Chapter 2 - Where the Winds of a New Beginning Blow
Komouri walked down the old dirt road leading from the lab to most of the homes in the city. Ceres, his Squirtle, walked half a step behind him, turning its small head and watching everything in the town with awe as they went by. Squirtle seemed very happy to be out of its Poké Ball, apparently it hadn't been out recently. Ceres also appeared very young, though Professor Laurel never mentioned anything about Squirtle's age. Komouri smiled as he watched Ceres stare at all the houses and the few stores they passed. Ceres suddenly stopped walking and stared at a store. "Ceres, what are you looking at?" Komouri asked his Pokémon. Ceres was staring at two trainers battling. The two trainers were two that got their Pokémon less than an hour ago. The two trainers were battling with a Totodile and Charmander. Komouri glanced at the battle one more time, before he started walking. Ceres saw him, and started sprinting afterwards. Finally, Ceres and Komouri saw his house. Komouri knew his mom would be awake by now, and he could say goodbye. Once he said goodbye, it was time to leave to New Bark Town and find out what Professor Elm's discovery was. Komouri almost started sprinting towards his house, but was stopped when he realized his Squirtle probably couldn't keep up with him well, so he decided against running. He decided to do the next best thing. "Ceres, it's time to go back to your Poké Ball." Ceres looked sadly at Komouri, it didn't really want to go back yet. "Sorry, Ceres. Return!" Komouri told the Pokémon, and a red beam shot out of the Poké Ball's button, hitting Ceres and absorbing him. Komouri put the Poké Ball on his belt, and started sprinting towards his house. "Don't worry, Ceres. I'll let you out as soon as I get home." Komouri said to Ceres' Poké Ball. Komouri thought about what he had just done. "Why the hell am I talking to a Poké Ball?"
"Mom, I'm home!" Komouri shouted as he walked through the door. He entered the kitchen and saw his mother sitting at the table watching TV. "So, how did it go, Komouri?" Komouri's mother asked him. "It went great, Mom! I picked my first Pokémon, but Professor Laurel wants me to run an errand for him. I have to leave soon." "Which Pokémon did you choose, baby?" His mom inquired. "I'll show you!" Komouri said through a smile. Komouri pulled out his Poké Ball. "Ceres, go!" A crimson beam of light shot out from the Poké Ball, turning into Squirtle. "It's so cute, Komouri!" Komouri's mom stated, as she walked up to the little Pokémon and stopped down to look at it. She stood up and walked over to Komouri, still looking at the small turtle. "So, Komouri" his mother said, changing the subject "what is Professor Laurel's errand? What do you need to do?" "I need to go to New Bark Town and find Professor Elm. Professor Elm has made a new discovery and wants Professor Laurel to see, but the Professor is too busy to go himself. So he asked me to go and find out what Elm wanted to show him." "Komouri, that sounds challenging. But, you should be proud that people trust you enough to rely on you." Komouri nodded. "I am, Mom. I really am proud and grateful that people can rely on me to do important things like this." His mother nodded back to him. "So, when are you leaving?" "As soon as I get my leftover Potion from my room." "Alright, then go get it! You shouldn't make the Professors wait!" Komouri nodded in obedience, and ran up the stairs.
He looked around in his room, the last time he would see it for a long time. He saw his TV sitting on a small table, a large table in the center of the room, and his bed in the corner. he walked to the the corner next to the bed, and accessed his PC. Next to it was a Radio, which he had listened to when he was younger and didn't have a TV. He looked at his bookshelf, full of Pokémon books on tactics, strategies, and raising Pokémon. He turned to the computer screen, and typed in the commands to withdraw his stored item. Next to the computer, his Potion materialized. Komouri took the Potion and put it into the left pocket of his pack. He got up and turned his PC off. He started to go towards the stairs, then saw his Map on the wall. He looked at it and planned the fastest way to New Bark Town, before walking down the stairs. About halfway down, Komouri turned around and ran back up. He pulled the Map off of the wall, rolled it up, and stuffed it into the main pocket of his backpack, before running down the stairs to say goodbye to his mom. "Alright Mom, I'm leaving now." "Okay, baby. When will you be back?" "I'll be back in three days at the most, probably not even that long. If everything goes well, it'll be shorter than that." Komouri took out his Poké Ball and returned Ceres to its Poké Ball. "Alright, baby, Come back soon!" Komouri smiled at her "I will, Mom, I promise! Goodbye!" A moment after finishing that sentence, Komouri turned and walked out the door, to find his way to New Bark Town.
