Previously on Danny's Journey
"I know this didn't go as planned." Kadabra said. "But it can't be helped at the moment. I want nothing more than to continue journeying with all of you, but I can't if I can't attack. You have to let me do this."
"Charmeleon… We've been through so much already. I'm sure you'll be fine without me by your side."
As the two pals hugged, Charmeleon started whispering in Kadabra's ear. "You promise you'll come when we need you?" To which Kadabra could do nothing but nod.
Pokemon translation will be on for the entire chapter
Charmeleon had thought about his last conversation with Kadabra and couldn't help but feel sad. Not that anyone else was cheerful, no-one has said a word since waking up other than a 'good morning' or 'breakfast is ready'
He looked around the team, but no-one was happy. Not even Grimer, which was a change for once. The starter felt like he had to do something, but he had no idea what.
He thought back to the Celadon City Takeover, right after the Game Corner had been taken back.
Charmeleon walked past Danny and Gregg, who were talking to Oak over the phone, and walked towards his team. With Beedrill gone, Charmeleon had no idea who was going to help him as 'second-in-command'.
Abra, Bellsprout and Krabby were relaxing with Squirtle and Gregg's Rhyhorn, none of them seemed to feel the need to step in.
If Charmeleon was honest with himself, there wasn't any of them that was up for the task. He loved his team but they had their limits.
Bellsprout was way to aggressive. Sure, Beedrill loved to battle a lot but at least Charmeleon could count on him for backup, he thought that Bellsprout would let that addiction for battle get the best of him more often than not.
Krabby was definitely not suited for the job. He was barely confident enough to battle, let alone back Charmeleon up if things got rough. No, Krabby was out for this one.
Pidgey was also still around of course. Pidgey was serious, but also a little straight-forward and probably not even interested. The Flying-type liked to be the unpredictable outsider, not a second-in-command who's actions would be guessable.
And then there was Abra, the sleepy Abra. How on earth was he going to be the ideal successor to Beedrill? When awake, sure. But asleep?
Charmeleon set down next to the Psi Pokémon, who was awake for once.
"Something is troubling you?" He asked.
Charmeleon nodded. "I have no idea how to go on without Beedrill. I could always count on him to help me out. And now he's gone."
Abra nodded. "I know. Beedrill was a very respectable second-in-command and now you seek someone who needs to fill that place."
The Psychic type looked around the room and found himself with the same conclusion as Charmeleon.
"You have chosen me, haven't you?" Abra thought again. "No, of course you have not. I am asleep more than I am awake."
Charmeleon sighed. "You read my mind. I don't mean this the bad way."
"Obviously. We are a team of opposites. Aggressive Bellsprout and shy Krabby. Awake Charmeleon (he pointed to the starter) and sleeping Abra (pointing to himself)."
Charmeleon had to laugh.
"It's not easy to lead a team like that. I know Danny feels responsible for us, but he doesn't speak 'Pokémon', I need to take some responsibility as well, but I can't do it alone."
Abra nodded. "You know what? How about you give Squirtle the spot for the time being, at least until this New Team Rocket attack has been eliminated. I have a feeling the evolutions are not completely past us yet. And once I am a Kadabra, you can count on me to fully back you up. You have my word."
Charmeleon's smile grew bigger.
"Thanks Abra. You know when you are awake you are pretty clever."
Abra nodded. "Now, if you will excuse me. I have some sleeping to do."
Charmeleon laughed and stood up to walk towards the others, but he was stopped by Abra.
"And you do not have all the responsibility for us. We are a team and we share it. You are allowed to let your emotions out and miss Beedrill, you do not know when you will have the next chance for it."
Would Kadabra be okay if I would let my emotions out and miss him too? Charmeleon guessed Kadabra would say something wise like 'Your tears will only make you stronger'.
Suddenly, Pidgey spoke.
"So does anyone have an idea what to do with the next gym? It's Poison type. No offense to Kadabra but he left us at a pretty bad spot."
The truth was, Pidgey had also been thinking about a conversation with Kadabra, which happened right after the battle against Erika.
