3 Weeks Later
After Aurora had captured an Electabuzz from the Power Plant, the group made it through Rock Tunnel to arrive at Lavender Town. Granite suggests they visit the Fuji House because there are lots of Pokemon looking to be adopted there. Aurora eagerly agrees, so Dillon tags along. However, when they arrive, the pink haired daughter of the owner quickly approaches Dillon.
"Oh wow! You're cute!" She gushes over him. "My name is Ebony!"
Being the son of the Champion and Cerulean City gym leader, Dillon has had his fair share of admirers, so he's unfazed by the girl. She clings onto his arm to drag him further into the building, much to Aurora's dismay. Granite can only try to stiffle his giggles while watching the scene.
Annoyed, Dillon removes his arms from Ebony. He glares at the girl, but that seems to make things worse for him as she aws some more. "I like bad boys." She winks.
Aurora glares at this girl. How dare she try to flirt with her friend! They're here to adopt pokemon, not find a relationship. Purposefully coughing, Aurora says, "We're here to see if we can adopt any Pokemon?"
As if realizing there are other people, Ebony smiles at them. "Right this way!" She leads them to the back where there is a Vaporeon, Horsea, and Oddish. "Are you trainers, coordinators, or just looking for a pet?"
"Trainers." Aurora answers coldly, which makes Ebony raise her eyebrow at her.
"Um. I'm sorry. Did I offend you?" she then looks between Aurora and Dillon before nodding apologetically. "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize you two were together!"
This makes Granite burst out laughing since he can't control his giggles anymore. Pika and Pachirisu do the same while their trainers blush profusely. "We're not dating." Dillon sternly says.
"Oh! So that means I have a chance!" Ebony smirks before walking over to Vaporeon. "This Vaporeon likes to battle, while the other two don't. Oddish and Horsea are more for pets than battling."
Still recovering from her embarrassment, Aurora doesn't say anything, but Dillon calmly walks over to Vaporean. He squats down next to Ebony, which makes her blush, even though his attention is on the Pokemon. Extending a hand, Dillon offers a small smile. "Hey, Vaporeon. I want to beat the Kanto Champion. Do you want to help me?"
When Vaporeon looks away from him, Dillon sighs. He's the son of the water type gym leader, and he can't even connect to a water type pokemon? "My house has a huge pool with lots of water Pokemon. I'll let you play with them after you help me."
Fortunately, Pika runs over to communicate with Vaporeon. He tells her about how, even though Dillon can be mean, he's really nice and caring on the inside. Dillon is trustworthy, and his friends are better when it comes to Pokemon. Pika reassures her that she will be happy with Dillon.
Vaporeon seems to sigh as she realizes she misses battling. She's bored being cooped up here, but trainers who try to adopt her just want her for their collection or to breed for more Eevees. However, this trainer looks like he wants her to battle, and even his Pikachu is advocating for him. She looks at them before standing up and nuzzling Dillon's cheek.
"Welcome to the team, Vaporeon!" he grins as he puts her in a pokeball.
"I love bad boys with soft spots." Ebony gushes beside him, which makes Aurora glare at her again. The bluenette can't wait for them to leave and not come back. This girl is too annoying, and they have other things to do than flirt.
However, Dillon faces Ebony and nods. "Thanks for Vaporeon."
This makes Ebony gush over him more while walking the group out. She winks at Dillon, "Come back any time, cutie."
Once the trio walk away, Aurora angrily mutters, "We're never coming back." Granite bursts out laughing again and Dillon annoyedly rolls his eyes while mentally agreeing with Aurora.
A month later
After adopting Vaporeon, the trio had run into Kaz while in the Pokemon Tower where Dillon narrowly lost to him. Kaz seemed less angry this time but told Dillon to get stronger and they'll battle again next time. Venus and Sandshrew evolved. Aurora caught an Abra.
The group then decided to take the bridge path to Fuschia City. There were many trainers on this route, so Coal and Nidoran evolved while Dillon caught a Gloom. After tough gym battles, both teens managed to get the Soul Badge from Janine. The group is currently in the Safari Zone before they leave for Celadon City. Granite caught a Ryhorn and Aurora caught a Slowpoke and Dragonair. She says she caught the Dragonair due to Misty's lucky lure that the gym leader had given to her at the picnic. Dillon obviously rolls his eyes at it, but his attention is brought to Pika who has stopped walking up ahead. Pachirisu looks at the yellow mouse hesitantly, so Dillon crouches down next to them.
