Chapter 37

Owen and I gasped at the wondrous sight of the gorgeous bridge that towered above our head. Built over the glistening ocean in the morning sun and just livened our spirits, even though it is just a bridge.

We walked forward, ready to step foot onto the long bridge and cross it to get to Fuscia City, where Owen informed me another Gym is. But a guard in a blue uniform and police like cap stopped us in his toll booth.

"Watch it there kiddos, this here is Cycling Road," he told us stopping us at a sudden halt.

"Cycling Road?" Owen and I asked.

"As you can see only cars and bicycles are allowed on this bridge," he nodded as a car drove by.

"This bridge is huge!" I commented in utter amazement.

"It's over ten miles long, it would be dark out if you crossed it on foot," the man estimated.

"Well, we're too young to drive a car and we don't have any bikes," I hung my head sadly.

He nodded then guaranteed us, "You can always pay a visit to the local bike shop, I'm positive you can rent bikes there,"

"Alright, thanks," I waved as we set out for the bike shop.

"70 dollars to rent ONE bike!?!" I exclaimed as I pressed my face up against the glass window of the bike shop, starring in at all the sparkling, new bikes.

"Yupe," Owen said bluntly.

"Ughhhh," I moaned as I collapsed to my knees and whined, "We don't have that type of money!"

"Maybe if you didn't spend it all," he exasperated.

"Scuse' me!?" I got up and placed my hands on my hips.

"You buy everything you see! Hell, you'd probably buy that tree right there if it were for sale," he ridiculed and pointed to a stubby shrub.

"Look there's some bikes!" I pointed sneakily towards two bikes that leaned up against a building and were unattended.

"That would be stealing,"

"So?" I raised my brow, desperate need of bike. I normally wouldn't do something this evil, but it was just too tempting.

"Oh no," he gestured willingly, "I have no problem with it, I was just pointing out to Miss Goody-too-shoes," he joked.

"Just get the bikes," I snapped.

"Hey come back with our bikes!" a little boy and girl called to us as we began to ride away.

"Faster! Faster! Faster!" I shouted to Owen and we began to pedal harder.

We arrived at the Cycling Road gate to see the two little kids and a younger man, standing next to the toll booth. The little girl had short hair to her ears and flipped up at the ends. She wore a blue T-shirt with a Jigglypuff on it and some jean shorts. The little boy had short, brown hair and wore a red sweatshirt and jean shorts. The man next to them looked just like the little boy except older. He had short brown hair and wore a brown shirt with jeans and had some stubble on his chin.

"Those are them uncle!" the little girl cried as she pointed at us.

"Are you the two thieves that stole my niece and nephew's bikes!?" he asked us angrily.

"I'm deeply sorry sir, we didn't know they were yours," I shook in fear.

"So you think you can just go around stealing peoples' bikes!?!" he asked us towering over us.

"No sir," Owen and I stuttered.

"There's a bike shop in this town! You could've rented one from there!" he pointed out.

"We couldn't afford it…" I sighed sadly and embarrassed, feeling like a juvenile delinquent.

"Why didn't you say so!" the man's angered frown turned to a calming smile. "I'm the owner of that bike shop. How bout' I lend you two some bikes on the house,"

"Even after we stole your bikes?" I asked shocked of his generosity.

"All trainers have money problems, which leads them to thinking crazy, it's no problem," he assured us.

We arrived at the shop once again and the man rolled out two, sparkling, brand new bikes that glistened as the afternoon sun shined through the windows. One was green and one was blue, I liked the green one.

"Here we are, two, state of the art, brand new, Cross Ways! They're the best brand around," he nodded proudly. "Oh, how rude of us, we forgot to introduce ourselves!" the man smacked his forehead with his palm.

"I'm Kia," the little girl smiled.

"Call me Rudy," the small boy scratched the back of his head shyly.

"And I'm their uncle, Hiro," the man stated giddily.

"Great to meet you all," I chuckled feeling sort of awkward, "I'm Kylie and this is Owen,"

"I can introduce myself," Owen muttered, the children laughed.

"You're funny, Owen," the boy giggled.

"See that, he thinks I'm funny," Owen scoffed.

"Yeah, funny looking," I kidded with a laugh. "I wish there was something to give you for all of your generosity," I said.

"Please, take them," Hiro gestured kindly.

