Author's Note: The second chapter has waited a long time to come. Basically, I'm not sure if this story will continue after this chapter or not. I'd love to do seperate stories of the charries though but I thought I'd better post what I've got collecting dust in my computer. If you like the fic that much, msg me with reasons why it should continue. Other than that, I haven't got much to work with and I do have quite a few other fics which need attention. Thankyou for reading!
"Would you let me drown, would you let me drown now you liar? Would you let me drown, would you hold my head down you liar? I'm fighting for air, where are you now?"
- Goodnight Nurse
"Now that you've chosen your Pokemon," Professor Birch started as the three of us stood around the table once more. "It's time to register you all as trainers."
Watching the others with their Pokemon was amazing and funny at the same time. Lizzie and Totodile looked like they'd been friends for longer than just over ten minutes. I guessed that it was partly because Totodile's nature and Lizzie's personality meshed evenly. Lizzie was out-going at times but could be quite reserved; she didn't rush into things. Totodile's nature was completely full on and kind of crazy. For a second, I wish I had remembered about Totodile and how fun they could be. Hayley and Charmander were going okay now. Charmander was still a bit wary of his trainer, but wasn't scorching anything anymore with his non-developed flame. I could see Hayley knew she had her work cut out for her with Charmander but she made no complaint. I looked down at the Bulbasaur that was perched at my feet, nervously moving from side to side. The little Bulbasaur didn't really seem afraid; he hadn't really reacted at all when I had asked him if he wanted to be my partner Pokemon. I couldn't figure the unusual Bulbasaur out at all. After a few minutes, Professor Birch handed us each a clipboard and a pen. It was some sort of questionaire and I started hesitantly to fill it out. Name... Savannah Vere. That's easy enough. Age... Okay, I'm fourteen. Hometown... Littleroot Town in Hoenn. Thank Groudon I'm leaving...
Finally, when I'd finished droning on about myself, I handed the clipboard back to Professor Birch. He skimmed it over and nodded with approval before beckoning to me to come and stand for a photo. I posed awkwardly and noticed that Bulbasaur had wondered over to where Charmander stood, standing quietly, his tail topped with the flame swishing slightly. Professor Birch smiled at me and I hopped out of the way so Lizzie and Hayley could have their pictures taken too. Until that point, I had forgotten about April again before my friend popped back into my mind.
"Do you guys know where April is?" I asked rather absent-mindedly. Hayley looked at me quizzically, like I was wearing my underpants on my head or something like that.
"Didn't she tell you Sav?" Lizzie started, while she posed for her photo. "April got given a Pokemon early." I felt extremely confused and it must have shown on my face because Professor Birch laughed.
"As I guess you three know, April's grandfather was a Pokemon trainer," The Professor said as he wondered over to one of his many computers with his camera. "Some families like to uphold traditions and give Pokemon as gifts throughout the family. April got given a Pokemon her grandfather bred."
My mouth was hanging open by that point.
"That's why April's not here Sav," Hayley stated, fixing her hair. "She left for Oldale Town this morning." Why did no one tell me this earlier? I thought we were all travelling together. I felt hurt that April never told me but somehow Lizzie and Hayley both knew. And Professor Birch, before we forget him.
"Okay girls," The Professor annouced as he handed the three of us each a small and shiny plastic card. I looked at it amused, as there in the right hand corner was my awkward picture with all my details. My trainer card. Finally, I was a registered trainer. "I've also got Pokedex's for you all," Professor Birch continued. "Any particular colour?"
Hayley instantly yelled out "Red!" and Lizzie mumbled something along the lines of "Yellow please sir." Personally, I felt it was another decision like picking out Bulbasaur but Professor Birch gave me my favourite colour - A strong sky blue.
"Ladies, I think you're just about set to start you're journey. Don't forget to take it easy to start with," The Professor said and I looked at Bulbasaur who was recieving an evil look from Charmander. "Build up a relationship with your Pokemon and put your whole heart and soul into every challenge. Most of all though, just have fun."
He grinned. Professor Birch had obviously memorised these words of wisdom. "Go to it, Pokemon trainers!" Just as the Professor did finish his little speech, there was a cry from Bulbasaur. A loud cry. I spun round to see why my Pokemon was hurting my ears but found an unexpected sight. Bulbasaur may have done something to upset Charmander or the fire lizard just wanted to play but whatever it was, Charmander had given Bulbasaur a good beating with a few small ember attacks. Bulbasaur looked absolutely horrified, which led me to think that Charmander had done something to Bulbasaur out of the blue but the little Pokemon wasn't going to let Charmander get away with it. The green dinosaur backed away from Charmander before hurtling headfirst into Charmander's side. Hayley's Pokemon was knocked over and as he rolled across the floor, I was surprised by the might of Bulbasaur's tackle attack.
"Savannah, stop your Pokemon from attacking Charmander!" I heard a shriek from Hayley as she scrambled to stop Charmander rolling any further. I walked towards Bulbasaur, but stopped. The little Pokemon stood tensed on all fours, his eyes watching Charmander and never deviating from his target. Bulbasaur was strong and this was his fight.
It was because I never stopped Bulbasaur from giving Charmander a few lashings with his vines that when we got out of the lab and said goodbye to Professor Birch, Hayley 'suggested' that I keep my distance.
"Honestly Sav, I love you and all, but I don't think you can travel with us because, well, let's face it," Hayley stated. "You're Bulbasaur just doesn't have a nice personality, what with attacking Charmander out of the blue and all." She rambled on. I could feel my blood boil but said nothing. Thank goodness Bulbasaur was in his Pokeball. I watched as Hayley hitched her satchel over her shoulder and turned to leave. "Bye Sav, we'll see you soon, okay? C'mon Lizzie." As Hayley started down the path to Oldale, I looked pleadingly at Lizzie.
