[Pokémon] An Autobiography: A New Life Through The Eyes Of Kanto

[MandiTheAstounding]

In my fanfic I have written and completed on June 15th, 2013, you will follow an original character named Gary, who, with his three friends, Aly, Kiwi, and Robin, become Pokemon Trainers. Almost instantly, things go wrong, new friends are made, rivalry and jealousy affect relationships, and a new team of evil threatens the planet as our main character travels a world that sometimes doesn't seem big enough for both humans and Pokemon.

This story is complete, but I am currently in the process of writing a direct sequel to it. Enjoy. This fanfic contains 85 chapters and at times contain very minor language and some violence. Should be save for ages 10 and over. If you're younger, maybe read with a parent.

Chapter 1: Opening Statements Part 1 Of 2

Hot.
Uncomfortably hot.
I immediately knew it was the sun. My already closed eyes tightened even harder and I turned against the heat in my face. I sat straight up immediately, eyes wide open.
It was time.
I hadn't fallen asleep until three that morning, but that didn't stop me from waking up at...
I turned to my Pidgeotto clock I'd had since I was about five years old, sitting on my dresser.
It was six in the morning.
I wasn't due to be at Prof. Oak's lab for another three hours. Stretching, I got out of bed, shaking with anticipation from my head down to my toes. I wasn't tired in the slightest and I certainly didn't want to risk being late. After all, today was a special day. An agreed upon day. The defining moment in time for every ten year old kid around the world.
The time when I was finally allowed to become a Pokemon Trainer.
My knowledge in Pokemon was unmatched by any of my friends. I had been studying them since I was about three years old, reading books on them, watching the latest findings and basic Pokemon information on TV from the great professors all over the world. My favorites were the shows Prof. Oak had. The Pokemon Live Caster was one of them. I found out so much fun information from that show. And of course, I had to tune in to Professor Oak's Pokemon Talk with DJ Mary. I never thought DJ Mary was necessary at all. In fact, I found her outright annoying.
I got lost in my thoughts as I took my shower, washed my hair, and brushed my teeth. Once fully dressed, I walked downstairs and into the kitchen.
It was so quiet.
My mom wasn't even awake right now.
My mommy...
I worried about her so much and was surprised she agreed to let her only child left go out on a Pokemon journey.
My sister, Melissa, had left to become a Pokemon Trainer, too. That was a year ago and she wasn't having the easiest time. The last I had heard about her, about a month ago, she had only three badges, which is extremely minimal for the time frame she's had. She had to miss the Pokemon League competition this year. She needed to defeat eight of the powerful Pokemon Trainers known as Gym Leaders in order to win their badge and be allowed to compete in the Pokemon League. Melissa wanted to quit several times during her journey and called home a lot, crying on the phone.
My mom had to snap her out of her depression and encourage her to continue. "You're not allowed back home until you're a Pokemon Master and have capture all one thousand Pokemon," my mom would say. She was only joking about not allowing my sister back home, of course, and me and Melissa knew it. But my mom very well may think there are one thousand Pokemon. Her knowledge on Pokemon is very minimal.
I, of course, know there are only six hundred and forty-nine confirmed species of Pokemon.
Letting me off on my very own Pokemon journey, just as Melissa had been allowed to do, was surprising to me for more than just the fact that my mom was worried about her only daughter. What surprised me about it the most was my dad who had died.
He went on a Pokemon journey, attempting to become stronger and better connected with his Pokemon. He had intended to make a living off of it and gain notoriety for raising Pokemon and help put more food on the table for us. He sought to become so strong, he may have even earned the status of a Gym Leader. Or, dare I say, an Elite Four member.
I'm not sure how he died. My mom never discusses it. I only know that she misses him badly.
What bothered me was not understanding why my dad left in the first place, though. We live in the beautiful location of Pallet Town, in the same neighborhood as the legendary Prof. Oak, and while not rich, I'd say we live a fairly privileged enough life. Just how much better did he want it? I often think to myself that he was just selfish and greedy, seeking out more than was necessary. Other times, I think it was my mom who was partly responsible for him leaving. My mom can be a nail in the freaking head, often. He may have just wanted some peace from that. I know that if I wasn't becoming a Pokemon Trainer, I may have ran away myself by now. I also know that my mom misses him badly, and I know he loved her, too. They were so close, it made me puke. But I miss it now...
"What are you doing up so early?"
I turned around with a start to see my mother. "Mom!"
Her eyes were filled with tears.
I ran up to her. "Are you okay?" I knew she wasn't, and I hugged her tight.
She hugged me back. "I'm fine, Gary. Thanks." She sniffled and rubbed at her eyes a bit.
"I love you, mom." I squeezed her even tighter.
"I love you too, Gary." I felt her arms pull me into a tighter hug. "But why are you up this early? It's only seven. You don't have to be up until at least eight. Couldn't sleep, huh?" She smiled at me.
I smiled back. "Yeah, ha ha. How could I? This is day one of me becoming a Pokemon Master! And catching every Pokemon out there!"
She laughed a little. "Gosh, one thousand sure is a lot," my mom said thoughtfully.
I considered telling her how many there are, but stopped. Why bother? It wasn't important.
"Well, I'll make you a surprise breakfast today. A special feast," my mom said happily.
Although she smiled, I could see the pain in her eyes.
Had she said and done the same thing for my sister? I wondered. For my dad? I smiled happily, forcing it.
She went to the fridge and began pulling out eggs, milk, butter, and many other things.
I sat at the table eagerly.
My mom turned to me, looking at me expectantly. "Did you wash and brush your teeth?"
"First thing I did, mom."
"Okay, Gary. Don't give me any attitude. I was just asking."
I stared at her silently. "I wasn't giving attitude, mom," I spoke calmly, slowly, trying to defuse a situation I could see was building. "I was just answering. Honest."
This is what I meant when I said she can be a nail in the head. Sometimes, you can do absolutely nothing and she makes it into a huge deal.
I sighed to myself as she cooked and I began to think of my friends, and of Pokemon.
Aly.
Robin.
And Kiwi.
My three closest friends.
I never understood who would name their child after a fruit, but whatever...
The four of us were set to meet at Prof. Oak's lab at the same time today to collect one of three Pokemon. I wasn't sure how that was going to work.
The three Pokemon we would be going for were the Starter Pokemon of the Kanto region.
Bulbasaur, the Grass and Poison type.
The Fire type was Charmander.
The last choice was the Water type, Squirtle.
But how would they be divided amongst the four of us?
As I got lost in my thoughts, my mom dropped a plate of pancakes, sausage, bacon and eggs, soaking in delicious syrup, down on the table, loudly. "Here," she said rudely, and left the kitchen.
I sighed angrily. I get so tired of her crap. I was so glad that today was my last day here. I quickly ate my food. It was delicious, but I couldn't truly enjoy it with her crazy behavior spoiling what should be a great day for me. What a way to treat your child on his last day being home. Maybe she's just scared, I thought to myself. After washing my dishes, I sat in the kitchen alone, thinking, shaking. Nervous. Excited.
Taking a deep breath, I got up and went upstairs to my room and looked at myself in the mirror. Black jeans, slightly baggy, with a clean fitted white T-shirt was my attire. I was also sporting my favorite Pokemon jacket with the baddest of bad Pokemon on the right breast. Mewtwo.
Oh how I dream of the day I might meet that very Pokemon. Dare I even consider the thought of actually catching one!
I grabbed my black fitted cap with a red and white Poke Ball design on it and set it on my head backwards. The Poke Ball was on the back of the cap, so it seemed it was designed to wear it backwards. I felt it would look stupid if the only design on the entire cap was to be on the back of it.
I reached out for my backpack, but grasped thin air. "Huh?" I looked around my room. It wasn't on top of my bed, nor under it. It wasn't in my closet, either. This is peculiar, I thought, starting to panic. I can't go on my journey without that thing! I was ready to destroy my clean room to find it, my heart beating quicker.
"Looking for this?"
I turned fast to see my mom holding my plain, black backpack and ran up to her. "Yes! Where did you find it?"
"I had it," she said, tears filling her eyes again. "I filled it last night with clean clothes, soap, snacks, food, and other things I purchased from Viridian City that I was told are good for starting Pokemon Trainers, like this thing I think the lady at the Poke Mart called a Potion, or something." She opened the bag and pulled out a bottle of Potion and an Antidote bottle. "So you ought to be set." She dropped them back into the bag and held it out to me.
I smiled at her as I took it from her.
She didn't smile back.
"Well... I'm heading out now," I said, my smile fading.
"Why?" She turned to my Pidgeotto clock. "It's only eight. You still have time. Prof. Oak isn't far from us at all!"
"I know. I just wanna get some fresh air and get a good stretch. I'm kind of scared, you know. I think getting outside will be good for me. I can maybe get all the info I can from Prof. Oak before the others get there."
My mom frowned at me. "That doesn't make any sense. It's stupid to go so early!"
"I'm eager to begin my journey! I don't wanna hang around here wasting time! Don't you understand? I'm excited!" I smiled to show my enthusiasm, but she just frowned even harder at me.
"Fine! Go! Do whatever you want!" She stormed out of my room.
"Why do you always have to act like that?? GAAAH!!!" I angrily stormed for the stairs as my mom slammed the door to her room in the opposite direction. Soon, I was slamming the front door and angrily making my way to no real location. I just needed to get out of that house. I'd had enough. No more of her nonsense. She was just so irrational and crazy and can't even say her feelings in a calm way. Angry thoughts flowed through my mind continuously as I stomped along the path, walking past several houses, including Kiwi's, Aly's, and lastly, Robin's.
It wasn't long before I had stopped, looking up a winding trail that lead up, up, up, to the enormous mansion owned by Prof. Oak. What a life, I thought. Was this the kind of living my dad was trying for us to have?
I turned away from his mansion, looking in the opposite direction, and saw Route 1. The beginning route for us folk from Pallet Town becoming Pokemon Trainers. I wondered what awaited me out there.
A movement to my left grabbed my attention and I turned to see a Rattata! It sat several feet away from me, in Pallet Town as opposed to its usual area in the grass of Route 1, and pretty much all plains.
I stared at it for what seemed like forever, the anger at my mom completely forgotten, before I glanced away and looked back at Prof. Oak's mansion. I looked back down at Rattata, but it was gone. I looked around a little bit, but I couldn't see the little guy, so I looked back up to Prof. Oak's mansion.
From out the corner of my eye, I saw something near Route 1.
A tail? Rattata? I thought as I turned towards it.
No. This tail wasn't the gray tail of a Rattata. It was white. Or pink, maybe. And...it was in the air!!!
This was a flying Pokemon that just flew off into the tops of the trees!
I didn't get to see any of its body other than the tail before it disappeared into the trees. A tail like Rattata, only a different color! But something wasn't right. That tail looked so familiar. I felt something from deep within me urge me to go after it. There was something about that tail. Something deeper than a Rattata.
I ran away from Prof. Oak's mansion and into Route 1.
Into the grass.
Into a possible abyss of secrets yet unrevealed...

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 2: Opening Statements Part 2 Of 2

As I ran further into the grass, deeper into the trees, slits of sunlight hitting me in the face, making their way through the leaves trying to block the light, I searched. Searched for something I wasn't sure I had even seen. Something I may have imagined. I only saw it for a moment, after all. A brief second, even. But something about what I saw was so familiar. Something I couldn't let go. Something that deep inside, I knew I had to chase down.
But then what?
Was it a rare Pokémon? I didn't have any Poke Balls to catch it with. Or any Pokémon to battle against it with. It was basic knowledge that you have to weaken a Pokémon with a Pokemon of your own before you can capture it.
I slowed down my running, and with a deep breath, I ran forth again, faster than before. Something. Something! Something about that tail!! It inspired me to move on and go after it. I ran. Searched hard.
I ran past a group of Sandshrew.
A few wild Pidgey stared at me from the treetops as I ran past them, too.
A few Mankey glared at me as I moved on through the trees, hanging from the branches at first, and then swinging swiftly after me. I wasn't sure if they were chasing me or not. I knew Mankey, and especially their evolved form, Primeape, were a very dangerous species of Pokémon and quick to anger. But they soon stopped following me.
I didn't care. I ran like mad until I was out of breath and exhausted. My hands on my knees, I inhaled and exhaled heavily, swallowing what little saliva I had in my mouth down my dry, dying throat. I look around a bit, and then let out a defeated sigh…only to hear a rustle in the grass!
I turned around and saw a Spearow. It was hidden behind a clump of grass, but I could just see it, staring at me.
I ignored it and looked about my surroundings for a while. When I looked back, the Spearow was still looking at me. "What do you want?" I yelled at it angrily.
It just stared back at me silently.
I was in no mood for this ugly bird Pokémon. I knew they were known for having a bad temper, too, but at the moment, I was mad as well and would've battled it myself if I had to. I was ready to walk back to Pallet Town until something caught my eye.
The Spearow. Its eyes. Something was familiar about that look. Like it was hiding something….
"HEY!" I screamed.
Spearow took off, flapping its wings frantically.
I ran behind it and grabbed at it with my bare hands.
It quickly turned around, mid flight, and pecked me badly.
I screamed loudly, but I didn't care. That Spearow was giving me the same look Rattata did. I just knew I had to…do something... But there was nothing I could do. I had no means of catching this Pokémon.
Images of that white tail kept flashing into my mind. That tail. Where was it from? It inspired me to find out. It had to be connected to that Rattata and this Spearow. I felt it in my heart. I made another desperate grab at Spearow, but it was out of my reach. I fell hard to the ground and watched as it flew higher and higher into the sky. I watched it until it just about disappeared from my view.
Just before it did, I could've sworn something happened to it. I'm not sure what it was. I can barely even explain it. It's like it changed somehow. Perhaps it evolved? I knew some Pokémon changed through evolution. When reaching a certain level, or gaining access to certain stones, some Pokémon change their form and become even stronger in some ways. But no, that wasn't an evolution. I was sure of it. I felt somewhere in my heart that that wasn't an ordinary Spearow. I couldn't explain the feeling I had. I also felt I may never find out the answer to what that white tailed, flying Pokémon was. It was driving me mad because it looked so familiar. Something I had seen once before maybe. In a book? On TV?
I sighed. I headed back to Pallet Town before realizing… I had no idea where I was. I had never been on Route 1 before. I was always with my mom or dad when we went to Viridian City or to other places, and we always took an alternate path to Viridian City, where wild Pokemon weren't typically located. This was truly my first time on my own. I looked around.
It all looked to same. Trees and grass. Everywhere.
I was still out of breath and dying for water. I had to get back to Pallet Town before it was too late! I couldn't miss out on my Starter Pokémon! I knew I was going for Charmander. And nobody was gonna take it from me!
I decided to just walk in the opposite direction I had seen the Spearow hiding in the grass patch. As I walked, I saw more familiar spots. This was where I saw the Mankey swinging after me from, I convinced myself. Right along these trees. I could tell because… well… I wasn't sure to be honest. I guess it was just wishful thinking, but it was better than nothing.
After a while of seeing wild Rattata, none of whom gave me any odd looks, but instead stared at me as I would expect them to, and then ran away, some of the grass started looking like it was freshly trampled on. I followed these patches of grass, hoping I had been the cause of the disturbance when chasing after that weird Pokémon. I walked quickly, and eventually, I could see a clearing! I moved faster and could see Pallet Town! Seeing Prof. Oak's mansion not far away, I ran towards it quickly.
Blocking the trail leading towards Prof. Oak's mansion was a huge crowd of my neighbors!
I ran up to them and they turned to stare at me, bewildered.
"Where are you coming from, Gary?" asked Mrs. Tot. This was Kiwi's crazy mother. That's how I referred to her, to myself, anyway. As I said, you must be crazy to name your child after a fruit.
Out of breath, I heaved and explained, "…Chasing… Pokémon… Pink…. Tail…."
"Chasing Pokemon? Oh my goodness, are we too late? Did you get your starter already?" Mrs. Tot gasped.
"No… I didn't get it yet, but I saw this…" I struggled.
"GARY!! You can't go out trying to catch Pokémon without a Pokémon to battle beside you to weaken it, ha ha ha!" she laughed.
Everyone started laughing.
Mr. and Mrs. Butters, who were Robin's parents.
Ms. Say, who was Aly's mom.
And all the other neighbors and some kids who were either not ten yet or just weren't interested in becoming Pokemon Trainers and stayed in school.
"Thanks," was all I bothered to mumble. Then I ran past them and towards Prof. Oak's place. It was a long travel, considering I was tired already. I ran past the usually closed gate and up the curving hill to his enormous mansion door and knocked rapidly.
As I knelt down to catch my breath, I heard footsteps approaching from behind the door. It opened and I saw Tracey, Prof. Oak's assistant.
"Hey, Tracey," I gasped.
"Gary! Please, come on in! What's wrong?" Tracey asked while escorting me inside.
I walked in and gasped out, "Water…"
"Okay, just wait here. Or have a seat!" Tracey ran off.
"Did you say, Gary?"
I looked up to see Prof. Oak, an excited smile on his old, aging face. The smile faded once he saw it was me. "Oh, you." He immediately brightened up again. "Ha ha ha! I'm sorry, Gary, I just thought maybe you were my grandson!"
Oh, yes. Gary Oak. It just so happened I that I had the same name of Prof. Oak's grandson. I wasn't sure if that was intentional or not, but I always assumed it wasn't.
A great professor in his own right, with resurrecting and caring for ancient Pokémon under his resume. He's a lot more reserved than his grandfather, though. He doesn't bother with TV shows and radio. He prefers revealing information more privately. Just about everything he has accomplished has been revealed by the other professors he informs. They have to say, "Prof. Gary Oak has discovered…" He never says it himself! I was very impressed with his work on Pokémon evolution. Not how some Pokémon evolve through trading, reaching certain levels, and coming into contact with elemental evolution stones, but the Pokémon evolution Gary discovered was that, as time passes, Pokémon evolve to gain access to new moves and abilities! For example, quite a while ago, a Pokémon like Arcanine couldn't learn ExtremeSpeed. But, seemingly out of nowhere, Arcanine and other Pokémon were appearing with this attack. Gary didn't start his research until years after this weird incident began to happen, but as time went on, Pokémon were gaining new attacks. Some moves were even found to be able to be passed on by breeding certain Pokémon with others. Abilities began to come into play, like a Pikachu being able to Paralyze an opponent just by coming into physical contact with it by an attack. This ability became known as Static!
"Hey, Professor!" I straightened up and extended my hand, still gasping for air and desperate for water.
"My boy, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a Gastly! HA HA HA HA HA!" Prof. Oak laughed heartily at his weak joke.
"If it were… I wouldn't have chased after it like I did…" I said.
"Here's your water, Gary," Tracey said, returning with a tall glass cup full of water and ice.
I took it from him eagerly and drank from it, water spilling down my chin and dripping onto the floor. With a loud gasp and a smile, I thanked Tracey gratefully.
"So, Gary, what has got you so exhausted? Exactly what were you chasing?" Prof. Oak asked me.
I took a deep breath and stated, "I saw…"
A loud knock at the door interrupted me.
Tracey went to open the door.
"Hi, Tracey!" I heard in unison from the doorway.
I recognized the voices and smiled immediately.
"Oh, hello Kiwi, Robin, and Aly! Come on in!"
The trio entered the mansion with smiles and upon seeing me, smiled even brighter.
"Gary, what's going on, man?" greeted Robin.
"Gary, oh my gosh, when did you get here? Finding out secret info on raising Pokémon before the rest of us? Huh? Huh?" accused Aly.
"Garyyyyyy!!" squealed Kiwi.
"Hey, Kiwi, Aly, Robin!" I said as I moved towards them to hug Kiwi and Aly, then proceeded to squeeze the life out of Robin's hand in a firm shake as he attempted the same to me, the both of us grimacing at each other competitively.
Prof. Oak moved over to us and put his arms around us happily and with a big smile, said, "It's great you all have arrived and on time. You four are here for a monumental event! Today is the day you four will choose your starting Pokemon!"
"Yeah!" The four of us cheered. Though in the back of my mind, I wondered exactly how the four of us were going to get one out of three Pokémon…
"Would you guys like any water or food? Times will get pretty hard from here on out so you may want to make sure you eat good food while you can. It's very…"
"No!" we shouted together, firmly. We wanted our Pokémon already!
Prof. Oak laughed. "Fair enough, then, kids. Follow me."
We followed the professor behind a door to his lab where a fancy, huge machine stood. He went near it, but me and the others stayed behind and watched. The machine reached from the ceiling to the floor, the middle of it made seemingly of glass. Suddenly, the glass portion opened and smoke cleared from within. Me and my friends moved closer at the site of the three Poke Balls inside.
"Inside of these three Poke Balls lies one of the three Starter Pokémon of the Kanto region," Prof. Oak informed us.
He grabbed one Poke Ball and held it out.
It opened with a popping noise and out came a white beam of light to the floor, forming the shape of something. The white faded, and it was revealed to be a Bulbasaur! It looked up at me and my friends and said, "Bulbasaur!"
"Awww, how sweet! Look at those eyes!" Aly cried out.
"Ah! A Bulbasaur, ha ha ha!" Robin laughed.
"Awww! Que cute!" Kiwi gushed.
I stared at it, knowing this was not the Pokémon I wanted at all.
"Next." Prof. Oak had the second Poke Ball in his hand and a white beam shot out again.
The revealed Pokémon this time was Charmander.
"Yes! Charmander!" I exclaimed. Smiling, I moved forward just a bit.
"That looks a bit dangerous. Just look at the fire on its tail!" Kiwi said in surprise.
"Now, that's the Pokémon I want, there," said Robin with a grin.
"It looks so tough!" said Aly eagerly.
She was right. It had a prideful stance to it. It emulated raw power. Just the Pokémon for me.
The final Pokémon the professor sent out was Squirtle, of course. It stared up at us with a winning smile. This was the only Pokémon I'd accept if I couldn't have Charmander. It could beat a Charmander with its type advantage, but everyone who knows anything about these three Pokemon knows that a well raised Charmander evolves into Charmeleon and afterwards, a ferocious Charizard. At that point, Charizard could crush the fiercest of Pokémon.
"Oh my gosh, I want that one!!" screamed Kiwi, startling the three Pokémon a bit.
"Wait, I want that one!" exclaimed Robin to my surprise. He just said he wanted Charmander.
"It is cute… But I think I want Bulbasaur!" Aly said happily.
Bulbasaur smiled up at Aly and exclaimed its name happily.
"Now, Bulbasaur is a grass and poison type Pokemon," Prof. Oak explained. "It can beat water types like Squirtle due to a type advantage. But it has a bad chance of winning against fire types like Charmander. Charmander, however, is weak to water types. And Squirtle is weak to grass types. These all are weak to other types, too,so be careful and learn all you can as you embark on your journey, you guys. Now, since Gary did get here first, I say we let him choose, first."
"YES!" I shouted, and went straight to Charmander. "Hey, buddy! My name is Gary! I choose you as my first Pokemon! How's that sound?" I smiled at Charmander as it stared back at me blankly.
We stared at each other for a while before it gave me a nasty look. Before I could react, out from its mouth came a sea of fire!
Once the fire stopped flowing, I remained there in too much pain to state, and silently fell over.

I awoke on a comfy couch. To my surprise, Prof. Oak, Tracey, Kiwi, Robin, and Aly, were all hovering above me.
"What the???" I sat up and they moved out of my way.
"Good to see you're feeling better, Gary," Prof. Oak said with a smile. "Seems that Charmander was a bit uncomfortable with you staring at it in such a manner. Tracey used some of the medicine we have and some help from Squirtle's Water Gun to fix you right up."
"Oh, wow. Thank you, Tracey," I said.
"Not a problem, Gary," Tracey replied.
I looked down to see Squirtle staring up at me with a bright smile.
Bulbasaur was standing near Aly's legs.
Charmander had its arms crossed and was staring indignantly at me.
"Thank you, too, Squirtle," I said happily.
"Squirt Squirtle Squirt!" Squirtle said back to me.
"Now that Gary is awake again, you may all now choose your three Pokemon again," Prof. Oak said.
I stood up and walked over to Charmander again. "I choose Charmander." I stared back at Prof. Oak with determination.
"What??" everyone exclaimed. Even Bulbasaur looked surprised.
Squirtle looked at me, first in shock, then in disappointment and sadness.
I began to feel bad. Squirtle did help me, and now, it seemed like maybe it wanted to be my Pokémon. But I needed to become a Pokémon master,mastering all sorts of Pokemon, including a roughneck like Charmander.
"Gary, that thing is dangerous! Choose something else!" Kiwi said cautiously, staring at Charmander warily.
"Yeah, Gary. Go with Squirtle or something," Aly said, and then she knelt down and held Bulbasaur closer to her.
"Yeah, I dunno if you can handle it Gary," winked Robin. "Maybe you should give it to me to raise."
"Hmph." I glared at Robin. "Prof. Oak, I choose Charmander," I said firmly.
"If you're sure, Gary," Prof. Oak said. He walked over to me and handed me Charmander's pokeball.
I turned to it and held out its Poke Ball. "Charmander, return!"
It stared at me as it was sucked back inside its Poke Ball by a red beam.
"Well, then. It seems Aly and Bulbasaur have become an item, so I'd say they both have chosen each other. Wouldn't you agree, Tracey?" Prof. Oak asked.
"Indeed, Prof. Oak. I agree with that. No doubt about it," Tracey said.
Prof. Oak gave Aly her Poke Ball, but she just continued hugging her new friend.
"I want Squirtle!" Kiwi and Robin screamed at once. They both glared at each other.
"Now, now, you two. I have the solution to this. Tracey, my boy, the Poketch!" Prof. Oak declared.
"Right." Tracey lifted his right arm and I could see his Poketch, an advanced watch on his wrist.
I always wanted one.
"Heads or tails you two?" Tracey asked.
"Heads!" Robin and Kiwi shouted. They glared at each other.
"HEADS!!" shouted Kiwi.
"TAILS!!" screamed Robin at the same time.
Tracey lowered his wrist as he pressed a button on the Poketch, causing a digital coin to flip on it with a chime.
It landed on…
TAILS!
Robin got Squirtle.
"Yeah!!" Robin said enthusiastically.
Squirtle looked up warily at Robin, smiling a bit, but not seeming completely happy. It stared back to me and didn't look away until Robin took the Poke Ball from Prof. Oak and knelt down to Squirtle. "Hey there, buddy. I'm Robin, your new trainer!" he smiled.
Squirtle smiled back.
"Welcome to the team. Together, we can beat the very best!" He laughed as he tends to do sometimes, even when what he says isn't funny at all, and returned Squirtle to its Poke Ball.
As it was sucked in, Squirtle turned one last time back to me before going inside.
"So…" Kiwi looked down to the ground.
"Ah, yes. Kiwi," Prof. Oak said. "I knew there were four of you coming today, so I did have something special setup for you."
Kiwi brightened up. "Really? Like what?"
Prof. Oak pulled a Poke Ball from his pocket and out came a Pidgey!
Me and Robin couldn't help but die laughing. Once we realized Aly and Kiwi were glaring at us, we stayed quiet and stared at the ground.
Kiwi looked helplessly at Prof. Oak. "Um… A Pidgey…?"
"Not just any Pidgey, Kiwi. This one has been trained to know a special move called Heat Wave," Prof. Oak said proudly.
"Heat Wave?" me and my three friends said in shock.
"That's right," Prof. Oak said, his smile widening. "Come with me." He walked through another door and into another room, the Pidgey following close behind, flapping its wings in the air as it flew. In this room were walls and walls and walls and WALLS of Poke Balls! EVERYWHERE!!!
"These are from Pokemon Trainers who have received their first Pokémon and Pokedex from me," Prof. Oak explained.
"There's… millions!!!" Robin exclaimed in awe.
Kiwi and Aly just looked in silence, following the professor.
Prof. Oak laughed. "Hundreds of thousands to be certain. Sadly, some Pokémon pass away while others seem to have a limitless life span. Me and Tracey are certainly kept very busy here and I need all the help I can get in my old age."
Soon, we were walking through another door that led outside to an incredible field! There was grass as far as the eyes could see. Pokemon of all kinds, from every region, in abundance, frockling in the beautiful landscape! It was incredible!
I turned to see Aly, Kiwi and Robin were also amazed by this wonderful view.
Even Bulbasaur seemed impressed, stadning close to Aly.
Raticate were wrestling nearby.
A Typhlosion snuggled close to another Typhlosion, napping in the grass.
A Staravia was smoothly floating across the skies.
A huge pond full of Poliwhirl, Seismitoad, Seaking, Azuril, and countless others were swimming and splashing.
How do Prof. Oak and Tracey take care of these things all by themselves? I wondered.
"Ok, guys." Prof. Oak distracted me from the beautiful scenery before me.
I turned to him, as did Robin, Kiwi and Aly.
"Now, watch and learn. Pidgey, Heat Wave!"
Pidgey flew high before turning around and flapping its wings, sending a gentle, though hot wave around us.
I couldn't believe it. A true Heat Wave from a Pidgey. I had no idea they could learn that move.
"This little guy learned the move while being tutored by someone I know over in the Unova region," Prof. Oak explained.
As Pidgey landed on Prof. Oak's shoulder, Kiwi clapped her hands. "I love it! I'll take it!"
At once, Pidgey flew from Prof. Oak's shoulder to Kiwi's and nuzzled its head on her cheek.
"Awww! Que cute!!" Kiwi petted it and took the Poke Ball Prof. Oak handed her.
"So, now you four have your Pokemon. You guys have a journey to begin now, don't you?" Prof. Oak said, smiling.
I took a deep, nervous breath as my friends all cheered.
"Hey, let's have a Pokemon battle to see who has the strongest Pokémon!" Robin said eagerly.
"Nah, I wanna spend more time with my Bulba-baby first, "Aly said, cuddling her Bulbasaur.
"Me and Pidgey have some work to do, first. I just got it. I want to get closer with it and see how we can work better as a team, first," Kiwi explained.
"What about you, Gary? You gonna chicken out to?" Robin taunted.
"I would battle, but it's a bit obvious me and Charmander have some work to do, first," I said. To be honest, I didn't really want to battle, anyway. Not yet. We might lose. I wanted our first battle to be good. With a bit of experience, trust, and hard work between us.
"Ah, you're all cowards. You know I got the best of the four Pokémon today, HA HA HA!!!" Robin said boastfully.
"Robin, nobody's scared of you," Kiwi said. "Or your Squirtle!"
"Kiwi, you'd be the best one to battle," Robin stated. "Your Pidgey isn't weak to water, and Squirtle isn't weak to flying Pokémon, either! It'd be perfect!"
"Soon, Robin. I promise," Kiwi said with an eager grin.
"Oh, fine, ha ha ha ha ha!" Robin laughed for some odd reason.
Prof. Oak turned to us. "Now, before we end this, one more thing." He reached in his white lab coat and pulled out four items I dreamed about having since a little kid. "This is a Pokedex. They serve as your ID, and will give you information on all known species of Pokémon as well as tips on becoming a Pokémon trainer. It records the number of Pokémon you both have captured and also how many you have seen."
I took mine and opened it, testing it out on Pidgey, first. A revolving image of Pidgey appeared onscreen.
"Pidgey. The Tiny Bird Pokémon. A peaceful Pokémon for the beginning Pokémon trainer. Easy to raise and a dependable Pokémon for use in battle."
I waved it towards Bulbasaur, still close to Aly.
"Bulbasaur. The Seed Pokémon. Its energy comes from the seed on its back placed there at birth. The seed grows with the Pokémon."
Robin sent out his Squirtle in curiosity.
"Squirtle. The Tiny Turtle Pokémon. This Pokémon can receive great protection from its shell. A forceful fighter and great option of the Kanto Pokémon starters."
I sent out Charmander as Robin recalled his Squirtle.
"Charmander. The Lizard Pokémon. The fire on the tip of its tail is a declaration of its life energy. Pokemon trainers must be wary to guard this flame."
I stared at Charmander's flame. It looked great to me.
Charmander was also looking at it's tail flame.
I recalled Charmander. "Interesting."
We all then followed Prof. Oak and Tracey. As we stepped outside of his mansion and took the curving trail to the front gate, we all heard the applause from the crowd waiting outside.
"My Kiwi!" Mrs. Tot hugged her daughter tightly and kissed her cheeks. "I'm so proud of you already. I know you'll do great."
"Thanks, mom," Kiwi said, visibly embarrassed, but smiling.
"So, where are your Pokemon, you guys?" Mr. Butters asked us all. "I'm interested to know what you four chose."
Robin eagerly sent out his Squirtle.
Squirtle happily looked up at the crowd.
Everyone cried out happily.
I went next, sending out my Charmander.
It stared at the crowed and smiled in a way that it didn't for me.
Everyone applauded at the little guy.
Aly knelt down to her Bulbasaur who was hiding behind her legs. "Go ahead, sweetie."
Bulbasaur took cautious steps forward and stood next to the other Pokemon, looking up at everyone.
"Awww, isn't it the cutest one?" someone in the crowd cried out while everyone else agreed and cooed over it.
After a few minutes, Mr. Butters asked Kiwi, "So, what did you get, Kiwi?"
Kiwi stared at her Poke Ball for a moment and then threw it into the air.
Out came Pidgey.
There were a few mutters and then, slowly, some obvious, forced applause.
"That's… great… But shouldn't that be one of the things you catch once you begin your journey or something?" Mr. Butters asked innocently.
Kiwi glared at him. "Heat wave, now!" Pidgey sent a powerful Heat Wave at Mr. Butters, which, once ended, left Mr. Butters in tarnished clothing, looking like Tarzan.
Mr. Butters stared in shock at the bird Pokemon. "Pidgey sure have changed since my days as a trainer…"
Everyone laughed at Mr. Butters shock.
Mrs. Tot hugged Kiwi again. "So proud of you, mija."
"Thanks, mom," Kiwi said, her voice muffled against her mother's chest.
I noticed my mom in the crowd and immediately walked up to her. "Mom. I…"
She hugged me tight. "I love you too, Gary. I'm gonna miss you, baby."
It didn't take long before my shirt was feeling a bit wet. I hugged her back. "Mom. I love you so much," I said back. I could feel myself starting to cry. I held back and pulled away from my mom, staring at her with determination. "I'll become the greatest Pokemon Master. With my Charmander. And we'll catch them all. All one thousand, mom. I promise."
"A thousand? Aren't there only…" Mr. Butters started.
"How do you know??" I asked angrily and glared at him.
"I'll just stay quiet from now on…" Mr. Butters replied, lowering his head.
Ms. Say couldn't get over how cute Bulbasaur was and hugged her daughter tightly, and Mr. and Mrs. Butters hugged Robin and gave him encouraging words.
The four of us waved goodbye to our friends, family, and supporters, and after a couple of minutes, we were alone together, staring at Route 1.
"We can't just follow each other forever, you know," Robin said.
"Yeah. Robin is right for a change. We need to branch off. Find our own way. Become Pokemon Masters in our own right," Kiwi said.
"I'm going this way," Robin said, pointing towards a faint path on Route 1 that looked a bit dangerous and dark, despite the bright sunlight outside.
"Well, me and Pidgey will go straight ahead and take this detour to the right," Kiwi pointed ahead.
"Me and my baby will also go ahead but detour to the left," Aly responded.
"I guess me and my buddy Charmander will be going straight ahead, then," I said.
"Buddy, HA! With friends like that, who needs enemies!" Robin laughed. He waved at us. "Good luck, you guys. I hope you'll at least get badge number two!" He laughed some more as he headed on his way.
"Good luck on even reaching the next town! You might give up if you run into a Rattata!" Kiwi screamed after him. She looked to me and Aly. "Good luck, you guys! I know we'll all meet at the Pokemon League and be the finalists. But I'm winning!" She smiled and ran ahead.
"Gary, you took care, now, you hear?" Aly smiled and as she walked off, began conversing with her Bulbasaur.
I stared after them all. I briefly remembered my encounter with that weird entity earlier today. I had forgotten to tell Prof. Oak about it.
I shook my head, my fists tightening at my sides.
I could feel my eyebrows furrow with determination.
I'll catch, and train, them all, I promised myself. Including that weird Pokemon I saw earlier. Whatever it was.
And more.
Or die trying.
Dangerous words that I didn't fully understand so early in my journey.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 3: The End

"GARY!! ALY!! KIWI!! ROBIN!! WAAAIIITTT!!!"
I turned to see Tracey running towards me at rapid speed. "What's going on, Tracey?" I asked with concern.
Tracey stopped before me with his hand reached out in a fist.
I opened my palm and out dropped five poke balls from his hand. "Prof. Oak… forgot… to give you these…." Tracey gasped.
I gasped. "How could I forget??"
The most important thing a Pokémon trainer needs. Their Poke balls. How else can a trainer capture and master a wild Pokémon?
"I guess Prof. Oak is getting on in his years and totally forgot. Sorry about that," Tracey laughed. "Where are the others?"
"They just left. In three different directions, too." I pointed.
"Oh, darn it. This is terrible!" Tracey exclaimed. "Well, no worries, I guess. Prof. Oak said he'd send a few flying Pokémon after you four if I couldn't catch you and they would locate and deliver the Poke balls themselves. I better go in that case so they get delivered before one of those three guys runs into a wild Pokémon!" In an instant, he was gone, dirt flying up behind him.
Nothing would be worse than running into a wild Pokémon and not having the Poke balls to catch it, I thought to myself.
Slipping my Poke balls into my pocket, I walked forward a few steps and then stopped. "Go, Charmander!"
Charmander came out of the extended Poke ball in my hand.
I knelt down to it and smiled. "Hi, Charmander. My name is Gary, as you may recall." I tried not to constantly stare at it in the eyes. "My goal is to become a Pokémon master and to capture every Pokémon there is. You're my very first Pokémon and I want us to achieve this goal together. We can train together, grow stronger together, and travel the world winning badges, and competing in Pokémon competitions. How does that sound to you?"
Charmander stared at me for a short moment before crossing its arms and turning its back to me.
"Hey. What did I do to you, anyway? Why the attitude?"
Charmander didn't respond.
"Charmander can't you tell me…" Pokemon can't say anything but their names, I reminded myself. "…er… Can't you… just work with me? Give me a chance. Let's work together, okay?"
Charmander said nothing.
I sighed.
Suddenly, something ran into the clearing. A Rattata!
Charmander and I stared at it as it stared back at us.
"Rattata. The Mouse Pokémon. Once this Pokémon finds a location to find food, it will breed there continuously and be impossible to get rid of. This Pokémon can live nearly anywhere on land."
After my Pokedex was done stating that information, I closed it and took a step closer to Rattata.
"My first Pokémon capture," I said. "Charmander! I…"
In a red flash, Charmander charged forward and tackled Rattata!
Rattata wasn't ready for that and flew several feet before attempting to land.
I say attempting to land because before Rattata hit the ground, Charmander moved forward again and with a swift twist, smacked Rattata with its tail and sent it flying into a tree!
"Charmander, stop! That's enough!" I screamed.
The lizard Pokémon didn't seem to hear me and charged forward again, its right claw high in the air, ready to strike.
Rattata freaked out and ran as fast as it could.
Charmander stopped and stuck out its chest with pride over its win.
I stormed over to it. "What is wrong with you?" I frowned angrily at it.
Charmander stared at me for a moment and then turned away and crossed its arms again.
"Charmander, I could've captured that Pokémon! You ruined the chance to make a new friend for our team!"
Charmander merely shook its head at me. It seemed to be disapproving of my choice in Rattata.
"Hey! I know what I'm doing. I'm the master here. I decide who is gonna be on the team and who isn't, not you! Besides, we all have to start somewhere. Rattata and other Pokemon are great for me to begin to learn with, although I know a considerable amount already. Just trust me, ok?"
Charmander walked away from me.
"Where do you think you're going?" I chased after it. "Hey! Come on, now! We can work this out, can't we?" I followed behind Charmander as it seemed to lead the way. I didn't know what else to do.
Suddenly a tiny bit of the ground split and before I knew it, a Sandshrew had dug up in front of us!
"Wow! A Sandshrew!"
I whipped out the Pokedex, but as it began telling me the latest info on it, I heard absolutely nothing it said as Charmander let loose an enormous flame from its mouth at the unsuspecting Pokémon!
I stood there in shock.
Sandshrew tried to run, but Charmander gave chase.
"Leave it alone, Charmander!" I yelled. I pulled out its Poke ball. "Return!"
Chamander dodged around the red beam and continued to chase Sandshrew until it dug its way to safety. Charmander smiled as it took its prideful walk back to me.
I was furious at this point.
"CHARMANDER, STOP IT!!!"
Charmander looked up at me calmly and stuck its tongue out at me.
I couldn't believe this Pokémon's utter rudeness!
"What in the world is WRONG…. Wait a minute." I knelt down to Charmander's level. "You just like to fight, don't you? You are so strong and want to show off your power. You just love to battle! Is that it?"
Charmander just watched me.
"Charmander, we can work this out. But, please, work with me too. I want to work with you and we can battle together. Every day. I can capture wild Pokémon and you can battle against each other and train. Then, we'll travel to fight strong trainers from all over the world! Please, Charmander? I want what you want for yourself, buddy."
Charmander stared at me for only a minute before walking away again.
What is wrong with me? Why doesn't Charmander like me? I wondered.
A Mankey came swinging through the trees.
Charmander watched it, and then gave chase.
I ran, too, swiftly. I couldn't let Charmander chase away another catch of mine.
We ran after it together, me trying to return Charmander to its Poke ball.
Charmander kept dodging my efforts to return it and spit flames at the Mankey.
Mankey was swinging away, oddly calm. Suddenly, it dropped from the trees and faced us.
Charmander sent a flame at it, but Mankey dodged and charged at Charmander and hit it with what looked like an obvious Scratch attack.
Charmander fell back and got up, growling angrily.
It spits more fire at Mankey, who dodged and sent its foot flying for Charmander's legs.
Charmander screamed out as it fell face first to the ground. Quick as lightning, my Charmander swept Mankey with its tail and Mankey hit the ground hard.
Mankey got up, jumping up and down angrily.
I decided I would try my Pokedex for some tips.
"Mankey. The Pig Monkey Pokémon. These Pokémon can be friendly. However, once enraged, they can be amongst the most violent Pokémon known to man."
I knew about Mankey and their evolved form, Primeape, who are said to be even more dangerous. I definitely needed to catch this one. It was putting up a good fight against Charmander, too. It was definitely strong. "Charmander, use Growl!" I commanded.
Charmander ignored me and went for a Scratch attack.
Mankey dodged and hit back continuously with Fury Swipes.
Charmander hit the ground hard but bounced back up and caught Mankey with an Ember.
It was then I smelled the smoke. I looked around.
The trees around us were on fire!!!!
"WHOA!!!" I looked around and saw trees, grass, all burning. Pokemon were scurrying away while Charmander and Mankey continued to fight! "Stop, you two! I screamed.
But the two continued attacking nonstop. Charmander getting in some attacks, Mankey going for some moves. Neither side giving in.
I had to end this nonsense. I tried to return Charmander again. It attacked me with an Ember attack before catching Mankey with one, too, as it tried to attack Charmander.
I hit the ground, just barely dodging the attack, feeling an intense wave of heat from the flames.
Charmander sure had some power.
I couldn't help but wonder how Mankey, or any Pokémon in general, can take such attacks head on and keep going. I shook my head and got back up.
Charmander and Mankey were tired, but not giving in an inch. Charmander hit with another Scratch attack and Mankey flew hard into a tree and seemed stunned. Charmander took the chance to attack with a powerful looking Ember attack.
"That's enough! Poke ball, go!"
I threw my Poke ball as hard as I could at Mankey. I had been practicing such throws since I was much younger, throwing toy Poke balls on my Poke dolls.
The flame Charmander hit Mankey with faded just before the Poke ball hit Mankey. Mankey looked pretty out of it. The ball opened and Mankey was pulled in by the red beam. The ball shook repeatedly. Again and again. Not stopping. Time seemed to take forever and then….
PING!
"YES! I caught a Mankey!" I yelled out. I ran forward, grabbed the Poke Ball, and turned to Charmander "You see what you've done??" I yelled. "The forest is on fire because of you and…"
I couldn't finish my sentence because of a loud screeching noise from afar.
Me and Charmander looked up, but saw nothing.
But not for long.
In seconds, we saw the Mankey.
They swung in from the treetops from all angles, swinging even on some of the burning trees. And not one looked happy.
"Charmander, we have to run!"
Charmander didn't respond. It was eyeing all of the Mankey.
Does it seriously want to take on all of them? I thought in shock, looking at Charmander. There must be a good seventy of them at least! And maybe more were coming. But why? Because we ruined their home? Most likely.
"Mankey, please we're sorry! I-"
But what do you say to something when you've burned its home down? And it's still burning! I needed to go get help. The fire department. Something. But I wasn't sure these Mankey were just gonna let me go and get that help. It was at this time I wished I had chosen Squirtle instead.
One Mankey dropped down in front of Charmander. "Mankey Mankey Mank!" Mankey said angrily.
"Char. Charmander Char Char!" Charmander responded.
Suddenly every Mankey looked to me furiously.
"Huh…?" I said meekly.
Charmander then... calmly walked away!
The Mankey just let it walk off!
Charmander looked back to me for a moment before turning away and disappearing into the trees!
"HEY!" I began to run after it, but the Mankey surrounded me.
Suddenly, they all swung at me and were on me in an instant, beating me continuously! Their claws, fists, and feet, were pounding away at me relentlessly.
How any Pokémon could take such abuse in a battle was beyond me. I truly could admire the strength the average Pokémon has to stand in battle.
So this is how I die? I thought to myself. In a fire beaten to death by a gang of Mankey? I'm sorry mom. I was a failure. Just like dad. Killed. Just like my sister. No good at raising my own Pokémon.
I thought of my new Mankey all of a sudden. Maybe it could help me! Maybe it could get them to stop! I reached in desperation for its Pokeball. It wasn't on my belt clip. Why? I never put it on there, I remembered. It was… in my hand!! Not anymore, though. My hands were empty. I looked around for it. I must have dropped it when they attacked me. I could feel tears rolling down my face. I knew if I didn't find Mankey, I was a dead. Then I saw it.
The Poke ball sat on the ground, next to two Mankey. One was beating up the other Mankey. But why? The Mankey getting attacked looked like it was already hurt and exhausted and wasn't able to put up a fight. Could it be…?
"NNOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed.
That poor Mankey. It was my Mankey. But why was it getting beat up?
Were the others angry I not only burnt their home but also took away one of their friends?
That was my last thought before I blacked out…



Pain.
So much pain.
I couldn't see anything. I struggled to open my eyes, but it hurt. It hurt to even do nothing. It hurt to try to move. My whole existence was pain right now. I had do something though. Where was I?
The fire!
I opened my eyes and screamed out in pain, closing them again. Forcing them open, groaning painfully, I looked around.
The ground was wet. It was raining right now. The fire was gone. It wasn't too bad of a fire, but it could've been worse, I guess. This downpour of rain was just what was needed.
But the Mankey. Where were they?
I rolled over in great agony. My clothes were soaked in a mixture of water and blood.
Then I saw Mankey. My Mankey!
With great agony, I crawled over to it, rain pouring down from above on us.
"Mankey!"
It didn't respond.
I had to do something. Anything.
It needed help. Patches of its fur were covered in blood and deep scratch marks. I wasn't sure if it was even alive, but I couldn't just leave it here.
In great struggle and agony, I managed to get to my feet. It seemed to take forever just to get the strength to rise to my feet. The pain in my legs was almost unbearable. But I had to. I bent over to lift Mankey, gently lifted it up, and began to walk. I had no idea where I was. But it didn't matter anymore. We had to go. Somewhere. Anywhere. Back to Pallet Town. To the next city, Viridian City. Somewhere I could get help for my Mankey.
I walked. Stumbled. Walked. No matter how many times I fell, no matter how much it hurt with each fall, I made sure Mankey was safe in my arms.
We walked for a while, down a hill eventually. A very long hill.
I could hear the sound of water rushing. A waterfall.
When me and my mom and dad would go to the city, we'd stop and look at that waterfall. It was beautiful then. I even saw a Gyarados leap out of it once. I cried in fear back then. Those things sure are terrifying.
But there was no stopping today. Just painful trudging.
It occurred to me that if this was the waterfall, I must be on my way to Viridian City. I was on the way to the Pokémon Center there. This made me feel better. I may have even walked a bit faster knowing this. Maybe not. I was in quite a lot of pain, after all.
Quite some time later, I could see it.
The clearing. The city. Viridian City.
This time, I did run. It hurt even more, but I ran. Ran like I was being chased. But just before I fully left the woods, I saw it.
Red.
Charmander.
I stopped and turned to it.
It stared back at me.
My Charmander.
It then turned away from me and walked into the woods.
I stared in shock.
"FINE!! WHO NEEDS YOU THEN??" I screamed after it. I wanted to scream after it some more. Maybe chase it down and give it a good kick or two. Ungrateful lizard. But I had my Mankey to care for. Before leaving, I screamed, "I hope your tail flame goes out! You're worthless! Nothing to me! I hate you, you traitor!! DIIIIIIIIIIIEEEE!!!" I ran again, even harder than before. The pain was still there, but I had to keep going. I was angry. Pumped. I ran past a police booth before truly noticing it. Once I realized what it was, I stopped and headed back to it.
A woman stepped out from it.
Offcier Jenny.
"Oh my gosh!!! What happened here????" she screamed in complete shock.
"Please. Officer…" I was grateful I had found her. It was like starving for food when miles away from home and finally your only two feet from the fridge. I collapsed, very painfully, to my knees and screamed out.
She ran to me and escorted me to her motorcycle, helping me into the sidecar. Without a word, she hopped on the motorcycle and we were driving at top speed.
It wasn't long before the Pokémon Center came into view.
I felt like I was losing consciousness. But that was okay. We were gonna be okay. jI looked down at Mankey.
Its eyes were closed. It didn't seem to be breathing.
"Mankey…" I whispered. "You're gonna be ok. We made it, buddy."
I didn't take my eyes from it.
Then, to my great surprise, one of Mankey's eyes opened just a slit.
I gasped in great surprise. "Mankey," I could barely get myself to whisper.
Mankey reached one of its paws to my cheek for just an instant before it fell back lifelessly.
"Mankey…" I whispered. "No. We're safe now. We're ok. I promise you."
We got closer to the Pokémon Center. It loomed before me. It was an incredible looking building, enormous in size.
My consciousness was going. But it was okay now. It had to be.
I didn't need Charmander and I was gonna prove it. If it didn't wanna be with me and just wanted me to die, then so be it. But I won't die Charmander, I thought to myself as we reached the outskirts of Viridian City. I won't die. I'll become the strongest Pokémon trainer in the world. And I'll capture every Pokémon in existence. Maybe you'll even hear about me one day. See my picture in the paper or something as the greatest Pokemon trainer of this day and age. No. EVER. Maybe you won't. But I don't care. You know why Charmander? Because you're dead to me. Just like you left me. You left me for dead. And you're dead to me, too.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 4: A Fresh Starter

Fate can be cruel. But who are we to say what's fair. In a world full of opinion, where every right is someone else's wrong. Where what is a criminal act to one person is an overgenerous act in the mind of another. A world where surviving traumatic, life changing experiences can be the very reason you are now living the lavish life a few years later. A world where everyone is convinced they have the answer based on a gut feeling that has been wrong countless times before.
It is this world I live in that is governed by such a fate. An unforgiving fate acting upon some form of will.
But to what end?
I didn't need to open my eyes. I didn't even need my ears. Neither was necessary for me to know I was in a hospital. The pain everywhere told me enough. Reminded me of the attack.
I thought crazy thoughts when I was left alone with my thoughts. I enjoyed the time to contemplate life and judge everything in the entire universe. My thoughts were too much to tell most anyone. It was hard to put these thoughts that flowed like water in my head into words to tell anyone. The water turned to ice and got caught in my throat.
I wasn't alone in my room. I knew that much. And even though I had yet to open my eyes, I knew that the living thing a few feet away from me was my Mankey.
It had better be.
It wasn't long before my exhausted body caved in again, and I was asleep.

My Charmander looked up at me. "You're a failure," it sneered at me.
"Huh?"
"I could tell from the moment I saw you. Pathetic. A moron."
"Hey, wait a –"
"You're not Pokémon trainer. Just a punk kid associated with losers and quitters."
"Why are you - ?"
"Your pathetic excuse of a sister. Your weakling dad. A wimp and chump. And now you. A perfect combination of both. I bet you made your mother proud failing this fast at life."
I threw myself at Charmander in anger, but before I grabbed it by the throat, my eyes shot open and hit the floor.
I had been dreaming. But not anymore. My head was hurting bad, now. That collision really would've hurt by itself, but the fact my entire body was in aching pain already, made a bad situation worse. I took the time to look around as I moaned in pain. My eyes were open now, after all.
Indeed, I was in some sort of hospital. It was a rather comfortable looking room. A TV was hanging a little ways away from my bed. I saw flowers sitting in a vase on a table with a note in them, all wrapped in plastic.
And another bed.
Mankey?
I stood up and hobbled over to get a better look, but there was no doubt about it.
Mankey. My Mankey. Looking worse than I remembered. He was covered in purple and black bruises everywhere. It didn't even look like a Mankey anymore. Just a big, bugling, pulsating entity.
"Mankey," I whispered.
The door opened suddenly and I saw her.
Nurse Joy. An incredibly beautiful nurse known throughout the entire Pokémon World. Were they more famous for their beauty? Or for the odd trait that every Nurse Joy is not only related but each and every one of them looks exactly alike and were all named Joy? Probably the latter. But their beauty was not to be counted out.
It had been a secret dream of mine to meet a Nurse Joy. She was, after all, extraordinarily beautiful, but even in my most adventurous trips with my parents, we never did visit a Pokemon Center or meet a Nurse Joy. We never really had any Pokémon with us on our journey, and so there was very little reason to visit a Pokémon Center.
Funny what has to occur for our dreams to come true. And how worse of a time. I couldn't truly enjoy this moment.
"Gary?" Nurse Joy asked. "What do you think you're doing out of bed?" She sternly walked over to me and took me over to my bed, gently laying me down in it.
It was then I noticed her classic Pokémon companion, Chansey. Every Pokémon Center not only had a Nurse Joy, but a Nurse Joy accompanied by a Chansey. The classic duo. Chansey was any nurse's help in the Pokémon world. They were natural born healers and a great aid. If there wasn't a Chansey, it was only because there was a Blissey, Chansey's ever helpful evolved form.
"Wait…" I whispered. "Mankey…"
"You lay down, do you understand?" Nurse Joy was known as much for her kind heart as she was for her sternness. She cared for people and Pokémon beyond comprehension, but when she was trying to help you medically, it was best you do what she says, or things can get nasty.
Same rule applied when it came to listening to her partner, Chansey. Chansey had a Doubleslap attack that could knock out some of the most unruly of Pokémon.
"Please. Miss Nurse Joy…"
She smiled at me. "Take it easy, Gary. I am glad you're awake now. You've been in bed for over a week. Your mom was very worried."
"My mom…?" I mumbled weakly
"Yes. Your mom." Her smile could soothe a rampant Charizard. Her eyes burned through to my soul and gripped tighter than a Kingler on its prey.
I could feel myself start to relax. Melt to her will.
No.
"Mankey…"
"Chansey!" Chansey cried out and walked over to my Mankey.
"Chansey will take care of Mankey," Nurse Joy said soothingly. Her face was flawless. Smooth. Who could resist such a gaze? So gentle. Friendly. Did she know she could control the entire planet with eyes so alluring? She said to relax and let Chansey handle everything. Who was I to say no?
I relaxed and stared back at her, smiling. I was smitten. She had stolen my heart completely. I'd have done anything in the world for her.
She glanced over to Chansey for a moment and then looked back to me. "Just relax now, Gary, ok?"
I saw the needle in her hand, but I didn't care. What a beauty she was. Incredible. Just incredible. I felt the prick, but it only lasted a moment. I guess the drug was taking over because I could've sworn she was leaning in closer to my face. "Don't worry, Gary. I promise everything will be ok." Were her lips puckering towards mine? Or were the drugs making me loopy?
I didn't care. I closed my eyes and puckered my lips out to her, hoping to connect with hers.
I don't remember what happened the following second.
"Do you, Nurse Joy, take Gary to be your lawfully wedded husband? To marry forever? To love and cherish. For better or for worse? For rich or for poor? Through happiness and sadness? Til death do you part?"
"I do."
My eyes opened. I was staring at Nurse Joy, in a wedding gown, staring back at me! I looked down at myself. No. This couldn't be me. Not in a tuxedo! I lifted my arms and moved around in shock. I looked around me.
A Pastor was staring at me oddly.
I was in a church.
And... my family! My mom. Sister Melissa. My dad. Distant family I hadn't seen in years!
Prof. Oak and Tracey!
Mrs. Tot, Ms. Say, and Mr. and Mrs. Butters!
And tons and tons of Nurse Joys! Not just that, but the Officer Jennys! Just as many Nurse Joys as there were Officer Jenny!
I didn't get the chance to appreciate Officer Jenny when I met her in Viridian City after the Mankey attack, but she was arguably even more gorgeous than Nurse Joy! And they have the same story as Nurse Joy! Same name, and they all look alike. But they tend to carry the faithful puppy pokemon, Growlithe, with them. However, many Officer Jenny have been seen with other Pokémon accompanying than instead of Growlithe.
Everyone was sitting in chairs, many in the crowd, including my mom, crying joyfully, smiles on their faces. Others were joyfully whispering to each other. Other simply beamed their approval.
"Do you, Gary, take Nurse Joy to be your lawfully wedded wife? To marry forever? To love and cherish. For better or for worse? For rich or for poor? Through happiness and sadness? Til death do you part?"
In shock I stared at the pastor. "Huh???"
Everyone in the audience gasped.
The Pastor looked at me in shock.
Nurse Joy covered her face in her hands and looked close to tears.
I did damage control as fast as I could. "Of course I do?? Is that really a question?" I laughed it off.
Soon, everyone was laughing. Even the Pastor. And thankfully, even Nurse Joy.
My… wife?
Still chuckling, the Pastor said, "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
I reached out for Nurse Joy and she embraced me. I kissed her, feeling her soft lips on mine. I held her face gently like the rarest of glasses and stayed there until what seemed like forever.
When finally we pulled apart, I stared deep into her eyes.
Huh?
Not Nurse Joy's eyes. Not even… human eyes! It was… I kissed a…
"Chansey!!!" Chansey said cheerfully, reaching out for me as everyone applauded and cheered behind me.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" I screamed. I sat up fast. I was awake. In bed, but awake in a hospital bed. "AAAHHH!!!!!" The pain sunk in again. The pain from the Mankey attack snapped me back to where I was and why. The dream was out of my head, now. I breathed heavily.
Heavy footsteps approached the room and the door flew open.
"Gary?" Nurse Joy was in the doorway. I could see her Chansey behind her and…
"Mom?" I said in surprise.
"Gary!" She pushed past Nurse Joy and ran up to me.
"MOM! NOOOO!!!" I screamed as she reached out for me.
But my mom ran forward and hugged me tight.
The scream that came from my mouth as she wrapped her arms around me was unlike any scream I'd ever heard.

