Chapter Three: Floccesy Ranch


September 9th

As Rosa stepped onto Route 20, It began to dawn on her what it meant to be a trainer. 'This...This is going to be a long journey' Rosa thought 'Fighting wild Pokémon, fighting Pokémon trainers, a crapton of walking, But that doesn't bother me. There's something that feels off about all of this like there's something about to go terribly wrong... Enough paranoia, let's get going!" Rosa walked towards the bridge but was challenged by a trainer. The trainer, a Young Boy Sent out a Patrat, while Mei walked in front of Rosa. The trainer had his Patrat use tackle hitting Mei once. Mei proceeded to use water beam, sending a beam of water at the trainer's Patrat, hitting it once. Before the Patrat could get another tackle out, Mei hit it with another Water beam knocking it out. Rosa accepted the money from the young boy hesitantly before walking forward only to be interrupted, this time by a young girl. The girl sent out a Purrloin, while Mei took the lead. A few minutes later, the young girl no longer had a conscious Purrloin and gave Rosa money and walked away.

Rosa took a minute to think about the upcoming journey again. 'This… is going to be lonely. I have nobody to talk to in person that isn't random trainer's, no travelling companions to talk to. Sure, I could talk to Mei and other Pokémon I catch, but I can't understand them. I'll have encounter's with Hugh, but just that. Encounters. We'll battle, talk a bit, and then part ways again. Actually, why do parents let their kids go on Pokémon journeys? It seems like a great journey into isolation.' with that Rosa walked forward and picked up a Parlyz Heal off the ground. Walking forward still, she was stopped by a trainer who sent out a Patrat. Rosa, who was now familiar with the strength of the trainers in this zone, wasn't worried. The patrat Used Tackle Slamming into Mei, sending her into just into the yellow. Mei, in return, used water beam twice to knock out the Patrat. After the battle, the trainer, a young boy, walked over to Rosa and gave her a small amount of victory money before walking away.

Rosa, noticing the condition of Mei, opened her bag and grabbed a potion. "Mei, Come here." Rosa crouched down, and sprayed the potion on Mei's scratches, healing her. Rosa put the empty bottle in her bag before walking towards Floccesy Ranch.

As Rosa walked onto the ranch, she noticed it looked completely Abandoned. 'Hugh should be here, it's the only place left. I've searched everywhere on Route 20, yet he wasn't there.'

Rosa had luck on her side when it came to hunting down an energetic teenager named Hugh, however. As soon as she stepped into a pen, Hugh showed up. "Oh, nice! Strengthening up your Pokémon as well, I see? All right, Let's see who's stronger between us!" Rosa sighed, "Hugh, can you wait for just a second?" Hugh laughed "Nope! I'll be starting now, so make your move!" Rosa, Exasperated, started the battle. "Alright Mei, here's what I want you to do. Use Tackle until you win!" Hugh did a spit take "What kind of command is that!? Snivy, Use Tackle!" the two Pokémon slammed into each other, dealing damage. Unfortunately for Mei, Snivy landed a critical hit, sending Mei into the yellow. Snivy and Mei used tackle again, sending Mei into the low yellow, while Snivy sat just above yellow. Hugh, realising that this wasn't working completely, switched up his tactics. "Snivy, use Leer a few times!" Snivy's leer affected Mei, lowering her defence, while Mei's tackles lowered Snivy's health into the red. "Mei, this is it, use tackle!" while Hugh played risky in hopes that mei missed. "Snivy, Dodge and use leer, and then tackle!" Unfortunately, Mei landed the body slam onto Snivy, knocking it out.

"Not bad! You're taking care of your Pokémon well and bringing out their strength. I'll be able to count on you for backup! Oh yeah, what were you going on about earlier?" Rosa sighed once again. "Well Hugh, I'm here to deliver a town map to you, courtesy of your sister. Here." Rosa handed Hugh the town map. "She didn't have to do that… Thanks. We've just left and you're already helping me out." Rosa had a thought pop up in her head "Hey Hugh, Why didn't you use any grass type moves?" Hugh laughed "I wanted us to have a fair battle, It wouldn't be fun to stomp on you this early! That, and your irrational fear of grass type Pokémon and grass type moves." Rosa looked away, embarrassed.

"I thought it was lively around here! You were having a Pokémon battle, huh? Ahh, I miss being young!" A man, a woman and a Herdier showed up. Hugh looked at Rosa, with a confused look on his face, which Rosa simply gave him a shrug of her shoulders, leaving Hugh to speak up, "Uh, who are you?" the man laughed. "Who am I? I'm the owner of this ranch, and this is my wife!" The woman stepped forward, smiling kindly. "I'm sure your Pokémon are tired after that battle, Here take this, and I won't take no for an answer!" The woman gave Rosa and Hugh each a potion.

"By the way, Have either of you seen a Herdier around here, did you? Our Herdier's are always together, but this is the first time one wandered off, and I'm a little worried… " The woman said, frowning.

This seemed to have struck a nerve of Hugh's, "You're a little worried? Are you joking with me?! Your Herdier Might be gone forever! I'll look, Rosa, Help out as well!" Hugh stormed off, heading further into the ranch. "Why did he get so mad? The other Herdier should be playing somewhere in the ranch…" The woman then piped up. "Hmm, Maybe he has a past of runaway Pokémon… Oh, and if your Pokémon needs healing, come right to me!"

With this, Rosa walked into the further into the ranch.