"Actually…" Rudy started.

"We would love to have a pokemon battle with you guys!" Kia jumped ecstatically. "We only do team battles though,"

"Kia, please calm down," Hiro placed his hands on her shoulders, then looked back up at me and Owen, "Please excuse my niece, I know you must be in a hurry to get to your next destination,"

"Fuscia City," I told him.

"Ah, so you must be going there for the contest?" he asked.

"No, I'm going there to challenge the Gym Leader, to get another badge," I informed him, not asking what a contest was because he was right, I was in a hurry to get there. It has almost been 4 months since I left home, I had to hustle and get all 8 badges in time for the pokemon league.

"Good luck," Hiro and his family waved as we rode off.

"You got yourselves some bikes, eh?" the man at the toll booth asked us as we pedaled by.

"Yes," I chuckled politely.

"Great, go on in," he waved us on and before I knew it, we were riding along on the beautiful bridge. The view of the glistening ocean and Pidgeotto flying peacefully through the air set us at ease. The tranquil sound of the bike's wheels turning on the pavement placed you in a trance. The sun's rays warmed our faces from the breeze that passed by as we road on our bicycles. Poliwag sat on Owen's shoulder as we traveled along on our bikes. I looked beyond the horizon to see that there was still a lot more bridge to travel across, and my legs began to grow tired.

"This is nice, but legs are killing me," I moaned and struggled to keep on pedaling.

"Wimp," Owen mocked bluntly then sped up and cut in front of me.

"Arghhh," I growled angrily then sped up to cut him off.

"What are you doing?" he asked raising his brow.

"I'm in front!" I informed him unhappily.

"Childish," he murmured under his breath.

To our surprise we saw some bikers blocking the bridge, and it didn't look like they were going to let us pass. As we got closer I realized it was the same motorcycle gang as the one from Celadon City. My jaw dropped stunned to see them again.

"Hello," I stammered as the bike gang cracked their knuckles angrily. "Long time no see," I waved slightly and smiled nervously.

"We're just going to… squeeze by and… uh… continue on!" Owen and I tried to inch past them but then Ray, the leader of the gang called out, "Not so fast!"

Owen and I shot up and stood there like statues.

"You two are those punks who foiled our plans at the Celadon City Gym!" he shouted furiously. "YOU!" he pointed at me. I batted my eye lashes innocently. "If it wasn't for you defeating us we would've gotten away!"

"Yes… well… um…" I stuttered.

"QUIET!" he ordered and scared all the slumbering birds off the poles of the bridge.

"We own Cycling Road! We don't let just anybody pass!" a girl in a leather vest and skirt with a pink tank top underneath stepped forward and explained.

"You guys don't own this bridge!" I protested.

"Never question our authority! Go Tododile!" Jay sent out his Tododile that I had beaten back in Celadon City.

"Go Grimer!" Tiny sent out a purple blob pokemon, the pokedex stated that it was a poison type pokemon.

"Charmander go!" I tossed his pokeball out in the open.

"Poliwag help out!" Owen told him.

"It's your turn Girafarig!" the girl chucked a pokeball containing a yellow horse like pokemon with an odd black tail with a face on it.

"Buzz, get out here and do your job!" Ray yelled at one of the bikers who sat lazily on his motorcycle, his name must be Buzz, I guessed.

"Go Aron!" that biker threw a pokeball that released a small, rodent looking pokemon that had a hard exterior of iron around its body.

"Two against four isn't fair!" I complained.

"Bike gangs don't play the rules, little girl," Ray wagged his finger. "Tododile use water gun!" the Tododile then inhaled and unleashed a powerful shot of water that hit Charmander.

"There's no way we can take all of them out by ourselves," said Owen.

"Help out Plusle!" a small girl's voice called from behind.

"You too Minun!" a little boy's voice cried immediately after.

We all turned to see Kia, Rudy, and their uncle Hiro running towards us. Two yellow, mouse like pokemon soared through the air then grabbed each other's paws to combine and unleash a powerful thunder bolt that shocked all the biker gang's pokemon.

"Tododile!" cried Jay.

"Grimer!" Tiny exclaimed.

"Are you alright Girafarig?" the girl kneeled by its side and pat it comfortingly.

"Aron, hang in there!" Buzz encouraged.

