Tatakai League- Part 2 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“Ahhh. I needed that!” Ash grinned in content, patting his finally silenced stomach. “These sandwiches are great Mr Picasso!”

Hue smiled softly, passing Misty some more orange juice, “Anything for a fellow pokemon lover. Now…” Turning to Ash properly, he looked rather stern. “I was wondering if you could help me sort out how to help my Gryla.”

“Sure,” Ash grinned, leaning back on his chair lazily. “What is the problem?” Hue turned his glance toward Pikachu, Togepi, Neko, and Gryla munching away at their food, Pikaing away in their own language, and sighed.

“You see,” Hue started softly, “I came to Shinka Island over three months ago. The discoverer of these Islands, a young girl called Jessica, whom a year ago was just a water trainer, recommended that I came, simply cause of the diverse types of pokemon that the Tatakai Islands have. She felt that when it was time, my drawings would help promote these strange new pokemon and the islands they live on.

“That’s when I met Gryla, my first light type pokemon. It has a unique ability to project images to confuse it’s enemy into thinking it’s a larger and more powerful pokemon.” Hue’s eyes glittered happily in the thought of the memory. “I loved it immediately. A pokemon that could create art… Just like me! I caught it, of corse.

“At first, Gryla and I were an unstoppable team. I found a way of ‘saving’ Gryla’s images on paper, by using a similar process to photographs. Gryla would project a picture onto film, and I’d develop it onto a piece of paper. Gryla and I made many pictures together, but then…” Hue paused for a while.

“Then what?” Tracey asked anxiously. “Is Gryla sick? Has it forgotten the ability?”

“Worse,” Hue sighed. “I was asked by Nurse Joy if Gryla and I could do a picture or two for the pokemon center- Together.” Brook lit up at the mention of Nurse Joy.

“Really? Can we see what you’ve come up with?” Hue shook his head firmly, pointing to a painting on a nearby wall that comprised of abstract lines and various curves.

“Gryla refuses to work with me to create a wondrous piece of abstract art. It can’t seem to grasp the complexity… the beauty… the texture of the abstract artist.”

“Well, maybe Grylas right.” Ash thought out loud, “Neither can I.”

“Ash!” Misty elbowed Ash, giving him a look. Hue smiled.

“That’s all right, Ash. Not may people understand the style of drawing, but Gryla absolutely refuses to have anything to do with it.”

"Well," Tracey started thoughtfully, "what does Gryla want to draw?" Pausing thoughtfully, Hue glanced toward Gryla once again.

"I think that it would rather draw what it sees, and since it doesn't see the world in an abstract form, it doesn’t like the picture. I understand this, because for many years ago, I used to think like that- but art is so much more than just an image. Gryla's art is incredibly realistic, but it is beginning to lack that certain passion that it used to have. I’m now beginning to believe it has been so wrapped up in creating images of what it sees, that it's forgotten to draw what it feels. It’s uninspired."

Tracey wiped a tear from his eye. "That is so... so sad. It must be terrible to lose that feeling."

"So how can we give that back to Gryla?" Misty asked, "It's not as if we can teach it about drawing. None of us are exactly artists."

"Hey!" Tracey protested, "I'm an artist."

So you can think of something better then, Tracey?" Misty challenged. Tracey went blank for a moment, and then looked thoughtful.

"Maybe Gryla needs something new. Something new and exciting to draw, a different technique... or maybe it just needs to do something that doesn't require drawing."

"A battle?" Ash asked in sudden interest. "I'd be keen. I want to see what move Gryla can come up with!" Hue turned bright red, twirling his thumbs around in circles nervously.

"Well," he started softly, "I've never really been in a pokemon battle before. I don't think I'd be any good."

“Don’t think like that!” Ash grinned, slapping Hue on the shoulder encouragingly, “Gryla just needs a break! Even I would get sick of pokemon fights if I won all the time!”

“And I’ll get sick if you don’t quit it,” Misty scowled, dragging Ash back by the ear. Tracey gave Hue an empathetic look.

“I’m not a pokemon trainer like Ash, but I wouldn’t mind a one on one battle with Gryla. In fact, it would be an honor.” Hue’s eyes lit up happily, giving Tracey a firm nod.

“It’s settled then,” Hue replied, “May the best pokemon win.”