Chapter 1
A Vacation That Wasn't
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Nostus Belongs to @forgottenjade over at: https://bsky.app/profile/softsheepewe.bsky.social
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Chapter 1.1
The train glided into New Bark Town Station under a brilliant spring sky, the gentle hiss of brakes cutting through the quiet morning air.
Ravina Shales pressed her forehead against the cool glass, her breath fogging a small patch as she watched the town emerge. White picket fences lined streets where bicycles leaned against painted porches. Gardens burst with spring blooms—tulips and daffodils swaying in the breeze. Beyond the neat houses, emerald hills rolled upward like sleeping giants, their slopes giving way to dense forests that carpeted the horizon, leading deeper into Johto's wild heart.
It wasn't WilderHolm. Not even close.
"Smaller than I imagined," she murmured, her voice barely audible above the train's rhythm.
Across the aisle, Nostus Shales chuckled without looking up from the paperwork spread across her lap. Her fingers moved with practiced efficiency, organizing documents into neat stacks despite the train's gentle sway.
"You've said that about every town since we crossed into Johto."
"Because everything is smaller," Ravina insisted, turning from the window to face her mother. "The buildings, the streets, even the sky seems lower."
"The cities aren't," Nostus countered, finally glancing up. Her dark eyes held a warmth that contrasted with her sharp features.
"The train station definitely is."
"It serves its purpose with one platform," Nostus said, securing the last document with a paperclip before tucking everything into her briefcase.
Ravina crossed her arms, her shoulders slumping dramatically. "I was expecting something grander. At least three platforms, maybe a clock tower."
The train emitted its final hiss as it settled into position. Nostus rose in one fluid motion, her movements economical and precise. She slipped the briefcase's strap over her shoulder, the white lab coat, still crisp despite the journey, billowing slightly as the automatic doors slid open, revealing the platform.
Fresh air drifted inside, carrying the scent of damp earth and new growth.
"Come on," Nostus said, stepping onto the platform without looking back. "Professor Elm is expecting us."
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Chapter 1.2
New Bark Town breathed a different kind of peace. Laughter echoed as children wove through streets where elderly neighbors exchanged greetings over well-tended flowerbeds. Down by the shore, a fisherman's weathered hands worked steadily at his nets, the rhythmic motion a familiar sight to passersby. The rich scent of baking bread from a nearby shop wove through the morning air, a warm invitation that made Ravina's stomach rumble.
Compared to the sprawling, impersonal cities Ravina knew, New Bark existed on a human scale—where faces were familiar and the pace of life matched the gentle roll of the surrounding hills.
"...I suppose I could get used to this," Ravina admitted reluctantly, watching a Pidgey land on a fence post with an inquisitive tilt of its head.
"I told you," Nostus replied, her tone holding just enough satisfaction to tease.
"I didn't say I wanted to stay forever," Ravina countered, kicking at a loose stone on the path.
"No." Nostus's smile softened the edges of her response. "But you stopped complaining."
