This is Chapter 3 of my story. I was actually thinking of going to a different character and leave mystery around Thomas, but I decided not to. A new character will be introduced soon a future chapter. In this chapter there will be some more OC's and made up places, so at the very end there will be a pronunciation guide. In this chapter there is a character that is related to a character in the main series of Pokemon. NOTE THIS IS NOT ACTUALLY A FACT, IT IS JUST A PART OF THE STORY.

Chapter 3

Thomas

A young man with spiky blue hair was walking down a hallway. The hallway was unadorned, and it had gray steel walls, giving it a space-like feel. Panels, with blinking lights of varying colors and green buttons, were scattered at regular intervals on the hallway walls.

He stopped at a panel with a flashing purple light. He hesitated before pressing five of the nine green buttons in quick succession.

There was a loud click, and part of the wall opened up to reveal a small room with a steel door. The man walked into the room and rose his hand up to knock on the door.

His hand stopped before knocking, as if he was deciding if this was the right decision. He seemed to make up his mind and lightly tapped on the door twice.

The door opened, revealing two other men who appeared to be guards and another hallway behind them.

"I wish to see Colvard," the man said.

The guard on the left pressed a button on the wall.

"Sir, someone wishes to see you."

A voice could be heard through what seemed to be an intercom. "Who is it?"

"Identification?" The guard on the right asked, though it seemed more like an order.

"Team Galactic Commander, Cyrus." Cyrus said, pulling out an ID with his name, rank, picture, and a number.

"It's Team Galactic Commander number 331, Cyrus." The guard said.

The intercom buzzed. "Let him in."

The guards parted, letting Cyrus pass. He walked towards the end of the hallway.

When he reached the end of the hallway, one of the guards pressed another button, opening up the door at the end of the hallway.

Cyrus walked in and kneeled down on one knee. "I've returned."

The room was scarcely lit, most of the light coming from various computer screens that other people were stationed at. In the center of the room, was a chair, similar to a chair on board a spaceship.

A man, probably in his fifties, sat in the chair and had an air of authority around him.

"Report," he said.

"I tracked one of them down into the Xan Forest, sir." Cyrus said.

"Did you bring them back?" Colvard asked.

Cyrus bowed his head down, as if in shame. "N-No sir, there was an interference."

"What was the interference?" Colvard asked, dangerously calm.

"An old man and his Bulbasaur, sir." Cyrus mumbled.

"What was that?" Colvard said.

"An old man and his Bulbasaur." Cyrus said louder.

"WHAT!" The man shouted in outrage. "I send you with one simple task, track down one of the five and bring them back, trusting you with this mission! Yet you are stopped, by an old man and his Bulbasaur!"

"There was also a Bronzor." Cyrus said.

"There was also a Bronzor." Colvard said mockingly. "You know, I should demote you for this! In fact, I think I will! From henceforth you will be demoted to a Team Galactic Grunt. Now get out of my sight!"

Cyrus rose and walking towards the exit.

"When you leave, find Shelia and tell her to see me. She will be your replacement." Colvard said as Cyrus walked away.

Thomas' head throbbed and he had a painful headache. It felt like someone was driving a nail through his head. He opened his eyes, and saw that he seemed to be in some sort of cabin. He couldn't remember anything and tried to sit up to see more of his surroundings.

He barely moved before pain coursed through his body, making him cry out.

He heard rustling and saw his Bronzor look down at him with a worried expression on its face.

"Hey buddy." Thomas said, giving a faint smile before grimacing.

Thomas heard footsteps come towards him.

Thomas turned his head slightly, wincing in the process. He saw an old man and a Bulbasaur race towards him. The Bulbasaur was holding a bowl, using Vine Whip to keep it steady.

"How are you doing?" The old man asked.

"Pretty bad." Thomas admitted. "What happened to me?"

The old man told Thomas what he knew. "You were completely unconscious when we found you, and your Bronzor fared just barely better," he said. "I tried to get you to my cabin sooner, but every time I touched you, you cried out in pain and some lingering lightning shocked you. It took two days for the rest of the lightning to leave your body. In total you were unconscious for about a week."

I remember now.

"Thanks for helping me." Thomas said. "What's your name?"

"My name is Holt." The old man said. "This is my Bulbasaur."

Thomas tried to sit up again, with the same result.

"Careful!" Holt said. "You haven't recovered fully. Bulbasaur come here."

Bulbasaur slowly walked closer, keeping the contents of the bowl from spilling.

Steven took the blanket off of Thomas revealing multiple bandages on his torso.

