Chapter 4: Viridian forest + a new team member

I shook my head. "You're right. I'm not Leaf." I sniffled, stroking Bulbasaur's head to ease my grief.

My eyes sharpened a little before I continued. "I am Kate Hitomi. And I failed Almia." I said simply.

Gary sat down beside Bulbasaur and I, his newly caught Pidgey resting on his shoulder.

I laughed a little. "And to think, I thought I was the greatest thing ever when I captured Darkrai back in Pueltown. I should've known it wasn't true as soon as Keith saved me from being consumed by the black hole it created… I was only great because Keith created the illusion for me." I murmured, calming down a little.

"Le-erm I mean Kate, why'd you leave Almia? The place is a mess!" He shouted, his Pidgey squawking in agreement.

My eyes clouded. "Wendy… Barlow… and Crawford are all dead… along with so many others… I couldn't even save poor Latias… I lost my title of being a Ranger as soon as Crawford died. Now I'm a trainer… and no one else will ever know my true identity. I am Leaf now, a Pokémon trainer." I said glumly, resting my head on my knees.

Gary stood up. "No you're not Leaf. You're Kate, a Pokémon ranger, a very talented one. And you where simply doing your job. Keith is still alive isn't he? Why aren't you going back to him? He's lost just about everyone he knows. If he thinks his partner died too, then who knows what'll happen to him." He pulled me to my feet against my protests.

"You are going back to Almia tomorrow! Almia needs you! Keith needs you! The Pokémon need you! So stop feeling sorry for yourself and get your butt back to Almia!" Gary snapped.

I shot him a glare. "No I'm not! Keith's strong enough to do it alone. I'm just a weight for him to carry!" I snapped, picking up the parcel and my stuff and leaving to Pallet Town, Bulbasaur at my heels.

"Oh why thank you, Leaf. I thought Gary would be picking that up for me but thank you." Professor Oak smiled.

"And Bulbasaur seems to like you a lot. I knew he would be a good match for you." He smiled at Bulbasaur, patting him on the head.

Bulbasaur purred in response. Gary walked through the doors.

"Kate Hitomi! You are going back to Almia now!" Gary snapped stubbornly, storming over to me.

I stared sternly at Gary. "Never." I said simply.

Professor Oak's eyes widened. "You're Kate Hitomi?" He asked in surprise, looking me over.

I sighed and nodded. "Just please don't tell anyone." I pleaded, not wanting the whole world to see what a coward and just how big of a mistake I had become in less than a week.

Professor Oak nodded understandingly to my surprise. "I understand what you're going through. I know you will return when the time is right." Professor Oak said wisely.

Gary gawked at his grandfather. "WHAT?! You're just going to let her neglect an entire region?" Gary yelled, furious.

Professor Oak nodded. "Patience Gary, she's been through a lot and it's only been a couple of days." The Professor stated, his words bringing me confidence.

"Thank you Professor, you've been the only person who knows who I really am to say that." I said thankfully.

"But, while you're here in Kanto, would you mind assisting Gary and I in completing the pokedex?" The professor asked hopefully, handing me a small red machine. I nodded.

"I have nothing better to do." I said, taking the dex from his hand. "Thank you, Leaf." Professor Oak winked at me.

I smiled gratefully at him before turning to leave. "Wait! Kate!" Gary shouted, catching up with me.

I narrowed my eyes. "Yes?" I asked. "Want to travel with me? I could help you cover your tracks." Gary offered.

I gritted my teeth before responding. "Ok, but you need to let me recover at my own pace." I warned, the two of us leaving the lab.

"Hey Kate, wanna have that battle?" Gary asked hopefully, pulling out a poke ball.

I smiled. "Sure. Bulbasaur, go!" I commanded, Bulbasaur getting ready to battle.

"Charmander, go!" Gary called, releasing Charmander. Charmander's tail flame burned brighter in determination.

Bulbasaur stamped his foot in aggressiveness. "Vine whip!" I called, the excitement of my first trainer battle burning through my body.

"Ember!" Gary easily countered my flimsy attack.

"Bulbasaur!" I cried as the poor grass type got burned alive.

The horrible memories of Latias's painful screams echoed through my brain, causing me to lose focus.

"Ember again!" Gary called, eager to take me out with brute strength.

I regained my focus, determined not to let Bulbasaur down. "Dodge then tackle!" I commanded.

Bulbasaur quickly avoided the ember and tackled Charmander into a tree. "Charmander!" Gary yelled in dismay as his Pokémon was knocked out.

"Charmander, return." He said, returning the fainted Pokémon.

"Now, go Pidgey!" Gary called out his newest Pokémon.

"Oh come on! TWO type advantages?! Unbelievable!" I snapped.

"Pidgey, peck." Pidgey's peck landed spot on, knocking the weakened Bulbasaur to the ground, defeated.

"Bulbasaur!" I yelled, picking the defeated Pokémon up and returning him.

"Good job buddy." I murmured as he entered the poke ball.

I rose an eyebrow at Gary, who was currently gloating. "You got lucky. Next time I'll have another Pokémon!" I snapped.

I gave a friendly smile. "Race ya to Viridian City!" I called childishly, giving myself a head start.

"Hey!" Gary yelled, chasing after me.

I looked over to where the grumpy old man had refused to let me pass before.

I sighed in relief. "Come on, let's get going!" I yelled, desperate to avoid the old man. Gary looked at me, confused before shrugging and following me.

