Chapter 16: Azalea Town

The room was still dark when I woke up. Travis and Jess were still sleeping. I was thinking about what I just learned.

'Too bad Zack didn't know how this happened, but at least I know more than before. It's hard to believe that this is actually not my own body. But wait, if this is originally Zack's body, does that mean that my human body is still somewhere out there? Maybe it's in the hands of Team Rocket? That's a terrifying thought. Well, I'm not even sure if it's true. And it's not like I could do something about that now. And even if I found my human body somewhere, doesn't mean I could return to it. To be honest, I wouldn't even want to. I actually like my new life, and Zack said he's fine with his situation, even though I can't tell if he just said that so I wouldn't worry about him.'

I couldn't sleep anymore with all those thoughts on my mind, so I climbed up to the window and looked outside to find some distraction. It was still dark outside but I could tell, that the sun would rise soon. I decided to just sit there and watch the sunrise. I thought about whether I should tell Travis about that dream or not. 'Well, he already knows about me being a human in fact so why hold back anything, maybe he knows something about that, even though I highly doubt that.'

When the sun rose, Jess and Travis got up as well, and we went downstairs for breakfast. I told Travis about my dream. He looked quite astonished when I told him but he didn't know anything about it, unfortunately.

The next days passed by rather quickly and without any greater events. We passed the Union Cave, defeated a bunch of trainers and wild Pokémon on our way through and after passing Route 33 we arrived in Azalea Town. During the whole journey, I thought about that dream I had, but I couldn't come to any conclusion. I also didn't have another dream with Zack since then, so I tried to not think of it and focus on the upcoming gym-battle. Jess already knew that the gym leader of Azalea Town uses Bug-Types, so Travis had a huge advantage here, as Fire-Types are super effective against Bug-Types, while also being resistant to Bug-Type moves. Travis was super excited about fighting in a gym, as he didn't get to fight in the violet city gym. But Jess didn't want to challenge the gym today. The trip through Union Cave was exhausting so she wanted to go sightseeing in the town first.

"So Nurse Joy told me we should go and see Kurt, and ask him to give us a tour through the Slowpoke Well. Let's see, Kurt lives in that small house on that hill over there."

We climbed up the hill to the small house. Jess knocked at the door and an old man opened.

"Ah, another Pokémon-trainer I guess. What do you want?"

"Nurse Joy sent me here. I wanted to do a little sightseeing arouond Azalea Town. She told me I should come to you to get a tour through the Slowpoke Well."

"Hmm, that's perfect timing, I just finished making those Pokéballs, so I've got some time."

"You're making Pokéballs?"

"Yes, it's my job and my passion, and usually that's everything I'm known for."

"Alright, when can we start the tour?"

"We can start right now if you like. Just let me get my flashlight."

Kurt grabbed a small bag. We then walked downhill towards the Slowpoke Well.

"Do you always let your Pokémon walk outside their Pokéballs?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah, Nick here doesn't like being in his Pokéball, and he seems to enjoy talking with Travis, so I just let them walk beside me."

"Ah I see, you kinda remind me of that one trainer from three years ago, he also let his Pokémon walk outside their Pokéballs. He was such a nice boy. He helped me back then when Team Rocket took over the Slowpoke Well."

"Team Rocket was here as well?"

"Yes, they captured all the Slowpoke and cut off their tails to sell them. Those guys were just horrible. Good thing they disbanded shortly after that incident."

"Yeah I heard that they disbanded, but back in Violet town, someone told me that they're still around somewhere."

"Oh really? That's not good, I just hope they won't come back here, it's been so peaceful around here lately."

"As far as I understood, they're not that great in numbers anymore, so they work in secret and avoid public places."

"Still, that doesn't mean they're going to do that forever. But at least we're safe for now. Anyway we're there, this is the Slowpoke Well. Just be carefull when climbing down the ladder, it's a little slippery."

We climbed down the ladder into the well.

Kurt opened his bag, grabbed a flashlight and turned it on.

Kurt then showed us around through the caverns of the Slowpoke Well and told us some details about the incident with Team Rocket, and how they were defeated. We saw some Slowpokes as well. Kurt gave them some food, and he told us that he regularly comes here to take care of the Slowpokes. He also told us that these Slowpokes were the victims of Team Rocket and they got their tails cut off, but fortunately Slowpoke-tails grow back.

At that moment I imagined what happened if someone cut off my tail...It's kind of weird to think about that...I lived the most time of my life without a tail, but now that I've got one, I wouldn't want it to be cut off. It's a part of me like my arms and legs.

We then returned to the surface. Kurt gave Jess some of his self made Pokéballs before he left. We then returned to the Pokémon-Center and went to bed.