The attack the Mankey had done to me was bad. It wasn't until another week before I was able to walk decent, and another week before the fainting spells stopped.
Mankey's health remained stable, but never improved.
My mom had been in the hospital visiting me since the night I came in and never left the Pokemon Center.
I didn't even know Pokémon Centers catered to humans. After all, we do have human hospitals. However, in some cases, especially those involving Pokémon attacks, Pokémon Centers can assist in helping people, too.
Plus, my Mankey. My poor Mankey. It'd be terrible to separate a trainer from his Pokémon. It was best we stayed together for emotional support.
I was able to continue on my Pokemon journey now.
Since the Poke ball I caught my Mankey in was now gone, destroyed by the Mankey when they beat me and my Mankey up, as I recalled vaguely during the assault, Mankey wasn't technically mine anymore. I could just leave it here and continue on my Pokémon journey.
My mom was allowing me to continue even though I know in her heart she was scared more than ever.
During a free moment in my head, a question arised.
"Does Prof. Oak know I'm here?"
"Yes," my mom replied. "He came when you were unconscious for about a week. Came back every day. But he had enormous faith you would be just fine. Said you're a strong boy and always have been. He had someplace to go to, but he left with strong, reassuring words that you were going to make it through just fine. You and your little Pokemon."
For some reason I was happy about that. He really did care. I was grateful for his concern and dedication. Grateful he cared about my Mankey I had only just caught.
I sighed.
My mom's arm around my shoulder tightened. "What's wrong, baby?"
"Did he ask about my Charmander?"
She didn't say anything for a moment. Then finally, "No."
I stayed quiet. My focus was my Mankey again. Not that accursed red menace. That traitor. That disgusting…. That vile, evil… I took a deep breath. I needed to focus on my Mankey. I breathed in a few more times.
No matter how much longer it took, I wasn't leaving until Mankey got better. And if not….
I took a deep breath again. Slowly.
I could still feel the pain from the Mankey attack, but it was far more bearable. It stung and pulsated constantly. The scars were there to. Looking in the mirror, you could see it was me, but I looked like what had happened. Like I had my behind handed to me in a fight with a bunch of rabid animals. But I'd be fine.
But my Mankey…
As much as I just want wanted to forget Charmander, that slithering spineless lizard was the reason me and Mankey were in this predicament in the first place. I'd never forget this. No matter what. Charmander sold us out to the Mankey. Then, after we got away with barely an inch of our lives, deserted us again. It truly didn't care.
Well, who needs it, anyway? I thought to myself. Good thing I chose it instead of Butters, Aly, or Kiwi. Good thing I took this pain for them.
Then a new thought came to mind.
If Charmander had stuck with us, would we still be in this pain? Would Charmander be in the hospital, too?
I wouldn't want that for Charmander. But after seeing its disloyalty to us…
I gritted my teeth in anger.
"Gary," my mom said, holding me tighter, "it's gonna be okay, baby."
I let her hold me, but I was getting mad. "No, it isn't," I mumbled.
"What was that, Gary?"
"No, it's not!" I yelled.
We were in the lobby of the Pokémon Center. Not only were Pokémon trainers and their Pokémon there, but so were tourists from other lands, and some Pokémon I hadn't seen before. They all looked up at me and my mom.
None of it mattered to me, though. "Nobody can say everything is okay until my Mankey is out of here! I don't want promises from those who can't keep them! Are you in the emergency room operating on my Mankey? What if Mankey dies? Then what will you say? 'Sorry?' I don't want a stinking sorry! I want my Pokémon!"
There was silence in the Pokémon Center. Even Nurse Joy and Chansey were watching me from behind the front desk.
I felt extremely uncomfortable with all the attention on me, but I also couldn't care less. My eyes burned hot with tears. I glared at my mom and her false promises, and she just gazed back at me silently with a calm look on her face. The calm look made me sick and I wished I could just shake the look off of her face until concern and tears and everything I felt inside of me was show in her face, too.
I didn't realize I was shaking until a hand landed on my shoulder.
I turned around fast.
"Prof. Oak!" I exclaimed.
"It's okay, son," Prof. Oak said and extended his arms.
"I'm not your son!" I yelled. I was yelling at everyone for no reason now and I didn't really know why. "My dad is dead! Dead! He died because he was a greedy failure. He-"
"He cared too much," Prof. Oak interrupted.
The silence somehow became a deafening noise. Not a single thing could be heard.
Prof. Oak put his arm around me and walked me outside of the Pokémon Center.
I didn't fight against him. I just followed.
Once outside, I noticed the sun beaming down. It was a beautiful day, but my gaze stayed on the grass, looking healthy and vibrant in the sun's glow.
I noticed my mom didn't follow us. It was just me and Prof. Oak walking somewhere.
Prof. Oak stopped stopped in a clearing in the middle of Viridian City. "Gary," Prof. Oak started. "He loved you. And he cared a great deal for his family."
I kept my eyes trained to the ground as he talked, listening.
"I don't know exactly what he was after. But he was out there for you. For your mother. For your sister. He loved you all with all of his heart. But I also know that he left for a good reason. And I know if he could do it again, he would, and he would try harder to make it back home next time. This wasn't a trip for money and power. This was for his family's well being."
"But we were living just fine!" I cried, eyes beginning to fill, but holding them back.
"Like I said, I don't know why he left. But, Gary, believe me that he was a good man who wouldn't have just left so you could live a fancy lifestyle. It was more. Not even your mother knows why he left, I think. But he was a great man. Everybody in Pallet Town knows that. Trust that Gary."
I looked him in his eyes. I didn't tear away. And I didn't cry. I wouldn't. I just looked intently at him.
"As for Mankey, you have to be there for it. You have to believe in it. You have to support it. No one can guarantee it will survive, but you have to stick through these difficult times. Pokemon die. And you never know when. Nothing lives forever. That is the rule of life itself. It ends. The rest of us have to move on and either make something or ruin everything. We have the choice. And not everyone chooses the same path. That is life, Gary. The creation of or the destruction of. Remember that, my boy."
Prof. Oak stared back at me seriously.
I just nodded. After a while, I looked away and stretched my arms and back for a moment, groaning.
Without a word, we walked back to the Pokémon Center.
I stepped through the doors as they opened for me and saw everyone staring at me. I wasn't concerned with that. I spotted my mom looking up at me from the other side of the room and walked over to her, sitting next to her. "I'm sorry, mommy."
She just stared at me.
"I was thinking I'd quit being a Pokémon trainer," I started.
"What?" my mom in shock.
I wasn't sure why she was shocked. Was she surprised I was thinking of no longer being a trainer because she thought I was going to just continue? Or was she happy I was thinking of quitting?
"But I can't, mom," I finished.
Silence from her.
"I have a journey to fulfill. A promise," I explained. "I am going to capture every Pokémon in existence. Defeat every Trainer who I meet. I will become a Pokémon master, mom. I will succeed what my dad started and my sister continued. I will not return until I've fulfilled my promises. That is what I promise to you, right here, right now, mom. I'll become a true Pokémon master!"
Her eyes filled with tears and she looked to the ground.
"I have to finish what has been started, mom. I-"
A light ping noise came from behind the doors in the back of the Pokémon Center. The light above the doors, showing a large needle with a red backlight, went out, and Nurse Joy and her Chansey came with stern faces, looking around.
They spotted me and locked eyes with mine.
There was another terrible silence in the room for what seemed to be too long to bare.
The silence was killing me. I was about to stand up and yell something when a smile swiftly moved across Nurse Joy's gorgeous lips and Chansey's face.
They stepped away from each other and a second and third Chansey came out from the back, rolling a stretcher by the sides. On it was my Mankey!
Although it looked like it had been in some kind of a scuffle, it looked great!
I ran up to it immediately. "Mankey?"
It was laying on its back still, eyes closed.
"He needs some rest for another day or two, but he is finally recovering just wonderfully," Nurse Joy said reassuringly.
I couldn't control myself. I hugged all three Chansey and Nurse Joy! "I love you!" I exclaimed. "All four of you. Everyone else involved! Thank you so much!" I cried and Nurse Joy even hugged me back. I felt her Chansey put their hands on me in a hug and everyone in the Pokémon Center was applauding.
I felt two hands land on either of my shoulders. One heavy, one lighter.
I turned to see my mom with the lighter hand and Prof. Oak with the heavier landing hand, smiling at me.
I let go of Nurse Joy and hugged both my mom and Prof. Oak and even cried just a little bit, willingly.

It was three days later.
When Nurse Joy was one hundred percent certain everything was okay with Mankey, it was finally free to be released. They wheeled Mankey out of the doors it had been behind for so long.
Mankey saw me and at once hopped up and down excitedly.
I smiled wider than I may ever have in my life.
Mankey leaped high into the air with a screech and landed right in my arms as I reached out for it, hanging from my neck.
It had recognized me and was happy to see me. I couldn't believe it!
"Mankey, how do you feel?" I asked.
Mankey grunted and screeched and climbed all over me, taking my cap and wearing it forwards. It look good on it, too.
I laughed at my silly friend.
Mankey looked healthy. Not a fully scar free Pokémon, but just about. You could barely see any of the scuffs and bruises. It was a miracle.
I hugged Mankey tightly and it hugged me back just as hard, which hurt just a bit. But my wounds were getting better, and I could take the pain for a hug like that any day.
"My, what a fine specimen of a Pokémon that is," Prof. Oak said, examining my Mankey. "Hi, Mankey. My name is Prof. Oak. Would you like a banana?" The Professor reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a banana.
Mankey sniffed it several times happily before screeching in joy.
As Prof. Oak peeled the banana for Mankey and then handed it to him. He explained, "You see, Mankey don't often have the capabilities to peel a banana. But once given a helping hand, they go…bananas! Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Everyone in the Pokémon Center smiled weakly at the poor joke.
"This moment calls for a poem:
'Mankey. Peeling the banana,
Is not as important as eating the banana.'
More silence…
This guy gets paid for writing this stuff? I wondered.
A banana peel hit Prof. Oak in the face suddenly.
Mankey began screeching excitedly on my head.
Everyone laughed.
Prof. Oak removed it. "Guess he wasn't a fan?" Prof. Oak joked.
Every laughed again.
The tone of the room was so much different and better now than it had been not too long ago.
"Hey…. Um… Mankey?" I asked him.
Mankey relaxed and stared at me.
"Well, you don't have to stick with me anymore you know… The Poke ball is destroyed and I don't have any Pokémon anymore to battle you with in a fair battle, so if you wanted to leave…"
Mankey screeched at me, jumping on my shoulders.
"Hey, hey! Relax!" I cried. "What's wrong? Stop it that hurts!!"
It stopped and crawled effortlessly around my body again, then flipped my cap backwards and clung from my neck by its legs, hanging happily.
"I'd say Mankey wants to be your new Pokémon. Again, ha ha ha," Prof. Oak guessed.
"You think?" I asked, surprised.
"Only one way to find out," Prof. Oak smiled.
I nodded and pulled out a Poke ball. "Mankey! You're welcome to join up with me again!" I tossed the Poke ball in the air and Mankey happily jumped after it.
Mankey hit the Poke ball, it opened, and he was sucked inside by the red light. The ball landed in my hands and shook for a few moments before the ping sound was heard and Mankey was caught!
"YES! I caught Mankey!" I cheered.
Me and Mankey from now on, I thought.
I felt excited, as if I had just received my first Pokémon. My starter. Mankey. I was excited to continue my journey.
After thanking Nurse Joy again, but in my heart, sad to be leaving the beauty behind, I left the Pokémon Center.
"So, Gary, where to next?" Prof. Oak asked.
"I need to thank Officer Jenny for getting me to the Pokémon Center so swiftly," I replied. "Then, I'm going through the Viridian Forest and on to Pewter City. That's where I think I will be heading for my first badge, I guess."
My mom and Prof. Oak smiled at me.
"Well, I want to thank her for saving my baby boy, too," my mom said.
"Yes, I wouldn't mind thanking her myself for doing such outstanding work," Prof. Oak agreed.
So together, we arrived at Officer Jenny's booth.
She stepped out and my heart stopped. She really was far more gorgeous that the incredible Nurse Joy! From her bizarre blue hair, matching blue outfit, peculiar high heels. The short skirt. I was ready to commit a lifetime of crimes right this second! And they all dress like this!
Prof. Oak nudged me out of my thoughts and I shook my head.
"Are you the Officer Jenny who-?" I started.
"Oh my goodness!" she exclaimed. "You're that boy! Nurse Joy has been keeping me updated on what happened and how you've been doing! She hasn't hit me up lately though, and I was gonna go down there tomorrow to see what was going on with you!"
I could feel my face getting a bit hot. I laughed a bit and smiled. "Well, I just really needed to thank you for saving me and my Mankey's life. We owe you big time."
"Oh, how is the little darling?" she asked.
"Just fine," I said happily. I held out its Poke ball. "Mankey, come out!"
The Poke ball opened and Mankey came flying out from the light that shot out. It danced around happily.
"I am so grateful you two are okay," Officer Jenny said, wiping at her eyes.
"No, we are all grateful to you, Officer Jenny," I assured her. "Thank you so much."
She took me by surprise in a hug and I hugged her back, hoping she would stay right where she was for maybe another one, two, three or four lifetimes.
Not long after that, I was bidding my mom and Prof. Oak goodbye. I told them to be careful on their trek back through Route 1 and they wished me luck and to be careful on my own journey.
My mom gave me an especially long hug and several kisses before leaving back to Pallet Town with Prof. Oak.
I looked to my Mankey.
He hung from my back with his arms around my neck.
"So what do you say we head to the Pokemart now? I think it's located somewhere in the Pokemon Center, in fact. I think you just have to ask where it is or something. We could maybe get some more Pokeballs and food and stuff!"
Mankey grunted in agreement and sniffed me.
I laughed. "Good! We're off, buddy!"
Off.
Off to the Viridian Forest.
Off to Pewter City.
Off on a brand new adventure with my first official Pokémon.
My starter.
Mankey.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 5: Fear & Anger Part 1 Of 2

Viridian Forest.
I wasn't thrilled about entering to be completely honest. I have had a really bad phobia of insects, Pokémon or not, ever since I went to the bathroom back in preschool and ran into a wild Beedrill. How a Beedrill got in there I'll never know, but it did and I was emotionally scarred.
Plus, all I had was a Mankey with me. Fighting type Pokémon don't have too many good moves to beat bug types. We had a disadvantage.
For the smallest second I thought of Charmander. Charmander, as a fire type, had a huge advantage to beat bug types.
What Charmander? I thought to myself. I don't own a Charmander. Never have.
I shook my head.
"Well, Mankey, here goes nothing, buddy," I said to Mankey.
Mankey was hanging from my back, arms around my neck. Suddenly, he stood up and leaped into the trees. He stared at me and jumped and up down on a branch excitedly, waiting to follow me.
I smiled.
My eyes scanned the forest jas we walked, hoping to get out as soon as possible.
Mankey swung through the trees, happy as ever, sticking close by my side.
"Hey, Mankey," I said.
Mankey looked towards me, keeping a careful eye on his swinging.
"I had a bad experience as a little kid with a bug Pokémon so I'm really not very fond of them. I want to get out of this forest as soon as possible. So, what do you say we slowly but surely try to keep an eye out and avoid them?"
Mankey grunted excitedly in agreement.
We moved slowly as to not disturb any bug Pokémon, but swiftly enough to get around quicker.
That's when I saw it.
A tree covered in Kakuna! From the bottom of the trunk to the high tops of the branches. Kakuna everywhere! Not moving. Just looking ahead in silence.
I knew just what this Pokemon was. Pulling out my Pokedex, I scanned them anyway.
"Kakuna. The cocoon Pokémon. The evolved form of Weedle. This Pokémon is nearly incapable of moving at all. However, in some cases, they can extend a poison bard to attack enemies. This is middle stage for Weedle before evolving into the highly dangerous Pokémon, Beedrill."
Turning to Mankey, I put one finger to my lips and motioned for it to slowly keep moving forward, away from the tree.
We crept along the path slowly. Once we were a safe distance away, I stopped.
My goal. My promise to catch them all. All one thousand Pokémon. I promised my mom I would. I had to.
"Mankey, we have to go back," I said sternly.
Mankey stared at me for a moment, then happily hopped up and down on the branch it was on in agreement.
Suddenly, something fell out from the tree!
A Weedle!
"Oh, wow, look Mankey!" I exclaimed.
Whipping out my Pokedex, I scanned Weedle.
"Weedle. The Hairy Bug Pokémon. They eat mainly leaves everyday in preparation for their evolution. Though slow moving, they use the sharp stinger on their heads masterfully."
I hated this bug with a passion. But I had to capture it.
I had to.
"Mankey, go!" I yelled.
Mankey flew from the treetops and landed in front of the Weedle.
Weedle backed up a little. Then leaped forward, stinger aimed at Mankey!
"Mankey, move!" I screamed.
Mankey dodged just in time, keeping its eyes on Weedle.
Weedle turned for another Poison Sting attack.
"Mankey, dodge again! Then use your Fury Swipes!" I ordered.
Mankey moved swiftly, then hit the bug with a flurry of swipes from its paws, knocking the bug into the distance a few feet away.
"Mankey, use Leer!"
Mankey's eyes glowed red and Weedle started to back away.
Leer attack lowered the opponent's defense stats, so any following physical attack was gonna be a lot more damage.
"Karate Chop, now!" I ordered.
Mankey flew forward with a powerful Karate Chop and Weedle hit the tree hard.
"Poke ball, go!" I tossed it at the Weedle. Weedle was sucked inside.
The Poke Ball shook, the center of the ball a sharp red. Shaking. Shaking. Shaking. Ping. The red faded to white.
Weedle was mine!
I walked over to the Poke ball and hesitantly picked it up.
It was so gross, but at least it was inside the Poke Ball.
"You did great, Mankey!" I exclaimed. "Our first caught Pokémon."
Mankey jumped up and down excitedly, screeching and grunting.
I figured I should introduce Weedle officially to the team.
"Weedle come on out," I said, extending its Poke ball.
Weedle shot out of the Poke ball in the white light and looked up at me.
Mankey walked over to it and started grunting and sniffing it, hopping around it and jumping up happily.
I kneeled down to Weedle. "Hi, my name is Gary and this is my Pokémon, Mankey," I introduced us. "You put up quite a good fight, and now you're on my team. Together we're gonna grow stronger and take over the Pokémon world. How do you feel about traveling with me?"
Weedle seemed a bit confused, but cried out happily and nodded.
Then it started to crawl up my leg!!!
"AAAHHH!!!" I screamed.
Weedle fell off my leg at my scream.
"Sorry, Weedle, I just, need some space," I managed.
Suddenly, Mankey leaped off of the ground and hung from my neck with its arms.
Weedle looked at us, first in surprise, then its eyes started to visibly water as it started to cry.
"Wait, Weedle, you don't understand!" I cried.
Weedle cried harder and started to crawl away. Faster than I expected it to.
I gave chase until I heard the noise. Something close. A buzz? Yes. An undeniable buzz.
But it couldn't be…
"Weedle!" I looked for it but it was gone. "Darn it! Weedle, where are you?" I was getting angry. Mainly because I had a bad feeling about what that buzz was.
I didn't have to wait long to find out.
Beedrill! An entire swarm of Beedrill! The enormous bees with stingers the size of my head on their arms and end of their bodies. The most terrifying Pokémon of them all to me.
"Mankey, return!" I recalled Mankey and ran as the bees swarmed at me.
I dove into trees, ducked, dived, and did every maneuver I could to escape the deadly swarm! But this was their forest. There was nowhere to hide for me.
I suddenly saw it and I became filled with hope. A cabin! But an instant later, my heart sunk. It looked deserted. Like nobody had lived there in years! And it was filled with enormous holes! Like… a swarm of Beedrill had attacked it!
Had other stupid, loud trainers like me been around this forest, screaming and ticking off the vicious Pokémon? Had they run into this cabin for safety, back when it wasn't a destroyed mess? Did they get out alive?
Will I?
I ran up to the cabin and turned to my opponents.
Maybe the Pokémon trainer life isn't for me, I thought to myself.
I was in the middle of a clearing. No place for me to hide now.
"Butterfree, Sleep Powder, now!"
An enormous butterfly Pokémon appeared suddenly and flew high above us all, a blue powder sprinkling from its wings. It fell around the swarm of Beedrill who all began to drop to the ground, sleeping.
I looked down and saw her.
She had a frown on her face, and looked to be about my age. "Are you more retarded than a Slowpoke or are you out here with a deathwish?"
"Huh??" I was dumbfounded. "I-"
"-am stupid?" she interrupted. "Yes, quite so. Running around Viridian Forest like a dimwit, making noise and such. You idiot!"
I had no idea what to say.
"Next time, you're on your own," she said. "Get on out of here! To Viridian or Pewter or wherever you're headed. It's getting late. And don't let me catch you 'round these parts again you understand me?"
Her southern accent was oddly pleasant, even though she was yelling at me. Her brown hair wrapped behind her head and down and around her neck, sitting on her left shoulder. She was very pretty, but clearly had issues.
I don't go around starting issues with deadly Pokémon for fun.
As her Butterfree flew over and landed on her right shoulder, I took out my Pokedex.
"Butterfree. The Butterfly Pokémon. This Pokémon's wings are covered in multiple types of dust that are released in battle to cause multiple effects on its opponents."
I swept the Pokedex over to the sleeping Beedrill.
"Beedrill. The Poison Bee Pokémon. This Pokémon is extremely dangerous. Approaching it is not recommended under nearly any circumstance. They often attack in large swarms, but even alone, it will take on any opponent."
"You sure are a noob of a trainer," the girl said to me. She started walking away.
"Hey, wait!" I called. "Who are you anyway? How'd you even know I was out here?"
She stopped, but didn't turn back to face me. "You're in the middle of the infamous Viridian Forest screaming and causing a commotion. I only naturally came to see what the fuss was. I was on my way out of here myself. A bunch of Beedrill fly past me and I come to see some idiot getting chased by them. Who I am is none of your business. Where are you from, kid?"
"I'm from Pallet Town," I replied. "You?"
"Again, none of your business," she said snottily. "Go back to Pallet. If you keep on like this you're gonna end up dead."
"I have to get to Pewter CIty," I explained. "I have a really bad fear of insects, so I kind of-"
She laughed at me hysterically. "Afraid of bugs?? And you come straight to Viridian Forest??" She laughed again.
"Well, how else am I supposed to get to Pewter City?" I asked angrily. "And besides, my goal is to become a Pokémon master. I can't just avoid my fears if I want to master all Pokémon."
She kept laughing. "Kid, if you're afraid of bugs, you need to go right back to Pallet. NOW. There are much worse things out there than bug Pokémon." She laughed again.
"Hey, bugs aren't weak!" I exclaimed. "They can be strong! Every Pokémon has its place!" I was starting to get angry.
"Bugs are the weakest of all Pokémon," she sneered. "I hate the things."
I stared at her Butterfree, who stared back at me. Butterfree was a bug and flying type Pokémon.
"Don't stare at my Butterfree like that," she said angrily. "It's strong, but bug Pokémon aren't. They have their place, but in the end, there is always something better."
I really didn't like her attitude. Maybe she just didn't know better. She could just be speaking from ignorance. But then again, it is true that bugs aren't the best Pokémon out there. But they sure could be wondrous battlers when used right.
She walked on ahead of me again and I let her.
I decided I better get out of here before the Beedrill wake up. I instantly thought of my Weedle. I need to find it, I thought. Somehow.
I silently crept past the Beedrill, carefully, slowly. Once past them, I walked along the path, not knowing where I was going or where I was at all. In a way, I didn't care. For some reason, my main concern was finding my Weedle. I had hurt its feelings badly. I wanted to call out for my Weedle but I didn't want to start another swarm riot again, so I stayed quiet. Then I remembered Mankey. I sent Mankey out of its Poke ball, knelt down, and whispered, "Mankey, I lost Weedle back there, so please, can you help me locate it? Quietly?"
Mankey grunted quietly, but excitedly, and took to the treetops. It sniffed the area and began swinging.
I followed behind, running as carefully as I could.
After a while, I caught up to Mankey. It found Weedle!
"Weedle!" I said quietly. "I'm so sorry-"
Mankey shook its head at me hard.
"Huh?" I said.
Mankey grunted at Weedle, and Weedle said, "Weeeeedleeee!" before moving back into the trees again.
"Mankey?" I asked.
Mankey just shook its head again before jumping into the treetops again and looked around.
I guess that wasn't my Weedle, I guessed.
Mankey started swinging again.
I ran after it once more.
Before long, Mankey found another Weedle! Mankey talked to it for a while before looking up to me and nodding excitedly.
Weedle was looking sadly at the ground.
This must be my Weedle, I thought.
I knelt down and then sat on the ground.
"Weedle," I began. "I'm so glad I found you! I've been looking hard for you with Mankey. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings earlier. You see, I kind of have a really bad fear of insects. When I was much younger, I ran into a Beedrill and I was terrified. It must be hard to naturally look and be one way and have others be so afraid of you. It isn't your fault, is it?"
Weedle nodded slowly.
"Please, forgive me for how I acted earlier, Weedle," I said. "I honestly, really want to be your friend. I want us to be close. When I left for my Pokemon journey, I made a promise to my mom that I would capture every Pokémon in the world. Did you know that there are nearly one thousand Pokémon in existence?"
Weedle finally looked up to me, a look of awe in its eyes.
"And probably many more," I continued. "I promised my mom I would catch them all. And that includes you. But, I also promised to be a Pokémon master. That means more than just catching Pokémon. That means making friends and bonding with them, too. Understanding them, respecting them, and earning their respect."
Weedle was listening intently. Or so it seemed.
"Weedle, please, allow me to work with you and I will try hard to work with you, too," I said. "Please, Weedle. Give me another chance. Give me time. Let's try to do this together. I welcome you to stay with my team. Join up with me and Mankey. Let's go on the road to becoming the greatest the world has ever seen. Will you give me that chance, Weedle?"
Weedle's eyes watered again before bouncing up and down in the air in joy.
I smiled. It was disgusting, gross, creepy, but it was my friend. My Pokémon. And in a sense, I loved it.
"Thank you, Weedle," I said happily. I stood up. "Well, Mankey, Weedle is back!"
Mankey happily jumped in the air, screeching.
"SSSHHHH!!!" I said, raising a finger to my lips.
Mankey quieted down immediately.
"Let's just get out of this forest," I said nervously. "I've had about enough of it here. Mankey, can you find the original path we were on before those Beedrill attack us?"
Mankey hopped back into the treetops and looked around. It then took off swinging from the branches.
"Come on, Weedle," I said. Then remembered Weedle was a slow Pokémon. "Um… return!" I returned Weedle back to its Poke ball and ran after Mankey.
We ran for a while. The sun was out when we met that girl with the Butterfree. But now, the sun was setting. And eventually, it was dark out. But Mankey was still swinging.
I began to get worried.
"Mankey!" I called.
Mankey stopped and hung from a branch, looking at me.
"Mankey, are you sure you know where we are?" I asked.
Mankey looked around and swung its head. It grunted feebly at me.
I didn't think it knew. I think it was lost.
"Great," I muttered. "Wait, Weedle would know this forest!" I sent out Weedle again. "Weedle, please. How do we get out of here?"
Weedle looked around. "Weeeeedle!" it said. Then it just stared at me.
I stared back.
It stared back.
I stared back.
It stared back.
I stared back.
I heard what sounded like a Hoothoot in the distance.
"Weeeedle!" Weedle exclaimed.
Great. It didn't seem to have any idea of where we were, either, I assumed.
I sighed. "Thanks anyway, Weedle," I said, returning it to the Poke ball. "Guess it's just you and me, Mankey."
Mankey was still looking around in the trees for a way out.
"I'm getting hungry," I said out loud. Me and Mankey hadn't eaten all day. I had bought some Pokémon food from the Pokemart located in the Pokémon Center. "Mankey, time to eat."
Mankey looked down to me and excitedly leaped from the tree tops and landed next to me, hopping up and down in circles around me.
I opened the bag of Pokémon food I had and poured it into a little bowl I had also purchased.
Mankey hungrily dove into the bowl.
I laughed a bit and sent out Weedle, too. I took a piece of food from Mankey's bowl without it noticing and handed it to Weedle. "You want?"
Weedle sniffed it and shook its head. It crawled up a tree and began snacking on leaves.
Of course, I thought to myself. The Pokedex said it did that. Cheaper on my quickly emptying pockets, I guess. I grabbed one of the snacks my mom left for me and ate greedily.
It wasn't long before I heard the grass rustle.
The three of us stopped eating and looked up.
Who is that? I wondered. I couldn't see anything. I heard the rustle again.
"Who's there?" I called. "Girl with that Butterfree? Is it you?"
No response.
I stood up. "Who are you?" I yelled. My palm instantly slapped my forehead.
Gotta shut up!! I thought myself. Unless I want more Beedrill swarms.
Mankey started sniffing the air. Growling, he leaped in front of me.
"Mankey?" I said. "What's wrong buddy? Who is it?"
The rustling in the trees grew louder. Closer.
Mankey growled louder. Its eyes were furious.
Who could this be? I wondered. I found out right after my thought ended.
A Charmander stepped into the clearing. Holding its tail. It seemed to be trying not to set the grass on fire from the flame on its tail.
A Charmander.
No. My Charmander. This Charmander had to be mine. The way Mankey was reacting to it, and the fact that Charmander don't just show up in the Viridian Forest. They don't live out here. They're more mountain Pokémon than anything.
My Charmander.
In Viridan Forest.
Looking up at me.
But why?

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 6: Fear & Anger Part 2 Of 2

Nothing but silence in the forest that night.
Charmander stared at me quietly.
Mankey growled louder and more ferociously by the second.
I couldn't hear Weedle eating its food and I didn't dare turn to see what it was doing.
I kept my eyes trained on Charmander.
It wasn't long before my eyebrows furrowed and my teeth began to grit so tight my jaw began to hurt soon after.
"YOU!" I bellowed in the dark forest. I almost didn't care that I may awaken a swarm of Beedrill. My fists clenched tighter as Charmander took a step back. It almost looked like it had the look of fear in its eyes.
Mankey screeched loudly and jumped up and down. It charged forward and took a swing at Charmander, who took the hit and fell back into the grass.
I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to do anything. I wanted Mankey to kick that Charmander's butt and leave it for dead like it did to us. I wanted to stomp its tail flame out and turn my back on it like it did to us. I was so angry. So hurt.
I took a step towards Charmander as Mankey ran forward. He grabbed Charmander and lifted it to its feet, then hit it with a Fury Swipes attack repeatedly.
Charmander didn't fight back. It hit the ground hard again and stood up on its own. It lowered its head and uttered a feeble, "Charmander."
Mankey growled again and hit Charmander with a Low Kick.
Charmander was swept off its feet and hit the ground hard. It stayed there with its face in the dirt.
Mankey leapt high in the air and started to come down with its foot aimed at Charmander.
I grabbed it and held on tight. "Wait," I said calmly. "That's enough. Just stop for a moment."
Mankey looked up and me in shock.
I stared back at him. I set Mankey down on the ground and knelt down to Charmander. I picked it up and set it firmly on its feet. I felt sick to my stomach looking, let alone touching, this terrible Pokémon. This coward. This traitor. My hands tightened around its shoulders harder until Charmander started to cry out in pain a little. I stopped squeezing and angrily gave it a push.
It fell back onto the ground.
I stood over and angrily yelled at it, "Why are you back? You're not my Pokémon anymore! Go away!"
Mankey screeched and jumped up and down angrily, ready to attack again.
Charmander looked up and me, and to my surprise, its eyes were filled with tears. It couldn't speak English of course, so I had no idea what it was saying, but as it repeated its name to me repeatedly, I listened anyway. Mankey also grew silent as Charmander explained itself.
There was no noise in the forest. Only the name Charmander repeatedly being cried out.
This went on for what seemed like quite a while, but I listened to it. Stood right there and heard it out.
Finally, Charmander got quiet and didn't say anything more. It just looked right into my eyes, then to Mankey, and back to me. It sighed and stood up. It put its hand to its chest and said something once more. Then turned around and walked off into the woods.
"Hey!" I ran forward and grabbed it again. "You're not gonna just walk off after the crap you put us through! I don't even know what you just said to us!"
My hand was starting to tighten again in anger and Charmander cried as my fingers dug into its shoulder.
I ignored it and turned to Mankey. "You understood what it said, right?"
Mankey nodded. And it didn't look happy. Mankey began saying its name repeatedly and rapidly, pointing at Charmander, jumping up and down angrily. Then it charged forward and hit Charmander in the face with a Karate Chop.
Charmander flew out of my tight grip and rolled into a tree. It stayed the motionlessly.
I stared at Charmander for a minute, and then walked over to it. I knelt down next to it.
Charmander refused to move.
"Come here Mankey," I ordered.
Mankey ran up to me.
"Can you try and explain what Charmander said to you?" I asked. I wasn't sure how Mankey was going to do it, but maybe somehow, I could get the gist of what was going on. I knew that when some Pokémon trainers and their Pokémon bond close enough, they can understand each other better than ever.
Mankey started grunting and hopping in place.
I watched it and tried to understand him.
Mankey reached over and took its Poke ball from my waist and pointed at it repeatedly. Then it pointed at itself a couple times. Mankey then threw the Poke ball on the ground angrily and started storming around in circles with an angry frown on its face. Mankey then lay down on the ground and closed its eyes. It immediately stood up and started angrily stomping on the ground where it had just laid.
"Um...." I thought for a moment. "The attack you suffered. It was because the Mankey were mad you were captured by me?"
Mankey hopped up and down happily.
"How come? Were you a good friend of theirs? Why attack you?"
Mankey frowned and pointed at the Poke ball and shook its head repeatedly.
"Do they not like this kind of Poke ball?" I picked up the Poke ball and stared at it. I knew there were a great variety of different kinds of Poke balls in the world. Was that attack all because they didn't like the classic red and white kind?
Mankey continued grunting and saying its name and hopping up and down angrily.
I felt like we weren't making much progress. I stared at Mankey helplessly for a while, trying to figure out what I could do to better understand it. A way to better understand Pokémon…
Suddenly I had an idea!
I pulled out my Pokedex and pointed it at Mankey.
"Mankey. The Pig Monkey Pokémon. A Pokémon who is quick to anger and extremely hostile. They often attack in groups and when really enraged, may even attack each other."
"Hmm, I wasn't looking for a Pokedex entry," I mumbled to myself. "But they may attack each other when angry. Did that have something to do with it?"
Suddenly my Pokedex went off again.
"Wild Pokémon tend to be jealous of human trained Pokémon and may even attack them for little reason in some cases."
Ah. Now I understood.
Mankey jumped up and down excitedly, pointing at my Pokedex. I assumed it was agreeing with what it said.
"So we were attacked because you are a trained Pokémon now," I muttered. "But…" I turned to Charmander. It was still laying by the tree. It hadn't moved. Its tail was still burning brightly, raised off the ground, away from the grass. "…why is this thing back with us?"
I pointed my Pokedex at Charmander. "Why is Charmander back here? Interpret what it says," I commanded to Pokedex.
Charmander stirred and looked at me in confusion. "Char? Mander?" it said.
"I cannot interpret Pokémon language," the Pokedex stated.
I sighed.
"Then we may never know what's going on," I said. "And who cares anyway?" I stood up. "You deserted us and left us for dead so who cares why you're hear. You ought to ashamed of yourself! How dare you come back here! Get out of here you ungrateful coward!"
Charmander lowered its head and I saw tears fall from its eyes. It turned away and slowly trudged back into the woods.
Mankey slowly walked up to me. I looked down at him and he growled at Charmander. Then he called out to it!
Charmander stopped walking. It turned to look back at Mankey.
Mankey looked to me. He started screeching and saying its name again repeatedly. He pointed at Charmander. Then he made an action as if he were looking for something. Then Mankey pointed to himself. He did this motion repeatedly. He pointed to Charmander, looked around, then pointed to himself. Again. Again. Again.
I watched this bizarre motion for a bit.
Charmander. Looking. Mankey. Was Charmander looking for Mankey? When? For what?
This had something to do with what happened back at Route 1. I sat on the ground and watched Mankey for a while.
"Charmander was looking for you?" I finally asked Mankey.
Mankey shook its head. But then it continued looking around again. Pointed back to Charmander. Then again to himself.
Charmander. Mankey. Looking.
"Wait! The Mankey!" I exclaimed. "They were looking for you!"
Suddenly it became a bit more clear. Charmander was having a brief conversation with the Mankey, pointing to me, and then left.
"Charmander… pointed out where you were! He told the other Mankey where you were and then left!"
Mankey jumped happily up and down. He then stopped and gave me a thumbs up sign before walked into the woods and disappearing.He came back and did the same thing again. Gave me a thumbs and walked away.
I watched this for quite some time. Was this more of the story? This sure was difficult to figure out.
The only one who walked out of the forest just fine was Charmander. Charmander walked away from us, as if everything was ok.
"Charmander left us…" I said slowly. "To die…"
Mankey shook its head repeatedly. He gave me a thumbs up sign and walked away again.
"No, he left to go get help?" I asked.
Mankey shook his head again and continued his thumbs up walk away motion.
"He… left us…" I started. "Left us… ok. Left us… thinking everything would be ok…?"
Mankey jumped up and down happily. Then stopped and frowned at Charmander.
I turned to Charmander angrily too.
"So you told the Mankey where their friend was, then ran off?" I yelled.
Mankey growled angrily by my side.
Charmander tried backing up but was already leaning on a tree. It cowered underneath me.
"What was this? A big freaking joke to you? You just leave us and think everything is gonna be ok? You didn't even look back or anything?? We were nearly killed!!" It took all the strength in me to not kick this puny lizard right in the stomach. I nearly did. My foot flinched a little but I held back from doing it. I don't know why though. It deserved it. "And where did you go when I was carrying Mankey out of the area toward Viridian City? Huh? We saw you right there when we left Route 1 and you walked away again! What was that for??"
Charmander lowered its head even further, practically burying its head in the dirt.
"Were you too ashamed for your stupid prank?" I screamed. "Couldn't show your cowardly, chicken face to me anymore? The joke wasn't funny anymore right? What did you watch us get pummeled into the dirt then realize you went too far?"
Charmander, now in tears, shook its head repeatedly. It pointed to the sky and said its name repeatedly.
Mankey turned to me and pointed to the sky. Then wrapped its arms around its body as if it were cold and hid under a huge leaf in the forest, looking up and the sky.
Hmm, this one seemed a bit easier. "Rain?"
Mankey jumped happily again.
I turned to Charmander. "So you ran away because it was raining?"
Charmander nodded.
"It wasn't bad enough you left us to get killed but you ran away from a little water?" I yelled. "You should be submerged in water for what you did!"
Charmander stood up and held out its hands to me and shook its head. It pleaded with me but I didn't understand what it was saying and I didn't truly care. I was livid.
"It didn't rain until during the attack," I remembered. "So you had a good while to watch before it started raining! Had a good laugh huh?" I stepped towards Charmander furiously, ready to wring the little thing's neck.
Charmander had nowhere to back up and just pressed harder against the tree trunk. It shook its head again and continued pleading. It closed its eyes and shook its head hard.
I really wanted to understand it. I really wanted to know that I was angry for the right reasons. "No?"
Charmander opened its eyes and looked up at me.
"You didn't have a good laugh? You just ran? Like a coward?"
Charmander shook its head again, hard.
"You ran… before the attack?" I asked.
Charmander nodded its head, hope showing in its widening eyes.
I turned to Mankey, who was watching me. I looked back to Charmander.
"The rain. Did you notice it before it became too heavy? Before the attack? And… you ran away for safety?" I asked Charmander, giving it a chance.
Charmander actually smiled at me. The first time I ever saw it do such a thing when it wasn't beating up innocent, weaker Pokémon in the woods of Route 1.
"You saw us afterwards and couldn't even show your face," I told it. "You left when we saw you because you knew your joke had gone too far. You were ashamed and couldn't bare to face us."
Charmander lowered its head and nodded. "Char. Charmander," it said.
"YOU IDIOT!"I screamed.
Charmander looked to the ground and closed its eyes.
Now I knew what had happened. Now I knew my anger would be justified.
"How dare you!" I couldn't control myself. I grabbed it by the shoulders and shook the little red lizard. "You nearly killed us both and your slimy hide would've been safe!"
Charmander didn't fight against me. Tears just rolled down its eyes silently.
"I should take your stupid, selfish fiery hide to a waterfall and drop you in it you know that?" I yelled louder, still shaking it as it flipped out in my hands like a ragdoll. "You deserve to be thrown in a pit full of rabid Primeape. You ungrateful, pitiful excuse-"
The next noise was unmistakable.
A buzz.
I dropped Charmander in shock. Charmander hit the ground and looked around for the noise too, still in tears and shaken up over my yelling and shaking I gave it.
Mankey was looking about too.
"Guys," I whispered. "We're not alone."
I saw one, two, six Beedrill!
"RUUUUN!!!!" I screamed. I took off but stopped.
Charmander and Mankey ran right into me, knocking me over.
I got up and the Beedrill, now three times as many as before, charged at me from above.
Charmander leaped up and sent out an Ember attack, keeping the bees at bay. But there were too many. More swarmed in. Charmander kept the flames coming at the them though. An ember attack here and another one there.
"Charmander be careful!" I called. "Don't burn the forest down!"
I really hated this forest. I wanted nothing more than to be out of it. I was, however, grateful Charmander was with me this time.
I suddenly remembered why I stopped in the first place. "Weedle!" I called.
"Weeeeedlllllle!" I heard the call just above my head. I looked up to see Weedle… falling out of the tree!
I leaped forward and caught the bug and immediately dropped it to the ground.
I shivered. The bug was disgusting and I had touched it. I felt so dirty and disgusting, but at least I broke its fall. I knelt down to it. "Sorry about that buddy. You ok?"
Weedle had a sad look on its face but it nodded its head.
"Hey," I said to it.
It looked up at me.
"We're in this together, ok? Give me some time. We can work this out somehow, ok?"
Weedle looked a bit happier but still a bit sad but nodded.
I returned Weedle to its Poke ball just as I heard Charmander cry out. I turned to see it on the floor, breathing heavily. "Charmander!" I called.
Mankey was swinging away at the bees but it couldn't do much damage. Fighting moves aren't strong to Bug type Pokémon and they also aren't strong to Poison type Pokémon. Beedrill are both Poison and Bug types, so it was twice as ineffective as it would've been if it were only one of the two types. Mankey kept the fight up nonetheless and was doing good it seemed.
But there were just too many Beedrill. They had us beat, easily. I had no other Pokémon to use to help us out either.
Mankey fought as hard as it could until it was exhausted and hit the ground, breathing hard.
"Mankey, Charmander, return!" I ordered. I tried to recall them both back to keep them safe. Even that pitiful Charmander. After all, it was trying to fight for us it seemed. I was actually surprised I still had its Poke ball.
Mankey went back in, too tired to resist.
Charmander on the other hand refused. It jumped away from the red light and shook its head at me angrily.
"Charmander get back here!" I yelled. I tried to return it but it refused to be sent back in.
"Charmander!" it cried out to me.
Suddenly, one of the Beedrill stuck out its end stinger and started jabbing it at Charmander. Charmander didn't see it coming because it was too busy paying attention to me. It managed to dodge it though it and the Beedrill continued to jab at Charmander. Charmander kept trying to dodge and was doing good for a while. That was until it tripped over something on the ground.
The food bowl.
Charmander hit the ground and Beedrill flew forward to get my Charmander.
"NOOOOOO!!!!" I bellowed. I wouldn't allow this.
My scream grabbed the Beedrill's attention and I charged forward. I flew at Beedrill with a kick and knocked it away. I swung at another Beedrill with my fist. It dodged and came at my head with one of its forearm stingers. I swiftly ducked the attack and pushed the giant bug back with my palms. It was disgusting to touch but I shook it off as best as I could and swung at every Beedrill in my way.
Another Beedrill appeared right in front of my face and pulled back to jab at my face. I gritted my teeth and pulled my fist back to counter it.
In an instant, Charmander leaped in front of me, between both of us. I stopped and watched as Charmander took Beedrill's stinger to the face.
"CHARMANDER!!!" I screamed.
Charmander flew back into me hard.
I landed hard on the ground and Charmander on top of me. I looked down at Charmander.
Its face was flushed purple. My Charmander. It was poisoned.
"Oh no," I whispered. "Charmander!"
"Char…" Charmander managed to say feebly.
The Beedrill continued to buzz round my head. The horrible, ugly noise. So disgusting. So creepy. I hated it!!!
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" I screamed.
There seemed to be nothing else I could do.
The Beedrill all flew right above us and prepared to finish us off.
"CHAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR!!!!!!!" Charmander suddenly yelled out.
Charmander struggled out of my arms and the first thing I noticed was its tail. The flame was incredible! It was brighter now that it was poisoned then I had ever seen it when it was healthy! Its entire body had a slight red glow to it too.
Charmander also looked furious. It jumped high and started sending out dangerously intense and red hot flames. The Beedrill all backed up and once, and some even fled the area!
"What is this…?" I wondered out loud.
I instantly decided to pull out my Pokedex.
"Charmander's Blaze ability. When a Pokémon with Blaze ability is low in health, the power of its fire moves increases greatly."
"No freaking way," I said in awe.
A few brave Beedrill charged at Charmander from behind and attack it repeatedly with the Twineedle attack, jabbing at Charmander repeatedly with their forearm stingers.
After a few seconds, Charmander fell over in pain, then turned around ferociously, fire in its eyes, and left out a flame unlike anything I've ever seen in my life.
I rolled out the way just in time but felt the intense heat from the flames.
The Beedrill were blackened and hit the ground.
Charmander flew at the Beedrill and the Beedrill saw it coming. They got up and flew as far and fast as their wings would carry them. The remaining Beedrill all took off as well.
I stared at Charmander in shock.
Charmander had that proud look on its face again. Then it collapsed.
"Charmander!" I yelled. I ran forward and picked up my friend. "It's ok now buddy. Thank you. Thank you so much." I walked it over to my bag and laid it down very gently. I reached in my bag and soon found the Antidote. Just the item to heal a poison. With a couple sprays from the bottle, the purple flush in Charmanders face went away instantly and Charmander looked ok again.
Charmander opened its eyes and looked up and me with a smile.
"Rest Charmander," I said to it. I reached in the bag again and pulled out a Potion. "This should help too buddy." I sprayed the Potion on Charmander's wounds.
Charmander winced a bit from the sharp spray but soon it sat back up and smiled at me. "Charmander!" it exclaimed.
I smiled back. "Charmander," I said.
I hugged it tightly and it seemed surprised. It hugged me back and I hugged it even tighter. "Thank you Charmander. Thank you Charmander."
After a few minutes, Charmander pulled back and looked at me, tears in its eyes.
I wiped them from its face.
I wasn't aware I was crying a little too until Charmander reached up and wiped the tears out from my eyes too.
"Charmander," I whispered. "Thank you. You… saved my life this time."
This made Charmander cry even more. It grabbed me and hugged me even tighter.
I held on tight to it.
Suddenly, a Hoothoot interrupted the emotional moment by hopping into the clearing. "Hey, look Charmander, a Hoothoot," I whispered.
Charmander turned around, wiping its eyes.
I pulled out my Pokedex.
"Hoothoot. The Owl Pokémon. It appears to only have one foot, however it does have two. It stands on one and switches between them faster than the human eye can trace."
"Wow, a Hoothoot!" I exclaimed.
Charmander leaped forward toward Hoothoot.
"Charmander don't!"
Charmander turned back to me with a smile.
I smiled back. I guess it was going to listen to me now.
"Charmander, Ember attack!" I ordered.
Charmander let loose with some normal sized flames, no longer powered up by the Rage of the last match.
Hoothoot dodged easily and charged at Charmander, who got hit and fell over.
Charmander got up and Hoothoot tackled it over again. Charmander got up angrily and glared at Hoothoot.
"Now get him with the Scratch attack!" I said.
Charmander swung with its claws at attack the Hoothoot, but the Hoothoot flew away.
Charmander sent an Ember attack right behind the bird and caught it.
Hoothoot screamed out and came down from the air.
Charmander was waiting and swung at it hard with a Scratch attack.
Hoothoot flew right back high into the air, eyes closed in pain.
"Nice fight Hoothoot but you're mine now," I said. I pulled out a Poke ball. "Go! Poke ball!" I tossed it at Hoothoot, but Hoothoot came to and batted away the ball before dive bombing Charmander!
Charmander was hit before it knew it and flew back, rolling on the ground. Charmander got back up and charged at Hoothoot, but Hoothoot was ready. It countered with a different move.
Hoothoot's eyes glowed red.
I pulled out my Pokedex.
"Hypnosis attack. This attacks give the user to ability to control the opponent, often used to put the foe to sleep or cause hallucinations."
"Oh no!" I exclaimed. "Charmander snap out of it! Use Ember!"
Hoothoot gave a hoot and Charmander turned around and used Ember on me!
"AAAHH!!" I dodged the attack. I no longer had control over my Charmander. Hoothoot had it under control. I'd never encountered this move before. I'd only ever seen it and read about it. Amazing.
"Return Charmander!" I said. As I returned my Charmander back to its Poke ball, I wondered who else I could use. I didn't have much choice. A Bug type like Weedle would easily be destroyed by a Flying type like Hoothoot. But Flying types also have the advantage against Fighting types like Mankey.
I wouldn't give up that easily.
"Mankey go!" I tossed its Poke ball and out came my Mankey. "Mankey use the Karate Chop now!"
Mankey flew forward at once and attacked with Karate Chop.
Hoothoot flew back hard.
"Leer! Now!"
As Hoothoot got up and tried to attack, Mankey was already ready and caught it in a Leer attack, causing Hoothoot to be stunned and in shock. Karate Chop, Mankey! Finish it!"
Mankey hit Hoothoot with another Karate Chop and Hoothoot lay on the ground, stunned.
"Poke ball go!"
The Poke ball hit Hoothoot and in seconds it was inside. It shook repeatedly several times.
Shake. Shake. Shake.
Suddenly, the Poke ball opened and Hoothoot was out again!
"What???"
I couldn't believe it. I weakened it and it was still healthy enough to get away!
Hoothoot glared at Mankey and before either of us knew it, it was using Hypnosis again.
Mankey was in a trance for a while before finally hitting the ground and falling asleep.
Hoothoot then began furiously pecking at Mankey.
"Mankey return!" I recalled back Mankey but what else did I have left? Charmander may not be focused enough to battle. And then there was Weedle…
No way.
"Charmander, one more time!" I yelled, throwing the Poke ball.
Charmander came out and shook its head, looking fine. "Focus and use Ember!"
Hoothoot made a move but Charmander was faster. Charmander seared the owl Pokémon immediately and Hoothoot hit the ground and didn't move an inch.
"Now. Poke ball, GO!" I tossed the Poke ball once more and watch Hoothoot go in. The ball shook.
Shake. Shake.
And Hoothoot came out again!
"HEY!"
Hoothoot made an attempt to escape by flying into the air. But it fell down. Then it tried again and started gaining some height.
"Charmander return! Mankey, climb that tree and stop Hoothoot!"
Mankey came flying out of its Poke ball and… continued sleeping!
I forgot it had been put to sleep…
"Grrr Mankey return! Go ahead again Charmander!"
As Charmander came out, Hoothoot was already gaining air.
I couldn't let it get away. I tossed my Poke ball again as high in the air as I could.
But it just barely reached it and started to come back down to me.
But so did Hoothoot!
The Poke ball was falling and Hoothoot was falling down too! Hoothoot hit the Poke ball and went inside!
I watched in shock as the ball shook once.
Twice.
Three times.
It landed in my waiting hands as it made its ping noise and I knew I had captured Hoothoot!
"YES!! We did it!" I yelled.
I collapsed on the ground. I was officially exhausted.

I woke up without even know I had fallen asleep. I just slept right in the disgusting dirt. No sleeping bags or anything.
Charmander was curled up right next to me.
I smiled.
The sun shone brightly from the trees. I stared at my surrounding happily for a while, enjoying the silence, the time alone, the new life of mine that belonged to me now.
I suddenly remembered where I was.
Viridian Forest.
I'd had enough and I wanted out.
I grabbed my food and bowls and stuffed everything in the bag. I noticed the food bowls were empty. I figured a wild Pokemon, or maybe Charmander, had finished off Mankey's food. Charmander woke up as I was grabbing my belongings.
"Char?" Charmander said.
I slung my bag over my shoulder. "Hey buddy. What do you say we get on out of here?"
Charmander yawned and stood up. After a stretch, it walked up to me and happily said, "Charmander!"
"Oh wait, say hello to everybody first! Come on out Weedle! Mankey!" I said tossing their Poke balls in the air.
Weedle and Mankey flew out. Mankey was awake after that long sleep
"Oh and of course, Hoothoot!" I sent out Hoothoot.
Everyone had a nice stretch before looking up and me, and then around at everyone else.
"Weedle, Hoothoot, meet my first every Pokémon, Charmander! Mankey, Charmander, Weedle, meet the newest member of the team Hoothoot! Hoothoot, meet the team!"
Everyone happily greeted one another.
I smiled at this happy occasion.
"Everybody," I said, kneeling down to them all. "I'm glad you all are a part of my team right now. We're going to train hard and grow stronger together. We're going to travel the entire world and meet even more friends to travel with us. We're going to battle and beat every Pokémon trainer in the entire world. This is my dream and if you're all willing to join me to help me accomplish this dream, I'm willing to have you guys tag along with me. It may not always be the same Pokémon. A Pokémon trainer is only allowed to carry six Pokémon at a time. But nobody is going to get released. There's a wonderful place where you can stay at with a wonderful Pokémon Professor who will make sure your happiness is priority number one so you'll enjoy life while I switch between the many new Pokémon friends I intend to capture only the way. In the end, we all remain friends, forever. No one gets forgotten or deserted. That's my promise. Will you guys join me on my journey?"
They all eagerly cheered and agreed.
"Weedle," I said. "Please remember to try and work with me ok buddy? Are you ok with that? Can you handle my phobia for now and give me time?"
Weedle stared at me for a moment, and then nodded happily.
I smiled. "Thank you Weedle!"
I stood up. "Ok troops! We're on our way to Pewter City! Let's go!"
I took a step forward and then stopped, causing the Pokémon behind me to collapse into me, knocking me over. "Sorry guys… I forgot we were lost not long ago and we never did find the way out." I sighed.
Hoothoot suddenly flew high into the skies. It looked down to me, hooting continuously.
"Do you know the way Hoothoot?" I asked.
Hoothoot nodded and flew forward.
"Great! Come on everyone!"
We all happily followed Hoothoot along the path. It was such a nice, sunny day. Everything felt just great. It wasn't too long before I saw the clearing!
"We're here!" I said loudly. I ran forward and the others followed close behind me. "It's Pewter Ci-"
We were out of Viridian Forest. But it wasn't Pewter City.
Hoothoot took us straight back into Viridian City!
My palm hit strongly into my face and stayed there for a few seconds.
I turned to Hoothoot. "Um… my dear friend, we need to get to the other exit if you don't mind," I stated.
Hoothoot hooted happily and took us back into the Viridian Forest I dreaded so much.
During our walk I saw some Weedle and Kakuna, but thankfully not too much else. I really just wanted OUT. A Beedrill even flew by but it wasn't too interested in us and kept on flying by.
I noticed a few Ledyba in the treetops, but as soon as I turned and they saw me, they flew in a group high into the sky and away.
I considered sending Hoothoot after them, but it didn't seem worth it. Not only do I hate bugs, but I didn't want to get off the path over some Ledyba who were getting further away by the second.
It wasn't until the sun was getting low in the sky when I saw the clearing. "Hoothoot! Is this it?" I asked. Hoothoot hooted at me happily. I ran forward then stopped. Just before reaching the exit to this dreaded forest, I saw three Metapod sitting by a tree trunk. Pulling out my Pokedex, I listened to it tell me about them.
"Metapod. The Cocoon Pokémon. The evolved form of Caterpie. Caterpie has wrapped itself inside of a very thick and sturdy shell. Inside it is very fragile and soft and doesn't move much as it prepares itself for its evolution."
I stared at it for a moment and so did my other Pokémon. I pulled out a Poke ball. I casually tossed it at one of the Metapod.
Shake. Shake. Shake. Ping.
To my surprise, it worked! I had caught a Metapod.
"Wow!" I laughed to myself.
I picked up the Poke ball. "Sorry about that," I said to the other Metapod. "Your friend is in good hands with me though. I promise." I smiled and turned back to the clearing. I walked forward and saw it.
Pewter City. We were finally here.
"We made it everyone!" I exclaimed. "Pewter City!"
Everyone cheered happily.
We had made it.
Me. Charmander. Mankey. Weedle. Hoothoot. And, now, Metapod.
Somehow, we had made it to Pewter City after all we had just gone through together.
Pewter City. The home of a Gym Leader. The place where I would get my first badge.
I stared at my team of Pokémon, and then looked at the Poke ball containing the newest member of the team. Metapod.
Yeah. We were gonna get our first badge here. No doubt about it.
I ran forward, my Pokémon following close behind me, smiles on everyone's face.
For now.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 7: A New Breed

