Escalate {WUC}

What's up, URPG section? I actually used to do URPG way back when PE2K existed, so I was pretty excited to see this contest pop up.

Seeing that old writing is allowed and I prefer to focus on chaptered works than short one-shots, I've heavily edited chapter 6 from my fic Survival Project, which fits the theme. The chapter is told from a pokémon's POV as he struggles to understand his trainer. Sometimes, this pokémon can't help but feel more human than his trainer, but, you know, his trainer's trying to to fit in like a normal person. He just happens to be a doing a terrible job at it.

References to previous chapters have been removed for easy reading.

Word count: 3,975 (according to Microsoft Word 2003)

ESCALATE​

Our trainer, Sai, was different. Everyone on the team knew it, but no one could explain it.

Really, it was his lack of normalcy that attracted me to him. I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could change him. I wanted to deter him from pokémon training. I wanted to do something else with my life, wanted to be seen as something other than just another fighting-type that should know all the ins and outs of battling.

I lost track of the days it took us to travel from my home, Violet City, to Azalea Town. In the cave connecting the two places, I watched our trainer to get a good read on him. He seemed quiet and thoughtful, but when we finally stepped foot into Azalea, Sai suddenly appeared scattered, and he escalated to a pace no one else could follow.

The first night was normal enough. He wanted to sleep in the Pokémon Center, as expected. No trainer could resist the luxury of a real bed, though he didn't hide his disdain for the nurses there. They were nice anyway and gave us a room with two beds and other standard human things. I watched from the doorway as Sai paced anxiously. Kuiora and Senori, my teammates, stared at objects that perhaps only I had seen before—lamps, carpet, indoor plants. They tread lightly, refusing to touch anything, as if it was all sacred and fragile. At one point, a worker knocked on the door and offered us pokémon food, and then they acted like we were at a birthday party.

I, on the other hand, felt overwhelmingly tired. I was kept awake by their noise, but the night soon ended. Kuiora and Senori slept together on the bottom bunk since they were closer friends, while I took the top so that no one could see me. Sai didn't sleep at all. He paced, back and forth, talking to himself incomprehensibly. I thought I could feel his stare, but I was too exhausted to question it.

*

When the sun rose, Sai woke us. I thought I was having nightmares about earthquakes, but it was just Sai shaking the bed. I sat up and controlled my uneven breathing, telling him to stop. He ignored me, yelled about breakfast, and then he was out the door.

I climbed down from the bunk ladder to see Senori and Kuiora wearing surprised expressions.

“I like Sai's style today,” Kuiora said. The totodile bounced off of her bed and smiled. “I'm going to get some food, too.”

Senori followed her silently. I stood in place for a few moments, then ran after him, only to end up crashing into him.

“I-I'm sorry,” I said bashfully.

“I'm not sure where Sai went. Do you know?” the sentret said.

“No... Maybe we could try to get a nurse to tell us where to go...”

“Good idea.” With that, Senori took the lead and moved forward. I ran after him. I scouted out the place and pointed out the pink-haired nurse when I saw her. Senori nodded, went up to her and tugged at the bottom of her white skirt.

“What’s wrong, dear?” she asked.

“...Food. My trainer went to get food,” Senori said dumbly, gesturing toward his mouth with his paws.

“I can understand you, don’t worry,” she said, smiling softly. “I spend enough time with pokémon to know what they're saying. Anyway, the breakfast room is through that door.”

When we went in, however, Sai was gone. Kuiora was obliviously eating everything in sight, especially the berries. We had to raise our voices before she acknowledged us.

“Sai left. Didn’t even eat,” she said in between bites of food.

“You didn't go with him?” Senori asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Nah. I'm hungry... and he's the trainer, not me.”

“Huh...” Senori turned to me. “Sai seems rather upbeat today. I'm not really sure if we should go after him and risk ruining it.”

“You can eat,” I said. Interacting with the two of them was the last thing I wanted, so I offered to go after Sai. The sentret gave me a skeptical look. I said I'd be careful and dashed out of the Pokémon Center.

*

The city was half bright, half dark, as the forest to the west towered over one side and the sun lit the other. With so little people out this early in the morning, finding Sai was an easy task, though deciding whether or not to chase him was not. He was entering a random house when I found him. The door was propped open and I stepped inside, my heart racing.

I froze when someone tried to walk out, colliding with me unexpectedly. I stumbled, landing on my back. I made no attempt to stand. The idea of being caught in someone else's home was enough to make me cry.

Luckily, it was just Sai.

“Atis!” he cried. He reached down and lifted me to my feet. There was something weird about his dark blue eyes. They looked glazed over, deadened and desperate, though his demeanor said otherwise.

“Um, hi,” I said lamely. I couldn't stop looking at his eyes.

“Sorry about that, Atis,” Sai said. He went on, but he spoke too fast for me to fully understand. Something about socializing and trying to find people.

