Pawn Shops

Lance knew his friend very well. Axel was a hard-working trainer and also a genius. But Axel was also arrogant and he loved to show off in such a way that he was trying hard to hide it. 

But after seeing Axel talking with Kate, he acted like a completely different person. Something was going on here and Lance was going to find out.

"Now, I will brief all of you after we reach the island but I have to say something.

After you reach the island, you guys will start to explore and all of you will be in the team of 7. We can select the team for you but if you can select a team before us, then we have no problem with it. 

So, maybe in these 5 hours, you can select the members of your team and also select a leader of the team. It is important.", said the middle-aged man.

###

"So, Axel what do you want to do in these 5 hours?", asked Lance.

"I have been very bored sitting on the plane. I want to go outside. You once said that you would tour me the Kanto league. Why don't we do that? Oh, by the way, this is Frank Surge. He is the son of Morgan Surge.", said Axel and introduced Frank to all of them.

"Oh yes, I have heard of you. Are you also coming to the island?", asked Lance shaking his hand for a shake.

"Yes, I am", said Frank and shook his hand.

"Ok guys, why don't we go leave our bags on the plane and then we tour around the Kanto league city.", said Lance.

All of them agreed.

The groups were starting to form. There were 6 people in Axel's group right now.

1. Axel

2. Ryker

3. Lance

4. Frank

5. K

6. Kate.

As Axel started to talk, he found out that Kate was one of the cousins of Ryker and they were very close relatives.

###

Since they were trainers, Axel suggested roaming around the shops that sold Pokemon items. 

"Isn't there a place where we can find mysterious items for our Pokemons?", asked Kate. She seemed really excited about it.

"You mean like pawn shops?", asked Lance.

"Well I want the items to be authentic.", said Kate.

"Authentic items are very expensive and they are not found in normal shops. There are some pawn shops that have some questionable items. These items could be authentic or they could be fake.", said Lance.

"Ok, let's go there. I want to try my luck.", said Kate.

Axel was also interested in these types of shops. He had never been to such kind of places. Lance did warn them that these shops would sell anything saying that they are authentic and valuable items. He told them to be careful.

###

"Miss, you have to buy this. This is the rock that has been found on an unknown island. It is said that it has some fire-type properties that could help your fire-type Pokemon."

"Really? How much is it?"

"It is just 100K Poke dollars. I am selling this at a loss since you bought so many items from me. Take it as a complementary gift."

"Ok, that is enough. Kate you are spending money on useless things.", said Ryker after smacking head multiple times. His cousin was very gullible. It was impossible to tell that she worked in an auction where negotiation was done everywhere.

A seller at the pawn shop was trying to sell items to Kate and she was buying everything. She had bought at least 2 million Poke dollar worth of items but their actual worth may not even be 10k Poke dollars. She believed everyone and bought everything.

"But Ryker, this might really help my Charizard.", said Kate.

"No, it wont and you know it. Let's just leave. It is already time to go to the plane.", said Ryker.

"No no… we will go to one another pawn shop then we will go to the plane. We have enough time.", said Kate.

All of them agreed as they had more than an hour left to reach the plane and the airport was not so far away.

Kate was taking the lead and everyone was following her.

Axel was looking at her at every moment. Lance was also noticing this phenomenon. Lance came beside Axel and said in a low voice.

"She is hot, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is."

After that, Axel realized the horrible mistake he had made today.

"OH, I KNEW IT.. I knew it!!!", shouted Lance.

Everyone turned around to see what was happening. 

"Just some personal discussion. You guys go ahead. We will come in a second.", said Axel trying to hold Lance to not talk.

After everyone went Axel said, "What the hell are you shouting about? You scared me."

"I knew it. I knew you like that girl, Kate. I have been noticing it since the time you guys met."

"No, it is not true. You know how much of a freak I am in training. I don't have time for such nonsense.", replied Axel.

"Oh Axel, but the heart wants what the heart wants. My boy is in LOOOOVEEEE"

"Stop saying that and why are you shouting again."

"But my boy is in Looovveeeee"

"Lance, we are not kids. Act like an adult."

"You are wrong Axel. We are kids and I am not acting as a kid. I am just telling you the facts. So, you are having problems telling her that. You know you can come to me for help. I can help you with it."

For a moment, Axel thought to ask Lance for help then realized that he was going inside Lance's trap. 

"No, I don't need your help, and let's get going. We are very far behind."

Lance didn't talk about it when they met the group but he would send out some weird looks that made Axel very uncomfortable.

