So, this chapter is a little cheesy, but I decided to go with it. I personally like it, and hope you do too. After this chapter, I think I can finally get into the real story about the two companions, because I saw this area as kind of a prelude. Please comment as always, and like last chapter, and all the other chapters to come, constructive criticism is appreciated.
Chapter 2
"Vade, maybe you should teach your Nidoran how to talk too," My mother chided in. I stared at it, a smile slowly spreading across my face.
"No," I stated clearly. "He's going to be a fighting Nidoran. Maybe he'll be a Nidoking one day." At that, the Nidoran looked pleased. Very few Nidoran ever grew to be Nidokings or Nidoqueens in the wild because they needed a Moonstone to evolve.
"Vade," my mother began, standing, the small purple bundle in her arms quivering slightly, "you know how I feel about you training. It's so," she paused, looking for the right words, "cruel to the Pokèmon itself." She nodded in satisfaction.
"Lynda," Golduck said, looking at my mom, "look at me. I'm the result of training. Before Jeff's father found me, I was just a small, powerless Psyduck. Now look at me." He smiled and flexed. Mom laughed and handed Nidoran to me.
"I guess I can't argue against that logic."
I looked at Nidoran, smiling. I pet it, and held it close, trying to show that I cared, and that I wasn't just another human. He cuddled up against my chest, but his eyes never left mine.
"Give him a name, Vade," my mother said, smiling at me.
"Lynda," Dad said, "you know battling Pokèmon can't have names. It makes them feel like pets." He laughed a bit. "Isn't that right, Golduck?" Golduck nodded.
"Well, he can't go around calling him 'Nidoran Male', now can he," mom asked.
"Nidoran will do fine," I said, finally breaking my silence. My parents looked at me, then at each other. Golduck walked into the kitchen and began to clean up. He enjoyed it. It helped him stave off the rare headaches he got randomly. Dad walked over and handed me the Pokèball that Nidoran had just come from.
"Here you go, son. Happy birthday."
I spent the next few weeks preparing to take off and train. And I spent time with Nidoran. I believed Golduck. He obeyed everything my dad told him to. Even if it was 'do what Lynda says'. He trusted my father enough to trust only his word about another person. That was love. Nidoran didn't listen at first, and no matter how much I begged and pleaded, my father wouldn't tell Nidoran to listen to me. All he would say was 'I gave him to you for your birthday. I told him to listen when he trusted you.' I cursed those words for two weeks until I finally got him to believe I did care, and didn't want to just let him. I didn't do anything directly, but one thing I learned in my Pokèmon training class was that Pokèmon trusted not only their original trainer, they also trusted the Pokèmon that helped the trainer catch them, meaning Golduck.
We were at the Vermillion City beach for the day, just me, Golduck and Nidoran. Nidoran and Golduck were down near the water, and I, being a teenage male, was flirting with the ladies. Not the best watchman, I know.
I was just about to use a great line I had just heard from my friend when Golduck sped over.
"Vade," he cried, "I can't find Nidoran!" My face flushed. "We were swimming," he continued, "and I told him to head in. I turned and I swam in, but when I got to shore, he wasn't there. I dove back in the water, but he wasn't there." My mind suddenly jumped to terrible scenarios. Maybe he wasn't a strong swimmer, or he had been tangled in seaweed. Then my mind went to the most realistic conclusion. He had been caught by a wild Pokèmon. A strong one. While Golduck was swimming away, something grabbed him from behind. He was a poison Pokèmon. He couldn't communicate underwater. I raced away down the beach, Golduck behind me. I didn't know if he'd help me. He never helped my mother unless my father told him to, granted she never asked, but he had known Mom longer than me. He had barely evolved when they started dating. If he disobeyed her, how would he react to my command?
I went to the same spot I had seen them last. He wasn't there. My heart leapt into my throat, almost to the point I couldn't talk.
"Please, stay here, incase he comes back," I said to Golduck, knowing he wouldn't follow me, I wasn't his trainer. I grabbed his Pokèball from my towel and rushed to the waters edge. Without thinking, I dove in, throwing caution to the wind. I went in over my head and opened my eyes, fighting off the burning sensation that was driving me insane. I had to keep a cool head. I scanned as far as I could see when my eyes spotted motion. I swam over, taking breaths a little as possible to speed up my progress.
There was a small scuffle going on at the surface of the water. As I neared, I saw it to be a battle. Nidoran and a full grown Kingler. I was amazed Nidoran was still alive, and I mentally beat myself up several times for being so neglectful. I swam at full speed into the Kingler from behind, surprising it.
"Nidoran, swim to shore," I yelled, " and find Golduck." The Kingler turned towards me and brought one of its claws to bear. I swam downwards. Even though it was a Kingler, I was still slightly faster. It was just a crab, after all. After a few feet, I turned and kicked at it, keeping its attention on me and not Nidoran. I kept swimming picturing its large pincher grabbing my foot, but then it wandered to Nidoran in the same scenario, and I kept swimming through the pain.