"Remind me to never, ever go up against something that has the capability of paralyzing ever again." Kadabra complained after they had left Celadon behind.
Pidgey, who was flying next to him, started to laugh.
"Not all of us can be the king of the gym battle."
Kadabra looked up with an annoyed look on his face.
"Yeah well, not all of us were blasted in our face with a filthy stun spore."
"I guess some of us are simply to fast for that."
Kadabra was having none of it.
"You do realize I am by far the fastest on this team?"
Pidgey snorted. "Are you the one of us that can fly or am I the one?"
"Teleporting is a faster way of transportation than flying is."
Pidgey quickly flew away while shouting 'I can't hear you cause I'm over here already', while all of a sudden Kadabra appeared right before the flying type, startling the latter.
"Minimum effort, maximal effect," he said with a smile.
Pidgey didn't give up yet and flew right back, only to see Kadabra appear their seconds before he could.
"Okay, so teleporting is faster, but if you couldn't teleport yourself away I would be the fastest."
"Yeah and if none of us could use our brains you would be the smartest. Do you see the flaws in your story?" Kadabra was actually having a good time shredding the disappointment by winning this discussion.
Pidgey sighed.
"You know what, fine. You win. Doesn't take away that it was me who won us the badge."
Kadabra laughed. "I would like to see you again in the next gym battle against my opponent of choice. Let's see if you are still this confident if you get a poisonous mess in your face."
"Well with a bit of luck I won't have to. I'm gladly leaving that to you." Pidgey answered, but couldn't resist one more sting. "At least those Poison types won't be that fast."
And before Kadabra could react he flew away.
"So does anyone have an idea what to do with the next gym? It's Poison type. No offense to Kadabra but he left us at a pretty bad spot."
Charmeleon hadn't even thought about it.
"I think it will have to be a joined effort. All of us pushed to our limits. Maybe we'll meet someone on the way."
Pidgey thought about it. "Yeah I guess so. Although I'm not looking forward for a poisonous mess in my face."
"Do you really think someone can replace Kadabra?" Krabby asked, thinking back to one of his conversations with Kadabra, sometime after Danny had captured Grimer.
The entire team was relaxing in the examining room, right before they would continue their journey. They had a final check-up to see if there was anything wrong.
"Place your bet, guys. Who's out?" Bellsprout started the conversation. Everyone turned to the Grass type with a surprised look.
"Out? What do you mean?" Charmander asked.
"You know. Out. Gone. Off the Team. He's going to want to use Grimer now you know." Bellsprout shifted his look towards Beedrill. "I bet it's going to be you."
Beedrill started to laugh. "Yeah right. I'm evolved and trustworthy. It's going to be you, easy choice."
"Hold on guys, who says he will replace anyone? I know Danny very well and I don't think he'll have it easy sending one of us away." Charmander stepped in, but Bellsprout wasn't impressed.
"That's easy for you to say, starter."
Krabby looked around the room nervously. He knew very well that all of them had at least a reason to stay. Charmander was the starter, Beedrill evolved. Bellsprout had won Danny two gym badges. Pidgey and Abra both helped gain at least one badge. Meanwhile, he had accomplished nothing. He won a water race, that was all.
"You know what, I'm putting my money on the flower too." Pidgey added to the discussion.
"So that's two on Bellsprout, Krabby, who do you vote out?" Beedrill asked.
Krabby looked up shocked. "Ehh… me?"
The entire group looked shocked.
"Why would you send yourself out?" Bellsprout asked. "Your supposed to send someone else out. How about big bee over there?"
"I'm the least useful member of the team. It would only make sense if he would send me away so he could get the Grimer."
"There's not going to be any switches." Charmander quickly intervened. "Grimer might be nice but for now it's just the six of us. End of discussion."
Bellsprout wasn't really ready to drop it, but a fierce glare from Charmander made it decide otherwise.
Meanwhile, Krabby still didn't feel happy. This conversation plus the capture of a seventh Pokémon made him realize he was on thin ice.
"Didn't you hear the commander? The discussion is officially closed. Do not think about it." Abra said softly so the others couldn't hear, which was easy as the two sat next to each other.
"But he will send me away.." Krabby reacted sadly.
"Of course he will not be sending you away. He would be a fool if he would. You are his only Water type, he will be needing you down the road."
"Do you think so?"
"I know so. And besides, Grimer is a Poison type. So are Bellsprout and Beedrill. If he is sending anyone away it would only be logical if it was one of those two. You are here for the long run my friend."
"Thanks." Abra's reaction put his concerns a bit to ease. At least for now. But in the end, he didn't want the team to change a bit.
"Do you really think someone can replace Kadabra?" Krabby asked.
Charmeleon looked at his water type friend.
"Of course. It won't be perfect but there's an open slot and I feel Danny would prefer to have 6 Pokémon with him. Remember that takeover? Being understaffed will be fatal in those situations." Charmeleon felt a tear coming up. "To be honest that quote came from Kadabra."
"Now lose those sad feelings everyone. I'm taking charge and it's time to be happy again." Weepinbell suddenly reacted and he jumped forward, actually leading the group now.
You can probably guess that Weepinbell had also remembered a special moment with Kadabra, all the way back to after defeating Brock.
"Gentlemen, before you stands the new MVP of the team. Don't applause, the greatest has yet to come." Bellsprout stepped the Pokémon rest room in. His audience didn't seem impressed.
"So this is the team huh? Starter, Abra and …. why the Beedrill?"
"I can show you why." Beedrill snarled.
"Guys, keep it together. Bellsprout, you did good today." Charmander tried to keep the peace, little did he know it would be his job for quite some time to come.
"I did good today? I nailed it today. You guys should be thankful, without me there would be no badge. I'm carrying the team."
That last comment made Beedrill lash out.
"You are carrying the team? Do you even understand what the hell a team is? It's a joined effort, not an einzelgänger. We are in this together, we win together and sometimes, we might lose together. We don't thank each other if one of us shines in a gym battle, you did it for a team you are now part of, like it or not. Abra took out the Geodude and weakened Onix, I haven't heard you about him?"
Bellsprout was a little put of his game, but he had no interest in taking the blame for something good.
"Sure, Abra did a good job. But I won us the badge guys! Why can't I be proud of that?"
"Because you are too damn proud of it. You make it seem like you are the king and we are all your loyal servants. You are a liability to this team and to our journey. Might as well just go back to the woods where we found you. We don't need you." And with that, Beedrill left the room.
"I'll talk to him." Charmander quickly left the room, leaving Bellsprout with Abra.
Bellsprout set down on one of the beds.
"So much for a warm welcome….."
Abra looked at his new teammate.
"Well you didn't exactly give us a good instruction. You can not expect us to welcome you with open arms if you only show your massive ego." Abra calmly explained.
"But I defeated the Onix! You've seen that thing, it was gigantic. And I beat it! I never felt such a rush, why can't I be proud of that?" For the first time that conversation, Bellsprout sounded a bit heartbroken, something that didn't go unnoticed.
"Of course you are allowed to be proud of it, but you are proud of it for the wrong reasons. You should be proud that you managed to beat it. You seem to be more proud in the fact that you showed us your strength. That's not what a team is about."
Bellsprout sighed. "Back in that grass group I always led, together with Oddish. Being better than everyone else and showing that is all I know….."
Abra led his hand on Bellsprout's shoulder. "You will learn. That's the benefit of being in a team, we will respect you and like you, but not if you act like this."
"Thanks." Bellsprout said. "But I won't say sorry to that bee with anger issues."
Abra had to laugh. "You can make it up by behaving different. Being more cheerful for team effort would be a good start."
"Now lose those sad feelings everyone. I'm taking charge and it's time to be happy again." Weepinbell suddenly reacted and he jumped forward, actually leading the group now.
"Ehh, you are not in charge pal." Pidgey informed.
"I know, but we can't keep mourning about Kadabra. He ain't dead! There are great battles ahead of us, massive victories. We should look forward, not back."
