Into the Unown (Pokemon Fanfiction OC)

Author's Note:

Double chapter release today to celebrate the end of Part Two and also because Ch 159 is kind of transitory.

Definitely not because I stubbornly wanted to end it on a round number or anything.

Nope, couldn't be me. Must be another striped equine with a phallic appendage stuck to their head.

There will also be an afterword attached to the end of the epilogue and you guys can use the comment section as a Q&A if you're so inclined. I'll try my best to answer all your questions. Just, you know, be nice about it.

***

The following days saw a slew of visitors come and go, one of which was Charlie, who came bearing a gift basket filled with Natto for some reason.

“Thanks…?” Nina drawled, her tone filled with skepticism. “I mean, why natto?”

“Hah!” Cole scoffed, shooting a look at Charlie that screams “I told you so.”

Nobita, who was also with them, laughed at the antics of his companions. “Charlie says that they're filled with nutrients beneficial for a recovering patient.”

Nina laughed. “I mean I’m being fed Chansey’s eggs every day, I doubt anything’s more nutritious than that.” In fact, the daily supply of Chansey’s eggs almost made Nina feel glad about being hospitalized.

“Hah! That’s what we told this dumbass, but he wouldn’t listen.” Cole chimed, taking a momentary reprieve from his bickering with Charlie.

“It is nutritious!” Charlie exclaimed. “And tasty too…” That last part was said in a barely audible murmur.

Nina smiled. “Boys, that’s enough. I appreciate the gift, and it’s the thought that counts.”

“That’s what they like to say when the gift is shit,” said Cole, provoking another round of arguments with Charlie.

Nina sighed, tuning out the unruly duo making a fuss in her room and turned to address Nobita instead. “So, how’ve you been? I imagine the past week hasn’t been kind to you.” Especially since Nobita, as the scion and a prominent executive of the Yamaguchi Group, was deeply implicated in his father’s dealings.

Nobita responded with a feeble smile. “It’s not too bad, the League is granting me clemency in exchange for my full cooperation. So we’re mostly just busy trying to round up all the crooks under our employ. The biggest issue is what to do with the business…”

Despite the Yamaguchi Group’s underhanded dealings, there was also a legitimate side to the conglomerate, one that was intricately tied to Celadon City’s economy and provided employment to thousands of residents. Residents who all have families to support. The collapse of such a massive entity would have a devastating effect on the city. It was no wonder that the Celadon City Council was so protective of it.

Nina nodded in understanding. “Yeah, this isn’t like Red and the Rocket Game Center where it’s just one little Game Corner.” The Rocket Game Center was quite lucrative, but it didn’t operate on the same scale as the Yamaguchi Group. “So what’s next then? I doubt the League would be so callous as to just let everything devolve into chaos.”

Nobita shifted in his seat and looked out the window. “My grandma is helping me sort things out, but basically we’re thinking of downsizing, selling off what we can and consolidating the rest. All the illegal operations will be shut down of course, I doubt the League will tolerate anything less.” 

The boy then let out a long, weary sigh. “It’s not going to be easy though. By the time we’re done with all the severance payments, there won’t be anything left. Not to mention our creditors…”

“What about the council then?” Nina asked with a scoff. “I doubt the League is gonna let them off scott free.” In fact, just from the snippets of news she saw over the past week, there had already been a slew of resignations from the Celadon City Council. And last she heard from Lilian, Erika had returned to the city and was now aggressively taking over the reins of governance with the full support of the Indigo League.

Nobita laughed. “Our good friend, Councilman Abe and the rest of the former Council are all under house arrest, pending investigation — which is going to be a struggle as well since the police have long been corrupted.” 

Unlike the other cities where the top of the police force consisted mostly of members from the Jenny clan, the upper brass of the Celadon police were mostly non-Jennys. Which was odd if Nina were to think about it. Usually such an uneven concentration of power in the hands of a single family was detrimental more often than not. 

In fact, part of why it took so long for the Elite Four to mobilise was because they needed to gather together a force from outside Celadon City. That and the fact that Yamaguchi HQ ended up being a Rocket den where most of Giovanni's most competent former executives were undercover as employees, a fact that even Nobita was unaware of, resulting in the fierce battle that caused devastation in the city. 

Honestly, it was a miracle that Alfred managed to get out of that mess with just a severed arm and a ruined suit. Maybe Nina’s theory that the Blackthorn clan had a team shadowing Lilian as a contingency was valid after all. Something that the girl was clearly ignorant about when Nina asked about it.

“What about you, Charlie?” Nina interrupted the boys’ argument, feeling a little annoyed at the commotion next to her sick bed. “How are you holding up?”

Charlie eagerly grabbed hold of Nina’s olive branch and turned away from Cole. “Yeah, good as new!” The boy rolled his previously injured shoulder and flexed his non-existent biceps.

Nina laughed. “That’s good. I’m really sorry for getting you hurt by the way. That kunai was meant for me…”

In response, Charlie just laughed and waved off Nina’s apology. “Nah, are you kidding me? Based on what I heard from the other girls, I’d say you did me a favor.” The boy then gestured towards Nina’s sorry state. She wasn’t as wrapped up anymore, affording her some space to move, but she wasn’t fully healed just yet. “Seems like you guys went through a lot while I was out of it.”