I reached shore and ran up on the sand. The Kingler followed. I wished it wouldn't, but it did. I was tall, but it still came up to my chest, and that large claw was intimidating, no matter how big I was. It stopped and just stared at me. I tried to catch my breath, but it didn't give me long. It began blowing bubbles, but they didn't act like normal bubbles. They struck me forcefully. I dropped to my knees, exhaustion and the pain finally breaking me. I heard scuffling behind me and I turned to see Nidoran and Golduck rushing forward, but they stopped behind me. It was expected.
"Run, Vade," Golduck called, "There's nothing around to help. We're in the middle of nowhere. The beach is back there. No one knows this is going on. I came when I saw you." I just shook my head at him.
"I have to show Nidoran I do care."
"But beating up a wild Pokèmon won't help. Besides, this is a Kingler. Punches won't hurt."
The bubbles struck me again, stinging my already burning skin. I turned to face it.
"This Kingler hurt my Nidoran. No one hurts my Pokèmon and gets away with it." We stared at each other. I wouldn't let this Kingler just hurt Nidoran and get off scott free. I had to show Nidoran I was more dedicated to it than I had been that day. I watched it closely, and when its mandibles started working furiously, I leapt sideways. The bubbles flew harmlessly into the air. I landed, grabbed a handful of sand and threw it. It was a modified 'Sand Attack' I had seen a Sandslash pull on a Butterfree in a televised Gym battle.
There wasn't much sand, but it was enough to blind it. It rushed forward at me, pincher out front in a 'Vicegrip' attack. I leapt. That added to it's blindness help it miss me. I flung a heavy seashell at it, and it finally managed to get the sand out of its eyes. I waited for it's next attack, knowing it could hurt. I saw it's mandibles working again, but not soon enough. I ran to my right, but several still hit my leg. I fell. I lay there, my face in the sand. I wished I had told Golduck to get help. I had been too busy avenging Nidoran to listen to Golduck. He was right. No one was around to help. I heard sand being shoved aside, and I braced for the worst. Nothing came. I stood and looked at my surroundings. There was Golduck, standing between me and the Kingler. Just like in those televised battles.
"Golduck," I began, apprehensive, "what are you—"
"Waiting for orders," he said, not letting me finish.
"But, I'm not your trainer," I said, non-believing.
"Neither is your father, technically," he spat back. "I trust you, Vade. Standing up to this Kingler showed me you have a good heart, but you need to tell me what to do. This crab won't wait forever."
My mind raced through his list of attacks. They were few, due to his speaking, but there were some strong ones.. Before I could spit it out, the Kingler rushed forward, claw held high, open wide,ready to knock Golduck out with a 'Guillotine' attack. Golduck sidestepped and looked at me.
"Golduck, Psybeam," I commanded. He nodded and pressed his hands to his forehead. His jewel lit up and the Kingler seemed to convulse a bit. It turned, angry. I spat bubbles at Golduck, who merely laughed. So did I. Water attacks barely affected water Pokèmon.
"Tackle it, Golduck," I cried. He reacted without hesitation. He charged and slammed into the Kingler, knocking it over. Nidoran stepped in front of me, just as Golduck had.
"No way, Nidoran. I've already caused you enough pain." He seemed to accept my excuse for not letting him in this battle, and just stood by to learn from a stronger Pokèmon than he.
The Kingler charged Golduck and countered his tackle with another tackle. It had realized that water attacks weren't about to work, and resorted to the only thing it knew would hurt Golduck.
"Disable," I said, confidently. Golduck pressed his forehead again, and the Kingler had a minor spasm. It looked confused, as if it forgot something. "Quick, Golduck, Psybeam it again."
Golduck did just that. The Kingler swayed sideways, then fell, knocked out.
"How are you feeling, Golduck," I asked, rushing over to him. He shrugged.
"I've had worse." I sighed. Then I wheeled on Nidoran.
"And you," I began. Nidoran shrunk back, afraid, "I'm so sorry. I can't believe I put you in that danger." I rushed over to him and picked him up and held him close. "I'll never let that happen again. I'll never leave you again."
Nidoran stared at me for a second, a hurt and disappointed look in his eyes. I knew I had been neglectful, but I wanted him to know I was truly sorry, and I was being sincere. After a moment, he nuzzled up against me, letting out a small purr. I hugged him tightly, glad he had accepted my apology.
"I'm so sorry, Nidoran. Come on, let's get you to a Pokècenter."
I walked back to the beach, ignoring all the girls and giving my full attention to Nidoran. Golduck followed. I knew that when Golduck helped me against the Kingler, Nidoran, too, had seen my heart was in the right place and I had learned my lesson. I was just grateful that he forgave me. I knew he'd trust my judgement from then on, and training him would now be that much easier.
