Hi again, people. You probably forgot about me already, but well... I did disappear for a while. You know? I was impressed with the considerable success my first Shipping One-Shot, "The Flower of Love" had as a whole, considering the kind of Ship it was about, and the fact that it was my very first Shipping Fic AND One-Shot ever. I was spurred to keep on writing Shipping Fics. Unfortunately, want, inspiration and time are non-relative concepts. That's why I was in a hard slump for the longest time...
I had several ideas, though. One of them was this One-Shot. It's about RadioShipping. That is DJ Mary & Jasmine. Yep... another obscure Shoujo-Ai couple made by me. However, this isn't as obscure in that it had a TCG card to back it up. You know... Mary's Request. I saw Mary and Jasmine right in the middle of an interview... and they were too cute. I decided to name the Ship, and I got an idea for a story eventually. I even got approval from the guy I had to consult whenever I was to involve Jasmine in anything. A great friend of mine...
And well... I also found a flawless charm to write Shipping Fics. Thus, expect me more often from now on. ^^
As of now... here's my latest One-Shot. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it...
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Interview.
The streets of Goldenrod City were awfully cluttered that day, as a rather tall girl with long brown hair tried to make her way through in order to reach the Radio tower. It had been long since she visited this city, and she still wasn’t fond of it in the slightest. She almost dropped down twice due to the seas of people and the noise. As she approached the far-away facility, however, the way became slightly easier. She still felt a bit sick due to the rough walk and the pollution of the city, though. She just passed her hands through her long white dress and placed them below as she slowly walked through this new scenery, blushing slightly due to the rather harsh bustle she had just gone through.
“Radio Tower… it’s here…” she said, almost panting, as she watched the imposing black building a few steps ahead. It was very tall and had lots of antennas resting atop it. Jasmine walked further and she finally made it to the entrance. The automatic doors moved away as she approached, and she walked inside.
The entrance room was quite calm, which was a big relief for Jasmine. She walked slowly through the gray-colored room and then looked to the right. She saw the counter and a few people standing behind it. A girl nearby looked at Jasmine, who looked around, as if lost. The red-haired girl walked to her as she adjusted her round glasses to see well. The Radio Tower had invited her to have an interview about her experiences as a GYM Leader. Mary was the DJ to interview her, as usual. Jasmine recognized her right away, yet she was very timid. Mary was famous, and it was like talking to a celebrity…
“Good morning, Jasmine! I’m glad you came,” said Mary with a wide smile in her face. The glasses made her eyes stand out, which made Jasmine blush slightly. Even if she wasn’t attracted to girls, she had to admit that Mary’s crimson eyes were cute. Jasmine had a brief glimpse as Mary approached her. She noticed her green sweater with darker stripes through it and her brown miniskirt.
“Um… hi. Sorry for the delay…” said Jasmine timidly. Mary smiled at her again, and she had a closer look. Jasmine was a bit pale, and even a bit too thin in her opinion, but… it was hard to explain. Mary thought she was gorgeous in such a cute way. Her long hair, her upward pigtails, her cute blue eyes… those strange feelings she was accustomed to started to form inside her. “So… what now?” said Jasmine, whom acted as if Mary’s fixed look on her was uncomfortable. Mary snapped off the trance and smiled again.
“Sorry! Please come with me, Jasmine.” Mary then grabbed Jasmine’s right hand, which took her by surprise. Mary saw that Jasmine stood still, and just walked slowly. She felt that she had gone a bit too far. Still, Jasmine walked behind her. Mary then led her to the next floor. After a while, Jasmine walked close to her, which made Mary feel a bit tickly inside. She couldn’t help but look at Jasmine from time to time. It wasn’t the first time she had this feeling toward another girl, but it always upset her in many ways... “I hope you didn’t have much trouble in your way here, Jasmine.”
Jasmine muttered, and even coughed. She still felt a bit sick due to her difficult walk though Goldenrod. “It was... hard. Don’t worry, though...” Jasmine smiled to Mary slowly, which made Mary blush a lot. She went on through the offices, all full of people sat in tables, with audiphones on their ears and with many papers in front.
“OK. We’re here, Jasmine.” Mary turned to a room encased in a thick wall with a big crystal, which allowed them to see what was inside: a room full of machines, a table in the middle, and a microphone on it. A door nearby led to it, and Mary opened it with a key she had in one of her pockets. She finally let go of Jasmine’s hand and gestured to the door. “You go in first, Jasmine.”
“Yeah...” said Jasmine and walked inside. Mary went right behind her and closed the door as both of them were inside. She then signaled the closest chair with her arms to Jasmine, whom sat on it right away. Mary rounded the table and went to the other chair in front, which was the closest to the table’s microphone. The device wasn’t just a mere microphone, but some sort of box with it spouting off it. Mary pushed a button in it and a green led on it turned on, with a dim green light.
“Good morning, Johto! Say hi to your favorite DJ! Today I have the pleasure to introduce our special guest: none other than Jasmine! Gym Leader of the beautiful port city, Olivine!” said Mary with enthusiasm. Jasmine blushed a bit as she heard Mary. The prospect of being heard by people all over Johto made her feel very nervous, and even more so after Mary had done such an introduction of herself. “As you all know, Jasmine is a wonderful Trainer. She trains Steel-Type Pokémon. A Type that remains elusive in most places, and yet, Jasmine managed to build up a solid reputation for both her Type of choice and her own GYM! As if that weren’t enough, Jasmine cares deeply about her Pokémon and her own city. She’s known for taking care of the majestic Lighthouse of Olivine and its light source. It’s a real honor to be able to interview her today, and I hope you enjoy this as well!”
Mary noticed a bit of weariness in Jasmine’s face. Indeed, Jasmine was blushing so much she was pretty much red in all her face. Mary’s words, while true, made her feel awfully embarrassed, especially since Mary had said them aloud and were heard all over Johto. “…but first! A few advertisements from our sponsors. We’ll be right back!” Mary pushed the button again, and the light in the device turned off. She then looked at Jasmine and smiled. “Don’t get so nervous, Jasmine! Just imagine this is a mild conversation between you and me.”
“Eh… but…” sad Jasmine with a soft tremble.
“You can trust me. Just talk naturally. Be yourself!” Mary winked at Jasmine and even extended her hands through the table. “You can hold my hands if it helps you.”
“Um… OK…” Jasmine moved her hands from their static position on her legs and placed them on the table. Slowly, her hands approached Mary’s, and held them. Mary felt a sudden jump within herself, accompanied with a deep blush. She kept on smiling at Jasmine, while her heartbeat became certainly faster. On the other hand, Jasmine felt less nervous. Even if she wasn’t prone to have contact with other people, she had to admit Mary’s warmth made her feel comfortable and cool.
“Hehe. Now I am getting nervous!” said Mary aloud with a funny tone. Jasmine just mumbled. “You tell me when we start, Jasmine.”
“Now… if you want,” said Jasmine weakly. Mary separated her right hand from Jasmine’s and pushed the button again. The green light turned on again.
“We’re back! And we have our guest all ready. How are you, Jasmine?” asked Mary. A friendly tone adorned her words, and Jasmine felt eager to respond.
“I’m… fine. Just a bit dizzy after the walk through Goldenrod…” said Jasmine, although unsure if it was heard. She assumed the microphone in the middle worked for both her and Mary, though.
