Adventures in Kanto
Arrival at Pewter City
Healing Bulbasaur and a Trainer's Warning
It was difficult to see, not because of the night, but because the dense trees were covering the only source of light – the stars and the moon – Luffy, Chopper, and Leanne found it nearly possible to navigate. Chopper took the lead, in walk point, where he had the best visibility. Luffy and Leanne stayed close to the reindeer as they moved at a quick pace through the maze-like forest.
"We passed these trees already," Luffy said, looking boredly at a line of trees they passed by. Leanne looked up at him with an annoyed expression and crossed her arms.
"How can you tell?" she asked, "it all looks exactly the same,"
"That branch there," Luffy replied, pointing at a large branch that seemed to have fallen from the tree beside it, "We passed it a while ago. I remember it,"
Chopper stopped walking and looked at the branch, then frowned slightly, "I think Luffy's right," he said, "That branch is the exact same one," he turned his head to look at the two with a serious expression, "We've spent the last hour walking in a huge circle,"
Leanne suddenly shrunk to her knees with an exasperated sigh, looking up at the small patch of starry sky visible beyond the trees longingly, "We're gonna be trapped in here forever," She complained. She heard the sound of elastic stretching behind her as she lowered her head and stared at the ground, drawing pictures in the dirt with her finger as she sniffed back tears.
""Found it!" Luffy said suddenly. Leanne suddenly brightened, the tears disappearing as if they were never there, and she jumped enthusiastically to her feet.
"Really? Which way? Where?" She asked, looking around for Luffy. She looked quizzically at Chopper, who pointed upward, and Leanne tilted her head back, spotting Luffy at the top of a tree, hanging off a branch like a monkey. "Woah! How'd you get up there?" she asked.
Then, Luffy jumped, holding onto the same branch and letting it stretch and slowly propel him down. When he reached the ground, he released it and his arm snapped into place. "Rubber, remember?" he asked her, "The city's that way," he pointed off the path, "So if we go straight in that direction, eventually we'll reach it, right?"
Why couldn't he do that earlier....? "But it's dangerous off the path," Leanne insisted, "what if Team Rocket or a huge man-eating Pokemon attacks us?"
"We'll just fight it off," Luffy said, "Come on, let's go!" Without a care in the world, he stepped off the path into the dense trees beyond. Chopper ran after him quickly, taking two steps for every one Luffy took until he finally caught up, leaving Leanne alone on the path.
There was a loud hoot somewhere nearby and Leanne squealed in fright and quickly ran after them, "Hey, don't leave me here alone! Luffy! Chopper!" she called, frightened.
(–)
Pewter City was a large one compared to Pallet Town, with buildings made of stone bricks, giving it a monotone, bland color scheme, even with the lights illuminating it in the dark night. Luffy looked at the city with obvious excitement, Chopper was much less enthusiastic, staying extremely close to his Captain and almost hiding behind him in Brain Point. Leanne emerged behind them, covered in sticks and leaves, looking extremely tired.
She supported herself with her knees, breathing heavily and staring at the ground. "This place is awesome! Which way to the Gym?" he asked.
Leanne looked up, startled, "Luffy, the Gym Leader is probably asleep this late at night," she said. She frowned as she straightened herself, patting her clothes to get rid of the dust and sticks and leaves, then picking them out of her hair as she walked toward the boys. "Challenging them now would be rude,"
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Luffy said, "I'd be a little ticked if someone woke me up to fight me," his grin never once faded as he spoke, and when he turned to Leanne, she couldn't help but smile as well, "Then which way is it to that... what did you call it?"
"Pokemon Center?" Chopper suggested, looking over his shoulder at Leanne.
"That's right," Leanne said. She paused, gazing around uncertainly, "But... I don't know which way."
"Well, it looks like we'll have to explore then," Luffy said. He couldn't see the grin on his face in the darkness, but could hear it in his voice, even as he started down the street."Shishishishi, this is gonna be so cool! I've never been in a city like this before! Do they have those phone things like in Viridian City?"
"Uh... most likely," Leanne replied. She examined the buildings on either side of her. They were on the outskirts of town, so they were houses, which meant that any stores or centers were in the middle of the city, the Gym included. She heaved a tired sigh and walked after Luffy slowly.
In front of her, Chopper stopped, turning his head to look at her. She was dragging her feet, her eyes half closed. Obviously, the young girl wasn't used to walking around, or even being awake at this hour. Chopper himself was tired, but he had to press on. That Pokemon had to be cured, and the only way to do that was to find the Pokemon Center.
