Hello everyone! As you noticed I have posted up two new chapters for my sonic story and since I feel pretty happy about the many views on it, I decided to post up the second chapter for the Pokémon story. Hopefully Mizuki is ok with me doing this and if not, I guess I have it coming. Heh... ^-^" Well enjoy!
Chapter Two
The two girls had been walking for a few hours when Esmeralda stopped.
"We're making great timing! We might even get there a lot earlier than I thought!"
"Chimchar!" Chimchar was still on Esmeralda's shoulder and was expressing just as much energy as Esmeralda. Artimis trudged behind.
"How much longer?!" She whined and started dragging her feet. Esmeralda turned towards the taller girl.
"I don't see why you're so tired. we just took a break not too long ago." Artimis sat on a nearby rock.
"Sorry but I've never walked this much before." Esmeralda settled on the ground.
"I suppose we can take a longer rest here. Just as long as we make it to Jubilife City before the end of today. And tomorrow, we're gonna challenge the Oreburgh gym leader. Right, Chimchar?!"
"Char char!" Artimis sighed.
"Why don't you go look around for berries or Pokémon?" Esmeralda paused to think.
"I don't think there would be any berries in this forest since it's so close to the city but Oran berries tend to grow everywhere." Artimis stood and pushed her off the trail.
"Then go! I'll be here, playing and practicing with Chikorita." Esmeralda stood up a bit irritated but walked deeper into the forest with Chimchar.
"You know buddy, it's a good thing you don't know Ember yet. That face would not have been pretty." Chimchar laughed along with Esmeralda. After reaching a clearing, Esmeralda bent down to feel the ground.
"Dry. Just as I thought. This forest is too close to the city. Guess no berries here." Esmeralda turned around to make her way back to Artimis when she heard rustling behind her. On instinct, Chimchar jumped down from Esmeralda's shoulder and in front of the rustling bush. Esmeralda also turned around and went to attack mode.
Artimis sat and waited but after a few minutes, boredom won over and she got up to look for Esmeralda. She heard rustling and nervously yelled.
"Esmeralda?!"
Esmeralda and Chimchar were still standing in the small clearing, waiting for whatever was behind the bush.
"Be ready, Chimchar!"
"Cha!"
Artimis heard the noise again and panicked.
"Esmeralda?!" Chikorita cowered behind her and hearing a twig snap, she and her partner ran. "AHHHHHHHH!" She soon saw a small clearing and ran toward it. After breaking through the tree line, she ran smack-dab into Esmeralda, bringing them both to the ground. Esmeralda, caught totally off guard, fell down in front of the bush she was waiting on. Suddenly, a startled Shinx jumped out from the bush. Esmeralda let out a happy gasp.
"A Shinx!" However, as soon as she threw off Artimis, the Shinx took the chance to run off. Esmeralda let out a frustrated grunt and fell back down to her knees as she wasn't even able to give a command to Chimchar. Artimis sat up.
"Ow ow ow ow! What was that?" Esmeralda sighed.
"It was a Shinx, an electric-type Pokémon. It kinda caught me and Chimchar off guard while we were looking for berries." Artimis rubbed her butt.
"That thing scared me half to hell." Esmeralda stood up and dusted herself off as she let Chimchar climb up her shoulder.
"Well, we scared it pretty bad too if it ran off the way it did." Artimis looked at the sky.
"We need to eat and sleep, so I don't think we will make it to Jubilife today."
"I guess not. But if you have enough energy, I know where a small clearing near a river is. We can camp there." Esmeralda suggested.
"That sounds great. I have some food packed, do you need some?" Artimis picked up Chikorita.
"No but as long as you have something to sleep in, you should be fine." Esmeralda then began again to take the lead, a bit more slowly this time.
"Yeah, I got something to sleep in." Artimis followed quietly.
"Good. Hopefully the ground will be to your liking." Esmeralda replied over her shoulder. The sound of water became louder as the sun began to set. Artimis walked into the clearing and gasped.
"This is so pretty!" She ran to a spot in the middle. "My spot!" Esmeralda shook her head.
"Well, you might as well get comfortable. We'll be here awhile." Artimis pulled out her tent and started to construct it.
"After this, we'll eat." Esmeralda went over to the river and splashed some water on her face.
"Whatever suits you." Artimis continued her work and was able to finish in about an hour.
"There! Are you ready for dinner?" She turned to Esmeralda. Esmeralda and Chimchar had been sitting on a tree branch, watching the sun set. At Artimis' call, the two jumped down and made their way to her.
