Ch. 2: Joining, Capturing, and Spraining

After we left the lab, I had to return Shinx to his Pokeball because he couldn't stop glaring at people and making them run off. So now, I am walking down a street toward Route 202 by my lonesome self. That is until I heard the voice of the small blond boy I had helped earlier.

"Alex!" he yelled, running to me. I turned back to look at him and noticed the small blue backpack he wore on his back.

"Hey, Eli. What are you doing?" I kneel down to his height once he reached me.

He panted for a couple seconds and then had me a folded piece of paper. "This will explain it."

Curious, I open the paper and begin to read.

Dear Alexandra,

Thank you for helping our son out. We are forever in your debt.

But, by request of Eli, we were wondering if you would let him travel with you for a while.

It took us a bit of time to decide, but we came to the conclusion that it may help Eli learn more about Pokemon if he was able to travel and see new things.

So, could you please take our son on your journeys? As soon as he is ready to come home or you don't think he should travel anymore, please call and we'll be sure to come to you and bring him home.

Please? I know Eli would appreciate it.

From,

Freddie and Lulu Blake

Sighing, I fold up the paper and look at Eli. He looked so desperate for me to say he can come with me. Closing my eyes, I smile a little. I guess I have no choice. "Sure, why not?"

I open my eyes when he begins to cheer happily.

"But," I begin, making him stop and start to doubt. "Are you ready for the journey ahead?"

"Of course," he shouts, a proud look on his face. "I've got my shirts, jeans, extra shoes, snacks, extra underwear, bino-" I cut him off with, "Alright, alright. I get it. How about we hit the road now?" He nods and I then begin my journey again. This time with Eli by my side.

W_W

We walked for about ten minutes before we saw the road that was Route 202. This route was supposed to head to Jubilife City, which I've only been to a couple times in my life. But, the times I had been there, I happened to like it a little. The only aspect I didn't like was that it was so big. I hate big places. Small towns are more to my liking.

"Alex, do you like Pokemon?" I look over at the small boy. He was staring at a Pokeball. I assumed it was the one that held his Bidoof.

"To be honest, I usually only like wild Pokemon."

"Why?"

I scratch my head. "I have many reasons. For example, trained Pokemon are more dependent and they just don't have the spirit I think a Pokemon should possess."

"What kind of spirit should a Pokemon have?"

I stop, causing Eli to stop as well. I kneel down and look at him in the eyes. "First off, what kind of spirit do you think they should have?"

Eli contemplates for a moment and then answers with a grin, "I think they should always have a smile on their face no matter what. You know, to help cheer you up when you're down. I don't think it'd matter if they were trained or wild. They should always be happy."

"That's the thing, Eli. To me, I don't think a trained Pokemon gets the correct happiness a Pokemon should have. I think the wild ones are happier. But, don't forget your answer. Just because I'm not a big fan of trained Pokemon doesn't mean you should be the same. Alright?"

Eli nods, just smiling. I smile back and stand up. "Now, let's go."

Trained Pokemon are like cities and wild Pokemon are like small towns. Major and minor differences can make your opinions and everything else for each be different from one another.

W_W

The walk was silent, almost suffocating. I've never been one to stay quiet for long. I needed to fill the air with words. Many of them, in fact.

Putting my hands behind my head, I look down at Eli and smile. "So, tell me a little about yourself."

"Well, um, I'm seven years old and I moved from Snowpoint City just last year."

"That's interesting. I turned twelve a couple days and I've always lived in Sandgem Town."

Eli looks confused for a second. "Alex, did you just start Pokemon training? If so, why didn't you start when you turned ten? Is it because of the opinion on wild and trained Pokemon you told me about?"

I stare down at him, sadly. "Well, yes and no. You already know the yes, but for the no, I think its best we stay off that subject."

He nods. "I understand."

"Thanks bud," I say, rustling his blond hair with my hand.

As I'm taking my hand away from his head, I hear a rustle in the bushes to my left. My eyes dart to the direction and I put myself between Eli and the bush where the rustling came out. "Come out. Now." All I could imagine was that pedo again. Does he have issues? I really wonder. Maybe I should call out Shinx. Shinx knows how to handle the man quite well.

Suddenly, a Starly sweeps in and lands on my head, tugging on the snowcap and the curls under it.

"Get! Off! My! HEAD!" I shriek, holding the cap to my head and trying to shoo the Starly away.

It listens, but then takes an attack position on the ground six feet from me. I could tell it wanted to battle. All right then.

I grab the Pokeball holding Shinx off my belt and press the button in the center, making it grow a little in size. Throwing it, I shout, "Time to get started!" The Pokeball opens and Shinx comes out, looking ready for anything this Starly could throw at us.

I didn't know what Shinx attacks were exactly, but from what I saw, it knows Tackle and Bite. Therefore, knowing this, I call out, "Let's start out with a tackle-attack!" Shinx proceeds into a tackle, hitting when the Starly refused to dodge. But, then it surprised me. Even though it didn't dodge, it looked like it didn't take much damage and now it was coming in with what looked like its own tackle. Hurriedly, I say, "Dodge it! Quickly!" Shinx manages to move out of the way before the Starly could hit. "Bite!" Shinx turns and latches its teeth to the Starly, biting it as he bit the pedo earlier. The Starly shrieks, obviously shocked at how the battle has turned around.

With quick thinking, I say, "Slam it to the ground." Shinx obeys and swings the Starly in his teeth to the ground beside him.

Beside me, Eli says, "I think you should catch it."

"But…"

"Alex, it'd be smart. Even I know this and I'm five years younger than you." The little smart ass looks up at me, a smug look on his face.

