Chapter 2
First Footsteps
I never really had ever had a best friend before. Sure I had two friends back then that really cared about me, however, I never really quite had a real close friend. Someone that I could always depend upon. Someone who would be there for me every step of the way, and never give up on me. That all changed the day I met Pikachu.
Pikachu and I were totally different. We were like the color green and the color yellow. They don't really go together. Did we care though? No way! Pikachu became fast friends with Squirtle and Charmander. Which was good because Julie, Emma, and I hung out together practically the entire summer after 5th grade. We became really close then. I loved those times. During that particular summer, we were all feeling a bit nervous about school. Now that we had graduated from Elementary School, we would be moving on to the big Middle School. The Middle School was extremely different from Elementary School. For one thing it was much more complex than Elementary School, and we would be facing bigger responsibilities there, as well as hundreds of kids we didn't know. We were going to face bigger challenges there, but none of us knew what was going to happen to our Pokemon. Were they even allowed in that school? Did we have to leave them home? We couldn't leave them home. Our parents had to work on weekdays, no one would be home to take care of them. Good thing for us our questions were answered at the 6th grade orientation at the Middle School. The principal there told each of us that Pokemon would be allowed in the school, but only one Pokemon would be allowed out of its pokeball at a time. Everyone else had to stay in their pokeballs. Well lucky for us, we didn't have any other Pokemon, not yet anyway. So we had nothing to worry about just yet. At least I didn't…
The phone rang a few days before the first day of school. It was Julie, and she was really excited. She had made her first capture!
"I was walking in the woods down by the pond hoping to find a Pokemon, and I did! I found a Caterpie sitting by a tree. It wasn't that big, in fact it was really small, but I didn't care. I pulled out Charmander and he let out some kind of fire attack at the Caterpie. I felt bad for it because afterwards it was burned to a crisp! Anyway, I threw the pokeball at it while it was knocked out and I caught it!" Julie was talking so fast I could barely make out the words! She was really proud of herself.
"That's great Jul!" I cried. "Did you look up 'Caterpie' on your Pokedex?"
"Yeah, it said it was a bug-type Pokemon, and it evolves twice at a certain level!"
"Really? To what?"
"Something called a 'Metapod' and then a 'Butterfree,' I'm guessing that when Caterpie evolves into Metapod, Metapod is sort of like its cocoon stage. And a Butterfree is a Butterfly."
"Ooooo, I can't wait to see it turn into a Butterfree, I love Butterflies!"
"Me too, so I guess I'll have to train it hard, but the only attacks Caterpie knows is String Shot, and Tackle."
"Well I don't know what String Shot does, but Tackle can be pretty good."
"String shot lowers the opponents Speed."
"Oh I see, well that's a good attack then, I guess you could have Caterpie battle some weak opponents, like another Caterpie or Metapod. Take it into the woods and see what you find."
"Okay I will, but I'm a bit scared though, I don't want to run into any Beedrills"
"Well if I saw one, I would take off towards the house. I can't stand them."
"So I take it you won't be catching any Weedles?"
"Well I don't know, I don't live near any woods like you do, But I'll see what I find."
"Sounds good to me, hey listen I gotta go, my mom wants to use the phone."
"Okay, see ya at school!"
"Okay, bye!"
"Bye." I hung up the phone and shivered at the thought of Beedrills. If there was one Pokemon that scared me, it was them.
On the first day of school, Pikachu and I walked into the giant Middle School, Nervously awaiting what was going to happen to us this year. My nervousness soon faded when I arrived into my third period class.
"Pika Pi! Pika!" Pikachu was jumping up and down excitedly and pointing at something.
"Okay, okay, what is it?" What answered my question was a familiar voice.
"Squirtle-squirt!" I looked up and saw Emma and Squirtle running towards me. We were both ecstatic that we were in the same class together. While the two of us were talking, I noticed in the corner of my eye, Squirtle was showing Pikachu one of Emma's pokeballs.
"I think Pikachu knows what a pokeball is Squirtle." I said.
"Oh I think he knows that, he's just introducing Oddish to him." My head jerked at Emma.
