Chapter 7 - The road to Nacreen City

Peter scooped up Snivy with is left arm and with his free hand picked up his bag and pushed through the door.

The pair hurried down the stairs into the reception area. Peter followed the directions to the restaurant section. Turning down a corridor and pushing through some double doors he was presented with a small room with small booth tables along each wall. Directly in front of them was a buffet bar.

"Snivy!" Snivy shouted, seeing Kelly and Jade sat at one of the benches.

Peter smiled and gave a wave, he put snivy down.

"You go and join them, I will be right there in a couple of minutes." Peter said.

Snivy nodded and scurried over to their booth. He struggled up onto the bench and sat down next to Jade. From this position he was barely able to see over the table.

"Hey snivy!" Jade said happily greeting the Pokemon.

Snivy smiled and hugged her. Glancing back over the table he could just about make out dewott on the other side next to Kelly eating a bowl of Pokemon food. He sank down in his seat and watched Peter collecting some cereal from the bar.

Peter smiled at his Pokemon as he squeezed onto the bench next to Jade.

"Morning everyone!" He said cheerfully.

"Hey." Kelly said through a mouthful of rice. Jade nodded, inspecting Peters bowl. It looked like he had selected the most bland cereal flakes available.

Peter tucked in, taking a large spoonful of the breakfast and crunching.

Snivy's looked on enviously at the bowl of cereal, his belly grumbled loudly as he realised how hungry he was.

"Ahem." Jade coughed, hearing the noise. She nudged Peter and glanced down at snivy.

"Oh right!" Peter said, quickly finishing his mouthfull. He reached into his bag and pulled out a small dish and a jar of the Pokemon food he had brought in Accumula town. He tapped a small amount of the food into the dish and slid it in front of snivy.

Snivy grasped the edge of the table with his hands and tried to hoist himself higher to reach the food. Seeing his predicament, Jade lifted snivy up onto the table as Peter tucked the jar away in his bag.

Snivy nodded at her cheerfully. From his new vantage point he looked around the table. Dewott nodded politely at him. Snivy sat down and nodded back indifferently. He took a piece of the food from the bowl and delicately put it into his mouth savouring the flavour as he crunched it.

Peter smiled at snivy and continued with his cereal. Snivy turned to look at Jade who was studying her Pokegear.

"So, you wanna hit the gym in Nacrene next huh?" Jade said, looking over at Kelly.

"Yeah," Kelly said, "I have a Pokemon in mind for this one.. "

"Oh?" Peter asked, unable to hide his interest, "Any clues who you are going to use?"

"I wont reveal my strategy." Kelly said bluntly. Allowing herself a grin when she noticed Peters disappointment.

Finishing his food snivy sat back from his bowl and burped lightly. Suddenly realising everyone was looking at him he covered his mouth and blushed.

"Well, if everyone is done - shall we get moving?" Kelly said, glancing around the table.

Peter nodded, whilst using a tissue to wipe snivy's bowl and put it back into his bag.

He slid to the edge and stood up next to dewott. He patted the sea otter on the head softly as they watched Kelly and Jade collect their things and get to their feet. Snivy jumped off the table onto the bench and then to the floor in 2 quick fluid movements. He landed next to Peter and rubbed his eye patch lightly before glancing up at his friend.

The group set off, leaving the Pokemon centre they were presented with a bright sunny day, although the morning breeze was a little cold.

Peter watched as Kelly returned dewott to his Pokeball after he started complaining of the cold. He wondered if snivy would prefer to be inside also. Looking down on the path next to him he could see snivy shiver slightly as they stood and waited.

Peter rummaged on his belt and watched as snivy's Pokeball grew to its normal size. Snivy glanced up at Peter confused. He shook his head, he wanted to stay outside with him.

"Looks like he prefers to be outside of his Pokeball." Kelly said.

Peter had read about Pokemon like this during his studies. Whereas most pokemon couldnt wait to get back into the carefully engineered environment inside the ball, some Pokemon preferred the real world, even if the conditions were unpleasant at the time.

