Chapter Six
All Back Together Again
Though Saffron City was pretty big we breezed through it rather quickly. I was running out of room on my belt for all by pokeballs, I already had seven, one of which was on my neck, if I got any more I would have to put them in my jacket pocket.
On the edge of the city I saw where a new store was being put in. Slowing down I noticed some biker helmets in the display window. "Another bike store?" I said to myself as we slowed down and pulled to a stop outside the store. In a way I happy that there was another bike store, the other one in Cerulean City only had bikes, but I also hated it because there was already a biker store. In my opinion they should combined the two together, that way they could really make a killing.
I stood up, letting Pichu crawl up my jacket and sat on my shoulder. He wiggled around, getting situated, pulling the goggles away from his eyes and on the top of his head. "Pi!"
I smiled, patting him on the head as we walked in. surprisingly there were no bikes in this store, only accessories. They had everything you could think of, from sunglasses to bike decals. I walked around, looking at everything as a store attendant walked up to me. "That is a very nice jacket you have on sir."
I turned to see a man, about 300 pounds wide and about six feet tall, staring down at me. He two was wearing a leather jacket, apparently the special they had in the store, because it was on every rack. "Thank you," I said with a smile. "I got it in Viridian from the leather shop."
"Wow," The man said surprised. "That place sells top notch leather, very expensive. I bet that cost you a pretty penny!"
"Not really," I said with a chuckle, as Pichu and me both put a hand behind out heads simultaneously. "I actually got both of these jackets for dirt cheap. The one I'm wearing they couldn't sell, so they pretty much gave it to me, and the one Pichu is wearing came off a Teddiursa doll."
"Pi!" Pichu said, lifting up his little paw.
"Well you got lucky there," The man said, letting out a laugh. "Is there anything you are interested in?"
"Well, yes." I said, glancing around. "I was looking for a helmet. Kind of sporty looking, with black and red."
"No problem." The man said, going into the back. "Just follow me. Sorry for the mess, all of our stuff is still packed up." We walked into this really packed back room with boxes everywhere. He walked over to a large box and opened it, throwing packing peanuts everywhere. "Ah, here we go." He said, pulling out this helmet with black gunmetal strips on it with red pinstriped decal lines on it. The helmet had a black visor that changed to red tint as it went up.
"Wow," I said, picking it up and putting it on. It fit really snug, and was also very comfy. I turned to Pichu, who was on my shoulder. "You like it?"
"Pi!" Pichu laughed, hugging my neck.
"Alright then," I said, taking it off. "I guess I'll take this one."
"If your interested," The man said, reaching into the box, pulling out a pair of gloves that had the same detail on them as the helmet. "There are also some matching gloves."
"Alright, I'll take them too!"
* * *
We walked outside, and opened the hood of the bike. By the time I had sat down Pichu was already in his cup holder, and adjusting his goggles. It was then that I looked at my helmet, and really thought about it. What was I doing? It was like I was going through my midlife crises at age 16. Was I buying all this stuff as a way to get Shonna off my mind? I didn't even know what I was going for with this new 'bad boy' biker look. It's true that I have always wanted a motorcycle, and a leather jacket, but maybe I was taking it a little too far.
"PI!" I heard as a shot fizzled on my leg, enough to make me jump.
"Pichu!" I said, looking at him. "What was that for?"
"Pi!" He pointed at the gas pedal on the bike making a "Pii, Chuuuu" sound like a racecar.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the little guy. We had been with each other so long that he even acts like me. It's kind of crazy, but I'm actually getting to the point where I can communicate with him almost as well as I can with Arcanine.
"Alright," I said, patting him on the head. "Lets go." I put my helmet on and the new gloves. It wouldn't be long before we traveled to Johto to start our new journey, but there was something else I wanted to do before we left. I revved the engine, speeding off, out of Saffron, which passed like a blur.
* * *
Vermilion City was just as crazy as I remember it. There were boats everywhere, the docks were full of people, and Officer Jenny was standing in the middle of the town blowing her whistle at everyone. I chuckled, looking down at the town from the hilltop I was sitting on. Pidgeot was in the tree above me, taking a nap while Umbreon, Raticate, and Dragonite played. Arcanine and Pichu were laying on either side of me, like always, laying their heads on my leg. Gyarados, on the other hand, was taking this chance to swim around in the nearby lake. The poor thing was so large that he never got the chance to just swim. Normal ponds were too small for him, and there wasn't that many lakes around Kanto.