Nina sighed. “Yeah, tell me about it… Anyways, what’s next for you boys? Are you gonna continue on your journey? And I’m not sure if you noticed, but if you plan on challenging the conference next year, you’ll have to redo your Boulder Badge challenge since Gym badges only last for two years.”

Charlie looked towards Cole who just shrugged in indifference. “Yeah, I think we’ll take our time. I don’t mind redoing the Pewter Gym but I’m not so hung up on the conference anymore either.” Charlie then looked down in embarrassment. “I’m actually thinking it might be nice to become a Pokemon Ranger… What do you think?”

“That’s awesome!” Nina exclaimed with all the excitement she could muster without aggravating her wounds. “I’m proud of you Charlie! I think you’re gonna be a great Pokemon Ranger!”

“Thanks! I’ll do my best!” Charlie beamed a bright smile at Nina, the same sunny, toothy look that she was so used to seeing back when they were kids. 

***

Smack!

Nina shook her hand to dispel the numbness before winding it up again and going in for another smack. The girl revelled in the elastic bounciness she felt upon impact, almost like smacking a water balloon in that regard.

This was Nina’s new favorite game, where she competed with Brucey to see who could create the most appealing ripples on Nitey’s tubby belly. To the side Espy was acting as the judge while Sir Clodington was their reluctant referee. Each participant had three tries and Espy would grade them on their best attempt. 

“Look, being stuck in a hospital is super boring, okay?”

Nina exhaled in exhaustion and shook her hand once more, her skin now a pale shade just like how it was years ago before she started diving. The doctor’s did a phenomenal job, and while she did feel overly sensitive during those first few days, that rawness had largely subsided by now.

The only caveat though, was the muscle spasms. The doctors assured her that the symptoms would fade over time, but so far that prediction had yet to come into fruition. 

“Alright Brucey, your turn.”

“Kukuku…” Brucey taunted Nina with a laugh as he hopped further back for a bit of a running start, before throwing himself towards Nitey with his back turned.

Nitey chuckled as Brucey sunk into his leathery pooch of a beanbag, before heaving and unceremoniously bouncing the Golbat off him and onto the floor, eliciting laughter from Nina. To the side, judge Espy shook her head in disapproval — while the impact was quite substantial, no ripples were formed, thereby disqualifying that attempt.

In truth Nina hadn’t gotten used to Nitey’s new appearance yet. She still maintained that a Dragonair had a much more aesthetic form than a Dragonite, which for all intents and purposes, was just an orange Barney the dinosaur but with wings.

But regardless of the massive shift in appearance, her silly Dragon was still the same inside and that’s all that mattered. And with that thought, Nina pulled her Dragonite in for a hug, his other new favorite activity and something that he could more easily do now that he had arms. 

In fact, one of the things Nitey was most eager to try once Nina gets discharged later on in the day was to sleep with Nina in his embrace. Something that the girl was keen on doing as well, since she imagined laying on that tubby pooch would be like laying on one of those old school water beds. 

However, at the same time, she couldn’t help but think that her status as a trainer had been downgraded to just being Nitey’s plushie, as her partner did to her everything that she used to do to him back when he was still a little noodle boy.

“Nina, time to go home!”

The door to Nina’s room opened, to reveal the chiselled figure of Alias Jones with the rest of Nina’s family in tow. They all flew in from Cerulean City just to pick Nina up from the hospital today.

“Mom, dad, Uncle Ali!” Nina jumped up in excitement and threw herself into her uncle’s embrace, who picked her up and spun her around like always.

“Yowza, you’ve grown! They must’ve been feeding you good in the hospital huh?”

“Yup!” Nina beamed. “I got to eat Chansey’s egg for every single meal. It was great!”

“Nina, were you playing with poor Nitey’s tummy again?” Leanette, Nina’s mother, chimed as she gently rubbed at the red marks on Nitey’s pale abdomen.

Nina averted her gaze and pouted. “He’s fine, mom. Nitey’s a big tough Dragon.” In fact, one might even consider the big orange oaf an adult after what he did with Sapphire.

However, Nitey clearly didn’t agree with Nina’s sentiment as he nuzzled against Leanette’s bosom and started wailing like a cry baby. The tears were all fake of course, not that it stopped Nina’s mom from shooting an admonishing look at the girl.

Patrick laughed and took out his camera. “It’s fine, our daughter knows what she’s doing. Now, let’s all snap a picture to celebrate Nina’s safe discharge.” The man suggested, only to be met with vehement rejection from his daughter.

“No!” Nina ran to her bedside table to grab her hat which she pulled over her bald head. “I refuse to be photographed while looking like this!”

“Aww… C’mon sweetie, you look great. My daughter’s the cutest in the world, even without hair.” Patrick pleaded, only for Nina to glare at him while blowing her tongue out.

They kept the banter going for some time until a Nurse Joy came in to chase them out. Fortunately, Nina was spared from having her bald visage be captured for posterity.