"Damn! I'm getting tired of all of this running, where is the end of this route?" AJ shouted in exasperation.
He decided to slow his pace; he'd been running for several miles since earlier, and figured that he had broken free of his pursuers for now. That and just ahead there seemed to be an overgrown pasture of tall grass;he really didn't want to take any chances with running into wild Pokémon.
Though he had no idea where he was on the route, AJ couldn't help but admire how pleasant the surrounding area seemed. Although still a small bit mountainous and rocky, Route 112 had a lot to offer in term of wildlife as well. There was a lush and healthy forest growing on one side of the path, and With every breath he took, AJ could taste the fresh, ash free air. The afternoon sun was warm, but coupled with his sweatshirt It was a little much.
As he walked, AJ took off his sweatshirt and tied it around his waist, revealing a tattered and filthy white tee shirt; at least he thought it had been white. Just then Cypher appeared, hovering next to hom as they made their way into the tall grass. The Shuppet was keeping watch for anything odd as they crossed. Not more A hundred feet into the Grass, Cypher hovered down near AJ; he seemed to have noticed something.
"Shup!" He warned, only to concern AJ.
"What is it?" AJ stopped walking and asked, hoping that he didn't have to deal with another blundering pursuer.
Just then, a small hand reached through a particularly dense bit of grass; grasping onto his sweatshirt, the hand stripped it right off of his waist with ease. The small creature retreated into the thick grass from whence it came.
"Hey get back here you Bastard! That's my sweatshirt!" AJ Called after the runt, whoever it was; immediately giving chase. After all, no one steals his beloved sweatshirt, not even this scrawny little thief.
As the chase kept up, AJ became more and more restless, knowing that he was losing precious time. Time that his attackers could be monopolizing on; He knew he had to end this frivolous game of cat and mouse. Deciding to cut the thief off in the open road, AJ moved out to the other side of the Grassy area, and he called for Cypher to herd the stranger into the road where they could finish what they had started.
Once he made it to the open ground, AJ gave the go, and Cypher went to work. He began Attacking Sporadically, diverting his prey. It began to take effect as the runner quickly chose a new direction and they Bee lined straight for AJ; who stood ready for the stranger, preparing to tackle them as soon as they emerged from the grass.
He soon got his chance when the humanoid burst into the clearing, Cypher still hot on his tail. AJ Leaped onto the oddly small person, Squeezing tightly, only to receive a powerful Kick to the stomach. He immediately let go, falling to the ground in pain. Cypher boxed the attacker in as he took a second to recover.
After a few seconds, AJ had begun to stand himself up once more; as he did, he came face to face with an odd looking humanoid Pokémon. The Pokémon was small, sgrey and its only distinguishing features were three pale yellow, vertical ridges atop its head.
He'd never seen a Pokémon like this, but regardless the problem still remained. The small grey Pokémon was holding onto HIS sweatshirt, the very shirt that has been with him through thick and thin.
"Cypher use Will-O-Wisp!" He shouted, trying to buy time to think of something to do.
The attack missed, and at that moment AJ realized that it may be a foolish idea to use fire near his sweatshirt. He ordered Cypher to attack using Shadow sneak instead.
A few moments went by, and the Pokemon seemed to put up a rather stout defense. AJ was becoming restless, but what could he do? Just then a crazy thought passed through his mind, but it was just crazy enough to work.
He began to dig through his rucksack, and there it was. His hand firmly grasped one of the Pokéballs he had stolen earlier. He had thought that if he caught the persistent Pokémon he'd be able to get his sweatshirt back.
His hand firmly grasped the Pokéball and turned towards the Pokemon; a tingling feeling slowly began to emanate from inside his stomach. He had never caught his own Pokémon before, So many questions arose, things that he wished to be answered, things like: whether the strange Pokémon would be friendly, or would it hate him. So many things swirled in his thoughts, but he decided that he could fool himself into overcoming the hurdle by using his sweatshirt as the reason for doing so.
"Here goes nothing!" He shouted, chucking the ball at the Pokémon.
The Ball flew through the air and by luck, it hit the Pokémon right in the head; absorbing it inside, via a red aurora. The ball fell to the ground and shook violently for several moments; finally it settled down and sealed.
AJ stood in amazement, he'd never caught a Pokémon in his life and His very first lay only meters away. Adrenaline still flowing, He walked over to the ball, and picked it up. He examined the ball, and just then Cypher popped up inches away from the ball as well. He seemed to examine the ball and then shifted his inquisitive stare toward AJ.
"It's ok; this one is legitimately our friend, we'll be able to travel together" He happily announced, Cypher registered the happiness, and seemed ecstatic.
AJ suddenly realized where he was, and how much time had been wasting when he could have been running. Cursing the setback under his breath, he hooked the Pokéball onto his belt and beckoned Cypher to follow him as they continued their run to Route 111. As they ran, he couldn't help but to feel kind of happy the strange Pokémon stole his sweatshirt; he wondered if every trainer felt the same way, every time they caught a Pokémon for themselves.
----------------------------------------
After several hours melted away, AJ found himself staring into the face of hope. The face was in fact a sign, which read:
Route 111 Head south to Mauville, West to Route 112.
Just beyond the sign, there was a house that looked sort of like a rest stop. He decided that he ought to rest a little, and get acquainted with both of the Pokémon he had come to receive earlier in the day. He casually walked to the door knocked, being greeted by an old woman.
"Well hello there! Do you need to take a break? For 50
I'll let you stay here and rest as long as you please" She greeted in a rather gentle tone.
"Sure, just let me pay up front." AJ responded, reaching into his stolen money and retrieving what seemed to him a small fortune.
Shaking off the shock of having to spend a tiny portion of the money he had lifted; AJ paid the old woman and walked inside. There was a sandy brown haired man whom looked no taller or older than he was, who seemed to be absent mindedly eating snacks on the couch. He decided to avoid the young man, and immediately headed to the restroom. For 50
He was going to take a shower and borrow the washing machine to get a quick load of laundry done as well. Then He could sit down and figure everything out.
----------------------------------------
AJ was amazed at how much of a difference a simple shower and some clean clothes made him look. His shirt was no longer a nasty brownish grey but a stark white. His jeans looked new other than their many mends. His face wasn't greasy and grimy, and his hair looked a tad better; though he knew he needed a haircut as soon as they made it to Mauville. Above all he looked a lot less like an old hobo and more like an actual member of society.
After getting dressed, he walked back into the rest of the house. Just then One thought passed through his mind, He had been so happy for catching the strange Pokémon that he forgot all about his sweatshirt, when in fact the sweatshirt was absorbed into the ball with the Pokémon.
*Crap!* he thought, conceding that in fact so far today, that little thief had been able to best him.
