Crack. "Did you hear that?" Heather asked uncertainly as the two made their way to Cherrygrove, Free's home town.
"Hear what?" Free replied, looking around frantically while the goggles he wore on his head shifted around in his hair.
"I heard something snap and I've been getting that creepy feeling someone is watching us," she answered nervously.
"Chikorita, prepare. Just in case," Free whispered to his Pokémon.
"Chika…" Chikorita growled, looking around for any sign of danger.
"Coo-coo-coo…" A Pidgey flew out from behind a bush.
"It was only a Pidgey, Heather," Free said, sighing.
"Oh, that's good. I felt like someone was watching us," she replied, even though she wasn't too sure it was just a Pidgey.
Ring ring. Ring ring. Heather reached in her pocket and pulled out her PokéGear.
"Hello, Professor Elm!" She answered cheerily.
"Yes. Hello, Heather?" He replied sounding very stressed. "We're having a bit of crisis at the lab. It seems someone broke in and stole a Pokémon I had received from Professor Rowan in the Sinnoh region. A few people came in to tell me that they had seen a redheaded boy staring into the lab window earlier, and a few said they saw a redheaded boy fleeing from the lab just minutes ago."
"So do you want us to be on the lookout for him?" Heather asked, getting scared.
"Yes, but I'd advise you to stay away. He could be dangerous," Professor Elm warned. "But call me if you see anyone like that."
"We will, Professor," she replied, and ended the call.
"What happened?" Free asked.
"A Pokémon got stolen from Professor Elm's lab. He said a lot of people told him it was a redheaded boy, and we're supposed to lookout for him," Heather said as they continued walking. Minutes passed while they were both thinking about the red headed thief.
"So what's Cherrygrove like?" Heather asked after awhile. She had never been there because her mom had never allowed her to go there on her own.
"It's really beautiful. The people are nice, it has a pretty river, and−" Free was cut off by shouting coming from behind a few trees.
"Chimchar, scratch it!" A boy's voice yelled angrily.
"Caw… caw…" a Pidgey called in distress.
"Burn it with ember!" He called to his Pokémon.
Free and Heather quietly pushed their way through the bushes and trees to watch. There was a redheaded boy standing in a small clearing in the trees, ordering a Pokémon to hurt the poor bird. The Pidgey was badly hurt.
"Hey, you! Why are you being so mean to that Pidgey?" Free demanded, stepping forward from behind the tree. The redheaded boy called his Pokémon back to him before turning around to face the two friends. Heather also stepped up from behind the tree, holding on to her necklace, not knowing if she'd need her Totodile to defend her.
"What's it to you?" The boy rudely replied.
"Enough for me to ask! Chikorita, get ready," Free shouted back at the boy as Chikorita stepped in front of him, ready to battle.
"So, a battle is it? Chimchar, go!" He barked.
"Chikorita, use vine whip!" Free ordered.
"Chika!" Chikorita replied, sending vines towards Chimchar.
"Chimchar, dodge it and use flamethrower!" The boy yelled out as Chimchar avoided the vines and sent a blast of fire that hit Chikorita.
"No! Chikorita!" Free cried, as he rushed forward to pick her up. He looked to Heather for help. "Heather! You stand more of a chance against him! He has a fire-type, and you have Totodile!"
Heather nodded as she ripped her Poké Ball off her necklace and threw it into battle. "Go, Totodile!"
"You can easily beat that wimp, Chimchar! Use flamethrower again," the redhead commanded.
"Hurry, Totodile! Use water gun!" Heather shouted to Totodile. Totodile immediately put out the flames with a burst of water before sending another burst of water at the boy's Chimchar, knocking it backwards.
"Chimchar, get up! Use flamethrower again, and don't miss," he called out.
"Use water gun again, Totodile!" Heather shouted. "Then bite him while he's down!"
"Totodile!" he cried out, answering Heather as he shot another blast of water at Chimchar before he got a chance to attack, knocking him back down. Totodile ran to Chimchar and bit him.
"Get out of his mouth, Chimchar!" The redheaded boy yelled. Chimchar struggled, but Totodile held tight. After a few more moments of struggling, Chimchar gave in.
"Return, Chimchar!" The boy called, holding out his Poké Ball. The red beam returned his exhausted Pokémon. He started to run off into the forest, but he turned around and said, "This won't be the last you'll see of me!"
And then he was gone.
