Chapter 3: A Friend and a New Discovery
Mandy's POV
I couldn't believe it was Teresa standing near the entrance to Viridian City. I shouted her name while running to my best friend.
"Teresa!" I called. Teresa turned around and saw me. Her face broke into a smile, but changed when an Eevee next to her hissed furiously. Teresa looked at the Eevee sternly, and it creased, but I thought it was still eyeing me like a hawk. Teresa greeted me with a hug.
"How are you, Mandy?" she asked.
"Good," I replied. "It's great to see you again. How are you?"
"Fine. I see you've got an Eevee and a Pidgey," Teresa observed. Brave landed on my shoulder. I noticed that Eevee looked at Teresa's Eevee cautiously.
"Yeah. This is Brave, my Pidgey, and my Eevee is named Eevee," I told her. I bent down and reached out to pet Teresa's Eevee.
"Oh, your Eevee's so cute!" I exclaimed. "What's her name?"
"Evolution. And I wouldn't do that if I were-," Teresa began, but it was too late. Evolution's fur charged with static electricity. Before I realized what had happened, she used Thundershock on me. I felt the shock run through me.
"YAAAHHHH!!!" I screamed.
As the shocking current died, I lay on the pavement, twitching with pain and smoke rising from my clothes. Stars twinkled in front of my eyes.
"Evolution, you should know better than that! Now apologize!" Teresa scolded. Evolution only looked away as Eevee glared at her angrily for shocking and nearly killing me. Teresa helped me get up onto my shaking feet.
"Sorry about that," she said. "Are you alright?"
"D-Dizzy but steady," I replied, brushing the soot off my clothes. "How can Evolution use Thundershock?"
I knew that Eevee couldn't use special attacks like Thundershock or Ember.
"I don't know. I've tried asking her, but she refuses to answer that question," teresa told me.
'Tried asking?' I thought, looking at Teresa strangely, with a raised eyebrow. She could talk to Pokémon?
"You can talk to Pokémon? How?" I questioned.
"Easy. How can you heal things?" she said evasively. I looked away. I don't know how I can heal living creatures, but I do know when my powers started. And Teresa was the only one who knew my powers. Five years ago, Teresa had broken her leg because a mysterious Pokémon had chased us on Route 1. I didn't know what to do then but, somehow, I just healed her leg. That was the start of my healing powers. And that was the day my mother died.
After my mom's funeral, I had gone to the library at school and looked up a book on legendary Pokémon. I discovered that the mysterious Pokemon was Suicine, but I never told Teresa. She would never believe me.
"We're gifted," Teresa continued, snapping my out of my thoughts. "We were born in Pallet Town, but I having the power of talking to the Pokemon from my father."
She did have a point there. Teresa's father had gone away to search for a legendary Pokemon. It seemed impossible to search for something legendary. Everyone in Pallet Town though he was crazy, yet he went off, saying he will prove everyone wrong, and never returned since. That was the year before Mom died.
"You sure he's not dead?" I wondered. After the words were out of my mouth, I realized it was a mistake to say that. It could hurt her.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to-," I began, but Teresa cut me off.
"It's alright. I'm positive he's not dead," Teresa replied with confidence. "Dad sends postcards every now and then. He says he's researching the legendary Pokemon, Suicine. I asked Professor Oak about it, and he said Dad was wasting his time. Personally, I agree. I don't think Dad would stand a chance at finding Suicine."
She was right. Nobody had ever seen a legendary Pokemon, not even Suicine. I smiled.
"She only appears before those she wishes to appear before," Teresa continued.
'Like us...' I thought.
"Well, let's grab a bite to eat, stock up, and head into Viridian Forest," I suggested.
"Good idea," Teresa said. Before we went into a nice café, The Charizard Café and Coffee House, I asked her a question.
"Just answer me one thing," I said.
"What?" Teresa asked.
"Since when did you have your powers?" I wondered.
"Oh, right before I caught a Pikachu," she replied. "But they didn't really kick in until I was battling with Jasmine Oak."
I jerked back in shock.
"What!?" I yelled.