"Sav, Hayley needs me more than you do. You're strong, you'll make it." Lizzie whispered, a tear rolling down her cheek. I gave a small smile of goodbye to Lizzie before she hugged me and ran to catch up with Hayley, her blond hair bouncing behind her. Just like that, they left me. How did they expect me to keep my distance? There was only one way out of Littleroot and they were taking that path. I could still see them, still hear them. My two best friends, suddenly not so 'best' anymore. And April, she left me hanging as well. I dawdled a bit, looking around. The trees whistled their tunes with the Tailow I could see trying to hide among their broad branches. The wind whipped around me, picking up the litter and loose leaves. Again, I had no idea what to do. Choose to start my journey now or wait a little while just so Hayley and Lizzie could get miles ahead of me. Slowly, thinking, I put down my knapsack that was printed with an outline of Gengar, one of my favourite Pokemon, and pulled out Bulbasaur's Pokeball. This time, I more or less confidently pressed the white button on the Pokeball and let Bulbasaur out. Bulbasaur very quickly realised he was out of his Pokeball and started looking around. I guess he was looking for Charmander, to get revenge maybe. I squatted down so I was closer to Bulbasaur's height, or nearly anyway.
"Bulbasaur," I whispered but Bulbasaur wasn't really concentrating on me. I continued anyway. "Plans have changed..." I started. "You and me, we're not travelling with Hayley or Lizzie anymore. It's just you and me now." Bulbasaur must have heard that statement because his head snapped towards me, a confused look in his eyes.
"Bulba?" He questioned and I smiled, my vision blurred by tears. I really, really didn't want to cry but I had a habit of crying in the most awkward and silly situations.
"Hayley didn't want you and Charmander to fight anymore," I said and Bulbasaur frowned, tensing. "But don't worry, I know that you didn't start that fight before." I tried to smile confidently and Bulbasaur seemed to relax a little.
"Bulba... Bulbasaur! Saur!" He cried and galloped off in the direction Hayley and Lizzie had left in.
"Bulbasaur?" I picked up my knapsack and the Pokeball and ran after the green dinosaur. "Bulbasaur, wait!" I grinned and laughed out loud for all the trees and the Tailow to hear, for Bulbasaur had made my decision for me. Running head first into things wasn't really my style but this time it felt right.
"Bulba!"
Bulbasaur and I had been walking for a little over an hour now. According to the map that my brother had thrown at me as I left the house, we weren't that far off Oldale. Thank goodness too, my feet were beginning to hurt. A thought flashed through my head as I wondered how I would survive my journey when I couldn't go an hour without getting an ache. Bulbasaur showed no signs of tiring yet and trooped on through the grass. The wind was still up, whipping the grass blades against my bare legs. I made a note to myself that I would change into my jeans when we reached Oldale Town's Pokemon Center. I hadn't really talked to Bulbasaur much since he'd gone galavanting off down the path that led out of town but to be honest, I didn't know what to say to the little Pokemon. As I followed Bulbasaur, I had a thought at last.
"Hey Bulbasaur?" I asked and he stopped and turned around to looked at me. "Do you want to-" I was cut off by a rumbling howl. I felt fear run through my veins and Bulbasaur looked equally shocked. For a moment, there was no sound, like the howl had driven off everything but the wind that was cutting through the field we were in. Suddenly, a black blur shot between Bulbasaur and I. It howled again and stood proud and tall. Facing Bulbsaur, the unknown Pokemon growled through it's teeth at Bulbasaur. I took the opportunity of meeting a new Pokemon as a chance to use my Pokedex. I slowly pulled it out of my knapsack and clicked it open.
"Welcome Savannah," the male voice said and it startled the Pokemon a bit. It jumped and turned around to look at me, but Bulbasaur's low growl brought it's attention back on Bulbasaur. I nodded a thanks at Bulbasaur as the voice continued. "My name is Dexter. Your Pokedex acts as both an electronic identification and your own Pokemon encyclopedia." I rolled my eyes. I thanked my lucky stars that this Pokemon Bulbasaur and I faced was patient. Maybe it knew I was a beginning trainer. Some luck. I pointed the Pokedex at the Pokemon and in a near instant it came up with some information. "Poochyena, the bite Pokemon. Poochyena never gives up chasing down foes until they are utterly exhausted." Great. Only slightly useless information as this Poochyena didn't seem to be chasing us. I took a deep breath and nodded again at Bulbasaur. Out of instinct, I said "Bulbasaur, tackle!" Bulbasaur swiftly jumped towards Poochyena with full force, delivering the attack. Knocked down, the Poochyena looked mighty angry. I cringed but racked my brains for more attacks. "Bulbasaur use Vine whip!" In an instant, two green snakes shot out of somewhere from the bulb that sat on Bulbasaur's back and lashed heavily into the Poochyena. It cried out in pain and howled it's not so mighty howl again. As quickly as it came, the Poochyena was gone, heading off through the thick grassland. I felt myself unable to move, shocked with the event that had just occured. "Hey Bulbasaur..." I started, standing awkwardly, my Pokedex still in hand.
"Bulba?" The little Pokemon replied, looking up at me, fire still in his eyes.
"I know that Poochyena didn't faint, but did we just win our first battle?" I thought for a second. "Do wild Pokemon battles still officially count as battles?"
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur said. He seemed to be grinning at me as he nodded. I grinned back and we headed through the grass once more. Looking up at the sea blue sky I smiled. Things were going better than I'd expected even though plans had changed and I wasn't travelling with any of my old friends. I had my new friend Bulbasaur and I started to day dream of all the adventures we'd have together in the very, very near future.