The Master Six

Chapter Five

Bustling.  That would be the word for it.

Bustling.

I guess a lot of people had hurt pokemon that day.  The PokeCenter, in Cerulean City (I didn't want to go back so soon, but it was the closest one) was filled with people that day.  I could only hope they had room for me.

"May I help you?" an over-the-top-cheery nurse said to me.  She was dressed in the normal outfit.  She had red hair that was let loose, and dropped down over her shoulders.  I guess she would be helping me today.  Tee-hee.

Sheesh.  Nurses.

"Uh yeah," I spoke back, "this is, um, my first time in a PokeCenter.  I started my pokemon quest yesterday morning."

Wow, really.  Yesterday morning.

Wow.

"Yes," she responded, "and do you have pokemon that need to be healed already."

What!  Now she made it seem like I was some kind of loser.

"Hey," I shot back, "cut me some slack.  It's my first day.  I'm just having a bad first day, okay.  I have a Pidgey that is out of it, and a wild Rattata I just caught that I guess could use a check out.  Okay?  Can you handle that?"

"Yes," she responded, "where are they.  I need them."

So I gave her Max and...uh...oh...just Rattata for now.  I would have to come up with a name for him some other time.

"Okay, thank you," she said, "I don't know how long it will take.  We are pretty busy today, see me in an hour.  You can sit over there."  And she walked away.  Leaving me alone.

Alone with my thoughts.

I walked over to the "waiting room" part of the PokeCenter, surrounded by people waiting on their pokemon, holding pokeballs, or even holding the hurt pokemon themselves.  It was kind of creepy.  I turned myself away from the horror.

All alone.  That was me.

Jeffrey ran off, afraid of me and Cid fighting.

Cid just walked off, upset with me for being such a poor trainer.

Max was hurt, and would be for at least an hour.

Rattata was...Rattata was just Rattata.

And I was all alone.

Except for my flute.  I had discovered it's secret, and now it was mine to use.  It took out Rattata, how about these pokemon in the center.  It was worth a try.  Let's just call it an experiment for the benefit of science.  The science of pokemon catching.

So I brought the flute to my lips.

And I began to play my song.

And got just the reaction I hoped for.

I first noticed it in the eyes of the Charmander across from me with a cast on its leg.  Its eyes just seemed to glaze over, like they were staring off into eternity.

"Hey, my pokemon!" the voice called from across the room.

"What's happening," another wondered.

All the pokemon in the room suddenly went stiff.  They were all affected by the tune coming out of my flute.  All of the pokemon, which just made me happier.  I got Psyducks, Jigglypuffs, Zubats, grass pokemon, water pokemon.  This PokeCenter had all different kinds and species of pokemon, and all of them were affected by my song.

I stopped playing, and put the flute away.  I hope nobody suspected me.

"What's wrong!" a voice cried.

"Pauly!  C'mon Pauly, wake up," someone else whined.

Hah, beautiful.

I stood up, and headed for the door.  I had an hour to kill until Max and Rattata were out of the PokeCenter.  Now, it may be even longer.  I supposed some people might waste time, and try to figure out how all of this went about.  But that was people for you; trying to understand something I didn't even truly understand.  And I was the one who caused it.

I loved it.  My very own secret weapon.

I chuckled to myself as I walked out the door.  The sun hit me rather abruptly, I shaded my eyes.  I had only been to the main city part of Cerulean a couple of times.  It was kind of a special event to come up here.  The shops, PokeMarts, the clothing stores.  A shopping wonderland.  And I did have a couple of bucks.

And I did have an hour.

Oh, what the heck.

*  *  *  *

"Hello, may I help you," my nurse said to me.

"Yeah, I was here an hour ago, and I dropped off my two pokemon.  You said come back in an hour.  So, here I am."

"Oh yes, I remember, I guess.  Let me see if I can find them.  You will have to forgive me a little, we had this weird...event earlier.  All the pokemon suddenly went stiff and rigid."  Blah, blah, blah.

"Ah, here we are.  A Pidgey, and a Rattata.  All fresh and new, just for you."  She winked at me with the rhyme.  Jeez, what a fruit.

"Yes, thank you," I took them.  And I walked out the door.  My new clothes, and various potions and antidotes were in my backpack.  I would have to win some fights pretty soon, and earn some money.

"Guess what guys," I said to the pokeballs, "we're going to go places now."

I had seen the sights.  I had gotten my pokemon back.  And I had decided a while ago that I wasn't going back to my little community in Cerulean City already.  So there was nothing left but head out into the world and start some fights.

I walked to the edge of town, stopping for a second to just stare at the gym, Misty's gym.  My hero.  Then it was off to my next destination.  I figured that I would go to Vermilion City next.  There were some good trainers on the way; also, I could visit the Pokemon Fan Club.  It was a stop that every pokemon trainer should stop at.

It was a nice day out; the sun was out and bright.  To think, this was only my second day as a pokemon trainer, and already I was heading to my second city.  But, I could probably use some more pokemon.  All I had was Max, and Rattata.  But, I guess that would be enough for now, for my first fight.

"Hey!" a little boy called to me, "let's fight!"

You got it slick!

"Squirtle!  I choose you!" he shouted, and launched a pokeball.

"Let's go Max!" I shouted back with even more ferocity.

The Squirtle took his place, as did Max.  It was going to be a showdown.

"Water Gun Attack!"

Oooh, he's going all out.

Max easily dodged the attack, and swooped down towards the little creature.

"Wing Attack!"

BAM!  Squirtle was down and out of it.  This kid must have received his pokemon when he started his journey.  He didn't have a childhood of training like me and Max.

"No fair," he whimpered as his Squirtle returned to its pokeball, "you...you cheated."

"No I didn't, now hand over the money."

"Here," he pouted as he handed over my victory money.  Alright, I've now won my first official fight.  The one with Cid didn't count.  That was just blowing off steam for both of us.  This little boy was my first kill, and it was beautiful.

"Bye!" I shouted to him as he stumbled off.  Such a poor kid, even younger than me.

Fresh off my first victory, I began searching the tall grasses for some wild pokemon.  I really needed some more.  I had the extra pokeballs; I needed pokemon to fill them.  Ah!  What have we here?

A Meowth!  Oh joy, just like Aunt Janet's Meowths.

My own Meowth.

MEOWTH!  It screeched at me raising its claws.

"Oh, aren't you so cute," I said to it as I brought out my flute, "I think I'll name you Bubbles, or maybe Tony if you're a boy."

It swiped its claw down in a defensive act.  Yeah, it was really going to beat me.

I brought the flute to my lips, and began playing the now familiar tune.  And, just as I had planned; the Meowth stared at me, it began swaying back and forth, and it finally fell over, stiff as a board.

I tossed one of my pokeballs at it, and it was sucked inside.  My second catch.

"Welcome to the team Bubbles," I whispered as I attached it to my belt.

My first victory, my second catch.  I was finally beginning my journey.

What a long strange trip it will be.