We sat back and watched as people boarded ships when Arcanine lifted his head to look into the woods beside us. All the pokemon stopped what they were doing, frozen in time, not making a move. Arcanine raised up, looking around. "Arff." He said, in a low voice. With that all the pokemon gathered behind him.
"What the heck is going on?" I whispered as I walked up behind him.
He put a paw in front of me, making sure I didn't walk any further.
"PRIME!" I heard as a big brown blur ran from a tree. A small Primeape ran right up to Arcanine, jumping into the air giving him a big hug. Arcanine, startled by all this, let out a flame thrower, which caught some of the grass on fire.
"Gyarados!" I called, as the serpent bolted to the surface of the water. "Put out that fire!" With that he hydro pumped the fires out. Dragonite, watching Arcanine throwing flames, flew into the air, charging for a Hyper Beam attack, to hit the Primeape. "Dragonite! Stop!" I called out, as she flew back down to the ground.
Arcanine, stopped as well as the Primeape continued to hug him. "Prime, prime!" I walked over to the pair, which was strange because now Arcanine seemed happy. I touched the Primeape on the head, who turned to face me. "Prime!" The monkey pokemon then jumped off Arcanine and ran into the woods.
"Well, that was strange." I said, watching as the pokemon vanished into some trees. It wasn't too long after however that he showed back up, this time with a bag of some sort.
He walked up, handing the bag to me. "Prime, prime, prime!"
I picked up the bag, looking at the pokemon on the cover of it. The bag was dirty, torn, and hardly legible. I tried my best to make out the words on it. "Poke-Food… For Strong and Healthy Bones." Then it clicked with me. I threw the bag on the ground and held my arms open wide. "You're my little Mankey!" I said, as the Primeape ran and jumped into my arms.
"Primeape!"
Arcanine walked up behind us, giving me a lick on the face. I turned to face the other pokemon. "Hey you all, this Primeape was once my Pokemon as well." I looked at Primeape, who was still hugging me. "Why don't you go say hi?"
"Prime!" He said, jumping out of my arms and running over to the other pokemon. They all seemed to take well to him, even Dragonite, who really only stuck to herself.
When they were done with their greetings I walked to Primeape. "Hey," I said, squatting down to his level. "How would you like to travel with us on our journeys?" I lifted my hand and pat him on the head. "This wont be an easy road, it's going to be tough."
Primeape looked at me with his big eyes, and then looked around to the other pokemon. He turned back to me with a smile and a nod. "Prime, prime!"
I smiled, standing up. "Okay you all," I said to the other pokemon. "Primeape wants to come with us, is everyone okay with that?" With that everyone of the pokemon howled, barked, cheeped, rawred, and sparked in agreement. "Alright then," I said, reaching for a new pokeball. I squatted down, one last time, holding the pokeball next to Primeape. "Now I just wanted you to know, this isn't going to be easy. I am going to train you to be a strong pokemon. It will take a lot of time and patience. Also, we will be going to a place far away. Are you sure you are willing to help me?"
Primeape looked around at the other pokemon, then back to me. "Prime!" He walked up and touched the pokeball with his hand, sucking him inside with a red light. The ball fell to the ground, bouncing and wobbling, until it sat still.
I picked up the pokeball, putting it on my belt. "Alright everyone, we still have several places to go today." I held up two pokeballs in each hand, withdrawing Raticate, Pidgeot, Dragonite, and Gyarados. I walked over to Umbreon, who was standing by Arcanine. I crouched down to him, petting him on the head. "I noticed you saw that I put Primeape's pokeball in your spot on my belt." Umbreon lowered his head, in shame. "Oh no, its not a bad thing." I said with a smile. "I am putting you in my jacket pocket, so you can be closer to reach for when I need too." I leaned in closer, whispering to him. "Its like a promotion." With that he smiled, pressing his nose on his Pokeball. I picked it up and put it in my inside jacket pocket.
Walking over to Arcanine, I picked up Pichu and put him on my head. I hopped on Arcanines back, "Hey boy," I said, scratching behind his ear. "Do you mind if I ride on your back for a while, that seat on the bike is getting a little stiff."
"Arf!" He barked, giving me a lick on the cheek.