"Here we are, Ceres. The edge of town, and the beginning of our journey." Komouri stated as he stared out at the tall grass that stood between him and New Bark Town. He looked down at Ceres, who stood in a similar state of awe. "I've never left the town before... You haven't either, have you, Ceres?" The tiny turtle lifted its head, and shook its head from side to side. "I didn't think so..." Komouri shook his head slowly, then smiled. "Well, we'll face it all together! Right, Ceres?" The Squirtle nodded "Squirtle! Squirt!" Komouri squatted down next to his Pokémon. "You sure you're ready?" Ceres repeated the nod "Squirtle!" "Alright, then let's go!" Komouri started running into the tall grass, with Squirtle a couple steps behind, attempting to keep up. "Keep up, Ceres! Don't want to be caught by Wild Pokémon, do you?" Ceres agreed, it didn't want to be caught alone with a Wild Pokémon. It tried its utmost to keep up with Komouri, but Komouri had already started to slow down. "Ceres, do you see that?"
The Squirtle looked towards where Komouri was looking, but saw nothing. The turtle shook its head. "It's a Pokémon! I wonder what type..." Komouri pulled out his Pokédex, flipped it open, and pointed it at the Pokémon rustling in the grass. "Pidgey, the tiny bird Pokémon. Common in grassy areas and forests, it is very docile and will chase off enemies by flapping up sand. Average Heigth is one foot, Average Weight is four pounds. Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at Level 18." "Pidgey, eh? It's a weaker Pokémon. Ceres, lets get it! Ceres, go!" Komouri pointed at the Pidgey and almost yelled, but stopped himself in fear of scaring the Pidgey. Squirtle ran through the tall grass towards the Pidgey, and Komouri soon lost sight of both in the tall grass. Komouri thought he saw a glimpse of blue, and then he heard a "Squirt!" and what sounded like the Pidgey cawing. Komouri ran with a Poké Ball already at his finger tips, and stopped a few feet from where he saw Ceres. Komouri saw Pidgey fly away quickly, and Squirtle was inside of its shell, hiding. Komouri frowned. "What happened, Ceres?!" The squirtle poked its head out, and smiled sheepishly, and gave a short "Squirtle, Squirt!" Komouri sighed. "You were afraid of the Pidgey? C'mon, Ceres! You need to be tougher than that!" Ceres hid back inside of its shell. Komouri didn't mean to be mean to Squirtle... "Ceres, its alright. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be mean to you. I just want you to be tougher than that! You shouldn't be afraid of a Pidgey!" Komouri looked at Squirtle and shook his head. "Alright, Ceres. Let's just keep going! We need to hurry to get to New Bark Town in time!" Komouri looked at his the Poké Gear on his wrist. "New Bark Town is..." Komouri looked up, and then back at the Gear. "...that way!" Komouri yelled as he pointed in the direction of where New Bark Town was. "We should be there before nightfall, Ceres."
Komouri and Ceres arrived at New Bark Town just before nightfall, just as Komouri had estimated. "This town is as small as Redwood City... maybe even smaller..." Komouri wandered through the town a bit more. "No Pokémon Center, no Poké Mart...this really is a small town...at least Redwood City has a Poké Mart!" Ceres nodded in agreement. Komouri turned in a complete circle, trying to take in all the new sights on the new city. "I think that building is Professor Elm's lab." Komouri looked in the direction of a large, domed shaped building, by far the largest building in the town. "Unless there's some sort of stadium in this town..." Komouri put his hands in his pockets and started walking down the paved streets of New Bark Town. Komouri stopped when he came close to the lab. "Who is that?" Komouri asked to no one in particular. He saw a boy about his own age, with long red hair and black clothes. Komouri saw the boy looking through one of the lab's windows. Komouri walked towards him. "Hey, who're.." Komouri was cut short when the boy shoved him. Komouri fell next to where Ceres was standing. "What are you staring at?" The boy asked Komouri coldly. "I was just wondering..." "Go away and leave me alone!" The boy yelled once more. Komouri pushed himself up and backed away. "Why did you do that?" The red haired boy gave Komouri a murderous glare, and Komouri decided he should stay away. Komouri walked to the lab's door quickly, with his squirtle right next to him. "I wonder what that guy was doing..." Komouri was about to knock on the door, when a boy suddenly opened the door. The boy was wearing a red sweater with a white collar and sleeves, along with yellow shorts that had black stripes on the side. The boy was also wearing a yellow hat backwards on his head, and had a backpack similar to Komouri's. "Thanks Professor Elm!" the boy yelled, before he started sprinting out of town. Komouri wondered who that boy was, and after returning Ceres to its Poké Ball, opened the door.
