“Slate, right? My name is Lenora and I was hoping to speak with you for a moment.”
The award ceremony had just ended and everyone was dispersing to enjoy the remainder of the cruise to Fuschia City. Overhead, an announcer echoed through the ship, informing them they had just entered Route 18 and would soon make landfall at Port Point. Lenora, the winner of the tournament, laid a delicate hand on Slate’s arm, gently tugging him to the side in such a manner he wasn’t certain how he had been moved.
“Well, you apparently have me,” Slate said, eyeing her hand. Lenora laughed but released him.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t escape before I could speak to you. You have potential unlike the rest of the rabble.”
Slate noted that Lenora was beautiful. She was dressed to accentuate this fact, with makeup highlighting her already striking features, and her dress tailored tastefully. But above all her confidence was the most striking feature about her. She was a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it.
“Rabble?” Slate asked. They were still on the stage but partially obscured by the crowd of officials and aides that surrounded President Stone. The other winners had already vanished.
“Zacharias and the other one. Both have their faults but you have something they don’t,” Lenora said, her eyes fixated on his.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Lenora laughed. It was too perfect of a laugh, pleasant and light yet somehow exceedingly fake. Slate’s nerves, already battered by seasickness and the battling he had done that day, were on edge.
“You’ll find the further you go in our world that Pokémon battling and Training only take you so far. You’ll need connections to reach truly great heights in any field and most people lack those. Even the connections they do have are among the other rabble, never pushing them further than where they begin.”
Slate said nothing. While he understood what Lenora was saying, he didn’t understand the long-winded nature of her speech. Instead he waited for her to continue with Growlithe perched on his shoulders, vigilant against the woman before them.
She seemed to find Slate’s silence amusing. “You can relax, Slate. You already have the best connection in the world.”
Slate’s mind flickered to his mother, Maggie, and to Ranger Holly. “I do?” he asked. What did either woman have to do with Lenora, he wondered.
“Of course. It’s me!” she said with another laugh.
That made Slate’s train of thought derail. “How are we connected?”
Lenora’s laugh trailed off and she gave Slate a piercing look. “You don’t know. Interesting, I had thought… Well, no matter. It seems, Mr. Slate, you are a very fortunate young man indeed.”
“I am?”
“You are. It’s not every young man who catches my niece’s eye.”
Slate’s thoughts derailed and he looked at Lenora once more, peering deeper into her features and trying to recognize anything that looked familiar. It was her hair that tickled the back of Slate’s memory, and he followed the train of thought to reach Lucy. It clicked.
“I wasn’t aware of the connection between you and Lucy, my apologies.”
Lenora waved it off. “It’s fine, we do not go around advertising our familial connection for many reasons. However, I do take care of my family and look after their interests.” Lenora’s voice took on a dangerous edge and Slate found himself tensing.
“Should anything untoward happen to my niece I will hold you responsible, young Slate,” Lenora’s words were low and calm but the threat was undeniable. “Do you understand me?”
A moment passed between the two Trainers and Slate had to consciously restrain himself from pulling his knife free, or releasing one of his Pokémon. As it was, Growlithe reacted to his tenseness, feigning tiredness while he prepared to strike.
“I understand,” he said through tight lips, his jaw clenched. He forced his clenched hands to relax.
Fortunately that seemed enough to assure Lenora. In the blink of an eye her face became open and welcoming, almost inviting, and a smile crossed her face. But it never reached her eyes.
“As it so happens I represent the Devon Corporation on the tournament circuit, showing off their latest and greatest technology for the masses. I’m paid very well, travel to all of the regions, and have access to some of the strongest Pokémon in the world and the training methods to push them to greatness,” Lenora said.
“That’s very impressive,” Slate said neutrally. He reached up, petting Growlithe’s ears and letting him know it was okay to relax. Lenora didn’t seem to mind or even notice Slate’s attitude.
“It is, isn’t it? Well, I’m always on the lookout for promising new Trainers, Devon has so many products that need representation, and that leads to my interest in you. I think you would be perfect for our Rookie Trainer line,” Lenora explained.
Slate’s brow furrowed. “I… what?”