So I ran faster. Excited for so many reasons.
Pewter City was where I was going to get my first badge. This was the first step for me to become a Pokémon master. Collect a minimum of eight badges from the powerful gym leaders in the Kanto region I live in and then compete in the Pokémon League competition held yearly in the Indigo Plateu, not far from Viridian City.
If I won there, I may even get to challenge the Elite Four of the Kanto region and maybe even be the Champion!
I stopped running as I arrived in front of the Pokémon Center of Pewter City.
I took a deep breath.
Easy Gary, you're getting way too ahead of yourself, I thought to myself. One step at a time.
The doors to the Pokémon Center opened and my Pokémon and I walked beside me inside.
It was the usual sight of Pokémon trainers with their Pokémon. Almost everyone was in smiles, some talking excitedly in groups. Some sad and sitting by themselves in chairs.
My Mankey noticed one trainer who had a Nidorina and decided to walk off on his own toward her.
"Mankey wait don't just wander off like that!" I called to it.
As I started to walk toward it, I noticed my Hoothoot was flying towards a trainer's Weedle with great speed!
Weedle screamed its name loudly and began to run as fast as it's slowness would carry it!
My Weedle began to yell and pointed its stinger at Hoothoot and leaped at it, trying to attack it!
I heard my Mankey yelling behind me and I turned to see Nidorina and Mankey were fighting! Nidorina was jabbing its horn at my Mankey and Mankey was dodging and attacking back!
Charmander calmly watched the entire scenario go down.
"ENOUGH!!!!" I bellowed.
Everyone in the Pokémon Center was staring at me. Nobody, including the Pokémon, was moving.
I ran to my Pokémon and returned every one of them to their Pokeballs. I apologized to each trainer and their Pokémon and with a sigh, I began to walk up to the front desk.
"You really should know how to control your own Pokémon better," one trainer muttered to me. "You'll never be a great Pokémon trainer if your Pokémon are that out of control."
I didn't say anything. I just nodded in agreement and continued to the counter.
I walked up to Nurse Joy and Chansey who were behind the front desk.
"Hello and welcome to the Pewter City Pokémon Center," Nurse Joy greeted me with a smile.
"Chanseeeey!" Chansey greeted me excitedly.
I couldn't help smile extra wide at Nurse Joy. The feeling was undeniable. How could I possibly not fall victim to such a beautiful face?
Suddenly my knees got wobbly and weak. I only meant to look down at my Pokeballs and hand them to Nurse Joy. But as soon as I looked down to grab them, my knees out and I fell. Hard. So hard and sudden that my face slammed into the counter and I collapsed onto the floor.
Nurse Joy ran from immediately to me and knelt down beside me. "Are you okay?" she asked with sincere concern.
This close to me, I felt even more unable to function properly and while trying to respond that I was okay, I only mumbled unintelligible nonsense.
"Chansey, I think he may need some medical attention," Nurse Joy said. "Take him into one of the rooms and take his Pokémon too for observation, just to make sure they're ok as well."
I was just about to stand up and shake off my minor headache and let her know I was ok. That was until she rested her hand on my shoulder and said, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're ok."
All control I had was removed from my body and I just laid there.
Two of her Chansey appeared and lifted me onto a stretcher, wheeling me into the back room.
Chansey had taken to me a nice, comfy bed where I rested on for a bit. After taking my Pokeballs away to check on my Pokémon, which was the original reason why I had come here, Nurse Joy stood next to me, gorgeous as anyone in the world, standing in the sunlight, glowing naturally. "How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Wonderful," I said lovingly.
She smiled. "That's great to hear. Are you new to Pewter City? I noticed your Pokémon are all those caught in Viridian Forest. Is this your first trip here?"
"Yes," I replied, feeling a certain fire ignite within me that I had lost upon seeing Nurse Joy when I arrived here.
"You're here for a gym badge aren't you?" she asked. Her smile had left her face. She was staring at me sternly. She still looked absolutely beautiful, but I was still feeling a bit worried all of a sudden.
"Yes. I am here for the Boulder Badge if I'm not mistaken," I said, sitting up. I began shaking with anticipation, my fists clenched tight.
"I recommend you go to another city," said Nurse Joy, biting her bottom lip.
"What???" I said in shock. "Why??"
Nurse Joy began chewing on her bottom lip. She looked adorable doing that. But I really wanted her to speak again. There was silence in the room for quite a while.
"Nurse Joy?" I said.
She stared me deep in the eyes with those startling beautiful blue eyes of hers. "Our current gym leader hasn't lost a Pokémon match with a challenger in at least four years."
My eyes widened in shock. "Four years…?"
"Our gym leader is extremely powerful and raises incredible Pokémon," she continued. "They're just too powerful though. Type advantage won't even help you against them. And if they have the advantage against you, you're better off just forfeiting."
My heart began beating faster. Four years? Were the trainers that weak? Or was this guy that good?
I stared at Nurse Joy seriously. "I came here for a gym badge. And I'm going to get. That's my promise."
Nurse Joy stared at me with concern. "Don't you think everyone comes to a gym battle to win?"
I was quiet for a moment. I guess she was right. Nobody goes to a gym battle to lose. They all come to win.
I stood up. "Thank you Nurse Joy. But I will win. And if I lose, I'll go back again. And again. However many times it takes. I won't back down from a challenge. My goal is to become a Pokémon master. I can't become one if there are stronger trainers out there. I have to defeat them all. No matter what."
Nurse Joy's pretty eyes reflected true worry and concern. "I wish you good luck."
"Thank you," I said. I walked out and made my way to the lobby.
"Excuse me, the exit is down this way," Nurse Joy called down the hallway to me.
I turned around. "Oh, sorry," I said, and walked back down to the right exit.
"Not a problem," she smiled.
That smile could tame a Primeape's rampage, I thought to myself, smiling back, the urge to sweep her off her feet and marry her surging through me.
I shook my head.
No time for stupid childish thoughts, I reminded myself. I have to win my Boulder Badge.
I was soon in the lobby and sitting next to some sad looking trainer since I couldn't find a seat by myself. The Pokémon Center was fuller than when I arrived and it seemed a Chansey was taking the Pokeballs from the Pokémon trainers and tending to their needs.
The trainer I sat next to stared at me briefly with tears in his eyes, and then looked back down.
"You okay…?" I asked.
He sniffed and shook his head.
Stupid question, I thought to myself.
"I'm sorry. I meant to ask what happened, I guess…" I said.
He nodded but didn't say anything.
"Are you're Pokémon okay?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Do you wanna talk about?" I asked.
He shook his head again.
"Okay. Well I'm sorry for whatever happened," I said. I really hope they will be okay."I stood up. I figured it may be best to give this kid his privacy.
I suddenly noticed about half of the trainers in the Pokémon Center were looking upset and sad. Some very mad. The other trainers seemed excited and happy.
"Excuse me, you're Pokémon are ready!" Nurse Joy called out.
I turned quickly and realized she was talking to me. I ran to her and took my Pokeballs and clipped them to my belt. "Thank you so much Nurse Joy!" I smiled brightly.
"Not a problem," she replied with a warm smile. "They were in tip top shape and we took care of any minor injuries or lack of stamina." She looked beyond me and her smile faded. "You notice anything about this Pokémon Center?"
I looked behind me and stared at the trainers and Pokémon.
The trainers Pokémon aren't running around fighting with others, I thought to myself. I guess my team really could use some more training. Is that what she means?
No.
I saw it. What I had already noticed, but now saw even more clearly.
"On one side, the trainers are happy," I noticed. "On the other side of the room, they are all sad and upset. Is that it?"
"Yes," she said seriously. "The losers. And those who haven't battled the gym leader yet."
My heart began to hurt from how hard it was beating at her words. She was beginning to scare me.
"Thank you Nurse Joy," I said. "By the way, my name is Gary. I appreciate your help."
"You're welcome Gary," she smiled again. She let out a sigh as her smile faded and she stared at the ground solemnly.
I stared at her for a moment and then, without another word, I left the Pokémon Center.
I inhaled the fresh outdoor air and stared at my surroundings.
It was a city heavily implied with rocks and stones. It had a very old feel to it. Many buildings and homes made of wood or stones. Some cement structures were built. I truly felt like I was in some out of place era in time.
"Come on out, everybody!" I yelled.
My Pokémon's Pokeballs flew in the air and opened and my crew stood before me.
Charmander. Mankey. Weedle. Hoothoot. Metapod.
"First and foremost, everybody welcome the newest member of our team. Metapod!" I started.
Everyone surrounded Metapod and greeted it. Metapod didn't move much but did say its name once.
I knelt down next to the odd bug. "Hi Metapod," I greeted it. "My name is Gary. I have a dream to become a Pokémon master. My dream includes capturing every Pokémon in existence and working with them to be close friends and win battles against every trainer in the entire world. You are now on my team and I want to work close with you and all my Pokémon."
Metapod stared at me and just said its name.
"I should let you know that I have a bad phobia of bug Pokémon due to an incident that occurred years ago and am not entirely comfortable about insects but I am working on it," I explained. "I want to overcome my fear. So please give me that chance and in the meantime, forgive me if I am a bit afraid or nervous around you. I don't mean to offend you or anything. I honestly am sure you are a wonderful Pokémon. This is my issue and has nothing to do with you, so I apologize in advance. Can you forgive me?"
Metapod didn't say anything this time.
"You see, as a kid I ran into a Beedrill and it scared me half to death," I continued. "Since then I have been terrified of insects. But please, I can work with you if you can just give me time and try to work alongside me. What do you say my friend?"
Metapod stared at me in silence. It finally said its name. I don't know what it said but I was glad it was talking.
Weedle walked up to Metapod and started saying something to it.
Metapod responded back.
Weedle looked to me and smiled a bit and nodded its head yes.
I smiled. "Great!" I stood up. "Everyone, our next challenge to take is against a gym leader. This is a very powerful Pokémon trainer and apparently he has a strong reputation around here. I know you guys can beat him though. So let's win this match, ok?"
Everyone cheered.
I stared at them all. Charmander, Metapod, Weedle, and Hoothoot were all weak to Rock type Pokémon… Only my Mankey had the advantage against this guy.
Nurse Joy's words rang in my head: "Type advantage won't even help you against them. And if they have the advantage against you, you're better off just forfeiting."
I shook my head. "Screw that," I muttered. "We're leaving that gym with a badge."
My Pokémon all were looking up at me.
"Oh and another thing," I remembered. I knelt down to them all. "I don't ever want to see that kind of behavior in the Pokémon Center, or anywhere else, ever again! That was appalling and embarrassing! How dare you run away from me like that? And to fight with other Pokémon? Don't let me catch any of you guys acting in that manner ever again! In fact, it doesn't matter if I see it or not, just don't let it happen is that clear?"
Everyone looked down in shame and nodded their heads.
"Metapod you don't have to be sorry. You didn't do anything." I wanted to reach out and pet it to make it feel better but couldn't bring myself to do it. "You guys are all setting a bad example for Metapod. And Weedle, attacking Hoothoot? Apologize right now."
Weedle looked to Hoothoot and apologized.
Hoothoot nodded silently with its head down.
"Good." I stood up. "Now, let's get the Boulder Badge!"
Everyone looked happy again and cheered.
I returned them to their Pokeballs and began to seek out the gym.
It was a huge city. Plenty of buildings. I had no real idea of where I was going. I wondered if my mom packed me a Town Map or something.
I don't need no Town Map, I thought to myself. I can find it on my own. All I need is that gym badge.
An enormous museum stood before me.
Boooooring…
A pigeon sat on top of the museum, staring down at me with its neck cocked at a weird angle.
I started walking past until I noticed the sign on the front stating: BRING IN POKEMON FOSSILS FOR RESURRECTION. ALL POKEMON SUCCESSFULLY RESURRECTED WILL BE KEPT BY THOSE WHO BROUGHT THEM IN.
"Wow," I said. "I wish I had a fossil."
A huge stone structure grabbed my attention. I walked up to it. It had stone doors which were truly gigantic. PEWTER CITY GYM was engraved on the front of it.
I stared at the doors for a moment. I took a deep, shaky breath. Then I took another. I took another soon after that.
I couldn't calm down. I was nervous. More than nervous.
"Our current gym leader hasn't lost a Pokémon match with a challenger in at least four years," Nurse Joy's words echoed in my head.
"Four years…" I mumbled. My fists tightened at my side. "And I'm gonna be the one to break that streak."
I knocked on the stone doors.
I waited.
Nothing happened.
The sound wasn't hollow. My fists merely made a dull thud noise I was sure only I could hear.
I knocked even harder, but still no response.
I kicked the door repeatedly. "Helloooooo!!!! ANYBODY THERE???" I yelled.
Nothing.
I pushed and shoved on the door, but it didn't budge.
"What the heck…?" I wondered.
I turned around and screamed! Some lady was standing right behind me!
"What are you doing??" I screamed.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Who are you?" I asked, my heart still pounding hard. "And why are you standing there? How long have you been waiting here?"
"I assume you're here to challenge the Pewter City gym leader," she said.
"Yeah, I'm here for the Boulder Badge," I replied. "Are you challenging him too?"
"I don't need the Boulder Badge," she replied. She held up something.
I recognized it as the Boulder Badge. She had beaten him. But…
"When did you get that?" I asked. "He hasn't lost a match in four years! Did you just get that badge?"
She smiled. "As a matter of fact I did."
I stared at her in shock.
"Anyway little boy, excuse me," she said. She brushed past me lightly.
She smelled like she looked, extremely sweet and enchanting. Once my heart had stopped beating from the scare she gave me, it began beating from the feeling I was having in my heart.
I didn't even notice her pulling out a set of keys and opening the gym doors.
She walked inside and then turned to me, her long, blonde hair flowing around her face. She brushed it aside and stared at me with her wonderfully dark brown eyes and smiled. "You coming?"
I walked inside, lost in the trance of her beauty, not questioning anything. Just doing whatever she said.
She closed the door behind her and it was suddenly pitch black inside.
I snapped out of my daze and looked around. I couldn't see anything. What was going on?
I heard a clap and suddenly a couple of lights flashed on. I could see bleachers. One on either side of a rectangular battle field. The battle field was covered in jagged, broken rocks and smashed boulders. The entire inside of the building itself was made of stone and had a cold feel to it.
I looked for the woman I was with, but she was gone!
I suddenly remembered she opened the gym doors.
How did she get the keys? I wondered. Who is she?
"Well little boy?" a voice called out. "Are you ready?"
Suddenly I noticed the beautiful blonde was standing in the battle field!
When did she get there? I wondered.
I walked up to the battle field slowly. "Who are you?" I asked her.
"My name is Aurora. I am the Pewter City gym leader," she proclaimed with a huge smile.
I fell to my knees, my eyes wide open in shock. "Huh…?" I managed.
She laughed at my surprise.
I stared at her for a moment. "But… you have the Boulder Badge!"
"Every gym leader has a copy of their own badge to give out to challengers," she laughed again.
"But… you said you just won it!" I cried.
"No, I said I just got the badge," she stated. "You see, I was out picking up my order of gym badges from Rifure Village. So, yes, I did just get this Boulder Badge, hahaha!"
I felt so tricked. So… confused.
"Wait, why would you need more gym badges?" I asked. "You haven't lost a match in four years, right?"
"That's correct little boy, but during training, an accident occurred," she explained. "The intense training resulted in the badges ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time and utterly destroyed. But enough talk. Let's get this battle started if you're ready." She smiled.
I smiled back. "Let's go!"
A man came from the back, dressed in green shorts and a matching green T-shirt with red on the end of the sleeves. He walked over to the outside of the battle field towards the center near the bleachers.
Aurora took her place at the end of the battle field.
I walked over to my end.
"Please state your name and location for this official gym match," the man said.
He must be the referee, I thought.
I stared at Aurora and didn't take my eyes off of her. This was serious. "My name is Gary and I come from Pallet Town."
"This is an official Pokémon gym battle between Gary from Pallet Town versus Pewter City Gym Leader Aurora from Pewter City," the referee said. "This will be 2 on 2 Pokémon battle. No time limit. The challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon but the gym leader is not. The first trainer to defeat the opponent's two Pokémon will be declared the winner. Let the battle begin!"
With a smile, Aurora threw her Pokeball silently. Out came a Graveler.
"No way," I whispered.
I pulled out my Pokedex and scanned it.
"Graveler. The Rock Pokémon. It eats rocks as it climbs up mountains and rolls down them for fun. Once it gains momentum it can roll over and crush almost anything. They are often disturbed while sleeping on mountains by hikers when mistaken for boulders and stepped on, resulting in many serious injuries to the hikers."
What do I do here? I thought to myself. I can't send out Mankey this fast. He's my secret weapon. But who then?
"Charmander! I choose you!" I said, tossing its Pokeball.
Charmander leaped out and stared down Graveler eagerly.
I knew Fire types had a type disadvantage to Rock types but just maybe we could do something to it.
"Finish it," Aurora said calmly.
"Charmander get out of there!" I yelled.
Graveler moved quick for such a bulky Pokémon and was in the air in seconds.
Charmander ran but Graveler slammed on top of Charmander in an instant.
Graveler rolled off my Charmander.
"Charmander is unable to battle," the referee stated. "Graveler is the winner."
I stared in shock at my Charmander. I felt weak. My poor Charmander. What was I going to do?
"Charmander thank you, come back now," I recalled it.
I had no other choice. "Mankey, go!" I exclaimed.
Mankey came out, jumping on its feet frantically and excitedly.
"Graveler, Roll Out and make it quick," she commanded.
Graveler curled up and rolled at Mankey with speed.
"Move it Mankey!" I yelled.
Mankey jumped over Graveler and before I even saw it coming, Graveler reversed back around and hit Mankey from behind! Then reversed and hit Mankey again! Then reversed and hit Mankey again a second later! It was doing it at rapid speed! I'd never seen a Roll Out done at such a fast pace before.
Mankey was hurt bad but surprised me by its next action.
As Graveler came back for another hit, Mankey reached out and used its hands to run on Graveler's back!
Graveler was rolling along on the field and Mankey was upside down on Graveler's spinning body, rapidly running its hands and trying to keep its balance!
I stared in surprise and Graveler smashed into boulder after boulder on the field, trying to shake off Mankey. But Mankey refused to be rocked off, spinning its arms and staying on the best it could.
I decided we had to take a risk. "Mankey, leap in the air as high as you can!" I screamed out.
Mankey forced itself high into the air.
Graveler immediately jumped after it.
"GO!" I yelled.
Mankey immediately used Karate Chop on Graveler just before it hit and sent Graveler down to the ground, raising up a ton of dust and broken rocks all over the field.
I shielded my eyes but kept my eyes on the battle. "Mankey Low Kick now!"
Mankey fell down into the cloud of dust and I couldn't see anything that was going on.
Suddenly I heard Graveler scream out.
"Mankey! Karate Chop!" I screamed.
Graveler cried out again.
"Graveler Rock Throw! Destroy that thing!" Aurora screamed loudly.
I heard repeated smashes into the ground and the entire gym quaked under the heavy weight of Graveler, but I couldn't tell if they were hitting or not. I couldn't hear Mankey.
The dust finally cleared and Graveler was indeed missing its Rock Throw attack on my Mankey, smashing its body into the ground, unable to see due to the dust. But now the dust had cleared. Graveler was about to land its final missed Rock Throw. We only had one chance.
"Mankey charge forward into that Rock Throw!" I ordered.
Mankey listened without hesitation and ran forward.
"Huh??" Aurora said in shock.
"Low Kick!" I commanded.
Graveler landed on the ground just before Mankey connected with Low Kick and sent Graveler to the ground.
Mankey faced Graveler and stared angrily at it, breathing heavily.
"Graveler is unable to battle," the referee stated. "Mankey is the winner!"
Mankey and I jumped in the air in unison, overjoyed by our win.
"Just as I figured," I explained to Aurora, who was glaring at me. "Graveler was faster than Mankey. That was its big advantage. If I tried to Low Kick you too late, your Graveler was fast enough to land and dodge it. So I had to launch an attack that would reach it the instant it landed. The only way I could do that was to attack Graveler at the same time Graveler was attacking Mankey, and since Graveler's faster, it landed first and Mankey hit directly afterwards. In other words, Graveler was too fast for its own good, and Mankey was just slow enough to hit when we needed. And of course, as we both know I'm sure, Low Kick does more damage the heavier the Pokémon getting hit is, and since Graveler is such an enormous and heavy Pokémon, every hit surely did big time damage. Add on the fact Low Kick is a fighting move, which Rock Type Pokémon like Graveler are weak to, and that's a wrap."
"Are you finished now little boy?" she asked, recalling back her Graveler. "I must say I am impressed you beat Graveler. But that was sheer luck and even the most novice of trainers should know that."
I glared at her. "Do your worst then," I said.
"Oh, trust me little boy, this match is over," she said as she tossed her final Pokeball.
I gasped once I realized what it was.
"Kabuuuutops!" the deadly Pokémon yelled.
I couldn't believe it. A fossil Pokémon. A Kabutops.
I scanned it with my Pokedex.
"Kabutops. The Shellfish Pokémon. This ferocious hunter lived millions of years ago and are now extinct. Its scythes can slice through some of the toughest material known to man."
"I can't believe this," I said in shock.
"That's right little boy," Aurora sneered. "Maybe you didn't notice it but this city has a museum that has a nice specialty in resurrecting Pokémon fossils. I funded the work for that lab and used information on Pokémon resurrection that's been around for years and well, you can see the results. Hahahahaha!"
Kabutops sliced the air ferociously.
It's still a rock type, I reminded myself. Fighting types still have the advantage.
"Mankey don't hesitate, use Low Kick!" I ordered.
Mankey ran forward screeching like a mad banshee and went for the Low Kick.
Kabutops didn't move and took the hit, slamming hard to the ground. It got up calmly and turned to face Mankey.
"Do it," Aurora said coldly.
Kabutops raised one scythe and brought it down swiftly on Mankey.
I saw the blood instantly.
A spot on the ground was covered in it immediately.
Kabutops raised its scythe in the air. It was dripping in blood.
"MANKEY!!!!" I screamed.
Mankey was on the ground, breathing hard. But alive. Mankey raised itself back up on its hands, face down at the ground. It struggled and fell back to its face. It pushed itself up again.
"Mankey, that's enough!" I yelled. I raised its Pokeball to return it.
I was stopped by the loud scream that came from Mankey's mouth. It was ear piercing. I covered my ears and so did Aurora, Kabutops, and the referee.
"MAAAAAANKY!" I yelled.
Suddenly Mankey stopped. It fell forward on the ground and didn't move.
I knew Mankey was defeated.
The referee stared for a moment. "Mankey is unable-" he started. But he was interrupted.
We all saw it.
Mankey began glowing white.
The bright light from its entire body stopped everybody from moving. I don't think I was even breathing.
The silhouette of Mankey in the bright light began to change. It was growing.
I couldn't believe it. Could it be…?
The light then faded away and my Mankey was no longer there. A new Pokémon was there. My Mankey had evolved into Primeape!
Using my Pokedex, I was informed on my new Pokémon.
"Primeape. The Pig Monkey Pokémon. This Pokémon is angered by as little as a stare. Once it finds an opponent, it will chase it down forever."
"Primeape," I whispered.
"Primeape is unable to battle, Kabutops is the winner and the match goes to Pewter City Gym Leader Aurora," the referee stated.
"Huh?" I said. "But…" I stared at Primeape. I immediately understood. Mankey evolved, but it still was in no shape for battle. It was still unconscious and bleeding. The evolution did nothing for its stamina or health. I returned Primeape to its Pokeball.
I stared at Aurora. I bowed in respect and ran out of the gym without a word.
I ran immediately to the Pokémon Center. As soon as I flew through the doors, Nurse Joy saw me and ordered her Chansey to take my Pokeballs. I gave her my Charmander's and Primeape's Pokeballs and they took them to the back.
Nurse Joy stared at me sadly and I stared back. She went to the back of the hospital.
I sighed and sat down. Just so happened that I was sitting next to the trainer from earlier who was sad and didn't talk to me much. Now I was the sad one. Had he lost to Aurora too?
Before I could ask, the doors to the Pokémon Center opened. Three men dressed in white suits and black shoes stepped inside and stared at us.
"All humans abandon the building and leave your Pokémon inside," one of the men stated.
Nobody moved.
"What?" someone muttered behind me.
"What did he just say?" someone else asked.
"Abandon your Pokémon and get out of this building," the second man repeated.
"Who are you anyway?" one kid said angrily, standing up.
Others agreed and stood up as well.
I stayed seated and watched them.
"Fine. Then you can all die with your Pokémon," the third man said, raising his hand, which contained a Pokeball.
"WHAT??" everyone screamed.
"What is going on here?" someone I instantly knew was Nurse Joy, said from the back.
I turned and saw her standing there, her hands angrily resting on her hips.
One of the men laughed.
The one with the Pokeball in his hand lowered it. "If it isn't Nurse Joy," he said with a sinister look on his face.
"Who are you men and what do you want from here?" Nurse Joy demanded.
The man with the pokeball stepped forward. "Allow me to introduce us. We are a part of a group who wishes to do good for the world. Save it, if you will."
"What kind of saving involves killing us and our Pokémon?" one girl yelled.
The man smiled at the girl. "The kind of saving that gets rid of Pokémon and all those who oppose the utter destruction of Pokémon."
"Excuse me?" Nurse Joy said, stepping up to the man, clearly furious.
"Pokémon are a hazard to the world," the man said, no longer smiling and now looking serious. "They are dangerous. Little children all over are controlling dangerous Dragon and Fire type Pokémon. These Pokémon are themselves are out there battling and getting themselves hurt. Nothing but pain and danger. Do you know how many Pokémon trainers die a year on these dangerous journeys? And how many of them are just children??" The man screamed the last sentence out loudly.
Nurse Joy stepped back in fear.
"These things are a nuisance and should all be destroyed!" he yelled.
"S-s-sir?" Nurse Joy stammered. She pointed at the Pokeball in the man's hand.
He smiled again. "Oh, so you wanna know what's inside do you?" he asked.
Before Nurse Joy could respond, he tossed the Pokeball in the air. What came out was a Graveler!
I couldn't believe it. Of all Pokémon.
The other two men immediately walked out of the Pokémon Center.
The third man smiled wider and turned to walked out as well.
When they were all gone, Graveler smiled and suddenly closed its eyes tight.
Nurse Joy gasped. "OH MY GOSH EVERYBODY RUN!!!!"
"Teleport now!" someone yelled.
An Abra appeared out of nowhere. Abra sat on the floor, looking like it was sleeping. Then Abra and Graveler suddenly flashed white for a second before disappearing!
A few seconds later, an enormous explosion rocked the building.
Then there was silence.
A girl ran outside. We all followed her soon after to see her running a fair distance ahead. Before we reached her, she stopped suddenly and knelt down in the grass. By the time we got to her, she stood up and turned to us. She was holding Abra in her arms, unconscious and looking pretty scuffed up.
The girl smiled at us. "She'll be ok," she said.
"What is going on here?" a voice from behind us all said.
We turned to see Aurora running up to us.
It wasn't long after that several police cars and police motorcycles were speeding down towards where we all were.
So many Officer Jennys, all in one place, was my first immediate thought. Then I shook it off due to the seriousness of this moment we were having.
"What happened here? Is everybody ok?" one of the officers asked.
"Yes," Nurse Joy said. "This Abra just needs medical attention."
"Oh my gosh what happened to the poor thing?" another Jenny asked.
"What was the explosion?" another Jenny asked.
Nurse Joy was silent for a moment. "It seems we have some sort of terrorist group operating within the Kanto region. Based on what they said, they seem intent on destroying every Pokémon in existence and anyone who gets in their way. They even used a Graveler just now to use explosion on the Pokémon Center. Luckily this girl had an Abra who used Teleport to take the Graveler to a different and more safe location."
"Nurse Joy?" a boy asked. "Don't moves like explosion and Selfdestruct hurt the Pokémon?"
Nurse Joy stared at the boy with love and concern in her eyes. "They do much worse. Move like those two… kill… the Pokémon. Causing the Pokémon to utterly annihilate itself into nothingness in an intense explosion.
A few kids gasped.
I already knew this though.
"He used a Graveler??" Aurora fumed. "How dare they use… any Pokémon to carry out such a sick, twisted… My anger is beyond me right now!! Where are they? Where did they go??"
"We don't know," Nurse Joy said, looking around. "They left not long ago but I don't see them."
"Nurse Joy we will have to take you in for questioning about this incident later," an officer said. "But for now, you tend to this poor Abra, ok?"
"Thank you Officer Jenny," Nurse Joy said, taking the Abra from the girl and cradling it carefully before walking back to the Pokémon Center, the girl following close behind.
"Okay now. We need to barricade the area!" an officer exclaimed. "They can't have gone far! Let's move it!"
The officers got on their vehicles and sped off.
The crowd around me didn't budge, but instead talked excitedly about what had happened.
I just stood there. Silently. Reflecting on everything that had happened today.
Knowing there was worse to come.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 8: For The Last Time

"Gary. You're Pokémon are in full health," Nurse Joy said to me happily. "Your Primeape and Charmander made a full recovery and your other Pokémon are in tip top shape."
"Thank you Nurse Joy," I said gratefully and took my Pokéballs.
I stepped outside in the fresh air.
It was a new day. I had to take a course. It was training time. I needed to work harder to be able to beat Aurora.
I heard the doors to the Pokémon Center open behind me. I turned to see a young kid stepping outside. He had well done hair, clearly taken care of, wavy, and soft looking. His eyes seemed to have a pleasant glow in the sunlight and that glow increased as he smiled at me. "Hey there," he greeted me. "My name is Rich. I'm getting ready for a gym battle and I thought maybe a nice warm up could help."
I smiled. "My name is Gary, and I'll give you a warm up alright."
His smiled widened. "Sounds good! How about we battled right over her in this nice clearing? And right in front of the Pokémon Center. This way when you lose, you won't have to go too far for help."
He had good spirit. He didn't come off arrogant. Just playful. It was a good attitude.
"Do your worst because after this, I'm getting my Boulder Badge this time," I said with determination.
"Oh? You challenged her already? Is that why you were in the Pokémon Center?" he asked.
"Yeah. She ripped me up pretty good too," I admitted. "But this time, it's time to win that badge."
"Well after our match, you may need to reconsider doing some more training," he said, picking a Pokéball from his belt. He pressed the center and the tiny Pokéball opened to normal size. "Let's make it a full six on six Pokémon battle."
I thought for a moment. "But I only have five," I responded.
He smiled at me. "Can't handle one extra Pokémon?"
"Huh?" I was confused.
"Let's make it a 5 on 6 battle then," he challenged. Or can you not handle one more itty bitty Pokémon?"
I could feel the anger rising in me. I wasn't mad at him. I just wasn't sure if I could meet his challenge. And that was what angered me. He was confident, so he must be good. I couldn't let his confidence make me feel inferior. I needed to trust my team. Believe in them. I grabbed a Pokéball.
Believe.
"Let's do it! Hootoot I choose you!" I called, tossing my Pokéball.
Hoothoot came out of the Pokéball.
Rich tossed his too and out came something familiar. I didn't quite recall what it was but I knew it evolved into something else.
I pulled out my Pokédex to scan it.
Tyrogue. The Scuffle Pokémon. This determined Pokémon is not afraid of any challengers and will take on any opponents. However, because it has not mastered a particular type of fighting style, its skills are limited. No matter the outcome of a match, Tyrogue is always ready for more competition and will never give up.
Right. Tyrogue, I thought. It evolves into Hitmonchan, Hitmontop, or Hitmonlee depending on the way it is raised.
Tyrogue is a Fighting Type so my Hoothoot, as a Flying type, had the advantage.
"Hoothoot use Peck attack," I ordered.
Hoothoot flew low and attacked Tyrogue with its beat repeatedly.
Tyrogue yelled and swung at Hoothoot, trying to swat it away like an oversized fly. But Hoothoot wasn't bothered and continued to peck away at Tyrogue as it ran away.
"Tyrogue don't run, Tackle attack!" Rich commanded.
Tyrogue tried to Tackle Hoothoot, but Hoothoot flew high into the air and dodged, then dive bombed back at Tyrogue for more pecking until Tyrogue was exhausted and finally hit the ground.
"Tyrogue no!" Rick yelled. He returned it to its Pokéball. "Beginner's luck…" He grabbed his second Pokéball and threw it towards me. It opened and out came an Eevee.
I used my Pokédex on it.
Eevee. The Evolution Pokemon. This Pokémon is highly adaptable to its surrounding and because of such it can evolve into one of a variety of many Pokémon depending on the situation.
"Eevee use Leer now!" Rick ordered.
Eevve's Leer went immediately and hit my Hoothoot.
Hoothoot seemed a bit dizzied by the attack as it became more susceptible to physical damage.
"Tackle it now!" Rich yelled.
Eevee charged quickly at Hoothoot.
"Hypnosis now!" I said.
Hoothoot snapped out of it and shot a ray from its eyes at Eevee.
Eevee stopped in its tracks and stood there in a daze. It wavered back and forth before cutely falling to the ground and snoring cutely.
"Now go give it the old Tackle!" I commanded.
Hoothoot flew at Eevee fast and sent the little fluff ball flying into the air.
Eevee hit the ground but continued sleeping.
"Peck it Hoothoot!" I said.
Hoothoot landed on the ground next to Eevee and used Peck on its head nonstop.
"Eevee get up!!" Rick yelled. He was getting frantic as the little thing snoozed away, getting more and more hurt by the second.
It wouldn't take long now.
"Finish this with Uproar!" I ordered.
Hoothoot stood still for a moment. Then it took a deep breath and started screeching and making an enormous, irritating noise. I covered my ears and so did Rich. Blue waves came from Hoothoot's beak and hit Eevee, who woke up from the loud noise and was sent flying.
Eevee hit the ground and it was plain to see the Eevee ad had enough and was unable to battle.
I returned my Hoothoot to its Pokéball as Rich returned his Eevee to its Pokéball. A move like Uproar lasts for quite a while. Probably not the wisest move for me to use.
"Gosh that was a nui-" Rich was interrupted as he and I both noticed that people had come from out of the Pokémon Center due to the Uproar my Hoothoot caused. They all were now standing around us, including Nurse Joy, watching out battle.
I smiled at Nurse Joy as my heart began to pound harder. Her smile back to me made me just about crumble. But not here. Not now.
Rich stared at his remaining four Pokémon, thinking carefully. He grabbed one and tossed it. "The game ends here! I choose you Sandslash!"
Sandslash came out and looked pretty fierce. Its claws were deadly and I knew this was just the training my team needed. We were on a streak. We had to win.
"Hoothoot return!" I called. "I choose you Charmander!"
Charmander came out, looking ready for anything.
I knew a Charmander, being a Fire Type, was a risky choice for battling a Ground Type like Sandslash, but we had to train and train hard.
I checked out Sandslash on the Pokédex before proceeding.
Sandslash. The Mouse Pokémon. Sandslash live in desert areas. They can keep themselves from catching a heatstroke by curling up into a ball. In this form, they can also kick up sand to escape a predator or attack.
"Sandslash use Dig now!" Rick yelled.
Sandslash went underground immediately.
"Charmander hang on!" I exclaimed, unsure of what order I should give it. I tried to think for a moment. "Wait!"
"Sandslash go!" Rich commanded.
The ground began to tremble as Sandslash dug quickly to attack from underneath.
"Jump and Ember now!" I yelled at the last second.
Charmander leaped into the air and aimed a series of flames down at the ground underneath it just as Sandslash flew from the underground.
Sandslash was hit and fell to the ground.
"Don't let up Charmander!" I screamed.
Charmander kept in the air and let the flames burn. Soon gravity took place and Charmander was falling but still hitting Sandslash with the flames.
"Get out of there and Dig!" Rich screamed.
Sandslash dug underground again but Charmander's flames followed it and Sandslash had nowhere to go. In a minor explosion underground that rocked the ground a little, Sandlsash came flying out from the dirt, burnt black and unconscious.
"WHAT???" Rich screamed. "NONONONONONONONONO!!!!!"He recalled his Sandslash. "I can't believe this!" He glared at me for quite a long time.
Charmander proudly puffed out its chest and said its name.
Rich glared at my Charmander for a moment.
"So do you give up or are we gonna finish this? I asked.
Rich stared back to me. He chose a Pokéball and stared at it for a while. Then he looked at me with fury. "Go get them Metapod!" he yelled.
Out came the Metapod and I had to struggle not to laugh.
Some of the other trainers in the crowd openly laughed though.
Rich turned to the crowd angrily. "How else am I going to train it? I have to raise it right?"
Nurse Joy was the only one not laughing. That was expected. She was so sweet like that.
"Hey!" Rich yelled. "We're over here! You're battling me not Nurse Joy!"
The entire crowd went "Ooooooooohhhh!!"
I glared at Rich. I couldn't even face Nurse Joy. Now I was mad. One look at how embarrassed and mad I was and Charmander was glaring back too.
"Charmander make this quick with Ember!" I screamed.
Charmander glared for a moment and inhaled deeply before letting loose an overkill off flames onto the poor disadvantaged Metapod.
There was nothing that could be done. Metapod was toast.
Rich angrily returned his Metopod before sending out another flop Pokémon. A Sunkern.
I shrugged and used my Pokédex on it.
Sunkern. The Seed Pokémon. They like to remain motionless in trees and gain as many nutrients as they can as they prepare for evolution. They fall from trees unpredictably in the early mornings. Some people nurture these Pokémon in preparation for competitions for when they evolve.
I'd heard of this Pokémon but never seen one before. I think they were from the neighboring region of Johto. I'd also heard them referred to as one of the weakest Pokémon in existence.
Charmander turned to me.
I nodded.
Charmander let loose a bored Ember attack and Sunkern fell over, unable to battle. It never stood a chance being a Grass Type against my Fire Type.
Rich wasn't happy about this. "Now you're just making fun of me!" he bellowed."
I didn't know what to say so I just waited for his final Pokémon.
I couldn't believe what his final option was.
Out of his Pokéball came a flopping Magikarp. The king of the weakest of weak Pokémon.
I didn't even wanna use my Pokédex but…
Magikarp. The Fish Pokémon. Highly regarded as the weakest of all Pokémon. It can jump very high on rare occasions when in the water. Other than that, this Pokémon is virtually useless.
Everyone laughed harder than ever, even as Rich glared at them.
"Charmander return," I said.
Some people were confused by my decision, but I figured this was a good time as any to raise my other Pokémon.
"Metapod go!" I yelled, sending it out.
Metapod sat there, staring at Magikarp.
"Harden now!" I ordered.
Metapod's skin flashed a bright flash as if it had been polished and its Defense was raised.
Rich stared at my Metapod in surprise. "STOP MAKING FUN OF ME!!!!" he screamed.
"Harden again Metapod!" I ordered.
Metapod continued to raise its Defense again.
Rich was livid. Then he sighed. "Magikarp use Splash…"
Everyone, including me, laughed as Magikarp flopped there on the ground, doing absolutely nothing.
The only one not laughing but just watching was Nurse Joy, in all her beauty.
I turned away quickly and told Metapod to Harden again, which it did.
Rich's Magikarp continued to just Splash.
I assumed it didn't know Tackle attack yet, a move it doesn't learn until level 15, when it is close to evolving into its much deadly form, Gyarados.
"Alright, Tackle it Metapod!" I said loudly.
Metapod flew managed to force itself forward and hit Magikarp. I knew a Metapod using Tackle was sometimes a tricky feat but it was more than possible.
The fish flew into the air flopped around on the ground.
"Keep using Tackle Metapod!" I said.
"Magikarp please try to Tackle back!" Rich pleaded.
But Metapod was the only one attacking.
Eventually the sad show was over when Magikarp was no longer shown to be able to even flop around.
I had won.
"Great work Metapod!" I exclaimed. "Thank you so much!" I recalled it back and walked up to the trainer. I extended my hand to him.
He waved it away and walked off, embarrassed. Or at least he tried to.
Nurse Joy blocked his way. "Now that's not very sportsmanlike!" she said sternly. "You're Pokémon will never get any stronger or closer to you if you have that kind of attitude about losing. Now you go back and shake that trainer's hand."
He looked back to me angrily but walked over to me and shook my hand. "It's like you two are married," he muttered as he walked off.
"I heard that!" Nurse Joy said. She grabbed him by the ear. "I think you and I should have a little talk about accepting losses and being respectful to your elders. This will help you be a better trainer, friend, rival, and a better person." She tugged him towards the Pokémon Center as he yelled out in pain.
I smiled widely and laughed to myself as a few others laughed out loud. They all congratulated me on my win and I thanked them. As they all walked away, I stared towards the direction of the Pewter City Gym.
It was time.
I headed over there immediately. I arrived in front of the stone doors and knocked as hard as I could, creating next to no noise.
However, a few seconds later, I heard footsteps running from inside and soon after, the door opened.
Aurora looked to me and smiled smugly. "Looks who's back. Guess we didn't' scare you off badly enough the first time."
"Aurora, I challenge you to a Pokémon battle for your Boulder Badge!" I challenged.
"Yeah yeah come on in little boy," she said.
I stepped inside. The gym was lit this time. Dimly, but still it.
Her referee was there this time, ready this time to begin judging.
She took her place and I took mine.
"The rematch between Pewter City Gym Leader Aurora and Gary from Pallet Town is about to begin," the referee stated. "This again will be a 2 on 2 Pokémon battle. No time limit. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon. The trainer to knock out the other's two Pokémon first will be the winner. Let the battle begin!"
She silently tossed her Pokéball as last time and sent out her Gravaler.
"Primeape, let's begin with you this time!" I yelled.
Primeape came out raring for a battling and looking like it was going to win.
"Graveler Roll Out. No games this time," Aurora ordered.
Graveler rolled fast at Primeape.
Primeape jumped over it but Graveler was ready and slammed into Primeape from underneath! Then Graveler was on top of Primeape, still using Roll Out, running Primeape into the dirt!
Primeape was stuck and had no way of getting out from under Graveler.
Periodically, Graveler would bounce off Primeape and slam back into it again, causing Primeape to scream out in pain.
"Primeape!" I yelled.
"Finish it now!" Aurora yelled.
Graveler bounced off Primeape's back again and slammed down hard on Primeape with a powerful Rock Throw.
Primeape yelled out and couldn't move.
Graveler proceeded bouncing off Primeape repeatedly.
I felt so helpless. What could I do?
"Primeape return!" I called.
Or I tried to. At least until the referee shouted, "Primeape is unable to battle, Graveler is the winner!"
I stared in shock. I was too late. My best hope was gone. We did terrible.
No, I did terrible. I was so overwhelmed by Graveler's speed, I blanked.
"I'm sorry Primeape," I said as I returned it to its Pokéball. "This was my fault."
"At least you know that," Aurora said in a serious voice.
I looked at her without saying a word. She was right after all.
I didn't have many options left. I went with my best choice.
"Charmander I choose you!" I yelled.
Charmander came out and saw Graveler. It immediately spit out a flame at Graveler, who brushed itself off where the flame hit it as if it were nothing.
"You're Charmander is poorly trained," Aurora said coldly.
Charmander spit a tiny flame behind it in anger, glaring at Graveler.
"Charmander cut it out!" I yelled.
Charmander look to me apologetically, its tiny little claw behind its head.
"Graveler," Aurora said.
Charmander turned quickly and watched Graveler leap in the air again and land on top of it like last time. Graveler rolled off and Charmander was on the ground, unable to move.
"Charmander is unable to battle! Graveler is the winner and this match goes to Pewter City Gym Leader Aurora!" the referee called.
I returned my Charmander.
I bowed to her respectfully like last time and turned away to leave.
"Little boy," she called.
I stopped.
"There are plenty of other gym in the Kanto region," she stated. "For your Pokémon's sake, how about you try one of the other gyms?"
I didn't say anything. I just kept walking.

The damage wasn't too serious. After all, we didn't have to fight Kabutops. But at the same time, we didn't even reach Kabutops.
After my Pokémon had recovered from the damage that night, I went outside and had a talk with all of them in the wonderful outdoors. It was a beautiful breeze out and it was just us six.
"Team, we need to do some training," I stated. "All of you. Even though I know who I'm using and not using in this gym battle, we all could use some work. It's time to get down to business!"
Everyone nodded their heads sternly in agreement.
We trained hard that night.
Charmander battled Weedle. Primeape battled Metapod. Hoothoot battled Charmander. Everybody got a turn with everybody. We trained hard, drank plenty of water, and ran laps. I threw pebbles at Charmander to get it to move faster and learn how to dodge. The pebbles turned to rocks when Charmander got better at dodging. Better and faster.
Weedle dodged Hoothoot's oncoming Peck attacks and took a lot of damage. But we kept out persistence going and didn't stop.
Metapod took Peck attacks from Hoothoot too while using Harden to block damage. Then I threw rocks and sticks and whatever else I could find to see just how tough that Harden was reflecting hits. The Harden was definitely solid.
Hoothoot practiced with Weedle by dodging oncoming Poison Sting attacks and going in to attack, which Weedle dodged.
"Weedle attack Hoothoot!" I screamed. "Hit it! Poison it! Go go go!"
Weedle flew at Hoothoot again, but Hoothoot dodged like a pro.
"String shot!" I ordered.
Weedle shot out its bug strings from its mouth at Hoothoot but Hoothoot dodged it. Weedle looked frustrated by this point and sent out a nonstop barrage of strings to try to grab Hoothoot and slow it down. Hoothoot dodged over and over again, weaving easily out of the way.
Suddenly, Weedle's strings seemed to not be aiming at all. It was just in the air, falling around Weedle itself in an odd fashion. Soon Weedle was covered completely in its white silk spray.
"Weedle?" I said.
Suddenly the white faded from Weedle and I gasped in surprise.
It was no longer my Weedle. It had evolved into a Kakuna!
"Kakuna congratulations!" I exclaimed. I smiled brightly and proudly. I stared at Hoothoot and it and the others cheered our new friends evolution.
I suddenly was hit with a plan on how we could beat Aurora.

I stood before the Pewter City Gym doors. I took a deep breath and knocked.
My dull thuds were returned with footsteps from inside. The doors opened and Aurora looked down to me in great surprise.
"Listen little boy," she started.
"Please," I interrupted. "I can win! Let me prove it! I can defeat you and this is my time to prove it to you Miss Aurora. Please, allow me another chance!"
She laughed at me. "'Miss' Aurora huh? Since when are we referring to me as that?" She smiled. "Okay little boy. One more chance. But after this, you have to go somewhere else do you understand?"
"Yes. And thank you," I said. I bowed gratefully.
We took our usual places at the battle field.
The referee was there as usual.
"This is the rematch between the Pewter City Pokemon Gym Leader Aurora and Gary from Pallet Town. This will be a 2 on 2 Pokémon battle. No time limit. The first trainer to defeat the other trainer's Pokémon will be declared the winner. Let the battle… BEGIN!"
"I choose you! Hoothoot!" I shouted.
Hooothoot came out in fighting mode.
Aurora sent out her Graveler without a word.
"End this with a flying Roll Out," Aurora stated.
"Flying…?" I managed. I shook my head and snapped out of it. "NO HOOTHOOT THE PLAN DO IT!"
Graveler rolled across the ground and started spinning in a small circle.
I had no idea what it was doing.
Hoothoot was confused too and didn't do our plan we had worked on last night.
I watched as Graveler spun in a circle faster and faster, over and over.
But why?
"Hoothoot try or plan anyway! Use Hypnosis attack!" I ordered.
Hoothoot tried to use Hypnosis, but Graveler's spinning made it impossible to aim and the hypnotic ways that did Graveler just bounced right off.
"Do it!" Aurora yelled in a manner that made my heart stop.
Graveler, like a freaking jet flew off the ground at a speed I never saw any Pokémon move in my life, and slammed directly into Hoothoot.
Hoothoot flew across the gym and slammed into the wall far behind me, leaving a deep dent in the wall.
"Hoothoot is unable to battle, Graveler is the winner!" the referee declared.
"Hoothoot!" I ran to Hoothoot. It was in rough shape. I couldn't believe what I had just seen. "Everything's gonna be ok," I said to Hoothoot, fighting back tears. I returned it to its Pokéball. I walked back to my place at the battle field and stared at Aurora. "Before you say anything, because I know you have something to say Aurora, I have to say, this match is NOT OVER!"
Aurora laughed at me. "Little boy, you're easily distracted. You let my Graveler spin faster and faster, building not only momentum, but strength. The longer a Roll Out attack lasts in battle, the more powerful it becomes when it hits. You allowed Graveler to pick up speed as it spun faster and faster, and you were kind enough to let its attack become even stronger by standing there foolishly. I must say you are a truly sad case of a trainer."
Her words stung me. I felt humiliated and ridiculed. I couldn't let her get away with that. I couldn't.
"Primeape give it your all!" I yelled, tossing its Pokéball.
Primeape came out, excited and looking for a fight.
"Go," Aurora said simply.
"Karate Chop!" I ordered.
Graveler flew at Primeape who met the boulder with its Karate Chop attack.
Karate Chop hit hard and Graveler was thrown back!
"Don't let it up! Low Kick!" I yelled.
Primeape moved as fast as it could and swept Graveler off its feet as it stood up from the Karate Chop hit.
Graveler slammed into the ground.
"Karate Chop now!" I commanded.
Primeape relentlessly let loose a series of Karate Chop attacks at Graveler.
"Graveler Earthquake! Knock that thing off its feet!" Aurora commanded.
Graveler immediately curled into a ball and rolled away as fast as it could from Primeape's attacks. Once it was clear away, it leaped into the air and tried to land on the ground for an Earthquake attack.
"Primeape catch it before it lands!" I yelled.
But Graveler was somehow too fast. It landed way before Primeape could reach it and slammed hard onto the gym floor, rattling everyone in the gym.
I was thrown off my feet and so was Primeape.
Aurora looked just fine, barely noticing the quake.
Primeape suddenly let out a loud noise.
I covered my ears, as did everyone else in the gym, including Graveler.
This wasn't the same cry as before when it was evolving. Something else was going on.
I pulled out my Pokédex to see if it knew what this was.
Screech attack. This move lowers the opponent's defense by a great amount.
That was when I noticed Primeape knew a few other moves. I had no idea the Pokédex could find out all the moves my Pokémon knew. I saw Primeape's level, how its stats looked, so much information! But this was no time to be amazed.
Primeape stopped screeching.
"Primeape finish it with Karate Chop now!" I yelled as loud as I could.
Primeape flew forward and caught Graveler off guard.
With its lowered Defense, Graveler with the ground with tremendous force and rocked the gym again.
"Graveler is unable to battle," the referee stated. "Primeape is the winner!"
Aurora recalled her Graveler. She stared at the Pokéball containing Graveler for a few seconds, and then reached for her next Pokémon. Without a word, she sent out her Kabutops.
Primeape saw Kabutops and screeched loudly at it.
Kabutops just stared silently.
"Primeape, Screech attack!" I ordered, covering my ears.
Primeape used its Screech attack, and the referee and Aurora covered their ears in pain.
Even with my ears covered, they still were ringing.
Kabutops didn't flinch.
"Karate Chop!" I yelled.
Primeape charged at Kabutops to take it out with Karate Chop. Primeape hit and Kabutops hit the ground.
Kabutops got up and stared silently and Primeape.
"Our turn," Aurora said.
At those words, Kabutops moved like lightening and sliced and Primeape again.
More blood than the last time splashed the gym floor.
Not only was Kabutops' scythe covered in it, but parts of its body too.
There was silence.
Primeape slowly hit the floor. Its entire face covered in blood.
"PRIMEAPE!" I screamed.
I was sure the referee had called the match was won to Aurora. But I didn't hear it. I just ran in the middle of the battle field and knelt down to Primeape. "Primeape! Are you ok?" I asked. "Primeape!"
Primeape didn't move or seem to be breathing.
"Goodbye little boy," Aurora said coldly at me. "Take that thing to Nurse Joy. And don't come around here anymore."
"PRIMEAPE!" I yelled. "Please! Say something! Anything!"
"You idiot!" Aurora yelled. "Take it to a Pokémon Center you fool!"
I returned Primeape to its Pokéball and ran to the gym doors. Then I turned back for a moment. "Aurora! This isn't over!" I yelled. I PROMISE I'll be back! One day I will be back again! And I WILL defeat you and win your badge!!" I PROMISE!" I ran out the gym.

I sat in my familiar place I seemed to be these days. The Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy said the damage wasn't as bad as she's seen some other cases. She also told me that in the world of Pokémon, damages can get very ugly. But she, and the other Nurse Joys, is trained for such emergencies. So she reassured me that Primeape was going to be just fine, despite how bad I thought it looked.
I sat in the lobby, probably the most depressed and down trainer there.
I was banned from the Pewter City Gym.
For now.
But Primeape was going to be okay. And so was Hoothoot. We all were going to be okay.
I stepped outside of the Pokémon Center. I needed to think for a while. And get some fresh air.
All three battles kept replaying in my mind. I needed to think about something else. Just for a minute.
I took off my backpack and decided to find my Town Map, if my mom had packed one, which I was sure she had.
Yes indeed she did.
My mom… I thought about calling her all of a sudden. Just to let her know how I was doing and I had made it to Pewter City safely and whatnot. My mom and Prof. Oak.
Later, I thought to myself. I'm in no mood to explain how terrible things are going for me right now. I don't need them worrying about me. Then again if I don't call they will worry anyway…
Later, I said to myself again. Later.
I stared at the Town Map. I found my location at Pewter City. Nearby was Mount Moon, which led to Cerulean City. There was also a detour through Route 3 that led away from Mount Moon and instead would take me to Obsidian City.
Hmmm. The Route to Obsidian seemed faster than a long detour through Mount Moon just to get to Cerulean City.
"Obsidian City it is," I said out loud.
I took a deep breath and headed back to the Pokémon Center.
I found a phone and sat down in the little open booth. I called my mom.
She answered almost immediately. I saw her on the big screen in the booth, looking back at me in surprise. "Gary?" she said in surprise.
"Hey mom," I replied.
"Where have you been?" she asked. "Prof. Oak and I have been worried about you! You don't call or anything! How was your trip through Viridian Forest? I know how much you hate bugs!"
"I'm okay mom," I replied. "I even captured some of the bug Pokémon there."
"You did?" she said in surprise.
"Of course mom," I said. "I promised you I'd catch them all, right?"
She smiled proudly at me. "Yes you did."
"Look at what I caught so far mom," I said excitedly. I sent out all my Pokémon I had with me besides Hoothoot and Primeape who were still in the treatment. "Say hi to my mom everyone!"
Everyone greeted her.
She smiled back at them, not truly interested. She never did care too much for Pokémon. It wasn't a huge interest of passion. If not for my dad, I may never have had any Pokémon around me when growing up. My mom didn't even allow my dad to buy me a Pokémon to play with. He had wanted to buy me a Growlithe as a kid.
"Is that… that Pokémon you got from Prof. Oak?" my mom asked suddenly, staring at my Charmander.
"Yeah mom…" I started.
Charmander looked down in shame.
"What are you doing with that thing?" my mom screamed.
"Mom let me explain it was a big misunderstanding!" I started.
And this was my night. Arguing with my mom while trying to defend my Charmander. Causing a huge commotion in the Pokémon Center.
My mom never listened.
I knew I would call Prof. Oak after this. He would listen and understand I'm sure.
But for now it was me versus my mom.
This is exactly why I didn't want to call her. Something always goes wrong…

I was right. After arguing with my mom for about an hour, I called Prof. Oak and he understood what had happened with me and Charmander and said he would try to explain to my mom.
I told him not to bother but he said he would.
Afterwards I told him of my troubles at the Pewter Gym.
"Ah, Aurora," Prof. Oak said. "She is married to the previous gym leader of that gym and when she was put in charge, not everyone was sure she could handle it. The previous gym leader was very much liked. But she showed everyone by raising an incredible set of Pokémon and being just about unbeatable."
"Oh wow…" was all I could utter. "Well, next I'm going to go to Obsidian City for a try at that gym."
"Obsidian City…" Prof. Oak thought. "Ah yes, that city has some very peculiar Pokémon roaming around there. You should find some great captures to add to your pretty impressive collection so far. That is where the Ghost Type Gym Leader, Shane, can be found.
"Ghost Type Pokémon…" I muttered.
"Be careful there Gary," Prof. Oak warned. "Ghost Pokémon like to play jokes. Sometimes deadly ones. You best watch your back. Your Hoothoot should know Foresight and can get rid of any tricks those Ghost Pokémon may play on you, like apparitions and other tricks for your eyes and mind. You keep Hoothoot nearby and you'll be just fine."
"Thanks Prof. Oak," I said. "Well, I'm going to let you get back to work. Take care and thanks for the talk! And say hi to Tracey for me."
"I will. You take care, Gary," Prof. Oak said.
His face disappeared from the screen as he hung up and I put the phone back.
I stood up and stretched.
Obsidian City.
Ghost Type Pokémon. My first badge.
I'll be back Aurora, I thought to myself. Someday. And when I come back, I will leave your gym one last time. With the Boulder Badge in my hand.
I promise.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 9: A Battle To The Death

"After Obsidian City, we have a few neighboring cities we can visit that have gyms, too," I said. "There's Vermilion City, Gringey City… There's Cerulean City back the way we came from, too."
Walking through a dark forest in the middle of the night, I was on my way to Obsidian City. Me and my Pokémon had just left Pewter City and we were all in tiptop shape. Including Primeape and Hoothoot. Those nurses sure knew how to perform miracles for any situation.
Hoothoot happily sat on top of my shoulder, turning its head in complete circles, carefully checking out the area.
I had remembered Prof. Oak telling me that Hoothoot would be great protection once I got to Obsidian City since there are Ghost Pokémon located there. Hoothoot knows Foresight, a move which can reveal Ghost Pokémon in disguise who are creating illusions.
Charmander was right beside me too.
It was great to get out and spend some time with my Pokémon. Especially Charmander, since me and it had such a rocky start in our relationship.
We talked about my life and aspirations, and eventually I decided to figure out where we would go after we beat the Obsidian Gym Leader. Because we would beat him or her. No question there. That badge was mine.
As I talked about our next area after Obsidian City, I finally was hit with a fact that I had known for quite some time, but only now had truly acknowledged.
It was dark outside.
We had left Pewter City in the morning and begun our walk hours ago. Now, my feet were killing me, I was very thirsty, and I was wondering if I was lost.
The map showed that Obsidian City was a few hours away from Pewter City. A decent walk, yes, but it didn't seem to warrant all of this.
I stopped walking.
Charmander stopped too and looked up at me.
I looked around.
Nothing but trees. Everywhere. Trees I couldn't even see beyond except for more trees and an oddly overtly dark darkness. It was creepy. Way too dark. Abnormal.
"Charmander, Hoothoot, stay sharp," I warned.
Charmander and Hoothoot nodded seriously and we continued to walk ahead.
I was terrified walking through here. It was so dark. I could literally see nothing but more trees and darkness. Who knows how long we may have even been walking in circles in all this time. I was starting to get hungry too, and I knew my Pokémon must be getting there as well. But there was no way we could stop now. Not in this creepy place.
A sudden high pitched scream from right next to my ear rang out and a pair of dark shadowy hands reached from the darkness and snatched my Hoothoot from my shoulder!
"HOOTHOOT!" I yelled, my heart slamming into my chest, staring in shock as my Hoothoot, terrified, was pulled into the darkness and gone a second later. "HOOTHOOT!"
I ran into the darkness and a horrifying face appeared from the depths of the deep black nothingness between the trees. A face of perhaps a werewolf, only twice the size of my own head, and no body. With a face that was split in half, directly down the middle, maggots squirming and dropping to the ground from the gash. It's open mouth containing the razor sharp fangs of a deadly predator but the mouth of the beast… its lips… they looked like human lips with some form of lines or strings attached to them. It didn't have an animal's lips. It almost looked like… it had human lips… sewed on to its face! With blood dripping from the seams! Dripping became an understatement as the blood soon began to flow from the seams!
I screamed louder than I ever had in my life. I ran away from the… thing in the woods and kept running. I didn't know where I was going but I just kept moving.
But no.
Hoothoot.
I stopped running, and Charmander ran right past me without stopping!
"HEY!" I yelled.
Charmander stopped and turned back to me, looking confused. Charmander's eyes soon looked at me in surprised and fear and it shot a flame at my head!
I ducked just in time for it for miss.
I looked at Charmander as if it had lost its mind. "Are you insa-"
I was interrupted as Charmander's eyes widened at me. Wider. They were practically bulging from its eye sockets. When suddenly…
Charmander's eyes flew from its sockets and hit the floor!
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!!!!" I bellowed. I back away from Charmander in shock. "Charmander!"
Charmander reached out its arms to me and its eyes on the floor began to somehow start crying. "Charmander!" it said. But in a weird, deep, deformed voice. Not the high pitched cry I knew.
I backed away from it as Charmander moved slowly towards me.
It wasn't quite walking either. It was kind of dragging its feet. I soon realized my red lizard was leaving behind yellow ooze behind it as it dragged towards me. The ooze was coming from under its feet. But Charmander seemed to be melting! Its feet were slowly melting into ooze and being left behind in a disgusting mess behind it!
I backed away in terror. I wanted to help my Charmander, but this was just insane! I had no idea what was going on. I was terrified and shaking badly. I very well could have been having a seizure with how bad I was shaking. Or maybe an earthquake was underway this very moment.
I thought about what other Pokémon I owned.
Kakuna, Metapod, and Primeape.
Ok. And??? I asked myself. What are you gonna do? Battle Charmander?
I could still see Charmander's eyes on the ground, crying, and now rolling towards me.
Charmander had melted down to its knees now in ooze, sliding towards me like a snail of some kind. Grossing me out. Making me disgusted. Leaving me petrified. My heart was beating so hard and fast I'd have preferred death over taking another painful heartbeat. My heart felt like it was gonna bust my chest apart any second now. I also didn't want to see my Charmander, now down to its torso, melting and sliding and leaving behind its yellow ooze. I kept backing up until I slammed into a tree and just slid down it. I sat on the ground in terror, watching as it got closer to me.
I began to see a sort of smoke rise from the yellow ooze Charmander was leaving behind. Suddenly Charmander's claws began dripping the same yellow ooze. Its outstretched arms reached up to me, crying its name nonstop, in a voice that sounded so distorted, so unclear, so unlike my Charmander.
Tears flooded my eyes soon as I felt no control of the situation. I felt helpless. I had no idea of anything and I wanted nothing more than to die.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME????" I yelled as tears poured my cheeks.
Charmander flung its claws at me suddenly and the ooze splashed across my face.
I instantly screamed as the ooze burned me. I grabbed at my face and could feel the skin on my face, in my hands. I could feel that some of it was gone. My hands were digging in the holes in my face that the ooze had burned through my skin!
Screaming, I grabbed at my face in agony and the skin I grabbed came off in my hands!
In a panic I dropped to my knees and just screamed and cried.
I cried as Charmander moved closer to me, now melted down to its neck.
Charmander was nothing more than a head, sliding closer and closer, eyeballs rolling up to me continuously, still crying.
Suddenly, a red light flashed from out of nowhere.
"HOOOOOOOOT!!!!"
I closed my eyes and turned to the brightness. "HOOTHOOT!" I screamed.
Hoothoot was there, its eyes flashing a bright red light on me and Charmander.
I turned back to Charmander, who suddenly looked fine! It was standing there, its entire body intact. No burning acid dripping from it, no acid on the ground, its eyeball in its head!
I looked down at my hands. No skin in my hands from my face! Just my normal skin hands! I touched my face. It was intact! No holes or burns!
Then I saw them. A Haunter and a Gengar. Both standing in the red light, huge smiles on their face.
I whipped out the Pokédex immediately over them.
Haunter.The Gas Pokémon and the evolved form of Gastly. Known well for their pranks which often end up intentionally deadly, this Pokémon feeds off of the life energy of living beings. There is little information know about this Pokémon.
Gengar. The Shadow Pokémon and the evolved form of Haunter. This Pokémon enjoys a good joke. Some believe it may come from an entirely different dimension. No other data is available on this Pokémon.
"So you two were playing pranks huh?" I said angrily. "That wasn't funny!"
Haunter and Genger, their mischievous grins on their faces, laughed at my fright and soon disappeared into thin air.
I suddenly noticed the surrounding area wasn't quite as bad as I had thought. The tons of trees and darkness were much more spaced out and I could see a clear path! The jumble of trees and unfathomable darkness had all been a trick by the Ghost Pokémon who run this forest…
"Hoothoot! Charmander! Are you guys ok?" I asked.
They both nodded their heads quickly, obviously eager to leave this forest as much as I was.
I stood up. My knees were shaking badly. I could barely hold myself up. I was still in shock about what had happened. They had made the illusions so real, I didn't even realize there was no burning pain from the acid. I had believed it so much, I made the burning a reality in my own mind. But it was never hurting me at all.
I wasn't sure what direction to run to, but I know we need to get out. "Come on guys, let's just get out of here. Even if it leads back to Pewter City. Let's just go," I said with a hint of panic in my voice.
Charmander and Hoothoot agreed without hesitation and we ran. Or began to.
We saw a man. He appeared out of nowhere and had a smile on his face. "How are you enjoying your stay in Tragedy Forest?" he laughed.
"Huh?" I asked. "Tragedy Forest?"
He laughed again. "Well, that's what they call Obsidian Forest. Tragedy Forest. Because nearly every trainer who enters, leaves having a tragic accident." His smiled widened. "That is… if they leave." He laughed heartedly. He ran his hand through his slightly curly black hair. His white teeth glowed and looked to be in perfect care. "My name is Shane. I am the Obsidian City Pokémon Gym Leader. As I was out here training my team of Ghost Pokémon, I heard you screaming and found you having a bit of trouble with my friends, ha ha ha. I commend you on your Hoothoot doing so well to protect its master."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," I said, reaching out to shake his hand. We shook. "I am Gary from Pallet Town and I've come out here to challenge your gym for badge."
"Ah," well what do you know?" Shane replied. "Well, why not battle right here?"
"Here?" I asked.
"Yes," Shane replied. "After all, this is where I was training, only a little distance further down. This is like home to me. And my Ghost Pokémon love it out here. It's their habitat. We can truly see how you operate when the odds are against you and see if you truly deserve this Dimensia badge." He pulled out a badge that seemed to be made of glass with an odd smoke floating around inside it. But it wasn't glass, nor was any smoke inside of it. It was just cleverly crafted to appear that way.
"Wow," I whispered. I was highly impressed. I stared at Shane in the eyes. "Ok then. Let's battle!"
He smiled widely. It almost looked familiar. "Ok then," he said, stepping back to the far end of the clearing.
I looked around and decided I should probably step to my end of the clearing.
This seemed a bit unconventional but I was all for it if he was.
"I choose you, Haunter!" he yelled, tossing his Pokéball.
A Haunter flew from his Pokéball.
"Huh? Wait, don't we need a referee?" I asked.
Shane laughed very loudly. "Do we need some kid to tell us whether or not out Pokémon is able to battle or not? Are we truly that stupid that we can't make that decision with our own two eyes?"
He had a good point.
"I guess," I muttered. I thought for a moment. "Ok then, Hoothoot, go get em!"
Hoothoot flew out in full force, ready for combat.
"This will be a one on one match," Shane announced. "First person whose Pokémon is defeated loses."
"Wait what??" I yelled. "One on one? Really?"
"Aw I'm sorry. You're scared?" Shane laughed. "The way you handled yourself out here with Gengar and Haunter, I should've known you would freak over such a rule."
I glared angrily at him. "Fine! One on one! Let's do it!"
Shane smiled that familiar smile again. "You may have the first move."
"Hoothoot, Foresight!" I ordered. I knew Ghost Pokémon were resistant to Normal and Fighting Type moves. They did absolutely no damage. But with Foresight, it got rid of that advantage and Normal and Fighting moves would hit a Ghost Type. Plus, Hoothoot is a Flying and Normal type Pokémon, so as a Normal Type, it can resist Ghost Type attacks and take no damage.
Hoothoot shined its light on Haunter and Haunter closed its eyes against the brightness.
"Now Tackle it Hoothoot!" I commanded.
Hoothoot flew at Haunter with the Normal Type attack at full speed.
"Haunter, Confuse Ray," Shane yelled.
Haunter stared at Hoothoot with its odd grin as asset of lights flew from its body and hit Hoothoot.
Hoothoot hit the ground and stared around in a daze. Then flew forward ferociously and hit…
A tree!
Repeatedly. It was tackling a tree continuously, confused and unable to stop. Only hurting itself in the process.
"Now use Hypnosis!" Shane yelled.
Haunter disappeared and reappeared in front of Hoothoot, right as it was about to charge forward with another Tackle attack.
Haunter became disoriented in my view and there seemed to be an odd blur about it. In the next instant, Hoothoot fell down and was fast asleep.
"Hoothoot! Get up! Please!"I begged.
"Use Dream Eater! Finish this!" Shane called.
Haunter didn't move, but what seemed to be a transparent version of Haunter flew forward from where Haunter continued standing and hit my sleeping Hoothoot.
I called for Hoothoot for wake up repeatedly. I stomped on the ground, screamed, but nothing worked.
Hoothoot woke up in the next instant! But immediately, I saw the look in its eyes. It was defeated.
We had lost.
Shane smiled at me. "Nice try Gary." Suddenly he walked closer to me. And his smile grew wider.
His Haunter floated closer to me, smiling just as creepily.
Charmander stepped forward and tried to hit Shane with an Ember attack! But Shane disappeared and the flame hit the air!
"Whoa!!" I exclaimed, backing up.
Shane reappeared in an instant and I suddenly recognized that smile.
Gengar.
This wasn't a human at all. It was another Ghost Pokémon trick.
I backed up as "Shane" and Haunter closed in on me and Charmander.
"HEY!"
A voice from nowhere shouted loudly.
I turned to see… Shane!
He had an angry look on his face. He stepped up to the Ghost Pokémon without any fear. "What do you two think you're doing?" he shouted.
The Shane with a Gengar smile turned into a Gengar instantly and its smile was gone.
Haunter's smile disappeared into a face of shame as well.
"Get on out of here!" he demanded. "Don't let me catch this kind of behavior again!"
The two ghosts nodded their heads fast and took off into the woods.
Suddenly, the forest disappeared. We were no longer in a forest but in a city!
Looking around in awe, I saw buildings, people walking around outside, staring at us strangely, hotels, houses a far off distance away, and a Pokémon Center!
As I stared in astonishment, the man who looked like Shane snapped me out of my awe. "Sorry about that. Those Ghost Pokémon can't resist a good trick. And it can end deadly sometimes. You were in Obsidian City for a little bit of time. The Ghost Pokémon must have been messing with you since you got out of Obsidian Forest." He pointed, and I saw Obsidian Forest a distance away from Obsidian City, at the end of a very long cement path that halfway out of the city, became a stone path.
"Wow…" I managed. I cleared my throat. "And this is real now?"
"Oh yes indeed," the man replied. "I am the real Shane, Gym Leader of the Obsidian Gym. The Ghost Pokémon don't usually come out this way," Shane said. "I keep this city safe from them. They know better than to behave like that. This city strives because I keep the Ghost Pokémon from coming over here raising havoc and mayhem. I couldn't believe when someone ran to me saying a kid was having a battle with me in the middle of the streets with a Haunter. I'd never battle in such a manner in the first place. And he said you seemed in a daze and something wasn't right. I'm glad you're safe though."
"Well thanks for saving me," I replied. "My name is Gary by the way. I came here from Pallet Town for a gym battle with you."
Shane smiled a normal smile this time. Nothing like Gengar's. He pointed at the ground.
A short distance away, I saw my Hoothoot, still knocked out from its battle with Haunter. I ran towards Hoohoot and picked it up carefully.
"How about you take care of your friend there first? Tomorrow night we can have out battle," Shane suggested.
"At night?" I asked.
"Yes," he smiled. "I love to battle when my Pokémon are most happy. And Ghost Pokémon are most happy and thrive best when it's night."
I smiled back. "Tomorrow night it is."

As I sat in the Pokémon Center, all of my Pokémon getting their treatment and some food, me eating a little something I had purchased along the way from a food cart selling hot food, I wondered about this battle.
I didn't even beat a rogue Pokémon pretending to be a trainer, I thought. How can I expect to beat a real gym leader?
Flashbacks of my match with Aurora flashed through my mind.
I sighed and closed my eyes hard.
I was scared.

