The Journey
An Other Trainer story by
Legal Disclaimer
Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and all characters and institutions connected with them are the property of Nintendo Entertainment, Game Freak Software and 4Kids Entertainment. This is a non-profit work written for free distribution through the world-wide web. No infringement of any copyright or legal property intended.
Peter Croft and Lia McAlester are entirely my creations, as are all the other original characters. Keep your eyes open, for there could be an FF.NET author in there somewhere!
Author's Notes
Some New Trainer stories are good, some are not so good and some are just dire. I've never tried this genre before, so I'm going to try it now. If this is bad, then say so for pity's sake and I'll stop!
Okay, usual warnings apply. I don't know the continuity or the moves very well, so I'll be faking it most of the time.
Text in Italics is thought or psychic communication.
Text in "Quotes and Italics" is speech from some kind of loudspeaker, phone, etc.
Censor: PG – Because Pokémon fight, and fights can be unpleasant things.
Continuity Note: This story starts six years after Ash Ketchum started his own Pokémon Journey.
Chapter 8 – Bugs in the System
"Okay, Peter, be very, very careful," Lia McAlester said quietly as she looked at the Pokémon opposite her friend a bit nervously.
Thanks; I already figured out that bit, Peter thought as he looked at his opponent, who looked extremely confident. Her name was Maggie Buckley and she was from Pewter City, apparently. The woman with a close fitting cap of black hair described herself as a 'Bug Catcher.' Peter thought that was weird, but he needed to build up his fighting skills before he reached Pewter City and his first Gym Badge Battle. When Maggie had described the large number of Bug-types that she, her Pidgeotto and her Raticate had caught, Peter had agreed to a two-on-two Battle. Maggie had surprised him by selecting a huge beetle-like creature with a long head-mounted horn, which his Pokédex identified as a 'Heracross.'
"So, kid, what are you going to do about this?" Maggie asked with an engaging smile.
Peter thought furiously for a few seconds before making his choice. Bugs were bugs, no matter their size. "Avia, this one is all yours," he said, pulling a Pokéball off his belt and throwing it forwards, releasing his Pidgey.
"Good idea, kid," Maggie replied. "Well, let's get this show on the road! Heracross, use Horn Attack!"
"CROSS!" the massive bug-type bellowed and charged at Avia.
"Dodge it!" Peter yelled. Avia flapped her wings fast and barely dodged the oncoming behemoth. "Okay, now use Wing!" The Pidgey turned and slashed her razor-sharp wing-edges across Heracross' armoured body. There was no visible damage, although Heracross did seem to rock away from the strike.
"Use Focus Energy," Maggie responded. Heracross' horn began to glow red-gold with power and the massive beetle swung the club-like growth at Avia, knocking her tumbling through the air.
Peter winced in empathic suffering, 'feeling' Avia's pain and shock at the sudden unexpected earth-type attack. It was only a miracle that she hadn't been knocked out by such a powerful attack. "Don't panic, Avia," Peter called, "use Gust!" Avia began to flap her wings hard and generated a powerful wind that blew a cloud of dust and debris into Heracross' face. The Bug-type took a few steps back and dropped down onto all six limbs, trying to ride out the attack. "Follow it up with Tackle!" Peter instructed. Avia did as Peter had commanded her, but it was difficult to tell who came out worse when the little flying-type bounced off the bug-type's armoured head.
"Use Leer," Maggie instructed. Heracross pirouetted on the spot and glared at Avia, his eyes beginning to glow with power. Avia, who had been sitting the ground, trying to recover from the impact of the Tackle, saw the attack and froze in instinctive fear. "Okay, now use Horn Attack again," Maggie shouted.
"Avia, focus on my voice," Peter pleaded. "Use Sand Attack!" Avia looked at Peter stupidly for a second before suddenly responding, leaping into the air and throwing sand into Heracross' face. The bug/fighting-type roared in pain and shot right past his target, disoriented. "Now use Tackle again!" Peter called, excitement leaking into his youthful voice. Combined with Heracross' already great momentum, the force of Avia's tackle sent her massive opponent tumbling across the ground. After several somersaults, Heracross banged against a tree and lay at its' base, shaking his head in a dazed way.
"Yeah!" Peter said. "Great job, Avia! Use Wing attack and then finish it with Peck!" Avia flashed forwards. She swept her wings across Heracross' face and then brought her beak down hard on his forehead, knocking him out. Peter cheered in glee, Lia just as loud in congratulations. "Well done Avia!" Peter held out his hand and let his Pidgey land there. She was grinning smugly.
[No mere bug is a match for me,] Avia said.
"Don't celebrate too soon, kid," Maggie said, her confident smile unaffected. "I only caught Heracross a few weeks ago and I've been meaning to try him out. Let's see how you do against my first and my best!" Peter tensed slightly. He didn't like the sound of that one bit. He watched as Maggie recalled Heracross and swapped balls. "Okay, out you come, Butterfree!" A large butterfly-like bug-type materialised in front of Peter, one with the strangest fractal patterns on its' wings.
"Okay, Avia, let's do it," Peter said, raising his arm so his Pidgey was leaning forwards towards her target. "Use Gust!"
[Rock and roll!] Avia responded, leaping off Peter's forearm and flying towards the bug-type with a blur of wings. Avia took up station in front of Butterfree and began to flap her wings very fast.
Maggie's response was instantaneous. "Use Confusion, Butterfree!" Butterfree didn't seem to respond, but the effect on Avia was immediate and dramatic. The Pidgey seemed to lose her sense of direction and balance and she stopped attacking. "Okay, now use Gust!" Maggie commanded. The sudden blast of wind from the bug-type's massive wings blew Avia right into the ground, where she lay for a moment, shaking her head and trying to get up.
"Come on, Avia, get up," Peter pleaded.
It was too late. "Use Sleep Dust, Butterfree," Maggie ordered. Butterfree began to shedding a sparkling silver-white dust from its' abdomen. The dust covered Avia, whose eyes rolled back into her head. Within seconds, the Pidgey was snoring in her soft, musical way. "Not so cocksure now, are you kid?" Maggie asked.
Peter looked up at the young woman thoughtfully. Despite her mocking words, there was no malice in her smile. Peter managed a threatening smile of his own, despite his concern for Avia. He recalled the Pidgey to her Pokéball, knowing that she would wake up in eight or so hours with a fierce headache. "Like you said earlier, Maggie, 'don't celebrate too soon.'" Peter pointed forwards. "Okay, Shock, it's up to you now!"
"Pikaaa!" Shock cried out, jumping from behind Peter and taking up a position in front of Butterfree.
Maggie frowned. "Okay, don't hesitate, Butterfree," she said. "Use Confusion again!"
