{"sf1_id":157590,"sf2_id":"pnG425g1","title":"The Journeys of Martha, Start from Snowpoint!","author":"QimmiQ","words":2599,"posted_at":"2010-06-29T06:07:00.000Z","tags":["Human","Non-Anthro","Pokemon","tea"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/157590-the-journeys-of-martha-start-from-snowpoint","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/pnG425g1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/4a/96/4a969e7f-62a1-4eb8-b945-d0eba42e4d29","description":"#1 of The Journies of Martha","content":"I decided to post this (its obvious I know), and\u0026nbsp; more is going to come soon :)  \nPlease respond (tips, etc)  \nQimmiQ\n\nMade an edit, so now I'll be posting up Parts now. This is only the beginning. Enjoy.  \nRevamped it, hopefully it'll be easier to read now :)\u0026nbsp;\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMartha woke up in a daze. She could hear the kids downstairs playing;  \nquickly she dressed. She chose jeans, a white tee-shirt with an  \nembroidered pokeball she sewn herself, and a black cap with a pair of  \ncartoony eyes. She would put on shoes and socks on later.  \nFirst she needed breakfast and tea, and then she could start the day  \nproperly. She walked down the stairs and was almost immediately  \nstampeded by her siblings. She toppled over with a spectacular thump.\n\n\u0026nbsp;She scanned the room for her mom; in bed probably.\n\nAfter dressing up the kids she sent them out to play in the snow.  \nNow she could start her day. She put the kettle on and poured a bowl  \nof cereal. Martha looked out the window and saw her brother and  \nsisters; all three of them were kicking up a blizzard with their  \nactivities. Smiling to herself she poured her tea.\n\nThe first sip was perfect; there was a rich complexity to the tea she loved. It was so perfect she closed her eyes to try and hold on to the taste  \nlonger. Just as she was about to take another sip her stool was knocked  \nunder her, sending both Martha and her mug flying. \"AGHHHH!!!\" she  \nscreeched, her eyes snapped open in panic. She thumped as the floor  \ngreeted her. The mug was spinning like a demented kaleidoscope sending  \nher beloved tea sloshing in the air. \"N-no.\" She whimpered as soon  \nas the mug and its contents hit the floor. Grief vanished in an  \ninstant to be replaced in anger. \"Yena!\" She cried out. The black,  \nshivering mat of fur whined. Poochyena looked so sad at her outburst.  \nHis ears flattened and whimpered. Just as quickly her anger abated.  \n\"Sorry it was uncalled for\" she said quietly. \"I know it's only  \ntea...\" She looked sadly at the sodden floor.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Better clean it up.\" Martha muttered. Yena's red and yellow eyes  \nflashed as he trotted to the window. He then pointed to the door and  \nwhined. \"I know, in a minute gotta clean this mess first.\" Martha  \nsmiled. Somehow Yena always cheered her up.  \nAfter a few hasty swipes with a sponge she hastily put on shoes  \n(forgetting about her socks) and sprinted out of the house. Three  \nsteps later and a stumble into the snow bank, Martha retreated into  \nthe house and put on her jacket and a warmer hat. \"Okay, no more  \nsetbacks. Let's go!\" Yena barked his approval. She left the  \nchildren; they were fine where they were; with other kids. She checked where her mother was. Half an hour later she found her picking up groceries at the  \npokemart.\n\n\"Hi mom!\" she called out enthusiastically. \"Martha.\"  \nShelly acknowledged. \"Can I finally go now?\" Martha pleaded. Martha  \nalways dreamed of going out her town and meeting the world; however  \nher mother said no, on the basis of looking after the children and the  \nPokémon around the house. \"Not today, remember we have your birthday  \ncoming up.\" \"Oh yeah!\" she exclaimed, quite happy at the  \nprospect. \"Can I go after? Please?\" Martha said, stressing the last  \nword. Shelly laughed gently and said \"Maybe honey, perhaps Luke will  \ngo with you.\" \"Speaking of which, where is he?\" \"Out by the  \ngarden I expect, he should be making a path to the forest.