"An Oddish!? You mean you caught one?" Emma smiled proudly.
"Yup, just last week. It was walking around in my yard."
"That's great Em!" I stopped and thought a minute. "Gee, I wonder when it will be my turn though to catch a Pokemon." I looked a Pikachu.
"Hey don't worry about it, you'll catch one sometime." I nodded, I really hoped Emma was right. I wanted to catch one more than anything.
When class was over, Emma and I got up to leave, but of course I had forgotten to tie my shoelace and I tripped over it right in front of everyone. My books went flying into the wall as I crashed to the ground. The kids in my class just walked right passed me, teasing me, as well as pointing and laughing at me. Pikachu hopped over to me to make sure I was okay.
"Thanks buddy." I said sadly. "At least I know one friend I can count on to help me."
"Since when did you push me out of your life?" Emma laughed as she ran up to me. "I feel so left out now!" Emma began her fake, dramatic crying which sent Pikachu and me laughing up a storm.
"Arooo" Still giggling, I looked down and then jumped.
"What's wrong?"
"Emma, what is this thing?" I was pointing to a small brown bird that was sitting at my feet. It also had one of my books in its mouth.
"Don't tease her like that, you should help her pick up her stuff." Emma and I looked up to see a young girl with long blond hair standing over Emma. She held a pokeball in her hand.
"Oh don't worry, I wasn't teasing Kristen, I'm just trying to make her feel better that's all."
"And succeeded." I laughed. The girl smiled.
"Sure looks like it. Want some help with your books?"
"Sure!" The three of us went to gather my books, but three of the books had already been gathered by the small bird.
"Pidgey your too helpful sometimes." The girl laughed again. The Pidgey made a pile of the three books, then flew over to the girl and landed on her shoulder.
"That's your Pidgey?" Emma questioned.
"Yup sure is."
"Pidgey eh?" Curious, I looked up Pidgey on my Pokedex.
"Pidgey: The tiny bird Pokemon: They are very common in forests and woods and are also the gentlest and easiest to capture."
"Pidgey sounds like a nice bird." I said.
"Oh he is! I love him."
"Arooo" Pidgey rubbed his head against the girl's cheek.
"Is he your first Pokemon?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, I tried to catch a Weedle yesterday, but my sister kept bugging me so it got away."
"Gee that's too bad, I'm sure you'll catch something soon." I said. "And hopefully I will too."
"Sure you will, with an adorable Pokemon like that your bown to catch something." Pikachu blushed.
"Pi-ka!" The girl giggled.
"You certainly laugh a lot." Emma said smiling.
"Yeah it's a habit."
"But a good one!"
"What's your name anyway?" I asked.
"I'm Amy, what's yours?"
"Kristen, and this is Emma."
"Aren't you in the same class as us?" Emma asked. "You look familiar."
"Yeah I am, I mean, you JUST realized that?" Emma laughed.
"Yeah apparently!"
"Hey, why don't we hang out at my house after school?" Amy asked.
"Sounds good to me, Emma?"
"Sure! Why not?" That day began a day of new friends for Emma and me. It's amazing how such a simple incident can turn into something great. Amy wasn't the only new friend I made that day. I also made friends with a girl named Jennie, who also had a Pidgey, as well as a Caterpie AND a Weedle! I was beginning to feel a bit left out at the fact that I only had one Pokemon. Amy had finally succeeded in catching a Pokemon herself that afternoon when we were over. She had caught a Rattata. I was happy for Amy but at the same time, sad for myself. Pikachu patted my leg then and I understood in some way that he too was telling me that I would catch one soon. But I didn't know when.
About three days later, Emma and I were over at Amy's house again. We were sitting on her front porch talking when Amy happened to look up.
"Hey! Look at that thing!" Amy pointed to a small animal at the edge of the road across the street. It looked hurt, and it looked as if it wanted to cross the street.
"Poor thing!" I cried. I ran to the edge of the road. It looked like a Pokemon. It was brown with a little white on its chest. It was very little and looked scared. Pikachu ran over to me and called to it.