“Quite the loud and cluttered city, isn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“With your discouraging experience in Goldenrod, I bet you rather like your hometown, Olivine. What can you say about it?”
“Um… it’s a nice place. It’s more peaceful… yes. And… the sea nearby makes the air and atmosphere rather… pleasant. We get many ships and visitors…” it was surprising, even for Jasmine herself. She never talked so much in succession. She was still trembling a bit, though. But most of her nervousness was gone.
“Sounds great! Olivine is known for that indeed. But enough of your city! What can you say about being a Gym Leader?” said Mary, whom still smiled at Jasmine, and even trembled within due to her and Jasmine still holding hands in the table. Her experience as a DJ made this unnoticeable in her words to the audience, though.
“Being a Gym Leader? Well… it’s nice. You get to meet many… interesting people. You see many Pokémon… you learn about Pokémon… you get stronger. It’s a nice duty…”
“It must be!” said Mary with happiness. She then looked at some notes in front of her, and talked again after a bit: “I reckon you were the only disciple of the former Gym Leader, Rockna. How does that feel?”
“Um… I‘m not special. Rockna just trusted me… that’s it.” Jasmine paused for a few seconds, as she sighed silently. “I just trained the same kind of Pokémon she trained… and I earned her trust for that…”
“But you know how commendable of a feat that is? Rockna was well-known for being rock-hearted and barely talkative. It was also known that becoming her apprentice was awfully hard, and that she’d only accept one at any given time! And yet, not only did she accept you as her sole apprentice, but she also passed the Gym Leader baton to you!”
“Well… I jut did as she told me. And… if I’m any good today… it’s thanks to Rockna…” replied Jasmine, even though Mary hadn’t really formulated a question. She blushed with every moment passing. It was as if Mary had her in such a high regard…
“And even then, you were heartily accepted by all of your fellow Gym Leaders! Even by the veterans Chuck and Pryce! And in that regard, can you describe how was the moment when Rockna gave up her Gym Leader position and gave it to you, Jasmine?”
“Yes… it was great. Rockna said she wanted to know the world… like the former Violet Gym Leader. She said she had taught me all she knew, and… admitted I’d make a better Gym Leader than her. I don’t know why she thought that… but… it made me happy. It still does…” Jasmine smiled subtly as she talked, which made Mary feel even higher for her. “I had been her apprentice for four years…”
“That’s beautiful, Jasmine. I bet she doesn’t regret her decision to this day, wherever she is.” Mary smiled at Jasmine, and then looked through her notes some more. “Um… so you first were a Rock-Type Gym Leader, weren’t you?”
“Yes. I liked them and they formed the bulk of my Team… before I returned to my hometown. However… I also got interested in Electric Pokémon like Magnemite and Mareep…”
“And did you notice Magnemite’s sturdiness before the discovery of the Steel Type?”
“Yeah… it made me wonder. It wasn’t a Rock Pokémon, but its body was very hard. I offered my pair of Magnemite for research… I was curious about it.”
“That’s most unexpected, yet admirable of you. Few Trainers would’ve given up their Pokémon for research or experiments!” said Mary as she smiled some more. “How was your reaction when they found out Magnemite had properties of another, unknown Type?”
“I could say I was impressed. Yet, it made me like Magnemite even more. I was surprised when they discovered that Onix had an evolution that belonged to that same Type… it made me smile. I remember… Onix was always my favorite…”
“It must be. And how did you get your Onix to evolve in your well-known trump card of today?”
“Well… Rockna contacted me one day. She said she was all the way up in Shinou. After a most warm greeting, she told me she had a surprise for me… and asked me to send my Onix to her in a temporary Trade. I did… and a few minutes later, she contacted me again and sent it back while I returned her Golem. She said she had to leave, but told me to release Onix at once…” Jasmine then smiled, and Mary could swear she saw a silent tear slipping down her cheeks, as Jasmine’s voice tone also changed. “I did… and I saw Onix encased in a metal coat of sorts, going all the way through its body. It was just a brief second, though… Onix started to shine almost immediately. It was for a few seconds, as its body morphed. It grew several meters, its head became much bigger, and its body turned all gray and shiny. It also had a couple of spikes in some sections of its body…”
“That’s awesome! You must have been so surprised, yet happy. I know it. Um… this question you can refrain from answering. Have you got word of Rockna after that day?” Asked Mary, with a bit of weariness on her voice.
“Um… nope. I’ve been worried about her…” Jasmine was slightly vexed, and her voice sounded a bit cheerless. Mary found this too cute, but thought it wasn’t fair to make Jasmine feel sad. Even if it was the ‘happy’ kind of grief in a way. “Sorry…”
“It’s no problem, Jasmine. It shows how much you care about her, and at least for me, that’s wonderful.” Mary blushed deeply again, to the point she was now stuttering, as if completely clueless for what to ask next. “Well… um… eh…”
“Are you OK?” asked Jasmine, slightly weary, and also a bit uncomfortable.
“Yes. Sorry! Now… eh… what can you say about your fellow Gym Leaders?”
“They’re all nice people… very deep and helpful. I owe a lot to all of them… mostly to Pryce and Chuck. As the eldest, they were the ones to accept Rockna’s decision… and they took me wholeheartedly.” Jasmine smiled with an air of sadness in her face again, while Mary still garbled.
“And… what do you think about… our local Gym Leader?” It was most unsettling for Mary. She had never lost control in such a way. Jasmine sighed silently, but answered within a few seconds.
“Whitney? Well… she’s funny. A nice girl. I’ve heard she’s very strong… and she’s always cheerful. I see her often… always coming to Olivine once a month. She helps her uncle with milk shipments.” Jasmine took another pause as she muttered again, trying to make a gesture to Mary. The DJ didn’t respond, though. Jasmine then noticed she was lost in her eyes. “Um… Mary?”
Jasmine’s voice didn’t help Mary getting off her trance, though. Truth to be told, it made her even more immersed in thoughts. Jasmine extended her hand shyly to Mary’s, and then shook it. Mary came back to senses. “Oh, sorry! It’s most reassuring how you think highly of all your comrades, Jasmine. Whitney does say good things about you as well!” Jasmine blushed a bit, but it was just her regular attitude. Mary, on the other hand, was sweating. Not to say blushing to a most embarrassing degree. She shook her head and got grip of herself again. “OK, a last question…” Jasmine just nodded.
“What would you say if I said that I love…” but Mary suddenly realized what she was about to ask. “Never mind! This is all for today’s interview! Now enjoy Goldenrod’s Radio regular schedule! Don’t tune off!” Mary hastily pushed the button on the small box. The led turned off and Mary rested her back on the chair, sweating, and even panting, as I she had done something that exhausted her badly. Jasmine muttered again, unable to understand Mary.
“Is everything OK?” asked Jasmine. Mary looked at her again. It was most hard to explain. She was aghast that Jasmine could be so cute and sweet… even to he point of being worried about her. Jasmine just kept the glare, which made Mary fall even more for her. Her eyes were just so cute…
“Yeah. Sorry. I lost grip of myself… but there wasn’t much else to ask anyway.” Mary smiled back at Jasmine, a bit nervous. “How did you like it?”
“It was… nice. Thanks for inviting me. However… which was your last question?” the reminiscence made Mary turn red again. She wasn’t meaning to ask that out loud in a widely broadcasted interview, but it came off all of a sudden. Mary shook her head hardly.