“Okay. Let's go to the next house.” Sai held on to my arm and pulled me. I didn't have much time to process what was happening. I made a whining noise.

Sai stopped and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I, uh... You can't just go in these houses,” I said.

His eyes widened in response. “Why not? Senori always says things like that.”

“They're private. You have to ask the owners to go in.”

“Oh. I guess homes are too good and cozy for everyone to have,” Sai said, looking lost in thought.

“Uh, right...”

“Well, we now have a goal for today.”

“We do?”

“We're gonna get invited to everybody’s house in Azalea!”

“Oh...?” I started, but Sai was already wandering off to find someone. I was too late to keep him from talking to a girl who almost seemed as confused as me. It was a close contest. Her hands grabbed on to the straps of her bag and her lips were parted, as if she was going to say something, but she wasn't sure what.

“So, yeah...” I heard Sai say. “I'd really, really like to come by and see everything and, uh, talk.”

The girl peered around nervously. Then she spotted me. I was standing behind Sai's legs, staying hidden but open enough to stop him from doing anything too stupid. “Are you a trainer?”

“Yes. This is Atis, my hitmontop. He's a little shy, but that's okay.”

“My brother's a trainer,” she said proudly. “He just got back to town after getting his starter. He's been complaining about being around non-trainers, so maybe he'd like you to come over.”

“That'd be nice. Let's go,” he said, taking a step toward her.

“I-It's a bit early right now. Why don't you come back later? For dinner. Just remember which house I live in, okay?”

Sai's face fell, but he didn't lose his spirit. He said goodbye to her and told me he was going to search some more. He was off again. What luck he had, after all, getting one step closer toward his goal not even five minutes into his adventure... And what terrible encouragement that was, too.

The next few people he talked to, though, were trainers who didn't live in Azalea Town. They were nice to give away their phone numbers in case he ever needed something. When he explained he didn't have a phone, he was advised to get one—and soon. It was helpful to have back-up help if necessary. I approved of the tactic and then wondered what kind of experiences brought on that warning...

And while I was lost in my thoughts, Sai had left again.

At least I could assume he was going to the pokémart. I located a blue roof and a sign indicating the store's name. Inside, Sai was talking to the sales clerk, presumably asking for a phone. We were there for hours... which was the longest amount of time I had seen Sai sit still thus far. There was just so much to choose from, Sai pointed out. Some phones had special features and there were different shapes, different sizes...

In the middle of their conversation, I no longer bothered to stick around. He was rambling and the sales clerk couldn't understand me, as it turned out. I roamed around, seeing what other materials humans were able to buy. Somehow I landed in the clothes section. People needed clothes for everyday use... There had to be millions upon millions of shirts, pants, socks. Were there really enough workers out there making all these clothes for trainers and non-trainers?

I went back to Sai, satisfied with my findings. I frowned when I saw three phones in the grocery bag he was holding. He went on about their essential features, the games available to play and maps to look at, as well as information about regional pokémon.

“Don't you only need... one?”

“I couldn't decide which, so I bought them all.” He put them in his backpack. “Where were you?”

“In the clothes aisle.”

“Good idea, Atis. We need some clothes.”

He didn't examine any article of clothing for more than a moment, nor did he put them back on the proper racks. He threw them on the ground sometimes, irritated. He bought a green pullover sweater, pants that fit, and shoes I thought might get thrown away soon after purchase, seeing as how he already had a pair. I was even more perplexed when he picked out baby clothes.

“Um, Sai? You're not a baby...”

“I like them,” he said. “I don't know. Maybe you or Senori or Kuiora could wear them. You guys are small.”

I blanched.

*

It took a lot of convincing, but I managed to get us back to the Pokémon Center after his shopping spree. Senori and Kuiora were waiting outside the room, waiting for us to bring them the key. Sai opened the door and I sighed happily—until I remembered he had to go see that girl for dinner...

I flopped down on the bed anyway, but then Senori came to me and questioned everything. He was worried and didn't know what to do.

“I'm not really sure what happened today, either,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“He ran around everywhere, being super social, and he wasn't angry. He bought a lot of stuff. Not sure where he got all that money.”

“Winning battles, maybe? Or he had more than you thought.”

“I guess. Anyway,” I started again, “we're going to be leaving soon... for dinner.”

“Dinner?”

“Yeah... Apparently, Sai now thinks that the town and everyone in it is his friend.”

Senori's face brightened. “That's a good thing!” he cried.

I didn't get the chance to protest as Sai came behind me and tried putting on a t-shirt he bought earlier. Luckily or unluckily, he failed.

“Atis, your head is too fat. I can't get this on you,” he said, pulling it down hard. When I could, I ducked down and pelted forward, releasing myself from the boy's grasp. He went to Senori, who had a narrower head, allowing the shirt to fit. It was a white shirt that had a plain pokéball image on the front.