"Alright," I said, pointing to the south. "We need to get to the docks!" Arcanine took off, running down the mountain. I knew that it wouldn't be very long of a trip, but at least he would get some exercise.
* * *
I watched the clouds in the sky roll on by. We were on the sea, by now almost to Fuchsia City. I leaned up, facing Gyarados, who was focused on the sea ahead. When me and Arcanine got to the docks, I guess I could have took a boat over to the city, but I thought that Gyarados could use some fresh air, I hardly get the chance to let him out of this pokeball. I laid back down, looking to the sky once more. I didn't know my logic for coming this far in Kanto, places I had already been. I can't re-battle the gyms, or earn any more experience from this. My only guess would be that I came out here to try to find answers. I want to go on another journey, I want to compete in another league, but how would I ever make it in time? It was already late February, and the League Championships would be held in early August. That would only give me six months to make it to a new place, collect the badges, and then make it to League to compete. How was I even going to do that? It took me close to a year to do that here in Kanto, and I know this place like the walls in my prison of a room. With that thought my eyes opened. I knew what I was doing, I was getting out and being something my mother never let me, something I always wanted and could never get. She will not tell me what to do any more, I am my own person, I am the one that decides what my future holds.
I jumped up, standing on Gyarados's back. "I'm Kyle Gray!" I screamed out over the sea. "I am Kyle Gray, Pokemon Master, and nobody will ever tell me what to do!" I squeezed my fist together thinking of my mother. "I know what I'm doing here, something I was always told I couldn't. I am the League Champion in Kanto, and I'm going to Johto, Hoenn, I will go everywhere and be the best trainer ever, I'll even go to Sinnoh." Once more, as if on cue, my heart skipped a beat again. Sinnoh, Shonna's home. Shonna…
I sat back down, watching as I saw the tree's of the Safari Zone come into view.
"Where did you get that cruddy thing?" I said, watching Shonna pull out her poll to go fishing.
"I made it."
Every time I even think about the Safari Zone that thought comes to my head. Why would I say something like that? Was I trying to make a joke? If I was, that was a very poor excuse for one.
"Rarr!" Gyarados roared, sliding up on the beach of the Safari Zone.
"Alright, thanks." I said, sliding off and recalling him. I looked to the trees, there were Butterfree, Pinser, Venomoths and many other pokemon littered all over the place. I must of arrived on the one spot of the zone that no one knew about to see all of these pokemon. But the one I wanted to find I couldn't see in the group. My old friend must be deeper in the forest.
I pushed through the shrubs and greenery. I did just come to the conclusion that I was looking for answers, that's the reason for my travels, but why did I want to have all my pokemon back so bad? Was I trying to piece together parts of my life that had fallen part, or was I worried that I would need all the help I could get in the up coming league battles? I suppose it could be a combination of both. I need all the help I can get for the league, and it would also cut down on a lot of my time if I didn't have to train new pokemon. And, I might even be trying to make myself feel better; after Shonna left I haven't been the same.
I stopped, taking a deep breath. Maybe my mother was right all those years, maybe being a pokemon master is just a dream. Maybe I just got lucky during the Kanto Championships, won by a fluke. It's been so long since I had been in a battle, it would be rather tough for me to start back up.
I felt Pichu get up and yawn. "Piiiiiii!" I could feel the little mouse stretch on my head as he got up and looked around, "Pi?"
"Hey," I said, grabbing the little rodent in my hands. "You finally awake?"
"Pi!" He cheeped, looking around at all the trees. "Pi?"
"We're in the Safari Zone, Pichu. Do you remember? This is where we all went and I caught Dratini."
"Piiiii…" Pichu said, looking up at a tall tree, bending his head so much that he almost fell backwards out of my hands. "Pi!"
"Ha ha," I chuckled, putting him back on my head. "You better stay up there for now, I don't want you getting lost in here." I put one foot forward and with a 'clank!' my foot hit something. Bending down I picked up the item holder. I have heard of these things before, but I had never seen one. They look a lot like a pokeball, and work the same way, but instead of holding pokemon, they hold items. "I wonder what's in it?" I pushed the button on the side of it, and a beam of light shot out, revealing five little candies with "RC" on the side of them. At first I didn't believe what I was looking at. I bent down, and sure enough, inside the item holder was five Rare Candies. "Wow," I said, stuffing them into my pocket. "I would hate to be the poor sap that lost these!" These candies were suppose to make pokemon grow in strength without training, and are very rare, which in return makes them very pricy. Personally I never used them. Not only do I feel as if they are a cheap way of training, but there are so much more that pokemon learn in battling than just growing in strength.