“Oh! I was just a bit nervous. Happens from time to time! I tend to say things I wasn’t meant to say. Just forget it, Jasmine!” Mary then laughed, trying to forget about that. Jasmine just looked at her with a clueless expression and muttered. “Anyway! Let’s get out. We’re done.” Mary walked to the door and opened it. She gestured Jasmine to get out first with her arms, and then Mary got out too.
As they walked out of the room, a rather fat man with black glasses and a bulky beard stopped them. He was the Radio Director. Jasmine was startled, but Mary knew she was the one to be in trouble. All of a sudden, the man smiled at her, though. “Most excellent, Mary! As always, your interview drew in a lot of rating. And I know it’ll provide for the rest of the day!” The man smiled, but he suddenly turned a bit serious. “Still… I noticed you tattered at the very end. How so?” Mary blushed deeply.
“I was just… tired! Yes! A once-in-a-while thing. I promise it won’t happen again.” Mary placed her left hand on her back neck and laughed. Jasmine just looked at her, while she walked timidly to the front.
“It’s understood, Mary. I shouldn’t be so strict!” The director let out a laugh as he saw Jasmine in front of him, next to Mary. “All in all, I must hand it to you, Jasmine. Thanks for accepting our invitation!” The man then forcibly picked Jasmine’s hands and shook them happily. Jasmine felt the pull of the man, and was slightly surprised.
“Um… no problem,” she said, blushing deeply. She let out a breath of relief when the director let her go. “It was… a pleasure.”
“The pleasure was all ours!” The director then laughed with enthusiasm. “Well Mary, you’re free for the day. Well-deserved after such a good job.”
“Thanks, but why?” but the director had left already. Mary sweatdropped, but shrugged it off soon enough. She turned to Jasmine, who looked a bit anxious. Mary’s feelings were compelling her to… do something she’d never expect. Still, she had to ask. “Now Jasmine, what are you going to do?”
Jasmine suddenly turned at Mary. “Well… I’ll go back to Olivine…”
“How are you intending to go back home?”
“As usual… by walking.” Jasmine trembled a bit, though. She didn’t have much trouble with walking, but the prospect of crossing Goldenrod again wasn’t something that encouraged her at all. Mary gasped loudly.
“But you said you were very uncomfortable with the cluttering and all that! That won’t do. I’ll fetch a Taxi for you!” and just like that, Mary ran toward the stairs and went down all the way so she’d get to the telephone booths in the entrance. Jasmine tried to follow her, but decided to go slower. She went down through the floors, and when she finally made it to the first floor, Mary had called the Taxi already and walked back to meet her. Mary panted a bit due to her rush. “Whew… done. It’ll be here in a few minutes!” she told Jasmine with a smile.
“Um… there wasn’t a need to…” said Jasmine as she muttered. “But… thank you.” She smiled at Mary slightly. It made the red-haired DJ go even more into her sudden feelings toward Jasmine. Her sweet voice… her shy attitude… her nice manners… it was… just indescribable. It made her feel too much for her. She didn’t notice she blushed too much as well, though. “So… shall we go?”
“Oh… yes! Let’s go outside, Jasmine.” Mary walked to the tower’s entrance door and Jasmine walked by her side, a bit wondrous about Mary’s attitude. They then were out in the park preceding the Radio Tower. Mary walked a few feet further to the roadway. There she stood, checking her watch at intervals. Jasmine just looked around. She still didn’t like Goldenrod…
A few minutes passed, the girls not even moving. But then, a Taxi stopped in front of them. It was of a yellow color, and had a black motif on the doors, with the words ‘Goldenrod Taxi’ next to it. The car stopped and the driver got down. “Good afternoon, ladies. Let me open up the door for you.” He walked to the backdoor behind his own one and opened it. He then gestured the girls to go inside.
“Thanks, Mary…” said Jasmine, and stepped in first. Mary was debating whether she should go or not. It was way too good for her, given her growing feelings toward Jasmine. But she felt very embarrassed and wondrous whether Jasmine actually liked her or not. She walked slowly, the driver looking weirdly at her. Mary took a leap and went inside. She almost fell on Jasmine, but managed to stop herself and just sat next to her… a few inches away. Jasmine looked at her, a bit surprised. “Um… you’re coming too?”
Mary laughed as she always did. “Ah… yes. I have a free day after all! And well… I’d like to go to Olivine. If you don’t mind, of course!” Mary adjusted her glasses, which were a bit unleveled due to her sudden leap. Jasmine muttered, but replied shortly after just by shaking her head. Jasmine then looked back at Mary, whom had her sight fixed on her… again. She sighed and turned to the front. There were two seats in front, and the driver soon occupied the driver’s seat.
“Olivine, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yep,” replied Mary as she closed the door she didn’t close yet. The driver spun the key and the car rumbled a bit. He then started driving through the streets of Goldenrod. He was quite a calm driver, given his slow speed despite the lack of traffic. It was a relief for Jasmine, though. She sighed again, while she just looked at the window closest to her. Mary, on the other hand, tried to look elsewhere, but her thoughts were focused on Jasmine. She recalled all she asked her, and couldn’t help but get even more immersed. Jasmine was just… too sweet. Too cute. Still… she was strong deep inside. All that Mary could deduce from Jasmine’s answers. It was hard to say. Mary couldn’t deny she had never felt like that for a girl before, though. After all, her best friend had also aroused those feelings, but…
All those thoughts made Mary grow more eager to know Jasmine deeply. She turned to her, and decided to talk. “So, how did you feel in the interview, Jasmine?” The girl was a bit surprised, as she was kind of lost in the scenery she was witnessing, but turned to Mary soon enough. The glasses made her eyes look as shiny as before. Jasmine liked how they looked for some reason… but she just thought they were beautiful.
“Well… I was a bit nervous. Sometimes, I wanted it to end. I mean… everyone was listening to me. It was… I don’t know… different. I’m not… I’m not one to talk a lot. Yet… I felt compelled to. I think it was because… you gave me enough confidence for it…” Jasmine blushed a bit, while she tried to look somewhere else. She turned to the window again. “But… it was nice. You made me remember… many happy moments.” There she was again with her cutesy shy attitude… Mary felt even happier inside.
“I’m glad I could be of help!” said Mary with a very happy tone. Jasmine turned to her again. “I must say… you’re a very interesting person, Jasmine. I hear several challengers curse their luck when you wipe them out!”
“Um… I’m just lucky. And well… the Steel Type is very sturdy. It can’t be beaten easily… it’s not me. It’s the Pokémon I chose to use…”
“No, Jasmine. A Trainer is a big part of the battle. You must have a deep bond with your Pokémon, and I bet you’re also very experienced by now. What with being trained by one of Johto’s best Trainers personally and managing to control a Type no one knew of before! I might not be a Trainer, but I know you’re a… wonderful one. Yes!” Mary was about to stop again. She felt her feeling grow even more. But she really couldn’t allow Jasmine to let herself down like that… seeing how wonderful she was in reality.
