Chapter 14

"Where to next Sammie?" Kat inquired as they walked along the shores of Vermillion City.

"I thought about it long and hard…and I think that we should head south to Fuchsia City. THEN we can head back on up to Saffron." Samantha rolled her head back. "Wow…I can't believe all that I've been through…"

"Yes you have quite a story to tell Sam…" Kat remarked.

"Someday you will have a great story to tell too Kat…"

"Yeah—YOURS! It's like I'm witnessing the birth of a legend here…"

Samantha thought about that comment. She then turned bright pink, causing both girls to laugh.

They walked past Diglett's cave, then past Vermillion harbor. Both would take Samantha back to Pallet Town—where there was absolutely nothing but good ol' Professor Oak awaiting her there…and the many memories of her childhood. Memories are precious.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

Samantha froze solid after being so rudely interrupted in her thinking. She turned around to find a boy, about 13 or 14. He wore jeans, and a white T-Shirt beneath a leather jacket. His hair was thick and black, mostly gelled.

"Can I help you?" Samantha asked with one eyebrow raised.

"You're a Pokémon trainer…so I want to battle you right now!" the kid replied.

"Oooh…ohhh! I wanna battle him Sam!" Kat shouted stepping out from behind her friend, finally revealing herself to the boy.

The boy stood there stunned, not knowing what to say. Both of these girls were pretty! Oh well, he didn't have much luck with girls anyway.

"I choose you…BLAZE!"

"Growlithe!" the boy's Growlithe, Blaze shouted leaping out from behind a bush behind his trainer.

"Don't worry…I'll handle this one Kat" Samantha insisted.

Kat pulled Samantha to the side, and pulled her down to whisper in her ear. "I think that boy is kind of cute! He looks like that guy from Grease!"

"Kat!" Samantha giggled, "Yeah he is sort of cute isn't he? But I don't think you should fight him…I mean what would you be like if you lost?"

"Oh yeah! I don't know what I would say to him!" Kat laughed.

"I know…while I battle him, you can take my satchel and pretty yourself up! I have a lot of make-up I never use in there."

"Thanks Sam!" Kat said giving Samantha a peck on the cheek.

Kat picked up Cubone along with Samantha's satchel, and walked over to the harbor's bathroom.

"Ok boy, what is your name?" Samantha inquired.

"It's Tony. I've been a trainer for 3 weeks now, and I have NEVER lost!" Tony bragged.

"Really? Well I've been a trainer for 3 months now…sure you can take me? I just earned my 3rd badge you know." Samantha remarked with added interest.

"I'm not afraid of you! If you won 3 badges, the leaders must have been horrible trainers!" Tony shot back.

"Horrible trainers? Let's see YOU go and beat Lt. Surge wise guy!" Samantha retorted.

"No need! I already beat Erika of Celadon City!" Tony opened the rest of his jacket to reveal the Rainbowbadge.

"So you beat a bunch of Grass-Pokémon, did you? Well then let's see you fight…BOBBY!"

"Bulbasaur!" Bobby cried being released from his Poké Ball confines.

"Ha! All too easy! You must be pretty dumb to send out a Grass-Pokémon against my Blaze!" Tony laughed.

"Watch and learn little man!" Samantha said coolly.

"Blaze…EMBER attack!"

"Growl!" Blaze cried releasing a fireball from his mouth.

"Bobby…WATER GUN, buddy!"

Bobby pressed his lips together, and fired his mighty blast of water. The powerful stream seared right through the fireball, and right into Blaze's open mouth. That proved to be all the Growlithe could stand.

"I don't believe this! A WATER GUN? You big cheater…"

"Well don't just sit there belly-aching about losing, recall that poor, hurt Growlithe! It needs help!" Samantha cried out.

"I…I…I can't" Tony said picking his Growlithe up. "Blaze can't go into his Poké Ball" Tony sighed.

"Well, why not?"

"I'm not too sure…but I'm on my way to Saffron, to catch that new Magnet Train to Johto. I have to go to some guy in Azalea Town named 'Kurt'. People tell me he can fix a Poké Ball just for Blaze."

"REALLY? That's my Grandpa!" Samantha giggled. "If anyone can fix it…it's my gramps!"

"Say…uh…where did your friend go anyway?" Tony asked with more interest.

"Oh…uh…she had to…go to the bathroom…" Samantha winked.

Time passed by, and Samantha began to wonder where Kat was. She realized that she was basically helping Kat flirt with a boy, but that was OK. As long as she had her someone special in mind…

"CUBONE!"

"Hey Sam!"

Samantha turned around to see Kat standing there all made up. If she was doing a Cindy Crawford imitation, it was a good one! She had a white blouse on, tucked into a red skirt. Her face had a touch of blush on it, and some red lipstick on to compliment her let down, long blonde hair.

Tony was in complete awe. She looked like one of those girls on TV! Samantha casually walked over to Tony, and took Blaze out of his arms. She then smacked his chin, to make his wide-open jaw shut.

"I'll take my Pokémon and Blaze to the Pokémon Center back in the city. I'll, uh…leave you two to get to know each other better…" Samantha held back a laugh.

Samantha looked back to see Kat shaking Tony's completely limp hand. She sighed knowing love was in the air. Samantha made her way to the Pokémon Center. Her whimsical thoughts of young love consumed her feelings, as she turned down the main street of Vermillion City…