Capítulo 3: The Chosen (2)
Finally, the doors of the Hall open. From inside came the two most recognised figures in Fiore. On the left walks Governor Christina Danvers, the sandy-haired ruler of our city state. On the right walks Randall Schneider, the scarred Gym Leader, and the most feared man in Fiore.
Behind them walk six others, all wearing the arm badges which signify them being Pokémon Trainers. They all step onto the stage and arrange themselves with Governor Danvers and Leader Schneider on the front and the trainers spread out behind them.
The Governor raises her hands and immediately both courtyards outside the City Hall descend to silence.
"Welcome children to this year's Selection Day," she says. "For those of you who are here for the first time let me introduce myself. I am Christina Danvers, governor of our fair state of Fiore. I would also like to introduce Randall Schneider, Gym Leader of Fiore Gym and official representative of our region's Pokémon League."
Scattered applause appeared within the crowd.
The governor looks around at the assembled faces while the gym leader just stands with crossed arms. "You all know why you are here today. Today is the day that this year's batch of potential Pokémon trainers are selected from our population. These chosen few will then be taken to the trainer district where they will be given a week to prepare for the Ordeal which determines if they become official Pokémon trainers. Those who pass their Ordeal will move on to accept missions which are the lifeblood of our society."
The governor looks down for a moment, then looks back out to the crowd. "I know that none of you have any desire to be here today. Most, if not all of you have heard terrifying stories about lives of Pokémon trainers. Well, let me just tell all of you right now. Everything you heard about of Pokémon and trainers is true."
She stood quietly for a moment while that statement set in. "There is a reason that almost no child wishes to become a trainer. Pokémon are vicious monsters that would tear apart and devour each one of you if given the chance. If not for the wall that surrounds out city state, we would live in constant fear of Pokémon and the chaos they could unleash upon us."
She pauses for a moment.
"However, the wall itself is not the solution to the Pokémon threat. Outside the wall exists Pokémon powerful enough to tear through the wall without breaking stride. There are Pokémon capable of flight as well as those who burrow underground to enter the walls of Fiore. Pokémon trainers have always been the first and last line of defence that stand between us and these monsters outside these walls. That is why we have today. Selection Day is a needed measure to ensure that we have enough firepower to deal with any Pokémon threat."
She stops and stares at the silent crowd for a moment.
"Without Pokémon trainers civilisation as we know it would end. Know that those of you who are chosen today will be sacrificing your futures to ensure the continuing survival of humanity. I thank each one of you for coming here today. To those of you who are chosen today I would like to say this. Our hearts go out to you and your families. Do not let your sacrifice be in vain. Be the best trainers that you can be and help us keep the great city state of Fiore safe for your families and all your citizens. Thank you."
This time there is no applause as the governor steps back behind the gym leader.
After a moment of silence, Gym Leader Schneider finally speaks to the crowd. "I would like to thank the governor for her words and hope that all those who are chosen today and in the future take heart to everything she said. Pokémon training is not a game. It is not a hobby or a sport we play for glory. We perform a necessary function for this and all city states in our region. Survival of the human race depends on us. Think on that when you hear your name being called today."
He turns and nods to one of the trainers behind him. The trainer moves to sit in front of the computer. "I'm not one to mince words. I am sure all of you are anxious to get on with the selection, so let's get this show on the road."
"As you know, every year a different number of potential trainers are chosen from each city state. This number is agreed upon by the Pokémon League and the governors according to perceived need. It has been decided that this year Fiore will choose Six among you to become potential Pokémon trainers."
The crowd of civilians began muttering to themselves after this announcement. Some of the prospective trainers became more worried while others became less so. Six would be chosen this year. Six names will be chosen at random by the computer. Not a bad number as some years over a dozen names would be called out on Selection Day.
Leader Schneider raises a hand to silence the crowd. "As all of you know, each year before the random names are chosen, we ask if there any of you who volunteer to be counted among today's chosen few. Any volunteers will be counted towards the six determined chosen and will mean less will be chosen by the computer." He stops speaking and stares out at the crowd. "So, if any of you wish to serve your city state and region by becoming a Pokémon trainer, now would be the time to speak up."
Utter silence. Not surprisingly really. It's a rare occurrence for anyone to volunteer on this day. Just as the Leader was about to move on a voice called out.
"I volunteer!"
Many in the crowd gasped and looked for the source of the voice. A figure moved towards the stage. "I volunteer!" he said again.
I took a good look at him. About my age. Scruffy torn clothes. Thin almost to the point of being emaciated. Clearly someone who had a hard life. Definitely lower class, District Nine.
Schneider motioned to the boy. He climbed up on the stage. They spoke silently for a few moments before the Leader turned back to the crowd. "This year we are honoured to have a volunteer. Allow me to introduce Bradley Davis." There was some applause directed at Bradley. Some of the other prospects looked happy that he volunteered.
"Well, with that we now have five more chosen to select this year unless anyone else would like to volunteer." He looked around the crowd but there were no more volunteers. "Alright then," he said. He turned to the trainer at the computer. "Begin."
A few keys were hit, and the monitor lit up. Names began appearing on the screen, disappearing almost as fast as they appeared. The crowd held their breath, tension so tense you could feel it in the air.