“I guess… yes.” Jasmine turned to Mary again, blushing even more. Why did Mary have her in such high regard? She tried to smile, slowly and timidly. “But… well. It’s all because of others that I’m what I am now… but yes. I can’t deny… that… I’ve done a few things by myself…” Jasmine sniffed, while she turned to the window again. She focused in the scenery again. They were finally leaving Goldenrod, as the outside exhibited a beautiful, livid green color. Jasmine always felt happy when witnessing the wonders of nature. Mary couldn’t turn her sight, but forced herself to it. She didn’t want to bombard Jasmine with even more questions… even though she felt her words were helpful. The driver just did what he had to do, though he eavesdropped at the words of the girls occasionally. Yet, they remained silent for a while.
Jasmine felt a bit renewed. Even if she didn’t know Mary at all, she could tell she was a very nice person. She didn’t know the real reason behind her support, but deep within, she truly appreciated it. She felt like breaking the silence all of a sudden. It was as if Mary inspired her to talk. “Um… Mary…” she said timidly. Mary almost jumped out of sheer surprise, as she blushed a whole lot. Jasmine just looked at her weirdly, but smiled a bit.
“What is it, Jasmine?” She barely replied, as her feelings toward Jasmine went even higher. They had made her talk! Something not even Mary expected to be honest.
“Well… I was just curious. How is it to… to be so famous?”
“You’re serious, Jasmine? You’re at least as famous as I am. I’d say even more!” Mary noticed how Jasmine was about to turn to the window again and decided to actually answer the question. “But… I like it quite a bit. It can be startling. I often get many fans out of the tower, surrounding me as I go out! Sometimes, I miss being a normal person.” Mary giggled a bit as she gladly noticed how Jasmine turned to her again. “Fame has its nice side, though! You get lots of money, you get to know many people, and well… I must say that I really enjoy my job. I fought hard for it after all! I was so lucky to be contracted.”
“I see.” Jasmine was kind of interested now. She pushed a button down in the door, so the window would open. She felt a bit of heat now, and the refreshing breeze of the outside made her feel very well. “And… you just do interviews?”
“Well… nope. I also conduct Oak’s Pokémon Seminar, as you must know. I’m responsible of the radio’s mood as well. I do several spots and adverts! It’s quite fun, but it tends to be a bit tiresome. I’m glad we can get to record a few of my interventions for future use!” Mary smiled at Jasmine with her eyes closed. Jasmine felt a bit uneasy, but smiled back at her.
“That’s… nice. I’m glad… that you’re happy.” Jasmine then turned back to the window. Mary, on the other hand, just got even more touched. Jasmine was just too sweet. Maybe she had difficulty with talking, but she really made her feel good. Mary felt that she shouldn’t pressure Jasmine much, though. She turned to the window as well. Now they were entering Ecruteak City. It was a city much unlike Goldenrod in that it was actually very peaceful and empty. The houses were of an old, classic style, and the culture invaded every corner of the town. As the girls looked at the windows, they witnessed the majestic Tin Tower, the monument that was erected to honor the grand Ho-Oh. But then, they also saw the old, burnt-down tower. Mary felt this was a most interesting topic to talk about.
“So, Jasmine. Are you interested in the story of Johto?” Jasmine turned to Mary slowly. She muttered a bit before replying.
“Well… yes. I don’t know much of it. But I have read a few… even though I don’t visit Ecruteak often. I heard… Ho-Oh is angered. That mankind did an awful act… and that it deemed us worthless. As I battle some challengers… I can see where it’s coming from…” Jasmine pulled her right hand to her chest, and closed her eyes. “You know? I… I never liked that. Pokémon are our friends… not our slaves. I really enjoy my time with my Pokémon… I can’t understand how other people can be so… so evil with theirs.” Jasmine sighed deeply, while Mary was even more touched. That way of thinking, and her firm beliefs… it was hard to think of her as a weak person. Jasmine’s voice deepened a bit as she looked back to the window. “I’m glad some humans realize this, though… but it’s not enough.”
“You’re right, Jasmine. Pokémon shouldn’t be abused. That way you think… it’s very deep.”
“It’s just one of the many things Rockna taught me…” Jasmine and Mary felt a slight pull as the Taxi did a turn and then went on further. They were now exiting Ecruteak. The girls had a last glance at the traditional town and then focused their sight forward. Jasmine saw the Miltank dairy close to Ecruteak, and she knew her hometown was very close. The Taxi did another turn. It just took about half an hour where the girls remained silent for Jasmine to see the first sign of Olivine: the imposing Lighthouse of the city. She smiled at the very sight of it. Mary looked at it too. It was just outstandingly majestic.
At last, the Taxi made a stop in the very entrance of the port city. “We’ve arrived, ladies,” he said as he went out almost as soon, and opened the door Mary was most close to. She went out, and then Jasmine did the same. After that, the driver closed the door.
“How much is it?” asked Mary, while Jasmine almost jumped and tried to prevent her from paying.
“You don’t have to pay…” she limited to say.
“It’s no problem at all!” said Mary with a very friendly tone, as she smiled back at Jasmine. The driver went to his door and looked through the window to check the Taximeter.
“It’s 2500 PokéDollars,” he said with a smile. Mary skulked her skirt’s right pocket and got out a green wallet. She opened it and picked up a bunch of money paper. She gave it to the driver as she was done counting it. The driver counted it again and just nodded. He then took off his hat and bowed. “Thank you!” He then boarded the Taxi and drove back home. Mary turned to Jasmine, whom was still a bit embarrassed.
“Mary… you didn’t have to…” she said timidly. Mary just smiled happily at her.
“Don’t worry, Jasmine. That’s just a very puny sum for me! I’d be a very poor host if I didn’t pay!” Mary laughed a bit while she adjusted her glasses. She finally had a better look at Olivine. Though more active than Ecruteak, she had to agree with Jasmine. It was quite calm, and the sea breeze could be felt around. The air was much cleaner, and the mood was friendlier overall. Mary took in a deep breath, and exhaled shortly after. It was quite nice…
“Well… thank you again Mary. How could I…” It was hard for Jasmine to say. She was feeling very touched by Mary’s actions. She felt that she had to do something for her now that she had come all the way to Olivine just for her. Jasmine muttered a bit as she thought of what to say. “Um… would you like me to… to show you the city, Mary?” That question made Mary almost jump. She suddenly looked at Jasmine, with such happiness in her face that Jasmine felt very embarrassed.
“I’d love that, Jasmine!” she replied at last, while Jasmine just nodded.
“Well… just come with me.” Jasmine started to walk into Olivine slowly, with Mary right next to her. They saw a few houses through a lane, and the Pokémon Gym next to them. It was shaped like a giant shard of sorts, and it sparkled intensely with the rays of the midday Sun. Jasmine stopped at it as she turned to Mary. “This is the Gym… you want to see it?”
“Of course I do, Jasmine,” said Mary happily, as Jasmine just nodded and walked to the entrance door, Mary behind her. Jasmine slipped a card through the doors, and they slid open. She walked inside and Mary followed. It was a most conventional sight. The Gym only consisted of a rectangular arena composed mostly of rocks and a few metals all over it. Its surface was made of soil. There were a few seats surrounding the arena, and a few big lights on top as well.
“Well… this is it. I also live here, but… I doubt it’s of any importance…” Mary tried to object, but in a way, it was true. She just looked around the Gym’s battlefield as she walked through it.
“It’s simple, but I bet that’s all you need,” said Mary, still wondrous and examining as much as she could. The clean arena, the nice arrangement and the careful calculations it showed, such as the rocks positions and other things, showed how dutiful Jasmine was about her position. Jasmine muttered rather loudly as she saw Mary walking around and adjusting her glasses quite frequently. She then passed her hands through her long hair.
