Chapter 7: departure

Two weeks after Benny had evolved into a Butterfree, Andy and Mike were standing on the deck of a ferry, leaning on the rail and watching the trail the ferry left in the water. Drops of water splashed in their faces and the wind violently pulled on their hair.

The two friends were smiling at each other, enjoying the travel towards the mainland, the region of Kanto.

Their Pokémon were inside their Poké Balls, and all they needed was a look to know what the other was thinking. They were thinking the same thing and they were equally excited.

The adventure would begin.

Today they would arrive at the harbour of Vermillion City.

A few days after Benny's evolution, Mike and Andy travelled across the island they were living: Rhando Island. After that the had visited the other islands that were part of the same island group: the Rorie Islands. After Rhando, they had visited Ornitan Island, Resto Island, Indelgy Island and finally Evoru Island. Although they could witness several Pokémon in wild and Mike even managed to catch a Poochyena, they felt they could learn much more in the other regions, as they had lived their whole lives on Rhando Island and had been exploring it with other children in organized travels with professor Maple from the Oak Research Facility in Lilan Town.

Mike pointed to the north and Andy's grin broadened as he looked at what his friend was pointing at. The land was in sight, they would arrive soon.

After arriving in Vermillion City, Andy and Mike walked together through the city to explore it a bit. There were people walking the streets: tourists, citizens, some children were playing tag and there were trainers walking around as well.

One girl was rushing to the Pokémon Centre and there was some talking about the tough gym leader Lieutenant Surge.

Andy looked at Mike, who shrugged and walked on. He wasn't interested in challenging the gym leader just yet.

The friends walked to a cafeteria and ordered a refreshing soda, while sitting back and just relaxing. It was their first time alone in a strange city and so far, they were enjoying it.

"Will you be alright without me?" Mike asked Andy.

"I wonder how I'll ever make it through each single day and… hey! There's a Pokémon! See ya!" Andy pretended to get up, but sat down again, laughing. "It'll be quiet alone, but I'll manage."

"Let's make an agreement. In two years from now, at six pm, we'll meet in Danny's restaurant back in Mesperit City. And we'll have accomplished at least a part of our goal."

Andy nodded in agreement. For now they would go their separate ways, but they would meet back so they could share their adventures. "Sounds like a plan. Shall we make the reservation now?"

Mike started laughing. "Danny won't know what happens to him, let's do it!"

Grinning, Andy took the cellphone his father had given him on they day he left Rhando Island and dialled the number of the restaurant.

"Hey Danny, it's Andy here…Yes, Andy Bansing, that's me." He winked at Mike, who was chuckling as he brought the glass to his mouth. "So yeah, I'd like to make a reservation…no problem you say? Fantastic, that's what I wanted to hear. It'll be for today in two years. Got that? … Yes, two years." Andy covered the speaker of the cellphone. "You think he has a hearing problem?"

Mike quickly put his glass down as he started laughing, almost choking in the sip he had taken. Andy grinned as he took his hand from the speaker again.

"So today in two years…yes, two years." Andy sighed and rolled his eyes. Mike was almost falling out of his chair from laughing. "At six pm. For two. Got all that? … Yes? Fantastic, see you in two years then. You'd better not get broke in that time … right, see you!"

Andy ended the conversation and put his cellphone away again. "I think he had some difficulties understanding. It was like 'In two years? Really, two years you said?'. As if that's so hard to understand."

"I wonder why," Mike replied, finally able to drink again. "You'd think he'd be used to having reservations."

After they paid for their drinks, the walked to a crossroad and there they were standing next to each other. Watching the people and buildings around them. Finally they looked at one another and almost simultaneous they took their Poké Ball and called their Nidoran and Butterfree out to join them.

"Well, it's time to say goodbye," Mike said.

Andy nodded and Benny landed on his shoulder, looking sadly at Mike and his pink Nidoran.

"How about: 'see you later'?" Andy proposed as he held out his hand.

Mike nodded and held the hand of his friend to shake it. "See you later, Andy. Benny, you take good care of him, will you?"

"Freee," Benny said, on a sad tone.

The two Pokémon talked to each other for a moment and when they were done, Andy nodded to Mike, turned around and started walking away, waving to his friend. "You'd better have won a league or two when we meet again."

"You'd better have your Articuno by then."

Grinning Andy turned around, gave him a thumbs up, turned around again and continued to walk, with a waving Benny on his shoulder. Mike watched him go for a moment, then turned around as well and started walking in the opposite direction.

"Come on, Nidoran. Let's start out adventure."

The Nidoran quickly looked back at the distant Andy and Benny, nodded and followed Mike.

"Free," Benny sighed and Andy looked towards him.

"Don't worry Benny, we'll see them again. We promised to do that and we have each other number just in case. You should be happy, today we begin our adventure. I promised you that, remember? We'd explore the world together, go on adventures, save the world and retire when we're thirty."

Benny sighed and Andy grinned. "Oh yes, I changed that to participate in battles, get stronger and generally just have a good time together."

Benny nodded, looking more cheerful again and Andy gently stroke him. "We'll do well, you and me. Maybe we'll find some more friends for our team, what do you think."

Benny nodded more enthusiastically now and Andy nodded as well, eagerly looking at the road ahead. Wondering what kind of adventures would be waiting at the horizon.