"Now, to get your Pokemon to attack, you shout it's name and the attack you want it to use...like this"
Misty turned to face her Starmie and commanded it to use surf on the floating target in the middle of the bay. The Starmie hesitated for a moment, registering the command. Then, it gracefully fell into the water, barely making a splash. Suddenly, it started pumping gallons of water towards the target, creating a wave that blocked it from sight. As the wave crashed into it, it was pounded by a sudden, overwhelming onslaught of water. As the wave withdrew, the target was nowhere to be seen.
I sighed. Misty was an
excellent tutor, but my heart wasn't in it, and no teacher could
possibly give me the same enthusiasm that hands-on, fully solo
adventures in the wild would give me. "What's up?" she asked
me.
I looked up. "Nothing.." I trailed. By now, she knew me
well enough to know exactly what I was feeling.
"Don't worry about it. I understand." She answered the question I couldn't bear to ask. "Here" she said, reaching a Pokeball from her backpack. "Take this. I've been expecting this moment anyway.." I reached out to take it from her, as she looked away. It was one of those rare moments where both people fully understand the situation, but neither of them knows what to do.
"Thanks.." I said awkwardly. I leant forward, giving her a hug. "You've been a great tutor."
"I'm not that great, Matt." She sighed, pulling out of the hug. "If I was, we wouldn't be skipping to this part of the process already."
"If
you weren't, we wouldn't be at this part of the process already."
I pointed out. She laughed.
"You've got a point, I suppose."
She started to walk back towards Cerulean. "Keep in touch." She
said.
"You can count on it" I muttered, as I watched her
walking away.
I stood silently for a minute or so, considering the depth of what I'd just started. A Wingull flying overhead brought me out of my thoughts and back into the real world with a crash. I glanced at the red Pokeball nested in my hand. Gingerly, I threw it on to the sand. With a sound that would become all too familiar soon enough, I watched as a little red crab emerged from a flash of light. I smiled. Trust Misty.
The crab walked towards me slowly, trying to judge me. I carefully lowered my hand, which it met with one of its claws. It was far softer than I had imagined – part of me had been expecting to have lost a finger and be in a lot of pain right now. It shook my finger a few times, then moved onto my hand and started climbing my arm. I watched amazed as it made its way past my shoulder and settled wrapped around my neck. Words didn't need to be spoken. I'd made a new friend.
"I thought you'd never ask!" exclaimed my mother. I was shocked; no one could have predicted that she'd say that. "I was beginning to think you'd be happy living here all your life…" she trailed off. I noted the underlying hatred of our house here, but chose to pass comment.
"Was this Ireally/I all you got from Misty?" My dad asked cheekily. I blushed. Everyone in town thought we were more than just friends.
"Dad!" I exclaimed. "For the last time, we're just good friends."
"Sure you are son. Good for you. Women just cause you nothing but trouble. Anyway, what's the deal with this thing anyway?" He glanced at the Krabby with a slight look of hatred. The Krabby didn't take too kindly to this and drew back, ready to fight. I looked at it sharply and it relaxed again.
"It's a Krabby, dad. One of my favourite Pokemon?.." I said.
"Why couldn't you have gotten something awesome? Like a Staryu or a Dratini or something?" he asked.
"Dad, no-one's seen a Dratini in Kanto for years, and I hate Staryu. They feel weird." I replied. "Anyway, so what do I need for this wee expedition?"
Wee
expedition was hardly a fitting description. I was leaving home for a
long time. I'd need a few things.
"Oh, don't you worry
about that. I've got it covered." My mum answered. She walked out
of the room, emerging moments later with a backpack that looked like
it was about to explode. "There's loads of stuff here. Food, a
tent, some cooking equipment, change of clothes and shoes, a nice
warm coat…" she listed off a few things from the top of the bag;
doubtless there were countless more layers of things I'd never use
hidden underneath. I took the bag, thanking her as I went. Time for a
reshuffle.
By the time I'd finished repacking the bag, I'd lightened it quite a bit. I'd taken out the tent, the utensils, a large coat, several CDs and various other bits and pieces. Now all that remained were two full changes of clothing, three belts, a sleeping bag, a laptop computer that I'd modified a bit to be able to connect to the internet anywhere and charge efficiently using solar power, a notebook full of blank paper and a couple of pens. I also had an iPod, my wallet and my phone to carry in my pockets. "Are you sure you won't need this stuff? I don't want you buying it again in some market because you couldn't be bothered to carry it for a while." My mother asked. I assured her that I wouldn't, and settled in to bed. It would be a while until I did this again…
Ten Days later, somewhere on Route 9:
A twig cracked and snapped as I walked over it. Although I'd been walking in the mountains for days, I still jumped in surprise. I'd never get used to it. I looked down at my belt. There was the red Pokeball containing the little red crab, Krabby. Well, it wasn't quite so little any more. It had grown and could barely walk up my arm anymore, let alone settle around my neck. I sighed, thinking about what had happened in the past few days. A false start, after I had to turn back a day in to my adventure having forgotten my wallet, my phone and my iPod. Krabby had been in quite a few battles with Rattata and Spearow, but didn't seem to be suffering at all from all the fighting. In fact, it seemed to feed on it, growing stronger as it fought more. Already, it had learned one of Mistys favourite attacks, bubblebeam. When I told her she didn't seem surprised. I decided it was better not to ask why.
Another twig snapped. This time it wasn't me stepping on it. I turned around to see a beast of a man, almost as big as a mountain, peering down at me. He was dressed in proper mountain gear, and carried a sturdy looking walking stick with him. I glanced at his belt, and my expression dropped slightly as I saw three Pokeballs attached to it. The hiker laughed and threw one at the ground not far from me. I blinked as a burst of life hit my eyes, and when I reopened them there was a rock with arms, a mouth and two eyes lying still on the ground. A Geodude. I smiled slightly and released Krabby from its ball. Without thinking, I ordered it to use Bubblebeam and the Geodude was assaulted by a barrage of bubbles.
"Whoa, Nelly!" exclaimed the hiker with a hearty chuckle. "You're a bit eager!" he said, struggling to contain his laughter. I winced. The hiker hadn't been looking for a battle at all.