Chapter 2: A Journey Begins Part 2: Coal's Rocky Day
"Coal!! Get out of there, it's time for dinner" my older sister yells inside the cave where I was working.
"Wooo, give me a few more minutes so I can find myself a pokémon fossil" I said as I put down the pick and wiped the sweat off my forehead.
"Come on Coal, you have been exploring these caves looking for fossils for years and you haven't found one yet, why don't you just give up already" my sister says
I stay silent, 'maybe I should just give up…' I thought to myself
"Coal??" my sister says becoming nervous of my silence
"I'm here sis; I think you might be right. I should just give up my dream to own all of the ancient pokémon in history and become a pokémon master" I reply with disappointment in my voice.
"O come on Coal, get out and we'll talk" my sister says
I gather all of my equipment and start to head to the mouth of the cave where my sister is waiting for me. I suddenly stop and look back inside the cave where I spent many days in searching. An angry look comes over my face as I take my pick and strike the wall in frustration. I start to walk out when the cave starts to shake; I turn around and start to see the ceiling coming down. A frightened look is seen on my face as I run to the mouth of the cave.
"Coal, hurry up!!" my sister yells as she sticks her hand out to get mines.
I run getting closer and closer; I stick my arm out to meet with my sister's when rocks fall in between us.
"Coal!!" my sister yells as tears run down her face.
"No!!" I yell as the cave starts to cave in around me. All of a sudden the ground underneath me gives way and I fall through into the darkness.
A few minutes later my eyes open slowly to see a wild Trapinch in front of me. I sit up quickly startled to see it. The Trapinch gets off of me and looks at me. I stare at it then at my surroundings. My eyes open wide when I notice tunnels running through the cave.
"Wow, the Trapinch must have dug all of this" I say; I then feel a sharp pain in my arm and I grab it with pain in my expression. The Trapinch looks worried and walks up to me. Noticing the Trapinch I explain
"I'm fine, it's just a sprain"
I rip some cloth off of my shirt and tie my arm in a sling.
"There, that should relieve some of the pain" I say
The Trapinch looks happy and I smile at it. I then look up at the ceiling where I fell through and say
"I wonder how I got down here."
The Trapinch makes a sound which catches my attention.
"You Trapinch? You saved me?" I asked surprised
Trapinch nods its head and smiles.
I grin as I say "Thank you"
I pick myself up and look around for an exit. Not noticing any I look down at Trapinch and ask
"You wouldn't happen to know how to get out of here would you?"
Trapinch nods its head and walks passed me. I just stand there when it looks back and moves his head to signify that it wants me to follow. I shrug and say
"What do I have to lose?"
I follow Trapinch for about 15 minutes in awe at this part of the cave that I have never seen before. I look around examining every inch of it.
"RRROOOAAARRR!!"
The booming noise causes me to look forward. An Onix appears in front of us blocking our path. The Onix is trying to protect its territory.
"If I had a pokémon I would battle this Onix then catch it, but I won't have one till tomorrow when I see professor Oak" I say as fear comes over my face as the Onix comes closer.
Suddenly Trapinch steps in front of me.
"Trapinch? What are you doing?" I ask
Trapinch starts to talk to me in pokémon. I just glare at it then smile.
"I don't know how, but I understand what you are trying to say. You want to battle it with me" I say
Trapinch nods its head and looks forward.
"All right let's do this!!" I yell
The Onix charges in using its tackle attack.
"Dodge Trapinch!!" I yell as Trapinch jumps out of the way
Onix misses and hits the ground causing dust to pick up impairing my vision. Then a rock falls on my head as a result of Onix's attack.
"Ow, what was that?" I ask as I pick up the rock and look at it. My eyes widen in shock "This…this… is a"
Before I could finish my sentence Trapinch calls out to me. I look up to see Trapinch trapped in Onix's bind attack. Onix is squeezing Trapinch tighter and tighter.
"Trapinch bite attack" I order
Trapinch opens its mouth and bites down on Onix. But Trapinch quickly lets go.
"That's right bite attack won't work on Onix's hard skin" I say
Onix squeezes even harder then before causing Trapinch to let out a painful scream.
"Think Coal think, Trapinch is depending on you" I say as I close my eyes to think. My eyes quickly open as an idea comes up.
"Trapinch!! Use sand tomb!!" I yell
Suddenly a blue aura comes over Trapinch as Onix's eyes widen with surprise. The ground becomes quicksand underneath Onix. Onix starts to sink into the ground. Onix tries to squirm out as it lets Trapinch out of its bind attack. All of the squirming goes to waste as Onix is stuck in the quicksand. The blue aura around Trapinch goes away as it faints.
"Trapinch!!" I yell as I run over to it with the rock in my hand.
I put the rock I found in my back pack and take my arm out of the sling, then pick up the injured pokémon.
"Thanks for saving me again Trapinch" I say as I stare at the ground pokémon. A stream of light hits my face and I look up and see the exit to the cave. I get up with Trapinch in my arms and run past Onix to the exit.