"I guess so." Peter smiled replacing the ball onto the back of his belt. Snivy smiled back at him as Peter picked him up.

The group continued along the street, passing various shops and offices. Peter was amazed by the skyscrapers, looking up into the air and seeing them seemingly disappearing into the clouds.

"There is an awesome museum in Nacrene City!" Jade said, looking up from her Pokegear, "All kinds of interesting things there.." She held the screen over to Peter.

"Hey yeah," Peter remarked, scanning the images, "Perhaps we can take a look after your battle, Kelly?"

"You can do whatever you like!" Kelly said, looking back at him, "I mean, you dont have to travel with us if you have other things you want to do.. I know you are on a schedule to get to the hospital in Opalucid and everything.. "

"Oh," Peter said, taken aback, "Well, thats true I know, but I am really enjoying travelling with you both." He said politely, "And I know snivy is too."

"Snivy!" Snivy said cheerfully.

"So if you dont mind me tagging along...?"

"Of course not!" Jade interrupted, grabbing Peters arm, "and I would miss snivy if you were to go without us!"

Snivy blushed and covered his face.

"I guess having a Pokemon doctor with us is quite useful." Kelly grinned, looking over her shoulder, "But you're going to have to keep up with us!"

She started to run down the street, laughing. Jade and Peter looked at each other and took off in pursuit. It didnt take long at this speed to reach the track to Nacrene City.

Kelly waited for the others by a sign marked 'Route 3.'

"Come on Slowpoke's!" She called as Peter and Jade jogged up. She took a swig of water from her flask and leaned on the sign.

"Yeah, yeah." Jade said, grabbing the flask as she arrived and taking a drink.

Peter fumbled in his bag for his flask and took a drink too. He offered some to snivy who gladly accepted.

As the group was getting refreshed a group of trainers walked past. They were talking loudly and were all wearing vest tops with black shorts. One of them had a Zubat flapping wildly above her.

"Ha!" Grunted one of the boys in the group, "Check out that guys pokemon, how pathetic!"

The others in the group laughed, including Zubat. Peter glanced around to see that no one else was there, they must be referring to snivy and himself.

Snivy looked up at Peter, obviously hurt.

"Ignore them buddy." Peter said, packing his water bottle away.

"Huh." Snorted a girl in the group, "I guess he dont 'SEE' us."

This caused more laughter.

Snivy looked again at Peter. He couldn't help how he was he thought. He glanced back at the group, looking at Zubat he remembered his battle with India's growlithe. He felt he was stronger than any zubat.

"Snivvvvvv..." He growled, looking back at Peter.

"Peter, you cant let them get away with that!" Kelly said, "Snivy can take that weakling Zubat."

The group woo'ed in unison.

"Yeah, I'd be up for a battle." The girl with the Zubat flying above her said, "Show you how a proper Pokemon performs in battle."

"Snivvvvv." Snivy growled again.

"Alright." Peter said, "Fine." He looked down at snivy, "You wanna do this?"

Snivy glanced again at Zubat then back at Peter.

"Snivy." He said confidently, making a fist pump gesture.

"There is a field just down here, big enough for a battle." One of the younger members of the group said, pointing.

They all travelled down a small overgrown patch to a clearing.

Peter and snivy stood at one side, the girl from the group at the other.

"Go Venipede!" She shouted, to whoops from the group stood behind her. She threw up a pokeball and a fearsome bug and poison type Pokemon emerged. It was a deep red colour insect with black stripes on its feelers. Its body was red and black with a single back circle marking on each side. Its tail was composed of a menacing looking pincer.

"Oh no." Jade said softly, looking at Kellys Pokedex. Snivy was weak to both poison and bug types which made venipede an excellent choice. She looked up again at the battlefield, she noticed for the first time how small snivy was, he was barely larger than the Venipede stood before him. Venipede stood on 8 short legs about 0.4m high according to the Pokedex. Snivy looked hardly any taller, he couldn't be much more than 0.4m himself - if that - she thought.