Inside, four aides were running around performing various tasks from organizing Poké Balls and files, working on computers, and sorting through various Pokémon-related books. Komouri stopped one who was running across the room "Excuse me, but where is Professor Elm?" "Hmm? Who are you?" The aide asked Komouri, givinhg him an odd look. "And why are you here?" "I'm here to find out what Professor Elm's 'great new discovery' is that he told Professor Laurel about." "Oh! You must be Komouri!" the aide exclaimed. "Professor Elm has been waiting for you! Follow me!" The aide quickly turned and walked at a fast pace through the lab. Komouri looked around him at all of the magazines, equipment, and Pokémon inside the lab. There was so much to look at... Komouri looked at some of the Pokémon, and imagined battling with them as he walked. Mankeys, Growlithes, Nidokings, and Beedrills battling floated through his mind, until his fantasy was interuptted. "Professor Elm is in here." the aide pointed towards the door, and then turned around and went back to his work. Komouri shrugged, and opened the door. Inside, were two Poké Balls and Professor Elm, writing some sort of paper. Komouri remembered that Professor Elm was famous for his studies on Pokémon Evolution. 'Could that have anything to do with his discovery?' Komouri thought to himself. "Professor Elm? I'm Komouri from Redwood City, I came to find out what your new discovery is for Professor Laurel." "Komouri? Oh, Komouri! Professor Laurel said many good things about you. I'm sorry, but..umm... I don't really have a discovery." "What?!" Komouri blurted out in surprise. "Why did I come here, then?" "Because Mr. Pokémon has the discovery. He discovered something, and I'm sorry to make you the errand boy, but I would like you to get it." Komouri sighed, and nodded once "Sure, why not?" "Mr. Pokémon's house is here" Professor Elm pointed at a spot on the map. "Alright, Professor Elm. It's about 5 o'clock now, it'll be night soon. I'll probably be back tomorrow. Call Professor Laurel and tell him that I'm getting your discovery, please." "I'll be sure to do that, Komouri. Thank you." Komouri sighed once more, and exited the lab. He sent out Ceres, as he wanted a companion to walk with. "We're on the road, again, Ceres, with another errand to do..."
Komouri walked down the old dirt road leading from the lab to most of the homes in the city. Ceres, his Squirtle, walked half a step behind him, turning its small head and watching everything in the town with awe as they went by. Squirtle seemed very happy to be out of its Poké Ball, apparently it hadn't been out recently. Ceres also appeared very young, though Professor Laurel never mentioned anything about Squirtle's age. Komouri smiled as he watched Ceres stare at all the houses and the few stores they passed. Ceres suddenly stopped walking and stared at a store. "Ceres, what are you looking at?" Komouri asked his Pokémon. Ceres was staring at two trainers battling. The two trainers were two that got their Pokémon less than an hour ago. The two trainers were battling with a Totodile and Charmander. Komouri glanced at the battle one more time, before he started walking. Ceres saw him, and started sprinting afterwards. Finally, Ceres and Komouri saw his house. Komouri knew his mom would be awake by now, and he could say goodbye. Once he said goodbye, it was time to leave to New Bark Town and find out what Professor Elm's discovery was. Komouri almost started sprinting towards his house, but was stopped when he realized his Squirtle probably couldn't keep up with him well, so he decided against running. He decided to do the next best thing. "Ceres, it's time to go back to your Poké Ball." Ceres looked sadly at Komouri, it didn't really want to go back yet. "Sorry, Ceres. Return!" Komouri told the Pokémon, and a red beam shot out of the Poké Ball's button, hitting Ceres and absorbing him. Komouri put the Poké Ball on his belt, and started sprinting towards his house. "Don't worry, Ceres. I'll let you out as soon as I get home." Komouri said to Ceres' Poké Ball. Komouri thought about what he had just done. "Why the hell am I talking to a Poké Ball?"
