Black Rose - Redux
Black Rose
Hey all. I've made some additions and adjustments to the story to make it better and more interesting to read. Please give honest reviews and tell me everything I need to know. If you have good advice, please give it. So here it is: Black Rose - Redux!
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Chapter 1 – Home Leaf Home! A Trip to the Lake and a Battle to Remember!
The house looked very small and the green roof was covered with specks of an apparent light snow shower the night before. An oak door was at the front of the house and on the face were three small windows. Tiana looked up at it in disgust, already missing her gorgeous apartment back in Johto.
“Mom, do we have to live here?” Tiana moaned, flicking her ebony black curls over her shoulder.
“Sweetie, it’s lovely. A nice rural house in the beautiful Sinnoh region. Sure it’s a bit cold-” Charley said, before she was interrupted by her teenage daughter.
“A bit? There’s snow almost everywhere!” complained Tiana as she dropped her pink backpack onto the white blanket of snow.
“Honey, just go in. The mover van will be here soon,” explained Charley.
Tiana glared at her mother with her sapphire blue eyes and stormed into the house, her pink baseball shoes crunching on the light frosting of snow. Happy at the move from the hustle and bustle of Goldenrod City, Charley untied her blonde hair from its hair-tie and walked gleefully into the house. She saw Tiana moping around, fumbling over her pink belt for a familiar ball. The red and white sphere was the size of a ping-pong ball and Tiana’s hand rubbed lightly against the top half. Ready to let her best friend out of her confinement, the fifteen-year old pressed the white button in the centre of the sphere and it somehow enlarged to the size of a tennis ball. Smiling, Tiana threw the ball and it opened, letting out a flare of crimson light. The light formed into a small, vaguely humanoid shape resembling a monkey. However, its tail ended in a three-fingered hand. Suddenly the red light faded and it revealed a purple Pokémon with a large toothy grin. Her two big ears twitched happily and the ruff of messy hair on her head bounced as the Aipom bounced on her yellow tail-hand.
Happily, Tiana picked up her Pokémon and cuddled it tightly, having not been able to let it out on the flight from Johto. The Long Tail Pokémon giggled and perched herself on her trainer’s right shoulder, nuzzling her black curls. Tiana didn’t mind that her Pokémon stood on her light blue jacket and smiled at her in response. The girl noticed that one of her Aipom’s hairs had strayed onto her mint green top and she brushed it off onto the wooden floor. Charley walked in and placed her handbag down. The two women looked around the small lounge, noticing the tiny two-seater loveseat and medium-sized television. Tiana found the remote and turned it on, throwing herself onto the couch with her Pokémon next to her. Her mother rolled her eyes and wandered into the kitchen, fascinated to find what her new studio of culinary arts would look like. Trying to find the Sinnoh News Network One, Sinnoh’s alleged best news channel, Tiana sighed brushed her free hand through her hair.
“Handie? Do you wanna try finding the channel?” asked Tiana begrudgingly.
<Ooo oo ah ah! Thanks!> Handie said.
Pokémon could only use their knowledge of human language when trust was established between them and their trainer. Handie grabbed the remote with her tail-hand and used her two small arms to press the buttons. After some trial and error, she finally worked out how it worked and with some amazement turned the channel over. The Aipom laughed at the wondrous handset and pressed the button repeatedly, until Tiana told her to stop. Handie placed the remote on the couch and Tiana grabbed her best friend and placed her on her lap. Cuddling each other, they settled down to watch the Sinnoh News at Three. Not really understanding what the newsreader was saying about ‘Jims’ and ‘Con-tests’, Handie looked, transfixed, at the screen, with the hope the blonde woman would explain.
“So then, all trainers and co-ordinators, head out on your journeys because the Sinnoh League officially starts today!” the newsreader read too cheerfully.
“Hey, maybe we should go on our journey now, Handie? I mean, I’m fifteen and that’s a good age! And plus we’d get to get out of this horrible cottage!” Tiana said cheerfully, which resulted in a nod from Handie.
From the kitchen Charley shouted, “No-one’s stopping you honey!”
“Mom? Is all of Sinnoh boring and cottagey?” asked Tiana hopefully.
Charley laughed and walked back into the lounge, a grin on her face.
“No it’s not honey. There’s plenty of big cities,” she replied.