"What's wrong?" she wondered, looking around wildly.
"Y-You got a Pikachu?" I was shocked, not only because she caught a Pikachu but also because of the fact that she had battled Jasmine. Teresa breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yeah. In Route 1. Why?" she questioned.
I had always wanted a Pikachu, but I hadn't expected that there were some in Route 1. I always thought they were found in Viridian Forest.
'I can't believe it! She caught a Pikachu in Route 1!?' I thought, but said, "I-It's nothing."
I tried to smile, even though I was disappointed.
"Let's go! Hee-hee..." I laughed weakly with a pout. 'How come I didn't get one in Route 1?' I thought.
I sighed as we walked into the café and sat down at a corner booth. The Pokemon ordered food through Teresa. Eevee and Evolution ordered milk in a saucer each, each with a plate of Goldeen caviar. I noticed that Eevee was still eyeing Evolution suspiciously. I guess he still didn't trust her after what she did to me. Lighting, Teresa's Pikachu, ordered carrots and a plate of sunflower seeds. Brave ordered a plain slice of bread.
Teresa and I ordered what would be nutritious meals for humans. She ordered a breakfast platter, an omelet. I ordered pancakes and lathered them with syrup. We each had a glass of milk.
~*~*~*~*~
After our meal, we prepared ourselves with items for our next trip. Teresa traded in her Potions for Pokeballs. I healed our Pokemon and a few cuts Teresa had gotten from her trip. We went off into the forest, known to have various Pokemon living there. The trees shook with Bug and Bird Pokemon. I looked at my surroundings. This was my second time walking through the forest and it felt good to be there again.
Before my mom died, she used to bring Jack and me to the forest and teach us about the Pokemon that lived here. I remembered a rumor told in Pallet Town that those born in the forest would have special powers such as the power of healing and the power of talking to Pokemon. My mother, Katherina was born there.
'So, this is where Mom was born...' I thought in awe. Just then, a dreadful memory flashed through my mind. I don't want to describe it. I held onto my necklace tightly. Teresa noticed my despair.
"Mandy, are you alright?" she asked worriedly. I nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I told her. I heard a swishing noise nearby and Teresa and I turned to see a Pokemon trainer holding a net, which held a Caterpie captive. He put it into a cage instead of in a Pokeball. He turned to walk away.
"Hey, you! What're you gonna do with that Caterpie?" Teresa shouted, getting his attention. The boy turned around and blushed. I noticed that he was looking at Teresa. As he ran over to greet her, he stared at Teresa with an expression on his face that said, "I have a crush on you," as if he was in a trance. Teresa backed up a bit, and he quickly snapped out of it.
"My name is Al Keeper," he told us. "I'm going to bring this Caterpie to my mom."
"Oh," I said.
"She's a Bug Pokemon researcher. You wanna come see her lab?" Al asked politely.
"Sure!" I exclaimed. Teresa looked at me. Sometimes, I get a bit too overenthusiastic, but seeing what a lad looks like excites me. I always used to visit Professor Oak at his lab.
"Well, follow me," Al said, leading us off the path. I grinned at Teresa.
"What's that grin for?" she asked suspiciously. My grin widened evilly.
"Oh, nothing," I said in a singsong voice, not convincing her at all. "Seems like someone really likes you."
Teresa blushed.
"N-Now, don't think such things! We only just met him!" she exclaimed.
"Come on!" I laughed. "I didn't mean to make fun of you. Of course, he did give you that 'love at first sight' look."
"Mandy!" she shouted, bopping me playfully on the head.
"Hey, I'm just kidding!" I laughed harder. She chased me to Al while breathing like a winded Rhyhorn. Al looked at us, clueless: He hadn't heard out conversation.
After a short walk, we heard the buzzing sound of numerous Beedrill.
'I don't like that sound,' I thought feeling uneasy. Teresa and I looked around uncomfortably, which Al noticed.
"Don't worry. They won't harm you," he said calmly. "I hand-raised them all with my younger brothers and sisters. They're off on their Pokemon journeys now."
I scanned Al from head to toe and noticed that he was taller then us, and looked at least fifteen.
"How old are you?" I wondered. Teresa cut me a Look that went, "That was VERY rude of you!" I just shrugged my shouldlers.
"Old enough to know a boy named Jack Dracon five years ago," Al replied as we continued walking. I stopped in my tracks.
'Jack... Dracon...!?' I thought, stunned.
"I was twelve then," Al continued.
"Wow! You're, like, seven years older then me!" Teresa exclaimed. Al stopped walking. A drop of sweat dropped down his cheek and looked at us, embarrassed.
"I thought you were at least fifteen, laughing nervously at his mistake. Teresa laughed at his mistake too, but I laughed softly and thought of my brother. I missed him so much.
We walked the rest of the way to a cottage in silence. Al let us inside first, just like a true gentleman. He'd apparently been raised well.
We stepped into a kitchen and saw a lovely woman sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book. Various Bug Pokemon surrounded her like children. And you know something; she looked almost like Teresa's mom. Al let out the Caterpie he'd caught, and the woman turned away from her book. She smiled when she saw us.
"I wondered when you two would be coming," she said softly. Teresa and I both raised an eyebrow. Al took out some Pokemon food and offered it to Evolution, Eevee, and Lighting. The woman continued:
"Teresa Helms, with the power to talk to the Pokemon, and Mandy Dracon, with the power to heal living creatures."
We were so shocked, we almost gasped. She knew our names and powers.
'How...did she know?' I thought.
"And now, my eldest son, Al Keeper, shall join you with the power of making any food-bearing plant instantly bear food at his command. Al was born in the Viridian Forest," the woman said quietly. Before I could ask her something, she continued:
"Mandy, your mother was my sister. Teresa, your father was my brother. Fiona has divorced Shawn because of his crazy ambition, but he has the power to sense how close he is to legendary Pokemon as well as being able to talk to the Pokemon."
I was shocked at this and so was Teresa apparently. We stared at each other with curiosity. 'My mom was her sister, and Teresa's dad was her brother!? Could we...be cousins?'
Mandy's POV
I couldn't believe it was Teresa standing near the entrance to Viridian City. I shouted her name while running to my best friend.
"Teresa!" I called. Teresa turned around and saw me. Her face broke into a smile, but changed when an Eevee next to her hissed furiously. Teresa looked at the Eevee sternly, and it creased, but I thought it was still eyeing me like a hawk. Teresa greeted me with a hug.
"How are you, Mandy?" she asked.
"Good," I replied. "It's great to see you again. How are you?"
"Fine. I see you've got an Eevee and a Pidgey," Teresa observed. Brave landed on my shoulder. I noticed that Eevee looked at Teresa's Eevee cautiously.
"Yeah. This is Brave, my Pidgey, and my Eevee is named Eevee," I told her. I bent down and reached out to pet Teresa's Eevee.
"Oh, your Eevee's so cute!" I exclaimed. "What's her name?"
"Evolution. And I wouldn't do that if I were-," Teresa began, but it was too late. Evolution's fur charged with static electricity. Before I realized what had happened, she used Thundershock on me. I felt the shock run through me.
"YAAAHHHH!!!" I screamed.
As the shocking current died, I lay on the pavement, twitching with pain and smoke rising from my clothes. Stars twinkled in front of my eyes.
"Evolution, you should know better than that! Now apologize!" Teresa scolded. Evolution only looked away as Eevee glared at her angrily for shocking and nearly killing me. Teresa helped me get up onto my shaking feet.
"Sorry about that," she said. "Are you alright?"
"D-Dizzy but steady," I replied, brushing the soot off my clothes. "How can Evolution use Thundershock?"
I knew that Eevee couldn't use special attacks like Thundershock or Ember.
"I don't know. I've tried asking her, but she refuses to answer that question," teresa told me.
'Tried asking?' I thought, looking at Teresa strangely, with a raised eyebrow. She could talk to Pokémon?
"You can talk to Pokémon? How?" I questioned.
"Easy. How can you heal things?" she said evasively. I looked away. I don't know how I can heal living creatures, but I do know when my powers started. And Teresa was the only one who knew my powers. Five years ago, Teresa had broken her leg because a mysterious Pokémon had chased us on Route 1. I didn't know what to do then but, somehow, I just healed her leg. That was the start of my healing powers. And that was the day my mother died.
After my mom's funeral, I had gone to the library at school and looked up a book on legendary Pokémon. I discovered that the mysterious Pokemon was Suicine, but I never told Teresa. She would never believe me.
"We're gifted," Teresa continued, snapping my out of my thoughts. "We were born in Pallet Town, but I having the power of talking to the Pokemon from my father."
She did have a point there. Teresa's father had gone away to search for a legendary Pokemon. It seemed impossible to search for something legendary. Everyone in Pallet Town though he was crazy, yet he went off, saying he will prove everyone wrong, and never returned since. That was the year before Mom died.
"You sure he's not dead?" I wondered. After the words were out of my mouth, I realized it was a mistake to say that. It could hurt her.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to-," I began, but Teresa cut me off.
"It's alright. I'm positive he's not dead," Teresa replied with confidence. "Dad sends postcards every now and then. He says he's researching the legendary Pokemon, Suicine. I asked Professor Oak about it, and he said Dad was wasting his time. Personally, I agree. I don't think Dad would stand a chance at finding Suicine."
She was right. Nobody had ever seen a legendary Pokemon, not even Suicine. I smiled.
"She only appears before those she wishes to appear before," Teresa continued.
'Like us...' I thought.
"Well, let's grab a bite to eat, stock up, and head into Viridian Forest," I suggested.
"Good idea," Teresa said. Before we went into a nice café, The Charizard Café and Coffee House, I asked her a question.
"Just answer me one thing," I said.
"What?" Teresa asked.
"Since when did you have your powers?" I wondered.
"Oh, right before I caught a Pikachu," she replied. "But they didn't really kick in until I was battling with Jasmine Oak."
I jerked back in shock.
"What!?" I yelled.
"What's wrong?" she wondered, looking around wildly.
"Y-You got a Pikachu?" I was shocked, not only because she caught a Pikachu but also because of the fact that she had battled Jasmine. Teresa breathed a sigh of relief.
"Yeah. In Route 1. Why?" she questioned.
I had always wanted a Pikachu, but I hadn't expected that there were some in Route 1. I always thought they were found in Viridian Forest.
'I can't believe it! She caught a Pikachu in Route 1!?' I thought, but said, "I-It's nothing."
I tried to smile, even though I was disappointed.
"Let's go! Hee-hee..." I laughed weakly with a pout. 'How come I didn't get one in Route 1?' I thought.
I sighed as we walked into the café and sat down at a corner booth. The Pokemon ordered food through Teresa. Eevee and Evolution ordered milk in a saucer each, each with a plate of Goldeen caviar. I noticed that Eevee was still eyeing Evolution suspiciously. I guess he still didn't trust her after what she did to me. Lighting, Teresa's Pikachu, ordered carrots and a plate of sunflower seeds. Brave ordered a plain slice of bread.
Teresa and I ordered what would be nutritious meals for humans. She ordered a breakfast platter, an omelet. I ordered pancakes and lathered them with syrup. We each had a glass of milk.
~*~*~*~*~
After our meal, we prepared ourselves with items for our next trip. Teresa traded in her Potions for Pokeballs. I healed our Pokemon and a few cuts Teresa had gotten from her trip. We went off into the forest, known to have various Pokemon living there. The trees shook with Bug and Bird Pokemon. I looked at my surroundings. This was my second time walking through the forest and it felt good to be there again.
Before my mom died, she used to bring Jack and me to the forest and teach us about the Pokemon that lived here. I remembered a rumor told in Pallet Town that those born in the forest would have special powers such as the power of healing and the power of talking to Pokemon. My mother, Katherina was born there.
'So, this is where Mom was born...' I thought in awe. Just then, a dreadful memory flashed through my mind. I don't want to describe it. I held onto my necklace tightly. Teresa noticed my despair.
"Mandy, are you alright?" she asked worriedly. I nodded.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I told her. I heard a swishing noise nearby and Teresa and I turned to see a Pokemon trainer holding a net, which held a Caterpie captive. He put it into a cage instead of in a Pokeball. He turned to walk away.
"Hey, you! What're you gonna do with that Caterpie?" Teresa shouted, getting his attention. The boy turned around and blushed. I noticed that he was looking at Teresa. As he ran over to greet her, he stared at Teresa with an expression on his face that said, "I have a crush on you," as if he was in a trance. Teresa backed up a bit, and he quickly snapped out of it.
"My name is Al Keeper," he told us. "I'm going to bring this Caterpie to my mom."
"Oh," I said.
"She's a Bug Pokemon researcher. You wanna come see her lab?" Al asked politely.
"Sure!" I exclaimed. Teresa looked at me. Sometimes, I get a bit too overenthusiastic, but seeing what a lad looks like excites me. I always used to visit Professor Oak at his lab.
"Well, follow me," Al said, leading us off the path. I grinned at Teresa.
"What's that grin for?" she asked suspiciously. My grin widened evilly.
"Oh, nothing," I said in a singsong voice, not convincing her at all. "Seems like someone really likes you."
Teresa blushed.
"N-Now, don't think such things! We only just met him!" she exclaimed.
"Come on!" I laughed. "I didn't mean to make fun of you. Of course, he did give you that 'love at first sight' look."
"Mandy!" she shouted, bopping me playfully on the head.
"Hey, I'm just kidding!" I laughed harder. She chased me to Al while breathing like a winded Rhyhorn. Al looked at us, clueless: He hadn't heard out conversation.
After a short walk, we heard the buzzing sound of numerous Beedrill.
'I don't like that sound,' I thought feeling uneasy. Teresa and I looked around uncomfortably, which Al noticed.
"Don't worry. They won't harm you," he said calmly. "I hand-raised them all with my younger brothers and sisters. They're off on their Pokemon journeys now."
I scanned Al from head to toe and noticed that he was taller then us, and looked at least fifteen.
"How old are you?" I wondered. Teresa cut me a Look that went, "That was VERY rude of you!" I just shrugged my shouldlers.
"Old enough to know a boy named Jack Dracon five years ago," Al replied as we continued walking. I stopped in my tracks.
'Jack... Dracon...!?' I thought, stunned.
"I was twelve then," Al continued.
"Wow! You're, like, seven years older then me!" Teresa exclaimed. Al stopped walking. A drop of sweat dropped down his cheek and looked at us, embarrassed.
"I thought you were at least fifteen, laughing nervously at his mistake. Teresa laughed at his mistake too, but I laughed softly and thought of my brother. I missed him so much.
We walked the rest of the way to a cottage in silence. Al let us inside first, just like a true gentleman. He'd apparently been raised well.
We stepped into a kitchen and saw a lovely woman sitting at the kitchen table, reading a book. Various Bug Pokemon surrounded her like children. And you know something; she looked almost like Teresa's mom. Al let out the Caterpie he'd caught, and the woman turned away from her book. She smiled when she saw us.
"I wondered when you two would be coming," she said softly. Teresa and I both raised an eyebrow. Al took out some Pokemon food and offered it to Evolution, Eevee, and Lighting. The woman continued:
"Teresa Helms, with the power to talk to the Pokemon, and Mandy Dracon, with the power to heal living creatures."
We were so shocked, we almost gasped. She knew our names and powers.
'How...did she know?' I thought.
"And now, my eldest son, Al Keeper, shall join you with the power of making any food-bearing plant instantly bear food at his command. Al was born in the Viridian Forest," the woman said quietly. Before I could ask her something, she continued:
"Mandy, your mother was my sister. Teresa, your father was my brother. Fiona has divorced Shawn because of his crazy ambition, but he has the power to sense how close he is to legendary Pokemon as well as being able to talk to the Pokemon."
I was shocked at this and so was Teresa apparently. We stared at each other with curiosity. 'My mom was her sister, and Teresa's dad was her brother!? Could we...be cousins?'