"This year's second chosen is…," Schneider said while staring at the screen. The screen finally froze on a name. "Albert Roux!" He turned back to the crowd. "Albert Roux! Come forward!"
Everyone looked around until they spotted a boy slowly walking towards the stage. A nerdy looking boy, maybe 13 years old. He looked ready to pass out any second.
Schneider turned back to the monitor. "This year's third chosen is…" The screen froze on another name. "Caitlyn Clarke!"
A girl who was probably around 14, dressed in expensive clothes and close to the stage, fell to her knees and broke down crying. She was clearly of the upper echelon, most likely from District 3 judging by the specifics of her wear.
"Caitlyn Clarke! Come forward!"
Caitlyn gave no indication of hearing the Gym Leader. She remained on her knees and continued to cry. Schneider motioned to two of the trainers on stage and they moved towards the girl. They both picked her up and moved her to the stage as she struggled in their hands.
Once again, every eye moved to the monitor. Again, a series of names flashed briefly on the monitor's screen. Schneider turned back to the monitor and read out the fourth name that was chosen, "Vivian Locke!"
A freckled redhead around Rosa's age froze up immediately. Like Caitlyn, she also gave no notice of the Gym Leader calling her name repeatedly. And thus, two more trainers were sent to retrieve her.
"This year's fifth chosen is..." The screen froze on another name. "Emile Durkheim!" Schneider announced.
A distance to my left, dressed in rather fine garbs, a pudgy child froze, wide-eyed with disbelieve, shock, and horror, all written across his face.
"Emile Durkheim... Emile Durkheim! Come forward!"
Even after his name was called two more times, Emile stood frozen. Schneider once again motioned to two trainers, and they began to move towards the boy. None obstructed their way and only when he was picked up, did life return to his pale face, his struggles doing naught to stop his ascent, pleas for help and bribes fell on deaf ears.
Schneider spoke up again for the final chosen, "This year's final chosen is…," The screen stopped on the last name and I froze inside and out. "Rosalyn Smith!"
For a moment I could not think, I could barely breathe. This had to be a mistake. "Not her," I muttered. "She's too young, too innocent. She'll never survive as a trainer."
Memories of yesteryears came flooding in.
Golden sandy hair fluttering in the park; A cute, adorable child with an angelic voice, gifted in arts and music; an adorable ball of sunshine with a fascination for starry skies and magical castles in the skies. She would not survive a day out in the Wildness.
"Rosalyn Smith!" Schneider repeated. "Come forward!"
I turned around to look at my cousin, someone whom I considered my sister of this lifetime. Rosa stood alone; her friends having moved away from her after her name was called. More and more people in the crowd were turning to look at her as it became obvious that she was the final chosen.
I did the only thing I could do.
"I volunteer!" I yelled. "I volunteer in my cousin's place!"
Silence ensued. A sea of heads and shoulders turned to me. I turned to the stage and found the governor and Gym Leader's eyes locked on me. After a moment of silence, Schneider motioned me forward. I turned to look at my cousin-sister, her eyes filled with tears and regret before turning my back and taking a step forward.
For a split moment, I swore that the world came to a stop. Then, the wind blew ever so slightly, propelling myself forward as a myriad of thoughts crossed my mind, my feet slowly climbing the steps that'll seal my fate as a Pokémon Trainer.
Strangely, I did not feel at all nervous, nor did I pay much mind to the soothing monotonic melody that rang in my ears.
Once, when I was little, I had wished for a life of excitement and adventure, but as I grew up, my wanderlust dulled quickly favouring a life of tranquillity. To live out my days with as little trouble as possible as comfortably as possible.
What were the chances that I'd end up here? Perhaps a chance to relive childhood fantasies?
"This is your one and only chance to back out son," Schneider said to me quietly. "Be sure that this is what you want because there's no going back."
I looked him straight in the eyes, dismissing these silly thoughts of mine, and said firmly. "I volunteer to take her place."
He stared at me for a moment. "What's your name?" he asks.
"Byrne." I reply. "Dexter Byrne."
He turns to the crowd. "This year we are honoured to have our second volunteer! I present you Dexter Byrne!"
No applause from the crowd. Everyone trying to process what just had happened.
The governor moves forward to stand next to the Gym Leader. "We present to you this year's chosen. Bradley Davis, Albert Roux, Caitlyn Clarke, Vivian Locke, Emile Durkheim, and Dexter Byrne!" he says before turning to the six of us. "From this moment onwards, your civilian lives are over. Become strong trainers and make our city state proud." She moved away from us and began to clap.
Slowly, the crowd in front of us, started to clap as well. Judging from looks and most of the faces, they were not clapping for us being chosen. They were clapping in relief of them not being chosen.
The six of us stood on a stage letting our new reality sink in. I caught Rosa's eyes filled with regret and tried to convey a message of my own.
'Be strong,' I thought while staring at her. 'This is the hand that I've been dealt with. If not now, then it would be never.'
It might have been silly, but for me it was fitting. As we left the stage, I lifted my hand into the air, index finger pointed towards the sky, thumb slightly out, the sunlight reflecting off the black obsidian bracelet, a past memento, that hung snuggly around my wrist.
'Never forget. No matter how far away I am, we still live under the same skies.'
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Shadeos
Shadeos 6 Chosen instead of 4.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder