Tidmore, Noelle M.

Noelle Mallory Tidmore

A HEART SO TRUE, OUR COURAGE WILL PULL US THROUGH

Noelle’s parents had always despised the notion of becoming a Pokemon Trainer. To them, it was impractical, vagrant, and barbaric: a primitive lifestyle that only served to get irresponsible parents a break after ten years of parenting. It didn’t help that their son, a young, 10-year old boy named Matthew absolutely rejected this idea, and showed large amounts of interest in the creatures living amongst him. Despite their best efforts to keep him from becoming a Pokemon Trainer, he simply ran away from home to pursue his dream for both the love of Pokemon, and spite to his parents (spite probably being one of the bigger defining factors). Having learned from their experiences with Matt, Mr. and Mrs. Tidmore decided they would not go through the same experiences with the younger child, a then 4-year old Noelle.

Noelle was raised to be much more sheltered than Matthew. Her parents became much more strict towards her access to the outside world, limiting access to where she was allowed to go, how long she could stay out, and who she hung out with. Her parents tried to raise her with the same mentality they tried with Matt: “Pokemon are not friends. Pokemon are just our helpers. Pokemon are just tools; lower than us.”

Naturally, Noelle was not quite as receptive of this doctrine, because she has a full working soul and everything. Nevertheless, her parents refused to budge. The punishments grew increasingly harsher, up to the point where Noelle was simply not allowed outside any more. She became a prisoner in her own home. With metal bars covering each window, and a home security system sensitive to even a Rattata’s squeak, it felt like a prison anyway.

For Noelle, this had to stop. She had been confined since her fourth birthday, and she was not going to take it anymore. Noelle snuck around her house, watching as her parents inputted the code to the security system. Paying close attention to their fingers, she memorized the code (a very original 1-2-3-4), and returned back to her room. Once night fell, she’d be ready to escape.

Having packed some essential items she “borrowed” from home, and some money she “borrowed” from her mother’s purse, alongside a small switchblade knife she “borrowed” from her father’s closet (because running around in a skirt is dangerous, even in Johto) Noelle crept around her house, feeling like a ninja. Escaping her house proved to be remarkably easy, and Noelle kicked herself for not thinking of the idea earlier. Either way, she was now free to embark on her journey.

But to where, really? Noelle had no idea where to go. She had been vaguely taught geography during her lame home-schooling sessions, and all she really knew was that going outside was the devil. Route 38 was the devil, Route 37 was the devil, and even Route 42, with all that water, was the devil. Noelle even thought that lake must be boiling hot. Deciding to begin her journey at the start, she thought it was best to head to Violet City (again, the devil), perhaps to learn something at the Pokemon Academy. Instead, her abysmal sense of direction made her stumble around Route 38 for most of the following day, stumbling upon a Cyndaquil, the starter that was to become her best friend.

A lone Cyndaquil slowly made its way towards Noelle's general direction. Not one to leave an injured Pokemon to fend for itself, Noelle ran towards it, although this just startled the poor Pokemon more. Mustering up the last of his strength, the Cyndaquil breathed out a small ember at the girl, burning her a bit. This didn't discourage the girl, however, as she simply brushed off the little flame on the tip of her skirt. Sighing, she picked up the weakened Cyndaquil, who was still struggling, but found quiet serenity in resting in the girl's arms.

Noelle took a good look at the Cyndaquil's ear, tagged with a small, diamond shaped label: "Specimen JL-47821: Female Cyndaquil, Age 4." Noelle winced. This didn't seem like a typical starter found at Professor Elm's lab. She simply took the Pokemon towards the nearest town, before she knew it, she found herself in Olivine City. No one paid any mind to the tagged Cyndaquil, and they assumed she belonged to Noelle. If the Cyndaquil wasn't hers, it was now, as the Cyndaquil showed appreciation to the rookie trainer for helping her escape. Definitely, the two had something in common now.

Now, Noelle found herself stuck in Olivine City, not knowing where to go or what to do. Instead of backtracking, or giving up, an uncharacteristically impulsive thought went through Noelle’s head.

“What if I just leave Johto?”

It was completely viable: all she had to do was catch the last boat out of Olivine, wherever it may go. Her parents might be searching for her, so maybe it would’ve been best if she really, really left home. The way she saw it, she had until sunrise before her parents woke up and figured out she was gone.

Most of the ships had already departed the docks, save for one. Its captain, an old sailor, was simply hanging around the docks with his Poliwhirl, attempting to light his pipe, something that proved to be a futile exercise as the winds blew a bit harder. To Noelle, this old sailor was her ticket out of the region, and onto her new adventure. Noelle took out a small lighter from her pocket and helped the old sailor out. She never left home without a source of fire, be it a lighter, or a box of matches, and this time it came in handy for less-destructive purposes.

The inquisitive sailor asked Noelle where she was headed, to which the wheels in Noelle’s head turned. This was it. It was finally time to get out of Johto.

“I need to get out of here, like, yesterday.”

The sailor laughed heartily at Noelle’s haste, understanding just what it’s like to leave for new frontiers. Guiding the girl to his boat, the two set sail. Noelle watched as the sun slowly began to rise over the horizon, as Olivine City became smaller, and smaller, eventually swallowed by the edge. She had no idea where she was going, but one thing was clear: her adventure was about to begin.


Nickname: Flare
Gender: Female
Rarity: Rare
Obtained: Found on Route 38

[b]MIMI WO SUMASEBA, akira shimazu[/b] as @rumine