A Trainer's Journey
Chapter 3
Chase walked with his Pidgey, who he nicknamed Heather, to Route 2; he checked his Town Map and saw that Viridian Forest is rather large, but also knew that Pewter City is beyond it, as well as his very first Gym Challenge. When Chase puts the Town Map in his knapsack, he noticed from the corner of his eye a trainer that looks like Red on the offbeat path; just to be sure it wasn't the trick of daylight, Chase approached the offbeat path, but can't go past the thin, young trees without a certain move. Seeing no other route to go to Pewter City, he entered the checkpoint leading into Viridian Forest; as he was about to enter the forest, he overheard two Lass' gossiping about seeing a Pikachu minutes earlier, but was chased away by a Butterfree.
Seeing that there's an opportunity to encounter a fairly rare Pokemon, Chase entered the Viridian Forest, with Heather ready to fight with her Trainer. Expecting the forest to be flush with Bug-Type Pokemon, Chase was surprised at the scarceness of Pokemon; he and Heather glanced at each other, before they proceeded along the dirt path. With every pace they took, they kept their eyes peeled for rustling in the trees, ready to fight against a wild Pokemon.
Mid-way through the forest, they heard rustling inside a bush on their immediate right and turned abruptly to the bush. Pidgey glared at the increasingly shaking bush, ready to fight whatever is likely to jump at them, when they heard a cry that Chase never heard before "Pika!" Chase tilted his head to the right and said in confusion "What?" The bush then shook softly, before a yellow, lightning shaped tail poked out of the side; it tweaked twice, before the Pokemon emerged from the bush, revealing to be a Pikachu.
He looked at Chase curiously, before it stepped forward towards him; Chase then knelt down as Heather perched on his shoulder, leering at the wild Pikachu, when it sniffed at Chase. After a moment of decision, the wild Pikachu smiled and did mimicry to explain that his friend, a Bulbasaur, is in need of help from an aggressive Butterfree. Although Heather is sceptical, Chase mentally noted that the wild Pikachu doesn't seem to be lying, so he followed Pikachu further into the forest.
As they neared the end of Viridian Forest, they heard a Pokemon's cry for help that Chase was familiar with "Saur!" Chase, followed by Heather and the wild Pikachu, rushed to the cry of help and saw a wild Bulbasaur, despite heavily damaged, still holding his ground against a wild Butterfree, who just used Gust against him. Seeing that the only thing between them and the checkpoint out of Viridian Forest is the Butterfree, Chase sent out Heather and Wildfire to battle against Butterfree.
Seeing a Trainer had dared to commit a battle against her, Butterfree turned her attention to Chase and his Pokemon, when the wild Pikachu joined Chase's Pokemon. Butterfree used Gust against Heather, but the latter dodged and countered with Quick Attack; Wildfire then used Ember as the wild Pikachu used Thunder Shock, knocking out the Butterfree. Bulbasaur is glad that his friend and a Trainer helped him out in a bind, before he collapsed from the amount of damage he took. The wild Pikachu is reasonably worried about his friend and wants Chase to help Bulbasaur get medical attention; Chase then agreed willingly to the wild Pikachu, before he carried the Bulbasaur in his arms and rushed through the checkpoint, with Heather, Wildfire and the wild Pikachu right behind him.
They then entered Pewter City, but Chase can sightsee later; he frantically looked around for the Pokemon Centre, when a brown haired man directed him to where the Pokemon Centre is. Chase thanked the man of his help, before he hurried to the Pokemon Centre; he then said to the Bulbasaur "Hold on, Bulbasaur; hold on just a little longer…" The wild Bulbasaur weakly looked at Chase's concerned expression, before smiling weakly at him; Chase then entered the Pokemon Centre and said to Nurse Joy in between breaths "I have… an injured… Bulbasaur… here… Please… heal… him…" The wild Pikachu said in concern "Pika, pika pi." Nurse Joy then agreed and took the injured Bulbasaur onto the medical tray, with the wild Pikachu, Heather and Wildfire joining him. Nurse Joy's Chansey then wheeled the Pokemon into the Recovery Room, before Chase said with a relieved expression "Thank you, Nurse Joy. Had I not encounter the wild Pikachu and led to his friend, it might've been too late." Nurse Joy then replied with a warm smile "It's no problem, all of us Nurse Joys are willing to help an injured Pokemon, no matter the damage."