I didn't sleep until the next morning. My Pokémon were fully healed but I just couldn't go to sleep. What I encountered with those Ghost Pokémon in Obsidian Forest kept me up until sometime that afternoon! I finally woke up and saw that it was dark outside!
I sat there in the Pokémon Center, and just stared calmly out the window, comprehending what everything meant.
"AAAAHHHHHH!!!!" I screamed
The Pokémon in the hospital that was outside of their Pokéballs, calmly relaxing with their trainers and other Pokémon, began erupting into noise and fighting with each other.
I got up and ran out of the Pokémon Center in a panic.
"What is wrong with that kid?" I heard someone ask as I flew out of there.
I ran straight to Obsidian Gym. I didn't have time to train, but I did take some time to find the gym and recognize where it was located.
I got to the gym doors and stopped, taking a deep breath to calm myself.
I don't even have a real strategy, I thought to myself. I need to really take the time to make this work.
The gym building was very nice. Not large but just big enough to hold a battle in. It was well kept and looked brand new. The door was regular wood, maybe oak or pine or something. I grabbed the doorknob and to my surprise, it opened!
I stepped inside to see Shane sitting in an enormous room, reading a book. He looked up at me and smiled.
"Welcome, Gary!" he said cheerily. He closed his book and stood up.
"Good evening, Shane," I replied, smiling.
I noticed a man in the corner of the room. He seemed to have been waiting for me, and smiled when I noticed him. He wore similar clothes to the referee from Pewter City Gym.
I entered the gym and closed the door behind me.
Shane walked up and me and we shook hands. "This will be our referee for this match," Shane explained.
"Sounds fine," I said.
"Give it your all, Gary. I hope to see great things from you tonight."
"Don't worry Shane. You're gonna be the first badge I acquire on my journey to becoming a Pokémon Master."
Shane nodded his head.
We took our places on either side of the battle field, outlined in chalk. Unlike the rock filled battle field of Pewter Gym, this one was bland. Nothing on it but the plain wood floor.
"This will be a 3 on 3 Pokémon battle between the Obsidian City Gym Leader and Gary from Pallet Town. There is no time limit. The winner will be whoever defeats the opponent's Pokémon first. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon. Let the battle begin!"
"I choose you, Gastly!" Shane called out.
Gastly popped out of its Pokéball.
I hadn't see this one before, but I knew what it was.
Gastly. The Gas Pokémon. Pranksters by nature, they can also catch prey by poisoning them through the skin whilst enveloping its prey with its body. They are easily blown away when come into contact with the wind.
"Hm. Ok," I said. "Charmander, go!"
I threw Charmander's Pokéball and it came out, ready to go.
"I encourage you to move first, Gary," Shane said.
"Charmander, now Ember!" I ordered.
Charmander tried to catch Gastly but Gastly simply disappeared to dodge and reappeared in an instant.
"Gastly, get over it and use Lick!" Shane ordered.
"Charmander return!" I yelled.
I recalled my Charmander in a panic just as Gastly's tongue came flying out to slurp the poor thing.
Shane seemed surprised but then smile. "Good choice."
"Now, Hoothoot, I guess you're up!" I ordered, throwing the Pokéball.
Hoothoot came out.
"Foresight!" I commanded.
Hoothoot hit Gastly with Foresight and the Ghost Pokémon was now susceptible to Normal and Fighting moves.
"Tackle it now!" I said.
Hoothoot flew at Gastly and tackled it to the ground. Gastly looked down but not out.
"Payback!" Shane shouted.
Gastly got up and slammed hard into Hoothoot, who flew across the room and bounced a few times on the floor.
I waited.
"Hoothoot!" I called. "Get up!"
"Hoothoot is unable to battle," the referred stated.
"NO!" I screamed. "Get up Hoothoot!"
"Gastly is the winner!" the referee finished.
"WHAT???" I screamed. I couldn't help but glare at the referee. I ran onto the battle field and picked up my Hoothoot. "Are you ok there?"
Hoothoot feebly hooted at me.
"You did great buddy. Thank you." I retreated Hoothoot to its Pokéball.
"Now Gary, you must respect the referee's decision," Shane told me sternly.
"I know. I was just surprised," I explained. "I'm sorry." I bowed respectively to the referee, who nodded back.
Payback, I thought to myself. What is that?
I pulled out my Pokédex.
Payback. This move delivers a bigger increase in damage if the user attacks after the opponent.
Wow, I thought. So that's what it was?
"Ok," I said. "You're up now Primeape!"
Primeape came out, hopping up and down in eagerness.
Primeape may be a Fighting Type Pokémon, but Gastly is under the effects of Foresight, I thought to myself. It can get hit by Fighting and Normal moves now. And Shane can't retreat his Gastly to clear the affects of Foresight.
"Primeape, Karate Chop!" I said.
Primeape didn't hesitate to fly at Gastly and take down the Ghost Type with Karate Chop.
Gastly had no chance and was on the ground, defeated.
"Gastly is unable to battle! Primeape is the winner!" the referee declared.
Shane retreated his Gastly. "A well deserved win," he congratulated. "That Foresight before hand was definitely a boost for you to win against Gastly."
"Thank you," I said gratefully.
"But your run might just end here," he said with a slick grin. "Gengar, let's finish this!"
As Gengar popped out of its Pokéball, my teeth gritted tighter as worry sunk in.
Keep calm, I told myself. Keep calm and believe in your Pokémon.
"Primeape use Screech!" I called out.
Primeape sent out an ear piercing screech I didn't think I'd ever get used to as long as I lived as I covered my ears.
The referee, Gengar, and Shane, covered their ears too.
Gengar's Defense was now badly weakened.
"Gengar, Confuse Ray!" Shane screamed.
Gengar tried hitting Primeape with Confuse Ray, but the Screech attack was still going and ruining Gengar's concentration and it missed.
I pulled out my Pokédex and looked over at Primeape to check its level and moves.
As I was wasting time checking out things on Primeape, Shane took advantage.
"Use Mean Look now!" Shane ordered.
Gengar's eyes glowed brightly and seemed to shine and suddenly, it ended.
"Mean Look…?" I asked my Pokédex.
Mean Look makes it impossible for the Pokémon who is hit with the move, to be retreated.
"Impossible!" I exclaimed.
I tried to recall Primeape, but the red beam didn't even touch Primeape before dying out.
Shane laughed. "I see you're still a bit new to the world of Pokémon. I truly am who you think you'll be getting your first badge from. Well not that easily. Gengar, Shadow Ball now!"
I smiled.
Primeape took the hit and flew across the field, sliding hard but getting up, although a little shaky.
"Great!" I yelled. "Assurance now!"
"Assurance!!" Shane yelled. "Gengar get out of there!"
Primeape was already charging forward in a fury and hit Gengar with all its might.
Gengar was slapped down by the Dark Type move. Dark Type moves were one of the weaknesses of Ghost Type Pokémon. And Assurance works in the same manner as Payback. The only difference being that Payback deals more damage if you go last. Assurance deals more damage if you actually took damage in that turn first.
"Gengar, Confuse Ray now!" Shane shouted.
Gengar got up and with its focus intact, used Confuse Ray.
"Swagger!" I shouted.
Primeape glared at Gengar and started glowing a light red.
Gengar's eyes glowed red as it was hit with the move and became confused, just as Primeape was hit with Confuse Ray and became confused.
"Gengar! NO!" Shane shouted.
Swagger was a move I was familiar with. It raised the opponent's Attack stats by a huge amount, but it also caused the opponent to become confused. So if it attacked itself, it would be huge damage.
And that was what was going on now. Both Gengar and Primeape were attacking themselves and each other, back and forth, not listening to either of us, completely confused.
"Primeape is unable to battle, Gengar is the winner!" the referee stated.
I stared in complete shock.
Primeape had been beaten.
Gengar was too strong. It hit Primeape with too much strength from the boost of Swagger, and Primeape was beating itself up too. But Gengar wasn't looking too good either, and it was still confused, its red eyes still glowing, wavering back and forth on shaky legs.
"Primeape, thank you! Come back for a well deserved rest!" I called out, returning it to its Pokéball.
"It's up to you my friend!" I said, throwing out Charmander.
"Smokescreen!" I demanded.
Charmander opened its mouth and covered the field in smoke, blinding the confused Gengar.
"Ember!" I screamed. "Ember away!"
Charmander set out fire continuously at the field. Flashes of fire here and there, but me nor Shane could see what was going on.
Suddenly, something leaped from the smoke, high into the air.
It was Gengar!
Still confused, Gengar dove back into the smoke, and Charmander set out more flames.
After a while, the smoke cleared.
"Gengar is unable to battle! Charmander is the winner!" the referee stated.
"Yes!" I cheered. "Great job Charmander!"
"Charmander!" Charmander replied, smiling and looking back to me.
I smiled brighter, truly proud of my friend.
"I guess it's come to this then," Morty said. He threw his final Pokéball.
Out came a Pokémon who looked very familiar but whose name I couldn't quite place. But I knew it was from the Johto region.
Misdreavus. The Screech Pokémon. Misdreavus is a phobovore. Its red necklace help it control mystical powers.
"Right, a Misdreavus," I remembered. "Charmander, Ember now!"
Charmander caught Misdreavus with Ember.
"Payback!" Shane called.
My teeth gritted in anger as Misdreavus charged right for Chamander and took it down.
"Charmander get up!" I yelled.
Charmander stood back up.
"Use Growl attack! Lower its Attack stat!" I ordered.
If we could lower the Attack and take less damage, we could win this.
"Confuse Ray!" Shane demanded.
Charmander growled at Misdreavus as it launched Confuse Ray.
Both Pokémon were hit.
"Charmander!" I yelled. "Please use Smokescreen!"
Charmander began swaying back and forth and ran forward with a Scratch attack… in the opposite direction Misdreavus was in… resulting it in running right into a wall, damaging itself.
"Charmander focus! PLEASE!!!!" I screamed.
Charmander looked about and tried Scratch again in the wrong direction. This time running at me!
"CHARMANDER!!!!!" I bellowed.
Nothing worked. It charged full force at me and I moved out the way, not knowing what I was going to do. At the last second, I snatched it up from behind before it ran into a wall.
It struggled in my arms for a bit, trying to attack me. I tossed it to the battle field but it kept coming to attack me!
Shane laughed. "Misdreavus, Hex!"
Misdreavus's eyes began to glow red and Charmander was lifted high into the air, covered in a dark shade of color.
Charmander began struggling in pain, trying to break free, but it flew across the room and hit the wall, sliding down immediately to the floor.
"Charmander, get up!" I encouraged it.
It didn't move.
"Charmander. GET UP!" I screamed.
"Charmander is-" the referee began.
"CHARMANDER GET UP AND FINISH THIS BATTLE!!!" I yelled, hot tears burning my eyes.
"Charmander is-" the referee firmly began a second time.
I dropped to my knees.
"PLEEEEEASE!!!!" I cried, tears streaming down my face now.
I wasn't trying to push my Pokémon further than it could go. I just believed in Charmander. Too much. I knew that even if it lost, it wouldn't lose like this. It couldn't be over!
I sighed.
Maybe I am being selfish, I admitted. Maybe I just am upset I'm losing to another gym leader. If Charmander is finished then it's finished. I have no right to push it any further.
"I hereby declare that Charmander –" the referee started once more.
I wasn't going to interrupt this time. I just let the tears fall.
But the referee didn't continue.
I wiped my eyes and turned to the referee, who was staring at my Charmander. I turned to see Charmander pushing itself up and turn to stare at me, in great pain but looking like it wanted to fight.
I walked over to Charmander. "It's ok buddy. You tried so hard my friend. Thank you. Truly. That's enough now." I placed my hand on Charmander's shoulder, and then embraced it in a hug.
Suddenly Charmander exploded in a flash of light! I gasped and pulled away as my Charmander began to change! It was growing! It was evolving!
Its silhouette, all white, showed its claws growing larger, its tail lengthening, and the shape of its head changing. Finally, it was over and I could see my new Pokémon.
Charmeleon.
Charmeleon. The Flame Pokémon. This Pokémon is very quick to temper. It can be extremely hard to raise and tend to disobey their trainers if not raise properly. Its claws are exceptionally dangerous and used for hunting.
"Charmeleon!" I exclaimed.
"Charmeleon!" it said in reply.
"Are you ok buddy?" I asked.
Suddenly it fell back to the ground, still in pain. That's when its flame on its tail grew bigger. It had fire in its eyes. Something was happening.
Charmeleon glared at Misdreavus and ran past me. I stared down at my Pokédex and noticed some new things about Charmeleon.
"Wow, I've never seen such a strong bond between a Pokémon trainer and his Pokémon in my entire life," Shane stated with a huge smile on his face. "That was truly beautiful."
"The battle may proceed," the referee stated.
I suddenly knew what was going on.
"Charmander, you're really weakened now, right?" I asked. "I mean Charmeleon. Sorry."
Charmeleon looked at me and nodded its head.
"So, you're Blaze ability is in full affect Charmeleon," I continued. "Let's try it out! Fire Fang now!"
"Chaaaarmeleon!" Charmeleon shouted, leaping at Misdreavus as its fangs became covered in flames and it took a huge bite at Misdreavus.
Misdreavus yelled out in pain and tried shaking off Charmeleon, but Charmeleon hung on and took Misdreavus down to the floor.
"Ember!" I ordered.
Charmeleon kept the bite on and let loose with an impressive Ember attack, covering Misdreavus in flames.
"Finish this!" I screamed. "Flame Burst!"
Charmeleon leaped off of Misdreavus and spit a stream of flames into the air. The fire soon formed a huge ball, which immediately exploded and sent waves of flames down on Misdreavus, who screamed in unison with Shane.
I stared in awe at the incredible power.
Once the fire show was over, so was the match.
"Misdreavus is unable to battle. Charmeleon is the winner! I declare that this match goes to Gary from Pallet Town!" the referee announced.
"YYYEEEESSSS!" I screamed.
I ran to Charmeleon and hugged it.
It gladly hugged me back tightly. Much stronger than when it was just a Charmander.
"Charmander. Oops… Charmeleon!!" I exclaimed. "Please forgive me! I'm so new to all this. I'll get the name right! But for now, thank you Charmeleon thank you!" I was crying all over Charmeleon, so grateful to it. So happy.
Charmeleon seemed to laugh a little and pulled me in for a bigger hug.
I hugged it back as hard as I could.
I noticed somebody was standing near me and I looked up to see Shane, smiling down at us.
Shane knelt down and in his hand was a small case of some sort.
Me and Charmeleon pulled apart for a moment to stare at what Shane had.
"Do you have one of these?" Shane asked with a smile.
"No. What is it?" I asked innocently.
He opened it.
I gasped. It was a case that held a badge in it! The Dimensia Badge!
"This is a badge case," Shane explained. "You said mine would be your first badge you would be obtaining, so I didn't know if you had one of these yet or not. Once you obtain a badge, you push it inside of the soft molding bottom and takes the form of the badge you got. And it has room for you to obtain even more than the minimum required eight badges, if you wanted. And for now, it holds your first ever gym badge. I gladly present you with the Dimensia Badge."
I took the case from him carefully. I took the badge out and held it for Charmeleon to see.
"Oh wait," I said. "Come on out everybody!"
I sent out Hoothoot, Primeape, Metapod, and Kakuna.
"Look everybody!" I proclaimed. "Our first ever gym badge! The Dimensia Badge!"
Everyone was ecstatic. Even the usually motionless Metapod and Kakuna seemed to flinch about a bit.
Primeape was all over me with excitement.
Hoothoot flew around the gym like mad.
Me and Charmeleon hugged each other for what seemed like eternity.

"So, do you know where you are headed for next?" Shane asked me.
It was the next day. Shane had made a celebratory dinner for me and my Pokémon that night and even allowed us to spend the night in his enormous house. It was the best I'd slept and eaten since beginning my Pokémon journey. I was definitely sad to have to go.
After a brief check up of my Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, we were ready to go.
"Yes. We're going to Gringey City," I replied. "It's supposed to be located near a power plant or something. They have a Pokémon gym there and it's the closest gym from here, so I figured that's my next stop."
"Well, I'm sure you'll do great there," Shane smiled.
"Thank you Shane," I beamed.
"Good luck, Gary!"
Shane waved goodbye and I waved back and headed on my way, Charmeleon walking alongside me.
Our first badge aquired.
The Dimensia Badge.
Next stop is Gringey City.
Where everything changes.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 10: Feelings

I couldn't stop staring at my Dimensia Badge. It looked so fancy and cool. It seemed impossible that anyone could design it to looks so incredible. It really looked like it was made of glass and smoke was moving around inside it.
"Incredible, eh Charmeleon?" I asked, holding the badge out to it.
Charmeleon took the badge and stared at it, smiling.
After putting the badge back in the case, I closed it and put it back in my bag.
I recalled eagerly calling Prof. Oak just the other night to tell him about my win at Obsidian Gym, but he wasn't around for my call. I then called mom and our conversation ended with her in tears over the joy she had for my accomplishment.
"I am so glad you're doing so well babe," she had said. "It sure did take you a while to get that badge though. It's been quite a few weeks now. It only took your sister a couple days to get her first badge."
That's my mom. Always putting a damper on good news somehow. Always rubbing things in. Never can just let it be.
I struggled not to argue with her and not be too offended. Then I mentioned my Charmander evolving and she suggested I get rid of the "dangerous Pokémon" and that erupted into a huge blowout with us. I can't stand that she won't just get over it. But I do understand. Thanks to Charmeleon, her baby was almost killed. I could understand her feelings, but it ticked me off. Charmeleon is my beloved friend and partner after all.
As I stared at the map, I wondered if this long trek to Gringey City was actually longer than taking the path through Mt. Moon to get to Cerulean City. Especially with Vermilion City being so close to Cerulean City.
Gringey City was between Celadon City and Fuchsia City. And from Obsidian it was a fairly big distance. Fuschia and Celadon City were closer, but there was no direct route to either city from Obsidian.
Hmm, I thought to myself. After I finish in Gringey, I have a couple of options. Go back to reach Fuchsia City. Then reverse back all the way to get to Celadon. Or maybe I could just go to Celadon, then Saffron City which is nearby. Then walk all the way down to Fuchsia.
I began regretting my choice to go to Obsidian. This was getting confusing.
I suddenly heard a creepy noise in the bushes. I stopped and turned.
A Pokémon! Sleeping in the grass!
My eyes widened in shock.
It was an Abra!
I knew all about Abra. It was one of my favorite Pokémon. A Psychic Type. My absolute favorite type of Pokémon. How could I resist this chance?
Suddenly Abra used Teleport and was gone.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!" I bellowed. I collapsed to the floor and felt like I could just die.
Abra sleep about 18 hours or more a day, but even asleep, they can use their psychic powers and are notorious for teleporting from any sensed danger.
"I can't believe this crap!" I shouted.
I angrily stormed along the path, continuing on my way to Gringey City.
My anger faded soon. I had no strategy for capturing that Pokémon. They're just too crafty.
"That was an Abra," I explained to Charmeleon, who seemed to be looking at me in confusion. "They're extremely rare and can use moves like Teleport to escape a battle or capture."
Charmeleon nodded but didn't say anything.
We walked along for a long while.
We saw some animals, but not too many Pokémon at the moment. Some Sparrows, Pidgeons, even a little field mouse ran along at one point. But I couldn't seem to locate a Pokémon.
Charmeleon seemed eager to chase after every animal it saw and I had to constantly call it back.
"Next time I have to put you back in the Pokéball," I warned. "Let's stay on track, okay?"
Charmeleon looked upset but nodded, crossing its arms.
I ignored it.
Darkness settled as we continued on our walk and I was starving at this point. "Hey buddy, how about some food, eh?" I asked Charmeleon.
Charmeleon agreed eagerly.
"Metapod, Hoothoot, Kakuna, Primeape, it's time to eat!" I yelled, calling out the group.
I set up bowls of food and everyone ate eagerly.
Have to remember to purchase more food, I thought to myself, noticing the shortage of food we had left. Taking care of five Pokémon was tough and costly work.
After eating, I decided a bit of training was in order. I had Hoothoot tackle Kakuna as it hardened, and Charmeleon Scratch Metapod's Harden.
Metapod and Kakuna were trained to use their Poison Sting and Tackle attack more effective so they could participate in battles too.
Primeape and Charmeleon were the best battle partners as both were so energetic and strong and truly determined to win.
We tackled trees, rocks, and a couple of wild Pokémon of the forest even came out and we battled against them.
A Rattata and a Hoothoot.
I tried to capture Rattata but Charmeleon decided to battle Rattata after I didn't let it battle the Hoothoot. It completely ignored me and beat the little rodent up, chasing it away.
"Charmeleon!" I yelled.
Charmeleon looked proud of its win but I kept glaring at it. Finally it lowered its head and said its name. It didn't look sad but I took it as an apology.
Once everyone was exhausted, it was very late and I called the training to be done for today.
We all laid in the grass, me in my sleeping bag, and my other Pokémon, even Metapod and Kakuna, sleeping close to me. I didn't want those two near me at all, but I closed my eyes tight and tried to focus on them not being there.

The next morning, we all ate a little breakfast, and me and Hoothoot were now traveling through the field alongside Charmeleon. Hoothoot just above me sometimes, and other times it took to the skies, flying way above us.
The sun was in its afternoon high, beaming right on us, making me exhausted, though Charmeleon seemed just fine.
Suddenly, I saw it. Buildings. A city!
"Hoothoot, Charmeleon, I think we finally made it!" I exclaimed.
We ran forward towards this city. It was truly amazing. Full of buildings everywhere! Factories, tourist attractions, museums. It seemed to have a bit too much to it actually, but it did look nice and fancy.
I marveled around at the sites. A movie theater with signs showing the latest films. The Dark Type Rises was playing shortly according to the time schedule. I saw a toy store, the small grocery, a Pokémon Center!
I ran inside and immediately went to the PokéMart section. I made a restock on food and health items with the helpful clerk and then decided to drop my Pokémon off at the Pokémon Center for healing. The check up lasted about 30 minutes and I bid the gorgeous as ever Nurse Joy goodbye and began my focus on locating the gym.
As I walked, I noticed a body of water surrounded by factories. It looked beautiful, except for the factories being there, kind of ruining the view and signifying a lot of about human space intruding on nature for little to no good reason.
I got lost in my thoughts staring at the water for a while. But not for long.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!" I heard a loud, intrusive laugh.
I looked up and gasped.
"Of all the luck!" Robin sneered at me. "Imagine seeing you here!"
"Robin!" I exclaimed in shock. "Wow! I haven't seen you in ages! What are you doing here?"
"Leaving," he said with a huge grin on his face.
"Leaving?"
"Yeah, I got what I came here for," he laughed. He pulled out a case similar to my badge case but a bit less fancy and smaller and opened it. Inside were 2 badges. One looked like a tear drop and was blue. The other looked circular with spiked yellow edges and a red circular middle.
"Two badges huh?" I said.
"That's right," Robin beamed proudly. "How many do you have?"
I pulled out my case and showed him my one.
"Ha! One huh? Well that's a good start I guess," Robin said. At once he leaned in closer. "That's a really fancy case. I couldn't afford anything that nice. Where'd you get it? And wow, I've never seen than badge before. Where is that from?"
"Obsidian City. I beat the Ghost Gym Leader, Shane, and he gave me the case afterwards," I replied.
"You went all the way to Obsidian to get here?" Robin asked in surprised. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Are you kidding me Gary? Why didn't you just go to Cerulean City like I did! That was a much easier route to lead you here! Geez man!"
"Yeah, I dunno…" I looked to the ground. "I see you don't have the Boulder Badge."
Robin scowled at me. "Screw that chick! Her and her Graveler! And whatever her second Pokémon was!"
I couldn't hold in the laughter. "You didn't reach her second Pokémon?" I laughed.
"Of course not! What are you saying, you did?" he asked angrily.
"Yeah, I battled her three times and managed to beat Graveler twice," I said with a huge grin.
Robin sneered at me. "Don't make such poor jokes. You never were the funny one in our group."
I glared at him.
Robin smiled. "So, since I have the badge of this town, and you think you're such hot stuff, how about a Pokémon battle? A full six on six."
I was about to agree when I suddenly remembered. "I only have five Pokémon with me right now…"
"Ha ha ha ha ha!! Trying to get a second badge and don't even have six Pokémon! Now I've heard it all!" Robin exclaimed. "Don't worry, we can have a five on five if you can handle that much. There's never such a thing as too much training, even when the competition is nonexistent."
I scowled at him. Sometimes that laugh was just plain annoying, and that attitude irked me. He was competitively friendly usually, but sometimes it was just way too much. I had to show him up.
We stood a good distance apart from each other.
"I choose you!" I yelled tossing the Pokéball.
"Go!" Robin shouted, tossing his.
Out came Kakuna.
Robin sent out Drowzee.
My eyes widened in surprise.
Drowzee.The Hypnosis Pokémon. It feeds off of dreams and can tell the kind of dreams it is about to eat. There may be some relation to it eating bad dreams, and its inexplicable ability to conjure poisonous gases.
"Kakuna!" Robin laughed. "You gotta be kidding me with that! Ha ha ha ha ha! End this with Confusion!"
"Kakuna Poison S… No return!" I yelled. I retreated Kakuna at the last second.
"Boy Gary, you sure don't know anything do you, ha ha ha ha ha!" Robin laughed. "Seriously man, Kakuna? You wanna make this a four on four buddy?"
I gritted my teeth in anger. "Watch this. Go Hoothoot!"
Hoothoot flew out and landed.
"Uproar now!" I commanded.
Hoothoot created an intense noise that made me and Robin cover our ears.
Drowzee wasn't fairing too well either.
Hoothoot's Uproar was loud, annoying ,and looked like it was giving Drowzee a major headache.
"Drowzee, Hypnosis!" Robin shouted.
I guess the Uproar was scrambling his brains.
Everyone knows you can't put a Pokémon to sleep when an Uproar is in effect, I thought to myself.
I think Robin realized it because he slapped himself in the forehead and shook his head.
Hoothoot finally calmed down.
I was ready for it. "Hypnosis now!" I demanded.
Hoothoot hit Drowzee with red circles shot from its eyes and Drowzee fell to the ground, fast asleep.
"Hoothoot return!" I shouted. "Kakuna, Poison Sting now!"
Kakuna flew from the Pokéball and landed. Then titled in the direction of Drowzee and leaped forward, its bottom end pointing right for the sleeping Pokémon. It hit it hard but Drowzee merely rolled over a bit.
Robin laughed again. "Asleep or not, that measly bug isn't gonna do anything to us!"
"Go for it Kakuna!" I encouraged it.
Kakuna kept charging at Drowzee, knocking it over, jabbing at it.
Robin yelled for Drowzee to wake up and finish the battle with Confusion.
Eventually a flush of purple fell over Drowzee's face.
"Oh no!" Robin screamed. "It's poisoned!"
Kakuna continued charging at Drowzee with Poison Sting.
Suddenly Drowzee woke up. It stood up and wobbled around a little bit, dizzy from the poison.
"Drowzee just use Confusion will you?" Robin shouted.
Drowzee aimed at Kakuna and grabbed and lifted it in its attack.
It looked like it was over, but Drowzee dropped Kakuna and kneeled over in pain from the poison.
Kakuna hit the ground hard just at the same time Drowzee fell over, defeated.
"HA!" I cheered. "Kakuna you did it!"
I then noticed a crack in the shell right where Kakuna landed. "Kakuna??" I began to panic. Where was that crack from? Did I push it too hard? Did it get injured somehow? "Kakuna!" I shouted.
The crack increased along its body and I ran forward to it. Pieces of its body, near the crack, began to chip away.
I gasped in shock. What was wrong with my Kakuna??
A bright white light from inside Kakuna was shining. It took me only another second to see what was going on. I stood up and backed away in amazement and fear.
The white light pushed out of the shell that was Kakuna and I saw the antennas. The head. The enormous wings. The stingers on its forearms. And of course the stinger on its bottom end.
My Kakuna had evolved into a Beedrill!
There was a short silence before I finally managed, "Congratulations on your evolution Beedrill!"
Beedrill flew about in excitement.
"Ha ha ha ha ha! Talk about luck!" Robin laughed. "I figured Drowzee would wipe out your entire team! Ha ha ha ha." He recalled his Drowzee and tossed his second Pokéball.
This time it was a Raticate.
Raticate. The Mouse Pokémon. They have a more aggressive attitude than their pre evolved form, Rattata. They chew on solid objects constantly to keep their teeth from overgrowing.
"Beedrill, Twineedle attack!"
Beedrill charged quick at Raticate and jabbed at it repeatedly with its stingers.
Raticate fell back and tripped, hitting the ground as Beedrill continued the onslaught of jabs.
"Raticate!" Robin screamed.
Raticate became flushed with purple on its face as the poison set in and Raticate was no longer able to battle.
"I can't believe this!" Robin said angrily. "Return!" Raticate was recalled back to its Pokéball. "Now you're gonna get it. Go Growlithe!"
The little puppy Pokémon took me by surprise. I didn't think Robin had one of those.
Growlithe. The Puppy Pokémon. This Pokémon is extremely loyal and faithful to its owner. It is extremely protective of its territory and will fiercely bark to scare away intruders.
"Wow. A Growlithe! Impressive Robin!" I exclaimed.
"Oh you'll see Gary," Robin said with a smile."Flamethrower now!"
Growlithe let out a long, huge flame and hit Beedrill with the huge damage.
Beedrill hit the ground instantly, defeated.
"Right then," I said, returning Beedrill to its Pokéball. "Good fight my friend. Thank you."
"Now I choose, Hoothoot!" I sent it out and shouted, "Hypnosis!"
"Roar!" Robin shouted.
Growlithe dodged the attacked by moving quicker than I had thought it would. Then it started ferociously barking at my Hoothoot!
Suddenly, a red beam shot from Hoothoot's Pokéball, and the next thing I knew, Hoothoot was being sent back inside its Pokéball and out came my Charmeleon!
"Hey, what was that?" I yelled.
Charmeleon glared down Growlithe and Growlithe started to growl at Charmeleon.
Roar causes the opponent to be sent back and replaced with a different Pokémon.
I stared at my Pokédex in shock. What an interesting move, I thought.
Robin smiled at Charmeleon. "Well well well, little baby Charmander evolved! Congratulations man! Does it still attack you?"
"Not at all," I smiled. "Me and Charmeleon are best buds, right?"
Charmeleon didn't reply. It kept on staring down Growlithe, Growlithe glaring back.
Robin pulled out his Pokédex to scan Charmeleon.
Charmeleon. The Flame Pokémon and the evolved form of Charmander. This Pokémon tends to hunt alone instead of in groups like its pre evolved form. With the strength of its tail alone, it can life an adult male.
"I guess we better get this battle on," Robin said. "Our Pokémon are itching to go."
"Right," I agreed. "Charmeleon, Scary Face!"
Charmeleon glared at Growlithe with a face that looked like pure death. It wasn't pretty and it meant business.
Growlithe stood its ground but didn't budge when Robin order it to use Bite.
"Dragon Rage!" I commanded Charmeleon.
Charmeleon's flame on its tail suddenly increased in energy and blasted Growlithe off its feet with a red blast of energy from its jaws.
Growlithe rolled on the ground and seemed shaken.
"Scratch attack!" I yelled.
Charmeleon move like lightening and swiped a powerful, sharp claw at Growlithe. Growlithe rolled until it hit Robin's feet and didn't move again.
Charmeleon sent out an intimidating flame in the air in victory.
"Growlithe!" Robin cried. He knelt down to his Pokémon and held it in his arms for a moment. Then he looked up to me angrily as he returned his Pokémon to its Pokéball. He stood up. He frown never left his face. "I choose you, Pichu!"
I stared at the adorable little thing and smiled.
Pichu. The Tiny Mouse Pokémon. This Pokémon produces electrical energy from its cheeks. It can produce it easier on days when the air is very dry or during days with thunderclouds. Whenever Pichu uses an electric attack, it hurts itself because it cannot control the energy yet until it evolves into Pikachu.
"A baby Pokémon," I muttered. I never had seen one before. These Pokémon weren't exactly the strongest. But I wasn't going to keep my guard down.
"Pichu use Charm!" Robin yelled.
"Fire Fang!" I called.
Charmeleon was a lot quicker than the little cute electric mouse and had it in its flame covered jaws immediately, crushing down and shaking the little cutely helplessly.
Pichu cried out but there was nothing that could be done to save it.
As Charmeleon let its victim go, it suddenly screamed out in pain and knelt over.
Pichu was defeated, but something was wrong with my Charmeleon!
"Charmeleon, what's wrong buddy?" I called out to it.
"Pichu return!" Robin said bitterly. "Your Charmeleon got just what it deserved. You're a terrible Pokémon trainer. Picking on innocent little babies. You should have your license revoked. You disgust me."
"Huh?" I asked in surprise.
"That's Pichu's ability. It's called Static," Robin explained. "Any physical contact with Pichu may result in paralysis to whatever hit it. Paralysis can sometimes be overcome in battle but sometimes the Pokémon is just helpless and can't move."
"Oh," I said. "Well don't be so mad at me Robin. I didn't do anything to you! I am just battling ok?"
"This battle is over anyway," he said at me bitterly. "I choose you! Squirtle!"
The turtle Pokémon came out and I smiled.
"Hey there Squirtle!" I exclaimed. "Long time no see."
Squirtle looked to me and smiled. It ran past Charmeleon and right up to me, reaching up with its hands like it wanted to be picked up!
"Awww!" I couldn't help it and I lifted up the little darling.
"HEY!" Robin yelled. "Put my Pokémon down! What do you think you're doing, Squirtle??"
I looked to Robin. "It's just happy to see me. Can't you see that?"
Robin was speechless.
"It's so good to see you buddy," I said to Squirtle. "You look so strong and healthy! You being taken care of?"
Squirtle nodded and smiled happily. It was so adorable.
"PUT MY SQUIRTLE DOWN AND GET BACK TO THE BATTLE!!!" Robin bellowed.
I glared at Robin. "How rude. You need to get that checked out." I turned back to Squirtle, who had been staring at Robin, but now looked back to me, smiling. "Well, say hi to Charmeleon and get ready to battle, ok my old friend?"
Squirtle said its name enthusiastically and nodded.
I set it down and it ran right up to Charmeleon. The two old pals shook hands and Squirtle took its place.
"Squirtle, hit that thing with Water Gun!" Robin yelled.
Squirtle waited for a short minute.
I could've sworn it looked at me for a split second.
Then it sent out a very feeble Water Gun attack at Charmeleon.
It was so pathetic looking.
Charmeleon looked like it was bracing itself for a strong attack, but then just stood there calmly as the water hit its stomach lightly.
"What the heck is that??" Robin was truly losing it now.
I scratched my own head in confusion. "Use Scratch attack Charmeleon," I ordered.
But Charmeleon didn't budge. It seemed stuck. The paralysis was kicking in again.
"Squirtle here's your chance!" Robin yelled. "Finish that thing with a Water Gun!"
Squirtle definitely glanced at me for a moment. And didn't move.
"Squirtle?" I asked.
"It looks like Squirtle and that trainer over there with the Charmeleon have a closer bond than the Squirtle has with her owner," a voice said from out of nowhere.
Everyone turned to see a strikingly attractive girl standing nearby. None of us noticed her before but she was definitely the main attraction now.
She walked up to us and smiled a dazzling and warm smile. She looked directly at me. "You and this Squirtle have history, don't you?"
I stared at her and my eyes couldn't help but scan her up and down for a moment before I forced my eyes to meet her own and stay there. "Yes. No. Yes. No. Um… What?" I stuttered.
She laughed at my awkwardness. "You and this Squirtle definitely had some kind of a close friendship going on not long ago. I can tell."
"Well, I met it once," I said nervously. "When me and Robin chose our starter Pokémon, I had a bit of an incident with Charmander, and Squirtle helped me out a bit. But I ended up choosing Charmander anyway."
"Squirtle," Squirtle mumbled feebly.
I turned to it and stared at it. Its head was down and it seemed sad.
"I think Squirtle really liked you," the young girl responded. "I think she chose you as her trainer, and you rejected her."
I suddenly remembered the day I chose Charmander over Squirtle. Squirtle looked so disappointed. I also recalled when Robin retreated Squirtle to the Pokéball. I remember how Squirtle gave me one last glance. It wasn't just a look. It wasn't my imagination. Squirtle really was sad.
"She?" Robin exclaimed.
"Oh yes, that Squirtle is a she," she replied. "I can tell plain as day. I know quite a lot about Pokémon. People tend to come to in this city for advice on the most minor to the most extreme information on Pokémon inquiries."
"So how long were you watching our battle?" Robin asked her.
"Since Kakuna and Drowzee were battling," she smiled.
Robin frowned.
This girl was incredible looking. I couldn't get over it. And now that she was talking to Robin, my eyes scanned her from top to bottom and back again.
She looked to me suddenly.
My eyes widened in shock.
"Well, I'd say you are the winner of this match," she said, smiling.
"Huh?" I said.
"WHAT?" Robin shouted.
"Your Squirtle simply won't battle his Charmeleon," she explained. "It's gonna end up getting beat up if you both continue this match. You simply can't win. Those two are close friends."
Squirtle ran up to me happily again.
I smiled and picked her up. "So is this true?" I asked her.
"Squirtle!" she exclaimed happily, nodding.
I laughed and gave her a big hug.
"This is ridiculous!" Robin shouted. "So now Squirtle just will never battle Gary again?"
"Possibly," the girl stated. "It depends on how you work with her. You are her trainer."
Suddenly Squirtle started glowing red and in the next instant was out of my hands, returned by Robin back into her Pokéball.
Robin was glaring at me, holding her Pokéball in his hand.
"Robin, you have a sixth Pokémon," I remembered. "Let's just battle with that."
"Forget it," Robin said angrily. "I wanted our starters to battle. And it was a five on five. I'm not sending out a sixth Pokémon. And the gym leader said you won so you won. The end."
"Gym leader?" I asked. I turned to the woman.
"Geez, you're helpless," Robin said. "I'm out of here." He grumbled and angrily stormed away, shaking his head, staring at Squirtle's Pokéball.
I turned back to the gym leader. "So you're…?"
"My name is June. I am the gym leader of Gringey City," June introduced herself. "It's a pleasure to meet you." She smiled and brushed her red hair out of her face and extended her hand to me.
I shook her hand a little too long accidentally, subconsciously not wanting to let go.
She noticed this and laughed. "Well, I'll escort you to the Pokémon Center and we can talk more as we heal your Pokémon."
"Um… ok," I agreed.
As we walked to the Pokémon Center, she told me a lot about Gringey City. She told me how it was once a thriving city filled with activity and business, but eventually reached a bad end for a while when it over-expanded with factories and power plants. The town became virtually abandoned as well as the sea nearby becoming polluted. This resulted in a Pokémon named Grimer beginning to thrive. They're a filthy Pokémon made of pure sludge who appear in the most disgusting, filthy areas. The Grimer clogged the tunnels that delivered water to power the hydroelectric generators, used to power the Pokémon Center and the entire town. Or lack thereof. But the situation was eventually resolved once the issue was discovered and they since have taken great care to make sure the situation doesn't happen again.
"You see, I'm actually originally from Vermillion City," June told me as my Pokémon were in Nurse Joy's care. We had decided to go to a nearby restaurant and have lunch. She insisted she'd pay and wouldn't take no for an answer, even though I insisted I did have some money on me. "I looooove Electric Type Pokémon. They are theeeee cutest things on earth! Especially my favorite Electric Pokémon, Pikachu. I begged Lt. Surge, the Electric MASTER and extreeeeeme hot boy gym leader of Vermillion City, even though he is a bit older than me but like, age is nothing but a number, right? To let me be a protégé of his and he finally caved in and agreed! I trained hard and made sure to listen to him and proved myself worthy in constant Pokémon battles with him and his other understudies."
I sat there listening to her babble on and on and on, eating my cheeseburger, nodding my head on occasion.
"So in the end, Lt. Surge suggested I go to Gringey City!" June said excitedly. "He said there was a power plant that contained Electric Pokémon. Magnemite, Mangneton, and Magnezone in most cases, but maybe even others. He said I may learn a lot about Electric Types by going to live in a similar environment! But I didn't wanna leave beautiful Vermillion and my love Lt. Surge! He promised there was a nice view of the water but this isn't quite what I expected… He also said I was good enough to be a gym leader! So what happened was, I was made an official Gym Leader by the Pokémon League of Kanto and my location was to be here in Gringey City! Despite my young age of twelve! But what happened was, I was in charge of the Thunder Badge, just like Lt. Surge! So sometimes, when too many challengers come to him, or he is too busy, he sends them off to my gym for a battle!"
She stopped talking to my surprise and I nodded quickly. "That's cool," I said.
She laughed. "I know, I know, I talk a lot," she admitted.
"No no, it was cool," I said.
She sighed. "My only problem is, I've been a gym leader for one year and have never won a battle."
My eyes widened. "Really?"
She nodded sadly. "The Pokémon League is very strict. If I keep on losing, I'll lose my gym status…"
"Wow…" was all I could say.
By this time, she had paid the food bill and we were walking together back to the Pokémon Center. The sun was setting.
"Hey! Look!" June exclaimed. She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the where the water was. "Look at the sunset! I come here every day, all alone, to watch this. It's nice to have company this time." She smiled at me.
I wanted to smile back but I immediately felt uncomfortable so I didn't. I just turned to the sunset and watched. It was nice, but I wanted her to let go of my hand. I noticed people staring at us as we walked over here.
Once the sun had finally set, we headed back to the Pokémon Center. I took a glimpse around and noticed people pointing and smiling at us secretly.
I collected my Pokémon from Nurse Joy who said they all were in great health. She then looked to me and June and smiled brighter. "Great to see you again, June!"
"Same here Nurse Joy!" June exclaimed cheerfully. She turned to me. "Gary, will you come with me for a moment?"
"Um… sure," I said in a low voice. As I followed her, others in the Pokémon Center were snickering and pointing at us. I glared at them, but this only made them laugh harder.
Once we got outside, she looked at me. "Will you take a walk with me?" she pleaded.
"What?"
"Please, take a walk with me," she repeated. "I want to know all about you! You interest me so much! The way you use your Pokémon. The way you were with Robin's Squirtle! You're amazing! Please, tell me all about you!" She took a couple of steps forward and looked at me, smiling.
That smile. Just completely stone meltingly gorgeous. I wanted nothing more than to walk with her. But other things were on my mind. "I can't," I said.
Her eyes widened. "Why?" She looked so sad, and very adorable like that.
"I really only came here for a Pokémon battle if you don't mind," I explained. "I just… wanted to battle you for your badge…" The truth was I was a coward. I always have been. I've never been comfortable around girls I like. I get petrified easily in such situations.
I stared at June, whose face was now blank. She frowned at me and all the warmth and love from her face was now cold as ice. Or maybe red with a fiery anger. I couldn't tell, but I knew it wasn't good.
"Fine!" she said angrily. "Tomorrow morning. First thing. Be there on time. Bring your best three Pokémon." She turned and angrily stormed away.
My heart slammed against my chest hard. She had totally lost her temper on me. She didn't say much or scream, but I could feel the hurt. The pain. The anger. The rejection. Rejection…
"I think she chose you as her trainer, and you rejected her." June's words echoed in my head.
Had I… "rejected" June somehow? I wondered. I scratched my head. Is this what guys mean when they say, "women," while shaking their heads?
I watched her walk away angrily until she disappeared from view.
I need to explore this city and find out where the gym is, I realized.
I decided to take the walk now and find it.
As I walked, my thoughts lingered on the events of today.
Gym Leader June.
Robin.
Squirtle.
And my gym battle tomorrow morning.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 11: The Badge Starts Here

I stared at steel door with the words GRINGEY CITY GYM on it, bulging a couple of inches out to anyone reading.
I didn't see a doorknob. It was just a huge steel wall really.
I knocked on the door. One tap.
ZZZZZZZZTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was on the floor before I knew what hit me. When I regained any of my senses of comprehension, I saw the beauty before me.
June.
She glared down at me. "I guess my trap door worked," she stated.
I felt shaky and tingly as I sat up on the ground. "T-t-t-t-trap… d-d-door?" I stuttered, sparks sparking off of me on occasion.
"Yeah. I set a trap door last night," June answered.
"W-w-w-why?" I asked.
She walked inside of the gym, the door now wide open. She turned to look at me. "Welcome to Gringey City Gym." She disappeared inside.
Confused, I stood up and edged my way past the door. As I stepped inside, lights cut on everywhere.
It was bright inside. There were a huge set of bleachers on either side of the building. Several doors lined opposite ends of the walls.
Other than that, nothing was in the building than the typical battle field in the center of the gym between the bleachers.
Unlike at Pewter Gym, however, these bleachers were filled. People were sitting in them. Kids, adults, even Nurse Joy and a few Officer Jennys!
I remembered seeing a Nurse Joy when I had left the Pokémon Center this morning. I guess she was standing in for this Nurse Joy.
"What…?" I marveled over the sight before me.
June walked over to a huge switch near the bleachers and flipped it. A humming noise I didn't notice was on, suddenly turned off. "That was the shock control to the door," June said. She turned and walked to the battle field as the entire audience laughed. "Whenever I have gym battles, the entire town often likes to come out to watch in support."
Every cheered and shouted out support.
"We love you June!"
"Junie is the best!"
"You're gonna win this one sweetheart!"
I walked forward and stared at everyone in the bleachers in awe.
A man hopped out of his seat and walked near the battle field. He had on a very nice yellow suit and dark black sunglasses. The yellow of his suit was bright and a bit bizarre but it looked nice. "I will be serving as the referee for this gym battle," the man explained.
Wow, he looks different than the other gym referees I've seen so far, I thought to myself.
"This battle will be between Gringey City's own gym leader June," the referee started.
The entire gym went nuts with applause.
"And Gary from Pallet Town," the referee continued in a less enthusiastic voice.
The entire place booed. Even Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny!
"This will be a 3 on 3 Pokémon battle," the referee proceeded. "The first trainer to defeat the opponent's will be declared the victor. This battle will have no time limit. Only the challenger is allowed to substitute. Let the battle begin!"
"Okay Gary, it's time!" she said with a deadly seriousness I felt wasn't truly who she was. Not compared to how kind she was when we first met.
Was this June when she was in gym leader mode? I wondered. Or did I hurt her last night somehow?
"I choose you! Ampharos!" June tossed her Pokéball with grace and out came Ampharos.
"Oh wow!" I exclaimed.
Ampharos. The Light Pokémon and the evolved form of Flaaffy. An Ampharos's light from its tail can be seen from as far from space. It is used in emergencies as a beacon in the place of a lighthouse.
I had never thought I'd see an Ampharos here in Kanto. "That's so cool, June!" I said happily.
"Really…?" she asked. She appeared to be blushing for a moment. I could swear a calm was coming over her. Then she shook her head. "Choose your Pokémon or I'll take it that you're forfeiting the match!"
I stared at her in shock. She really was mad. At me. It had to be me. I glared at her, then to Ampharos. I thought about it for a moment. "Ok, for my first choice, go Beedrill!" I yelled out, tossing the Pokéball.
Beedrill flew out.
"Oh gross, a bug Pokémon," June sneered.
Everyone in the stands booed.
"HEY!" I screamed. "I'm not a huge fan of Bug Types either but that's no reason to insult it." June officially was getting on my last nerves.
"He is the one who just evolved, yes?" June asked.
"That's right!" I exclaimed with a smile. "So Beedrill is a boy. Cool. Beedrill use Twinneedle now!"
Beedrill flew forward and Ampharos began skillfully dodging the Poison Bees constant jabs at its face and body.
"Cotton Guard!" June called.
Ampharos's body suddenly appeared to be covered in a white fluff. The fluff continued to grow and Ampharos was no longer visible anymore behind it.
Beedrill was jabbing, but the damage wasn't hitting Ampharos due to the fluff.
"ThunderPunch!" June ordered.
Ampharos pulled a hand from the fluff and socked Beedrill a good one that sent the bug out of the air and straight to the steel ground.
Beedrill bounced and laid there.
"Beedrill, get up, buddy!" I yelled. "Get up Beedrill!!"
"It's over," June smiled cruelly. "Your 'buddy' is finished."
But Beedrill's wings fluttered a bit. Then continually. Beedrill then lifted up off the ground and floated about, looking fine.
"There we go!" I cheered. "Beedrill, Toxic Spikes!"
Beedrill put its two stingers in front of it and a deep purple orb appeared between them. The orb was tossed into the air and it exploded into multiple spikes that hit the ground before disappearing.
June didn't do anything. She just seemed to be waiting for something.
Now how do we get around that Cotton Guard, I thought.
"I dunno what that move you just used was but now it's my turn," June said. "ThunderShock!"
"Beedrill! Get ready!" I yelled. "Use Rage attack!"
Beedrill flew and jabbed at Ampharos, which did nothing.
Ampharos charged up and hit Beedrill with a ThunderShock!
Beedrill looked in pain and hit the floor.
"Come on Beedrill!" I called. "Hang in there! You have to hang in there!"
Beedrill flew up a little shaky, but looking mad.
Just like I wanted.
"GOOOOO!!" I yelled.
Beedrill charged at Ampharos.
"Keep that bug as a distance!" June screamed. ThunderShock again and finish it!"
Ampharos hit Beedrill with another jolt, and Beedrill kept trying to move forward through the shock.
"BEEDRILL YOU CAN DO IT!!!" I shouted.
Beedrill was getting more angry by the second.
The more damage the user of Rage attack takes, the more powerful the attack gets.
Beedrill was infuriated by now and even with Thundershock going, Beedrill kept pushing forward into the attack. Finally it pulled back one of its stingers when it was close enough and rammed it right at Ampharos, who flew back despite its Cotton Guard attack defending it.
"Yeah!" I shouted happily.
"What is this?!" June screeched. "Thunderbolt that thing and end this already!"
"Beedrill!!" I called.
Beedrill was already moving. It was hit with the more powerful move, Thunderbolt and in the next instant, Beedrill flew forward and slammed into Ampharos will all its might. The collision caused a bright flash of light and a loud explosion occurred.
I shielded my eyes against the light. When I felt safe to open them, I saw Beedrill and Ampharos.
"Both Beedrill and Ampharos are unable to battle!" the referee declared, blinking several times either in shock or from the effects of that light explosion.
No one cheered or booed.
June was looking in shock, just as I was.
"You did fantastic Beedrill, thank you," I said. I returned Beedrill to its Pokéball and smiled.
"Ampharos, you did incredible," June said gratefully, returning it to its Pokéball. Then she glared at me.
I smiled. "That was amazing June! Your Ampharos was truly something! What an explosion!"
She blushed visibly. "Thank you…" Then she sneered at me. " I guess your Beedrill wasn't half bad. Next up. Go Manectric!" She threw her Pokéball and I took a look at this new Pokémon.
Manectric. The Discharge Pokémon and the evolved form of Electrike. It is said that this Pokémon can summon storm clouds at will. It generates the electricity for such an occurrence from the friction in its fur when it runs.
The crown cheered again loudly for June.
"Crush him June!"
"He won't get lucky like that again!"
"Wow! I've never seen that before!" I exclaimed. "Amazing!"
Suddenly Manectric howled in pain as its body began to shiver and become covered in a purple shade.
"Manctric??" June screamed.
"The effects of Toxic Spikes," I declared happily. "Any Pokémon you send out gets hit with poison in our battle unless they can fly or have an ability to keep them from touching the ground or are of the Steel or Poison Type. The only way to get rid of it is you have a Pokémon who is already a Poison Type enter the field or by using the moves Rapid Spin or Defog." I beamed proudly.
Everyone booed me though.
"Cheap trick!"
"Play fair!"
"Coward!"
"Kick him out of the gym!"
I glared at them. I grabbed my next Pokéball. "Primeape go!"
Primeape was out and eagerly faced his opponent.
"Get it with the Karate Chop!" I yelled.
Primeape flew forward with passion and energy and a loud screeching noise and attacked the disoriented opponent.
Manectric was hit hard and rolled a bit before catching its balance.
"Manectric, use Thunder Wave!" June shouted.
Manectric shot a weak blue electric wave to Primeape, causing instant paralysis.
"Good move," I muttered.
Now we were at a disadvantage. We may not be able attack some turns.
"Primeape, Screech!" I yelled. I covered my ears as Primeape let out its piercing screech, but it didn't help.
Everybody and every Pokémon covered their ears except Primeape.
When it was done, I yelled, "Seismic Toss!"
Primeape grabbed Manectric by its back paws and started spinning faster and faster and faster. Finally it let go and Manectric was flung right into June!
June fell and slid fast into the bleachers, where her supporters were there to cushion her fall.
Everyone booed me louder than ever.
"Disqualify him! He attacked the gym leader!"
"I'll show him a Seismic Toss if he likes hitting women!"
I was starting to get worried.
"June, are you okay?" I called. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for it to hit you! Honest!"
June was glaring at me angrily, then she looked to her Manectric. "Are you ok sweetie?" she asked it.
Manectric licked her face.
June smiled.
Manectric got up and as soon as June did, Manectric ran back onto the battle field.
Just as it landed and growled at Primeape, the poison set in and Manectric hit the ground unconscious.
Everyone gasped. There wasn't a word spoken for a very long time.
"Manectric is unable to battle," the referee said hesitantly. "Primeape is the winner."
Primeape cheered excitedly for a minute until it realized no one, including me, was making a sound. Then he got quiet and just stood there.
I was too afraid of the audience to start cheering.
June returned her Manectric. "Thank you sweet baby," she said to it inside its Pokéball. She chose the last Pokéball and gave me a death glance.
"This guy should be arrested!"
"I'm filing charges!"
"Kill him!!!!"
June continued to glare at me as she threw her final Pokéball and out came a Pokémon I recognized instantly.
Electrode. The Ball Pokémon. This Pokémon is best avoided at any and all costs. It has a tendency to explode without warning, sometimes not of its own free will.
I stared at it in shock.
Suddenly the Toxic Spikes poison hit Electrode.
It didn't seem like it was enjoying itself as the poison set in and turned it a shade of purple.
Suddenly Electrode exploded!!!
It caught me off guard. I gasped very loudly. That, or everyone in the gym gasped at the exact same time.
June stared in complete shock.
I just stood there with my mouth hung open.
Electrode was gone. No trace of its existence.
Primeape was caught in the blast and was lying face down on the floor.
To everyone's immense surprise, Primeape suddenly started moving! It looked up at me and gave a weak smile.
It took me a while to find my voice. "Primeape!" I yelled happily.
The referee seemed to find his as I shouted. "Electrode is unable to battle… Primeape is the winner and the battle goes to Gary from Pallet Town…"
I ran forward as he was talking and grabbed my Primeape in my arms in a huge hug.
Amongst the boos and the hissing, I hugged Primeape gratefully and didn't dare let go. "Thank you Primeape! I love you buddy! You did it! Everybody, I choose you!" I tossed all of my Pokéballs out and was soon surrounded by my friends. "We did it everybody!" I wanted to hug Beedrill so badly. But I couldn't. I reached out slowly. Very slowly. And patted him gently on his gross, insect head.
All of my Pokémon cheered happily and Beedrill seemed to be coming to happy tears.
"Thank you Beedrill," I told him. "I really appreciate your hard work. Thank you so much."
I smiled at everyone.
Suddenly I was hit in the head with something. I looked at the audience.
They all were looking at me in silence. Nobody moved.
I looked behind me, but it was the same scene, except June was there too.
"Who threw-?" I started angrily.
A bright light interrupted me and caught my attention. I looked down to see Metapod. It had a bright light coming out from a hole in its body!
I stared at the object in my hand. I realized in shock that it was a piece of Metapod! I yelled out in disgust and threw it to the ground.
The white light pushed out of the Metapod shell and I watched as the antennas became clear to my view. The enormous wings spread wide.
Butterfree.
My Metapod had evolved into a Butterfree!
I stood up in awe.
"Butterfree!" I said happily.
Butterfree flew about the room, giving its wings a good stretch before coming back to me and flapping its wings gently in front of me.
I stared at Butterfree for a very long time and it stared back.
I had a feeling I knew what was going on and what it wanted. I sighed. I slowly extended my arm. I allowed it to land on me.
My Pokémon all cheered.
I smiled at everyone. "Thank you everyone for helping me with my fear of Bug Pokémon," I said, feeling my eyes water. I tossed my arm up and Butterfree flew up high into the air, flapping its incredible wings. I wiped my arm off on my clothes. "I'm not there yet, but you guys have helped me get to where I am now. Which is much further than when we first met. Thank you everyone." I knelt down and hugged them all, except Beedrill and Butterfree who thankfully were flying around in joy, Beedrill's creepy buzzing noise driving me insane. But I smiled.
Suddenly a loud "aaawwww" arose from the gym.
Everyone was touched by this moment, I guessed.
"This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life," a voice said.
I looked up to see June. "Your Pokémon respond to your love in ways I've never seen before in my life. Just to touch you and help you overcome your fear, your Metapod evolved for you. It saw you try hard to overcome a fear you have and watched you touch your Beedrill and it was moved enough to want to become a part of that beautiful moment and it evolved. You are a beautiful and wonderful Pokémon trainer." She knelt down to me. She had a box in her hand. On top was a badge I recognized. "I am more than happy and truly honored to present you with the Thunder Badge."
Everyone in the gym applauded to my great surprise.
I stared at everyone in shock.
"They get a bit excited in their support for me," she whispered. "They're sweet people. I think they just feel sorry for all of my losses."
I didn't know what to say to that. So I didn't. I just took the Thunder Badge. "Everybody!" I said to my Pokémon. "We have our second badge! The Thunder Bagde!"

I sat in the Pokémon Center that night, my heart still pounding from the battle I had and my mind dwelling on it. I was also thinking of how everybody in the gym apologized for how they acted towards me, including June for shocking me and being a bit rude. They all were forgiven of course. I even liked the fact that they loved their gym leader so much.
I decided to call Prof. Oak.
I stared at the large computer monitor, phone receiver in my hand, waiting for him to answer. Finally, his face popped up on the screen.
"Gary, my boy!" he said with great delight. "How have you been?"
"I'm doing great! Did you hear I got the badge of Obsidian City?" I asked.
"Yes, your mother told me just the other day," he replied. "You know, you need to be much more respectful to your mother. And call her every chance you get. She cares about you and is constantly stressed and worried for you. How you speak to her is really a big deal and you need to recognize and understand that."
I sighed. "Prof. Oak, I understand that but she was-"
"What?" Prof. Oak interrupted. "Making fun of your Pokémon? Gary, this is your mother. She has a great reason to be scared. You know she shouldn't be but just look at the situation. Your dad is gone. Your sister hardly calls anymore. You're all she has. She has lost her entire world. Her life. Her loved ones. To Pokémon."
I stayed quiet. "You're right Professor."
"That's right Gary. Now you make sure to call her, is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor."
Prof. Oak smiled. "It's good to hear from you. And congratulations on your work at Obsidian Gym. I need to call Shane some day. I haven't spoken to that lad in some time. By the way, I noticed I haven't been receiving any Pokémon from you Gary. What is going on out there? Kiwi has sent me a couple. Robin has sent me several, even though most of them are the same exact Pokémon that he swears may be just a bit different and maybe have an abnormality even though they don't. Aly has sent me the most of all! But I haven't received even one from you."
My eyes were wide in surprise. "Well, I have a Charmeleon-" I began.
"Oh yes, let me see the young sport!" Prof. Oak interrupted.
"Okay! Charmelon go!" I sent it out. "Charmeleon, say hi to Prof. Oak!"
Charmeleon looked at the monitor and smiled. "Charmeeeeleon!" It flexed its muscles on its arms, showing off its strength.
Prof. Oak laughed. "How good to see you again Charmeleon! You sure look like you're in good shape! How have you been with Gary?"
Charmeleon smiled and nodded its head. "Char Charmeleon!"
Prof. Oak laughed again. "How good to hear!"
The three of us laughed.
"Prof. Oak, I have a Butterfree, a Beedrill, Primeape, and Hoothoot right now," I said. "But I'm going to catch even more. I promise! I'm catching every last Pokémon out there. So make room Prof. Oak!"
Prof. Oak smiled. "We shall see, my boy. Good luck!"
"Thanks! Oh, and I also now have two badges! My second one is from Gringey City!"
"Gringey City? Wow. That's quite a distance you've traveled Gary. You would think you'd have at least ten Pokémon with that kind of walking."
"Thanks Professor…" I said, feeling horrible despite my cool Pokémon and my new badges.
"Seriously now Gary," Prof. Oak said sternly. "Get focused. This isn't all about getting badges and raising only six Pokémon. This is about catching every Pokémon out there and discovering all kinds of brand new ones yet to be seen. Remember that."
"Right, Professor."
"Good. Take care now!" He hung up.
I took several deep breaths. I returned Charmeleon to its Pokéball. Then I dialed my mom.
"Gary," she said.
"Hi, mom!" I said cheerfully.
"Hi," she said coldly.
"I got my second badge! The Thunder Badge!" I held up the case for her to see the badges.
"Good for you," was all she said.
I sighed. "So… how's life?" I tried.
"Just fine," she said. "I'm a widow because my husband was killed raising Pokémon, my daughter is who knows where raising Pokémon and never calls, and my son is raising a Pokémon that nearly killed him."
"Mom, it didn't nearly kill me," I said. "It was a misunderstanding."
"It left you for dead," she said angrily.
"Don't you believe in second chances? Misunderstandings?" I asked angrily.
"Yes! But not for that!" she cried.
Silence.
"Ok," I said. "Mom. I understand how you feel."
"Oh do you?" she asked. "You understand how it feels? Then how come you are out there raising the very things that contributed to your father's death and your sister's disappearance?"
I couldn't reply.
We sat there in silence.
"Look I got things to do and they don't involve sitting here saying nothing on the phone so if you don't got nothing to say to me I gotta go," my mom snapped.
Silence.
"Mom, I am going to become a Pokémon Master," I said. "I will catch them all. I will beat them all. I will return to Pallet Town safe and sound. I promise."
She stared at me. "Fine," she said rudely. "Is that all?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Good. Goodbye," she said coldly.
"Goodbye," I said in a small voice.
We hung up.
I don't know if everyone in the Pokémon Center overheard our conversation, but I was sure enough of it was heard. I kept my eyes to the ground as I walked out of the Pokémon Center, not wanting to catch anyone's eyes.
I took out my Town Map and walked as fast as I could, far away, deep into the city. Once I was as alone as I thought I could be in this busy city, with no people around, just houses and long stretches of streets and cars parked and occasionally driving by, I scanned my Town Map for where I would go next, but only for a few seconds. The tears came flowing before long and I just cried alone on that empty street.

