"Before anything else, I have to go to the Pokémon Center here," Opal says to herself. Even with all of Masolin Town spread in front of here, the building that can be a Trainer's home away from home is easy for Opal to identify courtesy of its signature bright orange roof. "I need you in tip-top shape if we're going to go after Team Bullet, Zebrun, and that means getting some proper care for your leg," Opal explains to the Ultra Ball on her hip. "Man, I can't wait until they finish building Quembar Town's Pokémon Center. I wanted to help you sooner rather than later, but it doesn't do much good when this is the best 'sooner' I can do." Opal pictures the injuries to Zebrun's leg inflicted by the Team Bullet grunt's Murclay; they don't appear to have gotten worse in the four days since then, but they aren't getting better either. Fired by the prospect of completing the very first stage of her journey, Opal strides into town with a will.
"Nurse Joy!" Opal calls as the glass doors of the hospital slide open to welcome her.
The lady with iconic pink hair looks up from a monitor behind the counter. "Hello!" she smiles. "Welcome to our Pokémon Center. How may I help you?"
"My Zebrun's legs are hurt," Opal replies in a subdued voice. "A Murclay caused it; I didn't see what happened, but it's been a few days and the wounds aren't healing right."
The Pokémon nurse frowns. "Wounds that don't get better are always something that deserve special attention. Here, I'll take your Pokémon for a few seconds then." When Opal hesitates, a sympathetic light comes into the nurse's eyes. "I know you're worried, but I promise, your Zebrun will be in good hands. I need to see it so I can perform a preliminary examination." She grins reassuringly when Opal hands over the Ultra Ball. "If nothing else, I'm sure your Pokémon is happy to have such an advanced, quality Ball! Now, I'll just go right over here..." Nurse Joy drops the Ultra Ball into one of six slots attached to a small bank of monitors. Opal doesn't know what's happening, but her gaze is locked on the scene while Joy taps several buttons resulting in a whirring noise and some beeping lights. In less than thirty seconds she turns back to the apprehensive Trainer.
"The issue is not one I can address here, I'm afraid," she sighs. "If you would, you can follow me and we'll get right back to an examination room." Opal's around the corner in a flash to follow the nurse through swinging doors deeper into the Center.
Nurse Joy wears a frown on her face while she moves about Zebrun, who's resting on an examination table in the center of the small room. Opal rubs his head to keep him calm, but she's not sure how much she needs to; her spirited Pokémon seems decidedly lethargic. Soon Nurse Joy makes her way back around to Opal's side. "Your Pokémon's injuries are far from life-threatening, but they will require some work and I'm afraid there's not quick fix. Your Zebrun won't be healed today. If you'd like to go back to the main lobby and reserve a room for the night, that would probably be a good idea."
"Oh...I see." Opal bites her lip. "If that's the case--yes, I'd better do that." She glances awkwardly at her Pokémon before looking up into Nurse Joy's eyes. "But...there's something else I need to take care of as well while I'm here in Masolin Town. Can I leave Zebrun here at the Pokémon Center with you while I go do that?"
The Pokémon nurse hesitates before responding. "Most Trainers prefer to stay here with their Pokémon during their treatment, even if it could take quite some time," she explains. "If you're going to be partners in battle, they say, you need to be partners in recovery as well."
"Yes, I understand that," Opal replies, "but this doesn't mean I don't care about my Pokémon! I really have to go, today! There's not a moment to lose!" she cries. "Zebrun will be fine here with you, won't he, Nurse Joy? After all, you're the one here who knows all about healing Pokémon. I wouldn't be any use." Opal is already bouncing on her feet, edging towards the door. As she twists the handle she calls, "Nurse Joy will fix you right up, Zebrun! I'll be back as quick as I can!" With that she darts out into the hallway, leaving behind Nurse Joy with a mildly disapproving look on her face and a very tired Normal-type.