Tiana jumped in the air happily and Handie followed suit. Dancing happily, Handie and Tiana laughed, suddenly liking their new home. As the realization of Gyms and cities Tiana had never heard of sunk in, she got even more excited and picked her Aipom up. A tight hug followed but a loud noise was heard from outside. Charley quickly opened the door to discover the large moving van, with all of their cases in the back.
*****
After a long time unpacking, the evening began to draw in and the sun began its slow descent through the colourful sky, a collage of pinks, yellows and blues. This was the view from Tiana’s bedroom window, which she sat by in a plush cyan armchair. Her faithful companion Handie sat on the head of the chair eating a tasty banana. The black-haired teenager looked at her clock, which read ‘5:21PM’. She decided to explore Twinleaf Town, but only as long as she was back by ten.
“There won’t be enough space to explore!” Tiana retorted to her mother.
Outside her new house, Tiana saw that her next-door neighbour’s house was exactly the same, right down to the colour of the flowers. Feeling rather like a statistic in a computer-generated world, Tiana wandered to the front door of the next house. She apprehensively knocked, but instead found herself knocking onto thin air. A lanky, brown-haired teenager opened the door, and a shocked look appeared on his face as Handie grinned. Tiana immediately felt herself go very queasy, as the boy’s violet eyes pierced into her skin. His chestnut hair was down to his shoulders, and he had a long side fringe.
“Hello?” he said, picking a purple jacket of a coat hanger.
As he placed the jacket over his tight, dark blue top, Tiana opened her mouth to speak. However nothing came and Handie giggled.
“Um? Mom! Someone’s at the door!” shouted the handsome boy, fidgeting with his purple belt.
A middle-aged woman wearing a red apron over a white dress came quickly to the door. She smiled at Tiana and Handie.
“Hello? Are you the new neighbours?” asked the woman.
“Uh, yeah. I’m, just, y’know, lookin’ around the neighbourhood, my name’s Tiana,” she said too quickly.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Teresa,” said Teresa, “Hey! Since you’re new to Sinnoh, why don’t you go with Cora to Lake Verity? He’s researching legendary Pokémon.”
“Wow, cool, yeah!” spluttered Tiana.
Cora smoothed his skinny black jeans and said, “Why not?”
His husky voice made Tiana feel like jelly and she nodded.
‘I gotta pull myself together,’ Tiana said to herself.
“Goodbye Cora, be back soon because you have to read a story to Leah,” Teresa said before waving to her son.
Cora and Tiana left the house and Handie shook the dark-haired boy’s hand with her tail. Cora laughed and Tiana noticed he had a book in his hand. The cover looked rather worn, and Tiana could make out the words, ‘Cora’s Journal.’
“So why’re you goin’ the lake?” asked Tiana.
Cora smirked. “I love the mythology of the Sinnoh region, and our planet as a whole! Apparently, Lake Verity is home to a legendary Pokémon, Mesprit. Mesprit is know as the being of Emotion and I just love going to see the lake, making observations and stuff like that.”
Her eyes gleaming, Tiana nodded with her mouth hung open. Handie recognized Tiana’s dopey look, and whispered into her trainer’s ear. The infatuated teenager shook her head violently, and Handie giggled.
“Um…so Tiana. Are you a trainer?” asked Cora, trying to break the ice.
“Well…I kinda want to be…but I just keep putting it off because, well…I don’t want to leave home,” Tiana said, a miserable look on her face.
“I’m thinking of going on a journey this year. Hopefully I can get a starter Pokémon. If I could just see a sign of Mesprit, I’d be inspired!” said Cora breathlessly, “I’ve been to this lake about fifty times, and my efforts have been fruitless. I’ve not once seen a sign of that amazing legend.”
Tiana nodded and smiled as the group reached a clearing. The air became misty and the vegetation became thinner. Clutching his journal, Cora bounded ahead. Soon enough, Tiana couldn’t see her crush and had to run, much to the amusement of Handie. Tripping over a lot of stray branches and logs, the Aipom trainer caught up with Cora. He was sat on a slate-grey rock, his journal open. Tiana could see his tightly crossed fingers and the way his clenched teeth ground against each other. Flicking her hair, Tiana made her way over to the rock and sat down next to Cora.
The view of the lake was breathtaking. Mist gracefully danced across the surface, weaving through the trees as if following intense choreography. Blue as Tiana’s eyes, the crystal waters were motionless. Beautiful flowers adorned the edge of the lake. Handie noticed a small tree filled with Nanab berries, her favourites. The monkey bounded over to the tree and munched hungrily on the berries. Cora and Tiana laughed, Tiana enjoying the scene. The pair began careful observation of the lake, trying to spot signs that Mesprit did indeed exist. Every time a leaf fell off a tree, someone nudged the other excitedly, only to have their hopes dashed. After a while, Cora shut his journal and sighed. He stood up slowly and shook his head.