He turned and walked back to Leanne as the girl rubbed her heavy eyes and when she looked up, he was in Walk Point, his dark eyes looking at her from beneath his pink hat. She looked at him, confused, and then he knelt down in front of her. "Get on," he said gently, "We'll move much faster if I carry you,"
Leanne hesitated, then after a moments consideration, she complied, crawling onto the reindeer's back and wrapping her arms loosely around his neck. Chopper walked toward Luffy, who'd stopped to wait halfway down the street, and by the time he reached his captain, Leanne was fast asleep.
(–)
"I think this is it," Chopper said, stopping before a large, multi-level building with a pinkish red roof and a large 'P' written over the stencil-like shape of a Pokemon. Luffy looked through the large windows that the first level was composed of, gazing at the lobby within, where at the counter, a pink-haired nurse stood as a series of large pink creatures danced busily around.
Luffy and Chopper walked toward the door, startled when it slid open to allow them in. The two stared at it in awe, their eyes sparkling. "Cool!" They said simultaneously. They stepped back and it slid closed, then stepped forward again and it opened. The played this game for a few seconds, marveling at the technology.
Until of course the kind-looking, pink haired nurse approached. "Good evening," she said to Luffy, "Welcome to the Pewter City Pokemon Center, open twenty-four hours a day. What can I help you with?" she asked.
Luffy and Chopper stopped playing immediately and put an attempt of a much more serious face, "Our friend's Pokemon is hurt," Luffy said. "Is this the right place to fix it?"
"It is," Joy said with a nod, "Please, come in. You must all be very tired." She stepped aside, allowing them to enter. Chopper and Luffy walked through the sliding glass door. Now that they were inside, the could see more. On the far wall there was a line of those computer phones, waiting on standby for a call to be made. On the opposite end of the room, there was a waiting area, composed of comfortable looking couches and sofas. Sleeping on one was a figure wearing a hooded sweater.
Chopper and Luffy walked toward there first, putting the young girl on the couch before turning back to the nurse, who'd followed them. She knelt down before Chopper, "This is her Pokemon, right?" she asked.
Chopper's brow furrowed and he shook his head vigorously as he stepped back, changing back to his Brain Point form. "I'm not a Pokemon!" he said vehemently. Nurse Joy jumped back, startled by the sudden transformation. Chopper ignored the reaction and instead took the Pokeball containing Bulbasaur from the clip on Leanne's belt, handing it to the nurse. "This is the patient. He's poisoned. I've stabilized him, but he's not cured,"
"Hey, cotton-candy lady," Luffy said, referencing her bright pink hair, "Do you think you can check up on mine too?" he handed her the three Pokeballs on his belt. His Eevee would be fine, though Little Ace and Pidgy had battled, and he wanted to be sure they were alright.
"Of course, "Nurse Joy said, taking the miniaturized Pokeballs. She turned to one of the pink pokemon and called, "Chansey," and it ran up to her.
"Chansey!" it said cheerfully. Luffy and Chopper noticed for the first time that it was wearing a white cap with a red cross on it. In a small pouch on its belly, there was an egg. Chansey looked at Nurse Joy, waiting.
"Take these to get them checked, please," she said, giving her Luffy's Pokeballs. Chansey nodded enthusiastically and carefully, but quickly dashed away. Joy looked back at Luffy and Chopper, "I'll take this one here to get the antidote. He'll be just fine, I promise," she announced. Then, she turned on her heel and disappeared into a room.
Luffy took a seat on one of the sofa's across from Leanne, and Chopper sat beside him. "Hey, Luffy?" Chopper asked.
Luffy acknowledged him with a glance to the side and a small grunt, "How long do you think we'll be here? In this place?"
Luffy didn't even consider the question, "Dunno," he decided.
"You think we'll ever make it back home?"
"Dunno,"
Chopper frowned, unhappy with the answers. He was almost afraid to ask his next question, "Do you think... that the others are ok?"
Now, Luffy grinned, "Yup," he said cheerfully. "You haven't been with us very long, so you don't really know how strong they are. Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Vivi can take care of themselves. They'll be fine,"
Chopper seemed reassured by this, as he smiled contentedly and nodded. He was about to lay down and try to go to sleep when suddenly, another Chansey approached him, looking at him with her usual cheerful expression. Chopper blinked, staring at it. "Uhm... hello?" he tried.
"Chansey!" Chansey suddenly declared, reaching into her pouch and offering Chopper the egg, "Chansey, Chan!"
"For me?" Chopper asked. Chansey nodded and Chopper reached out with his hooves and took it. "Wow, thanks!"