“Do I get a shirt?” Kuiora said, suddenly appearing and pulling on Sai's sleeve.

“I bought a lot, so sure...” he said, grabbing another. Kuiora's was black and designed with swirls and stars and other random adornments. I preferred that shirt if I had to have one, but it got ripped due to the totodile's red spikes protruding from her back. Kuiora didn't mind as long as it was wearable.

Sai took us to the Pokémon Center's lobby. It was almost dinnertime, and so the lobby was loud and full of trainers and their pokémon. Sai spent a majority of the evening showing off his partly dressed pokémon. Whenever he introduced me, I felt my face redden in embarrassment. I was the only evolved pokémon in the room, and I just knew they were all staring at me. Some girls thought it was cute, but most were in a hurry to get a head start on their journey before dark. Those trainers brushed him off and I was relieved.

*

Despite the girl's warning, we couldn't remember which house was hers. I left it up to Sai to figure it out, but he didn't. Thanks to Senori's generous suggestion, Sai knocked on various doors and asked for her, whatever her name was. It took us an hour to find her. Sai wasn't keen on putting me in a pokéball when I asked, so I rested when I could. I hadn't been with the boy for even a month, but I knew anything could happen during this meeting.

When we found the girl, she announced that Sai had actually missed dinner. She didn't think he was going to come, so she ate alone. And she didn't have pokémon food, though her brother was shopping for some at this very moment. Sai pushed past her and walked inside anyway. She gasped but didn't scold him.

Kuiora took the lead and went in. He was our trainer and we couldn't get in trouble for being loyal, she said. Senori agreed.

“Your house is very pretty,” I heard Sai say, and he was right. Everything was clean. There were several pieces of furniture, all of which were worn yet cared for. The walls were adorned with paintings containing inspirational quotes. The lights were perfectly dimmed. The girl was wary, watching us as we looked around. We were weird and new to her, but mostly weird.

The other three—especially Sai—were interested in simple things. Tables, doors, couches, kitchen supplies... What were they made of? Where did she get them? Why did anyone need a table, anyway? The girl's replies were hesitant, but she was polite.

“I don't mean to be rude... I'm curious. Where are you from?”

Sai stopped. He answered passively, “Vermilion City. My home was special.”

“Oh, how so? I don't know much about the Kanto region.” She sat at the table and motioned for Sai to join her, but he didn't. He missed the gesture entirely.

“I've never been in a kitchen. People brought food to me,” he said.

“Not much of a cook, huh?” She smiled. She didn't take Sai so seriously, but why?

“Yeah... I mean, there were walls. And a bed...”

“Huh. You know, I think you’d get along with my brother. What about you? Do you have any siblings?”

The conversation went on like this, with her trying to probe for answers, and with him not being specific at all. He had a family, sure. He had things at his home in Vermilion, generic things anyone would have. He lived with some other people now. Who? Just people. You know. No, I don't know. Have you always been around pokémon? Maybe. I don't like to think about it. ...I hope you don't mind my pokémon poking around. They're curious. And they're wearing shirts.

At that, she laughed and gave up. Sai didn't take the hint that he needed to leave. He was playing a game of coquetry and was clearly losing.

I tuned them out until Sai himself said it was time to go, thinking about how Sai seemed content here in Azalea. Maybe he could stay in Azalea... He didn't have to travel. He didn't have to be a trainer.

When we said goodbye, I silently apologized for Sai’s behavior. I wondered why she didn't invite us to stay for the night. Wasn't that a normal thing to offer traveling guests? Did she think that badly of us? Was there anything we could do to fix that, if we were to live here?

And why did I feel more human than Sai when I thought about things like this?

*

Sai bought four rooms in the Pokémon Center that night—one for each of us. The nurse said it was very considerate of him. "Pokémon need their alone time, just like humans," she said. She then explained that she would put our rooms close together in case we needed to find each other.

He got the room keys and we went around the corner to where the rooms were located. The halls were as quiet as they had been this morning. Sai tucked Senori and Kuiora into bed and told them not to cause trouble. When we went to open my door, though, I stopped him and asked if I could talk to him for a minute.

“Why?” he asked.

“I... wanted to talk about today,” I said. I was rushing into unknown territory, but it seemed like as good a time as any, if my teammates’ strange descriptions of Sai were anything to go off of.

“Oh,” he said, going into his own room. His backpack and other belongings were still there. Why buy separate rooms now, but not before? My confidence lessened... The lack of concrete answers made me nervous.

“Yeah. I was wondering... Well, how long are we going to be traveling for?”

“Not long. Long enough to get all the badges in Johto!” he said. He handed me my key, as if he expected me to know what to do with it. Sure, I could do it as a hitmontop, but still.