Opal bursts out of the front doors into weak sunshine. "All right! Time to go find Professor Aspen's laboratory so I can prepare myself for the real journey!" The eager novice peers to the right and to the left; then a blank expression crosses her face. "Except...I don't know where I'm going..." She slumps over with a gusty sigh, disheartened at having made such a stupid mistake. "Where do you think we should g--" Opal breaks off when she realizes that, out of habit, she's talking to the spot where she usually carries Wyrmer. "You're not...with me anymore," she says in a weak voice. "But that's why I'm here!!" Opal gives herself a brisk shake. "This is no time to slow down, not now, not ever!" Suddenly she grins a tiny bit. "Right...must be right!" Accordingly she swings to her right and marches away from the Pokémon Center.
After twenty or so minutes of hiking aimlessly through Masolin Town, selecting a new direction at random at each intersection, Opal still seems no closer to reaching her destination. That's when her attention is caught by a serious-looking man in a long white coat walking on the opposite side of the street. Opal snaps her fingers excitedly. "That's a scientist if ever I saw one! And scientists work in labs!" The words are hardly out of her mouth before she's sprinted across the street to block his path. "Excuse me!!" she practically yells in his face. "Do you know where I can find Professor Aspen's lab?!"
"Uwaah!" The poor man is almost knocked over backward by Opal's forceful inquiry; he turns out to be on the younger side. "Please!" he exclaims. "There's no need to be so loud! Yes, I do know where her lab is; as a matter of fact I work there! But who are you?!"
Opal retreats a pace, shamefaced; she hadn't meant to fluster the scientist so much. "My name's Opal. I would really like to see Professor Aspen as soon as I can!"
The scientist gives her a small smile. "If that's all it is, Opal, I can take you there now. Are you, by any chance, one of the Trainers...who..." He trails off mumbling to himself. "Of course she must be, with how much of a hurry she's in, and that kind of desperation..." He turns back the way he had come, waving Opal after him. "Alright, let's be going then!"
"Professor Aspen! There's a young Trainer here to see you!" the man announces upon entering the lab. Opal darts around in front of him, eager to take in all the sights of the technologically advanced building. What she's most eager to see, however, is the woman who quickly looks up from her work at the sound of the scientist's greeting. Dropping a thin sheaf of papers, she hurries toward the door. When she reaches them the junior researcher explains, "This is Opal. We ran into one another on the street, and she asked if I knew where to find you, Professor. She seemed quite urgent, so I accompanied her back here." He leans forward and adds in a lower tone, "I believe she's looking to receive a starter Pokémon."
The professor nods. "Thank you very much, Matthew. Would you mind finishing up those MSDS I left on the table?" Once her subordinate has scurried off she turns back to Opal with a warm smile. "Welcome to my laboratory. I'm Sequoia Aspen, Pokémon professor!" Opal takes a second to study one of the most famous people in the Ilona region. She's wearing a lavender windbreaker open over a white blouse and gray skirt, along with black Chelsea boots. Her eyes are the same purple as her jacket while above it all is a beehive of rich brown hair. She's not much taller than Opal, but nevertheless she has a presence that fills the area. "What can I help you with, Opal?"
The young Trainer in question stares Professor Aspen straight in the eyes. "I'm here...because I have to go on a journey! I need you to help me become a real Pokémon Trainer! ...I submitted an application electronically several days ago."
For a moment the professor looks sheepish. "It's been a...rough...few days for my lab. I myself just returned here from a trip late last night, and I'm afraid we haven't had the opportunity to do something like look at applications recently. But...'Have to?' 'Need,' you say? Usually when young boys and girls come here to become Trainers it's 'want.' What makes you different?"
Opal hangs her head when she thinks about the answer to that question, and her voice shakes when she speaks it aloud. "My first Pokémon...my partner...was stolen by Team Bullet." Now her whole body is shaking; her eyes are filled with tears and fire. "I have to go on a journey so that I can become stronger: strong enough to find my Wyrmer wherever he might be, and destroy Team Bullet and get him back!!"