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[Continued in next post...]
I had several ideas, though. One of them was this One-Shot. It's about RadioShipping. That is DJ Mary & Jasmine. Yep... another obscure Shoujo-Ai couple made by me. However, this isn't as obscure in that it had a TCG card to back it up. You know... Mary's Request. I saw Mary and Jasmine right in the middle of an interview... and they were too cute. I decided to name the Ship, and I got an idea for a story eventually. I even got approval from the guy I had to consult whenever I was to involve Jasmine in anything. A great friend of mine...
And well... I also found a flawless charm to write Shipping Fics. Thus, expect me more often from now on. ^^
As of now... here's my latest One-Shot. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it...
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Interview.
The streets of Goldenrod City were awfully cluttered that day, as a rather tall girl with long brown hair tried to make her way through in order to reach the Radio tower. It had been long since she visited this city, and she still wasn’t fond of it in the slightest. She almost dropped down twice due to the seas of people and the noise. As she approached the far-away facility, however, the way became slightly easier. She still felt a bit sick due to the rough walk and the pollution of the city, though. She just passed her hands through her long white dress and placed them below as she slowly walked through this new scenery, blushing slightly due to the rather harsh bustle she had just gone through.
“Radio Tower… it’s here…” she said, almost panting, as she watched the imposing black building a few steps ahead. It was very tall and had lots of antennas resting atop it. Jasmine walked further and she finally made it to the entrance. The automatic doors moved away as she approached, and she walked inside.
The entrance room was quite calm, which was a big relief for Jasmine. She walked slowly through the gray-colored room and then looked to the right. She saw the counter and a few people standing behind it. A girl nearby looked at Jasmine, who looked around, as if lost. The red-haired girl walked to her as she adjusted her round glasses to see well. The Radio Tower had invited her to have an interview about her experiences as a GYM Leader. Mary was the DJ to interview her, as usual. Jasmine recognized her right away, yet she was very timid. Mary was famous, and it was like talking to a celebrity…
“Good morning, Jasmine! I’m glad you came,” said Mary with a wide smile in her face. The glasses made her eyes stand out, which made Jasmine blush slightly. Even if she wasn’t attracted to girls, she had to admit that Mary’s crimson eyes were cute. Jasmine had a brief glimpse as Mary approached her. She noticed her green sweater with darker stripes through it and her brown miniskirt.
“Um… hi. Sorry for the delay…” said Jasmine timidly. Mary smiled at her again, and she had a closer look. Jasmine was a bit pale, and even a bit too thin in her opinion, but… it was hard to explain. Mary thought she was gorgeous in such a cute way. Her long hair, her upward pigtails, her cute blue eyes… those strange feelings she was accustomed to started to form inside her. “So… what now?” said Jasmine, whom acted as if Mary’s fixed look on her was uncomfortable. Mary snapped off the trance and smiled again.
“Sorry! Please come with me, Jasmine.” Mary then grabbed Jasmine’s right hand, which took her by surprise. Mary saw that Jasmine stood still, and just walked slowly. She felt that she had gone a bit too far. Still, Jasmine walked behind her. Mary then led her to the next floor. After a while, Jasmine walked close to her, which made Mary feel a bit tickly inside. She couldn’t help but look at Jasmine from time to time. It wasn’t the first time she had this feeling toward another girl, but it always upset her in many ways... “I hope you didn’t have much trouble in your way here, Jasmine.”
Jasmine muttered, and even coughed. She still felt a bit sick due to her difficult walk though Goldenrod. “It was... hard. Don’t worry, though...” Jasmine smiled to Mary slowly, which made Mary blush a lot. She went on through the offices, all full of people sat in tables, with audiphones on their ears and with many papers in front.
“OK. We’re here, Jasmine.” Mary turned to a room encased in a thick wall with a big crystal, which allowed them to see what was inside: a room full of machines, a table in the middle, and a microphone on it. A door nearby led to it, and Mary opened it with a key she had in one of her pockets. She finally let go of Jasmine’s hand and gestured to the door. “You go in first, Jasmine.”
“Yeah...” said Jasmine and walked inside. Mary went right behind her and closed the door as both of them were inside. She then signaled the closest chair with her arms to Jasmine, whom sat on it right away. Mary rounded the table and went to the other chair in front, which was the closest to the table’s microphone. The device wasn’t just a mere microphone, but some sort of box with it spouting off it. Mary pushed a button in it and a green led on it turned on, with a dim green light.
“Good morning, Johto! Say hi to your favorite DJ! Today I have the pleasure to introduce our special guest: none other than Jasmine! Gym Leader of the beautiful port city, Olivine!” said Mary with enthusiasm. Jasmine blushed a bit as she heard Mary. The prospect of being heard by people all over Johto made her feel very nervous, and even more so after Mary had done such an introduction of herself. “As you all know, Jasmine is a wonderful Trainer. She trains Steel-Type Pokémon. A Type that remains elusive in most places, and yet, Jasmine managed to build up a solid reputation for both her Type of choice and her own GYM! As if that weren’t enough, Jasmine cares deeply about her Pokémon and her own city. She’s known for taking care of the majestic Lighthouse of Olivine and its light source. It’s a real honor to be able to interview her today, and I hope you enjoy this as well!”
Mary noticed a bit of weariness in Jasmine’s face. Indeed, Jasmine was blushing so much she was pretty much red in all her face. Mary’s words, while true, made her feel awfully embarrassed, especially since Mary had said them aloud and were heard all over Johto. “…but first! A few advertisements from our sponsors. We’ll be right back!” Mary pushed the button again, and the light in the device turned off. She then looked at Jasmine and smiled. “Don’t get so nervous, Jasmine! Just imagine this is a mild conversation between you and me.”
“Eh… but…” sad Jasmine with a soft tremble.
“You can trust me. Just talk naturally. Be yourself!” Mary winked at Jasmine and even extended her hands through the table. “You can hold my hands if it helps you.”
“Um… OK…” Jasmine moved her hands from their static position on her legs and placed them on the table. Slowly, her hands approached Mary’s, and held them. Mary felt a sudden jump within herself, accompanied with a deep blush. She kept on smiling at Jasmine, while her heartbeat became certainly faster. On the other hand, Jasmine felt less nervous. Even if she wasn’t prone to have contact with other people, she had to admit Mary’s warmth made her feel comfortable and cool.
“Hehe. Now I am getting nervous!” said Mary aloud with a funny tone. Jasmine just mumbled. “You tell me when we start, Jasmine.”
“Now… if you want,” said Jasmine weakly. Mary separated her right hand from Jasmine’s and pushed the button again. The green light turned on again.
“We’re back! And we have our guest all ready. How are you, Jasmine?” asked Mary. A friendly tone adorned her words, and Jasmine felt eager to respond.
“I’m… fine. Just a bit dizzy after the walk through Goldenrod…” said Jasmine, although unsure if it was heard. She assumed the microphone in the middle worked for both her and Mary, though.
“Quite the loud and cluttered city, isn’t it?”
“Yes…”
“With your discouraging experience in Goldenrod, I bet you rather like your hometown, Olivine. What can you say about it?”
