Erika
“Erika! The mail's here!” The Celadon Gym Leader lifted her eyes from the book she was reading and glanced over at the French doors that led to her den and library as a cheerful girl in a black dress bounded in, her brown curls leaping around her face joyfully. The girl raced over to Erika, proudly displaying several letters and a package in her arms. Erika forced a smile as the young girl dumped the contents of that day's mail into Erika's lap.
Erika set her book and cup of tea on the side-table and began sorting through the letters. It was pretty standard stuff; water, heat, and electricity bills, a reminder about the party being held at Lance's mansion for his birthday, a couple of requests for donations to charity. The package, however, was much more unique. The Grass princess furrowed her brow as she read the return address, or more specifically, the names on it: Brier and Holly (the last name had been smudged, somehow)---her parents.
She briefly glanced over the rest of the package. The shipping label in particular caught her eye: it had been shipped by some company she had never even heard of (Orion Packaging: “OP – We Deliver”). That was just like her parents, though, to use some small-time company like that. Knowing them, they probably went to high school with the owner or something.
Deciding to open it later, Erika set the mail on the side-table and yawned, placing a hand over her lips to stifle it. When her eyes slip open again, she noticed the young woman still standing dutifully by her chair, bright pink lips stretched in a perpetual smile.
“Michelle?”
“Yes, Erika?”
“Is there... something you want?”
Oh, there's something I want, alright... “N-no, not really.”
Erika stood carefully and indicated a chair on the other side of the small room from her own. “Please, sit.” Michelle quickly took a seat as Erika gracefully glided over to a counter where a pot of tea sat on a burner. Her kimono flapped briefly around her ankles as she walked. “Tea?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, please!” Michelle exclaimed. A few moments later, Erika handed the young trainer a steaming cup of tea and returned to her seat with a fresh cup of her own.
“Michelle,” Erika said as she sat, “Why do you insist on retrieving the mail everyday?”
Michelle took a sip of tea before answering. “I just, uh, think you could use some time for yourself, you know? After all, you do the most with the gym, the rest of the trainers and I just sit around all day.”
“I see.” Erika took a long sip of her tea. She highly doubted what the girl said was true. Challengers rarely came to her gym anymore, so that left her with plenty of free time. It was more likely that the rest of the Gym trainers were hazing the girl to initiate her as a full member of the Gym.
In the absence of conversation, the newest member of the Celadon Gym gazed around the room, staring at the plants. She seemed uncomfortable with them, as she grimaced lightly after staring at them for a few seconds. Every so often, her gaze would return to Erika, though her eyes would immediately dart away again. After a while, she began drumming the fingers of her free hand on the chair's arm.
“Why are you here, Michelle?”
Michelle's gaze snapped to Erika. She looked bewildered. “I, uh, I like plants?” She didn't even seem sure herself.
“Really. Tell me, how much do you know about plants?”
Michelle was nervous. Erika wasn't speaking maliciously, in fact, she thought it impossible for that soft, kind voice to ever speak ill of anything. No, it was just that no one usually bothered to ask her about herself, even if it was something as simple as that.
“Lots. There's the roots, and the stem, and the leaves. Flowers have pollen... lots.”
“Lying doesn't suit you well, Michelle,” Erika said politely, sipping her tea.
Michelle's face fell and she began twiddling her thumbs. “Yeah, I know...”
“Why are you really here?”
“I guess... I guess I like the peace here. Everyone gets along, no one judges you...”
Erika cocked her head. “Nobody judges you? What reason would they have to do so?”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“Hmm.” Another sip of tea. “Where are you from, Michelle?”
“Viridian City.”
“Why come to Celadon, if you wanted peace? Celadon is much bigger than Viridian.”
“Yeah, I know, and there's the forest, too. The problem is that I can't be there all day. I'd have to come home eventually.”
“So your family judged you.”
“Y-yeah.” Michelle looked away. She stared hard at a painting of a fruit basket, unwilling to look back at Erika.
“I understand how you feel.”
“Do you?”
“Well...” the Grass trainer mused, “I suppose not in the same context. But I understand how it feels to want to be away from your family.”
“Oh.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Michelle continued to gaze at the painting while Erika watched her carefully. Eventually, Michelle turned back to face her idol, who smiled at her pleasantly. Michelle bit her lip.
“Why are you here?”
“Why am I here?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose... why don't I show you?” Erika picked up the package from the side-table and held it out in front of her. “This is from my parents. Open it.” Michelle stood quickly, grabbed the package, and sat back down. She made short work of the tape and in no time had cleared away the balled-up newspapers that encased the object inside. “What is it?” Erika inquired.
“It's... a Pokemon doll.”
“What kind of Pokemon doll?”
“...A Clefairy.”
Erika sighed and set her tea down. She yawned briefly, then leaned to the right and rested her head on her hand. “I expected something like that. Mother enjoys her irony.”