"I suppose if you are done with your tent." Artimis took out a blanket and laid it down. She pulled some food out of her bag and patted the spot beside her.
"Come on!" Then Artimis pulled out some Pokémon food and served it to Chikorita. Esmeralda hesitated but sat down. After they were done eating, they sat quietly until the sun had set. Artimis yawned. "I'm going to bed." She picked up the already napping Chikorita and walked to her tent. "Good night." She said as she slipped inside. Esmeralda watched Artimis go.
"Good night." She stayed put on the ground and looked over to Chimchar. The fire that glowed on his rear began to burn out as a sign he was going to sleep. Esmeralda stood up and wrapped the picnic blanket around her partner. "Guess you're tired too." Esmeralda quietly left the clearing and went forth to find the tallest tree.
Resting on the highest branch, Esmeralda could see clear out to the forest and the night sky. Things were quiet until Esmeralda heard the rustling of leaves. As she looked down, she noticed Chimchar had woken up and found her hiding place. Carefully, Esmeralda pick up Chimchar and held him in her lap.
"Looks like you got up. Sorry for leaving you but you seemed so peaceful sleeping."
"Chim char." Chimchar looked out towards the forest then up to Esmeralda. "Chimchar?" Esmeralda looked down at her partner.
"Hm? Oh. You're probably wondering why I'm up here." Esmeralda looked out to the stars. "Back at home, I used to star gaze with my mom and little brother. We would do this every night before going to bed. I know I just started my journey today but I already miss them." Chimchar climbed up to Esmeralda's shoulder.
"Chim chimchar!" Esmeralda giggled.
"I'm glad we met too, buddy." Then at that moment, electricity seemed to appear from the middle of the forest. Esmeralda stood on the branch. "Chimchar, you saw that, right?"
"Chim char!"
"C'mon! Let's go see what it was!"
"Chimchar!"
After reaching the place the electricity seemed to appear from, Esmeralda stopped to look around. Then out of nowhere, the Shinx from earlier appeared in front of her.
"It's you again!"
"Shi!"
Hearing all the noise, Artimis woke up and peeked out of her tent. She saw a flash of bright light and heard Esmeralda talking in the distance, so she picked up a still sleeping Chikorita and ran to the where she had seen the light.
Esmeralda readied herself for battle as Chimchar jumped down from her shoulder and did the same.
"Let's do this, Chimchar!"
"Char!"
"Go! Use Scratch!" Quickly, Chimchar jumped towards the Shinx and began to scratch it multiple times. The Shinx slid back a couple of feet and shoke its fur. It then rushed towards Chimchar landing a Tackle. Esmeralda, knowing her partner was ready, yelled another command. "Again, Chimchar! Use Scratch!" Chimchar launched himself towards the Shinx once more, but as the Shinx seemed to have learned from the first time, it dodged Chimchar and as Chimchar tried to regained his balance, the Shinx landed an even stronger Tackle than the first, leaving Chimchar on the ground in pain.
"Chimchar, no!" Chimchar, quite upset, turned around and landed a new learned Ember attack on the wild Shinx. After being hit, the Shinx fell to the ground unable to battle. Esmeralda took out a poke ball and threw it towards the Shinx. After a couple of twitches, Shinx was finally caught. Artimis had watched as Esmeralda caught her new Pokémon and then started to jump and down happily.
"Yay you!" Esmeralda jumped at the sound of Artimis' voice.
"When did you get here?!" Artimis shrugged.
"When Chimchar used Ember." Then ran up and hugged the other girl. "Congrats on a new Pokémon!" Esmeralda stood still for a few moments, making no effort to return the embrace.
"Um, thanks." Artimis released her and Chikorita came walking out of the bush she had been left in, then ran up to Chimchar and patted him on the back with her leaf.
"Chika!"
"Char." Chimchar nodded at Chikorita and walked over to the poke ball on the ground. After grabbing the poke ball, Chimchar climbed up to Esmeralda's shoulder and handed her the captured Shinx. "Chim char!" Esmeralda took the poke ball in hand.
"Thanks, bud and I'm really happy you learned Ember. That'll definitely come in handy for the Oreburgh gym!" Artimis watched the two and yawned.
"Ok, that's enough fun and excitement for tonight." She then started toward the campsite. "If I don't get some rest, I'll be twice as bitchy in the morning."
"Chika." Chikorita agreed and followed the girl. Esmeralda watched Artimis and Chikorita leave. She looked down at the poke ball in her hand.
"I'm getting closer. And I will make you proud." She then placed the poke ball on her belt and followed Artimis back to camp.