"Scy!" I heard a cry coming from behind me.
"Dri!" I heard coming from behind as well.
"I wonder what that could be?" I said, making my way to the source of the noises. Pushing a tree limb out of the way I saw a colony of Scyther lined up in a battle looking formation in front of this large hole in the ground. They had their swords of arms crossed over their plant body with their wings spread. In front of the group stood a very large Scyther, with scars and scrapes all over it. It was sturdy, standing firm, with his arms held out, ready to attack. Saying nothing I stayed there, crouched behind a shrub.
"Dri!" I heard once more as a swarm of Beedrill rose from the gaping pit in the ground, and behind that group, another Beedrill flew up. A smile came across my face; my old friend was still here, the protector of the Beedrill in the Safari Zone.
"Scy!" The Scyther leader called out as they all took to the air. The Beedrill just floated, eyeing down their enemy, waiting on them to make the first move. Before long, the Scyther charged, heading straight into the group of Beedrill. As they charged, the Beedrill slowly curved their fleet around, making a C shape, then a circle around the Scyther, and before long all the Scyther were caught in the middle of a sphere of Beedrill. The lead Scyther watched from a distance as his army was dropping like flies. He gazed up, looking at my Beedrill will hatred in his eyes. "Scyther!" He cried out, flying at full speed at Beedrill. I bit my lip as I saw him fly, swinging his swords like a wild animal. But when Scyther came into range, Beedrill moved aside and gave him a poison sting in the back of the neck.
I watched the swarm of Beedrill fly behind their leader as the last Scyther fell to the ground. "Great job!" I said, walking out from the shrub, Pichu on my head. "I must say, I was a little worried about you but I looks like your doing quite well for yourself."
My eyes widened as I saw the swarm start flying towards me with their stingers ready. "Oh crap…" I said to myself, watching the swarm fly nearly 10 yards away from me. "Maybe I was wrong, that might not be my…" I closed my eyes, seeing the swarm come within a few feet of me.
"BEEEEE!" Slowly I opened my eyes to see my Beedrill in front of me, spreading his arms wide, telling the swarm to stop. "Bee-Drill!" The bee then turned to face me, as a smile ran across his face.
"I knew it was you!" I said, running up and giving the bee a hug. Pulling back I looked at him. "You certainly have done well for yourself haven't you?" I looked around at all the Scyther lying on the ground, but one started to move. The leader stood up, facing us.
"Scy… Ther…. Scy…"
I looked at it, it must have been a very strong Scyther to be the only one standing. "Well, Beedrill," I said, walking up to him. "How about one battle, for old times sake?"
"Bee!" Beedrill hummed as the swarm flew back into the pit in the ground leaving only me, Beedrill, Pichu and Scyther.
"Hey Scyther!" I called out, reaching into my pocket. I grabbed one of the rare candies and threw it to him. "That will make you all better."
The Scyther watched the round candy fall to the ground. He looked at it for a long time, then back up to me before bending down and eating it. His eyes opened wide, as his muscles grew, the poison in his neck vanished, and his swords started to become sharper than ever.
"Scyther!" I called out again. "I will battle you with my Beedrill again, but you have to make a deal with me." The Scyther looked at me sternly. "If I win, I get to capture you, but if you win I'll give you some more of those candies." I reached into my pocket pulling out the rest of the four candies in my hand. "Is it a deal?"
"Scy!" He called out, putting his swords up in a fighting stance.
"Alright then," I smiled. "Beedrill, use a Fury Attack." Beedrill flew towards Scyther who was running full force into the attack, stepping over his fallen brethren. Beedrill gouged his stingers at Scyther, but Scyther dodged, falling below Beedrill, getting his sword ready to swing.
"Beedrill!" I called, "Quick attack left!" Scyther swung his sword of an arm under Beedrill almost slashing his stomach, but Beedrill quickly flew to the left, coming out with only a scratch on his right side. Scyther spun around, jabbing one of this arms in the ground and throwing himself at Beedrill with the other arm drawn back ready to slice when he came in range. Beedrill floated in front of a tree, still raring to go. This was so exciting. It had been so long since I had a battle this intense I almost forgot what it felt like.