"Your Bronzor was a big help." Holt said. "Whilst I couldn't heal you in those two days, I was able to nurse your Bronzor back to full health. When we finally got you back here, he levitated you, allowing me to bandage you with as little pain as possible. But that was three days ago, so we're going to have to put new bandages on. Is that fine with you?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Thanks for doing this for me." Thomas answered.

"OK, Bronzor can you help us out again?" Holt asked.

Bronzor nodded.

"OK, whenever you're ready." Holt said.

Thomas slowly started to float. After a few moments, Thomas was levitating above the ground.

"First, I'm going to need to take off the bandages." Holt said. "It might hurt a little, but it shouldn't be too bad."

Holt carefully took off the bandage wrapped around Thomas' abdomen.

"I'm going to have Bronzor slowly rotate you so I can get this off." Holt said.

"OK." Thomas said.

Bronzor slowly rotated Thomas while keeping him airborne.

Holt continued to take off the bandage, managing to keep Thomas from feeling any pain.

After a few minutes, the bandage that was on his abdomen was completely taken off. The other bandages were smaller and were quickly taken off.

"Can you tell me where most of the pain is now?" Holt asked.

"My chest, shins, and forearm." Thomas answered.

Holt nodded. "OK, Bulbasaur you can put the bowl down on the bed."

Bulbasaur set the bowl down, and sat down in case needed later on.

"I'll just put the salve that is in the bowl onto the new bandages." Holt said.

He proceeded to rub the salve onto the new bandages. He then put the new bandages onto Thomas.

"OK, you're all done now." Holt said. "Bronzor you can put Thomas down now."

Bronzor set Thomas back down on the bed in an upright position.

"Thank you again for everything you've done for me." Thomas said.

"Don't worry about it." Holt said.

Holt got up and walked into a kitchen that Thomas didn't see earlier.

It was simple with a stove, oven and microwave, which was strange since they were in the middle of the Xan Forest.

Holt turned on the stove, and walked outside. He came back with a basket full of various fruits and vegetables.

"Where did you get those?" Thomas asked.

"I have a garden outside in the back." Holt answered. "I think today I'll make vegetable soup, and we can have a fruit salad for dessert."

An hour later the food was done. Holt filled three bowls with soup and headed outside.

"Wait, where are you going?" Thomas asked.

Holt stopped walking. "I usually eat outside, it's more peaceful eating outside. Not only that, you can look up at the stars."

"Oh." Thomas said. "Oh I know! Bronzor can you take me outside?"

Thomas was slowly lifted into the air. He drifted towards the open door and was set down on a wooden log facing a fire. Holt was already waiting for them.

"Here you go." Holt said, handing him a bowl of soup.

"Thank you." Thomas said.

"How did you end up living in the forest?" Thomas asked.

Holt answered between mouthfuls. "I used to live in Floaroma Town, with my two grand kids. My granddaughter's name was Gardenia. She was always caring and loved Pokemon. She would take in injured Pokemon and, with the help of her Budew, she would nurse them back to full health." Holt smiled. "Then there was my grandson, Aaron. He was always feisty and always fighting with his sister. He would run off into the forest and return with all kinds of different bug Pokemon in his arms. I would tell him to put them back, and he would try to hide them under his bed."

Holt put his bowl down. "After they left together to go on an adventure, there was no one left with me. I decided to live in the forest and surround myself by their favorite types of Pokemon, bug types and grass types. I built this cabin and started a garden in order to sustain myself. After a while, I became friends with the Pokemon living here. What's your story?"

"Wait don't say anything." Holt said, getting up. He took their bowls and walked back into the house.

He came back with the bowls of fruit he made for dessert. "OK, now tell me your story."

Thomas cleared his throat. "I was born in Snowpoint City, but after my mom died, we moved to over here. I lived in Arkell Town for seven years with my dad who didn't care about me at all. Just last week, I ran away and came here."

"Bulbaaa."

Thomas looked at Bulbasaur. It was already asleep, and was starting to snore.

"It's getting late." Holt said. "We should probably go inside.

Once Thomas got put down on the bed and the Pokemon were put to sleep, Holt walked into another room, most likely his bedroom.

"Goodnight Thomas." Holt called out.

"Uhh… you too." Thomas said.

"You sound like you've never heard the word goodnight before." Holt said.

"To be honest, I haven't. My dad has never said that to me before." Thomas replied.

"Well, you have now." Holt said. "Now get to sleep, you need to rest."

This is the first time anyone has ever cared about me.

Thomas slowly drifted to sleep, a smile on his face.

Colvard- COLE-vard

Shelia- SHELL-ee-uh

Arkell- ARR-kell