"I'm on my way to Celadon City. I'll be going for my Rainbow Badge there," I told Nurse Joy.
"Well, good luck then Gary and congratulations on your badge again," Nurse Joy said with a captivating smile. "And again I'm so sorry for the trouble we caused you during your gym battle. We just love our girl so much and we truly support her and hope she keeps her status as a gym leader. She's such a good kid."
"It's ok Nurse Joy. And I really appreciate that you guys gave me some extra medicine and food and things for me and my Pokémon," I said happily. "I really appreciate it a lot."
"Oh of course sweetheart. It was the least we could do for the the trouble we put you through," Nurse Joy replied.
I wanted to quit being a Pokémon trainer and spend the rest of my life with her at those words. I shook my head. "Well, I'll be seeing you Nurse Joy. Thank you!"
"Thank you Gary, and good luck!"
I stepped out into the gloomy weathered, late morning day. It looked like it might rain. I had my umbrella in my hand and my Pokéballs on my waist. No point in walking with Charmeleon if it rains outside. It wouldn't like the rain and its tail flame may go out.
I headed along the path leading out of Gringey City. Didn't look like I was going to be walking through woods today. It was a nice open path. Nothing but the sky above me and open fields around me on this beautiful countryside walk.
Celadon City for my Rainbow Badge, then I'll go to- I thought to myself before being interrupted.
"Gary! Please! Hold on!" I heard a voice calling.
I turned and saw June running down the path towards me with a very large bag on her shoulder. "June?"
"Gary, wait a second!" June said, stopping before me and breathing hard to catch her breath. "I'm leaving!" She smiled brightly.
"Leaving?" I asked. I didn't understand.
"I'm relieving my duties as a gym leader at Gringey City," she said happily. "I am going to go off on my own journey trying to understand how to become a better and stronger Pokémon trainer."
"You're going on a Pokémon journey?" I asked. "Like, to collect badges and challenge the Pokémon League and stuff?"
"No no no," June denied. "I just want to understand what it means to be a great Pokémon trainer first. I want to battle and travel the world and see how the real masters do it and then, maybe someday, I will pursue becoming a Pokémon trainer. But first, I need to understand what that means." She stared deep into my eyes. "You know what I mean?"
I stared back and nodded. "Yes, I do."
She smiled at me.
I turned away. "Well, I wish you good luck on that quest, June. I'm headed to Celadon City myself."
"Huh? Let me come with you!" she exclaimed.
I looked at her like she was crazy. "What???"
"Please Gary?" she pleaded. "Please???"
I just stared at her, trying to find a way to tell her 'no.'
"You're an incredible Pokémon trainer, Gary," she begged. "As I gym leader, that poison move you used on me shouldn't have confused me so badly, but it did. There are things about it I still don't know! If the Pokemon League HQ found out about our match, they'd fire me immediately! I'm gonna get fired as it is! No question. So I quit instead. You're so experienced and intelligent and powerful! Please, let me tag along! Not for long! Just for a bit. Ok? Please? I feel like I could learn so much from you."
"What about Lt. Surge?" I asked.
"How can I face that man when I abandoned the gym he gave me?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't. He'll kill me when he finds out. Gary, I'll be of any assistance I can be."
"I don't really need any though…" I said, still trying to find a better excuse for why she couldn't travel with me.
June's chin fell to her chest. "Ok. I'm sorry Gary. Look at me, bugging you to death. Halting your Pokémon journey. Please, forgive me."
Suddenly, I heard police sirens. I looked around, but didn't see any cars or anything.
June looked up towards Gringey City. "They're coming for me," she said sadly. "They want me back. They want me to continue living there and being their gym leader." Tears started to brim in her eyes. "They want me to stay there and be with them. They've been so supportive and helpful and loving. And I should stay there with them." Tears began to roll down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and shook her head hard. "But I don't want to! I want to travel the world! I want to see new things and people and Pokémon!" Tears were flowing down her cheeks now. "But they love me so much. I'm like a daughter to them all. They love me and want me happy, but they know I'm weak! They won't want me to travel. They'd think it's too dangerous for a weak trainer like me. They won't say it but they think I need more skill and experience before going off into the world of Pokémon. But...but...but… I just want to...to..." She fell to her knees and started bawling.
I stared toward Gringey City. The sirens were closer, but I didn't see any cars yet. I stared down at June. I reached my hand out to her, but she didn't see it because she was crying so hard.
"June, get up!" I shouted, grabbing her hand and pulling her up to her feet.
She gasped in surprise and stared at me.
"Are you sure you didn't do anything illegal?" I demanded.
"What?? No!!" she said in surprised.
"So you're sure they only want to convince you to come back with them?" I asked.
"Yes!" she shouted.
"So you're 100% free to leave on your own of your own free will with no consequences?" I asked.
"Yes!!" she repeated.
"Then you're coming with me," I conceded. "Now RUN!"
And we ran.
Me.
My two badges.
Charmeleon.
Primeape.
Beedrill.
Hoothoot.
Butterfree.
June.
Together.
To Celadon City.
Running from the cops.
Little did we know that running from the cops would've been a day in paradise for us compared to what we would be facing soon enough.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 12: A Type To Remember

"We're not gonna get away!" June cried.
"We can't stop now!" I yelled at her. "Move it!"
"I'm trying, Gary!" June screamed back.
We were both running as fast as we could, as far as our legs would take us. But June was a bit slower than me and even if I got away, she was bound to get caught. Plus, we were in an open plain. There were no bushes or trees or anywhere to hide. Just the open road and clear path. It was only a matter of time before those police sirens screaming behind us would be blocking our path.
And then what?
Would Officer Jenny force June to stay in Gringey City? Could they do that? Didn't June have a right to leave? Was there something more that I didn't know? Something June was hiding from me?
I recalled June crying. Saying she was loved at Gringey City. That they cared so much for her that they didn't want her to travel on her own, fearing she was too weak to be a Pokémon trainer traveling alone.
"June!!!" I heard a voice scream over a megaphone. "This is Officer Jenny!! Where are you going? Why are you running away? Who is that person with you?"
"Gary!" June cried.
"Don't stop!" I urged.
I turned back and saw that she was several feet behind me and had stopped running. She was bent over, hands on her knees, gasping for air.
I stopped. "June!" I yelled, gasping for air myself. "What are you doing?" I could see the cop cars and motorcycles, mere feet away from us, sirens blaring, lights flashing. I just stood there, unsure of what our next move would be.
"June!" Officer Jenny yelled again, her car slowing down as she neared June. "Are you ok, dear? You, kid over there! You are under a-"
"Pikachu Flash!" I heard June yell as she threw her Pokéball.
Her Pokéball opened and out popped a Pikachu! "Pika!!!!" it screamed, and a bright light emitted from its body, flying out in the direction of the police officers. I shielded my eyes against the intense white light and watched as all the cars disappeared behind the flashing light.
"Let's go!" I heard June yell. Immediately, I felt my hand was grabbed and being tugged. I followed the pull and found myself running. I blinked a couple times and saw it was June. And in front of her was her Pikachu.
I looked behind me to see several Officer Jennys. Some were on their motorcycles; others were standing outside their cars. Some of them were covering their eyes in their hands while others were blinking nonstop. They seemed to be having trouble seeing.
"Gary, don't stop! Keep going!" June shouted, pulling me hard.
I turned forward and ran as hard as I could.

I'm not sure how long we ran. We stopped several times, exhausted and desperate for water. Then we kept running again. Stopped. Ran. It continued for quite a while though. It seemed we had lost the trail of the officers for a while.
There were a few trees on either side of our open path now. I walked up to one and collapsed against the trunk and slid down it, hitting the ground. I closed my eyes. I only wanted to sleep. And eating sounded like a fantastic idea too. And water!!!
June was on her knees several feet away, gasping for air and looking how I felt.
Dead.
After a while of swallowing my own saliva and feeling like I had gained some sort of energy back, I looked to June. "Couldn't we have just explained to them?" I said, panting a little.
June looked back at me, but didn't say anything.
"Did we have to run? Couldn't we just-" I started to continue.
"No…" she replied.
"But why??" I demanded. "June, is there something you're not telling me? Is there more to this?"
"Gary, please," June started. "It's nothing like that. It's just…" She sighed. "I've never been good with goodbyes… When I accepted the gym in Gringey City, I left Vermillion without a word to anyone. I didn't even say goodbye to Lt. Surge. Ha, I didn't even say anything to my… mommy and daddy."
I began to notice tears in her eyes. Her voice was beginning to get lower and weaker and crack as she talked.
"I left all my friends," she continued. "I just grabbed my Pokémon, packed my bags, and ran. I can't say goodbye... I'm not good with goodbyes… I… I…" She suddenly began to cry.
I didn't understand why.
She started crying harder now. Even my own eyes started feeling like they could push out a few tears watching her cry as she was.
I stood up and walked over to her. I sat down on the ground beside her. "June," I said. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
This made her cry even harder. But why?
It was none of my business to pry into June's business but I really wanted to help her.
"Hey there now why the tears pretty lady?" a voice asked all of a sudden.
I looked up to see a heavy set man staring down at us sadly.
June stopped crying and also stared up at the man. She wiped her face. "I'm ok," she whispered. She forced a smile. "So who are you?" She stood up and extended a hand to the stranger.
I stared at June for a moment before standing up myself.
"My name is Sinclair," he replied, shaking hands with me and taking special care to shake hands gently and politely with June. "I was just finishin' a bit a Pokémon training with mah buddy Kingdra when on my way back home I hear this pretty poor missy over here crying her little heart out and I decided to go and see what's causing her such a fret."
He had a southern accent and spoke pretty fast.
"We were just catching our breath," I explained. "And I was discussing something private with my friend be-"
"Did you say a Kingdra?" June asked, shoving me over roughly with her elbow.
"Ow! Hey!" I said angrily.
"Why yes I did lil' missy," Sinclair responded. "Come on out now ya hear?" He tossed his Pokéball and out came a cool new Pokémon.
Kingdra. The Dragon Pokémon and the evolved form of Seadra. Kingdra are said awaken and begin hunting after treacherous storms. These dependable Pokémon are often counted on to guide sailors ships to safety during deadly storms occurring at sea.
"Wow, a Kingdra!" I exclaimed.
Sinclair smiled proudly. "You two youngin's never did tell me yer names," Sinclair chuckled.
"Oh gosh, where are my manners?" June gasped. "My name is June." She bowed politely.
"I'm Gary," I nodded.
"June and Gary," Sinclair smiled. "A pleasure to meet you. And what brings you out into this part of the world?"
"Well, I'm traveling the Kanto region to collect the eight Pokémon badges I need to enter to Pokémon League and compete in the yearly competition," I said eagerly, fists tightening at my side.
"I'm… traveling to… better understand Pokémon and how to raise them to be the best they can be," June said feebly, eyes on the ground. She looked like she might even cry again.
"Traveling to become a Pokémon master and learning how to better raise and connect with Pokémon," Sinclair summed it up. "Well, I don't know about all those fancy badges and whatnot but I bet you can learn a ton if you come back with me to my little village where we hold our own yearly competition." He winked.
"A competition?" I asked, interested.
"That's right," Sinclair said, getting just as excited. "It's our yearly Type One Competition."
"Type One?" I repeated.
"That's what I said youngin'," Sinclair said with a broad smile. "We have a competition where everybody brings one Pokémon only. Our village is small and not everybody raises Pokémon there but we have seventeen competitors every year, each with a different Type of Pokémon since there are seventeen different types of Pokémon total. Normal, Fire, Fighting, Water, Flying, Grass, Poison, Electric, Ground, Psychic, Rock, Ice, Bug, Dragon, Ghost, Dark, and Steel. Ya got it?
"Yeah…" I said, a little bothered he didn't think I knew all the Pokémon types there were. That was pretty basic stuff after all.
"The competition ends with the final two surviving Pokémon types battling and the winner is the Type One Champion!" Sinclair finished.
"Hey, that sounds pretty cool!" I exclaimed. "I wanna get in on this!"
"Well youngin', the competition is usually for the members of the village… butcha seem to have the spunk and drive and I like ya," Sinclair smiled. "So I'll do my best to get ya in. Now whenever more than one of the villagers attempts to bring in the same type of Pokémon, they battle it out, and the winner gets to compete in the actually competition. Just so you know." Sinclair winked at us.
"Sounds great!" I said happily. "So when does it start?"
"In two days," Sinclair declared.
"TWO DAYS???" I shouted.
"Yes indeed youngin'," Sinclair said calmly.
"Aww!" I said. "But I have to get to Celadon City to go for another gym badge! I can't waste time with this."
Sinclair's smile faded. "Now you listen here youngin', we may not be all fancy and sophisticated like you folk with your gyms and your cities and your little badges, but we darn sure well know how to raise our Pokémon and we perform miracles in our little village with the way we battle. We may not be high brow like how you're used to battling but with that kind of attitude, why, you won't make it through the first round with a Vileplume battling a Goldeen."
I swallowed. "I'm sorry, sir. I meant no offense. I'll gladly accept your kind offer and compete in this Type One competition if you'll allow me sir."
Sinclair smiled again. "Quite alright youngin'. I guess I sure do love where I'm from and what we stand for." He looked up into the sky and smiled, seeming lost in a daydream. I sure didn't see anything when I looked in the sky. Sinclair looked back down to me and smiled wider. Then turned to June. "So, you two looking to enter?"
"Yeah!" I said with excitement.
"Umm…" June stammered. "I really think I'll just watch."
"Huh?" I said.
"Watch?" Sinclair asked.
"Yeah… I really think I would rather learn just a bit more before actually engaging in a battle," June explained.
"But Miss June," Sinclair started. "Don't you think it'd be best to learn through actual battling experience? You say you want to get better acquainted with your Pokémon right? How can you do that if you're not participating in one of the greatest ways Pokémon and humans communicate with each other? Through battling experience."
"Yeah June, come on," I urged. "You wanna get better? Then you have to get in the game. You have to take on challengers. If you truly want to learn how to be a better raiser of Pokémon, then you have to make moves. Not sit back and watch."
"I appreciate your advice Sinclair and Gary, but I really am not ready," June said calmly, her eyes to the ground.
She had that sad look on her face again, so I didn't press any further.
I turned to Sinclair. "I want to compete in the Type One competition!" I said. "Is there a prize?"
Sinclair laughed, but I felt bad. His laugh didn't seem genuine. It seemed force. Like I had said something not to his liking but he was taking it in good spirits. "Of course not youngin'. Now I dunno about you fancy folk, but it isn't always about some fancy prize over on this side of town. We battle for the sport and love and experience we gain from Pokémon battles. The connection we get with our Pokémon. That means a lot more, and is a far greater prize, then anything you can get from some fancy pants medal or some such thing. At least to us."
"I agree, sir!" I exclaimed with a smile, trying hard to reconcile what I had said. I hadn't meant to offend him or anything. I was just asking a question. "I'm ready to learn! I really want to be a part of this!"
Sinclair smiled brightly at me. "Well then youngin', let's get you registered. And Miss June you are more than welcome to watch."
June smiled appreciatively.
After Sinclair recalled his Kingdra into its Pokéball, we both followed Sinclair as he led the way to his village.
I was grateful as he started heading into a path leading into the woods. I wasn't fully convinced we had lost the police entirely.
The path was straightforward and we walked for quite a long while. By the time Sinclair stopped walking, I thought I'd pass out from the intense thirst I was dying from. June seemed ready to hit the dirt herself. But I straightened up at the sight of the village. It was incredible!
Wooden houses lined the outskirts of the village, surrounded by woods and the beautiful aura of a natural, peaceful, and truly serene feel. A few people were around waving and calling out to Sinclair, and even waving at me and June, and we all waved back. There seemed to be more structures of some kind, maybe a building or something, further along into the village out of sight. But the true eye catcher was the beautiful waterfall deep inside the village! It was humongous and looked magnificent. The setting sun's light shining through was creating a marvelous rainbow and it was really pretty.
June, also marveling at the waterfall, suddenly lightly bumped into me. And stayed there.
I casually moved away from her a couple of feet.
She looked at me in surprise. Then smiled. "Sorry, an accident."
I nodded. "I know. It's fine."
"Sinclair, how's the Kingdra?" a voice asked.
I turned to see a skinny young man, smiling at Sinclair, having the same accent that must be common in this village.
"Troy! How are ya?" Sinclaire greeted him. "Kingdra is just great! How is the Starmie?"
"Quite well," Troy said with obvious pride. He turned to me and June. "Who are the children?" He smiled.
"This is Gary and June," Sinclair introduced us.
"Hi," me and June said in unison.
"Well howdy!" Troy said happily, shaking our hands with earnest, shaking me with his left hand and June with his right.
"These two… well… Gary… will be competing in the Type One competition," Sinclair stated.
Troy opened his eyes wide. "But Sinclair…"
"I know I know but I think it could help them on their journey if they competed and saw how things go down in such a difficult but seemingly simple arena as ours," Sinclair explained. "Just this once. Let it slide. Can ya please?"
Troy sighed. "Only cause it's you Sinclair," Troy said with a sly grin. "You're lucky I'm the one who runs this competition. Though I'm not so sure how the others will take it."
"Ahh they'll get over it," Sinclair said nonchalantly.
"Well, the competition begins in just two days," Troy stated. "Hows about we get this young man registered?"
Everyone that we met in the village was extremely friendly. They all greeted us all and shook all of our hands. They were some of the kindest people I'd ever met. We arrived at a small building when Troy signed me up for the competition. After careful consideration, I decided my Pokémon would be Hoothoot. Since all the spots were taken, I'd be challenging either the trainer who was raising a Normal Type or the trainer who was using the Flying Type Pokémon, since Hoothoot was both types. I decided I'd take on the Flying trainer.
After the registration, the best news me and June had heard all day was spoken.
"Hows about a nice home cooked meal for you and your Pokémon?" Sinclair asked.
The answer was a loud and immediate "YES!"
We chowed down on the most delicious cheeseburgers and potatoes I'd ever had. It almost didn't taste like burgers and potatoes at all. It was like an entirely new, delectable set of food unknown to my taste buds. Sinclair was a wizard of a cook. I'd never eaten a combination of cheeseburgers with potatoes but I'd never hesitate to try it again after that night.
Me and June's Pokémon ate in a different room. I had taken a look inside before letting my Pokémon out. The room was rather spacious. It had a play area with handcrafted toys and a comfortable looking area with several pillows and low level beds to go right to sleep. I didn't get to see June's Pokémon. After I let my Pokémon out in that room, I ran straight back out to the food. I wasn't too concerned. I was just worried about my Pokémon eating and me eating. But I did notice there was a lot of commotion in the area where our Pokémon were at. Sounded like everyone was having fun in there. And it sounded busy. I assumed June must have a lot more Pokémon than I thought.
That night, me and June slept on opposite ends of the guest room Sinclair had. I was in bed, thinking a lot about… everything that had occurred so far. But something in particular was in my mind.
"June?" I said.
She turned in her bed to look at me, smiling. "Hey."
There was silence for a minute before I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
"For?" She looked confused.
"…Electrode. I didn't intend on that happening. In all of the commotion that happened afterwards, I never got the chance to properly apologize. So, I'm taking the time now to say… I am truly sorry, June."
June stared at me for a moment, then turned her back to me. "That's the risk of raising a Pokémon like that. Sometimes they just… pop."
She didn't say anything else after that.
And neither did I. I turned back and looked at the ceiling.
It wasn't much longer before I heard a noise. A sniffing sound. Or perhaps… a sniffling sound. Coming from where June was laying.

"Faster Hoothoot!" I yelled.
Hoothoot flew back and forth in front of me. Faster. Faster. Getting better and better. Looking stronger than the last time.
It was the afternoon and me and Hoothoot were doing some training for tomorrow's competition.
I hadn't seen June for long that morning. She decided to take a walk around the village.
I was happy she hadn't decided to hang around with me or asked me to join her on her walk.
Hoothoot kept using Tackle in front of me, back and forth.
Hoothoot charged forward all of a sudden and with a great force of energy and speed, hit a nearby tree, rattling it slightly and causing a few fruits to drop out of it.
"Wow, what was that?" I wondered, raising my Pokédex.
Take Down. A far more powerful version of Tackle that results in the user sustaining recoil damage from the damage caused to the opponent. Caution should be considered when using this move.
"Wow Hoothoot! You learned Take Down!" I said happily.
Hoothoot landed on the ground and hooted happily.
"Well, Hoothoot, tomorrow is the big day of the competition," I said. I had already told it all of this, but I kept reminding it of how important this was going it be. Hoothoot would be representing the Flying Type Pokémon in this competition. "We need to be in pristine shape. For now, let's take a break and grab a little snack. But then, right back to work." I smiled determinedly at Hoothoot.
Hoothoot hooted back eagerly.
"Let's win this for the Flying Pokémon of the world!" I cheered.
Hoothoot took to the air and flew about a little, hooting in excitement.

"Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to Mellow Village's own annual Type One Pokémon competition!"
The small crowd cheered excitedly.
It was the next day. The day! The competition was here. It took place outdoors in an overly simple clearing. Everyone who was merely there to watch and cheer were all sitting in wooden chairs.
Troy, who was the announcer, sat behind a finely polished wooden desk with a microphone. Next to him, to my surprise, was June, also with a microphone. She hadn't told me she'd be sitting with the announcer of the competition. She looked extremely nervous and happy at the same time.
I was standing with a crowd of other competitors for the competition. We didn't even get chairs! This was certainly a simple little village. I was almost surprised they had any kind of competition like this at such a small, unofficial living spot like this. They certainly were trying to make it something, but not trying very well if you asked me. It felt so… uncomfortable.
I guess I'm spoiled by my fancy buildings and electronics, I considered.
I observed everyone in the clearing. If this was the entire village here today, there couldn't be more than fifty people in the entire village!
"This year will be a little different than the others," Troy continued. "This year, we have allowed a newcomer to this competition. Please welcome, from Pallet Town, Gary!"
Everyone stood up and cheered, to my surprise. I waved and gave a friendly smile.
"Also joining us is a good friend to Gary. As the first ever co-announcer of the Type One Competition, please welcome, all the way from Vermillion City, previous Gym Leader of Gringey City, the sweet, the kind, the exceptionally beautiful, June!"
The audience got even louder for her. I could've sworn I even heard a few whistles.
Why is she co-announcer? I wondered. That was nice of them to offer her that. But why didn't she tell me?
"Now, in this year's competition, we have a Type Two preliminary battle in the Flying Type division! This will take place between Gary and Mellow Village's own, Victor!"
I looked around at the 16 other competitors around me and spotted the muscular kid. He couldn't have been more than 2 years older than me. He smiled and extended his hand out to mine.
I grabbed his hand and we gave each a strong handshake. Or maybe mine was nothing to him. But his sure was powerful. I tried my best to match it. As we took our places, I shook off the minor pain in my hand.
I caught June's eye and waved at her. June and I hadn't spoken since the night I had apologized to her. She stared back at me for a minute before looking away.
"I choose Pidgeotto!" Victor shouted, sending out his Pokémon.
"Ah… cool. A Pidgeotto…" I said, taking out my Pokédex.
Pidgeotto. The Bird Pokémon. The evolved form of Pidgey. This diligent hunter can spot prey from miles above in the air. It is very territorial and while fairly peaceful, can become a threat once disturbed or threatened.
"Hoothoot! Go!" I threw Hoothoot's Pokéball.
Hoothoot stared down Pidgeotto angrily as Pidgeotto stared back calmly.
"So June, any predictions about this match?" Troy asked. "Being as you're such good friends with Gary, how do you think he'll do here today?"
The crowd gave a little "ooooooh."
I glared at the crowd.
June stared back at me for a moment, sternly. Almost like how she looked when we battled back when she was the gym leader in Gringey City. "Gary can't win."
"Huh?" I gasped.
The crowd laughed a bit at what she said.
"Oooooooo that's a mighty tough statement for you to make about your friend," Troy responded with a chuckle.
June shook her head and stared at me, seemingly surprised. "Um… I only meant… he can't win unless he truly brings out the best in his Pokémon…" June said in a low voice.
I stared at June. She sure was acting weird.
"Ah ok then I think I get it now," Troy laughed. "Well, let the battle begin!"
"Quick Attack now!" Victor ordered.
Pidgeotto flew at Hoothoot with remarkable speed and Hoothoot was hit but seemed to be just fine.
"Uproar now!" I commanded.
I covered my ears, though it didn't help, as Hoothoot opened its beak and started making a most horridly loud noise, blowing Pidgeotto over and knocking it to the ground. But it didn't end there. The Uproar, which caused everyone to cover their ears, reached the microphones and became amplified! It was the most ear splitting noise I had ever heard in my life. And I couldn't stop Hoothoot, even as I yelled for it to cut it out.
Uproar lasts for a few turns before finally ending.
Once it finally did, Pidgeotto was long defeated.
There was silence for a while.
Well, not really. My ears, and probably the ears of everyone else, were ringing loud enough.
"PIDGEOTTO IS UNABLE TO BATTLE! HOOTHOOT IS THE WINNER!" Troy screamed unnecessarily into his microphone, unable to hear well, causing everyone to press their hands to their ears harder and yell out in pain.
June just glared at me angrily, holding her ears.
"GARY WILL PROCEED TO THE OFFICIAL TYPE ONE BATTLE COMPETITION!" Troy continued. "THE OFFICIAL TYPE ONE BATTLE COMPETITION OFFICIALLY BEGINS NOW!"
The competition was as simple as the town it was held in and the people who lived in it.
Some of the rounds were surprising. Like a Normal Type Furret beating a Rock Type Nosepass with only a couple of hits. Or an Electric Type Plusle taking out a Steelix in a surprisingly close match, which June went crazy over and even ran up to the Plusle to hug and congratulate it. But other wins were obvious, like a Fire Type Ponyta beating a Bug Type Caterpie.
I began wondering how these trainers who live in such a small village managed to find some of the rare Pokémon they were using.
I finally had my second round to attend to and it was a Fighting Type Pokémon, so I had the advantage. In fact, the poor Mankey didn't even get a chance to attack back. Hoothoot just pecked it until it collapsed and was no longer able to battle. It was pathetic.
Either way, win or lose, the people of this village were extremely happy and shook hands without the slightest look of dismay in their faces.
We were down to the final 4 competitors. A Budew managed to beat a Ponyta with raw power and the help of Stun Spore, soon after evolving into Roselia, and my win was against a Gloom who managed to handle several Peck attacks but finally fell to Hoothoot's Take Down.
The final match had arrived. It was me and Hoothoot versus Michael and his Roselia.
One thing I had learned from watching all of these competitions was that: Type didn't matter.
This was nothing new, but some of these wins were nothing short of incredible. Sinclaire was right. The trainers here were good. If you let your guard down and didn't give it your all, you were surely in for a swift defeat. I could tell many of the trainers here were only getting cocky because they had a type advantage. Those very trainers were the quickest to get knocked out of the competition.
"We are now down to the final match!" Troy exclaimed. As the competition had continued on since Hoothoot's amplified Uproar, Troy's voice began to slowly but surely simmer down to normal again. "Newcomer Gary from Pallet Town has truly earned his position this far into the competition! But so has Michael! Since type does NOT matter in this competition, this winner is truly anyone's guess!"
"I agree," June said. She had gotten a lot better at being a more proactive announcer as the competition proceeded and had tons to say and great commentary and even had some funny jokes on occasion. But she always seemed more quiet during my battles. Now, she was just staring at me sternly again, like she did last time.
Troy seemed to be waiting for her to say something. When she didn't, he said, "And now, may the final battle in the Type One Competition battle begin!"
"Hypnosis!" I demanded.
Hoothoot shot out circular rays at Roselia, who just stood there calmly.
"Move!" Michael screamed.
Roselia jumped at the last second and was high above Hoothoot.
"Leech Seed!" Michael ordered.
Roselia leaned its head towards Hoothoot and a seed shot out, landing on Hoothoot. Before it could react, the seed split open and vines spread out and wrapped themselves around Hoothoot, draining the energy from it.
Hoothoot fell to the ground, hooting loudly in pain.
"Hoothoot get up and fight!" I screamed.
Hoothoot stood up and tried Hypnosis again.
"What??" Michael screamed in surprised. "Dodge and use Grasswhistle!"
Roselia leaped out of the way of Hypnosis and used one of the leaves from its beautiful roses on its hands to blow on. A light song began to flow out from the leaf.
"Hoothoot you dodge too!" I screamed out.
But Hoothoot was immobilized by the Leech Seed, slowly draining out the rest of its health. Hoothoot fell asleep immediately.
"Toxic!" Michael shouted.
Roselia spun around in midair and a spray of dark purple liquid shot out and hit my sleeping Hoothoot.
Hoothoot immediately got a dark purple flush of color in its face and started squirming in pain, still sleeping. Hoothoot was poisoned badly and still sleeping.
"Petal Dance!" Michael yelled.
Roselia spun even faster and a flurry of leaves shot out and hit Hoothoot.
Suddenly, Hoothoot's eyes opened in shock and it let out a piercing yell. It wasn't as bad as Uproar but it was loud. And I knew immediately something was wrong.
"SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH HIM!" June screamed, standing up in her seat.
I ran on the field to my Hoothoot. "Hoothoot!" I screamed. I picked him up.
He was knocked out, but something was wrong with his wing. His right wing was looking funny.
June ran right up to me. "Oh my gosh. His wing is broken!" June cried.
"What?" I screamed.
"We need a Pokémon Center!" June screamed.
"Now now there lil' missy don't you fret," a familiar voice said.
I turned to see Sinclair walking over from where the crowd was watching, everyone standing up.
"We don't have any fancy Pokémon Centers in this village but we do have someone who can very well take care of that and just about any Pokémon injury you can think of," Sinclair assured June.
Sinclair carefully took Hoothoot from me and cradled it. He began to talk through the village as June and I followed him. I could here in the distance Troy announcing Michael and Roselia as the winners of the Type One competition.
But I didn't care about that now. I was worried about my Hoothoot.
We arrived in a building that was very quaint and looked pretty familiar. Sort of.
Sinclair turned to me and smiled. "We don't have any fancy Pokémon Centers in this village but we do have someone who can very well take care of that and just about any Pokémon injury you can think of," Sinclair repeated. He winked. "And that person is me. Now you two take a rest and your Hoothoot will be just fine in a jiffy." He took my Hoothoot into a back door and closed it.
Me and June stared at each other in silence.
"June…" I said.
She walked away to one of the many chairs in the room and sat down in one closest to a window and stared out it, looking somber.
I suddenly realized what this building looked similar to.
A Pokémon Center.

"I'd say another three to four weeks and your Hoothoot will be just fine," Sinclair said to me.
Hoothoot looked up at me from the table Sinclair wheeled out, looking like a cheap mini stretcher. Hoothoot hooted at me happily, his right wing in a cast.
Sinclair had taken a few hours working on Hoothoot, and I guess that wasn't too bad of time. But the wait was terrible. I was just about ready to go back there and see what was going on. Sinclair just so happened to open to doors as I was standing there, contemplating whether or not to go back there. I was hit hard. While my nose still hurt and felt a bit larger than usual, I was fine.
"Thank you Sinclair," I said, smiling a bit. I was still worried about my Hoothoot. Sinclair did a fine job I guess, but I wanted my Hoothoot checked out again as soon as we reached a real Pokémon Center.
"No problem there youngin'," Sinclair said with a smile. "You know, you really did well in that competition Gary. It may sound a bit funny but… I'm proud of you boy."
"That's really kind of you, sir," I replied. "Thank you very much. I appreciate your kind words."
"Your Hoothoot is a real fighter," Sinclair said, petting Hoothoot.
Hoothoot seemed to enjoy the petting, nuzzling his head against Sinclaire's hand.
"Hey, Sinclaire! Why weren't you in the competition!" I realized. "Weren't you raising Kingdra for this very thing?"
Sinclaire laughed heartedly, startling me, Hoothoot, and June. "Oh no there youngin,'" Sinclaire laughed. "I was just raising my Kingdra. We competed back in the day when we were younger. But not nowadays. Ha ha. We're not old or anything but we do enjoy taking it easier these days. Getting closer connected. You know, ha ha."
"Oh, I understand," I said with a smile.
"Well, it's getting late you two," Sinclair said, glancing out the window at the dark night sky. "How about we get you two to my house and I fix us up one last delicious dinner?"
There were no arguments there.

"June?" I asked that night. I was really full from the baked chicken and home fries that Sinclair cooked for us. I was so full I barely even felt like talking. But I had to speak to June.
She didn't say anything.
"Are you mad at me?" I asked anyway. "About Electrode? You've been treating me very differently. Looking at me oddly. I feel like… things are getting uncomfortable between us. Do you want to stop traveling together?"
Silence.
Finally she said, "I accept your apology Gary. Now let's just forget about it and never bring it up again. Ok?"
"Ok," I agreed quickly.
Silence.
I had almost fallen asleep.
"I promised you I wouldn't stay for long, right?" June stated.
I stayed silent.
"If you want me to go, I will. I'll leave right now even," June said.
"No June, it's not that," I replied.
"You sounded awfully hopeful I'd go just now," she said coldly.
I was getting angry. And sad. And I could also hear the hurt in her voice.
I took a deep breath. "June, if you want to stay with me on my journey, you're welcome to," I said calmly. "As of right now, I see no issue with it. So please, if it's what you want, I encourage you to stay. If you want to go, that's ok too. You can do whatever you want."
A long moment of silence.
"Will you tell me if you have a problem with me?" June asked.
I paused. "Will you tell me if you have a problem with me?" I asked.
No reply.
"Deal," she finally said.
For some reason, I smiled to myself.
I could've sworn I heard her giggle a little before I finally fell asleep.

"Well, thank you for spending a couple of days here in our humble little village," Sinclair said, shaking my hand, then June's. "And make sure you check that Hoothoot out at a proper Pokémon Center ya hear? I know our simple ways aren't all that fancy so you go check it out in one of your fancy smanshy little Pokémon buildings alright now?"
I laughed and waved away his comment as if I didn't take it seriously and wasn't even considering going to a real Pokémon Center to have my Hoothoot looked over.
It was the late morning and June and I were on our way out of Mellow Village, continuing our journey to Celadon City. The entire village had come by to say goodbye to us. Even Troy, who even kissed June's hand in his farewell and thanked her for being such a great co-announcer. June blushed at the kiss.
Sinclair had walked us out of the woods and we were now on the main path where we had escaped from the police.
"Sinclair, thank you for everything," I said. "I gained a lot of experience from that competition and I truly understand a lot more about Pokémon than I did before I got here."
"I'm glad Gary," Sinclair said with a beaming smile. "If everyone gains that kind of wisdom that you have gained from this competition Gary, then there are no losers. Only winners."
I nodded.
"Thank you too Sinclair," June said. "I really was mesmerized by every battle I saw there. Incredible! I really appreciated the opportunity Troy gave me to be a co-announcer. I had fun! "
"Maybe next year, you both will come on down and you can join in Miss June!" Sinclair smiled.
June laughed. "I'll keep you posted on that one," she replied.
"Oh Miss June, you better join in," Sinclair laughed.
June smiled brightly.
"Well, you two youngins' keep each other safe and good luck on your journey!" Sinclair said.
"Thanks! You take care too Sinclair!" I said.
"Bye Sinclair!" June waved.
June and I walked along the path, enjoying the sunshine and making our way to our future destination.
"Gary?" June said.
"Hm?" I replied.
"Were you mad when Troy kissed my hand?" June asked with a smile.
I stared at her for a mere second. She was looking back at me, blushing and smiling. I turned away immediately. "No."
"Are you sure? Because you seemed to be glaring for just a second when he did it and when I turned to look at you, you looked away."
"You're out of your mind June," I snapped. "Get over it. That didn't happen."
"Don't be mean, Gary," June teased with a smile.
"June, stop it."
"Come on Gary," she said, giving me a light push.
"Come on what?" I asked.
She giggled.
I scowled at her. "Remember that discussion we had last night about having problems with the other person…?"
Me and June.
Officially traveling together.
For now, on our way to Celadon City.
Afterwards, wherever else my next badges lay.
Me and June.
Officially traveling together.
For as long as we could stand each other.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 13: A Situation I Can't Dig

I was never a good conversationalist. I typically like to think to myself. View my surroundings. Walk in peace.
Not June. She wouldn't shut up.
Luckily, I'm a good listener, I guess.
"So my Elekid was defeated immediately," June continued. "He was just a baby so no surprise there. But when his Raichu beat my Magnemite was when I began to get worried. He knew Brick Break and tore his way right through us. Luckily my Flaaffy came out and helped us. Cotton Guard was a life saver. Then we slowed him down with Cotton Spore and took full advantage. His Raichu is actually naturally slow because he evolved it rather soon when he first caught it years ago, so slowing it down even further only resulted in an even worse defeat for it. Then Lt. Surge sent out his Jolteon."
I guess I'm gonna hear this entire battle, I thought to myself.
I didn't mind hearing about any Pokémon battle, don't get me wrong. But June had been talking about nearly her entire life! From growing up with her parents, to her crushes on boys in school, to her crush on Lt. Surge, to begging him to allow her to train under him, to losing battles to him.
I just wanted to enjoy the scenery. We were walking through a very peaceful open field with a few trees plenty of sunlight. I was afraid she might be scaring away wild Pokémon with her constant jabbering. I still needed to capture more.
"Please, don't!" a voice cried.
"Give 'em up," another voice demanded.
Me and June looked to each other for a second, then ran ahead.
A short moment later, we saw a group of kids close to our age. There was about four of them, surrounding one little boy. The little boy was in tears, sitting on the ground, staring at them in fear.
One of the boys grabbed the kid on the ground, lifted him up, and then shoved him back to the ground. Then all of them started punching and kicking him.
"HEY!" me and June shouted in unison. We ran up to the boys and they all stopped beating up the lone kid and turned to me and June with furious frowns on their faces.
"What do you think you're doing?" June shouted.
"Mind your own business you two!" one of the boys shouted.
My fists tightened and began to shake. "Why are you beating up that kid? You bullies! Ganging up on one person. Who do you think you are?"
"Oh, so you want some of this too?" the tallest boy challenged. He moved swiftly and swung at me, catching me under my right eye.
I cried out and hit the ground. By the time I opened my eyes, two of the boys were above me, sending punches and sharp kicks at my face and body.
I covered my face with my arms and tried to fight back somehow, but I couldn't catch my breath as they sent blows directly to my stomach.
"Stop it!!!" June screamed out loudly. I witnessed her run at one of the boys but he turned quick and shoved her to the ground hard.
The other two boys held her down to the ground as she struggled to fight them off of her. "Ha ha, she's pretty," one boy said with a sneaky grin.
"Yeah, why you hanging around with this chump?" the other boy asked June. "He's pathetic. You should roll with our crew. I may even allow you to be my boyfriend." The kid laughed cruelly.
June snorted loudly and spit a phlegm filled glob of spit at the boy's face.
The two boys beating me up stopped suddenly and turned to stare at their friends.
I noticed the little boy they had been getting beaten up in the back was still there, and also staring at the boy who got spit on.
The boy with June's spit on his face seemed to be breathing heavily in anger. He wiped his face but spit was still clinging to his face and hand now. He grabbed a handful of dirt and slammed it into June's face.
June cried out in surprise. He angrily bawled a fist and raised it over his head.
I kicked both of my attackers off of me and ran to the kid about to hit June. My foot pulled back as far as I could. He saw me coming, but it was too late as my foot shot forward at his face with all the force I had behind it.
The kid hit the ground hard and didn't move. Suddenly he coughed hard. He sounded like he was choking. Spurts of blood shot out of his mouth and two white objects lay in the blood on the dirt. It was obvious his teeth had been kicked right out.
June wiped her face to get some of the dirt off and immediately kicked the second kid right between the legs.
The kid screamed and rolled over on the floor, grabbing himself in agony.
June stood up and dusted off her clothes and wiped her face off a bit more.
The other two boys who were beating me up ran to their two hurt friends. "This ain't over!" one of them yelled. "Come on you two little girls!" The two kids ran away as their friends hobbled away in pain, one holding themselves between the legs, the other in a daze, bent over, holding his face.
We stared until the final kids disappeared, then turned to the remaining boy who had gotten beat up.
June walked over to him and knelt down beside him. "Are you ok?" she asked gently.
The boy nodded. His eyes were still running in tears. "Thank you both," he said, and began crying.
"Awww," June said, reaching out and pulling him close to her in a tight hug. "It's ok now."
I stared back to where those bullies ran off. Then I walked over to June and knelt down. "What's your name?" I asked the boy.
"My friends call me Arnold," the boy replied, looking up at me.
"I'm Gary," I replied. "This is June."
Arnold smiled at June. "Hi June."
"Hello Ray," June smiled back.
Why don't I get a hi and a smile…? I wondered for a moment.
"So, who are those kids?" I asked Arnold.
Arnold turned back to me. "Steve, Shawn, Dominique and John," he said. "They're a bunch of bullies. I've known them since before we were Pokémon trainers. They were okay back then, but now that they have Pokémon to raise and want to be strong and win badges and stuff, they went bad. They steal Pokémon and beat up trainers and stuff."
"What?? That's horrible!" June yelled. "You can't just go around robbing kids of their Pokémon! When I see those chumps again…." June's voice trailed off.
"They can't possibly get away with this," I thought out loud. "They have to get caught eventually. Right?"
Arnold lowered his head and stared at the ground. "I'm just glad they didn't steal mine."
I stood up. "Well, where are you headed?" I asked Arnold.
"I was on my way to Fuchsia City," Arnold explained. "I was going to go and get my second badge from there hopefully, but along the way I wanted to stop by the Safari Zone and capture some rare Pokémon."
"The Safari Zone…" I remembered. A famous place and a must see spot in the Kanto region filled with some of the rarest Pokémon ever. Open to anyone to have fun and capture all the Pokémon they could manage with a limited amount of the special Safari Balls they hand out to capture the Pokémon found there. I thought on a fond memory I had as a child visiting the Safari Zone once. All the rare Pokémon and I had seen but that my mom refused to allow us to try to capture and take home. My dad swore he saw a Chansey. Not that mom cared.
I definitely need to head back there after I'm finished in Celadon City, I thought to myself. And after Saffron City as well.
"So you have a badge already?" I asked.
"Yeah!" Arnold said with a bit of excitement in his voice. "I won the Rainbow Badge and then… I went to Saffron City…" Ray stopped talking and looked down. Then he chuckled a bit. He looked up and June and smiled. Then he turned back to me. "Now I'm on my way to Fuchsia City."
"What happened in Saffron City?" June asked. "Isn't there a gym there too? A Psychic gym if I'm not mistaken. Run by a woman."
"Sabrina…" Arnold muttered.
"Yeah!" June exclaimed. "What happened there?"
"I just didn't win I guess," Arnold said quickly, looking at the ground. He stood up. "Anyway, thanks for the help." He suddenly ran off.
I looked at June.
She shrugged. Then she reached in her bag and pulled out a handkerchief. She handed it to me. "You look really bad." She pulled out a small mirror and held it up to me.
I looked like crap. I was bleeding from my nose, and both my eyes were swollen. I sighed. As if I didn't have low enough self esteem about my looks, I thought to myself.
I dabbed at my nose for a while and eventually just decided to keep it there. "Ok then, let's just get out of here," I said to June.
She put away her mirror and we continued along the path.
I looked at the Town Map and noticed a cave was soon to be looming ahead of us. "So, it looks like we're about to go through External Cave," I told June.
She turned to me. "I've never heard of it," she said.
"Well, it shouldn't be long before we arrive there."
Sure enough, a short, and surprisingly quiet while later, we saw the cave. The mouth was large, but jagged rocks lined the curved top. They looked awfully weak and unsafe. Inside was barely visible.
I turned to June. "I guess Charmeleon can help us," I suggested. I took its Pokéball and held it out. The beam of light shot out and Charmeleon emerged from it.
"Charmeleon!" it exclaimed.
"Charmeleon, we're going to enter External Cave," I explained. "Care to guide the way?"
"Char Charmeleon!" Charmeleon said happily.
"Well, we can help too!" June said excitedly. She pulled off her large bag and dug around inside. She pulled out a Pokéball. She turned it in her hand and I saw a sticker with the letter 'P' on it. "Pikachu, go!" she called out, throwing it to the ground. The Pokéball bounced and popped open, revealing Pikachu.
"Pika pika!" it cried out.
"Pikachu, Flash!" June told it.
Pikachu closed its eyes and started glowing. It wasn't a blinding light like back when it blinded to cops, but it was bright enough to surely light up the cave.
Pikachu. The Mouse Pokémon and the evolved form of Pichu. Pikachu build up energy in their electric glands and need to discharge often. Not doing so can result in a short, or in worse case scenarios, death.
"Isn't he so cute??" June squealed, kneeling down to hug him tight, to Pikachu's visible pleasure.
"Yeah," I admitted.
June smiled up at me.
We entered the cave with our two Pokémon. It was nice and bright now. Only a few steps in and all four of us heard it.
The flutter of wings. The screeching sound from a distance.
"DUCK!" June screamed.
I turned to her in confusion instead of ducking.
Bad mistake.
I was instantly hit in the face several times by something. I fell to the floor and curled up, crying out in pain from the attack on my already sore face. "What is that?" I screamed.
"They're Zubat!" June cried.
Zubat. The Bat Pokémon. They reside in caves and sleep in the daytime. Prolonged exposure to the sun can result in bad health conditions.
The Zubat were flying out of the cave and then back in, fearing the sunlight. It was very loud and more than a little bit scary.
Eventually, the Zubat flew deeper inside the cave and the screeching sound they made eventually ceased.
June stood up first. I followed soon after, a little shaky. "I shoulda could one," I muttered. "Darn it."
June looked at me and just shook her head.
"Well, let's proceed, team," I said.
We all continued along the cave.
Suddenly, I was thrown high into the air! My head hit the ceiling and I came crashing back down to earth. "OWWWW!" I cried out. My eyes were filling with tears from hitting that spiky rock ceiling. I looked down and saw a Diglett! It had popped up from the ground under my feet and had given me a strong tossing!
Diglett. The Mole Pokémon. Diglett live in caves and never show up in the bright daylight as their skin is very thin and exposure to bright sunlight will cause their blood to heat up and they become sick. These Pokémon are suspected to have feet.
"A Diglett!" I exclaimed. I felt a bit dizzy from the hit but I stood up anyway. "Now let's see…" I thought of which Pokémon would be best to battle a Diglett. I knew they were one of the fastest little diggers in the world. They could pop in and out of the ground at some of the quick recorded speeds in history. But who could battle it anyway? My hands wavered over my belt as I thought about it, thinking on which Pokéball to grab.
Suddenly, Diglett went underground and disappeared!
"NOOOOOO!" I screamed. I had an instant flashback to the Abra that got away from me way back when I had gotten my Dimensia badge.
"NOT AGAIN!" I screamed.
Suddenly, Diglett appeared again, right under Charmeleon!
Charmeleon went flying as the Dig attack hit and did huge damage, being as Fire types are weak to Ground type moves like Dig.
"Ok then, it's a battle!" I exclaimed. "Charmeleon, Growl attack now!"
Charmeleon got up and used Growl, but Diglett went under again.
I remembered our battle we had back when Charmeleon was a Charmander and we battled a trainer's Sandslash.
"JUMP!" I screamed. "And aim down and Fire Fang!"
Charmeleon jumped just as Diglett appeared from the ground. Charmeleon faced downward and pointed its body directly down with its fangs on fire and chomped down on Diglett's head.
Diglett screamed out its name and dug underground, Charmeleon losing its grip.
"Ember!" I yelled.
Charmeleon sent an Ember attack into the hole. It stood there, sending a long stream of fire after the Diglett. Finally it stopped and turned to me.
"Hmm," I said. "I guess it ran away. Well, let's continue then, huh?"
Charmeleon nodded.
Suddenly we all felt the rumble. The entire cave felt like it was rocking!
Charmeleon was rocketed up at the ceiling. Its back slammed into the jagged walls above and it cried out loudly in pain. It then dropped fast.
I ran to it and caught it in my arms. "Charmeleon!" I cried out.
"Char…" it said weakly.
"Gary, he's hurt!" June called to me. "It needs immediate attention!"
I stared at Charmeleon. "Come back buddy." I returned it to its Pokéball.
"Gary! Oh my gosh!" June screamed.
I turned to her and then turned to see what she was looking at. I gasped.
Diglett hadn't returned. Or maybe it had. Only now, it was a Dugtrio!
Dugtrio. The Mole Pokémon and the evolved form of Diglett. Dugtrio are formed when three Diglett group together and combine once they have all reached the appropriate level.
"It came back," I muttered. "With friends." I grabbed a Pokéball. "Hoothoot go!"
Hoothoot appeared from its Pokéball.
"Confusion!" I ordered.
Hoothoot took hold of Dugtrio with its Psychic powers before it dug away and forced it back against the cave wave, leaving a line of raised dirt leading right to Dugtrio.
"Hypnosis now!" I yelled.
Hoothoot charged at Dugtrio, but as it aimed with Hypnosis, Dugtrio went underground.
"Fly high Hoothoot and get ready!" I screamed.
Hoothoot remained flying in circles, awaiting Dugtrio to appear. Finally it popped up and Hoothoot flew above it, avoiding the Ground type move as Flying types can't take Ground type damage under normal circumstances. Hoothoot was in the perfect position to use Hypnosis and caught Dugtrio with it.
Dugtrio's eyes started to close and it stopped moving. A second later, it was fast asleep.
"Pokéball go!" I yelled, tossing my Pokéball… at the same time another Pokéball was thrown from someone else!
Mine got there first and hit Dugtrio, pulling it inside with a red beam and hitting the ground. The Pokéball shook for a few seconds. Soon enough, the ping made it official I had captured my sixth Pokémon.
I ran to the Pokéball and snatched it up.
"Hey!" a voice screamed. "I caught that there Dugtrio!"
I looked up and from around the corner I saw the little punks. The four kids who had attacked me, June, and Ray.
"You guys!" I growled. "I caught this Pokémon. Beat it!"
The kid who I kicked in the jaw cracked his knuckles, giving me a look that said he wanted my head on a platter.
The four kids walked up to us slowly.
Pikachu sparked his cheeks at the kids as a warning.
One of the kids smiled and then, with a swift movement, kicked Pikachu across the cave!
Pikachu cried out as he was hit, then he hit the wall and didn't move.
Two of the other boys grabbed June as she made a movement to get her Pikachu.
The other two boys stared at me. The one I kicked, and the one June kicked.
"Let's see what Pokémon you have, beautiful," one of the boys holding June said.
I turned to them, and the other two boys in front of me attacked.
I was kicked between the legs and I cried out in pain. I bent over as one of the boys swung a fist right at my nose. I fell back to the ground and couldn't move.
The two boys stomped on me, jumping up and down in joy. Kicking me, spitting on me.
I curled up into a ball and they proceeded to jump on my back.
I heard June screaming.
I became enraged. These stupid punk bullies can't get away with this. I got up and it seemed that they were just about to jump down on my back again. As I bellowed in the cave, getting up, I caught them off guard and flung them off of me. I bent over in pain from the kick between my legs, but I quickly hobbled over to the kids, my rage carrying me on. I grabbed a large rock along the way and smashed it down onto one of the kid's faces.
He cried out as I continually beat him over the head with it. His friend started to stir. I turned to him. He seemed to be in pain. He was holding his head, so I assumed when I flung him off my back, he landed on his head.
I turned to June's captives. One was holding her in a headlock with a large knife to her throat, smiling.
"Give us your Pokémon, kid," the guy holding her said.
"Gary," she cried.
"Shut up!" the kid screamed, shaking her roughly.
My teeth gritted angrily.
"Just roll the Pokéballs over to us and that will be all," the boy said.
I couldn't think of a way out of this in time. I unclipped my six Pokéballs from my waist and knelt down slowly.
The guy holding June leaned his head against hers and sniffed her hair. "You sure do smell almost as beautiful as you look," he grinned.
Suddenly, June leaned her head forward, onto the knife, the swiftly swung her head backwards into her captive's head!
The guy backed up a bit and June grabbed the knife from him. Everybody froze for a moment.
June seemed unsure of what to do. With a sudden shrill scream, she jabbed the knife into the shoulder of her captive. "DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!" she screamed maniacally.
The boy screamed out in pain and fell to the floor.
June pulled the knife out of his shoulder. It didn't go in very deep, but far enough to get the message across. June then kneed him in the face.
He fell into the cave wall and didn't move.
The other boy took off out of the cave.
One boy unconscious.
Another boy unconscious, face covered in blood.
The third boy holding his head, wincing in pain on the ground.
The final boy long gone.
I turned to June. She had gone over to her Pikachu and was holding him in her arms. She kissed his head and returned him to his Pokéball.
She wiped her eyes.
The knife was now on the floor.
I hobbled over to the knife and knelt down next to it, still in great pain. After a few minutes, I picked it up. I took my backpack and pulled out a few paper towels and a bag. I wrapped it up and put it in the bag, then put it all back in my backpack. I turned to June, who was looking at me. "We'll give that to Officer Jenny. We have to tell her about what's going on out here."
June nodded.
I sat on the floor for a while. I was really hurt.
When I finally looked up, June was there with a fresh handkerchief in her hand.
"Thank you," I said as I took it from her. I put it to my nose and slowly stood up with June's help. We walked on, June holding onto me and giving me much needed assistance.
It was a quiet walk now.
I don't know if the cave was long or if the walk was now uncomfortably silent and only seemed long due to what we had just been though, but it seemed like we were walking forever before I finally saw the sunlight from the end of the cave.
"Gary," June whispered.
I nodded.
We picked up the pace and soon we were outside.
I took a long, deep breath and smiled, but the smile faded once the pain from my face hit me.
"Come on Gary, I can Celadon City right there," June urged. She was grabbing my arm and was very close to me. She seemed desperate to keep moving. She seemed very afraid.
I followed her lead, and even let her pull me down the road.
I saw it too. Celadon City. It looked nice from afar. Tons of buildings. A truly beautiful city. Fond memories of me and my mom and dad coming here floated around in my head. But the memories weren't strong. I was too young to remember too much. But now, I was ready to make new memories for myself. For my life.
As we arrived at Celadon City, many people were staring at me. I must have looked in terrible shape.
Me and June were walking around, trying to find both a Pokémon Center, and also marveling at the sights of the buildings, the fashion, the food, the atmosphere, the intensely sweet and alluring smells. So much more different than the trees and natural environment we had been travelling through lately.
I heard a police siren suddenly. Before I could turn, a motorcycle pulled up in front of me.
"Officer Jenny!" June cried out. "Please, help us!"
"What's going on here? Are you ok?" Officer Jenny asked me. "What happened to you?"
"We were jumped," I said. "By a bunch of kids. Four of them. They tried to steal our Pokémon. Back at External Cave."
"Steve, Dominique, John and Shawn?" Officer Jenny asked. "We've been after those four for several months now… Well, hop in kids. I'll take you guys to the Pokémon Center. They should be able to tend to your wounds."
"My Pokémon," I said as I got in her motorbike, June squeezing in beside me. "I'm fine, just please, my Pokémon."
Officer Jenny nodded. "Hang on kids." She drove off fast and we were on our way to the Pokémon Center.
I had a reflective moment as we drove around the city, a bit of nostalgia so to speak. Or Déjà vu. Heading to the Pokémon Center, I remembered Mankey. I remembered our near death attack. I remembered how we barely survived. I remembered being driven by Officer Jenny to save his life. And now, here we were again, in almost the exact same situation, though not nearly as dire.
We were all gonna be just fine.
Upon Officer Jenny letting us off at the Pokémon Center and escorting us inside, I made sure my Pokémon were all taken proper care of. Then I walked with Nurse Joy to the back of the Pokémon Center where she tended to my wounds.
I wasn't there long. I felt just fine enough.
Officer Jenny then drove us to the precinct where me and June were questioned about what happened. We explained everything and I even gave the knife to Officer Jenny.
By the time we had gotten out, it was nighttime outside.
"Well, that was something, huh?" June said.
I nodded.
"You feeling ok?" June asked me, putting her hand on my shoulder.
I nodded and gently moved my shoulder.
Her hand fell off. I heard her breath heavily at that.
"Gary. Thank you," June said. She reached out and hugged me.
My eyes were wide in surprise. "June… I didn't do anything."
"You were about to give up your Pokémon to save my life," June said, pulling me closer.
I reached up and gently pushed her back a little.
She looked surprised.
I smiled at her. "Thank you for saving my Pokémon. I appreciate it." I kept my hands on her shoulders and gave them a light squeeze.
She smiled back at me.
She pulled me in for a hug again. "Thank you Gary," she whispered.
I didn't push her off this time.
I didn't hug her back either.
I just stood there and reflected.
I had caught a brand new Pokémon.
My Dugtrio.
Me and June still had each of our Pokémon.
Not one stolen.
Some may have been injured, but they'd be just fine.
We'd all be just fine.
I suddenly realized I could see the Celadon City Gym. We weren't far away from it. It looked like a building with a giant, beautiful flower sitting on top of it. The flower looked oddly familiar to me. High up on the door was a large wooden sign attached with the word: CELADON CITY GYM.
I smiled.
June continued to hug me.
I closed my eyes and inhale a sweet aroma I wasn't sure was from her hair or the sweet scents wafting through Celadon City.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 14: Bulba-Baby. Ivy-Maybe