"Pika!" The Pokemon called back weakly.
"Leeeee!" Then it fell to the ground right at the edge of the road. Panicking I raced across the street to its side. Emma and Amy came right up behind me. I began to pet the shaking Pokemon as it began to cry weakly.
"Oh don't worry little guy, I won't hurt you." This was beginning to be dayjavue for me now.
"What is it?" Amy asked.
"I'm not sure, here lemme look it up." I held out the Pokedex to the Pokemon.
"Eevee: The Evolution Pokemon: Eevee can evolve into one of five different Pokemon using either a water stone, thunder stone, or fire stone. Eevee can also evolve by how attached it is to it's trainer."
"So you're an Eevee huh?" I asked it. "You poor thing, you look like someone has just beaten you."
"Leee Leee Leeeeee!"
"Pika-Pi, Pikachu?" Pikachu tried to talk to Eevee, using comforting words that would help Eevee to trust me. Suddenly, Pikachu's facial expression made me feel very afraid.
"What's wrong Pikachu?" Pikachu went over to Eevee and began to pretend to punch it. Then he began pointing his finger at Eevee and called him names.
"Do you mean to say this Eevee's trainer beat it up and treated him like that?!" Pikachu nodded.
"Why would anyone want to hurt this poor thing?" Amy asked. Pikachu then pulled out my pokedex and pressed a few buttons until a picture of a water stone shown up on the screen.
"So basically, Eevee's trainer was trying to force it to evolve and Eevee didn't want to?" I asked. Pikachu nodded again. "Where is your trainer now Eevee?" Eevee shrugged.
"Leee Lee."
"You don't know? Did you run away from him or her because of the way they treated you?" Eevee nodded. A small tear rolled his face, as a few began to roll down mine.
"We can't just leave the poor thing here." I gently picked up Eevee and began to stroke its fur.
"There's a Pokemon Center just down the street from here." Amy said.
"Okay then, let's go!" We ran down the sidewalk quickly until we reached the Pokemon Center.
"Nurse Joy!" I burst into the Pokemon center at lightning speed with Amy and Emma trailing behind. Pikachu ran ahead of me and jumped onto the counter calling for Nurse Joy.
"Pika Pi Pika! Pika Pi Pika!!!" Nurse Joy came running from the back room.
"What?! What?! My goodness girls, what is it?"
"This Eevee we found, he's really injured!" I held out Eevee to Nurse Joy. She gasped and quickly took him into the ER. Pikachu and I watched from the window as Nurse Joy examined him. Chills ran down my back every time I saw Nurse Joy shake her head. I watched her hook up an oxygen mask to Eevee, and then hook up an IV tube. I honestly didn't think Eevee was hurt that badly. But I guess he was. I watched Nurse Joy push buttons franticly like there was no tomorrow. She kept shaking her head. I knew then I should have run faster to the Pokemon Center. Nurse Joy was losing Eevee! Tears rolled down my face. "This can't be happening!?" I thought. "Please no!!" But Nurse Joy kept shaking her head and looking down at Eevee. She started pulling levers and pushing buttons at lightning speed. But it seemed like there was no hope for poor Eevee. All I could think about was that horrid trainer Eevee had. How could he or she have done such a thing to this poor creature? I just didn't understand. How could that trainer have been so cruel? I looked at Pikachu who was staring at Eevee with tears dripping down his face.
"Pikachu…" He looked up at me. "I swear my friend, if Eevee dies, I'll never forgive myself for not thinking quicker." Pikachu jumped into my arms and cuddled close to my chest.
"Pi-ka Pi." I wrapped my arms around Pikachu and looked at Emma and Amy. They were sitting on a bench talking. I told them to come over, but they said they didn't want to see how bad Eevee's condition was. I understood. I turned back to Nurse Joy who was still doing everything she could to keep him alive. The tears soon came back to my eyes.
"I wish there was something I could do." I whispered softly. But Pikachu didn't respond. I looked down at him still in my arms. He had his tiny hands folded and his head was down. He was mumbling words softly to himself. I had never seen a Pokemon pray before, and I knew right then that that was what I should be doing. I folded my hands and put my head down.