"Alright, so we have like… two more hours of light." I predicted as we zeroed in on the forest. "Actually, there isn't much light in the Viridian Forest, so we have like forty five more minutes of good light, but don't worry.

Charmander's flame can lead us, there's no need to stop." Gary said confidently.

"If you say so." I shrugged, returning Bulbasaur to its poke ball.

My eyes widened when I realized how big this forest really was.

"Wow… Gary do you really think we can… you know… find our way out?" I asked nervously.

Gary smirked at me confidently. "Psh, of course! I'm Gary Oak and the Oaks never give up!"

I sweat dropped. "Whatever you say, captain ego." I muttered, walking into the forest.

"Um… what's with the fog?" I asked as a fog quickly set in.

Gary shrugged. "I dunno, but it'll clear up! Trust me." Gary said, not seeming worried.

I sighed and reluctantly followed Gary. I felt Bulbasaur's poke ball jiggle.

I paused. "Huh? What's up Bulbasaur?" I asked, not noticing Gary continuing on without me.

Bulbasaur stared blankly at me through the clear red part of the poke ball.

I shrugged and turned around. "Gary? Gary? Gary Oak get your sorry butt over here and stop fooling around!" I snapped, looking for my traveling companion.

I felt something tug at my pants.

I suppressed a scream and looked down at my leg.

"Pika?" A Pikachu smiled warmly at me.

I sighed in relief.

"Hey little guy, do you happen to know a way out of here?" I asked hopefully.

The Pikachu gave a nod and created electrical discharge around itself so I could see it as it guided me through the foggy forest.

"Kate? Kate where are you? Come on! I thought that rangers were supposed to be mature and professional! Katharine whatever your middle name is Hitomi! Come out!" Gary shouted, looking around for me.

"Wha!" Gary screamed as something furry brushed his leg. Gary looked down and saw a Rattata staring at him.

"Ta rat!" Rattata cried.

"Um… Rattata… do you happen to know how to get out of here?"

Rattata nodded and wrapped its tail around Gary's leg as he guided Gary out of the forest.

"Hey Pikachu, it's getting late. Bulbasaur and I are setting up camp for the night. Would you mind spending the night with me?" I asked hopefully at the Pikachu.

"Pika! Chu pi!" Pikachu cried happily, jumping onto my shoulder.

I smiled gratefully at Pikachu.

"Thanks." I replied, climbing into a tree so we wouldn't get stepped on because of the fog.

I pulled out my blankets and drifted off into sleep.

"AAAAHHHHHHH!" I screamed as I awoke to Pikachu's thunder shock.

I fell out of the tree with a thud.

I looked around and saw that the fog was gone.

I glared at Pikachu as it smiled at me from the top of the tree.

"Pikachu…." I growled. Pikachu laughed at me as it threw my stuff down towards me.

I scrambled to my feet and caught my stuff, not wanting my styler to break again.

Then of course, Pikachu jumped out of the tree and landed right on top of my head.

I quickly lost my balance and fell again. "Pikachu!" I snapped.

"Pika!" Pikachu smiled. I sighed.

"Alright. So you know the rest of the way out?" I asked, smoothing out my hair.

"Pi pika!" Pikachu nodded as it waited for me to get my stuff ready.

I clipped Bulbasaur's poke ball back onto my belt and stuffed my blankets into my bag and slipped my bag onto my back.

"Ready!" I called. Pikachu lead me to a narrow passage between two trees.

I began to walk into the trees.

"Ow! OW! Pikachu what's with all the thorns in here?" I complained as we continued through the passage.

Pikachu snickered at me. When we finally made it out of the passage, I gasped.

"We're already past the checkpoint? H-how?!" I stuttered in disbelief.

Pikachu shrugged and looked hopefully at my belt.

It took me a minute to figure it out. "Oh! You want to come along?" I asked.

"Pika!" Pikachu cried, nodding its head.

I enlarged Bulbasaur's poke ball and released him. "Well what's a capture without a battle?" I asked.

Pikachu enthusiastically got in a battle stance, her cheeks sparking.

"Alright! Bulbasaur, use razor leaf! We can't get paralyzed!" I commanded.

Bulbasaur nodded and shot sharp leaves at Pikachu.

Pikachu however, nimbly dodged the leaves with double team and came in with quick attack.

"Huh?" I said, not realizing what Pikachu was doing. Bulbasaur got blown back right into me.

"Ah!" I screamed, falling down with Bulbasaur.

I rose an eyebrow at the gloating Pikachu.

"Well aren't you a little snit?" I muttered, dusting myself off and setting Bulbasaur back down.

"Alright Bulbasaur! Time to show this Pikachu who's boss! Vine Whip!" I cried.

Bulbasaur narrowed his eyes and slapped Pikachu in the face and back, sending her flying.

Pikachu slammed into a tree, defeated. Excitement tingled through me as I experienced my first catch. "Go, poke ball!" I yelled, throwing the red and white ball at the defeated electric type.

In one click Pikachu was mine. I jumped into the air and did a fist pump. "Yes! Yes! My first catch!" I beamed, plucking Pikachu's poke ball off the ground.

"I caught a Pikachu!" I shouted, clipping my new Pokémon onto my belt.

Gary woke up in Pewter City's Pokémon center, his newly caught Rattata, who helped him earlier sleeping on the floor.

"I hope Kate's alright. I'll stick around here for one more day and if she doesn't turn up by tonight I'm going back into the woods." Gary decided, releasing Pidgey and Charmander to feed them.