Chase took a moment to process the comment, before he admits "Oh, sorry. I thought initially you were the same Nurse Joy back in Viridian City…" Nurse Joy then smiled sweetly at Chase, before she knelt behind the counter and showed him a photo of numerous Nurse Joys; she then replied "It's rather understandable to be confused; the Nurse Joy you encountered in Viridian City was none other than my younger sister." Nurse Joy then tapped her finger on a Nurse Joy on the bottom row, before Chase fully understood.
He then waited at a vacant sofa, tapping his foot impatiently in concern of Bulbasaur's health; he then noticed the same man that directed him to the Pokemon Centre entering the building, when nearby Lass' and citizen's whispered to each other "It's Brock…" "The Pewter City Gym Leader…" Chase's eyes whitened in shock when he realised that he was directed by the city's Gym Leader, of all people. He witnessed him talking to Nurse Joy about something, when Brock noticed Chase as he turned to the automatic doors. Chase was bewildered when Brock approached him with a warm smile and said "Nurse Joy told me about you getting the Bulbasaur medical attention; suffice to say, someone who helps a Pokemon in need, even though it's not theirs, is a good sign of a good heart."
Chase made a brief smile from Brock's assessment, before he replied in concern "I can't just leave that poor Pokemon to succumb to his injuries. I wouldn't have found and helped him in the first place if I haven't ran into his friend, a wild Pikachu." Brock raised his brow and inquired "But if you encountered Bulbasaur without being led by Pikachu, would you still help him?" Chase then replied "Of course I would still help him. I mean, I just can't stand idle when other Pokemon are in trouble." Brock leered at Chase to be certain he wasn't lying, before he smiled and nodded at him; their conversation ended when Chansey wheeled the medical tray to Chase, with Bulbasaur and Pikachu fully healed and looking at him in praise.
Chase then said to Bulbasaur in relief "I'm glad you're okay now; I was really worried about you, so does Pikachu here." Like a drop of a needle, both Bulbasaur and Pikachu jumped at Chase and hugged him in joyous laughter, before Pikachu climbed up onto Chase's shoulder and cried happily "Kaaa! Pikachu!" Chase then petted Pikachu's head gently, when Bulbasaur rested his head on Chase's knee, looking up at Chase with pleading eyes. He slowly realised that they want to join him, so he grabbed 2 empty Poke Balls and asked "You two up for a journey?" Pikachu and Bulbasaur pressed the buttons on the Poke Balls in joy, before they went in them and they shook in complete sync once… twice… thrice… *click!*
Chase then made an air thrust with his fist, before he sent out Pikachu and Bulbasaur; almost immediately, Heather and Wildfire exited their Poke Balls and greeted their new friends cheerily… well Charmander, anyway. Heather is secretly jealous of the new additions and suspects they'll push her aside from her Trainer's attention, unaware that Chase is particularly fond of Flying-type Pokemon. Chase then heard a growl in Bulbasaur's tummy and asked "You hungry now, bud?" Bulbasaur made an awkward smile, before Chase decides to rest at the Pokemon Centre for the night.
After Chase and his Pokemon finished their meal, they went to the Sleeping Quarters; Chase went into the bathroom for a shower as his Pokemon relaxed on a bunk bed. As Wildfire, Pikachu and Bulbasaur were chatting amongst each other, Heather continuously looked at the bathroom door, hearing her trainer whistling whilst he showered. Even though she was in his team for only a few hours, Heather's already developed a secret crush on Chase; she then felt that the more Pokemon that Chase will befriend, she'll be feeling more distant from him. Just thinking like that made her feathers ruffle uneasily; the thoughts were drowned out when Chase exited the bathroom in his striped pyjamas.
He noticed Heather was looking rather uncomfortable, so he knelt down and asked her in concern "Is something the matter, Heather?" Heather looked at Chase worriedly, before she flew to his shoulder and rubbed her head against his cheek affectionately. Chase then affectionately scratched Heather's head in a returning gesture, making her coo softly; she then looked at Chase's Pokemon in an uneasy look, which Chase noticed and told her "You think I'd single you out from the others, but I won't. I'd rather treat you all as equals, despite the obvious difference…" Heather then looked at Chase blankly, before she smiled at him and cooed pleasantly; she then nuzzled his cheek with hers and they both laughed in enjoyment, before Chase's other Pokemon joined in and showed their affections to their trainer, laughing in joy.
Chase then made a notable yawn, before he drowsily said "Alright, let's turn in now… Got a full day of training tomorrow for the Pewter Gym Battle." His Pokemon didn't argue, so Chase carried his team to the bottom bunk and slid under the donah, with his Pokemon cuddling him with dreamy smiles, especially Heather. He then said softly "G'night, guys… sweet dreams." before he drifted off to sleep.