If Axel had to suffer from this for 4 months, then he didn't know what to do.

Kate had finally selected a pawn shop and she was looking at the items. Axel also decided to pick one for Pidgeot as it loved to keep these types of mysterious items.

"Sir, can you tell me something about that locket?", asked Axel.

"Oh yes, sir. A very fine choice you have there. These are some of the lockets that have some specific powers inside of them. These were found on an unknown island. Nobody knows what they can do but they are very mysterious.

Like, this one had the power of flying type.", said the owner of the shop.

Axel looked at the locket and he knew that Pidgeot would love it. Then he thought to buy some of the lockets for his new young Pokemons too. 

So, he bought a dragon-type locket, water-type locket, fighting-type locket, flying-type locket, rock-type locket, and fairy-type locket. Surprisingly, these were the only types of locket that the owner had.

"So, how much for the locket?", asked Axel.

"Sir, I cannot possibly charge you for that locket. It would be a sin.", said the owner.

"Why?" Kate was the one who asked the question. She had been charged millions of Poke dollars in these pawn shops and Axel could get it for free? How was that fair?

"Sir, You are the hero of the tide. Due to your bravery and leadership, my son could come home in one piece. If you were not there, my son could not have come home alive. I am just eternally grateful for it. 

So, I cannot charge you money for these small things."

"Are you sure? I mean I don't lack money.", said Axel.

"Yes, sir. I am sure of it.", said the owner.

"OK then. Thanks for all of these.", said Axel.

Kate was charged for her items and she felt that she was charged a bit more than other pawn shops. She felt that the owner didn't like her as she questioned him before. 

But she had to have those items. She had a feeling that at least one of them was authentic. 

###

As they were walking towards the plane, Lance asked, "So, it is clear that all of us would be a team right? Who wants to be a leader."

"I think that I would do a good job being a leader. If any of you have problems with it, please say it before.", said Axel.

"I am no problem with it.", said Lance.

"I also have no problem with it. You are a better leader.", said Ryker.

Others also didn't have any problem.

"Kate, do you have any problem? All of these people know me personally but you don't. If you don't want me to be the leader, you can change the team. There is no pressure.", said Axel.

Axel said that for a specific reason. Lance was going to tease him for 4 months. If Kate was not in the team then the rate of teasing would decrease.

"No, I have no problem with it. You are stronger than all of us and I would love to stay with my cousin.", said Kate with a straight face.

"Alright. But we still have 1 trainer to choose from.", said Axel.

"Who do you think that we should choose?", asked K this time.

Axel then looked at everyone and then said, "Guys, I have to be blunt here. We would be the weakest team in the entire exploration."

"What why?", asked Ryker.

"Only Kate and I have king-rank Pokemons. All of you are just children from famous families who got the pass to come here.", said Axel.

"You know, I get it why you call him arrogant.", said Kate to Ryker. 

She had heard a lot about Axel and all the things were not very good. She especially heard about him from Ryker and Ryker hated Axel to the bone.

"But I am not wrong. So, I propose that we get a strong team member. I think we should get Cody.", said Axel.

"And who is this Cody?", asked Kate.

"Cody is one of the elders of the branch of the Venu family. He is incredibly strong. He has many king-rank Pokemons and I heard that some of them are even tier 2 and tier 3 king-rank Pokemons.", said C.

"You just want him cause all three of you would be from Venu family.", said Ryker.

"And why would that be a problem? We are a team right?", asked Axel with a smile.

"Ryker, you know that Axel would not be biased. You have seen it for yourself.", said Lance supporting Axel.

Ryker knew that Lance was right about it. 

"Ok, Lance, I will agree to it.", said Ryker.

They then went to the plane and talked with Cody. Cody had no problem in joining the team. He was in fact happy to be in the team with Axel.

Axel was like a legend in the Venu family. He was the one who took the Venu family to the heights and also saved their leader at a time of need. 

"Guys, we will reach the island after 3 days. You can sleep and have a rest if you want.", said the middle-aged man.

Axel told all of them to group together to have a team meeting. He had to know the strengths of his team before he could plan anything. He held the meeting inside his room after 10 minutes.

"So, welcome to the team meeting. We would be doing these all the time during our time on the island. Yes, K", said Axel.

"What would be the name of the team?", asked K.

"We don't need the name of the team. It is a temporary team and we will be close together. So, there is no need for the name of the team.", replied.

Kate then raised her hand and said, "I think we should have a name for the team. It would signify that we are one."

"Yes, I think we should have a name."

Everyone started to agree with that. Axel was going to have a headache to babysit these children.