“I... don't get it.”
“My parents are a tad eccentric. Their idea of a fun time is going to the top of the Goldenrod department store at midnight and howling like wolves. They dragged me along several times as well.”
Michelle's imagination taunted her with Erika howling, though in quite another way. She squirmed in her seat. “You didn't like it?”
“No. I didn't. Although, the problem was more that they insisted on including me in their, ah, hi-jinks. I have no qualms with them having fun in their own little way. But that just wasn't who I was. Yet everything had to be just how wanted it, no matter how silly it was. They always made me dress in clothes that didn't match well, they put my hair into such silly styles, they read me the oddest stories.”
Michelle nodded, cheered up that she wasn't the only one who had problems with her family. Her appearance reflected this change: she began smiling again, her eyes lit up. “So, the reason you're so quiet and... well, proper is just you rebelling against your parents?”
“Rebelling? Goodness, no! I love them very much, and I really don't want to upset them. I'm just embracing who I am inside.” She took a final sip of her tea, draining the rest. “You should do that too,” she added.
Michelle nodded, smiling, and finished off her tea. She glanced at the clock and decided it was time she left. Erika and she both stood. Erika took their teacups and placed them by the pot. Afterward, Erika guided her to the door.
“Thank you so much for the tea and talk, Erika,” Michelle thanked her, lingering outside of the door.
“It was no trouble, I assure you. I enjoyed myself. You can come back whenever you want.”
“Erika... I think I-”
“Michelle, you are a good friend, and I appreciate you opening up to me. But I am not the one you need to be yourself to. You cannot teach a sage something he already knows.” Erika placed her hand on Michelle's shoulder reassuringly.
Michelle's face fell and her lips sagged into a silent 'o'. Finally, she spoke: “You... already know.”
“I guessed.”
“Oh, okay.” Michelle turned to leave, hanging her head. She hadn't gone more than two steps when she felt a pair of arms around her. Erika was hugging her.
“Michelle, how old are you?”
“S-sixteen. Almost seventeen.”
“I'm twenty-one."
“Ooooohhhhh...” Michelle exclaimed as she realized what Erika was saying. Erika turned her around, grabbed one of her hands, and placed something in it.
“You have plenty of time left before you need to settle on anything. You're still a teenager. Go and have fun. Make some bad decisions. Not TOO bad... But you understand what I'm saying. Live.”
Michelle nodded, clasped her fist shut, and ran downstairs, through the gym, and outside into the city. She ran and ran and ran, until she came to a stoplight. She paused, catching her breath, and opened her hand. Her heart soared. It was a Rainbow Badge.
Erika set her book and cup of tea on the side-table and began sorting through the letters. It was pretty standard stuff; water, heat, and electricity bills, a reminder about the party being held at Lance's mansion for his birthday, a couple of requests for donations to charity. The package, however, was much more unique. The Grass princess furrowed her brow as she read the return address, or more specifically, the names on it: Brier and Holly (the last name had been smudged, somehow)---her parents.
She briefly glanced over the rest of the package. The shipping label in particular caught her eye: it had been shipped by some company she had never even heard of (Orion Packaging: “OP – We Deliver”). That was just like her parents, though, to use some small-time company like that. Knowing them, they probably went to high school with the owner or something.
Deciding to open it later, Erika set the mail on the side-table and yawned, placing a hand over her lips to stifle it. When her eyes slip open again, she noticed the young woman still standing dutifully by her chair, bright pink lips stretched in a perpetual smile.
“Michelle?”
“Yes, Erika?”
“Is there... something you want?”
Oh, there's something I want, alright... “N-no, not really.”
Erika stood carefully and indicated a chair on the other side of the small room from her own. “Please, sit.” Michelle quickly took a seat as Erika gracefully glided over to a counter where a pot of tea sat on a burner. Her kimono flapped briefly around her ankles as she walked. “Tea?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, please!” Michelle exclaimed. A few moments later, Erika handed the young trainer a steaming cup of tea and returned to her seat with a fresh cup of her own.
“Michelle,” Erika said as she sat, “Why do you insist on retrieving the mail everyday?”
Michelle took a sip of tea before answering. “I just, uh, think you could use some time for yourself, you know? After all, you do the most with the gym, the rest of the trainers and I just sit around all day.”
“I see.” Erika took a long sip of her tea. She highly doubted what the girl said was true. Challengers rarely came to her gym anymore, so that left her with plenty of free time. It was more likely that the rest of the Gym trainers were hazing the girl to initiate her as a full member of the Gym.
In the absence of conversation, the newest member of the Celadon Gym gazed around the room, staring at the plants. She seemed uncomfortable with them, as she grimaced lightly after staring at them for a few seconds. Every so often, her gaze would return to Erika, though her eyes would immediately dart away again. After a while, she began drumming the fingers of her free hand on the chair's arm.
“Why are you here, Michelle?”
Michelle's gaze snapped to Erika. She looked bewildered. “I, uh, I like plants?” She didn't even seem sure herself.
“Really. Tell me, how much do you know about plants?”
Michelle was nervous. Erika wasn't speaking maliciously, in fact, she thought it impossible for that soft, kind voice to ever speak ill of anything. No, it was just that no one usually bothered to ask her about herself, even if it was something as simple as that.
“Lots. There's the roots, and the stem, and the leaves. Flowers have pollen... lots.”
“Lying doesn't suit you well, Michelle,” Erika said politely, sipping her tea.
Michelle's face fell and she began twiddling her thumbs. “Yeah, I know...”
“Why are you really here?”
“I guess... I guess I like the peace here. Everyone gets along, no one judges you...”
Erika cocked her head. “Nobody judges you? What reason would they have to do so?”
“I don't want to talk about it.”
“Hmm.” Another sip of tea. “Where are you from, Michelle?”
“Viridian City.”
“Why come to Celadon, if you wanted peace? Celadon is much bigger than Viridian.”
“Yeah, I know, and there's the forest, too. The problem is that I can't be there all day. I'd have to come home eventually.”
“So your family judged you.”
“Y-yeah.” Michelle looked away. She stared hard at a painting of a fruit basket, unwilling to look back at Erika.
“I understand how you feel.”
“Do you?”
“Well...” the Grass trainer mused, “I suppose not in the same context. But I understand how it feels to want to be away from your family.”
“Oh.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Michelle continued to gaze at the painting while Erika watched her carefully. Eventually, Michelle turned back to face her idol, who smiled at her pleasantly. Michelle bit her lip.
“Why are you here?”
“Why am I here?”
“Yes.”
“I suppose... why don't I show you?” Erika picked up the package from the side-table and held it out in front of her. “This is from my parents. Open it.” Michelle stood quickly, grabbed the package, and sat back down. She made short work of the tape and in no time had cleared away the balled-up newspapers that encased the object inside. “What is it?” Erika inquired.
“It's... a Pokemon doll.”
“What kind of Pokemon doll?”
“...A Clefairy.”
Erika sighed and set her tea down. She yawned briefly, then leaned to the right and rested her head on her hand. “I expected something like that. Mother enjoys her irony.”
“I... don't get it.”
“My parents are a tad eccentric. Their idea of a fun time is going to the top of the Goldenrod department store at midnight and howling like wolves. They dragged me along several times as well.”
Michelle's imagination taunted her with Erika howling, though in quite another way. She squirmed in her seat. “You didn't like it?”
“No. I didn't. Although, the problem was more that they insisted on including me in their, ah, hi-jinks. I have no qualms with them having fun in their own little way. But that just wasn't who I was. Yet everything had to be just how wanted it, no matter how silly it was. They always made me dress in clothes that didn't match well, they put my hair into such silly styles, they read me the oddest stories.”
Michelle nodded, cheered up that she wasn't the only one who had problems with her family. Her appearance reflected this change: she began smiling again, her eyes lit up. “So, the reason you're so quiet and... well, proper is just you rebelling against your parents?”
“Rebelling? Goodness, no! I love them very much, and I really don't want to upset them. I'm just embracing who I am inside.” She took a final sip of her tea, draining the rest. “You should do that too,” she added.
Michelle nodded, smiling, and finished off her tea. She glanced at the clock and decided it was time she left. Erika and she both stood. Erika took their teacups and placed them by the pot. Afterward, Erika guided her to the door.
“Thank you so much for the tea and talk, Erika,” Michelle thanked her, lingering outside of the door.
“It was no trouble, I assure you. I enjoyed myself. You can come back whenever you want.”
“Erika... I think I-”
“Michelle, you are a good friend, and I appreciate you opening up to me. But I am not the one you need to be yourself to. You cannot teach a sage something he already knows.” Erika placed her hand on Michelle's shoulder reassuringly.
Michelle's face fell and her lips sagged into a silent 'o'. Finally, she spoke: “You... already know.”
“I guessed.”
“Oh, okay.” Michelle turned to leave, hanging her head. She hadn't gone more than two steps when she felt a pair of arms around her. Erika was hugging her.
“Michelle, how old are you?”
“S-sixteen. Almost seventeen.”
“I'm twenty-one."
“Ooooohhhhh...” Michelle exclaimed as she realized what Erika was saying. Erika turned her around, grabbed one of her hands, and placed something in it.
“You have plenty of time left before you need to settle on anything. You're still a teenager. Go and have fun. Make some bad decisions. Not TOO bad... But you understand what I'm saying. Live.”
Michelle nodded, clasped her fist shut, and ran downstairs, through the gym, and outside into the city. She ran and ran and ran, until she came to a stoplight. She paused, catching her breath, and opened her hand. Her heart soared. It was a Rainbow Badge.