AT MY HOUSE…
"Okay is everyone ready?" my dad asks
The mob of people that he has gathered with shovels and other construction equipment raise their arms in the air
"Yea!!"
"Okay let's get my son out" my dad says as he walks to the door.
When he opens the door I'm standing there all dusty and scratched up with Trapinch in my arms.
"Coal!!" my dad says as he hugs me
"Hey dad, nice to see you too but you are crushing me" I say
My dad lets go and sees Trapinch breathing very slow.
"What happened?" he asks
"Long story, but I need to get it some medical attention now" I reply
"Give it to me" my dad says as he takes Trapinch from me and takes it to the other room.
I enter the house to a crowd of hugs and questions about what happened. My sister comes up to me and gives me a big hug.
"Coal, I was so worried about you. I didn't mean those things I said earlier, do you forgive me?" she says as tears roll down her cheeks
"Don't worry about it sis, I'm not mad" I say as she lets go and looks at me with a smile. "O yea I almost forgot" I scrimmage through my bag as my sister looks confused. I take her hand open it and place the rock I found in it.
"What is this?" she asks
"A pokémon fossil!!" I reply
"What!! No way" she yells
I smile and nod my head. We both laugh when my father enters the room and walks up to me. I look at him and quickly ask
"Is Trapinch going to be okay?"
"Yes, I put some potions on it. All it needs is a good night's rest" he explains
"That's good" I say
I enter the room where Trapinch is recovering. Trapinch is sleeping. I take a seat and sit next to it. I look at the sleeping pokémon and smile.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
I fell asleep by Trapinch's side. Trapinch wakes up and looks around the new place. He notices me sleeping next to it. Trapinch just stares at me then lays back and goes back to sleep with a smile.
THE NEXT MORNING…
The sun's rays hit my face waking me. I sit up and look around. I notice that Trapinch is gone and a sad look comes over my face. I get up and head to the living room. My family is sitting down at the table eating breakfast. My mother gets up and serves me breakfast and we both take our seats. My dad just looks at me as I slowly eat my food.
"Are you okay Coal?" he asks
"Yea, I'm just a little nervous about today I guess" I reply
My dad digs into his pocket and takes out a pokeball and hands it to me. I look at him and ask
"Why are you giving me this? When I get to Pallet, Professor Oak will give me a pokeball with a pokémon"
He doesn't answer but just smiles and looks behind me. Confused I look back and see Trapinch there looking at me.
"Trapinch?" I say as I get up and pick up Trapinch
"It seems like Trapinch wants to join you on your pokémon journey" my mother says
"Really? Is that what you want Trapinch?" I ask
Trapinch smiles and nods its head. Joy comes over me as I give Trapinch a big hug then use the pokeball that my dad gave me to "capture" Trapinch.
"Yes, I have a Trapinch" I yell
"Congratulations Coal" my sister says
"I think it's time for you to be heading out now" my dad says
I look at him and nod. I run and get my stuff packed up; I see the fossil that I found and go to my dad.
"Hey dad, I found this fossil in the cave yesterday" I say
"O yea?" he replies as he takes the fossil and examines it. "That's a pokémon fossil all right, leave it here with me and when you return to Pewter city to challenge the gym leader come see me" my dad says with a smile.
I give him a confused look but I just shrug. I give my mom and older sister hugs and leave with my dad. My dad takes out another pokeball and throws it.
"Go Salamence!!" he yells as the pokeball opens revealing the giant dragon pokémon.
I stare in awe and we both get on its back. Salamence takes flight as I look back at the town where I grew up. I then look at my belt where Trapinch is, I smile and look forward.
AT PALLET TOWN …
Salamence lands in front of Professor Oak's laboratory. I jump off and my dad extends his hand. I shake his hand and we both smile.
"See ya pops" I say
"Don't forget to visit and good luck son" he replies
I walk up the slope to the laboratory as my dad takes flight back home. I take a deep breath as I open the doors. I enter to see Professor Oak and another guy talking to him. I walk up to them when Oak says
"Ahh you must be Coal"
"How did you know?" I asked
"Well you are wearing a miner's hard hat and you look just like your father" he replies
"You know my father?" I ask
"Of course, he's the reclusive pokémon historian in Pewter city" he replies
I nod then look at the other kid.
"The names Tengan" he says as he lifts his arm
I take his arm and give him a pound. Oak hands me a training license, Pokédex, and some Pokéballs
"Well, let me show you the pokémon you can choose" Oak says
"O, no need professor, I have a pokémon already" I say
"Really? Can I see it?" Oak asks
I take the pokeball and stretch out my arm.
"Come out Trapinch" I say
Trapinch appears and jumps into my arms. Tengan's Abra who was sleeping awakens and levitates toward the three of us. Trapinch sees the pokémon and jumps out of my arms and in front of Abra. Trapinch and Abra start talking in pokémon and we all start to laugh.
"Well, they are becoming fast friends" Tengan says
"Yea" I reply
"Well it seems happy, and Coal it looks like it trusts you a lot" Oak exclaims
Trapinch and I both smile as the sound of the door opening catches all three of our attention and we take a look to see who it is.