Chapter 7
"...then there's Jigglypuff, I would love to get one of those, they're so cute, but then I've seen a photo of a Pichu in Pokemon weekly and that is even cuter..."
Viridian hung his head as Callie continued to tell him her favourite and cutest Pokemon. They had stopped off at the Pokemon centre just to check what had happened. It seemed that all of his Pokemon had been stolen, every last one. To top it off, they had emptied his money and items as well. He was left with nothing. He had cancelled his old ID card and got himself a brand new one, it was signed on the back and coded with three passwords, he wasn't taking any chances next time.
Callie had collected her trainer ID too and had been showing it off around the town boasting that she was now a certified Pokemon trainer.
She had said that her picture made her look a little frumpy but she didn't mind too much as long as she could battle Pokemon.
She had spent some of her money on Pokeballs and random items she thought she might need.
Viridian on the other hand hadn't anything to his name. Tracking down and stopping Christian was going to be harder than he thought. Also he had to put up with Callie.
"...and Clefairy looks nice too, but I hear they're kind of rare to find but they do have them in Kanto..."
Viridian sighed, "are you just going to talk at me all day?" he asked getting frustrated.
"Well at least I'm making conversation," Callie said getting upset with him, "you've been quiet ever since we left."
"I'm working on a plan," he said simply, "and it would help if you weren't yapping in my ear every five seconds."
"You are so rude," Callie said folding her arms, "no wonder you don't have a girlfriend."
Viridian rolled his eyes and continued out of the town. They were heading to Saffron City; they had asked around the town in the hopes that someone might know the whereabouts of Christian but no one had seen him or they couldn't remember. Saffron city was the easiest town to get to from here, but so long had passed there was really no lead. Viridian really needed a plan and fast.
"What is your plan then?" Callie asked annoying him further.
"I don't know yet," Viridian huffed, "but first I need a Pokemon."
It was a bright sunny day and there were Pidgey's soaring above them high up in the clouds one of those would be helpful.
Viridian hated walking, he had gotten so used to flying over the years, this was going to take them forever.
"Goodbye town," Callie said waving behind them.
Viridian didn't bother to look back but continued on to Route 8.
There was a large field coming up and it looked to be crawling with Pokemon.
He headed towards it, any of them would do, he just needed something strong.
They reached the field surrounded by trees and rock formations.
"Let's go," Viridian said.
"Are you sure?" Callie asked.
Viridian sighed, "well we're not going to get anywhere if we just stand here are we?"
"I guess not," Callie said nervously, she had obviously never been out this far before.
He scanned the area looking for a worthy Pokemon.
A Rattata ran at them, it's teeth bared and read to attack.
Viridian instinctivly reached to where his belt used to be but it was gone, "Quick give me your Kofing," he demanded holding out his hand.
"I can fight it," Callie said.
Viridian sighed, "look it would be easier if I just..."
"I can do it," Callie said launching the Pokeball at the ground.
Koffing exploded out of it ready to fight. His purple body bobbed in the air ready for instruction.
Rattata leapt through the air.
"What are you going to do," Viridian asked sanding aside to watch the battle.
"Uh," Callie said looking nervous now.
Viridian folded his arms, he wished that she would have let him fight the battle, it would be over within seconds.
The Rattata sunk its teeth into Koffing.
"Quick Poison gas," Callie commanded.
Koffing shook at the Rattata and thick dark green gas seeped through its rubbery skin.
The Rattata choked and fell from Koffing writhing with mouthfuls of gas on the ground.
"Now tackle it," Callie shouted pleased with her moves.
Koffing shot towards the ground but the Rattata rolled out of the way letting Koffing slam into the grass.
Mut splattered everywhere and Viridian rolled his eyes.
Callie seemed nervous again.
Rattata used a quick attack and charged at the grass embeded Koffing slamming into him and headbutting him back.
Koffing rolled back towards Callie like a bowling ball.
"What are you going to do?" Viridian asked holding out his hands, it was so frustrating to watch her battle, "you should have got him out of there before the attack."
Callie turned to look at him, "well what do I?" she started.
Rattata had launched itself at Koffing again and sank its teeth into his tough skin.
Callie turned back to the battle, "no," she cried, "uh Koffing... uh..."
"Stop saying 'UH' Viridian said sighing again at her incompetence.
"Use Poison gas."
"Is that the only move you know?" Viridian asked rolling his eyes.
Koffing writhed on the ground ignoring Callie and trying to break free from Rattata's bite.
"Koffing tackle it," Callie said her eyes looking shiny now as if she were holding back tears, she looked scared for Koffing not knowing what to do.
Koffing continued to ignore her and stopped writhing.
The Rattata let go of Koffing having defeated it and gazed up at Callie.
"Go away," she shouted at it.
It gazed at her for a moment and then turned from her, leapt off of Koffing and darted back into the tall grass.
Callie called Koffing back to his Pokeball and fell to her knees.
"Well that was impressive," Viridian said shaking his head.
Callie looked up at him angrilly, "shut up," she cried, "you distracted me."
"Are you really going to get upset every time you loose?" Viridian asked.
"Why are you such a jerk?" Callie shouted at him.
"Come on," Viridian said walking past her.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Heading back into town," he sighed, "with only one Pokemon it means back to the Pokemon centre for us."
"Oh," Callie said getting to her feet.
"And lets be quick," Viridian said otherwise we'll never get further than rout 8."
It took another half an hour to get back to the Pokemon centre and then about an hour to heal up Koffing.
Two hours later and they were back where they started.
Callie hadn't spoken much, Viridian liked this, it was peaceful. She was obviously stropping about loosing the battle but he didn't care, he needed to find himself a new starting Pokemon.