"Let's go, Pika." but the yellow mouse doesn't react, so Dillon picks him up. Once Dillon grabs him, the boy is shocked by an insanely strong thunderbolt attack and Pika sprints away from the group. "What the fuck?" Dillon yells after him. Aurora and Granite run up to the boy on the ground to check on him.
"Pachirisu, go after Pika!" Aurora orders her pokemon who sprints off.
"What happened, Dillon?" Granite asks. The boy stands up and glares in the direction his pokemon has run off too.
"I don't know. He just fucking froze and then shocked me for no reason!"
"It doesn't matter, Dillon. We need to go after him!" Aurora says as she runs off in the direction their electric mice went. Granite nods and follows with Dillon in tow.
After what felt like hours of searching, Pachirisu finds them. The group had been shouting for a while, so they got close enough for the white pokemon to hear. She leads them to a burrow at the base of a large tree. The group can see the shivering Pika curled up inside. Dillon sighs and reaches a hand out, but Pachirisu stops him.
"Pachi chi risu pachirisu!" She explains. Dillon looks on confused as Aurora takes in what her pokemon is saying. She then nods in understanding and grabs the two males out of Pika's earshot.
"Pika is scared of Scythers."
Dillon gives her a skeptical look. "What do you mean, 'He's scared of Scythers'? I've never seen him scared of anything."
After spending some time to think, Granite says, "Maybe that's how he got those cuts on his tail."
Dillon looks over at his scared pokemon and sighs. He then walks back towards the tree and squats to peer into it better. "Pika" The pokemon doesn't respond, and Dillon sighs again. "I'm going to put you in your pokeball, okay." At this Pika looks up at Dillon with his large glossy black eyes. Dillon can read the visible fear in them as Pika shakes his head no. The teen runs a hand through his jet black hair and takes a deep breath. "Hey. I won't let anyone or anything hurt you. Not even a damn Scyther can get to you." Pika stops shivering but doesn't come out from the burrow. Dillon extends a hand inside. "C'mon, dude. You got my back and I got yours." Surprisingly, the boy gives a warm smile, which makes Pika sit up.
"Scy!" at the pokemon call, Pika burrows deeper into the hole and curls up again. Pissed off, Dillon looks to the source of the noise and sees a Scyther.
"Fuck you!" He yells and throws out a pokeball. Coal pops out.
"We can't battle in the Safari Zone!" Granite reminds him. Dillon grits his teeth and recalls Coal. He takes one last look at the base of the tree Pika is in before throwing a rock at the Scyther. Scyther gets mad and quickly approaches Dillon who decides to throw another rock at it.
"Dillon!" his friends cry out as the Scyther closes in on the boy.
"Pika CHUUUUUU!" there is a large flash of yellow light before Scyther falls to the ground. Dillon throws a Safari ball at it and easily captures the pokemon. He then turns his attention his savior and sees Pika out from the base of the tree.
The boy approaches the mouse. "Thanks, buddy." Pika hops into his arms and hides his face in Dillon's chest. The teen sighs but decides to let the mouse be vulnerable to him. Pika did save his life.
"HEY! There is no battling in the Safari Zone! You are all going to have to leave!" A ranger drives up to them in a 4 wheeler.
"Um. Sorry." Aurora apologizes as they make their way out of the Safari Zone.
That night, the group camps out before Cycling Road. Dillon has been staring at Scyther's pokeball once his traveling partners fell asleep. Pika still hasn't uncurled himself yet, and Pachirisu has been keeping a close eye on him. Dillon sighs and puts the pokeball away before getting up and grabbing his partner. Pika flinches at first but snuggles closer to his trainer. Dillon then sits beside the dim campfire while Pika is curled up on his lap.
"You've been with me through everything. I got you." The boy says. He sees Pika's ear twitch, like the mouse is listening. "I'm scared of a lot of things. I was scared of going home and facing my family, but I'm happy I did." Dillon smiles. "I was scared of letting people into my life," he looks at his sleeping friends, "But I'm happy I did." The boy then scratches Pika's back. "Right now, I'm scared of seeing Ash." his smile falters and he chuckles. "What if he doesn't want to come back? What if I can't beat him? What if-" Pika is looking up at his trainer. "Ha. Sorry. I was rambling."
His smile returns as Pika watches him intently. "What I'm trying to say is: it's okay to be scared, but it's not okay to stay scared. That's weak and we don't do weak." Pika nods and his eyes show more determination than earlier. "I'll help you overcome your fears. You helped me with mine." The yellow mouse stands up to nuzzle Dillon's cheek, and Dillon surprisingly allows him to. "Okay. Let's go to sleep, buddy."