While heading to Cerulean Cape to check on Bill, Summer she got a free bike for stopping a burglar. She then headed to Nugget Bridge and fell into a recruitment ploy by Team Rocket. Although she beat the member, Lightning was upset about her progress. After declaring she wants to become a Raichu, she and Summer find Bill's house. But what she sees shocks her. What will Summer encounter?

Chapter 12- A Budding Relationship

As Lightning and I arrived at Cerulean Cape, I heard someone shouting, "Help! Help!" I ran towards the cry and saw a Bulbasaur frantically running around.

"Hi," I greeted the Bulbasaur. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes!" she worriedly said, "Come with me!" Lightning and I nodded, and we followed her to a house with two ponds in front. She quickly opened the door with her vines and ran inside. We were about to follow her inside when a pale brown-haired man wearing a purple shirt and tan khakis inched his way out of the house. What's going on? What is he doing?

"Quick, stop him!" a male voice shouted from inside the house.

"Um, I think it's okay," I said, a little confused. "He doesn't look like he'll get very far." A Caterpie then inched out of the door.

"Hi, there," I said, kneeling down. "Where's your Trainer?"

"Excuse me?" the Pokémon said with a slight upper class accent. "I am a human, thank you very much!" I was shocked, and Lightning fell off my shoulder. After recovering from the shock, Lightning poked him. The Caterpie looked at Pikachu with an annoyed face.

"I don't think he likes that, Lightning," I advised, my voice slightly shaking. After Lightning stopped poking him, I introduced ourselves and asked, "Are you Bill?" The Caterpie sighed and nodded. "How did you become a Caterpie?"

"Well," Bill said hesitantly. "I was trying to test a device to see if people and Pokémon can read each other's minds. Unfortunately, instead of reading minds with a Caterpie I found on the local route, it switched our bodies. Now I need help to return our bodies back to normal!"

"We can help you," I said. Lightning nodded.

"Excellent!" Bill said happily. "Now to find my body…"

"Umm... Maybe you should stay indoors."

"Nonsense!" he said while looking around. "There's nothing to worry about. I am a Pokémon after all."

"Yeah… That's what I'm worried about…." After I said that, a medium-sized bird Pokémon with three red feathers on his head flew by and snatched him up. It then flew to the west.

"Help me!" Bill screamed.

Bulbasaur sighed and chased after them. She yelled, "Pidgeotto, stop!" But the bird couldn't hear her.

"Lightning, let's go help." I said. Lightning nodded and jumped off my shoulder. "Errol and Blaze, I need your help too!" Errol and Blaze came out and I pointed them to the Pidgeotto with the Caterpie.

"Let's go, everyone!" Blaze shouted.

"Agreed," Errol said, taking flight. "I shall try to talk to the bird in the skies." I nodded and Errol chased after Pidgeotto. Blaze, Lightning, and I chased them on the ground.

"Sir!" Errol shouted. But the Pidgeotto still couldn't hear. "How rude!"

"Errol!" I shouted. "Try to cut him off!" Errol nodded and tried to fly faster, but it was no use. What can I do? That Pidgeotto's so fast. Lightning and I became tired of running and stopped, panting. Blaze, however, kept running. I noticed Bulbasaur was also panting, unable to run any further.

"Ugh, we'll never reach him in time!" Bulbasaur said, disappointed.

I saw the sad look on her face and confidently said, "Don't worry, Bulbasaur. We'll get him back."

Bulbasaur was a little surprised at my words, but she smiled and nodded.

"You can do it, Blaze and Errol!" I shouted. Blaze heard my words and started to run faster. After a few seconds, he was surrounded by a white light and ahead of Pidgeotto.

That's it! I know what to do! I quickly took out a Chesto Berry from my backpack and threw it to Blaze. "Blaze, catch!"

Blaze heard me and caught it. He stopped and shouted, "What am I doing with this, Summer?"

"You'll see!" I shouted, looking at Errol in the sky. Blaze nodded, awaiting my instructions. "Blaze, use Quick Attack to jump in front of Pidgeotto!" Blaze immediately jumped in the air, frightening the bird.

Pidgeotto quickly turned around only to find himself face to face with Errol. "Errol, use Hypnosis!" Errol quickly released the purple rings, putting Blaze, Pidgeotto, and Bill to sleep. "Bulbasaur, grab Pidgeotto with your vines!" I commanded. To my surprise, Bulbasaur listened to me and used Vine Whip to grab Pidgeotto. Although she caught the bird, Bill slipped out of his talons and continued falling.

"Oh no!" Bulbasaur shouted with worry.

"The plan's not over yet!" I said with a smile. Blaze smelled the Berry and ate it, waking up to the Berry's dry taste. "Blaze, use Quick Attack and save Bill!" He dove downward and caught Bill, landing powerfully on the ground. "Great job you too! Errol, can you find Bill's body?"

"Yes, Ms. Summer!" he shouted and flew towards Bill's house.

I took out two Chesto Berries from my backpack. Lightning and Blaze took one and gave them to Bill and Pidgeotto. As they were waking up, I scanned Pidgeotto. My Pokédex said [Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokémon, and the evolved form of Pidgey. This Pokémon flies around, patrolling its large territory. If its living space is violated, it shows no mercy in thoroughly punishing the foe with its sharp claws].

"Huh….?" Pidgeotto sleepily said. "What happened?" He then saw Bulbasaur and said, "Hey Bulbasaur, where's Bill?"