"Brace yourself, Shock," Peter said. "Concentrate on my words."
[My… head hurts…] Shock said uncertainly, shaking her head.
"Don't focus on that, focus on me," Peter responded. Use Thunder-Shock!" Shock growled and unleashed a massive blue-white whiplash of lightning that slammed into Butterfree, blowing the bug-type back several yards. "Yeah! Great shot!"
"Don't panic Butterfree," Maggie called. "Use Agility to get in close!"
"Thunder-Shock again!" Peter responded. However, Butterfree's agility let it avoid all but a few glancing blows from Shock's attacks. In seconds, it was hovering right above the Pikachu.
"Use Poison Powder!" Maggie called.
"Dodge forwards!" Peter called. Shock was already responding to his desperate gesture, pointing forwards. The little electric-type easily dodged the spray of grey spores that Butterfree spat at her. "Okay, now use Thunder Wave," Peter commanded. Shock turned and unleashed a glowing wave of power that flashed forwards and crackled all around Butterfree.
"Break loose, Butterfree," Maggie called urgently. "Come on, pal, you can do it!" Despite her encouragement, the bug-type was unable to break free of the crackling electrical field.
"Nice work, Shock," Peter said. "Okay, use Tackle!" Shock leapt forwards and struck Butterfree in the middle of the back, knocking it tumbling away to fall to the ground mid-way between the two battling Trainers. "Yeah! Now use Thunder-Shock!" Peter commanded. Shock twisted agilely mid-air, turning to face her opponent and, the moment she landed, unleashing another massive discharge from her cheek-pads. The flashes of electricity slammed into the fallen Butterfree.
"Free!" the bug-type cried out as Shock's attack struck home. Peter gestured and his Pokémon returned to his side.
"You okay, Butterfree?" Maggie asked.
"Free-butter-ee-ee, Free-ter," Butterfree groaned as it smouldered. It was struggling to get up, but wasn't getting very far.
"Okay," Maggie said wryly. She raised her Pokéball and recalled her Butterfree. Maggie watched for a moment as Peter congratulated Shock on her victory. "I guess you win, kid. It was K$30, wasn't it?"
She doesn't seem to care, Peter thought in surprise as he nodded in agreement. "That was a good match, Maggie," he said, feeling the silence a bit. "You've trained your Butterfree very well."
"You've trained your Pikachu and Pidgey just as well," the bug catcher replied. She grinned and thumped the boy on the shoulder. "Ya know, you're the best opponent I've had in weeks!" Peter's expression must have told a story all of its' own. Maggie laughed. "Hey, kid, get over it! Can't two Trainers challenge each other just for the sheer joy of it?"
"I think so," Lia suddenly said. She stepped forwards. "Would you like to make up your losses, Maggie?"
Maggie looked at Lia appraisingly. "Why not?" she said. She reached for a Pokéball. "I hope you are as good as you are confident, kid."
"I… guess I'll need to train a bit more," Lia said. "I just wasn't ready for her to use her Pidgeotto instead of another bug-type."
"Come on, you didn't do too badly," Peter said, trying to encourage his currently rather morose friend. "Pidgey took down that Beedrill without any problem and Spearow really gave her Pidgeotto a run for his money!"
"I guess," Lia sighed. "I still want to do more flying-verses-flying training, though," she added.
Peter grinned. "Hey, you're the one with two flying-types," he said. "I want to work with Buck and Thumper today." Lia nodded, not really listening. She was already thinking of what training scheme it would be best for her to use.
The two youngsters were sitting down and eating a lunch. Two days had passed since they had left the Viridian Forest Wildlife Trail, and Peter's calculations put them no more than two days from Pewter City. Nothing much had been happening in that time, apart from the occasional encounter with another Trainer or two. Both of them had done very well in the Battles that followed, which was one of the reasons Lia was a bit off-balance. Maggie was the first Trainer to beat her in a Battle since Gary Oak.
While Peter and Lia were talking… well, while Peter was talking and while Lia was thinking out loud… Shock had slipped away from her friends. She had been very careful over the past two days, because she really didn't know how the humans would react if they learnt about their 'stowaway.' She made sure that Peter and Lia were not looking, and then opened the main flap of Peter's backpack. [Here you go, Curious,] she said, handing her kid sister a Pokémeal bar.
[Thanks Big Sis,] Curious the Pichu said. [You did very well in fighting that Butterfree!]
Shock blinked in surprise. [You watched my battle?] she asked. Curious nodded, looking very smug. Shock sighed. [Curious, you have to stay out of sight,] she said. [If they see you…]
[What?] Curious complained, her voice taking on a whining tone that younger siblings of all species are adept at using. [You know that they won't hurt me!]
Shock sighed again. She had tried to explain this to her younger sister, but Curious was too much like Spark, Lia's Pikachu, to understand her big sister's concerns. It was probable that if Peter discovered Curious, he would feel obliged to catch her in a Pokéball so that he could care for her properly. As much as Shock had decided that she didn't mind being a Trained Pokémon, she didn't want to see her free-spirited younger sister trained to fight. Maybe it was silly for her to feel that way, but she just didn't want it to happen. [Curious, just trust me on this,] she said. [I don't mind you coming along with us, but you really must stay out of sight. It is for you own good.]
Curious pouted and skipped away from the humans, sniffing at the ground and knocking bits of ground cover away so she could see what might be hidden. Within a few minutes, the Pichu was gleefully chasing an elegant butterfly, giving her elder sister the beginnings of an ulcer as she fretted that her human friends would hear the Pichu's ecstatic squeaks and squeals.
Shock looked over her shoulder and was reassured that both Peter and Lia were very busy. Lia was encouraging Spearow and Pidgey to fly rings around each other. Meanwhile, Peter was training Thumper with the help of Buck the Rattata. Buck had recently learnt Quick Attack, and Peter was using that to train Thumper in quick dodges. Shock would have been less reassured if she were listening to what Peter and Lia were saying to each other.
"So, I've been checking our inventory and something weird is going on," Lia was saying as she watched her two flying-types perform their intricate aerial ballet.
"Yeah? Like what?" Peter asked in a distracted tone of voice.
"We're low on Pokémeals," Lia said. "It is as if one of the guys were eating more than their share. That's it, Pidgey, use Wing whenever you're close enough!"
Peter frowned. "That can't be," he said. "They're all eating their rations, just like us." He turned and looked slightly to see Buck easily dodge another attempted Tackle from Thumper. "Okay, Thumper, you're learning, but you have to stay in closer."
[Easier said than done,] the Nidoran grumbled, but endeavoured to get closer to Buck, who was shouting an unending series of taunts at the poison-type.