Snivy looked back to Peter nervously. He had never seen a Venipede before, it looked threatening he thought as he fought against his natural instincts to flee.

Peter looked on at his snivy as it glanced at him, seeing the concern in his one functioning eye. He was an idiot to let snivy do this, even more of an idiot to assume she would use Zubat he thought to himself.

"Whats the problem, wanna forfeit?" The girl mocked, seeing their concern.

Peter and snivy stood their ground.

"OK!" Came a voice, "This will be a one on one Pokemon battle. The battle will end when one Pokemon is unable to battle."

Both trainers nodded looking over to Kelly on the sideline.

"OK, since that is understood, begin the battle."

"Venipede!" The girl shouted, "Take them out quickly with poison sting."

The insect scurried left and right lining up the small grass type snivy in its sights. Two glowing purple darts emanated from the creatures forehead and spat towards snivy.

"Snivy, dodge it quickly and counter with vine whip." Peter called.

Snivy turned his head to focus on the incoming projectiles with his right eye. Waiting for the perfect moment he used his vines to propel himself high into the air, dodging the poison darts. On his decent he whipped his vines at the venipede below him.

"Use protect!" The girl called from across the battlefield.

Venipede produced an ora around its body which glowed with energy.

Snivy's whip like vines approached, landing either side of the bug type. Snivy lashed his vines again landing two direct hits but causing no damage.

"Venipede, wait for snivy to land and use steamroller." The girl called.

"Steamroller..." Jade muttered tapping on her pokedex, "it looks like this is a really experienced pokemon..."

Snivy landed gracefully, pausing for a moment he used his tail to balance himself and shift his body so he could see his opponent with his right side.

Seeing his foe landing with his left side towards her venipede took her chance. Knowing the snivy would not even see her coming, she rolled her body and threw herself into the steamroller attack.

Snivy turned just a second too late as venipede crashed into him, venipede's hard shelled body crushing him into the ground.

"Snivy, are you ok?" Peter called out, his voice full of concern.

Venipede rolled to a stop and looked back to check on her handywork.

Snivy was struggling to his feet. He felt dizzy and found it difficult to focus. He heard Peter call out to him but his voice sounded distorted and strange.

Seeing that snivy was climbing to his feet with his left side facing venipede the girl knew it was her chance for an easy win, "Venipede, use your poison sting now!"

Venipede grinned seeing her opponent oblivious to her location. She felt totally in control of this battle and could use the snivy's disability to her full advantage. Using all her might she spat two poisoned darts at snivy who had just staggered onto his feet.

"Snivy, dodge it!" Peter called, snivy looked around him to try and determine the direction of the threat.

The venipede's aim was excellent and the two darts hit snivy hard on the left side of his body. Snivy winced as the two darts pierced his skin and delivered their toxin. He fell to one knee. He felt his body temperature rise, his sight was so blurry affecting his balance.

"Snivy, are you alight?" Peter called from the sideline.

Snivy stumbled back onto two feet. He shook his head to clear his sight.

"Snivy." He said taking a deep breath and trying to sound as normal as possible, although he was unable to control a slight tremor in his answer.

"Venipede, steam roller again and end this." The girl called.

Venipede once again rolled itself into a tight ball and sped towards her target. Snivy's head snapped to the left, seeing the pokemon heading directly for him.

"Snivy, dodge it and counter with vine whip." Peter called out.

Snivy felt too weak to propel himself into the air. With each breath he could feel his energy draining. He felt his fever getting worse as the toxins flowed through his veins. He deployed his vines and at just milliseconds before venipede hit he pushed himself off the ground and landed to the right of the speeding bug type. Retracting his vines and lashing them out again he struck the venipede on its right side again and again.

"Snivy, use tackle and take it down!" He heard Peter call.