"Mom, I'm home!" Komouri shouted as he walked through the door. He entered the kitchen and saw his mother sitting at the table watching TV. "So, how did it go, Komouri?" Komouri's mother asked him. "It went great, Mom! I picked my first Pokémon, but Professor Laurel wants me to run an errand for him. I have to leave soon." "Which Pokémon did you choose, baby?" His mom inquired. "I'll show you!" Komouri said through a smile. Komouri pulled out his Poké Ball. "Ceres, go!" A crimson beam of light shot out from the Poké Ball, turning into Squirtle. "It's so cute, Komouri!" Komouri's mom stated, as she walked up to the little Pokémon and stopped down to look at it. She stood up and walked over to Komouri, still looking at the small turtle. "So, Komouri" his mother said, changing the subject "what is Professor Laurel's errand? What do you need to do?" "I need to go to New Bark Town and find Professor Elm. Professor Elm has made a new discovery and wants Professor Laurel to see, but the Professor is too busy to go himself. So he asked me to go and find out what Elm wanted to show him." "Komouri, that sounds challenging. But, you should be proud that people trust you enough to rely on you." Komouri nodded. "I am, Mom. I really am proud and grateful that people can rely on me to do important things like this." His mother nodded back to him. "So, when are you leaving?" "As soon as I get my leftover Potion from my room." "Alright, then go get it! You shouldn't make the Professors wait!" Komouri nodded in obedience, and ran up the stairs.
He looked around in his room, the last time he would see it for a long time. He saw his TV sitting on a small table, a large table in the center of the room, and his bed in the corner. he walked to the the corner next to the bed, and accessed his PC. Next to it was a Radio, which he had listened to when he was younger and didn't have a TV. He looked at his bookshelf, full of Pokémon books on tactics, strategies, and raising Pokémon. He turned to the computer screen, and typed in the commands to withdraw his stored item. Next to the computer, his Potion materialized. Komouri took the Potion and put it into the left pocket of his pack. He got up and turned his PC off. He started to go towards the stairs, then saw his Map on the wall. He looked at it and planned the fastest way to New Bark Town, before walking down the stairs. About halfway down, Komouri turned around and ran back up. He pulled the Map off of the wall, rolled it up, and stuffed it into the main pocket of his backpack, before running down the stairs to say goodbye to his mom. "Alright Mom, I'm leaving now." "Okay, baby. When will you be back?" "I'll be back in three days at the most, probably not even that long. If everything goes well, it'll be shorter than that." Komouri took out his Poké Ball and returned Ceres to its Poké Ball. "Alright, baby, Come back soon!" Komouri smiled at her "I will, Mom, I promise! Goodbye!" A moment after finishing that sentence, Komouri turned and walked out the door, to find his way to New Bark Town.
"Here we are, Ceres. The edge of town, and the beginning of our journey." Komouri stated as he stared out at the tall grass that stood between him and New Bark Town. He looked down at Ceres, who stood in a similar state of awe. "I've never left the town before... You haven't either, have you, Ceres?" The tiny turtle lifted its head, and shook its head from side to side. "I didn't think so..." Komouri shook his head slowly, then smiled. "Well, we'll face it all together! Right, Ceres?" The Squirtle nodded "Squirtle! Squirt!" Komouri squatted down next to his Pokémon. "You sure you're ready?" Ceres repeated the nod "Squirtle!" "Alright, then let's go!" Komouri started running into the tall grass, with Squirtle a couple steps behind, attempting to keep up. "Keep up, Ceres! Don't want to be caught by Wild Pokémon, do you?" Ceres agreed, it didn't want to be caught alone with a Wild Pokémon. It tried its utmost to keep up with Komouri, but Komouri had already started to slow down. "Ceres, do you see that?"
The Squirtle looked towards where Komouri was looking, but saw nothing. The turtle shook its head. "It's a Pokémon! I wonder what type..." Komouri pulled out his Pokédex, flipped it open, and pointed it at the Pokémon rustling in the grass. "Pidgey, the tiny bird Pokémon. Common in grassy areas and forests, it is very docile and will chase off enemies by flapping up sand. Average Heigth is one foot, Average Weight is four pounds. Pidgey evolves into Pidgeotto at Level 18." "Pidgey, eh? It's a weaker Pokémon. Ceres, lets get it! Ceres, go!" Komouri pointed at the Pidgey and almost yelled, but stopped himself in fear of scaring the Pidgey. Squirtle ran through the tall grass towards the Pidgey, and Komouri soon lost sight of both in the tall grass. Komouri thought he saw a glimpse of blue, and then he heard a "Squirt!" and what sounded like the Pidgey cawing. Komouri ran with a Poké Ball already at his finger tips, and stopped a few feet from where he saw Ceres. Komouri saw Pidgey fly away quickly, and Squirtle was inside of its shell, hiding. Komouri frowned. "What happened, Ceres?!" The squirtle poked its head out, and smiled sheepishly, and gave a short "Squirtle, Squirt!" Komouri sighed. "You were afraid of the Pidgey? C'mon, Ceres! You need to be tougher than that!" Ceres hid back inside of its shell. Komouri didn't mean to be mean to Squirtle... "Ceres, its alright. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be mean to you. I just want you to be tougher than that! You shouldn't be afraid of a Pidgey!" Komouri looked at Squirtle and shook his head. "Alright, Ceres. Let's just keep going! We need to hurry to get to New Bark Town in time!" Komouri looked at his the Poké Gear on his wrist. "New Bark Town is..." Komouri looked up, and then back at the Gear. "...that way!" Komouri yelled as he pointed in the direction of where New Bark Town was. "We should be there before nightfall, Ceres."
