Chapter 4 – Gossip
Out of nowhere, the Guide House exploded, leaving rubble and debris of ash and wood raining down from above. In order to get away from the wreckage falling from the sky, I ran into the Pokemon Center. A crowd gathered around the Guide House in order to figure out what was going on. As I sat on one of the many couches in the lobby and gazed out the window, I noticed Nurse Joy running outside with a handful of Chanseys pushing stretchers.
"What happened over there?" I asked to myself.
It was strange and had to be coincidental that it exploded right after I was shoved outside. The situation became clear as I saw Lance walk out of the Guide House. He had been playing the role as an undercover Team Rocket grunt and was removing his costume in front of Police Officer Jenny while explaining the situation. My eyes slowly widened as I finally understood the situation. Lance had found out about Team Rocket's underground facility. I continued to stare at him as he commanded police officers to charge inside in order to arrest the remaining grunts in the building. His striking red hair and brown eyes were in their usual determined position with his signature red cape gleaming in the sun. He certainly hasn't changed a bit. Lance took notice of me for a moment and I quickly turned around to avoid his gaze. I can't have Lance figuring out I'm here.
The Pokemon Center was soon in chaos with Nurse Joy busy treating injured pokemon patients. Without her noticing, I helped myself to a Guest Cabin and began scanning a map that was posted of the Johto region. I traced my fingers along a path to figure out where a Pokemon Trainer like Gary would head to. My fingers drew to an abrupt stop at Violet City. Sprout Tower and a Pokemon Gym! That has to be the perfect place for any trainer! I stuffed the envelope that I had searched through earlier inside my Pikachu bag and then lay on the nearest bed. I planned on leaving here first thing in the morning and ambushing Gary in Violet City. There was only one problem. Would anything else happen to interrupt my plan?
I laid on the bed fully wanting to rest, but the whole Center was filled with noises from the hospital equipment. I sighed and sat up, thinking of various things I needed to do. I called out Weedle and saw it was still in its Cyndaquil costume. I laughed as I helped him take it off.
"Where did you get that costume anyway?" I wondered while placing the costume in my bag.
Weedle nudged Magikarp's pokeball and I knew where he found it. I laughed some more while imagining him stealing one of Professor Elm's pokemon costumes from his lab.
"Weedle," I continued laughing. "I swear we're almost natural born villains."
I stopped laughing as I said the word "villains". I never dreamed of being in Team Rocket, and being in this situation. I better hope my plan works out or all of this will be for nothing. I sighed as I hugged Weedle.
"You okay?" I asked. "Are you feeling tired too?"
Weedle rubbed the side of my cheek, almost seeming to feel my worries. In the moment when I was hugging Weedle, I felt a sense of encouragement. I have to make this plan work, because Weedle and Magikarp are with me. I placed Weedle back in his pokeball and zipped up my bag. I laid back down and dozed off to sleep.
I woke up early that morning and found that Nurse Joy was staring down at me in shock. Stunned, I quickly sat upright and scooted towards the other side of my bed. Why was she staring at me like that? I looked down to make sure my Team Rocket uniform wasn't showing. It's not my uniform.
"Nurse Joy?" I asked almost scared of what she had found.
"You scared me to death," She sighed, relieved. "I didn't think anybody was in here."
She laughed and gave a little smile at me as she continued fixing the sheets of the bunk beds.
"Oh," I replied, feeling relieved myself. "I'm sorry."
She waved off my apology while saying, "Don't apologize. You're not in any trouble."
I began helping Nurse Joy with fixing the sheets on the rest of the bunk beds throughout the Center. As I helped her with the sheets, she began telling me various things. She told me that usually the Chanseys do certain chores around the Center, but since they are busy attending to the recent surge of injured pokemon, Nurse Joy filled in instead. What interested me most is what she told me about Gary. He was a Pokemon Trainer who had participated in the Kanto Pokemon League. He's the youngest grandson of Professor Oak from Pallet Town and his main rival was his childhood friend Ash Ketchum.
"How do you know that about Gary Oak?" I asked as I continued fixing the sheets.
"Oh, when you're in a small town like this," She pointed out, "there is nothing to really do but watch television or gossip."
She smiled up at me as I finished the last of the sheets.
"I see you're interested in Gary Oak," She giggled. "Did you know he passed by town in the late afternoon yesterday?"
My eyes burst open and I felt like a rock just hit me hard on the front of my head. I had planned on ambushing him in Violet City, but if he had passed the city then the plan would be ruined. I sighed, feeling frustrated. Nurse Joy looked confused as she saw how depressed I got.
"Are you a loyal fan?" She asked, sounding amused.
"No!" I yelled out without even thinking.
She looked at me in shock. I covered my mouth and felt I was glowing red from embarrassment. Asking about Gary like this, who wouldn't think I was a fan girl? I quickly uttered an apology to Nurse Joy and began packing up my stuff.
"Do you have any pokemon?" She asked. "Why don't you let me look them over for a bit?"
I looked up at her and agreed that Weedle and Magikarp did need some checking up. I handed my two pokeballs over to her and watched as she cheerfully left to look them over. I decided that since they were getting checked up, that I would take a bath, grab something to eat, and ready the rest of my stuff. Gary Oak, I won't let you get away from me. I already began thinking up a brand new plan for when I reached Violet City.