"You guys take those two," Rudy pointed to Jay and his Tododile, and then Grimer and Tiny. "We'll handle these other ones,"

"This is the way of a team battle!" Kia shouted.

"Charmander flamethrower!" I instructed. Charmander took a deep breath in then relinquished a strong blast of fire burning Jay, Tiny, and their pokemon to a crisp. "Nice shot Charmander!" I shouted happily.

"Cool them off with water gun Poliwag!" Owen told the tadpole pokemon. Poliwag shot a surprisingly hard-hitting water gun from its snout, soaking the bikers and their pokemon.

"Please stop!" Jay begged. Aron and Girafarig were just about to pass out too, we looked over at the two siblings and nodded.

"Combined attack!" all of us exclaimed in unison. Plusle and Minun released a thunder bolt while Charmander and Poliwag used flamethrower and water gun. The three powerful attacks coiled with one another and hit the biker gang causing them to ride off on their bikes crying to their mommies.

When the dust from their exhaust pipes cleared we spotted Jay's Tododile lying feebly on the ground. It shook weakly from taking all the attacks we had thrown at it.

"Oh my goodness!" I ran to it then fell to my knees tending to the injured pokemon.

"It seems to be badly injured, it probably can't move it's in so much pain," Hiro whispered as we all gathered around the wounded crocodile.

"We have to get it to a pokemon center straight away," Owen said to me.

"Why would they just leave it behind like that?" I looked down at Tododile that lay helplessly in my lap. "How could any trainer just abandoned their pokemon?"

"Look at those clouds, the sky isn't looking too bright anymore," Kia pointed out. She was right, grey, storm clouds moved in quickly and before we knew it small droplets of rain began to fall towards the earth. And the Fearow that circled the sky flew off to take cover.

"Kylie where are you going!?" Owen screamed through the pouring rain.

"Tododile's breathing is slowing down, I can't let him die!" I said determined as I hoped onto the green bike that was covered in dripping water and made my butt wet from the drenched seat. I pedaled as fast as I could with one hand on the handle bars and the other one holding the weak Tododile up against my chest. I had wrapped him up in my rain coat to keep him warm. Rain drops dripped down my face and off the end of my nose. Thunder boomed in the background making me jump a little each time it let out a thunderous explode.

"Hang in there, Tododile," I whispered to him while he shut his eyes and cringed in pain.

"Kylie, be careful!" Owen shouted to me trailing behind.

"I have to get this Tododile to a pokemon center!" I told him then began to pedal faster.

"Watch out!" Owen warned me as the middle of the bridge began to rise.

"What's going on!?" I asked him through the pounding rain.

"It's a draw bridge! The boat is coming into the harbor!" Owen exclaimed.

"Ohhh crap," I muttered.

"Todo…" Tododile said weakly.

"Don't worry Tododile, I won't let you down," I guaranteed him, looking down at the water type pokemon. I lifted my head and glared at the lifting bridge with determination burning in my eyes. I pushed on the pedals as hard as I could trying to speed up. The wind blew forcefully on my face, making my vision blur. My heart pounded as I reached the top of the draw bridge. I felt my stomach sink when I glided through the air. It actually felt exhilarating and thrilling to be up in the air with nothing beneath my feet, but that amazing feeling vanished as I began to drop.

"KYLIE! NO!" Owen screamed after me.

"Yes!" I sighed in relief when my bike had landed safely on the other side of the bridge. Catching me by surprise, my bike slipped out from under me and I slide across the pavement painfully. I opened my sore eyes to see Tododile sprawled out on the ground, with his eyes shut. I scrambled to my feet and rushed over to his aide. Holding him like a baby, I checked his pulse and luckily he was still alive and breathing, but there wasn't much time.

I ran to my bike and propped it up leaning it on the kick stand. Creating a hammock like carrier with my wet jacket and placing Tododile in it, I draped it around my shoulder so I was able to steer with both of my hands. My spirits brightened when I caught sight of a random pokemon center, it was a log cabin but still had a giant P that lit up the stormy sky. I tossed the bike into the mud, not caring that its new, shinny exterior was now covered in rust and mud.

"Nurse Joy, please help me!" I bursted through the doors and gasped for air.

"What's wrong!?" she hustled over and asked me with great concern.

"This Tododile," I wheezed and put my hands on my knees while a combination of rain and sweat dripped off the tip of my nose.