"Well, maybe one of them is sneaking a bite or two when we're not looking," Lia suggested.
"Only a few of our Pokémon are regularly out of their Pokéballs," Peter said thoughtfully. "Just Shock, Spark, Shadow and Chikorita."
[I certainly hope you aren't accusing me,] Shadow said in a dark tone of voice. The Eevee was guarding the peacefully snoozing Avia and Bugsy the Metapod, who was still hardening away. [I am certainly not going to over-eat! I have to stay trim and athletic!]
Peter laughed. "I'm not accusing anyone of anything, Shadow," he said. "We've probably miscounted or something."
"Hey, thanks for your vote of confidence," Lia said in a snide tone of voice. Peter rolled his eyes and decided to shut up. This was one of those conversations where it was impossible to say anything without offending someone.
A few hours later, the two young Novices were back on the road. Having done some training, Peter was now keen to get a few more miles travelling done before nightfall. As they were walking along, however, Peter could feel a slight nervousness. It wasn't him, and it wasn't Lia. Oddly enough, it was Shock. "Are you okay, Shock?" he asked.
The little Pikachu reacted so violently to that question that she almost fell off his shoulder. [Of course I am! Why shouldn't I be?] she said, almost too quickly.
"Well, you seem a bit up-tight," Peter said. He reached up to stroke her soft, furry cheeks and was worried at the tension he could feel in her body. "Are you feeling all right?"
[Um… I guess… Er… I guess it must be being so far from home,] she said. [Yeah, that's it!]
Peter sighed and stroked his little friend's face again. "I felt bad too, at first," he said. "I was lucky enough to find some friends to help me out." He leaned over to stroke Shadow once. The Eevee shivered in delight, but Peter noticed that he was looking at Shock thoughtfully.
[You'll get to enjoy it!] Spark called from where he was dancing along in front of Lia. [This is a great adventure already!] Shock sighed and looked away from the Pikachu that she secretly liked, but found incredibly wearing.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Peter asked gently.
Shock looked into her Trainer's eyes and felt like a very low form of life for not telling him everything. Still, she was sure that she was doing the right thing. [No,] she finally said, trying to muster a smile. [I'll be okay.]
Peter was about to rephrase the question when a loud cry interrupted him. [Hey, look at this!] Spark suddenly called in excitement. Everyone turned to look at the tree the Pikachu was pointing out and Shock felt very grateful for this distraction.
Lia's mouth dropped open as she looked at the tree before she laughed slightly. "Well… I guess it must be hatching day," she said at last.
Peter nodded in agreement. "Will you look at that?" he asked. Caterpies literally covered the tree. There had to be at least a hundred of the green bug-types crawling over it and munching on the leaves in a single-minded fashion. After a few seconds, Peter overcame his astonishment and reached behind him for a Pokéball. Bugsy would evolve again soon, Peter was sure of that, so having another Caterpie would temporarily fill a gap that had appeared in his team.
Lia was way ahead of her friend. "I need a bug-type or two," she announced. She wound up and threw a standard-type Pokéball with a picture-perfect pitch. The Caterpie she had aimed for was a fat one hanging from the bottom of a large limb. The Pokémon just had time to react to the ball striking it before it transmuted into red light and the device sucked it in. The Pokéball snapped shut and dropped to the forest floor. There was a deep, electronic thrumming sound. Before the Pokéball had even stopped moving, it turned into a swirl of golden-white sparkles and quickly faded away.
"Hey, what happened?" Lia asked, then slapped herself on the forehead. "Of course! The auto-retrieval system! We can only keep six Pokémon with us at a time, so any new capture is automatically sent back to our home Pokémon Centre!"
"Or Professor Oak's laboratories in our case," Peter added, throwing a Pokéball of his own.
Shock watched as the Pokéball sucked in another hapless Caterpie and froze in horror. Two black-tipped spear-shaped yellow ears were poking out of Peter's backpack. Curious was watching the action with a rapt expression. Shock shifted slightly so she could reach Curious and push her back into the pack. [Nice capture, Peter,] she said as loudly as possible to drown out Curious' complaints at her rough handling.
Peter laughed. "Thanks, Shock, but Caterpies are no challenge," he said.
[Don't tell Bugsy that,] Shadow said in a reflective tone of voice. He was looking at Shock in a very measuring fashion. Something odd was going on.
That evening, the travellers had made camp for the night. Peter and Lia had just distributed food to their friends and were working on their own evening meal. "A good day, overall," Peter surmised.
"Even if I am thirty dollars poorer," Lia said reflectively. Peter opened his mouth, but Lia interrupted him. "Oh, don't worry, Peter," she laughed. "I'll get over it! Besides, there'll be plenty of time to make this up before we reach Pewter!" Not that I need to, she added silently.
Peter nodded in response. While Lia continued to stir the potluck stew that he had knocked together from various dehydrated ingredients, Peter decided to check their inventory himself. It wasn't too long before he realised that Lia was right. "We are about two ration bars short," he said. "Its' funny, but I can't see how it is possible!"
Lia smiled slightly; she was pleased to receive such a public vindication. "It must be one of our Pokémon," she said. "One of them is sneaking extra food."
[Where is Shock?] Shadow suddenly asked. Peter turned around to look at his first Pokémon. [She has a tendency to go off by herself at mealtimes,] the Eevee continued. [Maybe it is her?]
[Shock isn't the sort to sneak extra food,] Spark contradicted loyally. Shadow just looked at him sceptically. [I mean it!] Spark insisted. [She would never steal from the rest of us!]
"Look, Shadow," Peter said. "We know that Shock is an independent sort. Maybe she just needs some time away from the rest of us to keep her head level or something."
[Maybe,] Shadow said thoughtfully.
Peter was continuing. "Anyway, I'll put the Pokémon food at the bottom of my pack from now on. If anyone wants to sneak a bite or two will have to make a noise to get at it."
"Unless they have sharp teeth and can chew through the bottom," Lia said. She looked at the stew thoughtfully. Should it be this shade of green? she asked herself. "Its' hardly critical," she continued. "We've got enough, but it would be nice to know who is over-eating." Peter nodded.
While the humans ate their meal, Shadow got to his feet. Avia had recently awoke from her Sleep Dust-induced slumber (with the predicted headache). Along with Thumper and Buck, she was more than capable of looking after the nearly helpless Bugsy. He wanted to check this whole situation out.
Peter was naturally a trusting sort, and Shadow appreciated that quality. However, Shadow's senses were far more acute than those that his human friend had to rely on were. He had noticed Shock's furtive behaviour. He also noticed how she seemed to be continually on-edge. There was no doubt that the electric-type had some secret to keep. The question was what?