"All of your Pokémon are in perfect health," Nurse Joy said brightly. "You have no need to worry. Your Hoothoot will need a few more weeks to recover from his broken wing, but he was handled very well by whoever last took care of him and wrapped his wing."
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Charmeleon was in quite a bit of pain but is now doing just fine, and so is Dugtrio," Nurse Joy continued on.
"Thank you very much Nurse Joy," I replied with a wide grin. I stood there for some reason, smiling back at Nurse Joy. I felt like I was dying to say something to her.
She looked exactly like the other Nurse Joys, and yet something about her. The glint in her eyes? The natural glow from her face?
I felt like I could just about explode if I didn't open my mouth and tell her, even if it amounted to nothing, exactly how beautiful she was and how seeing her made my heart create wider space in my chest to try and contain my love for her.
"Can we go now?" June interrupted my thoughts. "I have my Pokémon. What are we waiting for? What are you smiling at?"
I turned to June and watched as she looked from me, to Nurse Joy, and back to me again. An annoyed look came over her face. She frowned at me. "Don't you have a badge to battle for or something?" she snapped at me. She grabbed me roughly high up by the arm and yanked me out of the Pokémon Center.
"Hey!" I shouted. "What's the deal?"
"You have a badge to win, don't you?" she said with a clear temper in her voice.
I was helpless as June held onto me in an iron locked grip very painfully on my arm and yanked me around the city.
"June, come on!" I said angrily, trying to fight my way out of her grasp. But she held onto me too tightly. I was practically a rag doll being dragged about by its angry owner.
I grabbed June's arm with my other hand and yanked her back hard. She gasped and turned to glare at me.
"What is your problem?" I demanded.
"Nothing!" she shouted. "I thought you were going for a badge! Is that not why you're here?"
"Of course it is, but what is the rush? You pulled me out of that Pokémon Center like my life was in danger," I said.
She didn't say anything. After a moment, a calm came over her face. She inhaled deeply. A smile crawled over her lips and she exhaled happily. "Do you smell that, Gary?" she asked me.
I inhaled and smelled the sweet scent of something in the air. It was something very strong. I was sure it was perfume. "Yeah," I replied. I looked around at where we were.
Buildings were everywhere. Bakeries, electronics stores, enormous apartment buildings, office buildings, and clothing stores galore. This was the busiest city I'd ever been to in recent memory. It was definitely a sight to see and quite a beauty. The streets were clean; people were busy hustling to their desired locations. There were people in suits, casual clothes, excessively fashionable clothing, and even a few people with completely abstract fashions on, in my opinion.
I noticed a video game store and started walked towards it eagerly. I stopped at the window and saw all the latest games and gaming systems sitting within the window and inside the store. I then shook my head.
I can't afford these things, I thought to myself. And I'm a Pokémon trainer. I have no time to play these cool games and no electric outlets or anything to charge these devices.
I sighed and remembered so many things about my old life. Being at home with my mom. Having three or more full meals a day. Playing my favorite games on my computer, or on the TV, or my handheld games. Watching TV. Traveling with my mom to see the city. Seeing my other family. Staying up late when my mom put me to bed. Sneaking snacks out of the kitchen late at night. Hanging out with my friends. Birthdays.
Now, my life was so different. Everything. Everything I once knew had changed.
"Gary, you can't buy these things," I heard June say from behind me. "You're a Pokémon trainer. You can't exactly afford the luxury of video games."
"I know, June," I said angrily.
"Then stop wasting time here and let's go find where that wonderful scent is coming from!" June exclaimed. "Let's ask some of the people."
She lightly grabbed my wrist and I pulled it back.
I turned to her with a scowl on my face. "I'm a Pokémon trainer, right?" I asked. "I have responsibilities to take care of. And right now, I want my Rainbow Badge."
June looked disappointed. "That doesn't mean you can't have a bit of fun along the way, Gary! We can explore a bit, can't we?"
"How about you go explore your little nonsense," I suggested. "I want my badge. Now. So excuse me." I walked away from her and began trying to locate where the Celadon City Gym was located at.
I walked ahead for a bit before looking behind me. June hadn't moved and was just staring at me. She seemed sad. I sighed. "Are you coming?" I asked.
She let out a sigh. She walked over to me slowly. "Can we explore after you get your badge?" she pleaded.
"Listen," I started. "Go explore all you want now. Because once I get my badge, I'm out of here."
She frowned at me but folded her arms and said, "Fine."
I walked and to my surprise, June followed. "What are you following me for? Don't you want to see what's in Celadon?" I asked.
"I'm here to learn about Pokémon and how you interact with them, right?" she said grudgingly.
"Sort of… I guess," I mumbled.
As we walked about town, I truly began to see that this city was a maze! I had seen the Celadon City Gym just last night, but this morning, I couldn't locate it to save my life!
"Look Gary, the Celadon Condominiums!" June exclaimed.
I turned to see one of the hugest buildings I'd ever seen in my life! It extended quite a wide distance and was very tall as well.
"This is where many ideas for the Pokédex are inputted and new designs are created with the latest Pokémon information!" June said excitedly. "Prof. Oak, as well as other famous professors from all over the Pokémon world come by here at times to review the information and test the products before they are given to brand new Pokémon trainers!"
"Prof. Oak, huh?" I said calmly, though what she said had genuinely interested me. "That's cool. He's a very knowledgeable and dependable guy."
"I wish I could meet him one day!" June gushed.
"Maybe I'll introduce you one day," I said, starting to lose interest and looking around again.
"Introduce me?" June asked in surprise. She grabbed my shoulders and stared excitedly into my eyes. "You mean, you know him?"
I stared back in surprise, a little scared by the glint in her eyes. "Yeah… He gave me my Pokédex and lives in my hometown, Pallet Town."
"Oh my gosh!" June exclaimed. "How did I not know this?" She gasped. "I remember now! During our gym battle! You had a Pokédex and you said you were from Pallet Town! How could I be so stupid?"
"It's no big deal, June," I said, feeling a little uncomfortable and awkward from how upset she was acting in such a big city with so many people around. I hate attention and I hoped nobody was paying much attention to her.
"Gary we have to go back to Pallet Town!" June said with eagerness throughout her voice.
I stared at her sternly. "After I get at least eight badges. Then, sure."
June looked away from me. "Yeah yeah… Sure. Eight badges. Fine. Whatever."
I shook my head and walked ahead.
"Look!" June exclaimed. "The Celadon Department Store!"
I turned to see a huge building. It was actually not far from the Celadon Condominium. It also wasn't as big, but it was still a huge building for what it was worth.
"I have to shop here!" June gushed.
"Have fun," I said, turning to go.
"Gary!" June cried. "They have Pokémon needs here too! Vitamins, and health care items like Antidote, and even specialized trainers who know how to teach your Pokémon cool new moves they may not know otherwise!"
That last sentence did grab my attention, but after I thought about it, I shook my head. "I don't have the money for all that stuff. My Pokémon are just fine as they are for now. I can teach my Pokémon cool moves on my own. Like I said, June, if you want to hang around, go ahead. But if you want to keep traveling with me, you better stick with me or finish exploring by the time I get my Rainbow Badge because I am out of here soon after."
She frowned at me but conceded and nodded her head, looking at the ground. "Fine. I guess I can learn a lot from this gym battle of yours."
I continued to lead the way through Celadon, completely lost.
June and I eventually found ourselves in a clearing. A huge fountain stood in the middle of the clearing, water flowing up from the center and spilling down into the stone bottom. We walked up to the fountain and stared at it for a moment. It was a nice, circular structure.
"This is so pretty, isn't it Gary?" June said dreamily.
Maybe for a minute, I thought, losing interest fast.
I turned to leave and saw her.
I froze.
I ran to her immediately.
"Gary?" June asked in surprise. "Where are you running to?"
I kept running the short distance to her and stopped in front of her.
She was sitting on a bench, head in her lap, crying, hands covering her face. But I recognized her clothes. Her tight jeans. The baggy, stylishly ragged T-shirt. The short black hair in a loose, carefree style about her head.
"Aly!" I exclaimed.
The girl looked up to me, eyes full of tears. She gasped. "Gary??" she said. "Oh my gosh!" She stood up. "What happened to your face? Are you ok?"
"Yeah," I replied, now embarrassed and looking down at the ground.
"You look like crap! What happened to you?" she exclaimed.
"I'm fine, Aly," I snapped. "It's a bit more dangerous being a Pokémon trainer than I thought, is all. I see you're looking just fine, physically. But what's with the tears?"
Her eyes overflowed immediately and she lowered her head into her hands and fell to her knees and cried.
"Aly!" I cried out. I knelt down next to her. "What's wrong?" I put my hand on her shoulder.
I noticed someone standing beside me. I looked up to see June. She looked confused and sad at the same time. I shrugged and turned back to Aly. "Aly, I'd like you to meet my new friend," I said.
Aly sniffled and looked up and saw June.
"Aly, this is June. June, Aly," I introduced them.
June smiled. "Hi!" she said happily. She knelt down and extended a hand to Aly.
Aly managed a smile and took June's hand. "Hello," Aly said.
"Hon, come with me," June said. She stood up and extended a hand out to Aly.
Aly looked to me.
I nodded, though I didn't know what June was planning.
Aly took her hand and stood up.
"Come on Gary," June said, smiling at me. She took Aly over to the bench and they both sat down next to each other.
I stood up and sat next to Aly.
"My name is June," June started. "I'm the previous gym leader of Gringey City. I specialize in raising Electric type Pokémon. I recently left my gym leader position to find out how to become a better Pokémon trainer and raise my Pokémon to become the best they can be. That's why I'm with Gary, who is an expert on raising Pokémon!"
Aly turned to me and gave me the craziest look I'd ever been given.
I looked at June like she was out of her mind.
June cleared her throat. "I just mean, I've seen him handle his Pokémon and the connection and bond I've seen him have with them is nothing short of incredible. I want to learn how to have that kind of bond. That kind of knowledge. So Gary allowed me to travel with him for a while so I could learn more."
I didn't like how June was explaining this at all.
Aly looked at me, one eyebrow raised up. She looked back to June. "So, Gary has you convinced he's a big shot, huh? Huh? Huh? Well let me tell you something, missy. He isn't all that great. When he first got his Charmander, it totally disobeyed him and attacked him. And the last time I spoke to my mom, she told me that his Charmander went so berserk, it nearly killed him or something!" Aly turned to me. "So what about that Mr. Big Shot Trainer? Huh? Huh? Huh?"
I stared at her in shock. "Um…" I uttered. "My Charmeleon and I get along great now. It was just a big misunderstanding."
"Charmeleon??" Aly asked in surprise. "It… evolved?"
"Yeah, and we're like the best of friends!" I exclaimed.
She looked at me in shock. Then glared at me. "So, you think you're Mr. Big Boss now? Huh? Huh? Raising evolved Pokémon and picking up pretty girls along the way by convincing them you're hot stuff? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh???"
I edged away from Aly a little bit. "That's not what happened…" I managed.
"WHAT???" June shouted. "That's not exactly what I said… But thanks for the compliment!" June began to blush, which frustrated me a bit.
"ANYWAY!" I shouted. "Why are you in Celadon City crying??"
Aly suddenly looked sad again. She sighed. "I came to Celadon City to get my Rainbow Badge. Everything was ok with my baby before, but once I battled the gym leader for the badge…."
"Your baby?" June asked.
I suddenly remembered Aly referring to her Bulbasaur as her baby a couple of times when she first got it. 'Bulba-baby' if I recalled correctly. "Your Bulbasaur?" I asked Aly.
Aly lowered her head and just shook it. She unclipped a Pokéball from her belt and held it out. It opened and out from the white light that emitted from within and landed on the ground at her feet stood an Ivysaur!
"Oh wow! Congratulations!" I exclaimed.
Ivysaur. The Seed Pokémon and the evolved form of Bulbasaur. Ivysaur have the ability to manipulate nature. It can survive days without eating by absorbing the sun's energy through the flower on its back.
"Awesome!" I said in excitement. I took my Pokéball from my belt and sent out my Charmeleon.
"Charmeleon!" he exclaimed. He looked at Ivysaur and walked over, extending his claw in friendship, smiling.
Ivysaur turned its head. A vine came from the side of its bulb and whipped Charmeleon's claw.
Charmeleon looked surprised and tried talking to Ivysaur, who didn't look back at Charmeleon, but said something. Charmeleon growled at Ivysaur and walked away and stood over near me, still growling at Ivysaur, displeased with its behavior.
"Huh?" I said, looking at Charmeleon.
"You see?" Aly asked.
"Your Ivysaur," June said, staring intently at Ivysaur. "She doesn't obey you. And hasn't since she evolved. This was your first Pokémon and you're crushed that the bond you both once shared is now gone. Is that right?"
Aly looked at June in surprise. "How did you know?"
"It's as clear as day to me," June said, not taking her eyes off of Ivysaur, who was now staring back at June.
"Did you say Ivysaur was a she?" Aly asked.
"Yes," June replied. "That too is clear to me."
Aly stared in shock at June, and then she turned to me. "She's amazing," Aly mouthed.
I nodded silently.
"But, what about my Persian?" Aly asked. Holding out a second Pokéball, a cat came out of it. It looked gorgeous and very well taken care of.
Persian. The Classy Cat Pokémon and the evolved form of Meowth. This Pokémon is extremely popular both in higher class societies as well as for people living in poorer environments. However, this Pokémon can be extremely difficult to raise and may attack anyone for no known given reason, including its owner.
"Whoa," I said.
"You see?" Aly exclaimed. "It's supposed to be such a difficult Pokémon to raise, but I've never had problem with it and we battle together perfectly! I raised it since it was a Meowth and since then we've been friends! And it's a cat!" Aly squealed. Aly knelt down next to Persian and squeezed it in a tight hug, Persian seeming to be choking a bit by the hug, but showing no signs of wanting to attack. "I LOVE cats!!"
That was a certain fact about Aly. Nobody loved cats more than her. Nobody on earth. Whether it was cat Pokémon or cats in general, Aly constantly talked about cats at any given, random, and inopportune moment. I really wasn't all that surprised she had a cat Pokémon. She probably had more.
"She's very beautiful," June commented with a smile. She walked over to Persian and petted her head gently.
Persian purred loudly and nuzzled against June's legs.
"She?" Aly asked. "Persian, is she correct? Are you a girl?"
Persian turned to Aly and made a noise I could only describe at a sassy kind of a meow.
Aly gasped. She looked at June. "How do you do that?"
June smiled. "I guess it's a gift of some sort."
"You can read Pokémon and how they're feeling!" Aly exclaimed. "You can even tell their gender! What more do you need to know! Especially from Gary! You know much more about being close with your Pokémon than Gary does!"
"Thanks," I muttered.
June laughed. "No no no no no," she replied, shaking her head. "Trust me Aly, I really have quite a lot to learn."
"Hmm," Aly said. "Well I think you and Gary have something more going on and that's why you're with each other. Travelling together to learn more from each other, right? Huh? Huh?"
"NO WAY!" June shouted, visibly blushing.
"Then why's that pretty little face of yours so red now, huh? Huh?" Aly continued.
"Ignore her," I told June. "She's mental."
"Shut up, Gary!" Aly said.
"No, you shut up! I replied.
"No you shut up!" Aly said louder.
"No, YOU shut up!" I said louder.
"No, YOU SHUT UP!" Aly screamed.
"NO-"
"IF YOU BOTH DON'T SHUT THE HELL UP!" June shouted.
Me, Aly, Persian, Ivysaur, and Charmeleon all looked at June in shock.
June smiled. "Thank you! So, Aly, can you tell me when this situation first occurred? Like, when did Ivysaur evolve?"
Aly cleared her throat. "Well, after we had just barely defeated the gym leader of Vermillion City, Lt. Surge, we had traveled quite a bit, me and my baby."
I turned to June and saw her eyes widen for a moment at the mention of Lt. Surge.
Aly gazed at her Ivysaur, who was busy sniffing the ground and scratching at it with her paw. Aly looked back to us. "Then we got into a battle with another trainer. He wasn't all that tough or anything. It was a fast win, but suddenly my Bulbasaur evolved! I was so happy. Everything seemed okay with us. Then, we got to Celadon City soon after and during out battle with the gym leader, Ivysaur completely disobeyed my orders! She was my last Pokémon left and we could've won! Or at least have done better, if she had just listened to me. Instead she attacked when she wanted and took hits that she should've dodged. I cried! Cried for her to listen. Tears! But she refused and got beaten up. After the match, I tried to talk with her after she got healed at the Pokémon Center, but she completely refused to listen to me and even tried to run away! Then she Vine Whipped me at one point!" Aly covered her face and cried again, harder than before.
June stared at Ivysaur for a while, who was laying down calmly, basking in the sun. June stood up and walked over to Ivysaur.
Ivysaur opened one if her eyes as June's shadow blocked her sun. Ivysaur growled.
"Ivysaur, my name is June," June introduced herself. "What is wrong?" She held out a hand to Ivysaur, who sniffed it. June then slowly touched Ivysaur's head and stroked it gently.
Ivysaur stared at June, not moving.
"Ivysaur, talk to me," June encouraged her. "I want to understand."
Ivysaur didn't say a word. She just continued to stare at her.
There was silence for a while as me, Aly, Charmeleon and Persian watched June continue to stroke Ivysaur's head gently and Ivysaur just sit there, watching her.
Ivysaur suddenly growled. She stood up and two vines appeared from her bulb! She began chasing June around the clearing, whipping her repeatedly as June screamed, begging for her to stop.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
"Ivysaur!" Aly yelled. She tried returning her to her Pokéball, but she kept narrowly avoiding the red beam trying to suck her back in. Aly pleaded with Ivysaur and continued the chase, Persian loyally following close to Aly, but Ivysaur ignored her completely.
Eventually Ivysaur stopped running and June ran a distance before stopping and looking behind her, gasping for air.
Ivysaur laid back down on the ground and closed her eyes.
Aly stopped behind Ivysaur, also exhausted. Tears filled her eyes once again.
"I guess I'm not meant to be a Pokémon trainer," Aly cried. "I guess I should go back home to Pallet Town." She cried hysterically, tears littering the ground.
"You need to be strong," June said seriously. She had hobbled back over to the clearing, her legs and surely her butt sore. "That Ivysaur is a fighter. She needs respect."
"Respect?" Aly asked. "I love my baby! I respect her!"
"No!" June exclaimed. "No more baby talk. It's not a baby! It needs your respect and acknowledgement of that!"
Aly stared at June in shock.
"She's like any human," June explained. "It's ok to baby a baby, but once a baby grows into an older child, or a teenager, and of course, later on, an adult, they don't want to be called kids anymore. They demand respect, Aly. And that's how your Ivysaur feels. She's a fighter. You have won many battles with her, but those battles were ones you fought. Not Bulbasaur."
"Ones… I fought?" Aly asked, looking bewildered.
"Yes, you battled those fights," June continued. "You didn't let Bulbasaur battle how she wanted. It was all about you. You were never synced with her. Never were you at one with her. You didn't battle together. It was your way of battling. Odds are, your battle style isn't the type the Ivysaur likes. Now that she is an Ivysaur, she is more mature and is trying to communicate the way she likes to battle. You both have to get in sync or this partnership isn't going to end well."
Aly just stared at June.
Even I just stared at June. I was thoroughly impressed.
"You… are… amazing!" Aly exclaimed. She ran up to June and hugged her tightly. Soon she was crying all over June.
June hugged her and rubbed her back soothingly. "It's ok, Aly," she said.
"I suck as a Pokémon trainer!" Aly exclaimed.
June grabbed Aly by the shoulders and pushed her back. June then shook Aly hard."Stop it!"
Aly looked terrified all of a sudden.
"Stop looking so weak in front of your Pokémon!" June shouted. "Be strong! She wants you to be strong! You keep denying her when you say you're weak! Stop it!" June shook Aly again even harder. June then turned to me.
My eyes widened in fear.
June turned back to Aly. "Battle Gary!"
"WHAT??" Aly and I shouted in unison.
"Charmeleon versus Ivysaur!" June declared.
Charmeleon looked at June like she was crazy.
Persian cocked her head at June in confusion.
Even Ivysaur had opened its eyes by now and was looking directly at June.
I noticed June staring right back at Ivysaur.
"But, June!" Aly cried.
"No!" June said. "If you want to get closer to your Pokémon, you need to battle alongside her in all kinds of situations! That's the only way you will get closer and sync with her."
"But I'm at too-" Aly began.
June walked away from Aly and stood in the middle of the clearing. "The Pokémon battle between Gary and Aly will now begin!" June shouted. "Everyone who intends to go through this clearing, I highly recommend you take another route or get out of the way!"
People who had been walking by during this entire altercation quickly ran past or stood still, watching the battle from a distant enough location.
"This will be a one on one Pokémon battle," June said. "Charmeleon versus Ivysaur. No time limit. I, June, former gym leader of Gringey City, will be the referee. Trainers take your places."
Me and Charmeleon hesitantly walked over to one side of the clearing.
Aly stared at me and then Charmeleon. Then she looked over to Ivysaur.
Ivysaur had stood up and was looking at Charmeleon.
Charmeleon was glaring back.
Aly sighed and walked over to the opposite end of the clearing.
"I declare that Aly gets the first move! Let the battle begin!" June ordered.
"Ivysaur, use Sleep Powder!" Aly ordered.
Ivysaur stood there, growling at Charmeleon, daring him to attack first.
"IVYSAUR PUT IT TO SLEEP!" Aly screamed, tears brimming in her eyes again.
"I guess we go first," I told Charmeleon. "Let's try to wrap this up quick. Ember!"
Charmeleon opened his jaws and spewed fire at Ivysaur.
Ivysaur was fast as lightning and jumped over the searing flames high into the air. The sunlight was so bright, she disappeared in the sunlight and I couldn't see her. Suddenly she came down and hit Charmeleon in the head with her own head!
Charmeleon seemed as surprised by that hit as I was. Even people in the audience were amazed and muttering or gasping.
I was sweating just a bit. The temperature seemed to have risen since the battle started. Or the intensity of this match was just rubbing off on me.
I noticed that June was right. Ivysaur had a totally different battling style than what Aly was trying to make it do.
Charmeleon was dazed by the head collision but shook it off. He extended a claw and made a motion, daring Ivysaur to bring it on.
Ivysaur growled louded and screamed out its name, charging at Charmeleon.
"Ivysaur, stop!" Aly cried out. "Please! Just listen to me!"
"Charge right back Charmeleon!" I ordered.
Charmeleon cried out and ran at Ivysaur with full force.
"Fire Fang!" I shouted.
As they were ready to collide, Charmeleon's fangs became covered in flames and its jaw opened wide, crunching down on Ivysaur's head, causing the plant Pokémon to panic and struggle out of Charmeleon's fiery jaws.
"Don't let go! Cover it in flames! Ember!" I commanded.
Before Charmeleon could finish the battle, Ivysaur suddenly launched an incredible beam from its bulb and blasted Charmeleon!
Charmeleon flew across the clearing and stopped a few feet from my feet. He stood up and seemed a bit bent over. He looked like he was in pain from the attack, which I could understand. But he wasn't out.
Ivysaur smiled at Charmeleon.
Charmeleon smiled back.
That move…
"That was SolarBeam!" I exclaimed.
"I know…" Aly agreed. "But how…?"
I decided to ask the Pokédex.
SolarBeam. This extremely powerful move takes a short while to charge up by absorbing sunlight and energy from the air before launching a beam at the opponent. When the move Sunny Day is used, it not only increases the power of Fire type moves, but moves like SolarBeam take no time at all to charge up.
"But who did Sunny Day?" Aly asked.
As I wiped the sweat from my forehead, it hit me! "Aly! Ivysaur did it!" I exclaimed.
"Huh?" Aly asked in shock. "Ivysaur doesn't know Sunny Day!"
"Yes she does!" I exclaimed. "Instead of doing Sleep Powder, she did Sunny Day and raised the temperature and increased the sunlight! It got hot right at that moment!"
I could hear the crown murmuring in excitement. I think someone even said, "I knew it did that move."
"Wow Ivysaur. I never knew you could do that," Aly said in amazement.
Suddenly, Ivysaur began launching SolarBeam attacks back to back!
Charmeleon dodged as best as it could, taken by surprise by the sudden attack.
I became frustrated watching as my Pokémon started getting tired and was slowing down.
"Charmeleon! Let's try this one out!" I yelled. "Flamethrower!!!"
Charmeleon stopped and stared as another SolarBeam came down at him. Then he leaped high in the air to dodge. Looking down at Ivysaur, Charmeleon closed his eyes and seemed to be concentrating hard. As he came back down to the ground, Charmeleon opened his eyes and jaws.
I saw a deep red flame from within his jaws swirling, the intensity from the flame making me feel even hotter.
Suddenly, Ivysaur used Vine Whip! The vines flew out and wrapped themselves around Charmeleon's jaws!
Charmeleon's eyes widened in surprise. He tried to open his jaws. He grabbed the vines and tried to wrestle them off. But the vines wouldn't budge.
I suddenly felt noticeably less hot. I looked up and noticed that the sun wasn't as strong as before.
Sunny Day was finally wearing off.
I breathed a sigh of relief. The intensity of that move was difficult to bare.
Ivysaur looked up at the sky and growled.
I suddenly noticed Ivysaur's bulb was starting to glow. Bright sparkles were being drawn from the atmosphere and the sun and being absorbed by the bulb.
Ivysaur had been trying to hold Charmeleon still to take another SolarBeam, but the Sunny Day went away and now it will take a bit of time before its ready, I realized. But I don't have much time.
I thought as quickly as I could.
I could probably Scratch attack the vines away, but the SolarBeam might still catch us, I thought. I need that fire but his mouth is wrapped shut.
Ivysaur gave out a loud cry.
"WAIT!!" I shouted. "YOUR TAIL!!!!"
Charmeleon's eyes widened in realization, and then narrowed in determination. He waved his flame lit tail around Ivy's vines that were wrapped around his jaws. The vines soon caught on fire and Ivysaur screamed out, letting go of Charmeleon's jaws, waving her flaming vines high in the air, running around in circles. The SolarBeam finally launched, shooting high into the air and looked admittedly beautiful, eventually dissipating into a set of beautiful sparkles against the sun.
I watched as Ivysaur kept running in a panic, her vines waving frantically, flames suddenly dripping off the vines and falling all around Ivysaur, some landing on her.
"IVYSAUR!!!" Aly screamed. "NOOO!!! MY BABY!!!"
Ivysaur kept running, and kept getting hit by the dripping fire as her vines became consumed by the flames trailing down to her body. Eventually Ivysaur was on fire. She rolled on the ground in a panic, screaming. The fire did finally die out, but Ivysaur was completely defeated.
Aly ran to her Ivysaur, screaming, "NOOOOOOO!!!!!!"
"This match is over," June said sadly, but staring at me with what I could've sworn was admiration. "Gary and Charmeleon win this match."
The crowd applauded.
I ran to Aly and her Ivysaur. "Aly…"
She silently returned her Ivysaur to her Pokéball. She wiped her face with her sleeve. Then she looked up at me. She forced a smile. "Congratulations." Her smiled faded as she looked down at the Pokéball. "She got what she deserved I guess."
"I'm so sorry, Aly" I said.
"For what?" Aly asked. "You did amazing! That was so incredible! You deserved that win!"
"You Ivysaur is an amazing battler, Aly," June said, having walked up to us. "Please. Cherish her. She may be difficult now, but cherish her. Don't give up on her."
"I'd never give up on a Pokémon!" Aly shouted, eyes filling with tears. "I love my Ivysaur! No matter what!"
June smiled. She extended a hand to help Aly up.
Aly took it and fell immediately into June's arms, crying.
June held her tight. "There, there," June said soothingly. "Be strong. For your Pokémon. They all want you strong. So they can be stronger."
Persian rubbed against Aly's legs and meowed in her fancy manner.
Aly looked down at Persian and smiled. She let go of June and hugged her Persian tightly again. She looked up at June. "June, you're just the best! I don't know what you think you need to learn more about, but you seem to be just nothing short of just… wow… just no words for how amazing you are June! Thank you so much! I promise, I will get stronger! Ivysaur will obey me one day! All of my Pokémon and I will be stronger and better than ever before!" Aly turned to me. "Gary, you did amazing. You and Charmeleon are just an incredible team!"
I smiled. "Thank you Aly."
"But next time, I promise you it won't be the same," Aly smiled. "We'll win! Or we'll at least put up a better fight…"
"No. You'll win," June winked.
Aly smiled brightly at June. "We'll win!"

"So, what are your plans?" I asked Aly.
"I'm going to meet Eusine," Aly replied.
"Eusine?" I asked.
"Yeah, he's an older gentleman who lives in Celadon City," Aly said. "He has been chasing a legendary Pokémon for the longest time. And I mean long! But apparently he hasn't earned its respect yet, so it never appears before him or something. He wants to bond with this Pokémon's heart. Earn its trust. Work alongside it. Capture it. That's what I want with my Ivysaur. So I figure that maybe this Eusine guy will be of some assistance."
"That's a cool idea, Aly," I replied.
"Yeah, but that's if he's even home," Aly said sadly. "He is known to travel often at the mere word that this Pokémon has been spotted somewhere."
"What Pokémon is it?" I asked.
Aly thought about it for a minute. "I dunno."
"Hmmm… Oh well," I said, disappointed.
"Gary, let's go with her!" June begged. "This would be great for my Pokémon learning experience!"
"Then go along," I told June. "I told you, I'm getting my badge and leaving. I've no interest in meeting some Pokémon fanatic."
June gave me a puppy dog look of sadness.
I stared back sternly.
"Oh come on, Gary!" Aly agreed. "Don't be so mean! She doesn't want to go alone." Aly nudged me and then winked at me.
I stared back at her sternly. "She'd be going with you."
"You know what I mean, Gary!" Aly shouted.
I just stared at her. "Anyway, I'm going to try my luck at the Celadon City Gym and come out with a badge!" I exclaimed.
"Fine, what about you June?" Aly asked. "Just you and me, girl, meeting Eusine!"
June sighed. "I'll have to pass. Sorry."
"Ooohhhh. I see how it is. Sticking by your man, huh? Huh? Huh?" Aly questioned.
"NOO!!!" June screamed.
"ALY! Will you get out of here already!" I shouted.
"Okay, okay," Aly said,rolling her eyes with a big smile on her face. "Seriously though Gary, thanks a lot and good luck to you at that gym. June, good luck to you in your travels with Gary. You two will learn a lot from each other. I can tell." Aly then smiled and gave a wink. "No kissing after you win a badge kay bye!" Aly ran off before me or June could respond.
I sighed and shook my head.
"She was nice," June smiled. "That Ivysaur is something special."
I stared at June for a moment. Then looked back to where Aly had disappeared.
"Well, let's continue looking for this gym," I finally said. "It's still early in the afternoon. Let's find this gym and win this badge before it gets too late."
We walked on for quite a while together.
I dwelled on the different realms and dimensions of Pokémon. The personalities. The traits. The special abilities. I thought about how every trainer has their own story to tell and how no two will ever be exactly alike. Or maybe a few would. I thought about how Pokémon and humans are perhaps more alike than some people may realize or are willing to admit. I thought about how many Pokémon trainers seek different goals, and some seek the exact same goals. But we have to achieve those goals the way we see fit, even if it means taking a different path from close friends.
But we'd all meet up again.
Me.
Robin.
Aly.
Kiwi.
And I guess, June.
Different goals.
Different paths.
But we'd all meet up again.
In the end.
"Gary! Look! It's Celadon City Gym!"

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 15: The Dancer. The Healer. The Memoria

I stared at the roof of the gym as me and June approached the doors. That red colored flower with white polka dots on it. It looked so familiar…
The electronic doors slid open and the sweet smell of perfume and plants were the first things I noticed before what my eyes even could take in the view.
The first thing I saw was June. She was right next to me but upon smelling the scents of the inside of the gym, she gasped and ran forward immediately. "Oh my gosh, what is that scent?" she exclaimed. She ran to the counter where a very pretty young woman sat, smiling.
Behind the woman was a set of large plants of various colors, reaching high up to the ceiling of the gym, which itself was enormous. I looked around and saw plants everywhere. There was also a door in the back.
"Welcome to Celadon City Gym," the woman greeted us. "What you're smelling is a combination of the flowers we raise here with our grass type Pokémon, and the perfume we wear and make here which uses certain inspiration and essence from the Pokémon in this gym."
"It's wonderful!" June squealed. "I would love to buy some! It smells so wonderful! Do you have samples I can try out?"
"Actually, we do," the woman said excitedly. "If you'd like to wait for just a moment, I can bring you out a few samples!"
"That would be wonderful!" June gushed.
"Um…" I started.
"Just one second sir. I'll be right with you in a moment after I take care of this lady who got here first," the woman smiled at me.
She stood up and went through the door in the back.
I glared at June.
June turned to me, smiling. After seeing my face, her smile faded. "Sorry."
"We got here at the exact same time," I muttered.
"Yeah, but I did run ahead of you," June winked.
I sighed.
"I'll smell all pretty and stuff now, Gary!" June exclaimed. "Won't that be nice?"
I stared at her for a while. I didn't really care to answer that question.
The lady came back soon enough with a tray full of samples of perfume for June to smell.
I walked over to a wall and slid down until I hit the floor and just sat there, watching June smell each and every perfume sample that was there and gushing over how good they all smelled.
I began to get frustrated.
Me and June are gonna have to have a talk, I thought.
I was really impatient when it came to these kinds of things. I was reminded of traveling with my mom and dad to stores in the city and being so bored when my mom would drag me and my dad to buy clothes and perfume and jewelry. My dad and I would sit together, bored, and short on patience. My dad would later end up carrying the bags throughout the store as my mom continue to buy things.
We had a rather nice life, I thought to myself. What was my dad aiming for in life? How much better of a life did he want? Why did he leave to become a Pokémon trainer? What was he looking for?
"I'll come back with some more samples if you'd like," the woman's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Ok, I'd love to smell some more of your scents!" June exclaimed.
"WAIT A MINUTE!" I shouted. I stood up.
"Sir, there is no need to shout," the woman said with a smile plastered on her face. "I will take care of you shortly after."
"No no no," I said angrily. "We are not here to purchase perfume! I am here to challenge the gym leader here! Is this a gym or what?"
The lady looked at me for a moment, the smile faded from her face. "Yes, this is the Celadon City Gym, but our gym leader isn't here right now."
"What???" I exclaimed.
"If you're looking for the gym leader, you can go to our perfumery located a nice walk from this location and you'll find our gym leader there," she explained.
"Why is the gym leader at a perfumery instead of at the gym to accept challengers?" I questioned.
"Hey! So I can stay here and you can go find the gym leader!" June said happily. "Then you both can come back here together!"
I stared at June with my eyes open in surprise. "Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, you'll be right back, right?" she asked.
"Yeah!" I said happily. I was finally gonna break free from June for a while. What luck! I turned to the woman. "So where exactly is this perfumery?"
"Just walk straight to your left and after a while you'll make a left turn when you run into the Celadon Hotel. Just a short distance forward from there, and you should see the perfumery."
"Ok then. Sounds simple enough," I said. "See ya later June!" I ran out of the gym and stopped once I was a few feet away. I looked up at the afternoon sun and inhaled deeply. I took a nice stretch and smiled.
FREEDOM!!!!!
I was finally free from June! For a short while anyway.
I enjoyed my quiet walk as I looked out for the Celadon Hotel. I ran into a bakery along the way and stopped to see the delicious looking cakes and muffins they had on display. I inhaled the scent and desired one so badly.
It wasn't much longer before I finally saw it.
CELADON HOTEL
The huge words plastered high on the building caught my eye and I stared for a moment at the building before making my left turn.
I think she said make a left…
I turned and walked forward, noticing the smell of perfume growing stronger than ever. As I walked further down, I started feeling like I was following my nose. The sweet smell of perfume was creating a path for my nose to lead me along. I turned suddenly and saw the perfumery.
Celadon City Perfumery read the sign.
I inhaled once more and entered the store.
At once, what masculinity I had within my body started to become challenged. I was in a store full of beautiful women, surrounded by the smell of perfume everywhere. This wasn't my zone. I didn't belong here.
June should've been here finding the gym leader, but not me, I thought. Then again, if I had sent June to do this, I never would've seen her again. She'd probably just beg to live here.
My masculinity was also enticed by the store. After all, there was a plethora of gorgeous women in this store.
"Welcome to the Celadon City Perfumery," a woman said from out of nowhere.
I turned to see a lady smiling at me.
"Would you like to try out our latest perfume?" she asked, holding up a bottle.
In the next instant, a spray came from the bottle and I was in pain. "AAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!" I screamed. "MY EYES!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!" I fell to the floor, covering my eyes and crying.
"Oh my gosh! Julia can you get me a wet rag? Please!" I heard the lady yell out. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to actually spray it!" She was next to me and had her hand on my back.
A short while later, I heard footsteps running close to me.
"Pull back your head," I heard the woman say.
I pulled my head back and felt a wet rag press against my face. Even the rag smelled sweet like perfume.
The rag was pressed against my eyes and rubbed into them.
Occasionally, the rag was removed and what she said was eye wash was poured into my eyes as she held my eyes open. The rag would then be placed back over my face.
It took a while, but soon my eyes felt better and the rag was removed.
I opened my eyes but it still hurt just a bit to open them, and everything was a bit hard to see. Soon enough, I stood up and could see fine enough. That was when I noticed all of the women.
Beautiful women everywhere, staring at me. Some were giggling, some were just staring, and others looked concerned. No one said a word.
"I'm really sorry about that. Are you alright?" the woman who sprayed me, asked.
"I'm fine," I grumbled.
"We can offer to give you a small box of any perfume you'd like as an apology," the woman offered.
"I don't want any perfume!" I snapped. "I came here looking for the gym leader of Celadon City!"
A woman stood up from behind the front counter. No. A man! I think…
This person had extremely tight black jeans with one white stripe on the outside of each leg. They were even tighter than the pants the women had on in the store. His plain black shirt was possibly just as tight as his jeans and when he walked toward me, it kept raising up just a tiny bit, revealing his flat stomach a little. His hair was long and blonde and ended at his shoulders. The way he strutted towards me made me want to back away.
He stopped in front of me and I noticed his face had a glow to it. Was it makeup? His eyes had mascara on them and his lips glistened lightly with gloss.
I took a step back immediately.
"So you wish to battle the gym leader of Celadon City?" the man asked curiously.
"Y-yeah…" I replied hesitantly.
"I'll have to be the one to escort you to the gym leader then," he replied in a slightly lazy tone of voice.
"I heard the gym leader was here," I replied.
"You'll be introduced and will battle the Celadon City gym leader at the gym," he replied impatiently.
"But I was just there!" I exclaimed.
"And now you're going back!" he snapped.
I stayed silent. This guy made me feel uncomfortable. Whatever it took for me to get away from him faster, I was down to do.
Everyone in the store was staring silently at us.
The man stood up straight and walked out of the store, his hips swiveling as he moved.
"Ugh…" I muttered, and followed after him.
As we walked back to the gym, he was greeted throughout town by just about everyone. He was definitely popular. He kissed just about everyone who greeted him on both cheeks.
That can't be healthy, I thought to myself.
We finally reached the gym, which took a few hours due to all the people he had to meet and kiss. Upon his arrival, the woman behind the counter who was still showing June what looked like thousands of perfume fragrances, stood up and clapped.
June stopped smelling the one in her hand and clapped as well, looking confused.
The man bowed. "Thank you. Thank you. And hello to you, beautiful." He greeted June and kissed her hand.
"Hi!" June blushed.
"Are you enjoying the scents you have displayed before you?" he asked June.
"Yes! They all smell so incredible!" June stated. "I don't know which ones to buy yet!"
"I'm so glad you like them," he cooed. "Our perfume expert has been making perfume for many, many years. She is a genius at the art."
"I have to say, she is fantastic," June agreed. "Oh! Gary! How did the hunt for the gym leader go?"
"Apparently the leader came back again," I grumbled.
The woman behind the counter giggled.
"Oh," June replied. "I didn't even notice anyone came in. I'm so caught up in these wonderful scents! But since you're ready to go battle… I better tag along and watch." June turned to the lady. "I just can't decide. I'm sorry I made you take all of these out but I need time to make my decision and my time is up."
The lady looked very upset. "Your time is up? What do you mean?"
"Well, I'm here with Gary. And he's about to participate in his gym battle and I have to watch," June explained.
"Why not just stay here with me and see what you like?" the woman asked with a smile.
"Well… I kind of have to stay with him and watch what his matches and stuff," she said slowly. "It's why I'm with him. To learn about Pokémon."
"The two are an adorable couple," the man said. "This gentle, kind beauty and this more stern, undesirable lad. Opposites truly do attract."
"Hey!" I shouted. "What does that mean?" A second later, "AND WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!"
June giggled. "We're just friends."
"Maybe you are for now, but the connection is obvious and strong between you two," the man smiled.
I gritted my teeth in anger and glared at him. "Where is the gym leader???" I yelled.
The man smiled wider. "Right this way." He walked over to the door in the back and opened it.
I followed behind him.
"Sorry!" June apologized to the woman, and ran after me.
We entered what I soon came to understand was a greenhouse. It made me realize that the entire gym must be a greenhouse. Flowers, trees, shrubs, and all other kinds of greenery were growing everywhere. There were many Grass type Pokémon around as well.
I took out my Pokédex to scan a few of them.

Gloom. The weed Pokémon and the evolved form of Oddish. They attract prey with the honey they drip from their mouths. Once in danger, it releases a stench that is unbearable.

Sunflora. The Sun Pokémon and the evolved form of Sunkern. They only are awake when the sun is out. When the sun sets, their petals close around their faces and they go to sleep.

Chikorita. The Leaf Pokémon. Chikorita are very friendly and tend to become emotional in certain situations where they aren't well understood. To avoid fighting, this Pokémon
may use the leaf on its head to create an aromatherapeutic affect.

Cacnea. The Cactus Pokémon. This Pokémon often live in harsh, desert environments and can store water in its body for up to a month. When hunting, this Pokémon releases a strong scent to attract prey, then shoots them down with sharp thorns from its body.

Roserade. The Bouquet Pokémon and the evolved form of Roselia. This tricky Pokémon remains motionless in the wild, luring in prey with a pleasant aroma. It then kills them with the throny vines hidden within the bouquets it holds in its arms.

Exeggcutor. The Coconut Pokémon and the evolved form of Exeggcute. Each of its heads have their own personality, sometimes creating trouble for trainers trying to raise this Pokémon to be obedient.

We turned a corner and stopped in front of another door.
"Beyond this door lies the gym leader you are so eager to battle, Gary," the man stated. "Are you ready?"
"Finally!" I exclaimed. "Let's do this!"
The man stared at me and snickered, moving his hips a little in response to my eagerness.
I felt creeped out.
The man opened the door and stepped inside.
June and I followed.
This section of the gym was very huge. The battle field was outline in chalked in the middle of the grass, the outskirts of the field surrounded by trees and plants.
I walked up to the battle field, looking around for the gym leader.
A woman stood up from the shadow of a tree. She wore a yellow skirt and a light blue tank top.
"Hello," she greeted me with a smile. "Who are you?"
"My name is Gary from Pallet Town and I've come to challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" I said eagerly.
"Me?" she asked in surprise.
"Well, aren't you the gym leader?" I asked.
She laughed. "No way, I'm the referee!" she explained. "The gym leader is right there!" She pointed to the other end of the field.
I turned to see… him! The… "flamboyant" gentleman who took me back to here to battle the gym leader! It was himself all this time.
"You?" I asked in surprise.
"Yes. Welcome to the Celadon City Gym. I, Vincent, as gym leader of Celadon City, do accept your challenge," he stated, arms raised exaggeratingly over his head. His shirt lifted higher, showing more of his stomach that I didn't wish to see.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" I asked. "Why waste such time?"
"Surprises are best for any situation in life," Vincent explained. "Surprises enrich life, give it deeper meaning. Makes the happiest of occasions that more joyous. Tragedies that more touching."
I shook my head. "Fine. Whatever. Can we battle now?"
Vincent smiled. "As. You. Wish," he spoke slowly. He turned to the referee and winked.
She smiled back. "This match shall be between Celadon City gym leader Vincent and Gary from Pallet Town. This shall be a three on three Pokémon battle. No time limit. The first one to defeat the others three Pokémon will be declared the winner. Let the battle begin!"
"Come out my darling. My muse. My all star battler! Bellossom!" Vincent called out with a fancy twirl like that of a ballerina, throwing his Pokéball.
The Pokéball opened with a pop and a beautiful looking Pokémon I hadn't seen before appeared.
Bellossom. The Flower Pokémon and one of two of the final evolutions of Gloom when a Sun Stone is used on one. Bellossom love to dance and chant, similar to that of cheerleaders. They tend to live in tropical areas and swamps, where the ground is rich in nutrients.
I thought carefully about it for a while, then grabbed a Pokéball. "I choose Butterfree!" I yelled, sending out Butterfree.
Butterfree flew out in its slightly creepy but undeniably beautiful glory.
I scanned Butterfree to see what moves it had.
Ok then, I thought to myself.
"Butterfree, Bug Bite!" I ordered.
Butterfree flew forward at Bellossom.
Bellossom jumped in the air with a fantastic spin and dodge easily.
Butterfree kept attempting to attack Bellossom but Bellossom had too much grace. It dodged easily, jumping, spinning, doing back flips, avoiding damage in its natural manner of dance.
"Sweet Scent!" Vincent cheered on.
Bellossom spun faster in the air and a gentle pink powder came off of Bellossom's body.
Butterfree stopped attacking and was captivated by the smell, floating in the air, gently flapping its wings.
"Stun Spore!" Vincent said.
Bellossom just hit the ground from its last spin and leaped into the air again, not missing a beat, spinning just as fast, releasing a darker colored powder at Butterfree.
Butterfree looked in pain and hit the floor, unable to move. It was paralyzed.
"Now end this! Leaf Storm!" Vincent called out.
Bellossom landed gracefully on its feet on the ground and began to spin again, moving to its own tune. It spun faster than before and leaves began to circle it. The barrageof leaves glowed a bright light green and flew out and hit Butterfree.
Butterfree cried out as the hit tossed it into the air. More leaves flew from Bellossom and flew into Butterfree.
Butterfree hit the ground and bounced twice before becoming motionless.
"Butterfree is unable to battle! Bellossom is the winner!" the referee announced.
"Poor Butterfree," June said. She was on the side of the field, opposite to where the referee was, laying back against a tree, a Sunkern sitting happily in her lap.
I returned my Butterfree. Guess that didn't work, I thought. "Thanks anyway for trying."
But I knew who to use next.
"It's time to win that badge! Charmeleon, lets wrap this up!" I called out.
Once Charmeleon was out, it sniffed the air, taken by the scents.
"Focus, Charmeleon!" I ordered.
Charmeleon looked to me and nodded. Then it turned back to Bellossom.
"Let's try Ember for starters!" I shouted.
Charmeleon opened its mouth and used Ember. Bellossom dodged easily and spun around.
"Sweet Scent this hazard to our home!" Vincent ordered.
Bellossom started spinning and the pink powder caught Charmeleon off guard. He smiled and inhaled the sweet aroma.
"Charmeleon, snap out of it! Ember!" I shouted.
But Charmeleon was too deep in the daydreams ignited by the scent.
"Sunny Day!" Vincent called out.
Bellossom's leaves around its body started to glow a bright white. Bellossom raised its arms high in the air and beams of that light shot up from its leaves to the glass ceiling of the gym and illuminated it, causing a bright glow.
I instantly felt the temperature rise as the sun outside grew even more intense.
"Charmeleon!" I cried out.
"SolarBeam!" Vincent cried.
"Flamethrower!" I yelled.
Charmeleon was distracted by the bright light that now shone through the gym and recovered his senses. The SolarBeam launched and Charmeleon let out its Flamethrower. Charmeleon's Flamethrower, intensified by the Sunny Day, was a sight to see. It was bigger than SolarBeam and looked a lot more powerful.
A Fire type move versus a Grass type move should be a good win for me, I thought.
Indeed, the flame overpowered SolarBeam and Bellossom could be heard screaming as the intense wave of heat hit home. The fire was a bright white color and took over a good portion of the entire battle field. It seared Bellossom for what almost seemed to be taking too long before it finally ended.
"My angel!" Vincent gasped.
"Bellossom is unable to battle! Charmeleon is the winner!" the referee stated.
"Yes! Good show Charmeleon!" I cheered.
Charmeleon gave me a thumbs up and winked.
"Oh yeah?" Vincent shouted. "Let's see how you like this one! Go Venasaur!"
I couldn't believe my ears, but once I saw the enormous Pokémon on the field, I could only gasp.
June gasped noticeable louder.
Vincent smiled even brighter and laughed. "Beat. That," Vincent said joyfully, snapping his fingers behind his words.
"Charmeleon, Flamethrower!" I yelled.
Charmeleon opened its jaws and sent another intense spray of flames out. They hit Venausaur with tremendous power and engulfed it completely. Once the flames faded, Venasuar was ok! It was still standing and let out a loud, "SAAAAAAAUUURRRRRR!"
"Oh no!" I cried.
Vincent laughed.
"Venasaur, Synthesis!" Vincent shouted, smiling madly. Venasaur's enormous plant on its back glowed white and its entire body soon began to glow a bright yellow.
I knew this move. It recovers the user and in bright sunlight, it recovers it entirely.
Once Venasaur finished glowing, it let out another, louder, "SAAAAAAAUUURRRR!!!!!"
"Flamethrow again!" I yelled. "Keep it up!"
Charmeleon let out another powerful flame at the enormous plant and engulfed it in flames once more. Once it ended, Venasaur looked ok and roared once again.
"Don't let up Charmeleon! Burn it up!" I shouted.
"Vine Whip!" Vincent screamed. "Shut its trap and give it a spin!"
Venasaur used Vine Whip as Charmeleon's jaws opened. The vines snapped them shut before any fire could come out.
Just like Aly's Ivysaur, I thought. I smiled. No problem.
Suddenly, Venasaur lifted Charmeleon in the air! Then slammed him back to the ground! Then lifted him. And repeatedly slammed Charmeleon into the ground!
"Whoa!" I shouted.
Charmeleon was helpless as it got lifted higher and higher and slammed back down to the ground.
"Charmeleon break the fall!" I yelled. Venasuar only had his mouth wrapped. Maybe Charmeleon could break the fall with his claws.
"NO GARY!" June shouted. "He'll break his wrists or claws you idiot!"
I stared at June in shock. I turned helplessly to Charmeleon. "Charmeleon!"
Suddenly, Vensaur lifted Charmeleon again and spun it in the air! Charmeleon was being whipped around in circles fast. The vines finally let go and Charmeleon flew like a rocket, screaming, and was slammed into one of the trees. He hit the ground hard and I saw the defeat in his eyes.
"Charmeleon is unable to battle!" the referee declared. Vensaur is the winner!"
I returned my Charmeleon. "Thanks buddy. You did excellent." I took a deep breath, determining who to use next. But I really only had one choice.
"Hoothoot, go!" I yelled.
Hoothoot landed on the field, staring at Venasaur.
"WHAT??" June screamed.
I gasped. "Oh no!" I screamed.
I'd completely forgotten! His wing was still damaged!
"This Pokémon is injured! I didn't mean to send him out!" I pleaded with the gym leader. "Please, let me recall him for another."
Vincent glared at me. "You're a poor Pokémon trainer for this error. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. You'll either battle with it and be the worst kind of Pokémon trainer this world has ever seen, or you can forfeit the match."
I didn't have to think about it for a second. "Hoothoot, I'm not letting you battle," I said in defeat. "Come back."
Hoothoot looked over at me and angrily hooted at me in protest.
"Hoothoot, no," I said. "Return." I tried recalling Hoothoot but he leaped in the air and stayed flying for a moment before coming back down to earth.
"Hoothoot, cut it out and return!" I demanded.
Hoothoot hopped out of the way of the red beam trying to take him back to his Pokéball and turned around to face Venasaur. Suddenly Hoothoot pecked away his bandages on his wing!
June gasped.
Hoothoot hooted once loudly and used Uproar!
Everyone covered their ears except Vensaur, who wasn't able to being as it stood on all fours, and I assumed Sunkern, who had no appendages.
When the attack was over, Hoothoot flew at Venasaur, who was still in a daze over the Uproar.
I noticed I wasn't as hot as I was earlier. I looked up at the sky and saw that the Sunny Day attack was over.
Hoothoot 's eyes suddenly started glowing red and Venasuar was outlined in a blue light. Venasaur began to scream out in pain. Then it started to float in the air and began to move backwards as Hoothoot continued charging forward!
Hoothoot is attacking with Confusion! I realized.
Hoothoot let out a scream as he flew forward at Venasaur and Venasaur was in the air being forced back by Hoothoot's psychic power.
Venasaur soon backwards flew right into a tree.
Hoothoot landed on the ground and hooted in victory.
"Venasaur is unable to battle! The winner is Hoothoot!" the referee said.
Hoothoot hooted in excitement over and over again before flying back over to my end of the field.
"Wow, Hoothoot," I said in amazement. "Are you ok?"
Hoothoot faced me and hooted happily.
I smiled. "Ok then, Hoothoot. Let's do this!"
Hoothoot faced the other way and got ready for battle.
I took a look at June out the corner of my eye. She was staring at Hoothoot and I, dumbfounded, mouth hanging open.
Vincent clapped slowly. "I must say, that was very impressive and first class entertainment. You've beaten all of my Pokémon that I have raised with exquisite care and love."
"All of your Pokémon?" I repeated. "But isn't this-?"
"When I met the owner of the perfumery I work at, I swear it was love at first sight," Vincent continued. "She was absolutely gorgeous and I just about fell in love. She ran this gym perfectly. Her and her Gloom. They were the greatest team you'd ever seen in your life. She created world renowned fragrances based off the scent of her Gloom. She could see the beauty in all creatures. And she even saw the beauty in me." Vincent took a Pokéball from his belt. He pressed the center button to enlarge the Pokéball and stared at it as he continued talking, as if he were talking to the Pokéball. "When we married, we were the happiest couple the world could ever dare to imagine. She trusted me and I trusted her. We opened up and gave all of our love to each other. She made me manager of the store she ran because I was so skilled and knowledgeable on her life's desire. Perfume. She even entrusted her gym to remain in my care when she decided to retire and dedicate her entire life to the art of perfumery. That was her life. Perfume. Her Gloom. And me. Until she discovered a wonderful secret. A way she could do even better at the art of making perfume. A new blend she could create. A world changing one that to this day remains one of the crowning jewels in the art of perfumery. It's always existed. But she was the one to discover it. And all she had to do was..." Vincent looked up at me. He tossed his Pokéball at the field.
I saw the Pokémon and instantly realized why the flower on the top of the gym looked so familiar.
"Vileplume!" Vileplume stated happily.
Vileplume. That was what the top of the gym looked like. It was modeled after the top of a Vileplume's head.
"She evolved her Gloom once she discovered the secret of Vileplume and the powers it can give off to those it trusts and loves," Vincent said with a smile. "And nobody loved that Gloom more than Erica. And nobody loves her Vileplume more than she does either."
I just stared at the Vileplume. I wasn't a Pokémon reader like June but even I could tell this Pokémon was extremely well trained.
Vileplume. The Flower Pokémon and the other final evolution of Gloom when a Leaf Stone is used on it. Vileplume loudly flap their petals to release pollen. The petals attract prey who get dowsed in the poisonous pollen. Once immobilized, Vileplume can capture and devour them.
"And nobody is allowed to use her Vileplume except her," Vincent said. He smiled sinisterly. "Or me."
"I'm not afraid of that thing!" I screamed. "Hoothoot go! Uproar!"
"Silence that fowl!" Vincent screamed. "Sleep Powder!"
Vileplume quickly sprayed a blue powder from the center of its flower.
"Hoothoot!" I yelled.
Hoothoot flew high into the air just as it was ready to inhale more air for Uproar and started spinning around in circles! It flew frantically faster and faster as a wind began to form all around the field, blowing the blue powder away from Hoothoot!
"Hoothoot?" I said. I pulled out my Pokédex.
Air Slash. The user uses multiple means to create a powerful wind and results in a devastating air attack on the opponent.
I watched in awe as Hoothoot continued to fly around. Suddenly it started to glow a bright light blue color. It flew around faster and then stopped, raised a wing, and a ball of energy suddenly formed in the wing. Hoothoot hooted loudly and charged forward at Vileplume, then tossed the ball.
Vileplume was stuck in place by fear at the amazing sight as the ball hit it and sent it sliding across the field.
I saw Vincent looking in shock. I had to take advantage. Especially since I noticed another new move from Hoothoot. "Zen Headbutt!"
Hoothoot's head started to glow blue and a ball of energy suddenly appeared on top. Hoothoot charged forward at the stunned Vileplume and collided with great force. The field was covered in dust and dirt, blown everywhere by the wind, blinding me from viewing the field. The dust finally settled.
"Vileplume is unable to battle!" the referee called it. "Hoothoot is the winner! This match goes to Gary from Pallet Town!"
"YEEEEEEEEEEAH!" I screamed. I ran to Hoothoot and he flew straight into my arms. "Hoothoot, you did it!" I hugged him tight. "I'm so sorry I sent you out. That was completely careless of me Hoothoot. Please forgive me."
Hoothoot hooted cheerfully and then proceeded to peck me on the head.
"Ow ow, I'm sorry!" I laughed.
"Well, you sure made quick work out of me," Vincent said. He was standing only a couple of feet away and he had his fist extended. "You have earned yourself the Rainbow badge. Excellent battle. You truly earned it. Just be more careful next time." He nodded at Hoothoot, then opened fist which contained the multicolored, circular, Rainbow Badge.
I took it from his palm and held it up. "Dugtrio, Charmeleon, Primeape, Beedrill, Butterfree, come on out!" I yelled, tossing their Pokéballs into the air. They all cheered as I held up our third badge. The Rainbow Badge. "Everybody, please, welcome the latest member of our team. Dugtrio!"
My Pokémon all surrounded Dugtrio, who immediately went underground.
I laughed. "Dugtrio, it's ok. We're all friends here! Come on out, please. I want you to celebrate our win today."
Dugtrio slowly appeared again, sticking only the very tips of its heads out of the dirt.
"Dugtrio, we won a badge today," I said happily.
Dugtrio stared at me silently, still nervous.
"You see, all of my Pokémon are with me on this journey. Including you," I explained. "So, I like to think that everybody worked hard to earn all of the badges that we will obtain on this journey. We're a team. One win is one win for us all. One loss is a loss for us all too. That's what being on this team is all about Dugtrio. So, I gladly welcome you to our group and I thank you for the support needed to earn this badge."
Dugtrio popped a tiny bit further out of the dirt and smiled. Once the other Pokémon cheered, it got nervous again and went underground.
We all laughed at Dugtrio's shyness. Even Vincent, the referee, June, and the Sunkern she still held in her hands.

"Thanks again!" June exclaimed.
I waved goodbye.
Me and June had just left the gym and were on our way to the Pokémon Center.
Vincent gave her a small bag containing a few of the best selling perfumes from their store as a courtesy for having such a great battle.
I didn't really get it or care. I had my badge.
"Too bad I had to say goodbye to that little cutie Sunkern," June said as we walked through the city.
I laughed. "You seemed to be getting attached to it."
June laughed. "It was adorable!"
We reached the Pokémon Center and the doors opened.
I saw her.
She saw me.
"YOU!" we both exclaimed in unison.
"Well, if it isn't this noob of a trainer in Celadon City," the girl said, her southern accent just as charming despite her rude words. Her brown hair still wrapped behind her head, trailing in a nice twist around her neck, sitting on her left shoulder. She even had her Butterfree on her right shoulder.
I took a step back away from the enormous bug.
"And you're still afraid of Bug Pokémon, huh?" she smirked. "Pathetic." She stared at June. "And who's this? Your girlfriend?"
"No," I snapped. "She's just a friend."
The girl shrugged. "Whatever. So what are you doing here anyway? I'm surprised you made it out of Viridian Forest alive. Figured you'd be killed if you hadn't been smart enough to backtrack your way to Pallet."
"I told you I wasn't running away and I was going to keep going forward," I growled. I held up my badge case. "You see? I have three badges so far. How many do you have? Have you battled the gym leader here?"
She sneered at me. Then raised a hand to my face. "Puh-lease loser. I'm so far ahead of you this topic is over."
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked.
"Hey, who are you anyway?" June asked angrily.
The girl looked at her and smiled. The smile turned into a look of disgust at June. "None of your nosy little business. So butt out!" Then she turned to me and took a step closer, smiling.
I stepped back as her Butterfree was way too close for comfort.
"If you're still afraid of the most weakest of all types, Bugs, I recommend you go sell your badges for top dollar, and take a nice little vacation with your little girlfriend here because you won't be getting much further as a Pokémon trainer being afraid of stupid little insects," she whispered. She stepped back, smiled at June, and turned away. Me and June watched her walk off.
"Who the hell was she?" June asked me.
I didn't say anything. I had no real answer.
"I should've slapped her one. Right in the face," June said angrily. "Talk about rude! And what was that crock about Bug Pokémon? I don't even like bugs, but every Pokémon can do its part if raised properly!"
June continued talking loudly about the girl as the girl continued to walk ahead.
I knew the girl could hear June perfectly clearly. She was probably enjoying the fact that June was so angry at her.
I remembered her perfectly from our encounter in Viridian Forest when her Butterfree saved my life from the swarm of Beedrill, but I never got her name or anything about who she was. I only knew that she had a Butterfree but hated Bug Pokémon and thought they were all weak. She only admitted that she thinks her Butterfree is strong but didn't seem to have anything nice to say about other Bug Pokemon.
But who was she?