Snivy summoned all of his remaining energy and sprinted towards the other pokemon. He couldnt feel his legs but he didnt stop. He dropped his shoulder and slammed into the venipede at full speed.

The impact knocked the wind out of venipedes lungs and she let out a blast of air. Snivy fell to one knee the other side of her, keeping her in sight.

"Venipede, get up!" The other trainer called.

Keeping venipede to his right snivy started to slowly circle the other pokemon as it staggered up.

"Snivy, use tackle again! You can do this!" Peter called to him.

Snivys confidence returned as adrenaline flowed through him, temporarily countering the poison and the fatigue biting him. Digging his heels into the grass he sprinted again towards the bug pokemon.

"Dodge it Venipede, dodge to the right now!" The girl called.

Venipede rolled to the right, into snivys blind spot. Snivys tackle missed its target. Skidding to a stop in a cloud of dust snivy again used his tail to steady himself. He had lost sight of venipede again, his head flicked left and right as he scanned the battlefield.

"Venoshock!" Called the girl from the sideline.

"Oh no.. " Kelly said, looking on. She knew snivy was already suffering from poison sting. If Venoshock landed snivy was done for.

Making sure to keep herself to the left of snivy venipede recoiled back onto her four rearmost legs and let out a ball of purple, black energy. The globule of poison flew through the air.

"Oh no..." Peter said under his breath, "Snivy you have to dodge now!" Peter shouted.

Snivys head pounded, he felt the effects of the poison again making him dizzy. He heard Peter call to him, "Dodge now!"

Snivys muscles tensed as he pushed himself off the ground with all his strength. The ball of poison clipped the large leaf on snivy's tail, sending him spinning head over foot back to the ground. He shuddered as he hit the floor. He felt like he was going to be sick, his body was burning and his energy was gone. He blacked out.

"Snivy is unable to battle..." Kelly said, half in shock, "Venipede and... "

"Joy." The girl called, "its Joy."

"Venipede and Joy are the winners." Kelly finished.

Peter ignored Kelly's words and rushed out onto the field to his pokemon. Joy walked out to join him and return Venipede to her pokeball.

"That was a good battle." She said, "Hes strong for such a little guy.. with more training this might have been different." She held out her hand to Peter.

Peter was looking down at snivy, crouched on one knee. He didnt notice Joy's hand until she coughed.

"Oh, sorry." Peter said taking her hand, "Thanks, I guess."

Joy turned and walked away. Her group of friends were yelling congratulatory remarks to her, any jibes against snivy were quickly silenced by Joy and they filed out of the clearing.

Peter crouched down again,

"Snivy.." He said, "Are you ok?"

Snivy groaned in response.

Peter touched snivy's head, he was running a very high fever. He checked his body and found the 2 poison darts, looking at his tail he noticed that the areas the venoshock had hit had caused the leaf to brown and die.

Peter picked up snivy who groaned as he was moved and carried him over to the sidelines. He put him down gently next to his bag. He fumbled inside and pulled out an antidote for the poison and a spray to treat the wounds on his side.

Using small syringe he squirted the solution into snivys mouth. The watched carefully as the pokemon choked it down. Peter spoke softly to his pokemon as he treated the wounds on his side and tail.

"Is he okay?" Jade said running over.

"He will be fine." Peter said as Kelly joined them.

"Just need some time for this antidote to work." Peter said, "He will probably sleep for a while."

Peter sat down on the ground and laid snivy on his lap. He kept his hand on snivys back, monitoring his condition, checking his breathing and heart beat.

Jade sat also looking on with concern whilst Kelly set up a small fire and put up the tents.

Several hours passed, Kelly looked over to Peter and Snivy. Peter hadnt moved from his pokemon. Kelly dipped a cup into the boiling tea on the fire and went over to him.

"Here.." She said, holding out the cup, "You havent moved for ages, you should have something to drink at least."

"Thanks." Peter said, accepting the cup from her. He glanced up at her and smiled.

"Sniiiiiiii.." Snivy groaned.