Peter had chosen well when he had named his first Pokémon, Shadow. As the Eevee moved out of the circle of light cast by the campfire, he became a moving bit of night; silent, invisible, but completely aware of everything around him. For thousands of years before humans came to Kanto, Eevees and Umbreons were the dominant night hunter in the area now known as Viridian Forest. A combination of directional hearing, superb scent identification and acute night vision meant that they could literally find anything anywhere, even in total darkness; and the darkness was far from total this moonlit night.
Shadow didn't have to travel far. Almost as soon as he was out of earshot of the camp, he could hear two voices, one youthful and filled with fearless strength, and one more tired and cautious. Shadow dropped down as low as he could go and stalked towards the source of the sounds.
[Curious, stay close,] said the older, cautious voice. It was Shock! And Shadow, was really, really surprised when he saw who she was talking to in the moonlit clearing. It took all of his self-control not to jump up into a sitting position and compromise his cover. As he looked on in disbelief, the fearless Pichu with the cute face jumped up onto a fallen tree trunk and stick her tongue out at her elder sibling.
Curious? Here? Shadow knew his duty to his friends. As soon as he had recovered from his surprise, he began to sneak away the direction that he had come.
[Hey, I can manage a log, Big Sis,] Curious said fearlessly. She danced along the log. [This area is a whole lot more wild than our bit of the forest,] she continued. [So many new things to see and experience!]
[And many new predators to fear,] Shock added in a dark, dangerous tone of voice. [I don't want you hurt, Curious, so please stay close to me.]
Curious rolled her eyes and laughed. [Don't worry, Shock,] she said in an elaborately patient tone of voice. [I can handle anything that comes my way!] The Pichu leaned forward to look at her older sister. [If you really want to go back to camp, than go back! I'll be along a little later!]
Shock frowned at that. She appreciated her sister's fearless nature, but this was not the time or the place for her to exercise it. [So you can handle anything, can you?] she asked. Suddenly, Shock launched herself forward in a Quick attack and knocked her sister off the log. Curious hit the ground hard.
For a long moment, Curious lay there, staring at her sister, with a hint of tears in her brown eyes. [Wh… why?] she asked at last.
Shock sighed and skipped over to her. [Because I had to show you that you aren't ready for anything,] she said. She leaned forwards and nuzzled Curious' face. [Curious, you are brave and you will be strong one day,] she said. [But you are only young, and you only know Tackle and Slap right now. You can't defend yourself properly until you've learnt Thunder-Shock, and even then you will be safer with me until you evolve.] Shock hugged her sister. [I care for you, and I don't want you to get hurt. Please trust me and do as I say.]
[Okay,] Curious said, sounding very subdued. Shock nuzzled her sister's face again and then helped her stand up. After a few moments, the two electric-types set out for the campsite.
As they got closer however, they were stunned when a bright light suddenly shone in their faces. Curious made a primitive sound of fear and Shock jumped in between her sister and whatever it was in front of them, her cheek-pads sparking with power. What could it be? Suddenly, a very, very familiar voice spoke up. "Shock? Is that you?"
There was a long dumbfounded pause. [Peter?] Shock asked, and blew out a little white cloud in relief. Then she remembered that she wasn't alone and tensed up again. Peter lifted his three-mode Baygen clockwork torch and switched it over to 'lantern' mode. The fluorescent light illuminated a small patch of forest and Shock could see Shadow standing beside Peter, looking intolerably smug. [Um… hello,] Shock said, sounding a bit embarrassed.
Curious stepped out from behind her sister and looked up at the human. [Uh… Am I in trouble?] she asked.
"Is that you, Curious?" Peter asked, sounding very surprised. Curious walked forwards a few paces and looked up at the human, looking a bit afraid. "What are you doing so far from your home?" Peter asked.
[I… wanted to stay with you,] Curious admitted at last. [What you said about your journey sounded so exciting… and I wanted to see what it was like.]
Shadow looked at Peter with a slight smirk. [At least we know now who has been eating all the ration bars,] he said, sounding smug.
Peter didn't reply immediately. He knelt and held out his hand so Curious could walk over and touch his fingers. "You've been with us since we left your village?" he asked. Curious nodded. Peter sighed and shook his head. "Well, we could go back, but that wouldn't stop you sneaking off on your own to find us, would it?" Curious shook her head, looking smug. Peter shook his head again and laughed. "Well, in that case I guess that you'd better come with us," he said.
Shock suddenly bounced over. [Don't capture her, please,] she begged. Peter was surprised. [She is so young…] Shock continued, tears in her eyes.
"Shock, don't worry," Peter said. "I know that Curious is still only a baby in Pichu terms. It would be wrong to make her fight just yet." Peter sighed and tickled the Pichu's head. "Besides, if I were to put her in a Pokéball, she would be teleported back to Pallet Town until I could recall her from a Pokémon Centre, and I don't think she wants that, do you?"
Curious didn't understand all of that, but she knew what she wanted. [I want to stay with you,] she said again.
Peter nodded. "Well, it's late," he said. "You'd best come back to camp with us." Peter let Shock climb up onto his shoulder. On a whim, he picked up Curious and put her on Shadow's back.
[Hey, I'm not a Ponyta!] the Eevee protested.
"You found her, you can carry her," Peter responded with a malicious smile. Curious giggled and Shadow scowled deeply.
[Okay, kid, hang on,] Shadow said. [Just don't wiggle around too much.]
[Okay, Uncle Shadow,] Curious replied, sounding incredibly innocent and cute. Peter and Shock started laughing as they took in her coy expression and Shadow's look of infinite martyrdom. After a few moments, they were able to start out for the camp.
Lia was a little surprised when Peter returned to camp with Shock and Curious, and she was even more surprised when the little Pichu explained why she had decided to come along on their journey. "I guess you have a talent with Pokémon, Peter," Lia said easily. "You only have to talk to them and they follow."
Peter blushed brightly. "It isn't' like that," he insisted. "She's just… suffering from a case of wanderlust, like Spark."
[Hey, I am nothing like Dumb-dumb,] Curious insisted, making Shock laugh. Spark seemed to blush a bit and turned away.
"Whatever," Lia said with a slight smile. She knelt before the Pichu. "Still, anything this cute is welcome with me!" She stroked the small electric-type until she was completely relaxed and then picked her up and nuzzled her soft fur with her nose. "Cute, soft and warm," she whispered as Curious began to purr in delight.
[Hey, what about me?] Chikorita wanted to know.
"You're cute too," Lia said with an indulgent smile, tickling her starter Pokémon under the chin.
After a little re-organisation of sleeping arrangements, the humans and their thirteen companions settled down to sleep.