"You got here just in time," she smiled while taking the injured pokemon.

"He's not breathing too well," I informed her.

"It looks like he has an irregular heart beat, so that doesn't help," she nodded sadly.

"Please," I puffed, "save him,"

"I'll do the best I can," Nurse Joy said softly.

Nurse Joy took Tododile into a small emergency room where she hooked the water pokemon up to a heart monitor and placed him on a heating bed. I peered in at the sick pokemon and the only thing on my mind was hoping that Tododile would be alright. My legs fell asleep from standing so I slowly and weakly walked over to one of the few lounge chairs in the pokemon center. I liked this pokemon center, it was small and more home like. The fire place was lit so the flames flickered on the walls of the empty room. The warmth from the flames set me in a trance and caused me to doze off.

"Kylie," Nurse Joy woke me.

"Yes?" I answered tiredly while opening my heavy eyes.

"Tododile will be just fine," she informed me delightfully.

"Oh thank goodness," I sighed in relief.

"The only thing is…" she placed her finger on her chin and turned away.

"Yeah?" I asked her and got onto my feet.

"How could you let it get in such poor condition!?" she suddenly yelled at me.

"This isn't my Tododile! The bike gang left it behind in this condition!" I explained to her pulling back nervously.

"Oh, those nasty bikers have a bad reputation, I am sorry for blaming you," she apologized sincerely.

"No problem," I smiled.

"Kylie, are you alright?" a voice said from behind. I turned to see Owen running through the glass doors of the pokemon center.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I told him.

"Where's Tododile?" he asked in great concern.

"Calm down," I chuckled. "He's ganna be fine,"

"That's good," he nodded.

A bell rang.

"That means Tododile is healed. What are you planning on doing with to Tododile? I mean, if you gave it back to Jay and his gang they might abuse it again," said Nurse Joy.

"Yeah," I sighed and hung my head.

Suddenly, we all heard the loud roar of engines outside. The three of us ran towards the grumbling noise and found Jay and his gang outside, circling in front of the pokemon center on their bikes.

"What are you doing here?" I asked them intolerantly.

"I heard you gots my Tododile, hand it over," Jay ordered.

"You don't deserve a pokemon if you're ganna leave it behind injured like it was," Nurse Joy told them angrily.

"I left it behind so it would learn to fend for itself and stop relying on daddy. I did it for its own good," Jay explained.

"That isn't the way to make a pokemon stronger," I shouted angrily.

"It takes long, hard days of training and patience!" Nurse Joy added in.
"Training, smaining," Jay mocked. "It's my pokemon now give it back!"

"I think it's Tododile's decision," Nurse Joy folded her arms.

Tododile stepped forward and held its head high confidently. He then looked back at me with a doubtful look.

"Go on," I told him kindly.

"Todo!" Tododile scowled.

"Don't you dare use that tone with your master, you little, useless, runt!" Jay shouted frustratingly at the independent croc.

Tododile turned and faced me with a smile. He dashed over to me and I kneeled down on one knee to grasp him in a hug.

"Tododile you will regret this!" Jay shouted as the bike gang rode off and disappeared in the dust.

"Does this mean you want to travel with us Tododile?" I asked him as a tear of joy slowly rolled down my cheek.

"Todo!" he nodded gleefully.

"Well then, welcome to the group Tododile," I sniffed happily and opened up a pokeball which recalled him inside. The clicking sound of the pokeball confirmed it, Tododile was officially my pokemon, and I could never be happier.

"Alright! I caught a Tododile!" I declared while holding the pokeball up in the air. The sun had cleared and it was a brand new, and beautiful day.

"Technically, you didn't catch him," Owen disproved.

"Well, I still got him," I argued.

"There was no other good choices, there was you and that jerk biker, personally I would've gone with that biker then an obnoxious freak like you," Owen teased.

"I'm seriously going to kick you hard in the groin some day," I warned him, shaking my fists.

"You know you want to," Owen winked jokingly.

"Shut up, you're so immature," I insulted. "Well, thank you for everything Nurse Joy!" I turned to her and thanked politely.

"No problem, I think we taught those bikers a lesson," she smiled. "Good luck on your journey!" she called to us and waved as we began to walk away.

"Thanks! Bye!" we called back and set out for our next destination, the Fuscia City Gym.