Lilycove, my stomach again begins to churn. I feel so irresponsible for being so blind to their illnesses. I’ll never forgive myself if Altaria dies! We walk together in silence, and out of sight of most trainers. It would do no good for people to see a renowned Gym Leader walking casually about with no pokemon. Not to mention it would only slow us down.

Two days afterward, we arrive at Lilycove City. The trip was moderately pleasant and without incident.

I have to admit, I don’t travel very often. I’m simply swamped by all the tiles and concrete in this city! It’s absolutely marvelous! But… there is no time to sightsee. We head straight for the harbor… which is eerily empty. “Excuse me,” I stop a nearby seaman, “But where may I board a ship to Johto?”

The burly man eyes me curiously; he probably thinks I look familiar. I can only hope he does not recognize me. “Ah, that would be the Lady Locknest. But she’s fair days away now; set sail just this mornin’.”

“Isn’t there any other ship?”

“Afraid not.”

“Oh… thank you.” I signal for Jessica for us to move on. I’m pretty sure there’s more than one way to get there without waiting another two days, we just have to dig around to find out. At some point, we separated to ask around. I headed for the large mall area, but I come up fruitless.

Jessica and I stake out the city for hours but come up empty-handed. Eventually, we stop by a rusty looking shack off a cliff edge near the shore.

A man, looking somewhere around his forties, is sitting outside in a lawn chair, looking for the most part miserable. I stopped to wonder whether I should even bother asking this guy where I could find a ship; he looks like he’s having his own crisis…

A new wave of emotion flows over me, and I am compelled to ask, “Sir, what is the matter?”

He looks up at me, genuinely surprised that any passerby would take notice of him. His face quickly sunk, however, and he held his head in both hands. “I lost my favorite pokemon…”

“Lost your pokemon?”

“Yes.” He continued, sniffling a bit, “I swear, I was only at the department store for a minute and then when I got back—my pokeball—I… It just disappeared… I thought I left it at the store, but I couldn’t find it back there. I can’t set sail without my Wailmer!”

Wait, did he just say “sail”? I tread the subject with tact, “Where are you sailing?”

“A leisure sail. I always go out on the boat with Wailmer! But now…”

Talk about a stroke of luck! I give Jessica a look, before turning back to the man. “If I found your Wailmer, could you take me to Cianwood?”

A surprisingly easy deal is made. The trip is estimated to take about three days, and I only have a few hours left to find that Wailmer! He explained to us that the pokeball had a unique sticker on it, a star with blue stripes. Back at the department store, our confidence fast deflated. There is absolutely no sign of a stray pokeball, and no one had seen one.

I wouldn’t be able to find it in me to return to that shack empty handed!

“Miss Winona… Maybe someone did find it. There is a rumor going around that suspicious guys are training a bunch of Wailmer right off the coast! Maybe…”

My eyes light up, “You’re right!” A flicker of hope! I promise that from now on, I will pay close attention to rumors. We make haste and descend upon the coastal line, where indeed there is a parade of Wailmer. They are all obediently following the orders of an odd fellow dressed in black and blue. I’m not sure someone else’s Wailmer would blindly obey some stranger, so I have my doubts any of them were the missing pokemon… And then I heard…

“Stupid Wailmer! Follow orders like everyone else!” A gruff sounding voice sounds just south of us. Another man dressed in similar attire is yelling at a miffed looking Wailmer. He doesn’t look too pleased himself. “What a waste. And here I thought I got a free pokemon.”

Really, these rogues are so uncouth. Jessica and I came upon him within moments. She speaks up first, “Um, excuse me, but is that your Wailmer?”

The man freezes as if caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He then snaps around defensively, yelling, “Hey! Finders’ keepers! You got a problem with that!?”

Jessica shrinks behind me, which is odd, considering she’s the one with the pokemon. Nonetheless, I square my shoulders. “Yes, we do. We’ve come to return that pokemon to its rightful owner!”

He seems to be thinking of a response, but something is stopping him. He gives me a look I’ve been getting all too often since arriving at the town. He is trying to put a finger to me, as to where he’s seen me before. It’s happened countless times, so I can tell when that’s the issue. Finally, he reaches for two pokeballs at his belt, “I don’t care what you want! This is mine!”

Jessica shakily stood from behind me, pulling out her only pokeball. This doesn’t look good. Two experienced pokemon versus her one Pidgeotto, it just doesn’t add up.

Of all times to intervene, this is one. I put my hand before to keep her back, and step closer to the villain. In a flash, I have my badge in the air and on full display. “I am Winona, of Fortree City’s pokemon gym! I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

I really am sure he has, for he freezes up with his mouth wide open.

I’m sure my looks don’t contradict my claim, either.

“…F—fine! Keep your stupid pokemon. I’m outta here!” And so the coward flees. It really disgusts me the way people put up a front and then back down. And he’s a man, no less! Pathetic.

Suddenly Jessica is upon me, crying into my scarf. I’m sure she has never been talked to that way before, but I don’t know how to comfort her. I can only hold her by the shoulders and wait for her shaking to stop.

“I’m sorry!” She utters erratically. “I’m sorry!”

…The grace of a woman in mourning… is truly unsurpassed!

To Be Continued…

In the Next chapter – Winona here, we set sail for Cianwood... What? There is trouble at sea!