\" Luke was  \nMartha's friend and partner in crime. They had been friends longer  \nthen she can remember. \"Thanks mom!\" with that she bolted away.  \n\"Martha sure is spirited.\" Shelly chuckled.\n\nMartha found Luke when he was just about finished the pathway.  \n\"LUKE!!\" hollered Martha. Luke jumped in surprise and said  \nsheepishly \"Oh, Martha. Found me have you?\" \"Yeah. Did you hear  \nthe news?\" \"What news?\" \"I might be able to leave tomorrow.\"  \nShe said happily, her eyes alight with enthusiasm. \"Really? That's  \ngreat!?\" he enthused back. \"Mom said you might be able to come. Do  \nyou want to?\" \"I'm sorry I can't granddad is getting worse.\"  \nHe said sadly. Luke's grandfather was elderly and was the unofficial  \nmayor of the town. He was adored by all the kid's in the town;  \neveryone called him uncle.\n\nShe helped him to finish the trail and they set off to Luke's  \ngranddad. When they got there they saw him lying on his bed, he looked  \nexhausted. \"Hello Vern how are you?\" Martha asked. \"I'm fine,  \njust tired.\" Vern said quietly. \"Tomorrow I'm leaving.\" Martha  \nsaid with a bit of apprehension. \"Really? That's great.\" He  \nwheezed. \"You sound terrible you should rest.\" \"I will, but first  \nI have to ask you something. Luke.\" \"Yes?\" \"Will you be going  \nwith her?\" \"I-I don't know.\" Luke stammered. \"Consider it.  \nRemember you need to leave at some point of your life. It's not good  \nfor a young lad like yourself to be cooped up here.\" Luke was silent.  \n\"It's okay if you don't go straight away. Whenever you do send  \nme a message and I'll be straight there.\" Martha said. \"I really  \ndo, but not just yet.\" \"I understand. I understand completely.\"  \nShe reassured him. \"Thanks.\" \"No problem. I'm kind of nervous  \nanyways.\"\n\nThey were about to leave when Vern called Martha.  \n\"Martha.\" \"Yes?\" she said curiously. \"On your journeys keep  \nyour eyes open for Jonathon.\" \"Why? Who is Jonathon?\" \"He was a  \nfriend of yours years ago. Last I heard he moved to Sinnoh.\" \"I  \nnever heard of him. Why do I not remember him?\" she said stunned.  \n\"He has a Chimchar I believe. Just keep your eyes open.\" \"O-okay I  \nwill. I promise.\" Martha said coyly.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nLuke and Martha left to go home. The next morning Martha woke up way  \nearly compared to when she usually waked up. After all it was her  \nbirthday. Impatience bit at her, she had to get up. She padded  \ndownstairs to find a few presents on the table. Long ago her mom  \ndecided that wrapping them was a waste of valuable materials and used  \nalternatives. For a few years she had to find the presents around the  \nhouse, than her mom decided to leave them on the table when she got  \nolder.\n\nThis morning she saw that there were assorted items she had been  \nwanting for a while. There were shiny new pokéballs, two maps of Sinnoh, a variety of berries, and a few other nifty items she would need. Martha looked delighted  \nand squealed her delight. \"Thanks mom!\" she called up the stairs;  \nshe heard a groan from her mother's room. She was half awake; in  \nanother half hour she would be up and ready.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMartha tiptoed into her sibling's room and took an overlarge round  \nhat from their closet. She snuck back out and walked to the kitchen.  \nShe grabbed a box marked 'Martha's set' and opened it delicately.  \nShe scanned the house suspiciously for anyone or any pokémon that  \nmight interfere. She opened to reveal a wooden and velvet interior,  \nthere was her most prized possession: her tea set. It was porcelain  \nand made from Johto. There were abstract drawings of pokémon on each  \nround cup, and there was a beautiful map of Johto on the teapot that  \nwas shaped vaguely like a pokeball. The set was all white and had a  \nslight glimmer; bone china. There was even a storage space for the  \nvarious spices and sugars she owned. She looked happily at it. It was her pride  \nand joy. She tried to remember who gave it to her; she had it so long  \nshe forgot. Was it her mother? A distant relative? Or was it even this  \nJonathon person? She did not know, but then she heard the scampering  \nclaws of Yena as he scrambled to her.