Lenora laughed politely in that way that was always impolite and condescending. She gave Slate a well practiced smile. “I think you’d be perfect for Devon’s Rookie Trainer line. I myself started out there and I made excellent money on my Journey. Who knows, at the end of your Rookie period you might even get signed on as a full Corporate Trainer for Devon Corp. There are more benefits than you’d believe.”
“That sounds interesting.” Slate didn’t bother trying to disguise his interest. Everyone liked free stuff and this seemed like a way to get some of the very expensive Trainer Gear that he’d never be able to afford.
“Ah, a hard sell. No need to play coy with me, Slate. I know what Trainers want. How would you like an allowance?”
Slate allowed silence to fall between them for a long moment, long enough to imply that the first response he had was not fit to be aired, nor were the second or third. He did voice his fourth thought. “What kind of allowance?”
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She waved a hand. “A small Trainer stipend to start. It would grow depending on your performance and success on the circuit. Eventually you might even reach my level which I assure you is very lucrative,” she said with a smile. Her hand fell to her hip, allowing the light to catch the crystal bracelet she wore. Slate idly wondered how much each of those small, colored crystals cost, and why anyone would carry that much wealth around.
“I assume all of these benefits are likewise reliant on my performance?” Slate paused on the last word.
“Of course! It’s all a grand old show. I’m so glad you understand, you would not believe some of the Trainers who think we’re in a constant struggle for life and death. We’re here to enjoy civilized things.”
“And the other benefits?” Slate asked.
Lenora waved a hand. “Oh the training for your Pokémon, access to Technical Machines and stat boosters, and access to rare Pokémon. Like this Gible I just won, it’ll be sent to be trained in Sinnoh for a little while before being sent on to Johto to learn some useful moves. After all, I don’t need it so selling it to Devon Corp’s surplus nets me a nice bonus.”
Slate considered vomiting on her dress. Between his seasickness and the conversation they were having he was certain could do it easily enough. Instead he swallowed down his bile.
“And as a Corporate Trainer, would I be restricted in any way?” Slate asked.
Lenora shrugged. “Just in a few ways. We answer to Devon Corp, of course, and there are lots of interviews and tours that can occasionally drag on. And then there’s the big, non-compete clause but I don’t think that should be a problem for you at the moment,” Lenora said, eyeing Slate’s clothing.
“Non-compete clause?”
“Oh it’s just a corporate thing. You can’t work for any other entity while you’re contracted to Devon Corp. It’s to help protect them from corporate espionage and other such things,” Lenora explained.
Slate frowned before almost smiling. “Other entities, such as the Pokémon League?”
Lenora blinked. “No, you wouldn’t be able to do that. You work for the Pokémon League?”
Slate did smile that time. “In a way. I have prior obligations to the Pokémon League that I’m afraid any Corporate Trainer position would conflict with. And for such meager benefits, I don’t feel it would be in my best interests.”
“Meager benefits?” Lenora sputtered before recovering her poise. She fixed Slate with a narrow-eyed gaze. “My Pokémon are Champion-tier! I’m wealthy and beloved. I’m famous!”
“Good for you,” Slate said with a grin. “But I think I’ll pass.”
A chill ran down Slate’s spine at the cold look Lenora gave him. “I see. Well I wish you luck with your future endeavors Mr. Slate. I’ll be watching them closely.”
With that ominous statement, Lenora excused herself and glided away in a manner befitting a runway. Despite her prickly personality, Slate’s eyes couldn’t help but drift down to her hips.
“What did she want?” Clair announced her arrival as she clammored onto the stage. Elvira rolled up behind her, springing to her feet.
“And what did you pick? We couldn’t see when the crowd went wild. Did you get my Dreepy?” Elvira asked.
“That’s a surprise. And no, someone already claimed that one,” Slate said. Elvira stuck her tongue out at him. “And Lenora wanted to see if I’m interested in becoming a Corporate Trainer.”
Clair’s face twisted unpleasantly. “Arceus, those parasites. One of my cousins was approached by some company from Kalos and was signed on. He didn’t realize he was basically signing away the ownership of the Pokémon he already had, including the ancestral Dratini that he was gifted to by our clan.”
“Is that what happened to Leander?” Elvira asked, shocked. Clair nodded.