…
Next morning, Peter and Lia were tidying up after breakfast. Lia was looking at the Pokédex entry on Route 2 again, while Peter was looking at the entry on Eevees.
"According to this, Beedrills are common on Route 2," Lia said. "I wonder why we haven't seen any yet?"
Peter shrugged. "Just because a Pokémon is found in a particular area, doesn't mean that you will find one. I wouldn't have caught Buck if he hadn't chased you up that tree and scared you so bad that you screamed for help!"
Lia sighed. "You'll never let me live that down, will you?" Peter gave her such a funny look that she realised that she was attaching far more importance to the incident than Peter was. She shook her head and tried to get her mind back on track. "What are you looking at?" she asked.
"Well, Shadow is at level-10 now," he said. "At level-12, Eevees learn an earth-type attack called 'Focus Energy.' It is pretty powerful, and can let you score one-attack critical hits if you use it properly." Lia nodded. Gary's Marowak had used Focus Energy on Pidgey, and Maggie's Heracross had used the attack on Avia yesterday. "Anyway, I was seeing how I should train Shadow so that he learns the attack properly."
"Well, it's an elemental attack," Lia said. "I suppose it is the same as teaching Shock how to use new electric-type attacks."
"Not quite," Peter said. "Earth-type attacks are drawn from the energy in the Earth, not from special muscles in the body." Still, maybe Lia was right. "Shadow, can you come over here for a moment, please?"
Shadow looked up and then bounded over. [What is it?] he asked eagerly.
"I want to try something new," Peter said. "I need you to concentrate for this one, okay, pal?" The Eevee seemed to shrug and then looked at his Trainer again. "Reach out with your feelings," Peter said. "Can you feel a power flowing under your feet?" Shadow looked downwards with a confused expression. "No, don't look, feel," Peter said. "It is something invisible, but it is there. All Eevees can feel it, I'm told."
Shadow closed his eyes. Now that Peter mentioned it, he could sense something under his feet. There was a thrill of power, like the pulse of a living thing. [Yes, I do,] he said at last. [How odd that I haven't noticed it before…]
"Focus on that," Peter said. He looked at his Pokédex again before continuing. "Okay, now draw on that power. Try to pull it towards you. Feel it run up your legs into your body."
Shadow concentrated again and shivered slightly, the strange sensations making him feel uncertain. [This is… odd…] he said.
"Don't worry," Peter replied. "This is a new attack. It involves using this energy, so you have to get used to it. Come on, I know you can handle something this simple!"
[Easy to say,] Shadow said. Still, Peter's confidence and encouragement helped Shadow to concentrate on the strange sensations. [Maybe I can do it,] he continued quietly.
Lia leaned forwards in interest as Peter continued to coax his Eevee in a gentle tone of voice. "Okay, Shadow, you're doing just fine," he said. "Now, I want you to draw that power forwards into the core of your being. Let it grow, but be ready to release it."
As Peter, Lia and the others looked on, Shadow began to glow with a red-gold energy that seemed to come from inside of him. The energy got brighter and brighter. Suddenly little arcs of energy began to flash off his body and strike objects, knocking them about. "Okay, that's fine, Shadow," Peter said. "Release it now."
[How?] Shadow asked as the glow got brighter and brighter. There was now a definite warmth emanating from the Eevee and Peter jumped back as a hum of power began to be audible, quickly growing louder.
"Peter, he's building up too much charge!" Lia shouted.
"I know!" Peter blurted. "Shadow, release the charge!"
[I don't know how!] the Eevee blurted, on the edge of panic, staring around him in terror.
Peter was panicking too, but suddenly he realised that was the worst thing to do. Shadow needed him, so he had to focus… But what could he do? Then, like a momentary flash of light, inspiration hit him. "Shadow, force the energy into your muzzle and then touch it to the ground! Let the power flow out through that connection! Then stop drawing on the power in the earth!"
[O… Okay…!] Shadow replied. He touched his muzzle to the ground as requested and there was an enormous golden flash of light and a deafening concussion. For a moment, Shadow disappeared in a cloud of debris.
Peter, heedless of the danger, ran towards the epicentre of the explosion. "Oh my God!" he blurted. "Shadow? Shadow, can you hear me?" He would never forgive himself if his friend had been hurt because of this experiment. "Shadow!"
The Eevee was standing in the middle of a wide but shallow crater, looking a bit chagrined, but otherwise unharmed. [Something tells me that it shouldn't work like that,] Shadow remarked. Peter, too relieved for words, fell to his knees and hugged his friend.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't have rushed this. I could have hurt you!"
Shadow sighed as he felt the human's tears dampen his fur. [I am okay,] he said. [I just need to get used to these sensations, that's all.]
Peter was startled. "You mean that you don't mind?"
[I wasn't hurt,] the Eevee said in his usual forthright tone. [Is this my special power, as electricity is for Shock, Spark and Curious?] Peter nodded. [Well, then I wish to continue,] he said. [I wish to master this power.] He looked around at the crater and the settling debris. [I… think that I will have to work a little harder at it, too.] Peter started laughing and hugged Shadow again.
Virtually all attention was now focussed on the rather embarrassed Eevee and his slightly hysterical Trainer. Therefore, it wasn't too surprising that Curious was able to get further away from the campsite than was strictly safe. All the little Pichu's life, her friends and kin had known her for her tendency to wander off after the slightest interesting smell, sight or sound. Right now, bored with the 'adult stuff' of teaching and perfecting attacks, she was pursuing a strange high-pitched humming sound that was emanating from near the campsite.
Curious rounded a particularly wide tree trunk and found the source of the sound. A large wasp-like creature with a wingspan greater than that of a Pidgey was busy boring into the tree-trunk with drill-like forelegs. The large bug-type didn't notice Curious, being too massively focussed on its' current task, whatever that was!
[Hi there!] Curious said in a friendly tone of voice. The large insect did not respond. [I said 'Hello,'] Curious said, a bit more firmly. Dumb creature, why won't it talk to me? she thought in an exasperated tone of voice. Curious had an idea. She spied a small rock, just large enough for her to hold in one of her forepaws. Before she had a chance to think twice (or think at all) she threw the small stone at the bug, hoping to get its' attention.
The rock bounced off the bug-type's carapace and it blurred around to face the Pichu, glaring at her with an expressionless chitinous face. "Bzeee-Drizzzllll!" it hummed dangerously and lunged forwards.
Curious yelped in fear and surprise as the big bug shot towards her, its' foreleg drills whirling. [Hey! Watch it!] Curious cried out, backing off as quickly as she could. For a Pichu, 'quick' is incredibly fast, and she easily avoided the Drill attack. Acting on instinct, she leapt forwards and landed a quick Slap attack on the creature's face, making it reel back. It staggered to its' feet and looked at Curious again. Curious wasn't sure, but she had the feeling she had just been promoted from 'irritation' to 'threat.'
[GUYS? PETER? SIS?] she yelled at the top of her voice as the creature charged again. Curious leapt forwards and tackled the bug-type and then followed up with a quick pair of slaps. The combined force of her attacks sent it reeling away. [Help me someone!] she cried out again. Why isn't anyone coming to help me? she thought desperately, not knowing that in her explorations, she had got out of earshot of the campsite.
The battered bug-type rose of the ground, began to fly away. [Ha! I win!] Curious shouted, thinking that it was running away.
"BZZZEEEEEEEEE!!!" the creature buzzed in an ear-splitting loud voice.
Curious looked around as suddenly four more of the creatures emerged from the undergrowth, all buzzing dangerously. [Oops…!] she said to herself.
Peter was training Avia the intricacies of fast flying, hoping to teach her Quick Attack soon, when the loudest, most heart-tearing scream that any of the friends had ever heard echoed through the camp. "PIIIIIIIIIIII!!!" [HEEELLLP MEEE!!!]
[Curious!] Shock squealed. In a blink of an eye, she leapt away from the snoozing Bugsy and ran in the direction of the plaintive cry, the rest of the travellers less than a heartbeat behind her.
They reached the clearing just in time to see a big Beedrill lifting a limp Curious off of the ground and fly off with her. [Curious! Leave her alone!] Shock screamed at the top of her lungs. She immediately began to charge up for the most powerful Thunder-Shock she could deliver.
Suddenly, Peter grabbed her hard. "Don't do it, Shock!" he yelled. Shadow dived in front of Shock, blocking her line of fire. Shock froze and looked at Peter in incomprehension, an expression of betrayal on her face. "She's been poisoned from the looks of it," Peter said urgently. "If you use an electrical attack, it will hit her too. It might kill her!"
Shock looked on in horror as the Beedrill flew off, still carrying its' prey. [But my sister…] she murmured, her ears drooping in grief and pain.
"Don't worry, Shock, it won't get far," Lia promised. She released her Spearow and Pidgey. "Okay guys, I need you to find the Beedrill that just grabbed Curious. Find it fast and then lead us to it!" Peter sent Avia off after the marauding Beedrill too.
Peter had picked up the trembling Shock. "Don't fret Shock," he said. "We'll find her before they hurt her, you'll see." Shock managed a half-hearted nod, but seemed to have gone into a trance.
Lia walked over and touched Peter on the shoulder. "Come on," she said quietly as her two flying-types departed on their mission. "We'd better pack up the camp and get ready to get moving." Peter watched Spearow and Pidgey vanish from sight and then nodded decisively.
Curious was aware of nothing for a long moment, but, at last, she awoke. She was in a semi-darkened hexagonal chamber surrounded by what looked like wax or paper. Her last memory was being attacked by what had to have been a Beedrill, one of the half-dozen or so she had so foolishly disturbed. Right now, she ached all over. She figured that one of the bug-types must have poisoned her with its' Poison Sting attack.
Curious felt tears tracking down her face as terror beyond anything she had experienced before closed around her like a damp clammy fog. Big Sis, why didn't I listen to you? she asked herself plaintively. If only she had stayed closer to camp. If only she hadn't been so headstrong and careless. If only…
"Weedle!"
[What the…?] Curious stared around her in the claustrophobic chamber. Was there something moving in the shadows? Yes! Several worm-like somethings… [Er… Hello?] she called out nervously. [My… My name is Curious… What's yours?]
"Weedle! Weedle!" the voices continued to echo in an emotionless, flat tone of voice. Then the first one came into view, an orange-tan worm with a bright red nose and a deadly-looking horn in between its' dead, soulless eyes. "Wee-weedle-wee!" it hissed.
[Can… can I help you?] Curious asked, her voice trembling in fear. She took a few steps back and backed right into another one!
"WEE-dle!" [Hungry!] the Weedle hissed. Curious jumped back. About half a dozen more Weedles had appeared out of the shadows and were glaring at the baby electric-type dangerously. There were many more hissing cries of [Hungry!] and [Food!]
[Um… sorry, guys,] Curious said weakly. [I haven't got any food with me… Er…?] Suddenly, with horrifying clarity, Curious suddenly realised what and who was on the menu for these Weedles and began to scream in terror.
Suddenly, the nearest Weedle lunged forwards and bit her on the arm. The bite didn't break the skin or draw blood but Curious screamed like a lost soul nonetheless. [Leave me alone! HELP!] she screamed at the top of her voice.
Another Weedle lunged forwards and Curious, terrified and way beyond panic, responded with a Tackle, knocking it backwards. There was a sudden pause and Curious wondered if she had scared them off. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw another Weedle charge her. She turned just in time to be jabbed in the right shoulder with the bug-type's horn. Curious screamed in pain and terror. Then a curious sensation of warmth, nausea and disorientation washed over her. Poisoned! she realised in a horrified moment of clarity. That horn has a poison sting!
Weakened and dizzy, the Pichu dropped to one knee as the other Weedles began to move forwards towards her, hissing dangerously, clearly confident that their dinner had been immobilised. Suddenly, Curious went berserk with terror. She felt a massive power growing in her and her cheeks burned with heat that she didn't understand or even want to understand. Instinctively, she pushed the power outward and willed the heat to radiate out from her in all directions.
"Piii-CHUUU!" The entire chamber was illuminated in a surreal blue-white shade of light and the Weedles were all blown backwards by the massive power of the Thunder-Shock attack.
…
Flying through the forest, Spearow was just beginning to despair that he would never find Curious. Dumb, stupid rat, the flying-type thought angrily. It is her own fault. Why should I have to strain my wings because she was stupid enough to pick a fight she couldn't win?
Spearow began to question if he could convince Lia that he had completed his sweep and found nothing if he returned early. Then, he saw something that caught his attention in an instant. A tree, with a massive hole in its' thick trunk. What brought that tree to his attention was the fact that the hole suddenly vomited a massive fountain of blue-white sparks. That's my sign! Spearow thought excitedly.
All thoughts of disobeying Lia were instantly forgotten and Spearow shot off to find his Trainer, certain that his success would bring a great reward and finally promote him over that cream puff Pidgey as her favourite flying-type.
…
Curious felt weak and disoriented. Her whole body ached and the smell of burning filled her nostrils. She had no idea what had happened, except that the Weedles were all lying on the floor of the chamber, twitching and moaning. Massive scorch marks decorated the walls. Did I do that? she asked herself in shock. She had seen Shock and Spark use their special powers enough times, but she had never expected to learn to use this power herself, and especially not in these circumstances.
[Ha…! I… I won!] Curious said weakly to herself. She waddled over to one of the semi-conscious Weedles and kicked it. The creature rolled away and moaned incoherently. Curious winced and felt the burns all over her all the more acutely. One other difference between her and Shock was now apparent. Shock never suffered electrical burns when she used Thunder-Shock. Curious had. She felt as weak as the Weedles obviously were and she couldn't think straight.
Suddenly there was a blast of moving air and the Pichu whirled. A Beedrill, one even larger than the one that had attacked her before, was standing over her. Ignoring the electric-type, the bug/poison-type nudged one of the Weedles with its' impressive heart-shaped armoured head. The Weedle moaned and groaned in pain. The Beedrill looked at the Pichu and Curious was certain that she could sense fury emanating from that impassive face.
[Here we go again!] Curious thought, backing up as fast as she could as the Beedrill advanced, raising its' fore-claws and abdomen to deliver a triple Pin Missile attack. Curious was desperate and began to cry again. She didn't think that she could take another dose of poison, or the pain of another Thunder-Shock. Hell, she wasn't even sure if she knew how she did it the first time!
The Beedrill poised itself for an attack, and Curious closed her eyes, wanting to say farewell to her friends and kin. But the attack did not come. The Pichu opened her eyes and saw that the Beedrill was staring blankly off into space. "BZEEE!" it cried out and launched itself up into the depths of the hive. At that moment the wall behind Curious was torn away. Blinking in the sudden sunlight, she could see Rattata and Buck grinning at her. The two normal-types had literally ripped the wall of the hive open.
[Come on, kid,] Rattata cried urgently. Overhead, Avia, Pidgey and Spearow were dog fighting with legions of Beedrills. Every few seconds, Spark or Shock would unleash a Thunder Wave attack and bring down dozens of the monsters. Still more would then join the attack.
Confused and disoriented, the little Pichu could only sit there and cry in terror as the battle progressed. [We don't have time for this, little one!] growled a familiar voice. Curious looked downwards and into Shadow's face. [I know you are scared, but we must get away! Come now; climb on me as before! Come on!] The urgency in the Eevee's voice suddenly freed Curious from her paralysis. She leapt from the breached hive and onto his back.
"Okay, let's get out of here!" Peter yelled. He recalled Buck as Lia recalled Rattata. Shock and Spark leapt forwards and unleashed a simultaneous Thunder-Shock, knocking down dozens of Beedrills. The bug/poison-types withdrew for a moment. The Trainers recalled their flying-types and fled into the forest. In moments, the Beedrills regrouped and launched themselves forwards in pursuit.
"So, how many of them do you think there are out there?" Lia asked in a vague way, clearly not really interested in the answer.
Peter didn't even deign to look up from Curious, who he was trying to comfort. "I stopped counting after I reached a hundred," he replied disinterestedly. He had healed the Pichu's physical injuries, but her terror was a lot harder to fix. It had taken a lot of coaxing to get her to let go of Shadow so that he could treat her. Now she was huddled into his crossed arms, trembling violently.
Peter, Lia and their friends were just inside the entrance to Diglett's Cave. Outside were uncountable Beedrills who, in their fury, had chased the humans and their Pokémon through the forest in an unending pursuit. Just when it seemed that it was hopeless and that fatigue would betray them, the two young humans had spotted the signs pointing to the entrance to the cave. Once inside, it was fairly easy for Shock, Spark, Spearow, Pidgey and Avia to keep the Beedrills out.
"How long are they going to wait out there?" Lia asked nervously. Outside a few of the Beedrills buzzed dangerously.
"They've got all the time in the world," Peter said morosely. "According to the Pokédex, they pursue their prey to the death in hunts that can last weeks."
"Well, we can't wait weeks!" Lia shouted. "Our food won't last that long!"
"What are you shouting at me for?" Peter snapped back. The two Trainers glared at each other before drawing in deep breaths. "Sorry," Peter muttered.
"It's the tension," Lia said quietly.
"Well you two look like you're in a fine mess," a friendly voice announced.
Peter turned around and gasped as he looked into an elongated stone snout with glowing yellow eyes and a massive barbed horn curving back from its' forehead. A talking Onyx? he thought in fear and amazement. Then he saw the source of the voice, a short, squat and heavily built man with an unremarkable face and brown eyes. The man wore a miner's helmet, complete with Safety Light. A Sandslash, an Umbreon and a Dugtrio accompanied him.
"Hi," the man said. "What brings you two into Diglett's Cave on such a sunny day?"
"Who are you?" Lia asked suspiciously.
The man laughed. "Where are my manners? I'm Barney Stone. I'm a spelunker. That means that I kind of live down here in the cave system with my friends." He gestured to his Pokémon and then looked up at Peter and Lia questioningly.
Peter looked at Barney blankly for a moment before his brain kicked into gear again. "Oh, I'm Peter Croft and this is Lia McAlester," he said. There were handshakes all around.
Barney looked out of the cave and noticed the Beedrills. "What has got them all riled up?" he asked. "I haven't seen so many Beedrills in one place for… oh, since Ash Ketchum rescued his first Metapod from one of their nests!"
"More or less the same thing," Peter said at last. "A Beedrill caught…" he briefly paused, wondering how to describe Curious and decided to use the least complex version of events. "It caught my Pichu and we had to tear open a nest to get her back."
Barney nodded wisely. "Is she okay?" he asked.
Peter nodded and stroked Curious' head, making the Pichu snuggle deeper into his arms. "I gave her an antidote and a dose of Potion. She's going to be okay."
"Sir, could you help us out here?" Lia asked plaintively. "We seem to be trapped, but you have so many powerful Pokémon…"
Barney laughed. "Don't think I don't sympathise, Lia," he said. "But I'm not so stupid to put my Pokémon up against a tribe of Beedrills on a vendetta!" The spelunker shook his head. "No, there's only one way to get away from them, and that is to go underground. Beedrills don't like enclosed spaces and they hate the dark, so if you go through the caves, they'll not be able to follow." Barney smiled slightly. "Despite their reputation, they don't have much taste for an extended hunt. If you exit the tunnel out of scent range, they'll just forget about you."
"That's great!" Peter said, as his subconscious provided a full plan to escape. "Sir, you know these caves, could you lead us to an exit that will get us away from them?"
"I could," Barney said. He stood back and scratched his nose. "The question is, do I want to?" He shrugged again. "I'm no charity, kids," he said. "I will be glad to help if you can make it worth my while."
There was an appalled pause as the two Novices absorbed the spelunker's mercenary position. "Maybe you've missed a bit of this conversation," Lia said, aghast, "but they are trying to kill us! If you don't help us, we could die!"
Barney smirked. "You wouldn't be the first first-year novices to die out in the wild, and you wouldn't be the last," he said. "I'll be brutally honest, kids: As I've said, I'm no charity. There are things that I need. If you can help me get them, then I'll help you. If not, I'll wish you good luck and a firm adieu."
Peter's mouth opened and closed for a while before Lia sighed and pulled her purse out of her backpack. "Okay," she said. "How much?"
To her surprise, Barney started laughing. "Come on!" he chuckled. "Money? What use have I got for that? I've got access to the funds of every wishing well in Kanto!"
Peter considered the spelunker for a few seconds. I could offer to battle him… he thought. He considered the size of Barney's Onyx and the fact that all of his other Pokémon were evolved forms. On second thoughts, I won't bother. "Well, that's all we've got, unless I can interest you in some food or medical items," Peter said, nervous and terrified that the man might actually do as he had threatened and leave them to their fate.
"Nope, not interested," Barney said. "I've really got all that I need down here already, except some special items." The man turned to leave.
"WAIT!" Peter shouted. He turned to his companion. "Lia, you've still got that Moon Stone, haven't you?"
Barney's eyes lit up. "Moon Stone did you say? Now you've got my attention!"
"Peter!" Lia hissed. "I need it…"
"Yes I know," Peter growled. "But you aren't going to get the chance to evolve this hypothetical Clefairy if you are dead!" Lia groaned and shot Peter a hurt and despair-filled look. Peter sighed, but remained resolute. "Lia, we might find another one of them one day," he reminded his friend. "But we need to get out of here soon!"
Lia chewed over that fact unhappily. Finally, with an air of great reluctance, she pulled her Moon Stone out of her jacket and held it out to Barney. The man's face seemed to glow in the evolution stone's supernatural radiance. "Now we've got your promise," Lia said. "I give this to you and you will lead us to a safe exit of the cave."
Barney nodded. "Kid, you've got yourself a deal and a guide." Lia sighed and handed the Moon Stone over. Barney stared at the evolution stone for a moment, his unremarkable face filled with wonder. "Kids, watch this," he said. "Who knows when you might see the like again?" The spelunker reached into his waterproof coveralls and pulled out a strange length of metal like a sort of hula-hoop. "Cruncher, come here, please," he said quietly.
There was a grinding noise and the Onyx glided over to its' trainer. Barney fastened the metal band around the rock-type's throat and stood back for a moment. Peter, confused pulled out his Pokédex and had it scan the metal band.
"Metal Coat – a special item," Dexter reported. "The Metal Coat is shed by Steel-type Pokémon every year as they continue to grow. When applied to certain Pokémon, it increases the power of steel-type attacks and also is vital for inducing the evolution of
"Okay," Barney said, "watch this!" The man stepped forwards and touched the glowing Moon Stone to the Metal Coat and almost instantly an amazing process began. The Onyx turned into a glowing pink silhouette that seemed to radiate warmth. As the humans and Pokémon looked on, the glowing shape began to change, developing spines along its' length. Then the light was gone. Barney dropped the grey and discharged Moon Stone, useless now, and reached out to stroke his friend's face. The massive Pokémon had radically changed in shape and even in the semi gloom of the cave, its' hide clearly shone like metal.
Peter pressed 'scan' again and waited. "Pokémon #208 – Steelix," Dexter announced. "A steel-type Pokémon. Steelix is the evolved form of
"Like all Steel-types, Steelix has a type advantage over plant-types, but it has a type disadvantage to electric-type attacks. Steelix do not naturally occur, but must be evolved from Onyx with the use of a
"I've wanted to evolve Cruncher for years now," Barney said with a grin. With a strange excess of love for such a mercenary man, he leaned forward to hug his evolved Pokémon with a suspicion of tears in his eyes. Then he stood back and cleared his throat. "Now, I think we should get going. I know an exit to these caves about halfway along Route 2. You'll lose about a day's travel to Pewter City, but you will be far, far away from the Beedrills."
"That's fine by us," Peter said.
Barney nodded. "Then let's get going," he said. He clicked on the light on his helmet and gestured into the darkness of the cave. "Nightwatch, use Flash," he commanded. His Umbreon began to glow with a warm golden light that emanated from the yellow rings on its' coat. The light illuminated the cave in a reassuring way. "Come on," Barney said.
Peter took one last look at the Beedrills waiting beyond the cave entrance, and then hurried off after the others.
That night, Peter, Lia and their friends were camping out underneath the stars.
Barney was as good as his promise. He had led the two Novices to a cave entrance that was literally within sight of the Route 2 trail. Although their underground short cut had taken them a day away from their objective, neither of the youngsters minded much, as they were far away from the Beedrills.
While Peter was updating the log file in his Pokédex, Lia was grooming Chikorita's green fur. "Peter," Lia asked, "what do you think happened to turn Barney so nasty?"
Peter thought about that for a moment. "I don't think he is 'nasty,'" he said at last. "I just think that being on his own except for his Pokémon has turned him a bit strange, that's all. Maybe he's spent so long away from humans that he's forgotten how to think human."
"Maybe," Lia said thoughtfully. She shook her head and continued in a firmer tone. "Or maybe he's always been like that, and eventually his hatred for other people drove him to live underground, alone except for his Pokémon." Chikorita, responding to his Trainer's anger, nudged Lia's hand reassuringly. Lia sighed. "Still," she continued in a gentler tone of voice, "we managed to catch a Beedrill and a Weedle each. Today won't be a total loss."
"Maybe," Peter said thoughtfully. He looked down and stroked Curious, who had tucked herself in tightly in between Shadow and his leg. "Are you going to be okay, Curious?" he asked.
There was a pause before the little Pichu responded. [I… think I'm okay now, Peter,] she said. [I've got over my scare!] There was another pause as she looked at Shock. [I'm sorry that I caused so much trouble, Shock,] Curious announced. [I should have listened to you. Because I was so proud and stupid, I could have got you all hurt.]
Shock swallowed her automatic reply of 'I told you so,' and hopped forwards. [The important thing is that you are okay,] she told her little sister. [If you've learnt your lesson, then all this was worth something.]
Curious nodded. [Peter,] she said at last, [can you teach me to be strong as my sister is?] Peter looked at the Pichu in surprise. [I don't ever want to be helpless again.] Shock reacted with some surprise to her sister's request.
Peter managed a slight smile and tickled Curious under the chin. "In good time," he said. "You're still young yet Curious, but I promise that I'll take care of you, and I'll make sure that you grow up so you can learn to be strong." With that, the Pichu seemed content for now.
To be continued…