\n\n\u0026nbsp;Quickly she snapped shut the box and placed it on the counter, just in time as she was tackled down and was bombarded by enthusiastic licks. Her laughs woke up the siblings. They catapulted out of bed and rushed to their big sister, adding to  \nYena's affections for his trainer. Martha was finding it hard to  \nbreathe over the tickling, licks, and crowding bodies.\n\nIt was quite a while longer before she could do anything. Eventually she got her breakfast. Quickly she showered and changed her clothes in preparation for the long journey ahead. She chose a red tee-shirt, jeans, a large rounded hat (it was very warm), and a white pokeball sweater. She quickly packed her things in a backpack, and hooking a small tent and sleeping bag below.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe tearfully said goodbye when her mom finally got up; her sisters  \nand brother looked morose. She took a few minutes to cheer them up.  \nThen she waved goodbye and set out to the interior of Snowpoint City  \nto battle the Gym Leader: Candice.  \nCandice has always been her idol since she was a kid. She was a  \ntalented Ice-type trainer (one of her favourite types) and a Gym  \nLeader as well.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe stopped. She realized that she would need more than a battle-  \ninexperienced Yena. She needed to train him and catch a few more  \npokémon and train them, if she ever were to stand a chance. After once  \nagain changing her course she headed out of Snowpoint City for the  \nfirst time ever. She delighted at the snowflakes drifting down; making  \ngraceful trails. Yena sniffed around at the unfamiliar territory. He  \nmade is his job to become familiar with the landscape, setting off  \nleaving his partner behind. Martha was still enthralled by the new  \nscenery to notice Yena exploring around. She was grinning at the  \nnewfound freedom and waltzed around the clearing. Yena quickly and  \nefficiently sniffed through the clearing, no dangers. There was this  \nodd scent though. He couldn't put his paw on it though, vaguely  \nfamiliar. It was one he smelt a long, long time ago before he was  \ncaught by Martha when she was ten years old. Martha spun and spun  \naround laughing. She tripped and fell laughing. Was she going mad? Or  \nwas it that she was still giddy from freedom?  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nFinally getting control of herself she called out to Yena. After a  \nminutes pause he appeared looking snowy and covered in burrs. \"Find  \nanything?\" She asked. \"Pooch yena.\" Responded Yena. \"I take it  \nas a no than. Come on lets go. We have to beat the Gym Leaders. Take  \nthe fight to them. First off is Candice from here; were nowhere near  \npowerful enough yet. We need to train you up and hopefully catch a few  \npokémon if were ever to stand a chance.\"\n\nThey set off from Snowpoint City without another glance and set off  \nacross to the Lake Acuity Lakefront. \"Hmm... It's getting colder.  \nShe noticed that the sun was setting below Mt. Coronet. \"That  \nexplains it. Yena, we need to pitch camp. It'll be freezing tonight.  \nCome on lets set up the tent.\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nShe unhooked the tent bag and sleeping bag below her it took about  \nfifteen minutes to set up the tent and cover it in another layer for  \nwarmth and protection against the wind. She laid out a thick sleeping  \nbag, a small bed for Yena, and a tiny heater to keep the tent from  \nfreezing. She quickly changed her clothing, into her night garb.  \n\"Good night Yena. Tomorrow we start officially.\" She softly said.  \nThe morning was cold and crisp. She hardly felt the cold, she had  \ngrown up in this climate ever since she was born. \"Today's the day.  \nLet's go!\" \"Yen a!