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 16: Three Flew Over The Psychics' Nest

"Wow. So it was nothing but a big misunderstanding?" June asked.
"Yeah. Charmander didn't really mean any harm," I said. "It wasn't the best thing for him to do, but all in all we got over it and now, well, you can see we're the best of friends."
"That's nothing short of amazing, Gary," June replied.
We had been walking through Route 7, on our way to Saffron City. The path had started out nice enough. Simple grassy plains and trees lining our path. But it soon turned into a mountain climb! The path was uphill and rocky and things were getting a lot more difficult than we had expected it to be. As we journeyed along, June asked me about what Aly had told her when she said me and Charmander were having issues.
I explained the situation to June.
"This is why I'm glad I got to be with you, you know?" June said.
"I guess…" I replied. I didn't always exactly like her choice of words.
"You come off as cold sometimes, Gary," she continued. "But you're one of the sweetest-"
"This path sure is getting foggy," I interrupted. I didn't look at June as we continued through the mountain path, but I could see out the corner of my eye that she was staring at me.
The path really was getting foggy though. It was getting harder and harder to see.
"Gary?" June asked.
"Yeah?" I replied.
I kept walking, waiting for her to say something. She didn't say anything.
"June?" I said, continuing to walk.
"Huh?" a voice said next to me.
It wasn't June's voice.
"Huh?" I said, and turned.
My eyes widened in shock and fear. "KIWI????"
She looked right at me. "Gary???"
"AAAAHHH!!!!!" we both screamed, our voices echoing in the mountains.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"ME? What you doing here??" Kiwi demanded.
"I was walking to Saffron City with June, and then I turn and see you here!" I explained.
"I was on my way to Saffron City too!" Kiwi exclaimed. "I just came from Chisel City and won my Alloy Badge there. I was going to maybe head to Celadon City but I thought maybe it'd be best if I try out the Psychic gym in Saffron City instead and try to win a Marsh Badge!"
"Oh wow, that's great!" I said. "How many badges do you have?"
"I have four badges now!" Kiwi said happily. "If I beat the gym leader in Saffron, I'll have five! How about you?"
I looked down to the ground. "I have three so far…"
"Well, you're not far behind! I'm only one ahead!" Kiwi said happily.
"I guess…" I replied.
"No 'I guess'," Kiwi said sternly. "You'll catch up! You and me, and Robin and Aly. We'll get every badge and meet up at the finals at the Pokémon League! And that's where I'll beat you all!"
I laughed. Kiwi always had the most bizarre yet invigorating sense of humor. I looked around. "But where's June?" I wondered.
"June?" Kiwi asked.
"JUNE!" I called out. I could see very little through this fog.
But June had been right next to me, I thought. She couldn't have just disappeared.
"Who's June?" Kiwi asked.
"She's a friend of mine," I explained. "I met her in Gringey City and she wanted travel with me so I agreed to it."
"Oooooohh," Kiwi said with a smirk. "So June is your girlfriend!"
I frowned. "NO!" I said loudly. "June is just my friend! She used to be the gym leader there but didn't do so well in her opinion and wanted to travel and see what she could learn from more outside experience instead of being in a gym, confined."
"Suuuuuuure," Kiwi said slyly.
I sighed. "Why can't a guy and a girl be platonic?" I said, exasperated.
"Because," Kiwi said with a smile.
I sighed again. "Anyway, I need to figure out where June is!" I exclaimed.
"Gary, are you lonely?" Kiwi asked me with a smile.
"Lonely?" I asked.
"Yes. Are you lonely?" she asked again, looking up at me.
"Um… no. I'm fine," I replied cautiously.
"You seem lonely," Kiwi said. "Climbing mountains by yourself, claiming you have a girlfriend, only collecting three badges after all this time. I'm worried about you." She patted me on the back.
I sneered at her. "Ok then, what are you doing here?" I asked. "Have we been walking together this entire time?"
Kiwi thought about it for a while. "No," she conceded. "I have no idea where you appeared from. This fog just rolled in and suddenly, you were here!"
"Yeah. Same thing happened to me," I said.
"Well, let's get out of here," Kiwi suggested. "I'm sure this June person, if she exists, isn't just hanging around here. She must be walking along the path. Maybe looking for you." Kiwi winked.
I shot her a dirty look. But she was right. We did need to keep moving.
We continued up the mountain, the fog thick as ever.
Suddenly, a Kadabra walked out onto the path! It turned to look at us.
"Kadabra!" it exclaimed. It then started glowing and disappeared the next instant. It had used Teleport.
"Doggone it!" I yelled. I had missed a chance to capture a Kadabra! Just like when I missed the chance to catch its pre evolved form, Abra. Of course, with Pokémon who can Teleport, how could I manage to keep it in one place long enough to weaken and capture one.
"A Kadabra?" Kiwi asked. "Out here? Kind of cool, but odd, huh?"
"I suppose," I said.
We kept on walking ahead when suddenly a Kirlia appeared, spinning a little bit in a small dance. It stopped when it saw us and stared at us. Then its eyes started glowing red.
Before I knew what was happening, a sharp pain shot throughout my body and I screamed out at the same time I heard Kiwi scream, and we were thrown to the ground by an invisible force.
I opened my eyes and saw Kirlia Teleport. I turned to Kiwi. "Are you ok, Kiwi?" I asked her.
She was on her back. She sat up and shook her head. "Why did that thing attack us?" she asked.
"I don't know," I replied. "But we really need to get out of here. This place is dangerous. I hope June is ok." I stood up and helped Kiwi to her feet. "Maybe we should walk around with our Pokémon."
"Yeah! Good idea!" Kiwi agreed.
We both reached to our belts for our Pokéballs.
"Hey!" I yelled.
"Huh?" Kiwi gasped.
They weren't on my belt. I checked my pockets. They weren't there. I got on my knees and opened my bag, checking all throughout it as best as I could see in this fog. But they weren't there!
Kiwi was standing up, checking her bag as well. She turned to me, distress in her eyes. "My Pokédex is gone too!"
"What?" I exclaimed. I looked for my Pokédex too. But it wasn't on me either. I stood up. "Something is going on here, Kiwi. We need to backtrack or something." I turned to looked behind me. Then I turned back. But everything looked the same. I couldn't tell where to go because of the thick fog. I took a deep breath.
We walked one direction, I told myself. Just turn one hundred and eighty degrees and walk straight in that direction.
I turned to walk behind me. "Ok Kiwi, we just have to walk this way and we'll get off this mountain and figure this all out." I walked forward.
I could hear Kiwi walking, and then her footsteps stopped.
I didn't stop walking, but I asked, "Kiwi?"
"Gary, wait," she said.
I stopped.
"This isn't the direction we came from," she said. "Or at least, not the one I came from."
"What?" I asked, my heart beating faster. "It's too foggy here. How can you even tell?"
"Well, I don't know about you, but I was walking uphill. So if we're going back where we came from, shouldn't we be going downhill?"
"Yeah…" I said slowly, my heart beating harder.
Silence.
"Then why is this path going straight forward…?" Kiwi asked.
Silence.
"Gary," Kiwi said, panic in her voice. "The path isn't going uphill or downhill! It's just going straight!"
I couldn't say anything. It just felt like my heart was in my throat.
"GARY!" Kiwi screamed.
I cleared my throat and swallowed hard. "I'm here, Kiwi," I said.
"Well say something!" she yelled.
"Where should we go?" I asked. "What do we do?"
"I don't know," Kiwi's voice trembled.
I could hear her voice breaking. She sounded like she may very well be in tears. I even felt like I might cry.
All of my Pokémon were gone. My friends. Dugtrio. Hoothoot. Beedrill. Butterfree. Primeape.
Charmeleon.
My eyes began to tear up. I sniffled.
"Gary," Kiwi said after a moment of silence.
"Yes," I responded.
"We can't give up," she said. "No matter what. Come on. Let's keep going. We will find a way out of here. I know we will. But only if we keep on moving. We will find our Pokémon and we will find June, too."
I turned to look at her, but at this point, the fog was just too thick. She was just a voice.
I nodded anyway. "Ok, Kiwi," I said, my voice cracking. I cleared my throat. "Let's get out of here!" I said that with more conviction. "But what direction?"
"Who cares," Kiwi said. "Let's just move forward."
I felt her grab my hand and I gasped in surprise. I couldn't see her do that so it scared me a bit.
She pulled me forward and then let go. "This way," she said.
I followed where she had pulled me.
We walked in silence for a while.
"The fog is letting up," Kiwi commented.
I didn't say anything, but she was right. It was fading some. Soon I could see the rocky path clear again.
It definitely was no longer uphill or downhill. I could see the path was nothing but straight both ahead and behind us. But we kept on moving.
"Wobbu. Wobbu. Wobbu," a voice said from the trees.
I turned to see a strange looking creature walking along the trees beside us.
"It's a Wobbuffet!" Kiwi exclaimed.
"Wobb?" the strange thing said, stopping to look at us.
It was the most bizarre looking thing I'd ever seen. I wished I had my Pokédex on me.
"WOOOOOOOOBB!" it cried out and ran out of the trees and onto the path. It ran right past us and into the woods on the other side of the path.
I stared after it for a moment, then I turned to Kiwi.
Kiwi was staring back at me.
We stared at each other, confused, for a minute, then shrugged and continued walking along the path.
We continued walking in silence. I looked around in my jacket for a moment. "Hey, I still have my badge case." I held it out to her.
She took it and looked at my three badges. "Wow! I've never seen this badge before!" she said.
"Yeah, that's the Dimensia Badge," I explained as she held up the bizarre badge. "I won that in Obsidian City."
"It's pretty in a strange way," Kiwi said, turning it around.
"Look, the fog is gone!" I said.
Kiwi looked up from the badge and gasped. She put the badge in the case and closed it.
The path had no fog on it at all. It looked completely clear. Just dark and foggy in the sky above us, but not nighttime dark, and there was no fog obscuring our view.
"Gary!" I heard a voice from out of nowhere call out. Just above a whisper.
"Huh?" I looked around.
"What's wrong?" Kiwi asked.
I turned to her. "You didn't hear that voice?" I asked. "My name was just called."
"I didn't hear anything Gary," Kiwi said. "Are you sure you heard that and you're not just hearing things in this creepy mountain?"
I shook my head. "I don't think so…"
"Come on, Gary," Kiwi urged. She started walking faster.
I picked up my pace, too.
Boing. Boing. Boing.
A noise from behind me.
I was afraid to turn around. I picked up my pace.
Boing. Boing. Boing. Boing.
I tried to walk past Kiwi, but even she seemed to be moving faster. I began to realize that we both were hearing that weird noise and were both walking faster than ever to get away from whatever it was.
Boing. Boing. Boing. Boing. Boing. Boing. Boing.
Soon me and Kiwi were running! But not for long.
A Pokémon appeared in front of us in a flash.
"Alakazam!" the Pokémon said loudly.
Me and Kiwi stopped in our tracks.
"A wild Alakazam?" I asked.
Boing. Boing. Boing.
I couldn't take it anymore. I turned around and saw what was making that weird noise behind us.
It stopped a few feet away from us.
Kiwi turned around and screamed. "What is that???"
"It's a Spoink," I replied.
Then I saw something worse.
From the trees, a Grumpig, the evolved form of Spoink, stepped out and stood next to Spoink. It glared at us with the same look I suddenly realized Spoink had on its face.
On Kiwi's side, another Pokémon appeared through teleportation. I didn't recognize this Pokémon.
I heard a noise from behind me and I turned to see a Pokémon who looked similar to the one on Kiwi's side. But I knew this Pokémon. It was a Gardevoir. The evolved form of Kirlia, who we saw earlier.
It was then I noticed more Pokémon appearing around us. Teleporting or walking from the trees. Surrounding us. All giving us mean looks.
"Gary," Kiwi whispered. "They're all Psychic Pokémon. I think."
I stared at the barrage of Pokémon. I didn't recognize them all, but I did seem to know most of them.
Ralts. Wobbuffet. Kirlia. Gardevoir. Spoink. Grumpig. Abra. Kadabra. Alakazam. Mr. Mime. Espeon. Chimecho. Natu. Hypno. Slowking. Exeggutor. Solrock. Metang. Claydol. And a few others I didn't know. A lot of the Pokémon were the same as the others. There were about five Hypno. And quite a number of Kadabra in particular. But they all were Psychic type Pokémon.
"What does it mean, Gary?" Kiwi whispered.
I didn't say anything. I had no clue.
"ALAKAZAM!" an Alakazam yelled, raising its two spoons in the air.
Kiwi screamed and dropped my badge case.
The other Pokémon all made a loud noise, saying their names. Their eyes started to glow a bright red.
Kiwi screamed and covered her eyes.
I didn't understand what was going on or why. I stared down at the Psychic Pokémon, my fists balled up tight, my teeth grit together, preparing for the worst.
Their single cry got louder and louder and their eyes flashed an angry red as they prepared their attacks.
A bright flash of light suddenly flashed from somewhere and several of the Pokémon disappeared in a flash of light!
I stared in amazement as the other Pokémon flew backwards and hit the ground!
"Kiwi, look!" I said, grabbing her shoulder and shaking it.
Kiwi lowered her hands a little and stared at the Pokémon on the ground. "Wha…?"
The remaining Pokémon stood up and looked around. They glared at us for a moment and then ran away!
Me and Kiwi stared at the empty clearing for a while in awe.
I turned to Kiwi.
She was still looking at where the Pokémon had surrounded us just a second ago.
I looked around to see what could've happened. But nothing was there. I saw my badge case on the ground. My Dimensia Badge had fallen out and my Thunder Badge was sticking out halfway out of the case. The case was closed partially, held open by the Thunder Badge.
I opened the case and saw my Rainbow Badge still inside. I placed the Thunder Badge in and picked up the Dimensia Badge. It almost seemed to have a little glow to it for just less than a second. Then it looked normal again. I may have imagined it. I stared at the badge for a moment. Then I looked around the area.
A badge I won for defeating a trainer who raises Ghost type Pokemon, I thought to myself. Could there be more to this spooky badge than just the look of it?
"Gary!" Kiwi called.
I was torn from my thoughts as I turned to see Kiwi standing by the trees. I put away the badge in the case and put the case in my jacket as I ran to her. "What happened?" I asked.
"Look," she said, pointing at something a few feet away.
I stared and saw it. A Pokémon. I didn't know what it was, but I had seen one before. It seemed to have run into the tree and was laying on the ground, unconscious. Or maybe it was knocked out from whatever had scared off the Psychic Pokémon. I turned to Kiwi. "What do we do?"
She turned to me. "I don't know. I just feel kind of bad though."
I stared at the Pokémon for a while. "Well," I said. I reached in my pocket and pulled out a Pokéball. "Our Pokémon may be gone, but our Pokéballs aren't."
"You're gonna catch it?" Kiwi asked in surprise.
I turned to her. "Duh. Why wouldn't I?"
"I dunno. I mean, it's hurt!"
"I can take it to the Pokémon Center once we get out of here," I explained. "What do you expect me to do? Leave it here?"
"No. I guess not," Kiwi said uncertainly. "It just feels… wrong. These Psychic Pokémon are really freaking me out out here. I feel like something is wrong on this mountain."
I stared at her. I agreed with her in my heart, but I didn't say it. I turned back to the Pokémon. "Pokéball go!" I shouted. I tossed the Pokéball and watched as it hit the little guy and opened up, sucking it inside.
The Pokéball rocked back and forth, the red light on in the center of the Pokéball. Then Ping! The red light faded to white. The Pokémon was captured.
I picked up my new Pokémon.
"Can we please get out of here now?" Kiwi pleaded.
I nodded.
We both ran along the path. Kiwi suddenly gasped loudly. "SAFFRON CITY!" she screamed.
"Where?" I asked. Then I stopped running. I saw it.
Kiwi kept running and looked back at me. "Come on!" she screamed.
I stared in amazement at the city. It was rather far away. Kiwi and I still had a while to run before we got there, but even from here, I could see it was beautiful. And enormous. Maybe even bigger than Celadon City.
I ran to catch up to Kiwi, and out of nowhere, from out of thin air, I ran into somebody!
And that person ran right into Kiwi!
I fell back and landed on my back. "What the heck?" I sat up and saw June!
"JUNE!" I shouted. I jumped up and ran to her. I grabbed her shoulders. "June!"
"GARY!" she shouted back. She hugged me and I gratefully hugged her back. "Gary, where did you go?" She pulled me in for a much tighter hug.
"I don't know, June," I said. "I'm just glad I found you."
We sat there, just hugging each other for a while.
"You see? I told you we'd find her," Kiwi said suddenly. "And we even got our Pokémon back!"
"Huh?" I said. I caught myself and pulled away from June and straightened my jacket. I fixed my hat and acted nonchalantly. "Wait, our Pokémon?" I reached down and saw my belt contained all of my Pokéballs! At the last moment, I noticed that the Pokéball containing the latest Pokémon I had caught, was disappearing! In an instant it vanished. "My new Pokémon!" I exclaimed.
Kiwi looked at my belt. Then she looked to me. "Was that your seventh Pokémon?" she asked.
"Well, yeah, I guess," I replied.
"Have you never captured more than six Pokémon before?" Kiwi asked.
"Well, no. Not really," I replied. "Why?"
Kiwi raised a hand to her forehead and slapped it hard. "You have three badges and haven't even been capturing any Pokémon?"
"I mean…" I muttered. "I just…"
"Once you capture more than six Pokémon, any more Pokémon you capture get sent to whichever Professor gave you your Pokédex," Kiwi explained. Kiwi shook her head. "My gosh. Where have you
been?"
I was embarrassed. I should've known that.
"So Prof. Oak has it?" I asked.
"No, Prof. Crabapple has it," Kiwi said sarcastically. "WHICHEVER PROFESSOR GAVE YOU YOUR POKEDEX HAS IT!"
I scowled at her. "Alright, alright," I snapped.
She smiled brightly at me.
I turned away from her and tossed my six Pokéballs into the air. Butterfree. Beedrill. Primeape. Hoothoot. Dugtrio. Charmeleon. Everyone was there.
"Are you guys ok?" I asked, running up to them.
They all nodded but stared at me, confused. It seemed they had no idea what had happened.
I hugged them all tightly. "I'm so glad you guys are ok!"
I heard several light popping sounds from behind me. I turned to see Kiwi sending out her six Pokémon.
I saw a Rhydon. A Magneton. A Torkoal. A Gastly. An Arbok. And Pidgeotto.
Kiwi ran to her team and hugged them, extending her little arms as far as they could reach. Her Pokémon all seemed just as confused as mine, but they happily hugged her back.
"You have an incredible team of Pokémon there, Kiwi," I complimented.
"Thanks, your team is rather nice as well," she replied.
Our Pokémon stared at each but before they could greet, Kiwi returned her team to their Pokéballs. "I really wanna get out of here if it's all the same with you."
I returned my Pokémon back to their Pokéballs, too. "Agreed."
She reached in her pocket and pulled out her Pokédex. She smiled at me. "We can trade information when we reach the city."
My Pokédex was in my pocket too. I pulled it out and smiled. I put it away again and nodded to Kiwi.
"I'm not so sure that Saffron City is the place to go to get away from what we experienced on that mountain," June said.
I turned to June. She was staring down the hill towards Saffron City. She spoke in a low, serious voice.
"June?" I asked.
"I don't know what you two went through on that mountain, but I saw a lot of Psychic Pokémon," June said.
The way she was speaking made shivers run all throughout my body.
"There's a lot of Psychic energy emitting throughout this forest," June stated. "Strong, powerful energy that has drawn all of these Psychic Pokémon to this mountain to live here. Psychic Pokémon can create illusions and tricks before your eyes. That's how we got separated. And how Kiwi got here in the first place. Some kind of trick by these Psychic Pokémon. Their powers, and the powers of whatever psychic energy drew them here. It must get unstable from time to time and cause weird, bizarre, otherworldly things to appear. I had your Pokémon and your Pokédexes. Both yours, Gary, and yours, Kiwi."
"You had them?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes," June replied. "I realized I had several more Pokéballs and sent out one of the Pokémon. It was Charmeleon who came out. I him to his Pokéball right away. I had all of my Pokémon too. I ran into a big gang of angry Psychic Pokémon. They surrounded me. I saw their pain, and their confusion. All in their eyes. I had to battle with them and run for it. Now the illusion is over and we're all back together. I don't find it a coincidence that we're heading towards a city that's home to a gym that raises Psychic type Pokémon. Who knows just how powerful this gym leader is."
There was a spooky silence for a while.
"Are you a psychic or something?" Kiwi asked June.
June turned to Kiwi and then smiled. "Ha ha, no," June replied, blushing. "I just can read Pokémon and their feelings very well."
Kiwi smiled and then gasped. "You must be Gary's girlfriend! June! He was telling me all about you and how he missed you and was so desperate to find you!"
June blushed very visibly. "He did?" she asked, sounding very surprised.
"I DID NOT!" I yelled. "I did want to find you but I didn't say all of that and SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"
Kiwi turned to me with a sinister smile on her face.
"June, this is the retarded bird of Pallet Town, Kiwi. Kiwi, June," I introduced them.
Kiwi kicked me hard in my shin.
"Ow!" I cried out, grabbing it.
"Oh my gosh! KIWI!" June gushed. "What an adorable name! I love it!"
"Really?" Kiwi said happily. "FINALLY!!! After years of ridicule, someone likes my name! But YOUR name is so awesome too! JUNE! It's just perfect!"
"Oh no way. YOUR name is perfect!" June exclaimed. "I want that name!"
"No you don't," Kiwi laughed. "I think it's cute but I have been ridiculed at school by people like Gary and our friend Robin and even my best friend, Aly."
"I know Robin and Aly!"June exclaimed.
"You do?" Kiwi gasped.
"Yeah! Robin challenged my gym back when I was a gym leader and I met Aly not long ago!" June told her.
"HEY! Gary told me you used to be a gym leader and quit because you didn't think you were any good!" Kiwi said angrily. "I don't like that kind of talk! You're a great trainer I'll bet!"
"No, I was terrible," June said. "I'm traveling with Gary, learning the ways of Pokémon. He and his team have a connection with each other unlike anything I've even seen before!"
"Psh, whatever," Kiwi waved me away. "Gary ain't all that. When he first started, he could barely control his Charmander. My mom called me once, asking how I was, worried because of what Gary's mom had told her had nearly happened between Gary and his Charmander. It nearly killed him!"
"Gary told me about that earlier today!" June said excitedly. "It was just a misunderstanding. And everything is perfect between them now! I'm telling you, he's incredible!"
Kiwi waved me away again with a sly grin.
June laughed. "Hey! You're going to Saffron City, right?"
"Yep," Kiwi nodded.
"Then where will you go?" June asked eagerly.
"I haven't really decided yet…" Kiwi admitted. "Probably to Celadon."
"Well, Gary is going to Fuchsia City after he gets his badge in Saffron, right Gary?" June asked.
"Um…. Maybe…" I replied.
"And to get to Fuchsia you, you're going to have to go through Celadon again! So we're all going the same way!" June exclaimed. "Kiwi! Join our group!!"
"WHAT????" I bellowed.
"Huh???" Kiwi said loudly.
"WAIT A MINUTE!" I yelled. I stormed over to June. "You can't just be inviting people into this group! Having you is enough work! And me and Kiwi are rivals! We can't travel together! We have to explore the Pokémon world on our own terms. Learn the ways of being a Pokémon trainer on our own accord. This is what we agreed to. Even once we left Pallet Town, we took our own paths separately."
"Gary, why do you want to be the loner so bad?" June said angrily. "You didn't want me joining you and now you don't want Kiwi! How about you open up for a change and stop keeping people out of your heart?"
I didn't say anything. I just frowned at the load of crap she had spewed at me just now.
"Come on, Gary. Kiwi is your friend," June pleaded. "And I like her already. She's awesome! Just wonderful!"
"No!" I refused. "No way! Under no circumstances. This isn't what this journey is supposed to be like!"
"Then what is this journey supposed to be like, Gary?" June demanded. "Not making friends? Secluding yourself from society? Ditching everyone you used to know and facing the world on your own? Then meeting up with your friends once you've been hardened by your journeys to have one final battle and annihilate your lifelong buddies? Is that what this is about? Is that what is takes to become a Pokémon Master? Because that isn't why I joined up with you. I thought you weren't that kind of a person, Gary. But if so, I'll just travel with Kiwi instead." She turned to Kiwi and smiled. "I mean, if you'll take me along!"
"Of course I will, June!" Kiwi gushed. "You don't need stinky old Gary anyway. I can teach you much more than he ever could. And you could teach me all about that ability you have to read Pokémon!"
Both girls giggled.
"I didn't say that, June…" I started.
"Then it's settled!" June said brightly, smiling at me. "Kiwi, you're in!" She raised her hand high and Kiwi slapped her a high five. Then they hugged and started jumping for joy.
I just watched in shock and utter confusion.
They let go of each other and giggled again.
"Well, I don't know about what awaits in Saffron City, but I really would rather be there than staying here," Kiwi laughed.
"Race you there!" June challenged.
They both ran ahead, laughing as they ran full speed ahead. Leaving me in the dust.
I stood there for a while. I reached in my pocket and pulled out my badge case. I took out the Dimensia Badge and stared at it for a while.
Was there more to this badge? I wondered. Was some kind of Ghost Pokémon residue still on it that chased away those Psychic Pokémon and saved our lives? Or did something else happen that I didn't see? Something else that caused that flash that saved our lives.
I put the badge away in the case and stuffed it in my pocket.
I turned back to stare at the mountain and trees behind me.
I turned back and stared as Kiwi and June ran further and further ahead of me, running downhill towards Saffron City.
I ran too.
I ran after June.
I ran after Kiwi.
I ran after my new Pokémon I had captured that Prof. Oak was now keeping in his lab.
I ran.
Little did the three of us know, we were running.
Towards death.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 17: Haunted: Dead Or Alive Part 1 Of 3

"So Robin went to you after Lt. Surge sent him to challenge the other gym leader with the Thunder Badge?" Kiwi asked.
"Yeah! You see, Lt. Surge is pretty busy with his training and stuff. So after he felt I had enough talent and skill, he gave me my own gym that would operate as an alternative gym rewarding the same badge," June said excitedly. "When his gym got too busy with challengers, he would send some of them away to Gringey City to challenge me! Big mistake since I haven't won a single battle in my entire year as a gym leader. I was so unprepared. I think maybe Lt. Surge just wanted me out of his perfectly suave, though slightly balding, blonde hair."
Kiwi laughed. Then her face turned more serious. "Don't you say that about yourself, June," she said. "You're a great trainer! You just need to believe in your Pokémon. You need to give them that faith and trust."
"I did give them that!" June exclaimed. "I gave them my entire trust and love. But it was me. I failed as their trainer. I wasn't good enough. My battle with Gary was atrocious. He used a move… What was it again?" June looked behind her and stared directly at me.
"Toxic Spikes," I mumbled.
"Yeah!" June said. "Toxic Spikes. I had no idea how it worked and it really threw me for a loop and I completely was unprepared."
"Toxic Spikes," Kiwi thought. "That poisons any Pokémon who enters the battle field. If used twice, and a Pokémon enters the field, it becomes severely poisoned and the damage gets even worse the longer the battle lasts."
"Really?" June said in shock. "You see? I'm no good. That's why I had to quit. I never won. Ever. And my matches weren't even very good at all. I am a fail as a Pokémon trainer. But I love my Pokémon so much. I do want to improve and get closer with my Pokémon. That's why I'm here with Gary. After witnessing him battle and connect with his Pokémon, I see that he has something I want. I want that connection with my own Pokémon. And he is so knowledgeable about Pokémon too. I want to know the things he knows. And more!"
"Pffft," Kiwi responded. "Gary knows his stuff, I admit. But don't put him on such a high pedestal. He ain't all that." Kiwi turned to stare at me and stuck her tongue out at me.
I glared at her.
Me, June, and Kiwi. We were walking to Saffron City. Our run we had initially began turned into walking as the trail continued to prove itself to be a long one. It was also dangerous running downhill like we were. June had tripped but hadn't hurt herself too badly. She fell on her knees but laughed about it and got right back up. She was walking with a bit of a hobble now, but seemed to be fine.
I had been walking alongside Kiwi and June for a while. They were blabbering on and on about stuff I really didn't care too much about at first.
Celebrities. Fashion. Music. Movies.
June had begun to talk about Robin and how Lt. Surge had sent him to battle her and Lt. Surge would battle Kiwi. This had grabbed my attention just barely. I was interested in what happened in June's battle with Robin. I was kind of interested in the details. But she merely said she had lost.
I looked up to the sky as the trees that were lining our walk began to finally end. The dark night sky was lit up by stars and the moon. It looked beautiful.
June gasped. "Look!" she cried. She pointed at the sky, noticing the beauty of the stars shining above us. They were in no particular pattern, and yet it almost looked like you could imagine they looked like something. There were so many stars; they could've taken the shape of anything. The moon looked so close to us. I had never seen the moon appear this close to the earth. I was almost a little scared in a way that made me laugh to myself silently. This scene was truly mesmerizing. We all stared up at the stars and moon in silence for a while.
I looked down to my friends.
Kiwi looked down too and stared at me, smiling.
June looked down to me as well, smiling just the same.
I stared back. "Well, I guess we should continue on," I said. I walked past them, feeling uneasy with their eyes and smiles trained on me. I led the way as June and Kiwi continued to talk.
"You know June, you shouldn't have run away from your duties as a gym leader," Kiwi said sternly. "You can't show love and trust to your Pokémon unless you stick by them. You are strong! You just have to try harder! Connect better with your Pokémon! Work alongside them! I'm glad I got to meet you and that we can travel together now, but you should've stayed at your gym and focused on your Pokémon! By giving priority to traveling with Gary, you are neglecting your Pokémon. You should be finding your own way to raise your Pokémon better, not concerning yourself with how others raise theirs. It's good to be inspired and take tips from others, but in the end, it's all about you and your own decisions and how you and your Pokémon get along together. And you can only achieve that through time and experience."
There was silence for a while.
"You're right, Kiwi," June finally agreed. "But, I needed time… I couldn't…" June stopped talking.
I turned my head after a while and looked at her.
She was walking silently and looking off to the side of the open field.
"What, June?" Kiwi asked.
"I just really needed to get away from that city," June said with a hint of coldness in her voice. "After my battle with Gary, I really, really decided that it was time for me to stop being a gym leader. I didn't feel fit. That battle just… changed me a bit. You weren't there, Kiwi. I was affected by that match. So, while I respect your opinion, I really do know what I'm doing and I feel I made the right decision."
"Ok," Kiwi said quietly. "I'm sorry, June."
I could hear the serious tone in June's voice rising as she spoke. When she had finished, there was an awkward silence.
It was maybe an hour of walking. And an hour of silence.
I felt that June may have been thinking about our battle. And how it ended…
"Hey, look!" Kiwi suddenly exclaimed.
I had already seen it.
The stars above us, which I had been staring at during our silent walk whilst thinking to myself about my journey thus far, had began to vanish. Soon, only the bright moon was visible in the sky. The stars had vanished beneath what lay ahead of us.
The bright lights of Saffron City.
Like Celadon, it was enormous! The lights shone brightly from every building. Signs flashed from the windows of video game stores. There were three movie theaters on the same block! The titles of the latest movies released glowing from the top of the buildings. Supermarkets with their signs brightly illuminating the street with sales competed for attention. Fast food restaurants lined the street as well as high class restaurants for customers.
People were running and laughing joyfully. Kids crying for their parents to buy them games from the store. Couples on dates, holding hands, arm in arm, smiling and walking along the path.
The business of this city competed with that of Celadon City!
"Hard to believe this city is smaller than Celadon, huh?" Kiwi asked.
"Yeah…" I agreed, taken in by the amazing sights and buildings that surrounded the area.
We walked on, gazing at the buildings and walking around the countless people. It was so busy here.
"I could go for a bite!" Kiwi exclaimed, stopping to stare at a building.
I looked closer and saw it was a pizza shop! I could've definitely gone for a pizza right about now. "Ok!" I agreed earnestly. I ran past Kiwi and into the store excitedly. I reached the counter and smiled at the man standing behind it.
He was a tall man. Easily over six feet. He seemed to be staring straight ahead, but not at me.
Kiwi and June ran up to the counter excitedly.
"Hi! Can we order some pizza?" I asked. "I'd like three slices!"
"I want four!" Kiwi exclaimed.
"Just one for me," June said with a giggle.
The man, looming over us all, continued to stare ahead silently.
I felt confused for a moment.
When he finally looked down at us, I gasped.
His eyes. They shot through me and I felt a cold chill.
I took a step back away from him without even knowing it.
Kiwi let out a cry, leaping back.
June covered her mouth in shock, stepping back.
The man smiled. "Hi, kids," he said. "I'll have your pizza ready for you in just a moment. Take a seat!" He turned and began to fix a fresh pizza pie.
I couldn't move. The man looked normal, but his eyes told a different story. I had no idea what they were saying, but I felt uneasy seeing them.
I looked at Kiwi and June who were both looking at each other in shock before turning to me, eyes wide. I looked back to the man who continued to prepare our pizza.
He looked up and smiled at me before looking back down to continue his cooking.
I looked to Kiwi and June. We stared at each other for a moment. Finally, I shrugged and tried to relax. "Let's have a seat," I suggested. Then, in a lower voice, I said, "He is making our food. We can't just leave. Even if…" I didn't need to finish the sentence. We all knew what we had seen in his eyes. Even if we weren't sure of what it was, we all saw it.
Kiwi and June nodded in agreement and we all walked over to a table and took a seat.
Two guys were sitting at a table not far from us and were talking excitedly, eating their pizza.
"I traded my Ditto for a Lillipup!" one of the guys said excitedly. "You can't get one of those out here! It's pretty rare!"
"Lilli-what?" the other guy replied. "I've never even heard of it!"
I hadn't heard of that Pokémon either. But I knew what a Ditto was.
The three of us sat there for a while, listening to the excited Pokémon fans talk about this weird Pokémon.
"Ditto is really rare though!" the second guy said. "Are you sure you got a good trade?"
"Of course, man!" the first guy said excitedly. "I don't even think there are Lillipup here in the Kanto region."
"And here is your pizza!" the guy who made our food said suddenly, distracting me from what the two guys were talking about.
"Thanks!" I said with a smile, which faded immediately when my eyes reached his.
I looked back down to my food and grabbed a slice. I bit into it and felt the burning hot cheese ease into my mouth. I smiled even though the pizza was burning me. I opened my mouth and started breathing quick, heavy breaths to cool the hot food in my mouth. I hadn't had pizza in so long!
June took a napkin and soaked the grease off of her pizza before blowing on it for a few moments. Finally, she took a big bite and looked at me, smiling.
I looked away and saw Kiwi finishing her first slice already.
They both seemed more than pleased with their food.
"It tastes so good!" Kiwi said loudly, causing the two guys from the other table to look at us and turn away, snickering.
Kiwi turned to look at them. She turned back around. "Well, it is!" She smiled and took a huge bite into her second slice of pizza.
We laughed and continued eating.
"Since we now have a new friend joining us today, I would like to pay for all of our food," June said when we had finished eating.
"I will buy my own food," I said.
"I have money! I can purchase my stuff," Kiwi said quickly.
"Nope," June said. "You are our newest member. You will not be making a purchase today! To commemorate this moment, this one is on me." June smiled brightly.
I had a brief thought in my head on how beautiful she looked before shaking away the thought. "I'll buy my own," I said sternly, and tossed my money on the table.
June frowned at me. "Fine. That is the tip." She tossed some money on the table. "This is for the food."
I frowned back at her. "Whatever," I mumbled.
Kiwi laughed. "You two are funny. I'm so glad we're all here together."
"How was the food?" the cook said from behind the counter.
"Was great," I tried to say loudly, but it came out lower than I had intended. I cleared my throat, but his eyes... I shook my head. "Thanks a lot," I said, a bit louder. I walked quickly to exit the store.
Kiwi and June both thanked him and hurried out of the store with me.
I let out a sigh of relief once we were out of there. "Man, what was that?" I exclaimed.
"I dunno," June replied. "I won't be sleeping well tonight, that's for sure."
"Let's just continue on and get that off of our minds," Kiwi suggested.
We walked together, staring at the sights. There were so many things to see! I was taken aback by it all.
"Look! Silph Co.!" Kiwi suddenly yelled out.
Me and June stopped and turned to see what had Kiwi so excited.
An enormous building stood before us. It was far taller than any building I had seen in Celadon City.
"Wow," I said, mesmerized. "I know this place. I've been here before."
"Yeah, I remember when you and your parents went to Saffron City," Kiwi remembered. "You were so excited. You got to tour the entire building!"
"Wow. Silph Co." June said. "Manufacturer of Pokémon products used throughout the world!"
"I'd love to go in," Kiwi said excitedly.
"Yeah," I agreed. "But they're about as well known for their security as they are about their Pokémon products."
"Yeah," Kiwi nodded. "We'd just be thrown right out."
I turned and looked around. I couldn't see the Pokémon gym anywhere.
After quite a long time of sightseeing, I saw it. The Pokémon Center! "Hey you two, look!" I pointed.
"The Pokémon Center!" Kiwi squealed.
We all walked hurriedly towards the building. We stepped inside. I walked through the lobby, which was empty except for a couple of people. I approached the counter first.
I placed my Pokéballs on the counter and smiled at Nurse Joy, who had her back turned to me. "Hello, Nurse Joy!" I smiled brightly, eager to see that gorgeous, flawless face smile back at me.
She turned around and smiled at me.
My heart stopped. I stared in shock. I felt sick to my stomach. The first time I had ever seen a Nurse Joy and felt this way.
She looked just like any other Nurse Joy. Fair skinned. Bizarre hairstyle. Same nurse's outfit. Everything was normal.
Except her eyes. They had that look to them. The same one from the guy who made our food at the pizza store. Only with a blue hue to them. The blue eyes of all the Nurse Joys, but tainted somehow…
I heard June and Kiwi gasp behind me.
"Hello!" Nurse Joy said and smiled at me.
When she smiled, her eyes closed and I felt like I was staring at my beautiful angel again. But once they opened, all warmth left my body.
"H-hi," I stammered. "M-my Pokémon, please." I pushed them closer to her and stepped back.
Nurse Joy smiled again and took my Pokéballs from the table.
Kiwi stepped up slowly and handed Nurse Joy her Pokéballs, too.
June stepped up to the counter next and handed Nurse Joy several Pokéballs! She then stepped back too.
"June… how many Pokémon do you own?!" I asked, surprised by the number of Pokéballs she handed Nurse Joy, which was well over six.
"Ten," she replied, staring into my eyes.
"Ten?" I asked, my voice louder than I would have hoped. "But how? I can only carry six with me! And why have I never seen these Pokémon?"
Nurse Joy smiled as she interrupted our discussion. "Don't you worry. We'll be sure to take care of all of your Pokémon." Her eyes looked directly into mine and I felt an intensely sharp pain right in my heart.
I grabbed my chest, staring at Nurse Joy with my eyes wide open. I nodded silently at her. Then I quickly walked over to a seat in the lobby and sat down.
We all sat down together and didn't say a word.
I no longer cared about how many Pokémon June owned or what she had. That was no longer my interest. Neither was whatever else had been running through my mind previously. Those eyes were the only things I was thinking about. They occupied my mind and refused to leave.
Me.
June.
Kiwi.
We sat in the lobby quietly, our eyes looking away from each other.
Probably thinking about the same thing.
There was nothing to say anymore.
What could we say?

The next morning, we had grabbed our Pokéballs from Nurse Joy and ran out of the Pokémon Center.
I'd had a rough night's sleep. I don't know what I was dreaming of, but I felt uncomfortable. Something was occurring in my dreams. Something was disturbing me. A presence. But I didn't remember anything from my dreams. Or, maybe I did. All I remembered was seeing blackness. Everywhere. Nothing else. But was that my dream? Or was that my sight when my eyes were closed, trying to get some sleep?
I didn't know and I didn't care.
We had asked Nurse Joy where the Saffron City gym was located before running out. She had told us it was outside of town, a bit of a walk away from the city where more houses and trees were located and less of the city feel.
We had walked for a long time through the city, following Nurse Joy's directions, my mind stuck on the weird feeling I was having. The city was nice but some things were a bit off. Yes, Nurse Joy and the pizza guy were creepy with their eyes, but that dream I had felt like there was more to it, too. Maybe their eyes caused me to have that creepy nightmare. I recalled June saying she wasn't going to be sleeping well the night before after seeing the pizza guy's eyes.
Finally, the city was behind us and I could see the houses Nurse Joy had described to us. The houses were very nice looking. They all had beautiful, well kept gardens. Some kids were playing in some of the gardens and smiled as the three of us walked past. We smiled back and continued along.
A woman was watering flowers in her garden on this wonderful, sunny day, wearing a stylish sun hat.
I always thought those hats were really nice looking and almost wanted one except that I didn't think I could pull the look off well.
The woman looked up and smiled as us before looking back down to concentrate on her flowering.
"It sure is nice here," June commented.
"Yeah," I agreed. "And it's a really nice day. I can't wait for my battle against the gym leader!"
Soon enough, we saw the building. It was all black. It wasn't the tallest building either, and that became clearer as we walked closer to it. The top of the building was only several inches above my head. The building was curved at the top. I almost didn't notice it at first, but as I got closer and squinted my eyes, I saw an even darker color against the black of the building. It looked like a smile. An open mouthed smiled with jagged lines in the middle. Like a Halloween pumpkin or something.
How odd, I thought.
"Do you think this is the gym?" Kiwi asked nervously.
The building was definitely giving me the creeps too, but I stepped closer to the door.
To my surprise, the words: SAFFRON CITY GYM appeared on the door in yellow letters before vanishing soon after.
I turned to Kiwi and June in shock. "Did you two see that?"
They had both been looking at the creepy building, not the door. They looked down to me. "See what?" they asked at the same time.
"The door! It said 'Saffron City Gym' on it just now!"I exclaimed.
They both looked at the door.
"Where?" Kiwi asked.
"You missed it!" I said, my voice rising. "The words appeared and then went away! But this is the building!"
They both looked at me like I was crazy.
"Are you feeling ok, Gary?" June asked.
"Gary's cracking up," Kiwi joked. "He must be so terrified of this gym leader already that he's not even thinking straight and imaging things. Maybe you need to sit this gym out if you're that scared of the building!"
I simply glared at Kiwi.
"Awww, is Gary afraid of Psychic Pokémon?" Kiwi teased.
"No way!" I shouted. "I LOVE Psychic types! They're like my favorite! I am not afraid of them! And I'm -" I stopped as I remembered something. "My Pokémon! The Psychic type I caught on that creepy mountain! I forgot all about it in this creepy city!" I had meant to call Prof. Oak as soon as I arrived in Saffron City! But the feeling of something odd lurking around… the feeling of unease… the eyes of Nurse Joy and that pizza guy… it made me completely forget I had caught a new Pokémon. I just wanted my badge and to get out of this city, however beautiful it was.
"Oh yeah! How could you forget that, Gary?" June said angrily. Kiwi had told June about what happened with me and her back on that mountain and how I had caught me a Pokémon neither of us knew but assumed was Psychic like the other Pokémon we saw there.
"I told you, he's afraid of Psychic type Pokémon," Kiwi said with a smile.
"Did either of you remember it?" I challenged. "Did either of you have anything else on your minds besides getting out of there?"
They both looked to the ground in silence.
Kiwi looked up. "I'm sorry," she said. "You're right. That city was creepy. I totally forgot about just about everything but making sure my Pokémon got taken care of and got some food. Come on. Let's go get our badge and get out of here. We can find out what that Pokémon was that you caught after we cream this gym leader!" Kiwi smiled.
I smiled back. "Let's go get that badge!"
I knocked on the door. Or tried to.
The pitch black door swung open as soon as I raised my fist to knock.
I looked inside the building with my fist still in the air, in shock at the door opening so suddenly.
We all stared inside at the building. A long hallway loomed before us. I couldn't even see the end of it. It seemed to go on forever. The floor was silver color and almost seemed to have a dull glow to it. The walls and ceiling were all black.
I turned to Kiwi and June. They were looking down the hallway. They turned to me and then looked back down the hallway. I lowered my fist. I swallowed a hard lump in my throat and took a long, deep breath. I didn't admit it, but this building definitely was giving me the creeps. And I knew Kiwi and June felt the same, even if they wouldn't say so.
I took a step onto the floor. I took another. I slowly began walking down the hallway, nervousness making it hard to continue on. I heard Kiwi and June walking close behind me.
I stared down the hallway, but it didn't have an end!
How far does this go? I wondered. I began to regret entering this building. Maybe I didn't see any words on the door, I thought. Maybe I really am losing it.
I started to turn to tell Kiwi and June we were gonna find a different gym when suddenly a bright light flashed in front of my eyes!
When it faded, I blinked for a while, waiting for my eyes to clear away the spots in front of them. When they finally did, I looked around and saw that I was in a completely different room!
This room was large! The walls in this room were black as well, but the ceiling and floor were red. The ceiling went very high up. In fact, it was undoubtedly higher than the building. I didn't know how that was possible, but it was. I looked around and saw Kiwi and June looking around as well, shocked at the new location we had somehow ended up in.
I didn't see a way in or out of here.
I didn't see the door until it opened. It was black, just like the walls. It stood on the opposite side of the room from where we were at. When it opened, we all gasped and stared as someone entered.
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. Despite how creepy this room was. Despite how scary this entire building was! Despite everything we had been through since journeying to Saffron City. I couldn't help but notice as the person entered.
I couldn't help but notice as this woman entered.
This woman was HOT!!!!!
I felt my mouth drop open, and if I were a cartoon character, it would've slammed through the floor. She had pitch black hair. It ended just below her waist. She was wearing a red tank top that just barely showed her clearly fit stomach and the rest of the top half of her body off very nicely. Her tight black jeans complemented the rest of her body very noticeably. Her matching black heels clacked against the floor as she walked forward and stopped. The door slammed behind her, even though she didn't close it herself… But that didn't concern me too much. This woman was making me go berserk in my head, to say the least. She was far more beautiful than ANY Nurse Joy or Officer Jenny or ANYONE!!!
SLAP!
"Ow!" I cried out, grabbing my head. I turned around angrily.
June was glaring at me.
Kiwi was staring at the woman on the other end of the room.
"What the hell-?" I started.
"Gary and Kiwi," the woman said. "Which one of you wishes to challenge me first?"
I turned to this woman in shock.
"Huh?" I heard Kiwi gasp.
"How-?" I tried.
"I am Sabrina, the Saffron City Gym leader," Sabrina interrupted. "I know all about you three. Now which of you wishes to challenge me first?"
"She's psychic," June muttered. "Just like the Pokémon she raises."
I stared at June for a moment and then turned back to Sabrina. My heart was pounding through my chest in fear. Or maybe infactuation. I know the situation was terribly creepy, but I still found her so attractive. Maybe even more so because she was psychic. I almost felt like she was the perfect woman. The woman for me. She was clearly older than I was, but I really felt a strong urge to give my entire life to her. Be with her forever. I gazed her up and down several times as she stared at me sternly with her… eyes.
My mouth opened in a gasp.
Sabrina was far away from me, but I could see her clearly enough to not only be infatuated with her, but to notice those eyes… The same eyes the pizza guy had. The same eyes Nurse Joy had.
My attraction to Sabrina still didn't fade for some reason though.
A hot woman is a hot woman, I thought to myself.
And Sabrina was definitely the most attractive woman I had ever seen.
I can't let this distract me, I thought to myself. Maybe, if I can beat her, I will earn her respect and she may even want to marry me!
I fantasized of such a fate for the two of us. Us getting married. The kiss at the altar.
Before my thoughts could go any further, I heard Kiwi yell behind me. "I'll challenge you!" She walked past me and stopped, staring at Sabrina with a Pokéball in her hand.
"Fine. You shall be first," Sabrina accepted.
Kiwi turned to look at me and smiled. "Since you're too chicken to go first, allow me!" she winked.
As Kiwi turned back to face Sabrina, an image appeared in the middle of the floor.
I instantly recognized it as the battle field. The white image formed between both trainers and around their feet.
Kiwi gasped as it appeared from out of nowhere. She looked up at Sabrina with her mouth hanging open. A look which soon turned into determination.
"We'll have a one on one Pokémon battle," Sabrina stated. "No time limit."
Kiwi nodded. "Ok."
One on one. No time limit, I thought myself. All of my gym battles so far had been three on three battles. But Kiwi seems to have accepted this one on one match rather easily.
"I choose Haunter," Sabrina said calmly.
There was a moment of silence in the room. Everyone but Sabrina looked around the room.
Where is Haunter? I wondered.
Suddenly, from the pitch blackness of the walls, Haunter emerged. It carried a huge smile on its face and eagerness in its eyes as it stared at Kiwi.
Kiwi pulled out her Pokedex.
Haunter. The Gas Pokémon and the evolved form of Gastly. This Pokémon loves to pull jokes. Its sense of humor can have deadly results. Sometimes, these deaths are intentional and not accidental.
Kiwi gasped loudly and took a step back. Then I saw her fists ball with determination. "I choose… Magneton!" Kiwi threw the Pokéball and the floating metallic set of three magnets appeared in a flash.
It was my turn to pull out my Pokédex.
Magneton. The Magnet Pokémon and the evolved form of Magnemite. Getting too close to this Pokémon can result in getting an earache. Due to the changes in the sun's magnetic field, Magneton tend to appear more often when sunspots flare up.
Kiwi had the type advantage. Ghost type moves weren't very strong against Steel types like Magneton, who was also an Electric type.
"Magneton, use Metal Sound!" Kiwi ordered.
Magneton's magnetic tips started to glow white and began vibrating up and down rapidly.
"AAHHH!!" I screamed out. I covered my ears.
Magneton's attack sounded worse than my Primeape using Screech! It was a metallic sound that pierced my eardrums and sent shivers down my spine.
I could barely hear June screaming beside me.
Kiwi had her ears covered and was bent over, obviously not so fond of the sound either.
Haunter glared at Magneton, seemingly annoyed by the noise, but nothing else.
Sabrina had the same look on her face as her Haunter did.
I used my Pokédex to identify this new move to me.
Metal Sound. This attack causes the opponent's Special Defense to be lowered by a great amount.
The noise eventually ended and Kiwi yelled out, releasing her ears, "Thunderbolt!"
Magneton gathered energy at its magnetic tips again before sending a blast of electricity at the Ghost Pokémon.
Haunter was surrounded by the yellow blast of electrical current. When the attack ended, Haunter was still smiling. It laughed excitedly and loudly.
Sabrina immediately followed with her own laughter, mocking Magneton's attempts to win. "Are you done now?" Sabrina asked.
Haunter stopped laughing and suddenly looked surprisingly upset.
Usually, Haunter are known for smiling all the time. This Haunter had stopped smiling, and it looked dead serious.
I noticed Sabrina had stopped laughing as well and was looking equally as serious as her Haunter. "Night Shade," Sabrina said coldly.
Haunter's eyes turned pitch black and a beam fired at Magneton.
Magneton was hit and slammed into the floor, denting it severely and sliding along it, lifting up pieces of the floor as it slid across.
I had never seen this move before but I had heard about it.
Kiwi pulled out her Pokédex first to scan this move.
Night Shade. This attack is as strong as the Pokémon using it.
Magneton shakily began to float back up into the air to continue trying to fight.
"Finish it," Sabrina said coolly.
Haunter held its hands in front of its face and a dark ball of energy formed. It tossed it at Magneton.
Magneton was sent flying. It flew past Kiwi, me, and June, and crashed into the wall.
"NO!" Kiwi cried out, running to her Pokémon.
Magneton was wedged deep in the wall, obviously unable to battle.
Kiwi had lost.
I stared as Kiwi talked to her Magneton, asking if it was ok, her voice getting emotional.
"Gary, you're next," Sabrina said.
I turned quickly to face her.
I stared at Haunter for a moment. Then I looked to Sabrina.
"Do you accept?" she asked.
I couldn't run away. If I wanted to become a Pokémon master, I couldn't stop here.
"I accept!" I shouted. I stepped up to the field. I stared at my belt. Who to choose…
"Haunter will be my Pokémon," Sabrina stated.
She's sticking with Haunter? I wondered. It has lowered Special Defense and it took a good Thunderbolt attack. If she's really going to continue with it, I might just win this. "Go! Primeape!"
"Primeape?" June shouted as my Pokémon made its appearance.
I turned to June angrily. "I know what I'm doing, ok?" I snapped.
She looked at me in surprise. "Ok…" she muttered, looking to the ground.
"Primeape! Screech!" I ordered.
I covered my ears as Primeape let out its loud screeching to lower Haunter's Defense stat.
As usual, the noise pierced through my hands and hit my ears hard. It was even worse since my ears had to suffer from Metal Sound earlier.
"STOP THE NOISE!!!!" I heard June yell.
Kiwi was also screaming.
Haunter and Sabrina continued to share the annoyed expression on their faces that they had when taking Metal Sound.
After Screech ended, I commanded, "Assurance!"
Primeape leaped forward with its fist out, aiming to take out Haunter.
Haunter was hit hard and slammed into the floor. It slid along for a moment and then floated back up in the air, smiling.
"Finish it," Sabrina said.
"Wait!" I said feebly, completely surprised Haunter was still able to battle.
Haunter's eyes and body started to glow purple.
Primeape was soon outlined in a purple color as well.
Haunter raised one of its hands as Primeape began floating in the air, screaming and yelling its name in agony.
"He's using Psychic attack on Primeape!" June yelled.
Haunter then tossed Primeape.
Primeape flew fast into me, knocking out my wind as I slid fast across the floor as if it were made of ice. I slammed into the wall and slumped there.
June ran up to me. "Gary!" She kneeled down and put her hand on my shoulder. "Are you ok?"
"You both lose," Sabrina stated.
I gasped repeatedly, trying to regain my breath. I put my hand on Primeape.
He looked in bad shape, but he would be alright.
As I heaved in air as best as I could, I returned Primeape to his Pokéball. I lay on the floor for a bit, June sitting next to me, before I finally stood up, still weak from the hit.
That Haunter is incredible, I thought.
"You win," I gasped. "We'd like to leave now."
June turned to Sabrina, glaring at her. "Let us out!" she shouted.
"You belong to me now," Sabrina said coldly.
Nobody said a word.
"Excuse me?" I finally managed.
"Your souls belong to me," Sabrina said in a somehow even colder voice.
"Oh my gosh," Kiwi whispered in fear. She looked around for a place to run.
The three of us did.
It was too late.
Sabrina's eyes glowed a bright blue and her hair started to lift and flow behind her head. She floated in the air and moved towards her Haunter, whose eyes were also glowing the same exact color of blue.
I backed up but only hit the wall.
June grabbed my arm tight in fear.
Kiwi ran to the walls and began feeling on it, trying to find a way out. "You are the latest meal," Sabrina said evilly. She floated above her Haunter.
Haunter was floating steadily closer to us. It almost looked like it was growing bigger. Its eyes were glowing a deeper, darker blue. Sabrina's eyes were doing the same thing; glowing a darker and darker shade of blue. "Your souls shall be devoured. You shall reside here forever."
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT????" I bellowed. My heart was hurting me now. It was beating so hard I couldn't breathe properly.
Haunter was moving slowly, taking its time, its eyes now a different shade of blue than before. Deeper and darker than the deepest depths of the oceans of the world.
"You are mine," Sabrina said, floating stationary in the air, staring down at us all as Haunter got too close for comfort.
I didn't know what to do. I didn't think I could beat this Pokémon. The entire situation was freaking me out. I just... I just wanted to go home! My eyes began to fill with tears. "PLEASE!" I pleaded with Haunter.
"Go get him Pidgeotto!" Kiwi yelled as she raised her Pokéball to toss it.
Haunter kept his attention on me and kept moving closer, completely ignoring Kiwi.
Sabrina on the other hand, turned to Kiwi. Sabrina's eyes flashed white for an instant and the Pokéball in Kiwi's hand exploded into dust.
Kiwi stared in shock at her hand. Then a scream that could've competed with Metal Sound and Screech emitted from her mouth.
I kept staring back and forth between Haunter and Kiwi.
Oh no… I thought. Kiwi… Her Pidgeotto… What just happened?
I turned and ran to Kiwi. I had to go somewhere. Haunter was within arm's reach of me. I grabbed Kiwi. "Kiwi!" I yelled. "Come on! We have to find a way out of here!"
Kiwi kept staring at her hand where her Pidgeotto's Pokéball had once been, screaming her high pitched scream.
Her starter Pokémon. Her Pidgeotto. I couldn't believe what was happening. I tried to shake Kiwi and get her to focus for a minute. But I couldn't move. Something was holding me in place. I was stuck.
"HEY!" June shouted. "I can't move!"
Kiwi just continued to scream, stuck in her position, looking at her hand. I saw tears flowing down her cheeks now. Her face was turning hysterical. She was losing it completely.
I knew Kiwi all of my life, but never had I seen her in this state.
I kept struggling as I suddenly was lifted into the air. "What's going on???" I shouted. My body was turned around against my will and Haunter was directly in my face. I screamed as loud as I could.
"No more running," Sabrina said. "It's time to feed."
Haunter's eyes now glowed a black shade. They started sparking black sparks. Haunter's tongue was sticking out, his smile wider than ever. His tongue reached out for me and touched my cheek.
I instantly felt the life energy drain from my body. I couldn't fight anymore. I immediately gave up.
Haunter's tongue, dry, dead, yet wet and sticky at the exact same, indescribable time, slid up my cheek. I knew I was dead.
"Kadabra!"
I couldn't look to where that noise came from. I wasn't even fully sure of what it was. A bright flash appeared before my eyes and suddenly I felt like I was falling! I screamed. I heard two others people screaming somewhere near me. My scream lasted only a couple of seconds before it turned into an, "OW!" I had slammed onto the ground hard. The flash disappeared from my eyes only to be replaced by the sun! I looked around and saw June and Kiwi, rubbing their butts from the fall we just had.
My heart was still kicking my chest like it was in need of more space.
I opened my mouth to say something to Kiwi and June. But nothing came out.
I looked around. We were still in Saffron City. We were somewhere along the path between the actual city and the gym. We were sitting on the ground outside where the nice houses were at. But no one was outside now. No kids. No one watering flowers.
I turned back to Kiwi and June.
June was looking around, just as Kiwi was.
There was a very long moment of silence and shock.
Kiwi then looked at her hand. The one that held Pidgeotto's Pokéball. She checked her belt. Only five Pokéballs. She grabbed them all and threw them. Her Pokémon all appeared before her.
Rhydon. Magneton. Torkoal. Gastly. Arbok.
No Pidgeotto.
Kiwi stared at her Pokémon for a long time before returning them to their Pokéballs. As soon as they were inside, she dropped to her knees and immediately began crying. Hard.
My eyes teared up immediately. The tears flowed down my cheeks seeing her in this position. I couldn't imagine the pain she was in.
June raised her hands to her face and began to cry silently.
The three of us just sat there, tears rolling down our cheeks.
Kiwi crying openly and very loudly.
The three of us.
Me.
June.
Kiwi.
And Kadabra.
Kadabra!
I screamed. "What the hell?"
Kiwi stopped crying and looked up.
June looked up as well and gasped.
"Kadabra!" Kadabra said.
I stared at Kadabra. What did it want?
Kadabra stared back at me intently.
"I've had enough of this city! And Pokémon in general!" Kiwi screamed, her voice highly emotional.
"Kiwi, come here," June said.
"NO!" Kiwi shouted. "I'm sick of this! I'm sick of everything!"
I heard her stomp on the floor and began crying hysterically again. I didn't turn away to look at her though. I kept my eyes on Kadabra. It had saved our lives. I just knew it. It was Kadabra's voice I heard back in the gym as Haunter was draining me of my life. Kadabra had to have been the one to Teleport us to safety. But why?
A flash of bright light suddenly appeared before my eyes. I don't know how long it lasted, but when it finally ended, I understood everything.
I understood Sabrina.
I understood Haunter.
I understood Saffron City and the secrets lurking within it.
I understood Kadabra.
And I now understood what Kadabra wanted from me.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 18: Haunted: Dead Or Alive Part 2 of 3

A man and a woman were in a hospital room.
The woman was laying in a bed. She was extremely beautiful and holding a baby in her arms. She smiled at the baby with the deepest feeling of love evident in her eyes.
"I can't believe the birth was painless," the man said, also smiling.
"She's a blessing," the woman said, not taking her eyes away from the child. "Our child is a sweet blessing. A true miracle."
The man smiled and nodded.
The baby didn't smile. She didn't make a noise. She just looked up at her mom, then her dad. She stared at her dad without blinking. She had a fairly stern look in her young eyes. She almost seemed conscious of her surroundings in a strange way. Like she understood what was going on.
"I think she wants you to hold her," the woman said, smiling at the man.
The man chuckled and reached out to hold the baby. The baby's blue eyes never left her father's face. He held her in his arms and smiled adoringly at his child. "Hi, Sabrina," he said gently. "I'm your daddy." He rocked her gently, then lightly tickled her stomach.
Sabrina stared at her dad silently. She didn't laugh. Or cry. Or make any noises whatsoever. She didn't even blink.
Her dad kissed her on the forehead.
Sabrina closed her eyes as his lips touched her and opened them once they were removed from her face.
The man looked to the woman who lay smiling in bed. "She sure is a quiet baby," he said.
"Are you complaining?" the woman laughed.
They both laughed at this together, Sabrina continuing to stare silently at her dad.

"ROOOOOM! VROOOM!!!! Here comes the airplane!" Sabrina's mom said, making airplane noises and flying a spoon filled with baby food in the air.
Sabrina laughed and stared at the spoon as it flew around in her mom's hand. As the spoon came closer to her mouth, she opened her mouth obediently and ate it.
Her mom laughed and scooped more baby food out and flew it around, continuing their game.
Sabrina started getting impatient and was bouncing excitedly in her seat, making a pleading noise with her mom to give her the food.
Her mom finally swooped the spoon down low into Sabrina's eager mouth. She then scooped up another spoonful and started her airplane game again with Sabrina. Suddenly her hand stopped in midair. She stared at her hand in confusion. She seemed to be struggling with something.
Sabrina's dad walked into the kitchen and smiled at Sabrina and her mom. "What are you doing, honey?" he asked.
"Honey, my hand!" she said in a panic. "What's going on?"
"Huh?" the father said. "What's wrong?"
"I can't move my hand!" the mother said loudly. "What's going on?" Suddenly her hand moved towards Sabrina. As it neared Sabrina's open mouth, the plastic spoon suddenly bent slightly and the food was flung off the spoon and onto her mother's face.
Sabrina began crying.
The mom wiped the food off with a napkin and stared at the spoon in shock. She turned to the father, who stared in awe at Sabrina, then to his wife.

Sabrina, looking to be about four years old or so, was holding a spoon, sitting on the floor. She held it in the air and stared intently at it. Eventually it bent.

Sabrina, looking to be the same age, sat at a table with spoons and a fork lined up in a wooden holding tray. She stared directly at the set of utensils with her two hands aimed at them. One spoon bent, followed by a second one. Then the entire set of spoons and the fork and the wooden tray they were standing in exploded before her. Sabrina didn't even flinch.

Sabrina now was sitting on the floor, still looking to be about the same age. She was holding a golf club in her hands, one hand moving up and down the club as she stared intently at it.
"She's doing it again!" her mom cried as she ran to her daughter. She kneeled down to the floor, attempting to reach out to Sabrina, but was visibly too afraid to touch her. "Please, stop Sabrina!" she pleaded. "That's enough!"
Sabrina ignored her mother and continued stroking the club.
Her father stepped into the room and glared down at his child. "That's not a toy!" he said sternly. "Hmph." He snatched the club from Sabrina, staring down angrily at her.
Sabrina looked up into the air angrily, her eyes glowing a bright yellow. The yellow faded only slightly in intensity as her hair began to lift up behind her head as if a wind were blowing underneath it.
With a cry, her mother was thrown back by an invisible force. Her dad was tossed aside as well as he cried out.

"Sabrina, please!" the mother cried, tears in her eyes, her hair looking a mess. "Let us help you!"
"Let's go!" the father yelled. "We have to!"
"But my daughter!" the mother yelled back, tears flowing now, soaking her beautiful face in tears.
Sabrina, still the same age, stood staring at her parents.
The father was near the front door. The mother was in the living room not far from the front door.
Sabrina glared at them, her eyes glowing yellow, her hair flowing behind her. A vase lifted off the table and flew directly for her mother's head.
Her mom screamed and ducked. The vase slammed near where her dad stood, against the wall.
Her dad cried out and ran to the door, unlocking it.
Sabrina's mom knelt down to the floor, crying. "Please Sabrina! PLEASE! I love you!"
A large table lifted off the ground and flung itself at her mother, who tried to dodge it, but the leg caught her right in the forehead. She hit the ground on her back and laid there for a moment.
Sabrina's dad ran to her and took her by the arm. He lifted her up a bit as she shook her head, steadying herself up some.
Her forehead was bleeding badly.
"Come on!" Sabrina's dad yelled, pulling Sabrina's mom to the door.
Sabrina's mom cried as she was pulled to the door.
A pair of knives flew from the kitchen and head directly for the parents. The mom screamed. The dad looked back and shoved his wife to the floor, out of harm's way. One of the knives ended up in the door, right where Sabrina's mother had been standing. The other ended in Sabrina's father's arm. He screamed and pulled the knife out, tossing it to the floor. He then pulled Sabrina's mom up from the floor and yanked her out of the house, slamming the door behind them.

Sabrina, the same age, stood in the hallway. She rubbed against the wall with her open palm for a while.

Sabrina's house was enormous from the outside. Slowly, and all at once, it began to crumble. The house was soon in ruins.

Sabrina sat inside the destroyed house, surrounded by bent spoons, forks, and golf clubs.

Sabrina was now much older. Possibly in her early teens. She was still in the same destroyed house. She sat on the floor, her legs crossed, her eyes closed, meditating. Sabrina suddenly opened her eyes and stared at the spot next to her. There was nothing there, but she continued to stare at it.
Something began to appear there. An Abra.
"Aaaabraaaa," the Pokémon said sleepily.
Sabrina stared at Abra and he stared back at her. They stayed like that for an intensely long time. Reading each other's intentions. Learning about each other. Understanding one another.
Both Sabrina and Abra were loners. Neither was interested in friends and were only interested in becoming stronger by working on their psychic powers. Neither had a family. Sabrina had driven away her parents who wanted her to be normal and have friends. Abra ran away from his family to get away from his parents and siblings. He didn't want to play games with them. He didn't want to be taken care of. He wanted to be alone and be strong. He could take care of himself. He didn't need anybody else.
Ironically, this connection made both Sabrina and Abra become closer.
They stood staring at each other all day long. When night had arrived, they hadn't moved an inch from their spot on the floor and were still staring at each other, not blinking.
Sabrina turned to look at something on the floor. It was a photo of herself, dressed up and smiling, with her father holding her, her mother right next to her.
Abra turned to stare at the photo too.
The photo was in a frame, the glass cracked.
Sabrina began to look strange. Her body was widening somehow; getting wider, then thinner again. She was glowing white. She continued staring intently at the photo. The white light that surrounded her was removed from around her body, and a large ball hovered in front of Sabrina.
Sabrina stared at the ball as it began to morph. It widened and stretched and took the form of a small child. The child looked like Sabrina when she was younger. She even wore the exact same clothes as in the picture on the floor. A white dress, a white hat with a pink ribbon on it, and red boots.
Sabrina watched as the child smiled and laughed.
The child turned to Abra. "Will you be my friend?" she asked him.
"Aaabraaa…" Abra replied.
The girl giggled. "Come play with me," she laughed.
Abra used Teleport and disappeared, reappearing behind the little girl.
The girl laughed and turned to grab Abra, who used Teleport again to disappear. The game continued on as Sabrina watched them silently.

"Sabrina, I love you," Sabrina's mom said. "Please. Won't you please talk with me? I miss you. Your father misses you. Please Sabrina, can't we all talk? As a family?"
Sabrina, now a young adult, her mom, and the little Sabrina, stood in a large room. It was dimly lit. A battle field stood in the middle of the room. It was a gym. Next to the three people was a large table that held an enormous dollhouse. At the end of it was the photo. The picture of Sabrina when she was just a little girl, newly framed. She stared at her mom intently. "He's the one who gave my telekinesis," Sabrina said coldly. "He passed it on to me. And now he wants me to stop using my powers. Now, after all the years he had his power of telekinesis, he is deciding to train and strengthen his powers so he can try and stop me. The fool. He knows he can't stop me. There is no reconciliation."
"Sabrina," Sabrina's mother cried out.
Sabrina turned to a table. "She likes this dollhouse," Sabrina said.
Her mother turned to the dollhouse, then to the younger Sabrina. "That doll…" she started, speaking of the younger Sabrina. "It's you. It's a doll, but it's human. It's you. You when you were younger. You've changed Sabrina. Don't you see what happened? This… doll is here because you neglected your heart! You turned away from friends and family and pushed them all away for the sake of your psychic powers! It caused you to split in two! This doll represents who you were. Who you wanted to be deep inside. Please, just talk with me about this. Understand. Hear me!"
"She loves this dollhouse," Sabrina said again, staring at the dollhouse. "We built it together." She turned to her mother and gave her the coldest stare. "But we have no dolls."
Her mother took a step back.
"Be my friend," the little Sabrina said. "Play with me."
Sabrina's mother gasped as the little Sabrina's eyes glowed white. With a loud scream, her mother began to shrink. She got smaller, and smaller, and smaller. Soon she was the size of a tiny doll. No. She was a doll!
The little Sabrina picked up her mother and laughed. "Now I have a friend to play with!" she exclaimed. "We'll be best friends. Forever."

It looked like a gym battle was now taking place. A young boy stood at one end of a battle field. Sabrina stood on the other end of the battle field. It was the same room as before. A Pikachu stood in the middle of the battle facing off against a Kadabra.
"It's impossible to win," Sabrina said calmly.
The little Sabrina giggled in Sabrina's lap.
Suddenly a Haunter appeared in front of Sabrina.
"Haunter?" the boy said in surprise.
The Haunter turned to face Sabrina. He floated down to the little Sabrina, saying, "Haunter!" Then he floated back up to Sabrina, then laughed.
"Two against one's not fair!" the little Sabrina cried.
Suddenly, an older man appeared out of nowhere in a bright flash next to the boy. "It is just playing around on its own," he said as the boy and his Pikachu turned in shock. "Haunter is not battling against you. So it isn't against the rules."
Haunter opened its mouth extremely wide in front of Sabrina, pulling his lips up vertically over his body, then pushing his body close together, closing his mouth.
Sabrina stared solemnly at Haunter.
Haunter then smiled and his tongue reached out. He licked his face and as his tongue went back in his
mouth, he took his eyes off with it and put them in his mouth. Haunter than stuck out his tongue and juggled his eyes on his tongue.
Sabrina continued to stare at Haunter.
Haunter than reached deep in his mouth and pulled out a circular black bomb! The fuse was lit and began to go down. A red skull was plastered on the bomb.
Everyone gasped in shock.
Even Sabrina looked at Haunter in surprise.
The bomb exploded.
BOOM!
Sabrina, the little Sabrina, and Haunter were surrounded by smoke. When it cleared, the three were
covered in black dust, Haunter laughing hysterically.
Sabrina stared at Haunter for a moment. Then her lips started to quiver. She smiled!
The man gasped. "She smiled!"
Her smile became laughter!
Haunter laughed along with her.
Kadabra was also rolling on the floor, dying of laughter.
"Is that Sabrina… laughing?" the boy asked.
"Ever since she started her telekinetic training as a little girl, I've never seen Sabrina laugh like this," the man, Sabrina's dad, said in tears. "I've never seen her so happy in her entire life!"