Professor Aspen is left momentarily speechless by Opal's passionate outburst, but to the young girl's surprise an unknown voice responds in her stead. "You want to go on a journey to become stronger? The best way to do that, I would think, is by challenging the Pokémon League."
A man Opal's never seen before steps away from his work station in one corner. He doesn't seem like any of the other scientists in the building, what with his wild dark gray hair and large red coat. He waves a hand in apology before continuing, "You must forgive me for interrupting in this manner, but you see I couldn't help overhearing your conversation and being moved by Opal's position. What do you say, Professor? I think we should register this child as a League participant...and let her choose one of our starter Pokémon."
"Well...that would be rather sudden...but your judgment has always been good," Aspen concedes. "What do you think of his plan, Opal?"
"I'll do whatever it takes. You won't regret trusting me," is the terse reply.
"That's...what we'll do, then," the professor acquiesces. "If you'll follow me over here, Opal, I can look for that application you sent and then you can be registered."
Professor Aspen leads the way to another section of the lab and has a seat in front of a sleek laptop. A few strokes of the keys brings up what she's looking for, and she spends a minute or two skimming a document and nodding to herself. "Everything looks good," she announces when she finishes. "So let's make you a Trainer Card! Your name, Opal? Full name, that is."
As clearly as she can Opal states, "Opal Jade Springwell."
"Uhhh-huh." The professor keys in the response. "Says here that you're from Quembar Town...and...do you have any Pokémon on hand?"
Opal finds herself angered by the innocent question. "No, I don't!" Her voice is loud. "I have a Zebrun that I caught just after Wyrmer was stolen from me, but he's at the Pokémon Center because he was injured by those same Team Bullet members!"
"No...Pokémon...on...hand," Aspen says to herself while she types that as well. Then she swivels in her chair to face Opal with a compassionate smile. "I can't imagine how hard it must be. From the way you talk it sounds like you and Wyrmer were really good friends. Come here; there's one last thing we need to do." She has Opal sit in a chair next to hers and face a camera mounted on a stand. "This will be your ID picture, so make it a good one!" After the flash Professor Aspen springs back to her computer. It only takes a few more taps on the keyboard before she removes something docked to a plugin on the side of the laptop and presents it to Opal. "Your very own official Trainer Card."
Opal studies the image on the thin tablet-like device. The same familiar reflection of her own face stares back at her, but it's not quite the same. Her smile looks forced; the happiness doesn't reach her sea blue eyes.
"Of course," the professor prompts, "now that you've got a Trainer Card of your own, you do need a Pokémon to go with it. It's time to make your choice." She nods at something over Opal's shoulder; the girls cranes her neck to see that the same red-coated man from before has returned, now holding a Poké Ball in each hand. He returns Professor Aspen's nod and releases the two Pokémon onto a low bench.
Professor Aspen hastily steps in front of the two Pokémon. "As I'm sure you're aware," she explains quietly, "ordinarily new Trainers are given the choice of three Pokémon. However, the Grass-type Pokémon was given to another young Trainer such as yourself only yesterday and we haven't been able to receive another one yet. I hope you don't mind choosing only between these two. Feel free to have a look at all the information about their species!" She gestures to a poster on the wall, then steps aside to let Opal approach.
"Cygwet on the left...and Fiper on the right, eh?" Opal muses. She gazes at the two Pokémon, and they gaze right back. Fiper remains still but alert, with narrowed eyes as though it's sizing up Opal just as much as the other way around; the girl immediately finds herself more drawn to Cygwet, who's doing all it can to look impressive while maintaining a hopeful expression. Opal flashes a bitter smile, and to herself she mutters, "Cygwet's a Water-type Pokémon. The leader of that Team Bullet Squad used Murclay, who's a Ground-type. With what I know about them so far...if I plan to destroy Team Bullet..." She stands up from a crouch. "My choice is clear. I choose Cygwet!"