Peter looked down to see snivy rolling onto his back and stretching. His eye snapped open.

"Hey buddy!" Peter said softly, "How do you feel?"

"S-Snivy." Snivy said in response. He felt ashamed, he let Peter down and gave him all this trouble. His eye filled with tears.

"Hey," Peter said, holding him close to him, "No need for that, I'm so happy you feel better!"

"Snivy, sni, snivy.." Snivy responded, "Vi, snivy?"

Snivy felt sure Peter would be disappointed with him for loosing. He apologised to him deeply for the loss and for putting him through trouble to treat him again.

Peter hugged snivy, he didnt know what he was saying but at this moment the only thing that mattered was that snivy was ok.

Kelly reached down and stroked snivys back, admiring the strange "S" shaped yellow markings where his tail merged into his large three pronged leaf.

By now the twilight had really drawn in, the campfire lighting up its surroundings with dancing orange light. Setting snivy on the floor Peter reached into his bag and produced the tub of Pokemon food. Satisfied snivy was ok, Jade had turned in for the night leaving Peter and Kelly around the fire.

"You must be hungry." Peter said, tipping a carefully measured amount into the small dish.

Snivy nodded, wiping a tear from his eye. Peter nodded back and climbed to his feet. The two moved closer to the campfire and sat down. Peter handed snivy the bowl and watched the pokemon happily crunch a few of the nuggets.

"Here," Kelly said offering a china cup to Peter, "Its soup."

Peter took the cup appreciatively. "Thanks!" He said, and took a sip. He savoured the flavour, tomato and fresh basil.

Peter paused for a moment, looking around he noticed they were surrounded by thick bramble bushes, poking up between them were clumps strong stemmed nettle plants.

He looked over to see Kelly standing watching snivy happily crunching his dinner. She took a sip of her soup before sitting down next to Peter.

"Sorry." She said, looking into the cup.

"Why?" Peter turned and looked at her confused.

"Well, if I hadnt egged you and snivy on, perhaps we could have just ignored those guys," Kelly said, "I thought... I had assumed that they would use that Zubat. I should know better."

Peter thought for a moment, looking at snivy who was crunching his last nugget of food.

"It wasnt you." Peter said, "Snivy wanted to battle. It seemed almost like he wanted to prove something to me."

They watched as snivy fell back onto his tail rubbing his belly happily as he swallowed the last bite.

"I dunno, but he just looked so keen to battle." Peter continued, "So he decided, it wasnt you, dont worry."

Even after Peters words Kelly still felt a little responsible, but she had noticed snivy was very eager to stand up to them.

"I think snivy may have had enough of being bullied," She said thoughtfully, "His last trainer seemed like the type to push him too far, perhaps he wanted to show you he could defend himself?"

"Maybe, I dunno." Peter said, looking back over at his pokemon, "He doesnt need to prove anything to me like that, I dont care if he doesnt want to battle at all."

Kelly nodded, "If he does want to battle, you guys need to train hard so he figures out how to handle his blind side."

"Yeah," Peter said, recalling the battle, "Against India, the girl from before, she didnt exploit that weakness like Joy did."

"I dont think India was a serious trainer, she looked pretty green to me." Kelly said, taking another sip of the soup, "I underestimated that Joy girl."

Snivy picked up his bowl carefully and waddled over to Peter with it.

"Vi, snivy!" He said cheerfully, handing him the empty bowl.

"Glad you enjoyed it!" Peter replied, accepting the bowl he got up and after cleaning it, returned it to his bag. He watched as Kelly played with snivy, she was flipping up some berries and snivy was catching them in his mouth.

"Im going to turn in." Peter said, stepping over to them, "Snivy, you can play but dont stay up too late."

"Snivy!" Snivy said happily, turning back to Kelly he anticipated another berry.

"Cool," Kelly said, "See you in the morning then."

Peter ducked into his tent, leaving the entrance open just enough for snivy to squeeze through he tucked into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes.