Chapter 11 – Forbidden Friendship


I felt my voice choke up, my heart beat faster, and my pulse rise as the creature was right in front of my face and standing above my body. I wanted to scream, but my voice couldn't come out. I wanted to run, but my body wouldn't move. I was paralyzed and the worst part was that I didn't know if it was from the creature or the fear inside of me. Suddenly, I heard Gary's voice echoing throughout the whole cave and I realized that I couldn't let it end for me. I finally reached my backpack and called out Weedle. The Pokemon with the dark red eyes seemed to back off.

"Weedle! Poison Sting that Pokemon now!" I commanded as I stood up quickly.

Weedle used all its focus and let out a dozen needles from its mouth at the mysterious pokemon. The pokemon dodged the attack and let out a cry that I knew instantly as the move Supersonic. My eyes were wide instantly as Weedle seemed to bob its head in an odd way. Weedle, how come you always get confused easily? I sighed and finally Gary came running at me.

"Everett, are you okay?" Gary yelled out while catching his breath. "Don't run off like that again!"

"I'm sorry," I replied. "I got attacked by a pokemon!"

Gary shined the light at the dark red eyed pokemon and I noticed it was a Venonat. The Venonat stared up at us frightened with its huge red eyes.

"By a Venonat?" he stared at me annoyed.

I began laughing awkwardly at Gary, also feeling ridiculous. Weedle suddenly bit my leg using Bug Bite and I began running around in circles trying to get Weedle off.

"Weedle!" I yelled out as I continued running trying to get Weedle off. "Stop biting me!"

I misplaced my footing and landed myself on the ground with a loud "thud".

"You're such an idiot!" Gary yelled out annoyed as he bent down to the ground and pulled Weedle off my leg.

I began positioning myself to sit up on my knees when I noticed I had placed my face close to Gary's. Up-close Gary left a different impression on me with his dark brown eyes, pale skin, and dark lashes staring down at Weedle. He felt enticing up-close and all I could do was gaze at him with a weird sensation covering my entire body. Gary finally stood up and stared down at me with a glare.

"What are you doing just sitting there?" he snapped. "Thanks to you we'll arrive at Azalea Town late!"

I felt annoyed at his tone and stood up. What's wrong with me? I must be nuts for feeling anything different for this selfish brat! I recalled Weedle to its pokeball and followed Gary out of the cave. Gary placed his flashlight away and sighed as he saw the moon high up in the sky. He glared at me and continued walking. Why is he so upset we arrived here late?

"Stop being so angry at me," I argued while following Gary. "I said I was sorry."

"I heard you," he replied while continuing to walk with an annoyed expression.

I folded my arms as we entered the Pokemon Center. He's like a grumpy old man! Nurse Joy immediately showed us to the available guest rooms. She seemed nervous by the way she kept playing with her fingers constantly. Before I could ask her anything, she left quickly and out of sight. I sighed as I placed my bag on my bunk.

"Look Everett," Gary sighed. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be annoyed at you. I was just worried about you when you ran off like that."

I looked over at Gary surprised. Gary was worried about me?

"You ran off screaming like a girl," he laughed. "I thought you lost your mind."

I looked at him annoyed. Lost my mind?

"Still, try not to get separated from me again," he commanded as he lay on his bed.

For some odd reason, a surge of joy went through me to find that Gary Oak had been worried about me.

"Why?" I asked while I sat on my bunk. "Why would you worry about me?"

"Because we're friends," he rolled his eyes as he turned over. "Now shut up and get some sleep."

My eyes were spread wide open. We're friends? Then the image of Team Rocket popped into my head. I sighed as I lay down. I had been sure that joining Team Rocket was the only way to save Rayne, but now I felt confused and unsure. Was joining Team Rocket a good decision? I turned over to see Gary already sound asleep. He considered me his friend. I felt like a horrible person as I closed my eyes to fall asleep. The life of a villain hurts.

The next morning I spotted people running outside almost in a riot. I sat up quickly and noticed Team Rocket running towards the opposite location towards a road Gary and I had passed in order to enter Azalea Town. I stared down at Gary sound asleep and I stared outside at Team Rocket. I sighed as I left Gary in the room and ran outside. Duty calls. I quickly ran in the bushes and changed into my Team Rocket uniform. I ran up to one of the Team Rocket grunts and briefly asked what the situation was.

"We're taking over Slowpoke Well!" he replied to me cheerfully. "All those Slowpoke tails are going to make us rich!"

I sighed as I ran with the other grunts to the Slowpoke Well. I felt horrible joining up with them and helping them with this scheme, but I had to do it. The grunts began using a ladder to go down the well, but then paused when they heard a voice call out to them. I turned around and spotted an old man facing us while holding an odd looking pokeball in his hand.

"I won't let you evil people hurt these beautiful Slowpoke!" the old man yelled out as he called out his slowpoke.

I stood there dumbfounded as to who this old guy was. I noticed his green katana and his long grey hair. He seemed as if the wrinkles on his face represented many events through time and I knew instantly who this was. I had recognized him from reading magazines on pokemon. Right before me was the famous Kurt who made pokeballs out of apricorns. He began making his Slowpoke use Hydro Pump at the Team Rocket Grunts and I could feel myself getting in trouble each second he defeated each grunt's pokemon. I quickly ran towards the well but then was blocked off by a familiar Gengar.

"Hold it right there!" Gary called out behind me. "Team Rocket!"

I slowly turned around to face Gary with a shocked expression. When did Gary wake up? Then a sudden idea occurred to me.

"You better let me through or your friend gets it," I pointed at him. "Unless you don't care what happens to Everett."

Gary's face turned into an expression of horror and anger mixed into one. I watched carefully as his hands turned into fists.

"What have you done with Everett?" he yelled out. "If you did anything to him, I'll make sure you regret it!"

My eyes were widened in shock. Did he really care about me that much? I stood there frozen and unable to move or bring myself to move.