\" they packed up the tent and belongings in a  \nseparate bag as an afterthought; it would be easier. Martha pulled out  \na bag, and drew out their breakfast. She took out a thermos of hot  \nwater and poured it into the porridge. She fed Yena with pokémon food.  \nHe wolfed it down gleefully. \"We don't have much hot water left.  \nPretty soon we are going to have to make some more. I wish we had a  \nFire-type pokémon. It would make things so much easier right now.\"  \nMartha said.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Let's train now!\" Martha said suddenly. \"Come on let's  \ngo!\" both she and Yena set off briskly. Yena growled and set off  \nahead. \"Yena? What did you find?\" to which she got no answers. She  \nstarted to run after her pokémon. Finally near Lake Acuity Martha  \nwondered what got Yena so excited. There was a lump in the snow. There  \nwere footsteps around the area; perhaps whatever the object was it was  \ndropped by accident. Martha walked up to the object and bent to pick  \nit up. She brushed snow off the object and examined it. It was a  \npokeball! It had a pokémon in it. Martha pressed the button in the  \ncenter.\n\nThe ball opened up with a 'pshh' and white light arched  \nout. The light quickly took shape. The light faded and a pokémon with  \nfour legs, pincers, and was luridly coloured stepped out. 'What  \npokémon is that?\" Martha exclaimed. Quickly she rummaged in her bag  \nand pulled out her pokedex. \"Indentify please. Any idea what pokémon  \nthat is?\" \"Ariados, the Long Leg Pokémon. The evolved form of  \nSpinarak. Ariados is able to spin extremely strong and sticky webs to  \ntrap its adversaries.\" The pokedex chirped out. \"Ariados, eh? Come  \non Yena, we can take it!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;Yena growled. \"Yena use Bite!\" Yena lunged to bite Ariados. Yena's fangs closed on one of Ariados's legs. It jumped away and shot out a stream of something.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\"String Shot, be careful Yena!\" Yena sidestepped the string and lunged in for  \nanother Bite. Ariados jumped above Yena and Ariados's horn glowed  \nblack and it fired a black beam from its horn at Yena.  \nYena yelped and stumbled. \"Yena! Come on it was only Night Shade; we  \ncan still take care of it!\" \"Yena use Tackle!\" Martha commanded.  \nYena crashed right into the Ariados. The pokémon staggered. \"Good  \njob Yena, keep up the good work.\" Ariados's left foreleg glowed a  \nsickly purple and the pokémon lunged at Yena, The leg stabbed into  \nYena's shoulder. Yena whimpered. \"Oh no you're poisoned!\"  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nMartha said fearfully, recognizing the symptoms. Quickly she pulled  \nout a coloured bottle and sprayed it at Yena. Yena looked relieved.  \n\"That was close. Yena use Bite!\" Yena once again lunged at  \nAriados. Ariados did not move in time and it got bitten. It looked  \nvisibly weaker. \"Good job! I'll try to re-catch it!\" Martha took  \nthe pokeball the originally held Ariados and threw it at the pokémon.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt struck the pokémon and Ariados glowed red and lost all physicality.  \nIt became red energy and the ball clicked open and sucked in Ariados.  \nThe pokeball landed on the ground and it shook. One... Two... Three...  \nand it clicked. Ariados was caught! \"Great job Yena! We caught our  \nfirst pokémon!\" Martha cheered. \"Pooch.\" Answered Yena. \"But I  \nwonder who Ariados's original trainer was.\" Martha asked aloud.  \n\"I'd better return the pokémon. As soon as I find its trainer I  \nwill return it. But first I will use it, after all I caught it.\" She  \nvowed.  \n\u0026nbsp;\n\n\"Ariados, meet my partner Yena.\" Martha said as she released her  \nnew catch. Ariados looked coolly at Yena, and turned away. \"Please no  \nhostilities. Remember you are a team.\" Martha said, sensing the  \nhostility. \"Now that there are two of you, let's practice!\"\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Journies of Martha","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/177197-the-journies-of-martha-contest-with-candice.json"}}