“Honestly, I’ve wasted the last two years of my life with this stupid thing I’ve got in my head,” Cora moaned.
Suddenly, Tiana noticed a small splash on the surface of the water. Seeing no Pokémon or humans, she narrowed her eyes and locked them on that position. As Cora rambled, Tiana saw another splash that made the lake ripple slightly.
“…and I’ve always been so convinced!” Cora shouted.
“Cora, shut up a minute. Look at the lake,” Tiana murmured; pointing to the splash-site, “I keep seeing a splash.”
Shaking his head, Cora reluctantly looked at the lake. A small splash sparked his interest and he felt a wave of accomplishment surge through his entire being. Yet another splash came and Handie wandered over to her trainer, sitting on her shoulder and also looking at the lake. The splashes continued and soon enough the surface of the water looked like rings of an ancient tree. The ripples were becoming more frequent and Cora’s beam was from ear to ear.
“Oh my Arceus,” he said, laughing quietly to himself.
Tiana looked up at him and smiled, as his transfixed gaze broke.
“I can’t believe it. I saw a sign. Mesprit. It must be there! No matter what, I know it’s there!” said Cora excitedly.
Laughing, the pair of teenagers and Handie left the lakefront and made their way back to Twinleaf Town. The sky was much darker now, looking like a large bruise. It was a combination of dark blues, purples and deep blacks. As the stars twinkled above them, the explorers wandered back into Twinleaf Town. Cora walked Tiana to her door and she waved goodbye to her new friend. Happy to be home, Tiana smiled when she saw Charley.
“Did you have a good time?” asked her mother.
”Yeah, it was so fun. By the way mom, do you reckon I should go on a journey?” asked Tiana.
“I don’t see why not. Hey, I think there’s a battle on TV tonight. Between some hall matron and someone else. I believe it’s in the Battle Frontier?” suggested Charley, forgetting some details.
Tiana smiled and sank into the couch, picking up the remote. She turned the television on and surfed through the channels until she saw a channel called ‘Battle Frontier 1’. A tall man holding a microphone was on the screen, announcing the start of the battle. Behind him, Tiana could see hundreds of people in some sort of audience. The man moved away from the screen and took his place in a small white box. A battlefield was in front of him, painted on the ground in white. Two people stood at either end. One was a tallish boy with a red flat cap and dark blue jacket and on the other side was a woman dressed in red. They both nodded and the referee lifted two flags, one green and one red.
“This Frontier Battle between Lucas Diamond and Hall Matron Argenta is about to begin. Each trainer will use one Pokémon and when one Pokémon falls, the other will win the battle and receive the Coloured Print! Ready, BEGIN!” shouted the referee.
“Okay, go Torterra!” shouted the boy, throwing a Poké Ball.
The ball exploded and out came a very tall quadruped. It was mostly green in colour and a large tree grew from its back. Three spiky rocks were next to the old-looking tree.
“Let’s go, Electivire!” ordered the Hall Matron.
A yellow Pokémon with two thin black tails jumped out of the Poké Ball, the tips of the tails crackling with volts of electricity. Its yellow and black fur shimmered as the electricity pumped through the Pokémon’s veins.
“Wow,” gasped Tiana as she propped herself up in her seat.
<Oo> murmured Handie.
“Torterra, use Frenzy Plant!” Lucas shouted to his Pokémon.
“Hmm…Electivire, Thunder!” commanded Argenta.
Torterra pounded the ground with its two front legs and the force caused half a dozen thick, spiky roots shoot through the ground. They twisted in the air, as if they were witch hands when cackling loudly. With the speed and grace of a ballerina, the roots flew through the air as Torterra commanded them to. As Tiana gazed on in wonder, Electivire’s two tail tips crackled. Sparks of electricity grew into full-blown bolts and soon enough a huge centre of electricity was formed. The roots flying through the air, Electivire sent the electric blast at them in an effort to stop them in their tracks. Even though each attack was at a very high speed, they seemed to pierce the air in front of them slowly, making Tiana tense and she started to bite her fingernails as the two attacks drew closer to their inevitable collision.