"I'm right here," Bill said, fully awake from the Chesto Berry.

Pidgeotto was shocked and squawked, "How are you a Caterpie?"

Bill sighed and said, "Long story."

Pidgeotto bowed respectfully to the Caterpie and said, "Sorry about that, Bill. You do look like a tasty Caterpie."

"Quite all right, chap!" Bill said empathetically. "It is a Pidgeotto's instinct after all."

Pidgeotto looked relieved and promised, "I'll be a little more careful next time. Bye, everyone!" After we waved goodbye, Pidgeotto took off and flew away.

"Let's head back to my place," Bill said, crawling towards that said place.

"Why don't I carry you? That way, it'll be a little faster," I offered. Bill gave a big smile and immediately jumped into my arms. How's he so heavy?! He's supposed to weigh 7 pounds. I returned Blaze, and the four of us walked to his house. Once we got there, Errol was staring at Bill's body eating some leaves.

Bill groaned then said, "I may be looking forward to becoming a human again, but I'm not ready feel those leaves in my stomach." We all laughed, I held the door for everyone. I thanked Errol and returned him before going inside.

As Bill and Bulbasaur were walking around, I looked at the environment. The building contained numerous bookshelves, a computer, and a large machine with connected by left and right capsules.

"All right," Bill confidently said. "Summer, once our bodies enter the capsules, press the green button on the machine." I nodded and waited by the button.

Bulbasaur placed Bill's body into the right capsule, then Bill in the left capsule. Once the doors closed, I quickly pressed the green button. The machine began to whir and glow in several bright colors. After a few minutes, a white light flashed and the machine stopped. Both capsule doors opened, emitting white smoke. Although I was hesitant about what would happen next, Bill and the Caterpie came out, successfully in their respective bodies.

"I'm glad that's over with," Bill said, stretching his arms. Caterpie looked confused, but looked at Bill when he knelt down in front of him. "Sorry about what happened, Caterpie."

Caterpie happily closed his eyes and chirped, "It's okay, Bill. It was a little weird but exciting!"

Bulbasaur chuckled and told Caterpie, "Why don't we go to the greenhouse as an apology? Eat as much as you want!"

Caterpie cheered, "Yay, the greenhouse!" Bulbasaur guided the Caterpie to a small greenhouse filled with plants at the back of the house.

A little curious about the earlier events, I asked Bill, "Why did you want to become a Caterpie? Why not a Bulbasaur?"

Bill smiled and answered, "Bulbasaur didn't want to do it. Besides, I wanted to feel Caterpie's true power."

True power? "What do you mean?"
"Caterpie are known to not be the strongest Bug-type, but its evolution is incredible. You see, each Pokémon has a power within them. That power allows them to learn new moves, have abilities, and even evolve. What I'm most curious about is how Trainers affect that power. I've even heard of a region where certain fully evolved Pokémon actually evolve even further!"

"Wow, that's incredible! That's actually one of the reasons I became a Trainer."

Bill smiled. "I know you'll experience that more on your journey." I petted Lightning and agreed. Lightning smiled and nuzzled my hand.

"I'll call Professor Oak soon and let him know I'm all right," Bill said. "Thank you for your help, Summer. As a reward, take this." He took a piece of paper out of his messy desk. I looked at the shiny paper and read, "Ticket for the S.S. Anne: 1-Night Stay and Party."

"That's a premium ticket for the S.S. Anne in Vermillion City," Bill explained. "The ship will dock in a few days, so there's plenty of time for you to get there."

I was surprised by the generous gift and asked, "Are you sure? It looks really valuable."

Bill waved his hand and said, "I'm not much of a party person. Plus, I get seasick easily. I feel you'll make better use of it."

I thanked Bill and put the ticket in my wallet. Bulbasaur walked towards me and sadly asked, "Are you going to go, Summer?"

I kneeled down and petted her, and she purred. "I am. Thanks for believing in us, Bulbasaur. I'm sure you'll help Bill with his research."

Bill looked at Bulbsaur's sad face and looked at me seriously. "Summer, will you actually take care of Bulbasaur for me?"

"Oh! I thought Bulbasaur's yours."

Bill sheepishly said, "Actually, Bulbasaur's technically wild. She just comes up and helps me occasionally. Although I appreciate her help, I feel she can do more with you as a Trainer."

I smiled and asked her, "What do you say, Bulbasaur? Want to come with us?"

Bulbasaur eagerly nodded. "Great! How's Flower as a nickname? It really suits you."

"I love it." I took out a Pokéball and caught her. I got up and walked towards the door.

"Good luck on your journey, Summer!" Bill said. "I look forward to see what you can do with your Pokémon."

"Thanks, Bill!" I said with a wave. After leaving his house, Lightning and I headed back to Cerulean City to train for our second Gym battle.

Pokémon: Blaze (Combusken): Brave Nature, moves: Quick Attack, Double Kick, Flamethrower, Focus Energy

Errol (Hoothoot): Rash Nature, moves: Tackle, Growl, Hypnosis, Peck

Swirls (Poliwag): Relaxed Nature, moves: Bubble, Hypnosis, Water Gun

Lightning (Pichu): Adamant Nature, moves: Thundershock, Charm, Iron Tail, Sweet Kiss

Flower (Bulbasaur): Gentle Nature, moves: Tackle, Growl, Vine Whip

Questions for the Chapter:

What do you think about Flower?

How will Summer do against Misty?