"Now let me do the battling this time," Viridian said holding out his hand.
Callie glared at him but reluctantly handed Koffing over.
"Right now lets find me a strong one," he said happy to be in control again.
There were so many to choose from, Rattata's, Pidgys, a few Ekans's slithering around.
Then he spotted it, standing by a rock not too far away, the Pokemon he wanted, the Pokemon that would help him rise back up to the top, a beautiful thick furred Vulpix.
He didn't bother to wait for Callie, or tell her what he was after. He just darted forwards his eyes fixed on the maroon silken coat of his target.
"Go Koffing," he shouted launching the Pokemon forwrards, Koffing exploding forth ready to fight.
The Vulpix looked startled and gazed about for an escape.
"Koffing use sludge bomb!" he shouted excitedly.
Koffing just hovered mid air rocking slightly in the wind.
Vulpix span on its heels and jumped up onto its rock.
"Uh," Viridian said glancing back at Callie, "what moves have you taught it?" he asked.
"You're the expert," Callie said folding her arms across her chest, "you figure it out."
Viridian sighed, she was really unhelpful, "tackle it," he commanded having seen at least two of Koffings moves so far.
Koffing let out a yelp of joy and dove towards the Vulpix ready to slam itself into her.
Vulpix jumped from the rock letting Koffing slam into it causing only damage to itself.
Vulpix licked its paws unphased now by the bumbling Koffing.
"Again," Viridian commanded pointing at the snooty little Vulpix. Usually a Pokemon this weak wouldn't even register on his radar, he wouldn't have looked twice at her. But right now she was all he wanted and he was going to get her, even using the useless Koffing.
Koffing shook himself back up and charged at the Vulpix a second time.
The Vulpix easily leapt out of the way with a lot of time to spare.
Koffing wasn't very fast it seemed.
"Stop," Viridian shouted before it crashed into the grass again.
Koffing didn't seem to hear him and continued forwards.
"Stop you stupid Pokemon," he shouted.
Koffing heard him this time and turned to look at him.
Vulpix jumped up into the air and spun quickly sending small flames shooting towards the great bulk.
Koffing caught fire and shot up into the air.
"Why did you look at me?" Viridian said frustrated.
"Don't shout at him because you're loosing," Callie said furiously behind him, "you're mean and rude and..."
"Shh," Viridian said thinking hard.
"Koffing use Smog," Viridian shouted.
Koffing stopped flailing and unleashed a great mass of toxic gas.
The fire went out and Vulpix was unable to escape. The gas shot down in great brown and yellow streams hiting the Vulpix, knocking her to the ground.
"That's it," Viridian praised, "now tackle it again."
Koffing nodded happily and dove at the coughing Vulpix.
The smog was too cloudy to see him coming and Koffing hit the Vulpix with a mighty THUD.
Vulpix wasn't about to give in so easily though.
It scampered through the smog sticking its tail in the air and unleashing another burst of flames in the direction it hoped Koffing was.
Other Pokemon surrounding them had scampered away now and the area had turned into a mini battle field.
"Koffing dodge it," Viridian shouted as the flames shot towards him.
Vulpix now batted her tail madly ridding the area of the smoggy gas's.
Koffing only just managed to avoid the flames this time, the burns from earlier were starting to take effect, he wasn't sure how much longer the weak little Koffing could fight.
"Tackle it again!" Viridian shouted.
Koffing obeyed and darted right for the Vulpix.
Vulpix made to dodge but suddenly hiccuped a small purple bubble, confusing it and leaving it paralized in place for enough time.
Koffing slammed into the Vulpix knocking it to the grass where it lay and didn't get up.
"Good work Koffing!" Viridian said pleased with the little Pokemon's efforts.
"Callie hand me a Pokeball," he demanded holding out a hand.
Callie placed one in his hand without retort and he launched it at the Vulpix.
The ball hit her and Vulpix was sucked inside.
It wobbled a few times but Vulpix was too poisened to fight back, the ball soon stopped and she was caught.
"Yes," Viridian said picking up the ball and turning to Callie, "see, that's how you catch Pokemon."
Callie just looked defeated.
"What?" he asked, "this is good news, it means we each have a Pokemon; now we can continue on to Saffron city."
"Fine," Callie said walking past him, still looking dejected.
Viridian sighed, he must have upset her somehow. He was so determined to get his Pokemon back, he must have been hard on her.
He wondered if he should apologise.
"Wait up," he called after her, "I have to be your guide remember, your dad said so."
"Don't worry about it," Callie said without turning, "you have your Pokemon now. Go and find that Christian guy on your own. I'll be alright."
"But your dad said..." Viridian started, maybe he really had upset her this time.
"It's fine," Callie shrugged, "I don't need you."
Viridian caught up with her and ruffled her hair.
"Hey get off," she glared at him.
"What if I promised to train you?" he offered, "for real, no back-seat battling I promise."
"You promise?" Callie asked her eyes lighting up just a little.
"Of course," Viridian said putting his hand on his heart.
Callie nodded, "alright, I guess I can let you tag along with me."
Viridian rolled his eyes, "besides if you went off on your own that would make me a pretty lousy babysitter," he grinned.
Callie punched him hard on the arm, "I am not a baby," she growled, though there was some warmth in there somewhere.
Viridian guessed this was what it was like to have a younger sister.
"Now lets get to Saffron city so I can heal up Valentia ready to fight."
"Valentia?" Callie asked.
Viridian nodded, "my new Vulpix."
"Great name," Callie said sarcastically.
"Thanks," Viridian nodded and together they continued on towards the big city.