“Um… it’s a nice place. It’s more peaceful… yes. And… the sea nearby makes the air and atmosphere rather… pleasant. We get many ships and visitors…” it was surprising, even for Jasmine herself. She never talked so much in succession. She was still trembling a bit, though. But most of her nervousness was gone.
“Sounds great! Olivine is known for that indeed. But enough of your city! What can you say about being a Gym Leader?” said Mary, whom still smiled at Jasmine, and even trembled within due to her and Jasmine still holding hands in the table. Her experience as a DJ made this unnoticeable in her words to the audience, though.
“Being a Gym Leader? Well… it’s nice. You get to meet many… interesting people. You see many Pokémon… you learn about Pokémon… you get stronger. It’s a nice duty…”
“It must be!” said Mary with happiness. She then looked at some notes in front of her, and talked again after a bit: “I reckon you were the only disciple of the former Gym Leader, Rockna. How does that feel?”
“Um… I‘m not special. Rockna just trusted me… that’s it.” Jasmine paused for a few seconds, as she sighed silently. “I just trained the same kind of Pokémon she trained… and I earned her trust for that…”
“But you know how commendable of a feat that is? Rockna was well-known for being rock-hearted and barely talkative. It was also known that becoming her apprentice was awfully hard, and that she’d only accept one at any given time! And yet, not only did she accept you as her sole apprentice, but she also passed the Gym Leader baton to you!”
“Well… I jut did as she told me. And… if I’m any good today… it’s thanks to Rockna…” replied Jasmine, even though Mary hadn’t really formulated a question. She blushed with every moment passing. It was as if Mary had her in such a high regard…
“And even then, you were heartily accepted by all of your fellow Gym Leaders! Even by the veterans Chuck and Pryce! And in that regard, can you describe how was the moment when Rockna gave up her Gym Leader position and gave it to you, Jasmine?”
“Yes… it was great. Rockna said she wanted to know the world… like the former Violet Gym Leader. She said she had taught me all she knew, and… admitted I’d make a better Gym Leader than her. I don’t know why she thought that… but… it made me happy. It still does…” Jasmine smiled subtly as she talked, which made Mary feel even higher for her. “I had been her apprentice for four years…”
“That’s beautiful, Jasmine. I bet she doesn’t regret her decision to this day, wherever she is.” Mary smiled at Jasmine, and then looked through her notes some more. “Um… so you first were a Rock-Type Gym Leader, weren’t you?”
“Yes. I liked them and they formed the bulk of my Team… before I returned to my hometown. However… I also got interested in Electric Pokémon like Magnemite and Mareep…”
“And did you notice Magnemite’s sturdiness before the discovery of the Steel Type?”
“Yeah… it made me wonder. It wasn’t a Rock Pokémon, but its body was very hard. I offered my pair of Magnemite for research… I was curious about it.”
“That’s most unexpected, yet admirable of you. Few Trainers would’ve given up their Pokémon for research or experiments!” said Mary as she smiled some more. “How was your reaction when they found out Magnemite had properties of another, unknown Type?”
“I could say I was impressed. Yet, it made me like Magnemite even more. I was surprised when they discovered that Onix had an evolution that belonged to that same Type… it made me smile. I remember… Onix was always my favorite…”
“It must be. And how did you get your Onix to evolve in your well-known trump card of today?”
“Well… Rockna contacted me one day. She said she was all the way up in Shinou. After a most warm greeting, she told me she had a surprise for me… and asked me to send my Onix to her in a temporary Trade. I did… and a few minutes later, she contacted me again and sent it back while I returned her Golem. She said she had to leave, but told me to release Onix at once…” Jasmine then smiled, and Mary could swear she saw a silent tear slipping down her cheeks, as Jasmine’s voice tone also changed. “I did… and I saw Onix encased in a metal coat of sorts, going all the way through its body. It was just a brief second, though… Onix started to shine almost immediately. It was for a few seconds, as its body morphed. It grew several meters, its head became much bigger, and its body turned all gray and shiny. It also had a couple of spikes in some sections of its body…”
“That’s awesome! You must have been so surprised, yet happy. I know it. Um… this question you can refrain from answering. Have you got word of Rockna after that day?” Asked Mary, with a bit of weariness on her voice.
“Um… nope. I’ve been worried about her…” Jasmine was slightly vexed, and her voice sounded a bit cheerless. Mary found this too cute, but thought it wasn’t fair to make Jasmine feel sad. Even if it was the ‘happy’ kind of grief in a way. “Sorry…”
“It’s no problem, Jasmine. It shows how much you care about her, and at least for me, that’s wonderful.” Mary blushed deeply again, to the point she was now stuttering, as if completely clueless for what to ask next. “Well… um… eh…”
“Are you OK?” asked Jasmine, slightly weary, and also a bit uncomfortable.
“Yes. Sorry! Now… eh… what can you say about your fellow Gym Leaders?”
“They’re all nice people… very deep and helpful. I owe a lot to all of them… mostly to Pryce and Chuck. As the eldest, they were the ones to accept Rockna’s decision… and they took me wholeheartedly.” Jasmine smiled with an air of sadness in her face again, while Mary still garbled.
“And… what do you think about… our local Gym Leader?” It was most unsettling for Mary. She had never lost control in such a way. Jasmine sighed silently, but answered within a few seconds.
“Whitney? Well… she’s funny. A nice girl. I’ve heard she’s very strong… and she’s always cheerful. I see her often… always coming to Olivine once a month. She helps her uncle with milk shipments.” Jasmine took another pause as she muttered again, trying to make a gesture to Mary. The DJ didn’t respond, though. Jasmine then noticed she was lost in her eyes. “Um… Mary?”
Jasmine’s voice didn’t help Mary getting off her trance, though. Truth to be told, it made her even more immersed in thoughts. Jasmine extended her hand shyly to Mary’s, and then shook it. Mary came back to senses. “Oh, sorry! It’s most reassuring how you think highly of all your comrades, Jasmine. Whitney does say good things about you as well!” Jasmine blushed a bit, but it was just her regular attitude. Mary, on the other hand, was sweating. Not to say blushing to a most embarrassing degree. She shook her head and got grip of herself again. “OK, a last question…” Jasmine just nodded.
“What would you say if I said that I love…” but Mary suddenly realized what she was about to ask. “Never mind! This is all for today’s interview! Now enjoy Goldenrod’s Radio regular schedule! Don’t tune off!” Mary hastily pushed the button on the small box. The led turned off and Mary rested her back on the chair, sweating, and even panting, as I she had done something that exhausted her badly. Jasmine muttered again, unable to understand Mary.
“Is everything OK?” asked Jasmine. Mary looked at her again. It was most hard to explain. She was aghast that Jasmine could be so cute and sweet… even to he point of being worried about her. Jasmine just kept the glare, which made Mary fall even more for her. Her eyes were just so cute…
“Yeah. Sorry. I lost grip of myself… but there wasn’t much else to ask anyway.” Mary smiled back at Jasmine, a bit nervous. “How did you like it?”
“It was… nice. Thanks for inviting me. However… which was your last question?” the reminiscence made Mary turn red again. She wasn’t meaning to ask that out loud in a widely broadcasted interview, but it came off all of a sudden. Mary shook her head hardly.