"Oh Lord, I hope you can hear me. I am calling to you right now because of this little Eevee. Please Lord, he does not deserve to die. He does not deserve what his trainer has done to him. Lord Jesus please heal him. I beg of you, please…" My voice trailed off as began to cry. I quickly calmed myself down and continued. "Please Lord, if Eevee lives, I will help it to become strong again. I will not treat it the way his old trainer did. I promise. Lord Jesus please help and heal Eevee. He does not deserve to die! I ask of this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen…"
"What on Earth?" I was immediately tuned back into the present when I heard Nurse Joy's voice from the other room. She looked like she had just gotten over a heart attack! She was still pressing buttons, but not as quickly now. She then suddenly broke into a huge smile as she clapped her hands together. She looked up at me from the window and smiled. She gave me a thumbs-up sign. I shrieked. Eevee was alive! Pikachu jumped out of my arms and began to dance around the room. I ran to Emma and Amy to tell them the good news, they immediately shrieked as well! About ten minutes later the ER door open and Nurse Joy appeared. We rushed up to her.
"So Eevee's alive?" I asked excitedly.
"It's a miracle girls, I will say that much." Nurse Joy laughed. "She's resting right now. She should be fine by morning."
"She? Oh it's a girl?" Emma questioned.
"Yes it is, a female Eevee with a real determined attitude to live."
"I'll agree there!" Amy said laughing.
"Why don't you three come back tomorrow? Eevee should be up and about by then." We all agreed, and the next day around noon we met back in the Pokemon Center.
The three of us walked into Eevee's room. Eevee slowly got out of bed and smiled at us.
"Leeee!" She cried happily.
"I'm so glad your okay Eevee!" I said. I sat on the bed and gave Eevee a hug. She jumped up and licked my face.
"Leeeeeeee! Lee!" Nurse Joy looked at me.
"You know Kristen, I could help but overhearing you praying yesterday for Eevee. Perhaps Eevee is thanking you right now."
"Maybe." I said smiling. Eevee rubbed her head against my chest and then lay down in my lap.
"I think she really likes you." Amy said.
"Yeah, it looks like it."
"You know girls, there is no way I will allow Eevee to go back to its old trainer after what happened. Why don't one of you take care of it?"
"We'd love to!" I cried.
"You mean, YOU'D love to right?" Emma smiled.
"Well of course I would."
"Then you take her." Amy said.
"Are you both sure about that?"
"Kristen, you did most of the work taking care of her, besides you only have one Pokemon and the rest of us have two. You deserve her." My heart soared when Emma said that. I can't even explain how warm I felt inside. I looked down at Eevee who smiled at me.
"Well Eevee? Do you want to come with me?" Eevee jumped up and licked my face again.
"Leeeeeeeee!" I laughed.
"Well gee… I don't know Eevee… I'll have to think this over…"
"Pika Pi!!"
"Leeeee!" I laughed.
"I'm kidding you two! I'm kidding!" Pikachu and Eevee laughed.
"Well I didn't catch my first wild Pokemon, but I rescued one and that's good enough for me!" I smiled at Eevee, who then fell asleep in my lap.
So that's the story of my second Pokemon. Not much happened in 6th grade for my friends and me. We were too young for the Pokemon league so we had to watch the 7th graders compete for their badges. All my friends and I though went to watch the kids compete in the Pokemon league in June. I loved watching everyone battle. My friends and I didn't do too much battling in 6th grade, I can only remember a few. Both Pikachu and I couldn't wait until 7th grade, then we could battle for real badges and compete for the Pokemon League. 6th grade went by quickly, and I even caught a few more Pokemon. But all of my friends agree with me, that 7th grade was one of the most unforgettable years in our lives…
How does 7th grade go for us? You'll know when chapter 3 is posted. Please review! Oh yeah, I know in the real world of Pokemon after you turn 10 you can compete in the Pokemon league, but in my Pokemon world it's a little different. Sorry if there was any confusion.
