Chapter 11
"We should be at Pewter soon," Johnny informed them, checking the map on his pokegear. Elise was glad for it, although she wasn't the prissy type, she was dying for a hot shower and a proper bed to sleep in.
"That sounds good," Elise said, reaching up and patting Gem's head, which was poking out of the top of her backpack.
"Cubchoo Cub!" Johnny's Cubchoo cried, dancing around his feet.
"So I assume you're both going to be challenging the gym leader?" Johnny said. Elise nodded but Josh shook his head. Elise and Johnny looked at him, surprised.
"I don't want to battle gym leaders and stuff, I just wanna make friends with Pokemon," Josh explained, shrugging.
"Well that's cool," Elise replied, smiling at him. He smiled back. Squirtle didn't seem too happy about this, however.
"Squirtle Squirt," it said, tugging on Josh's shorts.
"What's wrong Squirtle?" Josh asked worriedly.
"I think Squirtle was looking forward to battling gym leaders," Elise guessed. It nodded sadly.
"I'm sorry that just isn't what I set out to do," Josh explained, kneeling next to his Pokemon.
"Squirtle!" it shouted, slapping him with its tail. Then it turned and ran off into the trees.
"No, Squirtle!" Josh yelled, getting up and running after his Pokemon. Elise and Johnny exchanged worried looks before running after Josh. Josh kept calling out to Squirtle, but obviously it was ignoring him.
"I didn't think Squirtle would be that upset," Elise panted. She wasn't the most atheletic person ever and she was starting to get a stitch. In contast Johnny was running easily, he was barely out of breath.
I guess that's what happens when you travel around regions for three years, Elise thought to herself, eyeing Johnny interestedly.
"I guess some Pokemon like to fight more than others, it looks like Squirtle is one of them," Johnny said.
We ran for what felt like forever before we heard a cry in front of us. We reached a clearing where a guy and a girl were standing. The guy was huge, at least six feet tall, with massive muscles, short blonde hair and cold blue eyes. The girl was about five and a half feet tall, she was skinny but menacing, with spiky charcoal grey hair and glittering granite eyes. Squirtle was cowering at their feet as they leered down at him.
"Hey, give me back my Squirtle!" Josh shouted angrily. The pair laughed.
"We're not doin' nothin' do yer Squirtle," the guy said, his voice deep and gravelly, "we was just tellin' him that we needed a water type Pokemon ter help us fight the gym leader and he'd be perfect fer the job." Squirtle looked up them curiously.
"Squirtle you don't have to go with these thugs, come with me!" Josh cried. He was obviously close to tears at the thought of losing his partner.
"Give him back his Squirtle," Elise commanded.
"Oooh look he needs his girlfriend to stick up for him," the girl sneered. Her voice was high pitched and annoying.
"I am not his girlfriend, I am his friend, and I'm telling you to let that Squirtle go," Elise responded.
"Well tell ya what, I'll battle yer for it," the guy said, pulling a pokeball from his belt, "one on one." Elise pulled out a pokeball too.
"You're on," she growled. Elise wondered what kind of massive, scary Pokemon this guy would have, and whether she'd be able to defeat it or not.
"Go, Happiny!" he shouted. Happiny? That didn't sound like a very tough Pokemon. Sure enough, what looked like a miniature Chansey appeared from the pokeball.
"Happiny, the Playhouse Pokémon. It loves round white things. It carries a round stone in its pouch that looks like an Egg, and gives it to people that it likes," Elise's pokedex said. Elise had to hold back giggles. This was the last Pokemon she would've expected him to have.
"Go Spikes!" she managed to say, throwing the pokeball. Spikes appeared in front of Happiny, ready to battle.
"Spikes use Peck!" Elise commanded. The Nidoran bounded forward and aimed its horn at the Happiny.
"Happiny use Sweet Kiss," the guy said. But it was too late, it had been jabbed hard with Spikes' horn. Before Elise could call out another attack Spikes jumped up and used its back legs to kick Happiny twice.
"I think Spikes just learned Double Kick," Johnny observed. Josh had his fists clenched and was watching the battle intensely. The Happiny had fallen backwards and fainted. Elise felt bad for hurting the little Pokemon, but it had to be done so that Josh could get his Squirtle back. The man was fuming.
"Good work Spikes, return!" Elise said. Spikes disappaired into his pokeball.
"Have your stupid Squirtle then," he growled, picking up the Pokemon and throwing it at Josh, who caught him and hugged him tight. The man and girl turned and left, grumbling to each other.
"I'm so glad to have you back Squirtle," Josh whispered.
"Squirtle Squirt Squirtle," it replied quietly, hugging Josh.
"You don't mind if we don't fight gym leaders, do you Squirtle?" he asked worriedly. Squirtle shook its head.
"Well now that that's over, we can get to Pewter," Elise said excitedly.
"To Pewter!" Johnny said, turning around and marching forward. Elise and Josh laughed before following his lead.