Komouri and Ceres arrived at New Bark Town just before nightfall, just as Komouri had estimated. "This town is as small as Redwood City... maybe even smaller..." Komouri wandered through the town a bit more. "No Pokémon Center, no Poké Mart...this really is a small town...at least Redwood City has a Poké Mart!" Ceres nodded in agreement. Komouri turned in a complete circle, trying to take in all the new sights on the new city. "I think that building is Professor Elm's lab." Komouri looked in the direction of a large, domed shaped building, by far the largest building in the town. "Unless there's some sort of stadium in this town..." Komouri put his hands in his pockets and started walking down the paved streets of New Bark Town. Komouri stopped when he came close to the lab. "Who is that?" Komouri asked to no one in particular. He saw a boy about his own age, with long red hair and black clothes. Komouri saw the boy looking through one of the lab's windows. Komouri walked towards him. "Hey, who're.." Komouri was cut short when the boy shoved him. Komouri fell next to where Ceres was standing. "What are you staring at?" The boy asked Komouri coldly. "I was just wondering..." "Go away and leave me alone!" The boy yelled once more. Komouri pushed himself up and backed away. "Why did you do that?" The red haired boy gave Komouri a murderous glare, and Komouri decided he should stay away. Komouri walked to the lab's door quickly, with his squirtle right next to him. "I wonder what that guy was doing..." Komouri was about to knock on the door, when a boy suddenly opened the door. The boy was wearing a red sweater with a white collar and sleeves, along with yellow shorts that had black stripes on the side. The boy was also wearing a yellow hat backwards on his head, and had a backpack similar to Komouri's. "Thanks Professor Elm!" the boy yelled, before he started sprinting out of town. Komouri wondered who that boy was, and after returning Ceres to its Poké Ball, opened the door.
Inside, four aides were running around performing various tasks from organizing Poké Balls and files, working on computers, and sorting through various Pokémon-related books. Komouri stopped one who was running across the room "Excuse me, but where is Professor Elm?" "Hmm? Who are you?" The aide asked Komouri, givinhg him an odd look. "And why are you here?" "I'm here to find out what Professor Elm's 'great new discovery' is that he told Professor Laurel about." "Oh! You must be Komouri!" the aide exclaimed. "Professor Elm has been waiting for you! Follow me!" The aide quickly turned and walked at a fast pace through the lab. Komouri looked around him at all of the magazines, equipment, and Pokémon inside the lab. There was so much to look at... Komouri looked at some of the Pokémon, and imagined battling with them as he walked. Mankeys, Growlithes, Nidokings, and Beedrills battling floated through his mind, until his fantasy was interuptted. "Professor Elm is in here." the aide pointed towards the door, and then turned around and went back to his work. Komouri shrugged, and opened the door. Inside, were two Poké Balls and Professor Elm, writing some sort of paper. Komouri remembered that Professor Elm was famous for his studies on Pokémon Evolution. 'Could that have anything to do with his discovery?' Komouri thought to himself. "Professor Elm? I'm Komouri from Redwood City, I came to find out what your new discovery is for Professor Laurel." "Komouri? Oh, Komouri! Professor Laurel said many good things about you. I'm sorry, but..umm... I don't really have a discovery." "What?!" Komouri blurted out in surprise. "Why did I come here, then?" "Because Mr. Pokémon has the discovery. He discovered something, and I'm sorry to make you the errand boy, but I would like you to get it." Komouri sighed, and nodded once "Sure, why not?" "Mr. Pokémon's house is here" Professor Elm pointed at a spot on the map. "Alright, Professor Elm. It's about 5 o'clock now, it'll be night soon. I'll probably be back tomorrow. Call Professor Laurel and tell him that I'm getting your discovery, please." "I'll be sure to do that, Komouri. Thank you." Komouri sighed once more, and exited the lab. He sent out Ceres, as he wanted a companion to walk with. "We're on the road, again, Ceres, with another errand to do..."