Chapter Five

"Yoshi, it's not going to be like that," Hedwig said. She was sitting on the dresser, preening herself. That's what I woke up to.

"Yes it is," Yoshi said. "If the humans keep landscaping for new cities, then the Viridian Forest will be gone in less than five years."

"No it isn't, I have faith in them," Anna disagreed.

"Me too," Hedwig agreed with Anna. "I mean, they want to take care of us, and I think they've stopped expanding Pewter City as much as they were going to."

"Yeah," I said, sitting up.

"Alex, we didn't wake you, did we?" Hedwig asked. "You need your sleep."

"I know, but you didn't wake me. What time is it?"

"It's six in the morning," Anna told me.

"Oh thanks." I replied. I got up and got dressed.

"Let's go," I told my Pokemon. We left the PokeCenter and found a restaurant near it that was serving breakfast.

"I'll have a breakfast burrito and three helpings of Pokemon food," I told the counter lady.

"Alex, is that you?" I heard. I turned around and saw Red. "It is you!"

"Hey Red, come to yell at me too?"

"No, but I just want to know why you're taking the challenge," he whispered.

"At first, it was because some creepy man told me I could have a challenge, then it became part of me. I mean it's only been a few days, but I feel like my Pokemon is my family."

"Really?" he asked. "I feel the same way about my Pokemon. Except that mine don't die if they faint."

"True," I agreed. "I envy you."

"Why have any of them died yet?"

"Not yet," I answered. "It makes me hopeful, but also worried."

"I understand, you don't know what's next."

"Yeah," I lied. I let him think that I didn't know what would happen. I didn't think that he would appreciate it if I told him his life was a videogame.

"So let me help you," he sighed. "The next city is Cerulean City, and the trainer has water types. Your Bulbasaur would help with that a lot."

"Thanks," I replied. "By the way, how did you find out?"

"Blue told me," he answered. "He was really upset."

"I know," I sighed. "He wanted to kill my Pokemon so I couldn't go on."

"That's not good," Red agreed. "He shouldn't try to kill your Pokemon."

"He also knows that the consequence for blacking out might be death for me."

"That's not good," he sighed. "What if you do black out? Then you'll die."

"But I have to finish this Nuzlocke to go home," I told him.

"I know, all I can say is just try to finish it," he told me. "Now I've gotta go."

"Okay," I sighed. "I'm going to go to Mt. Moon now."

"Cool!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to rest a few days before I continue."

"Okay." He left and I sat down and ate with my Pokemon.

.oOo.

I left the city and walked down Route 3. Soon I ran into an aide of Professor Oak.

"Hey Alex," the aide said. "I was sent here to give you a package from Professor Oak." He handed me a package and ran off.

"Thanks!" I called after him.

I sat down and held the box. Yoshi came over and sniffed it. "What is it?"

"I don't know," I answered. I opened the box and pulled out a nice pair of running shoes. "Oh cool!" I put them on, and felt how comfortable they were. "These are nice."

"They look nice too," Hedwig agreed.

"I wish I had feet," Anna sighed. "I would love to feel what shoes are like."

"They are really nice. I wonder how much they cost."

"There's a note," Yoshi said.

Dear Alex,

I'm sorry for not trusting you. If you have this package, you have beaten the first gym. I don't expect payment in any way. These are a gift. Please take care of your Pokemon. Please take care of yourself.

Samuel Oak.

I read the note, and sighed. "They are from Professor Oak. They're a gift. I wonder what else he'll give me."

"I don't know," Yoshi replied. "But he must like you if he's giving you things. He only does this for people he likes."

"Cool," I said.

We continued on, and fought a few trainers, and Yoshi evolved and I got some money. I got to the first patch of grass and saw a young woman standing near the edge.

"Hey, do you see any Pokemon?" I asked.

"Sure, all the time," she replied.

"Thanks," I told her. I walked into the grass, and saw a female Nidoran, It was a light blue, with small horns and a small body. She was small and light. Immediately after I caught her eye, five male Nidorans came out after her.

"Go Anna!" I cried out. I let Anna tackle the male Nidorans and made them faint. Then I made her tackle the female and made her sleep. I caught her in a Pokeball.

Then I went back to the Pewter City PokeCenter.

.oOo.

"So, you're telling me I can die?" the Nidoran asked.

"Yes," I sighed. I had explained the Nuzlocke to her, and she had said she would think about it.

"Fine, I'll join. I want to see Vermillion City anyways."

"Cool!" Yoshi exclaimed.

"Welcome to the team," Hedwig agreed. "I'm Hedwig, the Ivysaur is Yoshi, and the Butterfree is Anna."

"Nice to meet everyone. I'm Marcia."

"Nice to meet you too," Yoshi agreed.

"Okay, let's train you up to the rest.

.oOo.

By the time we were done, Marcia had been trained to evolve into a Nidorina, and I was happy. But it made me scared. Was I going to lose a Pokemon soon? I didn't know. I hoped not.