Another Chansey approached, this one before the staring Luffy, and held out her own egg, "Chansey!" she said cheerfully.
"Wow, really?" Luffy asked, "Thanks a ton! I'm starving!" he took the egg, a bit disappointed to find that it wasn't cooked. He frowned.
"She says that these eggs are really nutritious when they're cooked," Chopper said. Luffy looked at the egg, then at the Chansey.
"Let's wait for Sanji to cook these," he decided. "But do you guys have any other food? Like meat?"
"Chansey!" Chansey replied. "Chansey, chanse, chansey!"
"There's a diner that will open with the sun wakes up. The food there is cheap according to other trainers, and it's good," Chopper translated.
"Yosh! Then we'll have to go there then!" he declared. He gave the egg to Chopper, who packed it carefully away in his backpack. "But... what exactly are these things...?" he continued, taking out his Pokedex and pointing it at the Chansey.
"CHANSEY: THE EGG POKEMON." The computerized voice began. "A RARE AND ELUSIVE POKEMON THAT IS SAID TO BRING HAPPINESS TO THOSE WHO MANAGE TO GET IT. IT LAYS SEVERAL EGGS A DAY AND WON'T SHARE THEM WITH THOSE WHO HAVE EVIL IN THEIR HEARTS."
"Evil in their hearts?" Chopper repeated, a bit surprised. Suddenly, he grinned. "Bastard! Implying I have a pure heart doesn't make me happy!" he said to the Chansey, while dancing rather happily. Luffy, meanwhile, laughed. The noise of the two, as well as the now laughing Chansey's, woke Leanne from her sleep and groggily, the young girl sat up on her makeshift sofa bed.
"What's going on?" she asked, looking around. When she spotted Chansey, she brightened up, "Oh! A Pokemon Center! Did they take Bulbasaur?" She asked eagerly.
"Yep, sure did," Luffy replied. "Cotton Candy lady says that he'll be okay. When the sun comes up, we're gonna go get food!"
"What a relief," Leanne said, leaning back as the Chanseys shuffled away to return to their business. "And then once he's better, we can go battle the Gym Leader."
"You guys are going to take on Brock?" The sleeping figure suddenly asked. He was looking at Luffy and the others from beyond the hood of his sweater, his eyes shadowed. "I don't know if that's such a good idea,"
Luffy gazed at the man, his smile fading. "Chopper asked curiously.
"That guy's one of the few serious Pokemon trainers out there," he said, "His rock type Pokemon are really strong, and pretty dangerous. What have you got to battle him with?"
"Charmander and Eevee," Luffy replied. The figure started laughing.
"Bulbasaur,"
"Boy, you really started off bad, huh?" he asked, "Fire, Grass, and normal types won't stand a chance. You'd better evolve that Eevee into a Vaporeon as soon as you can, because I can guarantee that they won't beat his Pokemon,"
"What's a Vaporeon?" Chopper asked.
"A water type Pokemon," Leanne answered, "Water Types are strong against Rock Types. I forgot that Rock was Brock's specialty..."
"I went in there with a Pikachu and a Pidgey," the hooded figure continued, removing his hood to reveal short blond hair and blue eyes. He was only a few years younger than Chopper. "And he completely pulverized them. I've been here all evening and they're still in there,"
"I've never met a Trainer that serious about battling," the boy continued, "It's like he doesn't care about anything except his own Pokemon and winning. Leanne frowned hesitantly, obviously in doubt of her own abilities now.
"We'll win," Luffy said confidently, crossing his arms behind his head and comfortably leaning back.
"How can you be so sure?" The boy asked.
Luffy grinned, "Just am," he said simply. The boy smiled slightly and stood up, heading toward the counter.
"Well, I wish you both luck then," he said, then, a Chansey led him down the hallway, probably to check his Pokemon.
Leanne and Chopper watched after him, obviously a bit concerned about the outcome of the coming battle.
A/N: Sorry for taking like... three months to update. I lost inspiration for this story for a while, and I found myself staring at it and thought 'I have to finish this'. So Now, I'm gonna get back into it. Not much happened in this chapter, but coming up is the epic battle between Brock and Luffy! Now, I have a quick question for you guys. I can either keep Leanne in for the entire length of the story, as a travelling partner to the Strawhats, or I can get rid of her to go on her own adventure and have them meet every so often. (She's trying to get all the gym badges, just like Luffy, which means I'll to have both of them battle and the story will take much longer). So, tell me what you guys think and I'll go with the popular demand! Thanks for your patience! Let me know what you all think!
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