Suddenly the attacks collided and a huge billow of thick, black smoke covered the entire battlefield, obscuring it and the Pokémon from view. Tiana quickly drew breath, waiting for the outcome of the attacks. Hearing coughs and splutters, Tiana could see the smoke dispersing and anticipated the result. Would Frenzy Plant have pierced the jolt of electricity? Or would that high voltage burnt the roots to a crisp? Tiana was about to find out as the smoke cleared up to reveal both Pokémon, still standing. A gasp came from Tiana and the battler’s mouths. Argenta smirked as she saw Torterra completely still. Puzzled by this, Tiana looked at Handie but she was staring at the screen, as still as Torterra. As if he could read Tiana’s mind, the referee said to the camera that after using Frenzy Plant, Pokémon must recharge. Tiana realized that this could leave a great opening for the Hall Matron.
With Electivire ready to attack, Argenta commanded another attack and one of her Pokémon’s fists became a snowy white. The crystallized hand shone in the spotlights, as the ice glistened beautifully. The Thunderbolt Pokémon ran forward and Torterra closed its eyes and turned away, anticipating the result of the punch. As Electivire grew closer, Lucas begged his Pokémon to attack, but to no avail. Torterra was simply too exhausted. Its entire mountainous being breathed heavily as Electivire ran at top speed. The Electric-type drew its arm back and slammed it into Torterra’s face. The freezing ice caused massive damage to the weak Torterra and the sheer force of the Ice Punch pushed it back. Argenta laughed as the Continent Pokémon closed its eyes and collapsed to the ground, too exhausted to move.
“This battle is over, Hall Matron Argenta is the winner!” shouted the referee.
Cheers were heard from the audience as the two battlers returned their Pokémon. They moved to the centre of the battlefield and customarily shook hands. Smiling, Argenta turned to wave at the camera and Lucas ran off, seemingly to train. Having enjoyed the battle very much, albeit it’s shortness and Lucas underestimating Argenta, Tiana turned the television off and picked her Aipom up. Cuddling each other, they silently thought about whether or not they’d enjoy a journey.
“D’you reckon we should?” asked Tiana.
<Oo, yeah!> Handie laughed, excited at the thought of a journey.
“Mom! Handie and me are going on a journey together! Hey, I wonder if Cora wants to come with?” suggested Tiana.
Handie nodded as Charley came into the room. The concerned mother sat down and told to Tiana to stay away from very strange strangers but Tiana just told her that she knew all that. Looking at the clock, she saw it was only half past eight and decide to go next door to ask Cora. A little nervous, she rapped on the door and smiled when she saw Cora open it.
“Yeah? What brings you back so soon? Couldn’t resist my magnetic pull? Too hot to handle, eh?” Cora laughed, pulling Tiana’s leg.
“Um…yeah…um. I came to ask if you wanted to go on a journey with me and I’m thinking of going not tomorrow but the day after, so I can have enough time to get ready so do you wanna come with me, I mean you don’t have to if you don’t want to because…” rambled Tiana.
“Shut up, you. Of course I’ll come. My mom said I go whenever I like. I’ll just have to prepare tomorrow, okay?” Cora said happily.
Thrilled, Tiana nodded. But before she left she had a pressing question to ask Cora.
“Do you need a starter Pokémon?” she asked nervously.
“Uh…yeah I do.”
“Where will you one from?”
“Professor Rowan in Sandgem Town, very strict man but with some GORGEOUS assistants. I mean, I’m not a flirt or anythin’, but they are H-O-T HOT!”
Feeling a pang of jealousy Tiana smiled and walked back to her home. Charley had dinner waiting for her and she and Handie eagerly tucked in. Excited to start her journey, she scoffed her meal down and went upstairs to her bedroom to pack. She sighed at the thought of Cora liking other girls, but she dismissed it and remembered how she thought Lance, the Johto League Champion was cute.
“Just a celebri- well some sort of crush,” she said, waving her hand in the air.
After packing some essentials she went downstairs and watched some television with her mother. They discussed her journey and whether she was ready and Tiana reassured her mother. Late at night, the teenager crept up to her plush bed and changed into her Aipom decorated pyjamas. Ready for a good nights sleep, she settled into her bed and drifted off, Handie sleeping right next to her. In a day, she’d be on the road. She couldn’t wait.
El fin.
I hope you enjoyed Chapter 1, albeit it's shortness. I promise that future chapters will be longer, and I know because they're written!
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Originally Posted by TurtwigFan1
~I've claimed Turtwig~
Leaf Green: 
Diamond: 
Platinum: 
White: 