I sigh. "Whatever." I take out an empty Pokeball and press the button in the center again. "Go Pokeball!" I shout, throwing the ball towards the Starly that was lying on the ground, unmoving. The Pokeball hits the Starly and has the Pokemon enter the ball. For a second, everything was quiet except for the sound of the ball as it moved back and forth. I'm serious about how silent it became. I literally think the sounds of wild Bidoofs, Wurmples, and other ones just disappeared for the moments the ball just moved slowly.

Then, the ball stops moving and all the bated breath returned to normal. It was all good now since the Pokemon was captured.

I walk over and pick up the ball, examining it. Then, I turned to Shinx and grin. "It seems you need to share your Pokemon food now."

Shinx frowns, but does walk over and sniffs the ball. He then just smirks, being his usual self.

W_W

Once I had Shinx back in his Pokeball, Eli and I continued walking down the route. We were just settling into the silence when a guy with flaming red hair tied back in a thin ponytail came tumbling down the hill we were climbing. I soon noticed he was heading straight for Eli. Pushing the little boy out of the way at the last second, I get ran into a moment later, tumbling and getting tangled up with the guy with flaming red hair.

I'm serious about the flaming part, by the way. It looked so bright and fiery. The type of color I wish I could have.

Anyways, back to what was happening now. The guy and I were now at the bottom of the hill, groaning in pain. "What the frig just happened?" I ask to nothing in particular.

"I tripped while coming over the hill," the guy replies, untangling himself and sitting across from me, grinning. "I'm Marc."

I get up, wincing when I put pressure on my right foot. "And I don't care." Gritting my teeth, I start limping toward Eli.

The so-called Marc jogs up next to me and grabs my arm, stopping me. "You're hurt. Let me give you a piggy-back ride."

I snatch my arm away. "Nice try, buster." As I start to limp again, I feel myself be picked up, so I start hitting whatever was picking me up. "Let me go!"

"Unless you agree to let me give you a piggy-ride, I'll just carry you over my shoulder," he announces, sounding arrogant.

I roll my eyes. "Alright. Whatever." I feel myself be put down. Then I turn to see the back of Marc.

"Get on."

Getting on, I mumble, "This is so stereotypical."

He glances back at me and smiles. "I like being stereotypical." I scoff. "Is that a problem?"

"Of course it is," I say, my arms tight around Marc's neck. I was ready to choke him if necessary. "Being stereotypical is like trained Pokemon. Nauseating and too common."

Marc raises an eyebrow. "Well, I see this is different. A person that doesn't like Pokemon?"

"To be specific, I only dislike TRAINED Pokemon," I state, matter-of-factly.

Marc just nods. "Alright then."

We arrive to where Eli is standing at the top of the hill. Eli runs over to me as soon as he notices. "Alex, are you okay? Did you get hurt?" He looked honestly worried.

"My ankle may just be a little sprained. That's all." I really didn't want the little boy to worry. I'll be fine. I know I will.

Eli nods. "Alright then. I trust you."

Marc starts walking again. "I'll take you to my campsite and get your ankle wrapped up."

I sigh. Might as well. Looking out at the sky, I knew we'd need somewhere to camp soon and I want the best for my young companion. "Sure, why not? As long as we get to camp with you. We need someplace to stay."

Marc shrugs as much as possible around me. "I guess. It's not as if I'd be hurting if you two joined me."

I tighten my arms, but not in a threatening way. "Thank you, Marc." What is this warm feeling? Ah, whatever. At least we are getting somewhere to stay.

W_W

I rub at my eyes, trying to rid the sleep in them. Once I was done, I looked around and noticed I wasn't in my room. I was on top of a sleeping bag inside a tent. Outside, I could feel the scent of something good cooking.

Then, I remember how today I had started my Pokemon journey and all the events that have happened since. Wrinkling my nose, I stand up carefully; making sure my bandaged ankle wouldn't be strained anymore than it was. I follow the scent and find myself outside where Marc was stirring a pot of soup as Eli stood off to the side with his Bidoof. Both were inhaling it as if their lives depended on it.

Walking, or in my case limping, over to Eli, Marc, and Bidoof, I take a seat and breathe it in too. "Smells good." I look at Marc. "At first glance, I wouldn't expect you to be the type of guy to cook."

Marc shrugs, a light blush covering his cheekbones. "I wanted to be able to cook for myself when I started my own journey."

I nod and turn back to the soup, inhaling more in. I don't blame Eli and Bidoof now. This food smelled like heaven. I wonder if it tastes like it.

"It's almost ready. Alex, you can go ahead and release your Pokemon. I'm going to go ahead and do the same," Marc says.

"Yada, yada." I take the two Pokeballs and release my Shinx and Starly. Once they were out, they run over to the pot and inhale it too. I sit back and glare at them. "Shinx. Starly. Go dig a hole and die."

The two turn a glare at me at the same time, hungry and frustrated.

I smirk. "You two are the greatest. You don't take any crap."

They smirk back and continue looking at the pot of soup.

"This…is a fine example that Pokemon tend to inherit the traits of their trainers," Marc concludes as he places plates onto a table beside the tent.

"Bull-shit. Pokemon will have their own personalities and so will I." I turn away, looking at my Pokemon.

"Yada, yada," Marc mocks.

I turn around to stick my tongue out, but the sight of two azure eyes staring into mine only two inches away meets me. Blushing, I look away.

What's up with me? Must be the heat. Yeah. That's it. The heat.

Ugh. I might as well blame it on my twin. My fake, make-believe twin.

Well, the next chapters will be written by me. I hope I'll do well…

On the Next Chapter: "Oh NO, I'm not staying at the Pokémon Center!"

R&R