“Oh! I was just a bit nervous. Happens from time to time! I tend to say things I wasn’t meant to say. Just forget it, Jasmine!” Mary then laughed, trying to forget about that. Jasmine just looked at her with a clueless expression and muttered. “Anyway! Let’s get out. We’re done.” Mary walked to the door and opened it. She gestured Jasmine to get out first with her arms, and then Mary got out too.
As they walked out of the room, a rather fat man with black glasses and a bulky beard stopped them. He was the Radio Director. Jasmine was startled, but Mary knew she was the one to be in trouble. All of a sudden, the man smiled at her, though. “Most excellent, Mary! As always, your interview drew in a lot of rating. And I know it’ll provide for the rest of the day!” The man smiled, but he suddenly turned a bit serious. “Still… I noticed you tattered at the very end. How so?” Mary blushed deeply.
“I was just… tired! Yes! A once-in-a-while thing. I promise it won’t happen again.” Mary placed her left hand on her back neck and laughed. Jasmine just looked at her, while she walked timidly to the front.
“It’s understood, Mary. I shouldn’t be so strict!” The director let out a laugh as he saw Jasmine in front of him, next to Mary. “All in all, I must hand it to you, Jasmine. Thanks for accepting our invitation!” The man then forcibly picked Jasmine’s hands and shook them happily. Jasmine felt the pull of the man, and was slightly surprised.
“Um… no problem,” she said, blushing deeply. She let out a breath of relief when the director let her go. “It was… a pleasure.”
“The pleasure was all ours!” The director then laughed with enthusiasm. “Well Mary, you’re free for the day. Well-deserved after such a good job.”
“Thanks, but why?” but the director had left already. Mary sweatdropped, but shrugged it off soon enough. She turned to Jasmine, who looked a bit anxious. Mary’s feelings were compelling her to… do something she’d never expect. Still, she had to ask. “Now Jasmine, what are you going to do?”
Jasmine suddenly turned at Mary. “Well… I’ll go back to Olivine…”
“How are you intending to go back home?”
“As usual… by walking.” Jasmine trembled a bit, though. She didn’t have much trouble with walking, but the prospect of crossing Goldenrod again wasn’t something that encouraged her at all. Mary gasped loudly.
“But you said you were very uncomfortable with the cluttering and all that! That won’t do. I’ll fetch a Taxi for you!” and just like that, Mary ran toward the stairs and went down all the way so she’d get to the telephone booths in the entrance. Jasmine tried to follow her, but decided to go slower. She went down through the floors, and when she finally made it to the first floor, Mary had called the Taxi already and walked back to meet her. Mary panted a bit due to her rush. “Whew… done. It’ll be here in a few minutes!” she told Jasmine with a smile.
“Um… there wasn’t a need to…” said Jasmine as she muttered. “But… thank you.” She smiled at Mary slightly. It made the red-haired DJ go even more into her sudden feelings toward Jasmine. Her sweet voice… her shy attitude… her nice manners… it was… just indescribable. It made her feel too much for her. She didn’t notice she blushed too much as well, though. “So… shall we go?”
“Oh… yes! Let’s go outside, Jasmine.” Mary walked to the tower’s entrance door and Jasmine walked by her side, a bit wondrous about Mary’s attitude. They then were out in the park preceding the Radio Tower. Mary walked a few feet further to the roadway. There she stood, checking her watch at intervals. Jasmine just looked around. She still didn’t like Goldenrod…
A few minutes passed, the girls not even moving. But then, a Taxi stopped in front of them. It was of a yellow color, and had a black motif on the doors, with the words ‘Goldenrod Taxi’ next to it. The car stopped and the driver got down. “Good afternoon, ladies. Let me open up the door for you.” He walked to the backdoor behind his own one and opened it. He then gestured the girls to go inside.
“Thanks, Mary…” said Jasmine, and stepped in first. Mary was debating whether she should go or not. It was way too good for her, given her growing feelings toward Jasmine. But she felt very embarrassed and wondrous whether Jasmine actually liked her or not. She walked slowly, the driver looking weirdly at her. Mary took a leap and went inside. She almost fell on Jasmine, but managed to stop herself and just sat next to her… a few inches away. Jasmine looked at her, a bit surprised. “Um… you’re coming too?”
Mary laughed as she always did. “Ah… yes. I have a free day after all! And well… I’d like to go to Olivine. If you don’t mind, of course!” Mary adjusted her glasses, which were a bit unleveled due to her sudden leap. Jasmine muttered, but replied shortly after just by shaking her head. Jasmine then looked back at Mary, whom had her sight fixed on her… again. She sighed and turned to the front. There were two seats in front, and the driver soon occupied the driver’s seat.
“Olivine, isn’t it?” he asked.
“Yep,” replied Mary as she closed the door she didn’t close yet. The driver spun the key and the car rumbled a bit. He then started driving through the streets of Goldenrod. He was quite a calm driver, given his slow speed despite the lack of traffic. It was a relief for Jasmine, though. She sighed again, while she just looked at the window closest to her. Mary, on the other hand, tried to look elsewhere, but her thoughts were focused on Jasmine. She recalled all she asked her, and couldn’t help but get even more immersed. Jasmine was just… too sweet. Too cute. Still… she was strong deep inside. All that Mary could deduce from Jasmine’s answers. It was hard to say. Mary couldn’t deny she had never felt like that for a girl before, though. After all, her best friend had also aroused those feelings, but…
All those thoughts made Mary grow more eager to know Jasmine deeply. She turned to her, and decided to talk. “So, how did you feel in the interview, Jasmine?” The girl was a bit surprised, as she was kind of lost in the scenery she was witnessing, but turned to Mary soon enough. The glasses made her eyes look as shiny as before. Jasmine liked how they looked for some reason… but she just thought they were beautiful.
“Well… I was a bit nervous. Sometimes, I wanted it to end. I mean… everyone was listening to me. It was… I don’t know… different. I’m not… I’m not one to talk a lot. Yet… I felt compelled to. I think it was because… you gave me enough confidence for it…” Jasmine blushed a bit, while she tried to look somewhere else. She turned to the window again. “But… it was nice. You made me remember… many happy moments.” There she was again with her cutesy shy attitude… Mary felt even happier inside.
“I’m glad I could be of help!” said Mary with a very happy tone. Jasmine turned to her again. “I must say… you’re a very interesting person, Jasmine. I hear several challengers curse their luck when you wipe them out!”
“Um… I’m just lucky. And well… the Steel Type is very sturdy. It can’t be beaten easily… it’s not me. It’s the Pokémon I chose to use…”
“No, Jasmine. A Trainer is a big part of the battle. You must have a deep bond with your Pokémon, and I bet you’re also very experienced by now. What with being trained by one of Johto’s best Trainers personally and managing to control a Type no one knew of before! I might not be a Trainer, but I know you’re a… wonderful one. Yes!” Mary was about to stop again. She felt her feeling grow even more. But she really couldn’t allow Jasmine to let herself down like that… seeing how wonderful she was in reality.
“I guess… yes.” Jasmine turned to Mary again, blushing even more. Why did Mary have her in such high regard? She tried to smile, slowly and timidly. “But… well. It’s all because of others that I’m what I am now… but yes. I can’t deny… that… I’ve done a few things by myself…” Jasmine sniffed, while she turned to the window again. She focused in the scenery again. They were finally leaving Goldenrod, as the outside exhibited a beautiful, livid green color. Jasmine always felt happy when witnessing the wonders of nature. Mary couldn’t turn her sight, but forced herself to it. She didn’t want to bombard Jasmine with even more questions… even though she felt her words were helpful. The driver just did what he had to do, though he eavesdropped at the words of the girls occasionally. Yet, they remained silent for a while.
Jasmine felt a bit renewed. Even if she didn’t know Mary at all, she could tell she was a very nice person. She didn’t know the real reason behind her support, but deep within, she truly appreciated it. She felt like breaking the silence all of a sudden. It was as if Mary inspired her to talk. “Um… Mary…” she said timidly. Mary almost jumped out of sheer surprise, as she blushed a whole lot. Jasmine just looked at her weirdly, but smiled a bit.
“What is it, Jasmine?” She barely replied, as her feelings toward Jasmine went even higher. They had made her talk! Something not even Mary expected to be honest.
“Well… I was just curious. How is it to… to be so famous?”
“You’re serious, Jasmine? You’re at least as famous as I am. I’d say even more!” Mary noticed how Jasmine was about to turn to the window again and decided to actually answer the question. “But… I like it quite a bit. It can be startling. I often get many fans out of the tower, surrounding me as I go out! Sometimes, I miss being a normal person.” Mary giggled a bit as she gladly noticed how Jasmine turned to her again. “Fame has its nice side, though! You get lots of money, you get to know many people, and well… I must say that I really enjoy my job. I fought hard for it after all! I was so lucky to be contracted.”
“I see.” Jasmine was kind of interested now. She pushed a button down in the door, so the window would open. She felt a bit of heat now, and the refreshing breeze of the outside made her feel very well. “And… you just do interviews?”
“Well… nope. I also conduct Oak’s Pokémon Seminar, as you must know. I’m responsible of the radio’s mood as well. I do several spots and adverts! It’s quite fun, but it tends to be a bit tiresome. I’m glad we can get to record a few of my interventions for future use!” Mary smiled at Jasmine with her eyes closed. Jasmine felt a bit uneasy, but smiled back at her.
“That’s… nice. I’m glad… that you’re happy.” Jasmine then turned back to the window. Mary, on the other hand, just got even more touched. Jasmine was just too sweet. Maybe she had difficulty with talking, but she really made her feel good. Mary felt that she shouldn’t pressure Jasmine much, though. She turned to the window as well. Now they were entering Ecruteak City. It was a city much unlike Goldenrod in that it was actually very peaceful and empty. The houses were of an old, classic style, and the culture invaded every corner of the town. As the girls looked at the windows, they witnessed the majestic Tin Tower, the monument that was erected to honor the grand Ho-Oh. But then, they also saw the old, burnt-down tower. Mary felt this was a most interesting topic to talk about.
“So, Jasmine. Are you interested in the story of Johto?” Jasmine turned to Mary slowly. She muttered a bit before replying.
“Well… yes. I don’t know much of it. But I have read a few… even though I don’t visit Ecruteak often. I heard… Ho-Oh is angered. That mankind did an awful act… and that it deemed us worthless. As I battle some challengers… I can see where it’s coming from…” Jasmine pulled her right hand to her chest, and closed her eyes. “You know? I… I never liked that. Pokémon are our friends… not our slaves. I really enjoy my time with my Pokémon… I can’t understand how other people can be so… so evil with theirs.” Jasmine sighed deeply, while Mary was even more touched. That way of thinking, and her firm beliefs… it was hard to think of her as a weak person. Jasmine’s voice deepened a bit as she looked back to the window. “I’m glad some humans realize this, though… but it’s not enough.”
“You’re right, Jasmine. Pokémon shouldn’t be abused. That way you think… it’s very deep.”
“It’s just one of the many things Rockna taught me…” Jasmine and Mary felt a slight pull as the Taxi did a turn and then went on further. They were now exiting Ecruteak. The girls had a last glance at the traditional town and then focused their sight forward. Jasmine saw the Miltank dairy close to Ecruteak, and she knew her hometown was very close. The Taxi did another turn. It just took about half an hour where the girls remained silent for Jasmine to see the first sign of Olivine: the imposing Lighthouse of the city. She smiled at the very sight of it. Mary looked at it too. It was just outstandingly majestic.
At last, the Taxi made a stop in the very entrance of the port city. “We’ve arrived, ladies,” he said as he went out almost as soon, and opened the door Mary was most close to. She went out, and then Jasmine did the same. After that, the driver closed the door.
“How much is it?” asked Mary, while Jasmine almost jumped and tried to prevent her from paying.
“You don’t have to pay…” she limited to say.
“It’s no problem at all!” said Mary with a very friendly tone, as she smiled back at Jasmine. The driver went to his door and looked through the window to check the Taximeter.
“It’s 2500 PokéDollars,” he said with a smile. Mary skulked her skirt’s right pocket and got out a green wallet. She opened it and picked up a bunch of money paper. She gave it to the driver as she was done counting it. The driver counted it again and just nodded. He then took off his hat and bowed. “Thank you!” He then boarded the Taxi and drove back home. Mary turned to Jasmine, whom was still a bit embarrassed.
“Mary… you didn’t have to…” she said timidly. Mary just smiled happily at her.
“Don’t worry, Jasmine. That’s just a very puny sum for me! I’d be a very poor host if I didn’t pay!” Mary laughed a bit while she adjusted her glasses. She finally had a better look at Olivine. Though more active than Ecruteak, she had to agree with Jasmine. It was quite calm, and the sea breeze could be felt around. The air was much cleaner, and the mood was friendlier overall. Mary took in a deep breath, and exhaled shortly after. It was quite nice…
“Well… thank you again Mary. How could I…” It was hard for Jasmine to say. She was feeling very touched by Mary’s actions. She felt that she had to do something for her now that she had come all the way to Olivine just for her. Jasmine muttered a bit as she thought of what to say. “Um… would you like me to… to show you the city, Mary?” That question made Mary almost jump. She suddenly looked at Jasmine, with such happiness in her face that Jasmine felt very embarrassed.
“I’d love that, Jasmine!” she replied at last, while Jasmine just nodded.
“Well… just come with me.” Jasmine started to walk into Olivine slowly, with Mary right next to her. They saw a few houses through a lane, and the Pokémon Gym next to them. It was shaped like a giant shard of sorts, and it sparkled intensely with the rays of the midday Sun. Jasmine stopped at it as she turned to Mary. “This is the Gym… you want to see it?”
“Of course I do, Jasmine,” said Mary happily, as Jasmine just nodded and walked to the entrance door, Mary behind her. Jasmine slipped a card through the doors, and they slid open. She walked inside and Mary followed. It was a most conventional sight. The Gym only consisted of a rectangular arena composed mostly of rocks and a few metals all over it. Its surface was made of soil. There were a few seats surrounding the arena, and a few big lights on top as well.
“Well… this is it. I also live here, but… I doubt it’s of any importance…” Mary tried to object, but in a way, it was true. She just looked around the Gym’s battlefield as she walked through it.
“It’s simple, but I bet that’s all you need,” said Mary, still wondrous and examining as much as she could. The clean arena, the nice arrangement and the careful calculations it showed, such as the rocks positions and other things, showed how dutiful Jasmine was about her position. Jasmine muttered rather loudly as she saw Mary walking around and adjusting her glasses quite frequently. She then passed her hands through her long hair.
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[Continued in next post...]