"I don't know guys. I think it is good to think back and see what you've accomplished." That was Grimer, who finally decided to say something too.
"It is pretty insane if one would think about it." Kadabra said, while lying on his back in the grass. Grimer was sitting next to him.
"What is?"
"How we all got here. Four badges in the pocket and on our way to the fifth. Who would have thought that we would manage it?"
Grimer smiled. "We are a pretty strong team."
"I know we are, but from where we started. You dominated a hill, remember?"
Grimer giggled a bit. "I guess I was a bit desperate for a trainer."
"Indeed. I was the weakest link of Danny's rival. Weepinbell part of some peculiar grass group. Krabby was actually captured by accident. Pidgey was the outcast of his own herd. And yet we are all here."
Grimer listened with interested. "Life is crazy. It isn't always the strongest ones that are bound for greatness."
"I like how you put that."
"It's usually the outcasts, the accidents, the weird and the weak. They are the ones that are the closest to reality and don't drown in ego or fame."
Kadabra had to laugh. "Could you illustrate that to Weepinbell please?"
"You know what I mean, we can accomplish anything because we don't expect it, we just believe in it. And besides, we have a great trainer. And Charmeleon is pretty good as a leader too."
"You know, you are pretty smart. Remind me we will talk again soon." That made Grimer laugh again.
"You have the strongest brain around, I doubt you'll forget," Grimer said, to which Kadabra could only nod with a smile.
"Are you a trainer?" They heard Danny ask, to which some guy nodded. He let out a Gloom as proof.
"Guys, battle time!" Danny called to get the team together.
Kadabra quickly went towards his trainer, but Grimer thought about their conversation just a little bit.
"The best will befall the weakest… Not such a bad quote."
"I don't know guys. I think it is good to think back and see what you've accomplished."
Weepinbell looked at his fellow Poison type.
"Yeah I guess, but there is so much more in the future for us, why focus on the past?"
"Because the past has the great Kadabra memories?" Krabby asked.
"And the future will have them too, there just not made yet." Weepinbell reacted, to which Krabby had no answer.
"The future also holds battles we can't do alone, we needed Kadabra for that." That was Pidgey.
Charmeleon decided to take the word again.
"We all miss Kadabra and it won't do any harm to miss him. You all have a point but eventually we do need to move on. There are battles we need to win. In the end, we want Kadabra to come back to a stronger team than it is now, right?"
The others all nodded in agreement.
"Than it's settled. We stop sobbing and focus on what's ahead of us. We train harder and become stronger, so when Kadabra comes back we'll have something to show."
"Heck yeah, we'll show him 8 gym badges." Weepinbell triumphantly shouted.
"How about a trophy or two?" Pidgey added.
Grimer started to laugh. "We'll beat the entire league!"
Even Krabby joined in. "And when we do, we'll be evolved and more powerful than ever."
Charmeleon was glad he got his team back on track. "That's the spirit guys! I'm proud of you."
Back to Human Language
While Danny definitely noticed what his Pokémon were doing, he had no idea what they were talking about so he just let them be, let them cope with Kadabra's departure their way.
"We are closing in on Route 18." Richard informed. Janine took a look on the map as well, seeing that they were closing in on Fuchsia City, something she wasn't too fond off.
Danny didn't react. He had some memories to re-live.
I know this chapter is a bit different than usual, I wanted to give more background to some things I've never showed back when the original chapters aired. It also helps with building the characters. Btw, if you don't know yet. I run a wikia that is all about this fanfic. Not only the characters and everything, but also the air dates of future chapters. It's .com.
Btw, here are the chapters in which each short story takes place:
Charmeleon – 'The First Steps Towards Victory' (chapter 25)
Pidgey – between 'Tough Decisions' (chapter 29) & 'When Dreams Come True' (chapter 30)
Krabby – 'Fighting in a Venom-enal Way' (chapter 18)
Weepinbell – 'Voluntary does pay off' (chapter 5)
Grimer – right before the events of 'So Long!' (chapter 35)