“He still hasn’t gotten his Dratini back. The Elders have managed to tie the ownership in a legal battle but the Kalosian Pokémon League refuses to help settle the matter. They’re trying to uphold their bastard contract but they can’t really enforce it while Leander stays out of their Region. But he can’t get into their Region to retrieve his Dratini without being arrested. It sucks.”
“Why would anyone sign a contract like that?” Slate asked. Clair and Elvira shared a look and shrugged.
“Some of the companies do offer good deals. But they’re businesses. In the end, all they want is to make money and they don’t care about emotions or ethics to do that. Sneaking in clauses like that isn’t uncommon,” Clair said.
Elvira nodded beside her. “It’s why grandma always insists we don’t sign anything without sending it to a lawyer. One of her rare, useful bits of advice.”
Clair snorted. “Didn’t she tell you that eating Rabuta Berries would make your breasts grow bigger?”
“Yes she did,” Elvira said before turning to Slate and shoving a warning finger in his face, “and no, I will not show you.”
Slate pushed her finger away from his nose. “So stay away from contracts, companies looking to steal my Pokémon, and Rabuta Berries. Anything else? Or can I find a trash can already?”
Time Tracker:
Days passed in Chapter: 0
Total Days: 185
Trainer Card:
Name: Slate
Occupation: Trainer, Healer, Trainee Joy, Field Healer, Saffron Gym Trainer (Former)
Ambitions:
- To find his long lost Starter
- To become a Generalist Master, a Master of all Types
Badges: Boulder(II), Cascade(II), Thunder(II), Marsh(III), Rainbow(II), Graystone(I)
Trophies: Inter-Regional Rookie Tournament Qualifier (3rd), Inter-Regional Tournament Finals (4th)
Carry Limit: 9/14
Key items: Aron’s Rock
Pokémon: 9
Name: Scyther (F)
Type: Bug/Flying
Potential Moves: Counter, Fury Cutter, Air Slash, Focus Energy, Silver Wind, Agility, Roost, Light Screen, Double Team, Bug Buzz
Core Moves: Rest, Swift, Detect, Protect, Substitute, Endure
Name: Alolan Vulpix (F)
Type: Ice
Potential Moves: Moonblast, Ice Shard, Confuse Ray, Draining Kiss, Icy Wind, Mist, Aurora Veil, Freeze Dry
Core Moves: Swift, Rest, Detect, Endure
Name: Lairon (M)
Type: Steel/Rock
Potential Moves: Dragon Rush, Iron Defense, Rock Polish, Heavy Slam, Stone Edge, Dig
Core Moves: Rest, Protect, Swift, Detect, Endure
Name: Chansey (F) (Non-Combatant)
Type: Normal
Potential Moves: Seismic Toss, Life Dew, Drain Punch, Calm Mind, Gravity, Heal Pulse, Soft-Boiled, Trailblaze
Core Moves: Rest, Swift, Detect, Protect, Substitute, Endure
Name: Flaaffy (M)
Type: Electric
Potential Moves: Charge, Thunderbolt, Cotton Guard, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch
Core Moves: Rest, Endure, Swift, Protect
Name: Machoke (F)
Type: Fighting
Potential Moves: Counter, Revenge, Poison Jab, Snore, Close Combat, Bulk Up
Core Moves: Rest, Swift, Detect, Substitute, Endure, Protect
Name: Bulbasaur (F)
Type: Grass/Poison
Potential Moves: Ingrain, Sludge Bomb, Petal Blizzard, Trailblaze, Petal Dance, Leech Seed, Growth
Core Moves: Rest, Swift, Substitute, Protect
Name: Growlithe (M)
Type: Fire
Potential Moves: Morning Sun, Crunch, Dig, Flamethrower
Core Moves: Rest, Endure, Swift
Name: ?
Type: ?
Potential Moves: ?
Core Moves: ?
Author’s Note: Hello everyone! For those of you who don’t know me, my pen name is William Theodore Savage. You can find out more about me and my other works by googling my name and/or wtsavage. You can find out more about how to support me if you do!
This story will be updated once a week. This frequency may increase based on external actions out of my control. Until next time!