Scyther flew closer, with his arm drawn back about to swing. "Beedrill, left arm block, right arm poison sting!" With that Beedrill put up his left stinger as Scyther swung. The sword hit the tree that was behind Beedrill, slowing it down before it struck Beedrill's. When the sword did meet the stinger, Beedrill lunged his right arm, full of poison, right into the gut of the bug pokemon. The stinger pierced through the skin, coming out the back of Scyther. Though this may look pretty bad to some, I knew that grass and bug pokemon were much different than other pokemon. Though those two types are not the strongest, they have the tendency to bounce back. They have no bones, much like trees or flowers. They drink water 90% of the time and they heal almost five times faster than another other type of pokemon. In some ways, they are like a weed, try as hard as you might, they still pop right back up.
Scyther fell to the ground, the hole in his back starting to close up, but the poison was there to stay for quite a while. "Alright," I said, pulling out an ultra ball. "A deal is a deal." I threw it, hitting Scyther on the head. The ball fell to the ground, shaking once, twice, and then closed. I walked over to my new pokemon, picking him up and putting him in my book bag. "You sure were a tough one weren't you?" I smiled, walking to Beedrill. "Thank you for battling with me, old friend."
"Bee!" Beedrill hummed, giving me nudge on the cheek.
I smiled, looking at him. "Bud," I said, reaching into my pocket, pulling out his old pokeball. "I was wondering if you would come back with me." Beedrill looked at me for a long time. "You see, I'm going on another journey and competing in a new league. I would really love to have you a part of my team again, and I could use your strength in the battles that are coming up." Beedrill looked around at the knocked out Scyther on the ground, and the pit that was his home. "I can understand if you don't want to," I said, petting him on the head. "These Beedrill here need a strong leader." I pulled out Scythers pokeball. "I almost feel bad for capturing the leader of the Scyther just because he protected the other ones." I put it back away and smiled. "Its all up to you though, I would love it if you came back with me, but if you want to stay here I understand."
Beedrill didn't buzz, didn't hum, didn't do anything. Instead he flew to me, giving me a hug, and flew back inside the pit. I waited for a while, but he didn't come back. The Scyther were starting to get back up, and I knew that I would have to go soon. I turned my back, shoving Beedrills Pokeball back into my pocket, and walked the way that I came from. Seeing Beedrill leave made me think. Shonna left in almost the same way. Rejection hurts, hurts so bad. Though, with this I understand why Beedrill didn't want to come with me. He was the leader of the swarm, a regular colony of Beedrill, he couldn't just leave his friends and family behind. But, I don't think I could ever understand the reason why Shonna left. Its true, she had a family back in Sinnoh, but she could have at least gave me a number to call, a hug, a goodbye, a smile… I would have even been okay with a slap on the face, her telling me I was a jerk, at least then I would know why she left. But she didn't do anything, nothing, just sailed off, leaving me and Pichu on the docks.
Walking onto the beach that I landed on, I threw Gyarados out and let Pichu run up on his back as I climbed up too. "Where to go, where to go." I said to them as I thought. From the sun in the sky it looked to be about 6 o-clock. Its strange, I traveled from Viridian to Fuchsia in less than two days, I was flying the whole time, but still, that's a long way. But now what? Beedrill was the last pokemon that wanted to get, too bad I didn't get him though. But, the good news is that I managed to catch a Scyther. Those things are pretty hard to come by.
"Well guys," I said leaning up. "I guess we'll being going to Cinnabar now." I stood up, pointing southwest, instructing Gyarados to swim under cycling bridge. "You remember where it is, right?"
"Gar!" He roared, taking off. I never wanted to go back to that island, just from the memories it held, but I needed to get my fossil revived from mom's laboratory that she runs.
"Bee! Drill! Drill!"
I turned my head back to the Safari Zone to see Beedrill flying after me. I turned full body to face him as he landed on the back of Gyarados. "Whats up?" I asked, petting him on the head.
"Bee, Drill!" He said, pushing a stinger on my jacket pocket.
"What?" I reached into it and pulled out his old pokeball. "Have you changed your mind, do you want to come with me?"
"Drill! Drill!" He hummed buzzing around me.
"Okay then," I said, holding up his pokeball. "Return, my friend." With that Beedrill was sucked back inside his pokeball. A smile came across my face as I put the pokeball back in my pocket. "Alright Gyarados, to Cinnabar Island!"