...Not only was I trying to deter Sai, I was trying to deter myself. I had to focus.

“And how many badges do you have now? Just the zephyr badge, right?"

“Yeah. Is that what it's called?” he replied, chuckling. “I didn't know they had names, too.”

“Well...” I had been hoping for more than one badge, but all right. “I thought we could... Uh... You liked Azalea Town today, right?” I stepped inside his room. I had to appear friendly, not scared.

“I guess. Visiting that Sasha girl was fun, but she pointed out my, uh, enthusiasm,” Sai said, bending down to take off his shoes. Halfway through untying them, he stood up.

“That's a bad thing?” I said, watching him as he rearranged the room. He opened the windows, put plants in other places, ruffled and then fixed the bed sheets. It took a while for him to respond.

“Most of the time.” He seemed passive again, and I wasn't sure why.

“I think it's a good thing,” I said. I was trying to cheer him up with those words... but it backfired.

“And what do you know?” he snapped. His eyes glazed over. I stumbled backward a bit, as if he had physically hit me.

“Being happy is a g-good thing, Sai... Y-You seemed happy here, you know? Talking to everyone and everything.” I didn't believe my own words, but I continued, “M-Maybe we could stay here. It doesn't have to be permanent. Longer than a few days...”

Sai was silent. He paced slowly, cleaning things, attempting to fix things that weren't broken. Had I said too much? Had I overstayed my welcome? Then—

“Get out.”

“Huh?” I wanted to make sure I had heard him right. If I didn't succeed now, who knew when I'd try again...

“I told you to get out.” His voice was louder, sterner. “I got you guys your own rooms for a reason! So get out! Go to your own room... Just get out!”

He made his way over to the table in the corner of the room. He moved the lamp from one side to another. It wasn't perfect, so he tried again. It was no good still. He ripped the cord out of the wall, then stopped screaming and fumbling. He growled and threw the lamp at me.

I ducked and let the lamp crash into the door behind me. It shattered into a million pieces all around me. It was the result of a troubled teenage boy that no one bothered to understand. It was the result of little mishaps that get into our heads and screw us over.

As his pokémon, I had no choice but to do what he wanted. I said nothing more. I opened the door, went into the hallway... I closed the door... and sat down. I was holding on to my key so tightly it dug into my skin and made me bleed.

I thought the night was over, but the chaos didn't end there. I could hear him, screaming unintelligibly and violently. The sound of splintered wood was obvious.

Suddenly I jumped as I heard someone else yelling. It was Senori. The poor sentret was too short and couldn't open the door. I wobbled over to him, telling him that Sai was angry.

“Is he okay?” he asked after another crashing noise.

“No one's hurting him. He's just... that mad,” I said as calmly as I could. Senori seemed to get it and left it at that.

I heard nothing else from Sai and tried to sleep.

*

I was woken up by a loud knocking on the door. I got up lazily, rubbing my eyes. Though I had to stretch to reach the knob, I was able to open the door.

It was Sai.

I breathed his name tiredly. He looked tired, too, with dark circles under his eyes and his sagging limbs.

“Could I stay in your room tonight?” he asked quickly. He sure didn't waste any time getting to the point, but it wasn't what I had anticipated. And what was I expecting, anyway? An apology? ...A hug? It wasn't likely.

“Um.”

“Look, I’m sorry that happened. I-I mean… You have to understand. I get these moods sometimes. Everything speeds up for me, I think so much, and I want to do a million things at once and I want to talk to a million people so I forget things, things don’t get done, and there’s never enough time in the world, and yeah, I seem happy, this is the first time I’ve ever been able to do things I want, and it was fun but it turned wrong, I always turn angry so fast and… I’m not usually violent, but I don’t know… Being happy is depressing for me, it’s stressful, everything’s too fast. I can’t think straight right now, but do you understand what I’m saying?”

I stared. Since when was happiness frowned upon? Did all humans have emotions like this?

“I'm sorry, I am. I destroyed my room, as you might have guessed, so...” Sai said, then finally closed his mouth.

I told him it was okay. Things happened, after all. Things good and bad. I was really only saying that to avoid more problems, though.

“If you say so,” Sai said as he made his way into the room.

Soon he was pacing back and forth. How could I keep him entertained until he went to sleep? Would he sleep at all? He probably felt compelled to speak first again and said, “I bought you all separate rooms so you wouldn't have to see me like that. You saw me anyway. I'm sorry.”

“It's fine,” I said, climbing into the top bunk. If I couldn't sleep, I would pretend to.

“I thought you'd be mad. It's okay to be mad. Kuiora and Senori didn't see anything... I'd like to keep it that way...” They didn't see anything, but they heard. I didn't mention this. “I guess it’ll just be our little secret, okay?” Sai added.

“Something like that,” I said.

And then we were quiet.

*

anddd here is my review for the WUC!