"That Haunter has helped Sabrina rediscover the human part of her heart," her dad stated happily.

"I don't get it," the boy said, staring at Kadabra laughing on the floor. "It looks like Kadabra's in pain."
"It's not in any pain," the man explained. "Kadabra and Sabrina are joined telepathically. Kadabra is rolling with laughter, just like Sabrina!"

Haunter continued pulling and stretching its face to Sabrina's amusement.
The little Sabrina watched silently. Finally, she smiled and began to fade and eventually disappeared, dropping the Pokéball she held that belonged to her Kadabra.

Sabrina, her mother, no longer a doll, and her father, stood in a room, hugging, tears in their eyes.

Sabrina was in the middle of a battle with a trainer. She was using her Haunter and the trainer had a Venasaur. "Shadow Ball!" Sabrina called out with joy in her eyes.
Haunter charged up the ball between his hands and threw it at Venasaur, who looked exhausted, and it fainted immediately.

Sabrina was battling another trainer. Her Haunter battling a Hypno. Night Shade ended the battle.

Battle after battle was with Sabrina and Haunter.

Kadabra stood outside the gym, a mournful look in his eyes. His eyes filled up with tears as he turned his back on the gym and teleported.

Haunter flew around Saffron City, terrorizing everybody. People tried to run, but Haunter caught everybody eventually. Some people he confused by using Confuse Ray so they ended up running back into Saffron City instead of out of it. Other people got licked by Haunter and hit the ground paralyzed. Others were fooled by Haunter's illusions and thought they were escaping or were trapped when they really weren't. Haunter put groups of people to sleep with Hypnosis.

Everybody in Saffron City was asleep. Haunter was staring down at the people. Suddenly it let out a loud scream of his name and a transparent, shadowy version of Haunter flew forward from out of Haunter's body and hit everybody who was sleeping. It was using Dream Eater. But it wasn't the same version of the move used in battle.
Haunter was using Dream Eater to eat their souls.
Sabrina stood near the outskirts of the town, watching silently, that look in her eyes evident. That strange, bizarre, creepy look. The look that hadn't been there all her life until now.

Dead bodies everywhere. The entire population of Saffron City had been killed. From the city, all the way through to where the residents lived in their houses. Adults. Children. The elderly. Haunter had killed everybody in town.
Haunter hovered over the city, high into the air. His eyes glowed a grey color and a few seconds later, the residents all stood up. They all moved as if they were alive. They resumed their conversations as if nothing had happened. They laughed, conversed, ran, and continued on with life…
But they were all dead.
And their eyes all had that terrifying, spooky look to them.
Haunter floated away out of town, towards where Sabrina was standing. She smiled at Haunter and Haunter laughed.
They walked out of town and towards the suburbs.

A flash of light blinded me and soon faded. I was staring Kadabra.
"Gary!" I heard someone scream.
I jumped and turned to see Kiwi, her eyes red and her face full of anger and covered in tears.
"What is wrong with you?" she yelled.
I looked around. We were in Saffron City, not too far from the gym.
June was looking at me with fear in her eyes.
I was breathing heavily and sweating.
"Gary…?" June asked timidly.
"Sabrina," I gasped.
"DON'T SAY THAT NAME!" Kiwi screeched. "EVER! I AM LEAVING!!! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!! I AM GOING BACK TO PALLET TOWN NOW!!!! I QUIT!" She was yelling and her eyes were flowing tears all over her face. She was hysterical. She kept screaming and yelling and stomping around. "I'M CALLING PROF. OAK AND TELLING HIM I QUIT!! AND I WANT A CAR OR SOMETHING BACK TO PALLET!!! I AM NOT TRAINING OR RAISING THESE THINGS EVER AGAIN!!!" She collapsed to the ground again and lay there with her face in the dirt, crying nonstop.
I stared at her.
June stared at her as well, crying for Kiwi.
I wasn't crying. I couldn't.
"Sabrina is possessed," I blurted out.
Kiwi looked up at me, a bit of dirt on her face now, sniffling and still crying, an angry look on her face.
June turned to me. "What did you say?"
"Sabrina is possessed," I repeated. "Haunter has possessed her. That thing is evil or something. They play pranks all the time, right?" I looked to Kiwi. "That's what their Pokédex information says. They pull pranks and sometimes they go too far? Sabrina's original partner was Kadabra!" I pointed at the Kadabra behind me.
He just stared at me.
"Sabrina found this Pokémon when he was just an Abra," I explained. "She was working on her psychic skills when he appeared to her suddenly, drawn by her psychic energy. They both preferred being alone in life, but this similarity brought them together. They became bonded together. She turned away from the entire world just so she could be alone with her psychic powers. But deep inside, she wanted friends and family. She wanted it badly. But she suppressed it. The divide caused her to split into two people. Her childlike self who wanted friends, and the powerful psychic Pokémon trainer she is. Eventually, somehow, during a battle with a trainer, a Haunter appeared and made her laugh with his games and tricks. The same Haunter we battled, Kiwi. She laughed and managed to open up again. She became friendly again. Her childlike self even disappeared once Sabrina was being herself again. But her Haunter started getting too close to her. He got so close, he started breaking the telepathic bond Sabrina had with Kadabra. It got to the point where Kadabra was completely forgotten as Haunter took over Sabrina's mind completely. Haunter then killed everyone in town!"
Kiwi and June gasped. "WHAT?" they screamed in unison.
"How do you know this, Gary?" June asked me.
I turned to Kadabra. "Kadabra showed me just now," I replied.
June looked at me with concern and shock written on her face.
Kiwi squinted her eyes at me in disbelief.
"Almost everybody in Saffron is dead," I continued. "I'm sure some people are tourists and are alive, but my bet is that those creepy eyes we saw from the pizza guy, and from Nurse Joy, are signs of possession." My stomach lurched as I realized a dead guy may have made our pizza that we ate.
June gasped. "Our pizza!"
Kiwi threw up on the spot, right in front of us all.
I covered my eyes. June turned away, and then ran away behind a tree to throw up as well.
I held my sauce in and just paced the ground back and forth.
"I'm… going… home…" Kiwi said after several minutes of throwing up.
June had returned too and looked like she was ready to puke some more.
"Sabrina is under control of that ghost," I said after a while. I turned to Kadabra. "Kadabra wants our help. Kadabra wants us to save his trainer."
Kadabra stared silently at me.
June looked at Kadabra. "And how does he intend for us to do that?"
"I DON'T CARE!" Kiwi screamed. "I'm not helping anyone or anything! That freaking crazy witch killed my first Pokémon!" Kiwi was heaving heavily, hysterical.
June looked to Kiwi sadly. "Yeah… I don't think I want to go back there, Gary," June said slowly. "I don't want to die. And I don't want my Pokémon put into anymore danger either. I want to at least get to another town before making up my mind about continuing on this journey. This is just getting too intense for me. I'm sorry."
I stared at June. She turned to Kiwi and reached out to hold her.
Kiwi resisted at first, then finally grabbed June and hugged her tightly, crying against her.
I turned to Kadabra, who kept staring silently at me. "Kadabra…"
He continued to look at me.
"I… can't…" I said. "I'm sorry." I turned to June and Kiwi. "Let's go to the nearest town. Whatever it is. Let's just get out of here and from there we can just head back to Pallet Town or something. Or at least we can think about it."
"I'm not thinking about jack squat," Kiwi snapped. "I'm going home! I'm done with this crap! It's no wonder so many trainers die on their journey to becoming Pokémon masters!"
I instantly thought of my dad. Had something like this happened to him? Was something like this the reason he died?
I suddenly remembered the words of the terrorist group I had encountered in Pewter City. One of the men had yelled at Nurse Joy, "Do you know how many Pokémon trainers die a year on these dangerous journeys? And how many of them are just children??"
I shook my head. I pulled out my Town Map. "Come on, guys," I said. "We can get to Fuschia or Vermillion but either way, we have to head back to the city in Saffron."
"I'm not going back there!" Kiwi said angrily.
"It's the only way out!" I shouted at her. "Let's just get out of here already!"
Kiwi glared at me said, "Fine!"
We turned to leave, but Kadabra stood there, staring at me.
I tried walking around him but he moved in front of me to block me.
"Move it, Kadabra!" Kiwi screamed. She walked up to Kadabra and seemed like she was going to kick him out of the way. She stopped walking. "Hey! I can't move!" Kiwi yelled.
I saw that Kadabra's eyes were glowing blue.
"That's Disable attack I think," June whispered. "It disables the foe so it can't move."
Kiwi was thrown back lightly by an invisible force. She didn't fall over but glared at Kadabra. "LEAVE US ALONE!" she screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks. "WE DON'T WANT TO HELP YOUR STUPID TRAINER!! SHE KILLED MY PIDGEOTTO!!!! SCREW HER!!"
But Kadabra wasn't looking at Kiwi anymore. He was staring at me. My eyes met his. And I suddenly knew what he wanted now.
I couldn't take my eyes away from Kadabra.
"Gary, if you're not leaving, then I sure am!" Kiwi snapped.
"Yeah, Gary. How long are you going to look at that thing?" June asked. "You've been there for like twenty minutes."
I didn't even realize that much time had passed. I looked to June and Kiwi who were impatiently waiting for me to follow them. Then I turned to Kadabra. "You have a deal," I said to him.
"A deal? What deal??" Kiwi yelled.
"Kadabra wants me to battle with him," I told her. "If he wins, we help him save Sabrina. If I win, he'll teleport us anywhere we want to go."
"Really?" Kiwi said, suddenly interested.
"Yeah," I replied.
"Kadabra," Kadabra nodded.
"I don't trust that thing!" Kiwi said suddenly. "This could all be a trick!"
"So you want to go back to Saffron City?" I asked her. "They're all controlled by Haunter. You think they won't attack us on sight or something?"
Kiwi stayed quiet on that note.
"Gary," June said. She stared into my eyes.
I stared back. I grabbed my Pokéball and faced Kadabra. I took several steps back to give us space to battle. I threw the Pokéball and sent out Hoothoot.
"HOOTHOOT???" June and Kiwi yelled.
"A one on one match," I declared. "Hoothoot versus Kadabra. If we win, we go home. If you win, we help you save Sabrina. Deal?"
"Kadabra!" Kadabra nodded.
"Let's begin!" I shouted.
Hoothoot charged forward.
"Hypnosis, now!" I shouted.
Hoothoot aimed and fired the circular waves at Kadabra.
Kadabra used Teleport and ended up behind Hoothoot.
"Keep flying forward!" I yelled. "Fly high!"
Hoothoot zoomed forward and then made a sharp turn upwards and turned around to face Kadabra from the sky.
Kadabra stood still and didn't move. His eyes were glowing blue but nothing happened. A sudden wind blew gently. The blue faded from his eyes.
"Use Hypnosis again!" I yelled.
Hoothoot flew lower and tried for another attack.
Kadabra teleported again and appeared behind Hoothoot. Kadabra's eyes flashed red as he stopped Hoothoot from flying any further.
Hoothoot began screeching out in pain loudly.
Kadabra was using his Psychic attack.
Hoothoot couldn't move and was taking damage.
"Hoothoot, try and use your Hypnosis!" I ordered.
Hoothoot was in too much pain to focus and kept hooting loudly, struggling as best as he could.
"Hoothoot!" I yelled. "Echoed Voice!"
Hoothoot opened his beak and loud out a repeated yell. It screeched and hooted and the noise didn't seem to end. It rang in my head for a while even after I could see that Hoothoot had finished using the move.
Kadabra felt that attack hit him, but he struggled to hold onto Hoothoot with his psychic powers.
"AGAIN!" I yelled.
Hoothoot used Echoed Voice again. This time, the damage was even stronger. That was how Echoed Voice worked. Every time it was used, the damage was greater and greater up to a certain point.
Kadabra let out a cry and fell back in surprise.
Hoothoot hit the ground and stayed there for a moment.
Out of nowhere, a bright, multicolored beam flew from the sky and hit Hoothoot.
"WHOA!" I screamed.
Dust blew everywhere and blinded me from seeing Hoothoot. When it finally cleared, Hoothoot was struggling to his feet. He fell over again and tried once more to stand up before falling over and staying down.
"HOOTHOOT!" I screamed. "COME ON!"
"HOOTHOOT!!!" Kiwi bellowed. "GET UP!! PLEASE!! YOU CAN WIN THIS! YOU HAVE TOO! PLEASE!!!!"
"Hoothoot, you can do it!" June encouraged. "Get up! We're all counting on you!"
Hoothoot stirred on the ground but didn't get up.
"HOOTHOOT!!" I screamed again. My fist clenched. My teeth were gritted tight. Our only ticket home wasn't getting back up. I wanted to scream more for Hoothoot. But maybe this was his limit. "Hoothoot," I said more calmly. "Is this it? Should we call it quits? Is that everything? If so, I understand. But if you have enough strength in you to go on. To save us. To get us out of here and sent home. Please, pull yourself together and help us out! Please!"
Hoothoot stirred again but didn't get up.
Hoothoot, please, no, I thought. Hoothoot. "Hoothoot!" I encouraged. "I believe in you! Now let's do it!!"
Hoothoot let out a loud cry. He forced himself up on his one leg. He looked really bad and shaky but he still stood up.
"Hoothoot, we can do this!" I said with determination. "You're not alone! WE can do this! Now go! Echoed Voice!"
Hoothoot screeched loudly and flew high into the air. He used Echoed voice just as Kadabra's eyes began to glow red again. The red faded immediately as Kadabra took the even stronger attack head on and fell down.
"AGAIN!" I commanded.
Hoothoot continued with the ever increasing damaging attack move.
I noticed Kadabra's eyes glowing blue again.
Hoothoot continued to hit Kadabra with his Echoed Voice. When it reached its max damage, it would be a force to reckon with.
The blue in Kadabra's eyes faded as he couldn't concentrate long enough with the distracting move attacking him.
Was he going to use that move again? I wondered. What move was that?
Future Sight. When this move is first used, nothing happens. A short while later, a beam of psychic energy hits the opponent.
So that's what that was, I thought.
"Hoothoot, end this now!" I yelled.
Kadabra looked a bit worn out.
As Hoothoot got ready to use another Echoed Voice, Kadabra began to glow yellow and the wounds from the battle on his body started to disappear rapidly!
"Recover attack!" the three of us said out loud, realizing what Kadabra had done.
Hoothoot didn't stop and it hit Kadabra with a powerful Echoed Voice which took the Psychic type by surprise as he fell over and seemed to have taken a lot of damage from that.
"GO!" I yelled.
Hoothoot flew forward as Kadabra started to stand. Hoothoot got close to Kadabra and hit him with another Echoed Voice.
Kadabra was hit hard but somehow kept getting up! His body began to glow yellow again as he used Recover.
"Hypnosis!" I quickly shouted.
As Kadabra finished healing, Hoothoot attacked with Hypnosis.
Kadabra was having trouble keeping his eyes open as it was hit with the psychic waves and fell asleep.
"Air Slash!" I yelled.
Hoothoot flew high into the sky and made fancy flight patterns as it started to glow light blue. A heavy wind started blowing everywhere as Hoothoot continued to circle the skies. A ball of energy formed in Hoothoot's right wing as he descended rapidly and aimed for Kadabra.
Kadabra continued snoozing as Hoothoot tossed the ball down at Kadabra and hit the sleeping Pokémon.
Kadabra bounced across the ground but kept on sleeping as I ordered Hoothoot to use Air Slash again.
Hoothoot did the same move again, flying even higher into the air and creating a little whirlwind, glowing light blue and diving down with the ball of energy in its wing, hitting Kadabra as it kept on sleeping, taking damage and getting weaker.
Kadabra's eyes suddenly began to flutter open.
I desperately called out, "Uproar!" Covering my ears, I watch as Kadabra woke up. I watched as Hoothoot let out the annoying Uproar attack.
Kadabra's eyes shot open in shock at the noise and it was blown across the grass.
"Finish it!" I screamed out.
Hoothoot flew forward at rapid speed, hooting a war cry of sorts.
"Gary, it's using Take Down!" June screamed. "That has recoil damage! It might hurt itself badly!"
"Hoothoot!" I called out.
Hoothoot was going too fast. It slammed into Kadabra with intense force. Kadabra was flying back, Hoothoot drilling its head against Kadabra, forcing it back. They stopped only once they slammed into a house.
And went right through the wall!
We all ran as fast as we could. We ran through the garden, carefully but quickly, and stared at the hole made in the beautiful house. Only, once we got close to the house, the beauty had faded and it looked destroyed. The beautiful outside was now blackened and looked unsafe, weak, and dangerous to go near. The garden we had tried not to step on was filled with dead flowers now and weeds.
It was dead here.
I slowly crept around to the side of the house where Hoothoot and Kadabra had flown thrown. I stared through the hole. The inside of the house looked worse than outside. The floorboards looked ready to give out and had holes in a few places. The couch was covered in dust, filth, and all kinds of indescribable things that made me feel sick just looking at it.
"The house was an illusion before," I whispered to June and Kiwi. "It looked nice from the outside, but once Hoothoot and Kadabra flew through it, the illusion faded. We now see it for what it really is. And I'm sure all of these nice houses look exactly the same way if we did the same thing to them. They're all destroyed, filthy, and dead. Maybe even all of Saffron City is this way."
I then saw the two Pokémon on the floor. Kadabra was knocked out and Hoothoot was angrily pecking Kadabra's beaten body.
"Hoothoot!" I cried out.
Hoothoot looked up and happily flew to me, out of the house, safe into my arms.
"You did it, Hoothoot!" I laughed. "I'm so happy for you! We did this! But don't ever do anything that dangerous again without my permission Hoothoot! I never said to use that move!"
"Aw, don't you see Gary?" June explained. "He responded to your trust in him. Your faith. You knew he could win and you let him know he wasn't doing it alone. You were a team. You were depending on him and he came through in your honor." June smile admiringly at me.
I turned to Hoothoot and smiled, hugging him. "Thank you so much, Hoothoot. But don't do that again." I laughed.
Hoothoot pecked me on the head and laughed with me.
Kadabra stood up slowly and stared at me. He then teleported just as the floorboard under his feet gave way and broke. Kadabra appeared in front of the four of us.
"Gary won, so send us home!" Kiwi demanded.
Kadabra looked sad but nodded.
"Wait," I said.
"Wait for what?" Kiwi shouted. "We're almost home free! Tell him to send us home before that thing changes his mind!"
"Will you shut up for a minute, Kiwi?" I yelled. I knelt down to Kadabra and stared him in the eyes. Kadabra looked back at me.
"Not this staring contest again!" Kiwi yelled.
I ignored her and continued to communicate with Kadabra. "Kiwi, you can tell Kadabra where you want to go."
"Huh? Aren't we all going to Pallet Town?" Kiwi asked. She turned to June. "Well, I don't know exactly where you want to go, June, but you and I are going home, right, Gary?"
"I'm staying here to help Kadabra," I said firmly.
"WHAT?" Kiwi and June yelled at the same time.
I turned to them. "End of discussion!" I shouted. "You both can go home if you want! This Kadabra lost the only friend in the world that he ever had. The only thing he ever cared about! I can't just leave him like this. I can't! You both get out of here and get home safe. But I'm staying with Kadabra. Even if I have to die doing this."
Kiwi stared at me in shock.
June stared at me in shock.
"Me and Kadabra are going back to the gym," I told them. "So hurry up already and get out of here so we can go get ourselves killed."
My joke didn't make anybody laugh. It probably wasn't even a joke.
June looked at the ground and shook her head. "I'm not leaving you."
I stared at June. "June, if you want to leave, go now. We don't have time to waste."
"Damn it Gary, I'm staying!" June shouted, her fists balled tight like she was urging to hit me.
"Fine. Ki-" I began.
"I'm staying too," Kiwi said.
I opened my mouth to argue with her but she interrupted me. "Shut up, Gary! You've been one of my best friends for all of my life and I would hope that you'd know me better than to just abandon you in such a situation." She looked me deep in my eyes. "What would I tell your mom?" she said in a very low voice I could barely hear.
My mom. Those words hit me hard in my heart. I stared at Kiwi. "We'll tell her we made it home. Because we will Kiwi." I turned to June. "We will June." I turned to Kadabra. "We all will."
Hoothoot gave a loud hoot of support.
I smiled at Hoothoot. "Thank you, Hoothoot." I returned him back to his Pokéball.
We were going back to the Saffron City gym to face off against Sabrina and her Haunter one more time.
We were all fully aware this may be our final journey.
"Let's do this, Kadabra!" I said.
Kadabra teleported us back to the Saffron City gym.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 19: Haunted: Dead Or Alive Part 3 Of 3

A bright flash blinded me, and before I knew it, it was gone.
I was back in Sabrina's gym.
To my great surprise, Sabrina stood in her position at the battle field. Her Haunter stood next to her, his smile wider than ever, a hungry look in his eyes.
"I knew you'd be back," Sabrina said coldly.
"Sabrina!" I called out to her. "Please! Listen to me!"
"Mean look," Sabrina said, ignoring me.
Haunter floated forward and his eyes started to glow purple. Sabrina's eyes glowed at the same time.
"There is no escaping now," Sabrina stated. "You all belong to me."
Haunter laughed as I glared at him. We were now stuck in the gym. We either succeeded in this mission or die.
"Sabrina!" I called again. "Please! Stop this! Haunter is controlling you!"
"Attack," Sabrina said, pointing at us as Haunter flew quickly to attack us.
I glared at Haunter angrily, preparing for the worst as Kiwi and June screamed behind me.
"Kadabra!" Kadabra said, appearing in front of us. Kadabra's eyes glowed red and it held Haunter in place.
Haunter glared at Kadabra, no longer smiling.
"Sabrina! This is your Kadabra!" I shouted. "Don't you remember him? He was your first true friend! He came to you as an Abra and-"
"HAUNTER!!!" Haunter screamed, and somehow broke free of Kadabra's psychic grip. He then flew at him with amazing speed and hit Kadabra, sending Kadabra flying back and rolling on the ground, where he remained for a while.
"Kadabra!" I yelled out. "What happened?" I pulled out my Pokédex.
Sucker Punch. If the opponent is using an attack move, the user strikes first with this move.
According to the Pokédex, Sucker Punch was a Dark type move. Psychic Pokémon are weak to Dark type attacks. Kadabra took a bad hit.
Kadabra stood up and started to glow yellow, using his Recover attack. With a surprising yell, Kadabra raised his spoon and as his eyes glowed a dark red, multicolored rays shot out at Haunter, who yelled out as he fell back against the attack.
"That's Psywave," Kiwi whispered.
"No, Psybeam," I corrected her. Not that it mattered. Our lives were at stake on this battle.
Haunter shook off the damage and cupped his hands for a moment. Then he opened them and fired several beams of black and purple colored circles at Kadabra.
Kadabra screamed out in pain as it took the Dark Pulse attack. He landed at my feet.
I knelt down. "Kadabra!"
Kadabra, showing itself to be in a huge amount of pain, managed to stand up, glaring at Haunter.
Haunter floated quickly over and used Lick attack on Kadabra.
Kadabra cried out in pain and used Teleport to the other end of the field, then used Recover.
Haunter laughed heartedly and flew at Kadabra. Its speed picked up all of a sudden and I realized it had done Sucker Punch again.
Kadabra was done once more. But he got up immediately with great determination and his eyes started to glow blue. A wind passed through the room as Kadabra prepared for his Future Sight attack.
Haunter held his hands in front of his face and charged up a Shadow Ball, tossing it excitedly at Kadabra. Then he tossed another. And another. Back to back Shadow Balls to Kadabra, who dodged them by teleporting around the room.
Haunter began to make the balls faster, flinging them rapidly, laughing the entire time.
One finally caught Kadabra and it slid across the floor, landing at Sabrina's feet.
Sabrina stared down at Kadabra.
Kadabra looked up at her. "Kadabra!" it exclaimed.
Sabrina didn't say a word. She just stared down at her Kadabra coldly. Finally, she pulled her foot back. And kicked Kadabra across the floor!
Kadabra was on his face now, not moving.
Kadabra must be more than physically hurt, I realized. He must be emotionally damaged from that.
Kadabra looked up and I saw his eyes looking glassy. Tears were starting to build up.
Haunter laughed and began to toss more balls to Kadabra.
Kadabra was hit again and laying in his back. But he didn't move.
"Kadabra, get the hell up!" I bellowed. "GET UP! GET UP! GET UP NOW!" Kadabra couldn't just give up. Kadabra had to keep his spirits up and fight back!
"KADABRA TELEPORT!" I screamed as loud as I could as Haunter threw another Shadow Ball to Kadabra.
Kadabra looked up as the ball neared him and caught the Shadow Ball! The spoon that all Kadabra carry was raised up and caught the Shadow Ball!
Everyone gasped at the same time.
Even Haunter backed up in surprise.
Sabrina backed up in surprise at the same time.
"No way!" Kiwi gasped.
Kadabra stood up. He pulled back his hand holding his spoon and the Shadow Ball and tossed the attack back at Haunter!
Haunter was hit, still floating there in shock at Kadabra catching his attack. Haunter took the major damage attack and stopped itself from rolling too far across the arena.
Haunter suddenly charged at Kadabra in an angry rage, screaming viciously.
Kadabra stood still, waiting for Haunter to get closer.
Haunter suddenly stopped and stared at Kadabra, smiling. Neither Pokémon moved. They just stared each other down.
Haunter suddenly grabbed Kadabra with amazing speed and swapped places with it!
Kadabra barely could react when suddenly a rainbow colored beam appeared from nowhere and hit Kadabra! Kadabra cried out in pain as Haunter began to laugh hysterically.
"W-w-w-what just happened?" June asked, her voice shaking.
"Haunter tricked Kadabra," I replied. "He was waiting for that Future Sight to land. Then Haunter swapped places with Kadabra at the last second and made Kadabra take the attack instead."
June and Kiwi gasped.
"Is that possible?" Kiwi asked.
"You saw it yourself," I responded.
Kadabra started to stand up, then fell forward on his face again. He pushed himself up and looked at Haunter.
But Haunter was gone.
Kadabra looked confused.
"Behind you!" I yelled.
Kadabra turned quick as Haunter hit him with Lick attack again. Kadabra used Teleport to get away again, but as it reappeared far away from the Ghost Pokémon, he was looking like he was in trouble. He looked weak and frail.
His health, I realized. Haunter isn't just attacking for a battle. Haunter is sapping Kadabra's health! It's killing Kadabra!
It was then that I realized that only one of these two Pokémon were going to leave out of this Pokémon battle alive.
But, can you kill a Ghost Pokémon? I wondered.
Haunter cupped its hands and threw several beams of purple and black dark energy at Kadabra.
Kadabra once again managed to use its metal spoon to block the attack, using both of his hands to hold back the opposing attacks. Kadabra began to glow yellow again, recovering his energy with Recover.
Haunter laughed suddenly, and then glared angrily at Kadabra, the smile gone once again. Haunter began to charge up Shadow Ball again. It threw the attack at Kadabra and followed up with several more of them. Kadabra soon began batting them away like he was playing baseball or tennis, swinging his spoon and sending them right back to Haunter, who dodged the Shadow Balls as they returned to him, laughing.
It was a barrage of Shadow Balls flying across the room.
One flew directly for Sabrina's head. She stared intently at it and dodged swiftly at the last second.
I watched this back and forth of Shadow Balls as Haunter and Kadabra kept up with it, neither giving in, both fighting for their lives, Kadabra looking serious, Haunter continuing to laugh throughout.
A Shadow Ball flew past me and I heard a scream behind me. I turned and saw Kiwi on the floor, bent over and looking in pain.
June ran over to her and sat on the floor by her. "Kiwi!" she cried as she tried to see if she was ok.
Kiwi resisted her touch and groaned in serious pain.
This was bad.
I started to run to Kiwi's aid.
"No!" June shouted. "I'm with her. You have to stay there! Give Kadabra the support he needs. He needs you, Gary! Be there!"
I stared at June, not fully understanding what she was trying to say, but deep inside, agreeing with her. I turned back to the battle, watching the flurry of Shadow Balls continue to fly back and forth.
Haunter stopped making Shadow Ball attacks and dodged the remaining balls that Kadabra tossed at him. As he dodged them, he kept his eyes trained on Kadabra.
"Kadabra, keep your eyes open!" I yelled.
At the sound of my voice, Haunter flew at Kadabra and punched at the air. A black fist shot out from Haunter's punch and hit Kadabra in the face. The Shadow Punch did a lot of damage, and Kadabra never saw it coming.
Kadabra hit the ground, landing on his hands and knees. He shook his head repeatedly.
"Kadabra, watch out!" I called.
Haunter's eyes began to glow red. His hands reached out and a red orb appeared in front of both of them. Haunter laughed as he put both orbs together to form one orb. The giant orb began to fire smaller red orbs rapidly around the field.
Kadabra began to Teleport as best as he could to avoid this odd attack.
I reached for my Pokédex.
Hypnosis. If this move hits the opponent, it will be put to sleep.
"Hypnosis?" I muttered. "It looks so different than how I've seen it used before. I guess it can vary."
Kadabra kept trying to dodge the orbs, but the orbs flying from the giant orb were shooting out faster now.
"Kadabra, your spoon!" I shouted.
Kadabra continued to Teleport, unable to catch a moment to use his spoon. Or maybe he just didn't think using it was the best defense anymore.
Haunter began to get that angry look on his face again, getting frustrated with Kadabra. He began to use Shadow Ball again rapidly, sending the balls flying across the gym like mad. It didn't even seem like he was aiming at Kadabra anymore. He was just flinging them madly across the gym.
Sabrina dodged any of the balls that flew towards her with ease.
I dropped to the floor and covered my head.
I could hear June and Kiwi screaming behind me, but I couldn't see if they were ok or not.
Kadabra was teleporting as well as taking the time to throw back as many of the Shadow Balls back to Haunter as he could. Some hit Haunter, but he shook it off and continued the onslaught of attacks.
Kadabra took a few hits but didn't give in either.
Finally, the attack ended.
Haunter and Kadabra were face to face now, breathing heavily, hand in hand, growling at each other, furious looks on each their faces.
I stood up from the floor and gazed back at June and Kiwi for a second.
June was covering Kiwi with her body, holding her close and keeping her safe.
I turned back to Haunter and Kadabra.
Kadabra raised one hand in the air, letting go of Haunter. His hand glowed bright and he punched Haunter in the face.
Psycho Cut. The user deals physical, psychic damage to the opponent.
Haunter didn't like this very much and used its now free hand to attack back. It balled a fist and a shadowy fist shot forward, hitting Kadabra.
Kadabra yelled out angrily but didn't give in.
Both Pokémon's eyes started to glow blue and they both attacked with Psychic.
Kadabra, being a Psychic type, didn't take too much damage, but still looked ready to collapse at any moment.
Haunter, being part Poison, took the damage tremendously and hit the ground, not moving for a moment before finally floating back up into the air, shaking his head. He laughed loudly, pointing at Kadabra.
I couldn't believe how strong Haunter was. He had to have been exhausted, but he seemed to be in better shape than Kadabra.
"Kadabra, use Recover!" I shouted.
Kadabra didn't budge. He completely ignored me. He just bared his teeth at Haunter as he laughed at him.
"Kadabra…" I said in a low voice.
Haunter suddenly disappeared and then reappeared in front of Kadabra and gave him a Lick attack again, draining Kadabra of his strength and life.
Kadabra used Teleport to get away again, but didn't get far at all. Only a couple of feet away did he reappear and then collapsed to the floor, held up by only one hand.
Haunter laughed even more and floated towards the weakened Kadabra, a devilish grin on his face.
"End this now," Sabrina said in a voice that made my blood freeze.
I became infuriated at Sabrina. I could feel my anger building in me in a way that it hadn't in a while. "HOW CAN YOU DO THIS??" I yelled as loud as my voice would go. "HOW CAN YOU ALLOW YOUR FRIEND TO DIE LIKE THIS???" I screamed and ran onto the battle arena and passed Haunter, passed Kadabra, aiming straight for Sabrina.
"GARY!" I heard June scream.
I didn't know what I was going to do to her, but I had to do something.
It wasn't just about the survival of Kiwi, June, and myself.
It was also for Kadabra.
For Sabrina.
Kadabra loves Sabrina and Sabrina had to understand that. I had to remind her somehow! I wouldn't let it end this way!
My fists balled as I neared Sabrina.
What was I gonna do? Punch her???
Sabrina looked to me in shock.
I screamed loudly and took a strong leap and tackled her to the ground.
"GARY DON'T!" I heard June yell.
I sat on top of Sabrina and held her down.
Sabrina glared at me and eyes began to glow yellow. I was lifted high in the air. Higher. Higher. And then I slammed into the ceiling. I cried out in pain. I could see the entire battle field. Haunter was looking up and me, and so was Kadabra.
Don't worry about me, I thought. BATTLE THAT HAUNTER!!
"Kadabra!" Kadabra said.
I wasn't sure it had read my mind, but it looked back down to Haunter. As Haunter turned to face Kadabra, Kadabra's eyes glowed blue. His entire body started to glow blue and Haunter suddenly stopped moving. He seemed stuck.
Disable attack, I thought.
"KADABRA!" Kadabra screamed, raising his arms in the air as they glowed white. He struck Haunter repeatedly with Psycho Cut as the Ghost Pokémon screamed out in pain. Kadabra continued to attack Haunter repeatedly, punching away at him.
Haunter couldn't manage to get a moment to launch an attack.
Kadabra continued to attack Haunter as I watched from the ceiling. Kadabra sent a swift uppercut of a Psycho Cut at Haunter and to my great surprise.
To June's great surprise.
To Kiwi's great surprise.
Even to Sabrina's great surprise.
Haunter hit the ground and didn't move.
All eyes were on Haunter. He was unconscious. Completely fainted. Defeated.
Kadabra had won.
Silence filled the room.
Kadabra walked over to Haunter and stared down at him. Kadabra let out an angry scream and continued to send attack after attack of Psycho Cut at Haunter. He punched away at his body repeatedly, grunting with each blow.
June and Kiwi huddled together, watching in fear.
My own heart was pounding rapidly.
Sabrina seemed to just be watching silently.
Kadabra was there beating up the defeated Pokémon for a long time, clearly exhausted, but I knew he was filled with so much anger. So much pain. That was what drove him on to continue his onslaught of punches at his opponent.
Punch after punch after punch. Beating Haunter up even though the Ghost was too weak to fight back anymore.
Kadabra finally stopped punching Haunter and stood back. His eyes glowed red as he lifted Haunter into the air. After a minute or two, Haunter's eyes opened and he began to scream.
Sabrina suddenly grabbed her head and began to scream too.
Haunter and Sabrina screamed at the same time, louder and louder.
I suddenly dropped from the high ceiling and fell a very long drop to the floor. In desperation I thought about landing on my shoulder, but at the last second I tossed Hoothoot's Pokéball towards the ground. I fell faster than the Pokéball and when it opened and Hoothoot came out, he was right above me. I grabbed his foot, taking the owl by great surprise. He fell fast and flapped his wings as hard as he could, trying to hold me up. I hit the ground very hard, but I knew it could've been a lot worse if not for Hoothoot.
I ignored the pain shooting up my body and let go of Hoothoot, turning to Kadabra.
Sabrina and Haunter continued to scream even louder. It was sounding inhuman now.
Kiwi and June covered their ears against the high pitched noise.
I just watched in shock. I knew what was going on. What I had suspected was going to happen was happening now. I was going to get my answer to the question I asked earlier.
The screaming was no longer tolerable anymore. It was only painful. Terribly painful. Just raw noise. There were no words to describe it. No sound could compare to it. Even so, I didn't cover my ears, too mesmerized by what was going on.
Haunter's body suddenly became outlined in a purple color. Haunter let out a scream as his body began to stretch further and wider apart.
Sabrina and Haunter finally stopped screaming. Sabrina collapsed to the floor.
Kadabra's eyes stopped glowing red and Haunter fell to the floor.
Purple colored lights rose from where Haunter's eyes were and floated in the air. They hit Kadabra, who suddenly started to glow purple, and then dropped to the ground.
"Kadabra!" I cried out. I returned Hoothoot to his Pokéball and ran to Kadabra.
Suddenly with a loud, high pitched shriek, Sabrina reached up from the ground and grabbed my leg!
I screamed out, and my voice became much louder when I saw her!
She was dead! Sabrina was dead!
Her face was that of a decaying skeleton! Her bony hands, arms, nothing but bones and decay and filth! Maggots and disgusting insects were crawling all over her! Her empty eye sockets contained large cockroaches which crawled in and out of her face.
My scream was possibly even louder than Sabrina's and Haunter's had been. I kicked hard to escape from her grip, but for a dead person, she was incredibly strong!
She leaned forward and attempted to bite my ankle with her decayed, insect filled teeth.
"Kadabra!"
Sabrina's body glowed red for only a second and then exploded in a cloud of filthy dust.
I backed away in shock, my legs shaking so badly I nearly hit the ground. I managed to stay on my feet and turned around.
Kadabra looked up at me from the ground. His spoon fell from his hand. His other hand was outstretched in a tight fist. He looked at me mournfully.
I ran to Kadabra and sat down next to him on my knees. "Kadabra!" I cried.
Tears hit the floor around my knees from Kadabra's eyes.
"Kadabra," I said softly. "I'm… so sorry. I'm so sorry Kadabra." I reached out to Kadabra, fully aware of what was happening to him. He was so weak. He lifted his outstretched fist towards me.
I stared at it for a moment before opening my palm.
Kadabra opened his fist and something fell out into my hand.
A bright flash of light suddenly blinded me.

I saw Sabrina. She was alive. She was looking at Kadabra, smiling.
Kadabra smiled back.
Sabrina hugged Kadabra tightly.
Kadabra happily hugged her back.
"I love you, Kadabra," she said. "Thank you. Thank you for sticking by me through everything. I remember when we first met, Kadabra. I'll never forget that day. You stuck by me through everything. No matter what happened, you have never deserted me. I never thanked you for that, Kadabra. I never thanked you. I owe you my life. You're my best friend. You'll always be my friend. My family. Forever. Thank you. I love you, Kadabra. I love you."
Kadabra hugged Sabrina and began to shed a few tears. Sabrina also began to cry as well. Soon, both trainer and Pokémon were crying together in each other's arms.
"I love you."

A flash blinded me again and I was back in the gym, the memory now over. I looked down and saw Kadabra. He was on the ground, facedown.
I turned to see Haunter, but he wasn't there. In his place was a pile of dark dust and a blackened smudge on the ground.
I turned to look at Sabrina. Her corpse was nothing more than dust on the ground.
I turned Kiwi and June, who were huddled together, shivering in fear.
I stood up slowly and walked towards them. The item Kadabra gave me was clenched in my fist.
They looked at me in fear.
"Let's get out of here," I told them. I walked back to the only exit I knew. The door where Sabrina had entered from. I walked across the gym, past Kadabra. Past the remains of Haunter. Past the remains of Sabrina.
I barely saw the door. I reached out and grabbed the groove I saw in the door. A handle. I pulled it but the door didn't budge. I gave it as strong of a tug as I could and it finally opened a little. I turned to June and Kiwi, who were still back on the other side of the room. "Are you two coming or what?" I asked quietly.
They stared at me for a moment before looking to each other. Then they stood up slowly and shakily but quickly walked past Kadabra, Haunter, and Sabrina. When they reached me, they stopped and looked back. June turned to me and stared me in my eyes, her eyes filled with fear. "What about Kadabra?" she whispered.
"He's dead," I replied.
"What?" June whispered loudly.
"That battle was a battle to the death," I replied. "Kadabra won. But Haunter used Destiny Bond and took Kadabra with him. They both died. Sabrina hasn't been alive for years. Haunter took over her body and she eventually died. She was just appearing to be alive to us. Like the house Hoothoot and Kadabra flew through earlier. It looked nice, but it was just an illusion. Sabrina was just a zombie, more or less. Kadabra killed her when she grabbed me just now. He killed his own trainer. Well, maybe not killed. She was already dead." I looked Kiwi and June in their eyes seriously. "Can you imagine? The only one you ever loved and truly knew, dead. And then you have to be the one to ultimately destroy them."
Kiwi and June didn't say a word. They stared down at the ground.
I walked through the door and June and Kiwi followed.
The door slammed heavily and loudly behind us. We walked down the hallway only a couple of steps before the building began to show its true colors. It deteriorated and looked crumbled. I stared in awe but wasn't truly surprised.
This gym was an illusion too, I thought. It's just an abandoned old building now.
Kiwi and June gasped behind me and grabbed my arms.
"I know, I know," I said before they could say anything. "Expect things to get worse when we get outside."
Soon enough, we stood outside.
The three of us stared at Saffron City. The trees looked to be the only things alive. And the sounds of voices screaming somewhere.
Nothing in this suburban area looked nice anymore. Everything was dead. The houses were destroyed. The gardens were filled with weeds and dead flowers and other filth.
A couple of people were running out of the houses, screaming.
"MY WIFE! MY WIFE IS DEAD!" one man screamed as he ran past us.
"MY HOUSE!!! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY HOUSE!!" another man yelled, staring at his house from the outside.
People from the city area of Saffron were running towards the suburbs while people from the suburbs were running towards the city. Everyone was in a huge panic.
The illusions had fooled everyone, I thought. People had built their entire lives around an illusion. Businesses, family, friends. And now, the city is in a panic as the truth is being revealed.
"Nurse Joy! She just died!!" a woman cried, running from the city towards the suburb.
"His head just fell off right in front of me! Call the police!" another man screamed in a panic.
A city full of dead people and decaying buildings, I thought. Hidden so well, now so abruptly revealed for what it really is.
June and Kiwi suddenly gasped loudly as the smell of dead bodies began to rise throughout the city.
We all covered our noses as best as we could, but the smell was everywhere.
"We need to get out of here!" I yelled. "Come on!" I led the way toward the city. I looked for the Town Map as we ran, and upon finding it, I looked frantically at it. "THIS WAY!" I screamed, my voice muffled by my shirt covering my nose and mouth, making an abrupt turn.
Kiwi and June turned to follow me as I led them out of Saffron City.
Away from death.
Away from memories that would forever haunt us for the rest of our lives.
We ran as fast as we could out of Saffron City.
As we ran, I held the item Kadabra had given me tight in my fist.
Thank you, Kadabra, I thought to myself. Thank you. And you're welcome. You're welcome. And I love you too, my friend. Thank you for everything.
As me, June, and Kiwi ran, I gripped tight in my hand the item Kadabra had left with me.
As the three of us ran away from the horrors of Saffron City, I held tight in my hand, the Marsh Badge.

 

[MandiTheAstounding]

Chapter 20: Adieu. Adieu

The silence was driving me insane.
I usually was driven mad by June talking nonstop about any and everything under the sun and prayed for quiet. But right now, it was the silence I was wishing were gone.
Kiwi.
June.
Me.
We had run away from Saffron City and all the evil and now revealed secrets it held. We ran until our feet couldn't take us any further and we all collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily.
June had walked away somewhere in the woods. I hadn't been able to see her and she didn't say where she was going.
I didn't ask.
Kiwi also had stood up and walked into the woods opposite of June and disappeared.
I didn't ask.
I decided to release my Pokémon and feed them. I knew they had to be starving by now.
I didn't eat. I had no appetite whatsoever. I just watched them eat.
They all seemed to be ok, but oddly quiet as well. I had a feeling they knew what had happened. Or had some idea that things weren't right.
Hoothoot was behaving especially odd. I couldn't explain it, but he just seemed to be just a bit indifferent. A little less of the way he usually is. He wasn't turning his head in circles or switching his feet as often. He seemed to be thinking. He kept looking up at me and looking away once our eyes met.
Everything had changed since Saffron City.
After they had eaten, I sat in the grass for a while in silence. The only thing on my mind was what had occurred at Saffron.
The entire city. The surburbs. Most of the people in the town even. All illusions and zombies.
'MY WIFE! MY WIFE IS DEAD!' the man's voice rang in my head. A man's wife had been dead for who knows how long and he only just now found out suddenly.
Houses and buildings that looked beautiful and intact; destroyed in the blink of an eye. Everything revealed for what it truly was.
I opened my palm and stared at the badge in my hand. I remembered Kadabra holding his fist out to me and giving me the Marsh Badge. The badge signifying I had defeated the gym leader of Saffron City.
I remembered my battle with Kadabra with my Hoothoot.
I remembered Sabrina, a zombie, exploding in a cloud of dead dust as she attempted to bite me.
I remembered Kadabra's finally memory of Sabrina.
My eyes began to tear up.
I heard footsteps and wiped my eyes quickly, then turned around to see June step into the clearing. I didn't ask where she had been. I just stared at her for a moment before looking at the ground.
There was silence for quite a while before I heard footsteps from my other side and saw Kiwi. She stood still and stared at me and June before looking away.
We all remained still and silent. Neither of us had said a thing since running away from Saffron.
I stood up after some time and walked forward. June and Kiwi followed me a moment later. We simply walked on quietly.
A sparrow tweeted peacefully in a tree near us. A squirrel was watching us warily from the side of a tree trunk. As we got closer, it scurried up the tree trunk quickly.
The silence was maddening, but every time I considered opening my mouth, I changed my mind and decided not to speak. I wondered if Kiwi and June were doing the same thing.
I looked out the corner of my eye at June. I then looked over to Kiwi. I turned my entire head when I saw her face was covered in tears. I stopped and gently grabbed her shoulder. "Ki-" I started to say.
"Don't touch me!" Kiwi screamed, shaking herself away from me.
I backed away in shock.
"Leave me alone!" Kiwi shouted.
June had stopped walking and was staring at us in shock.
"Huh…?" I said.
Tears flowed down Kiwi's cheeks. She didn't bother wiping them. She let them flow. "I wanna go home," she whimpered. "I wanna go back to Pallet Town. I don't wanna continue this journey anymore. I don't think I can do this any further."
I didn't say anything to this.
None of us moved.
Kiwi continued to cry silently.
A bird flew overhead from a tree branch. I didn't see what kind of bird, nor did I care to look.
"Kiwi," I said after a long time. "I'm so sorry."
She glared at me angrily. "What's that gonna do?" she said angrily. "Huh?"
I stared back silently. Sadly.
"I never decided to become a Pokémon trainer for this, Gary," she continued. "This wasn't a part of the deal! It wasn't supposed to be like this! I need time to myself now… I can't think straight anymore!" She grabbed the sides of her head with her hands and closed her eyes tight. Tears flowed down faster than ever, continuously. Her head lowered and she fell to her knees.
"Kiwi!" June cried out, running to her.
June knelt down next to her, but Kiwi stood up and backed away from her, looking at her angrily.
"Kiwi!" June cried, hurt.
"No!" Kiwi shouted. "Stay away from me! Both of you! I don't want to be around you two! I just need time to myself! Alone! I don't even know if I want these Pokémon anymore!"
June stared at Kiwi with eyes full of tears, her mouth hanging open.
I stared at Kiwi sadly, helplessly.
"When June walked off and I went off," Kiwi started. "I wanted to feed my Pokémon, but by myself. I needed time with them. Alone. But I didn't know what to do or to say. I just stared at them. Watched them eat. I wanted to speak to them but I didn't know where to begin! All I wanted to do was run. Leave them there and run away. Run and never stop until I reached Pallet Town again. Then hug my mom and cry. Cry forever!" It seemed like her entire face was soaked in tears by now. She just wouldn't stop crying.
"Oh Kiwi," June said quietly. "I did that same thing…"
Me and Kiwi both turned to look at June in shock.
June looked down to the ground and nodded. "I went into the woods to feed my Pokémon and have a bit of time with them alone," June said. "I wanted to get my feelings across to them. That I'm no good of a trainer. That the Pokémon lifestyle may just not be for me after all…"
"What are you both talking about?" I snapped. I was getting really angry with these two. "I don't even understand what is going on right now!"
"What don't you get, Gary?" Kiwi snapped back.
I turned to her and saw that she had fire in her eyes. She looked ready to attack me.
"We all were nearly killed you idiot!" she continued to yell. "We just barely escaped the first time, and then we went back a second time and saw the most violent, brutal Pokémon battle I'd ever seen in my freaking life! And to top it off, my very first Pokémon was killed by that… zombie woman! Or by Haunter! Or whatever the hell that was! Don't tell me you still want to continue traveling!"
"That isn't what the Pokémon life is like!" I shouted back. "It's not like that! That was just a crazy mishap. That isn't a normal occurrence! It was bad, yes, but that isn't how our journey will be!"
"No, Gary. That IS how the Pokémon lifestyle is!" June shouted.
I turned to her.
"That entire situation was about a gym leader who became possessed," June said, standing up and moving a step closer to me. I could see the fire in her eyes now, too. "And guess what possessed her? A Pokémon! That Pokémon controlled an entire city!! This is what happens in the Pokémon world, Gary! People die on this journey, Gary! Kids, adults, it just isn't safe! This whole lifestyle is dangerous, Gary! And it's because of Pokémon!"
I didn't say anything, but I was instantly reminded of the group of people in Pewter City who had said almost the same thing June had just said. The three guys who had tried to bomb the Pokémon Center with an exploding Graveler. Was there some truth to what they had said? Yes. Of course. The answer to that was obvious. It didn't give them a right to kill Pokémon, but I kind of understood what they were saying a little more now.
I stood there, facing the two girls' angry glares. Their expressions finally softened after a while, just a little.
"So, what are you two going to do?" I asked.
They stared at each other, and then looked to the ground.
"I don't know," June muttered.
"I need to be alone," Kiwi mumbled. "Think to myself. I need to think everything over. I need to head back to Pallet Town… I think. I'm just not sure…"
"Kiwi," I said.
She looked at me.
I stared back.
"Please, travel with me," I told her.
Her tear filled eyes squinted just a bit as she stared at me.
"Until you decide exactly what you want to do," I continued. "Don't just go all the way back home after all you've been through on your journey. We can all make it. Together. Please, Kiwi."
Tears seemed to be flowing down her face even faster at my words. Her fists were balled tight at her sides, shaking.
"Kiwi, I'm so sorry," I said. "I am. I can't empathize, but I am sorry. Please. Travel with me to the next city at least. Let's find a phone and talk to Prof. Oak about everything that happened. Please. Kiwi, please." I could feel my eyes getting teary and my vision blurring behind the water.
"Kiwi, I can empathize," June said.
Kiwi looked at June, her eyes wide in surprise.
I couldn't bare to look at June.
"I lost a Pokémon, too," June said. "I lost… my Pokémon…" June suddenly fell to her knees and covered her face, crying very loudly.
I turned my back on June, looking at the ground. I saw a couple of drops of water land on the ground before me. My eyes couldn't hold in the tears any longer.
"I lost… my… friend…" June said, sobbing heavily as she said her words.
I heard Kiwi walk quickly over to June. "I'm so sorry, June," Kiwi said, sadness heavy in her voice.
"I just…" June said, still sobbing very loudly. "Haven't expressed… my feelings properly… since it happened…. I mean… I did a few… times but… I never talked about it…"
"June, you can talk to me about it," Kiwi said, sniffling beside June.
"No, I… I just…" June stopped talking and continued to sob.
I continued to watch as droplets of salty water fell and hit the dirt below me.
"It's ok, June," Kiwi said. "I understand. You don't have to talk about it. It's ok. Come here."
I heard more crying, but I didn't turn around. I stared straight down, watching the tears hit the ground beneath me.
I began to think about everything I had been through on my journey so far. The dangers I'd faced ever since my first meeting with my Charmeleon, back when he was a Charmander. My attack against the gang of Mankey. My encounters with the swarm of Beedrill. My three failed attempts of winning at the Pewter Gym and the pain my Pokémon had to go through during that battle. My encounter with the dangerous group of individuals who tried to blow up the Pokémon Center. My difficulties with the Ghost Pokémon in Obsidian City. The group of Pokémon thieves we ran into in External Cave. Our run in with the Psychic Pokémon on our way to Saffron City. The unforgettable horrors of Saffron City itself…
Maybe they were right… Maybe we all should just head out of here and go home. Go back to school and pursue other ventures in life that won't put us in such dangers as the life of a Pokémon trainer does.
I slowly knelt down and pulled out the Town Map. We left Saffron and were heading in the direction towards Cerulean City. I had intended on going back to Celadon City and continuing straight past to Fuchsia City. The faster path would've been just to go back through Saffron and taking that mountain again with the Psychic Pokémon, but that was definitely not going to happen. The path to Celadon through this route was much longer, but at the time, we didn't have much time to think it through.
Cerulean City was the faster route to get to Pallet Town. It led to Mt. Moon, which eventually emptied out into Pewter City, and that led right to Viridian Forest, Viridian City, and a short while later, good old Pallet Town.
I sighed quietly. I guess this was the end of my Pokémon journey after all…
I thought about Robin. I wondered what he was doing right now. Aly. What was she up to? I suddenly realized we all were having problems on our journey. Aly with her Ivysaur. Robin with his Squirtle. Aly and Robin didn't have any issues too severe compared to what happened to Kiwi and me, but we all were going through something that could effectively change our Pokémon journey. And maybe Robin and Aly were going through something similar to what me and Kiwi were. Or worse.
My heart began to pound a little faster at the thought that my dearest friends could be in some serious trouble somewhere.
Or maybe they had even quit being Pokémon trainers and had gone home, I thought. Maybe they even went to Saffron City…
I tried to remember if they had ever made any mention of coming to Saffron City. I couldn't remember. Drops of water landed on my Town Map. I blinked and more tears fell onto it.
I was scared.
I suddenly noticed I couldn't hear any crying from June or Kiwi. I still stared down at the Town Map, my back turned to them. I stared down at the map for a while longer before folding it up and putting it away. I stood up and turned around.
Kiwi and June had been sitting in grass, holding each other, looking mournful and depressed, eyes red from crying. They both looked up at me.
I stared back sternly. I opened my mouth to tell them what I had decided. "I'm ready to go back to Pallet Town. I'm going to release my Pokémon," I tried to say. But the words got caught in my throat. After all the hell these creatures had put me through, what reason did I have to keep them?
I pictured my Mankey, soaked in blood, reaching up to touch my beaten face as Officer Jenny drove us to the Pokémon Center. Charmander, battling to defend me against the Beedrill swarm in Viridian Forest. My frustrating, but in hindsight, fairly funny struggle when trying to capture Hoothoot. I recalled Charmander's struggle to continue fighting when battling Misdreavus and us earning our mysterious Dimensia badge. Me meeting June, who I may never have met if I hadn't decided to become a Pokémon trainer. Me winning my second badge from June. I even managed to touch my Beedrill in congratulations for all of his hard work, which resulted in my Metapod evolving and getting closer with me as well. Then, our third badge was won in Celadon City thanks to Hoothoot's incredible courage, strength, and determination.
My friends who went through everything with me. Could I really just abandon them like that? Could I just give up on their dreams like that? Our dreams?
"I choose you!" I shouted. "Everybody!"
All six of my Pokémon appeared from their thrown Pokéballs and stared at me happily.
I stared back seriously. "Everyone, and especially Hoothoot," I said. "Me, June, and Kiwi all just went through a traumatic experience not long ago. We were certainly almost killed. During my journey as a Pokémon trainer, I've put some of you through absolute torture alongside myself at times. I'm sorry for that. I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing, but I don't want to put you guys through anymore crap just for me. I was thinking of quitting my journey to become a Pokémon master."
Charmeleon, Primeape, Hoothoot, Beedrill, Metapod, Dugtrio, June, and Kiwi all gasped in surprise.
Charmeleon took two steps forward to me before I continued. "But I can't!" I exclaimed. "I won't! I won't give up so easily. This is the life I chose and I won't back down that easily! I love you guys! All of you! But you don't deserve to deal with what we've gone through together so far! You deserve much better! I want to be that better person and trainer for you all. But only if you want me to be. I admit, I'm scared. And I'll make many, many mistakes. And I don't want any of you guys to be put in danger because of my stupidity. So please, if you guys want out, I encourage you to go. I don't know what else I will have to face ahead. It can't be much worse than what happened in Saffron, but who knows. I don't blame any of you if you decide to go. Honest. In fact, maybe you all should go, and if I want to explore this dangerous world so badly on my own, I should just go travel by myself and not put you guys in danger." I lowered my head and closed my eyes, afraid of what may happen. I wanted my friends to be safe, but I was afraid I may lose my friends too.
Something landed heavily on my shoulder. Before I could open my eyes, something jabbed me several times in the head. "Ouch!" I opened my eyes, but I knew who it was. "Hoothoot!" I smiled.
"Hoot! Hoooot!" Hoothoot hooted eagerly, and then pecked me again.
"Hey, come on now!" I laughed. "Wait. Is that a good peck? Or a bad one?"
Hoothoot flew high into the sky and soared around for a moment before landing back on my shoulder and pecking me again.
"Ow, Hoothoot! Cut it out or its back in the Pokéball for you!" I laughed again. "I think I get it. You want to stay with me?"
Hoothoot hooted again with excitement.
The next thing I knew, I was being tackled to the ground! My Pokémon were all on top of me, showing me love and affection.
My eyes filled with immediate tears. "Hoothoot! Beedrill! Butterfree! Dugtrio! Primeape! Charmeleon! All of you? You all want to stay with me?"
They all let out a loud cheer and smiled.
I reached out and hugged them all as best as I could. I didn't even care if I was touching Beedrill and Butterfree. I just closed my eyes and hugged whoever I could grab. "Thank you. My friends. Now, it really is a Pokémon journey. Me, and my Pokémon. Me, and my friends. Thank you. Let's never give up on our dreams. Let's accomplish them all. Or fail miserably. But together. OW!" I opened my eyes and saw Hoothoot Peck me.
My Pokémon all laughed.
I laughed too, though that beak really hurting me now. My laughter ended once I noticed June and Kiwi. June was smiling, her eyes full of admiration. Kiwi was looking blankly at us, no emotion shown, her eyes showing me that she was in another world right now, lost in thought.
My Pokémon stopped laughing as I stood up and walked over to Kiwi.
Kiwi seemed to snap out of her daze. She stared at my six Pokémon. Then Kiwi looked down at her belt. At her five Pokéballs. When she looked back up to stare at my six Pokémon, her eyes were full of tears again. She glared at my Pokémon. She then stood up and let out a loud scream that scared the birds from the trees, the other little animals and Pokémon on the ground running for safety.
Silence.
"I'm so tired of crying," Kiwi said quietly. "I just want to die! I… can't…" She looked me dead in the eyes. My heart froze at her glance. It was filled with so much pain and emotion. I couldn't stand to look her in the eyes, but I couldn't look away, either. "I'm sorry, Gary. I think I may have to see you again another time. Some other day. When you come back to Pallet and are a great Pokémon master." She forced a smile on her face, but her flowing eyes told a different story. "I'm sorry, Gary."
I opened my mouth as she turned around. "Goodbye, June," Kiwi said quickly before covering her face and running.
"KIWI!" June shouted, running forward after her.
Kiwi ran as fast as she could. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" she shouted as she kept running, crying.
June stopped running and stood there, watching her.
Kiwi ran and eventually was out of sight, crying the entire time.
June turned to me and ran forward, crying. She grabbed me and cried on my shirt.
I didn't push her away. I let her cry. I wrapped my arms around her gently and let her cry.

I was staring up at the night sky, lying in my sleeping bag.
June was several feet away, lying in hers, fast asleep.
Oh, Kiwi, I thought. I was looking up at the stars with tears overflowing from my eyes. The tears rolled down my cheeks and some ended up in my ears.
It had been several hours since Kiwi left our group. Me and June had eventually continued our walk forward. We walked for about an hour before deciding to rest again. After a few hours more of walking and resting and having brief moments for snacks, we decided to call it a night in a nice clearing. June had gone to feed her Pokémon and be alone for a very long time. By the time she had come back, I had already fed my Pokémon, had eaten already, and was in my sleeping bag. June then got inside of her sleeping bag and hadn't say a word since.
I was so wide awake, I didn't think I'd fall asleep tonight. I wiped my eyes. Kiwi, I thought. I'm so sorry.
I wished Kiwi had decided to stay. But I didn't blame her for leaving. All of her hard work, for nothing. Her four badges were all she had to show for it. She was halfway to her goal.
I know Kiwi had been on her way to Saffron City anyway, but I still blamed myself for what happened to her Pidgeotto. But who knows what could've happened if we hadn't all gone together. Would Kadabra have appeared for Kiwi? Would Kiwi and Kadabra have been enough to stop Haunter? Would me, June, and Kadabra have been enough to stop Haunter? Were the three of us necessary? Was it all just me?
I sighed, staring up at the twinkling stars on this beautiful night, my thoughts getting deeper by the second, showing no signs of stopping.

I didn't sleep. I've only thought about… well… everything I've been through since I met you, Gary. You are a truly amazing and utterly astounding human being and a blessing to the Pokémon world. I truly mean that, Gary. I, on the other hand, still have tons to learn about Pokémon and am an utter disappointment to everyone I come in contact with. I guess I now have one more person to add to that list. You. But you won't be the last, I'm sure of that. I've never been very good at goodbyes, as you may know. You saw how I left Gringey City without a word. Now, I must do the same thing to you I'm afraid. I don't think I can be of any assistance to you anyway. I think I'm only getting in your way and making you feel uncomfortable. And now, I'm just making excuses and trying to justify me leaving so rudely and abruptly, so I'll cut the crap. You deserve that much from me, Gary. And much more. You truly do have my utmost respect. I can't deny that I am terrified of anything more occurring on this journey like that which happened in Saffron City. And even the other stories you've told me, like what happened with Charmander and the Mankey, scare me. I'm just a big coward I suppose… I'm not sure where I'll be running off to. I can't go back to Gringey City. I can't go back to Vermillion City. But I'll find my own way. I promise. Don't worry about me. I'll find my place in this world and I'll find… myself. My poor, lost little self. Thank you for everything, Gary.

I reread the note at least twenty times in shock. It had begun to rain by about the eighteenth time. I leaned over the letter to protect it and read it the final two times, and then I crumbled it up. I thought I was angry at first, but I soon realized I wasn't. I was hurt. My two friends had just abandoned me. I felt like I could cry. I folded up the letter carefully and put it in my bag.
I stared up at the muggy sky, rain hitting my face. I loved the rain. Something about it drew something out of me. Made me feel good in a way. Not today. In fact, I felt miserable. Right now, I truly wanted to release my Pokémon and go back to Pallet Town and stay there forever. But no. My friends may have abandoned me, but I wouldn't abandon my friends. My Pokémon. Our dreams.
I may have been crying. I couldn't tell with the rain pouring down on me. I had an umbrella, but screw it. Why use it at all? I truly didn't care anymore. I let the downpour of rain soak me through my clothes as I walked along. I was cold in no time, but I didn't care.
Apparently nobody else cared, so why should I give a damn about myself.
I was walking along the path, unsure of exactly where I was or where I was headed.
It was raining.
I was soaked in the downpour of rain.
My face was soaked in water.
My eyes were blurred from the rain in my eyes.
But I knew.
I was crying.