Pokémon - The Journey Begins

Chapter 3: Arrival and Departure of Viridian City



Upon recently beginning his new Pokémon journey, Matt Tenks of the town of Pallet had made two very successful, hard-earned captures. Matt was greatly liking his choice of his starter Pokémon, which is a Squirtle.

Matt had recently finished traversing across Route 1, and had now found the entrance to Viridian City. He smiled and greeted a little girl outside picking flowers. She smiled back, but tried to hide her face. After Matt had passed the entrance gate, he started to look around.

"Hmm...I wonder where the Pokémon Center is..." Matt said, looking at his map. "This place isn't really that big...oh heck, let's just look around until we find it!"

Squirtle, next to him, released a sigh. He didn't seem to like the idea of roaming. Recently, he was released from his Pokéball for the first time in a very long time. Matt wasn't certain how long he was confined, but he was sure that it had been long enough; Squirtle started to detest residing inside of it, also he seemed have some kinks left inside him to be worked out when he was walking.

Matt picked up his Squirtle as he began to look around for the Pokémon Center. He asked a few people along the way to where it was. Most of them ignored his request, but one person was kind enough to answer him.

"If you take a right around the corner, go up to the Pokémon Mart. From there, take a left and just go straight. You should find it there."

Matt thanked the person, and followed his directions. He spotted the Pokémon Mart, and took a left from where the person stated. From there he could see the Pokémon Center in plain view. He entered the front door and approached the front desk. To his surprise, not one person was there.

"Are they open yet? They have to be; why else would the doors be unlocked?" Matt pondered while ringing the bell at the desk.

A nurse with red hair tied back along with a long, white dress and shining eyes approached Matt as she walked up to the desk. "Oh, I'm sorry! I was just fixing myself something to eat; I don't normally see many trainers around at this time of day." She fixed her hair and cleared her throat. "Now, how may I help you?"

"Um, actually Nurse..." Matt trailed off.

"Joy, I'm Nurse Joy; a Pokémon surgeon," she replied with a smile.

Matt's eyes widened. "S...surgeon?! You mean...you only heal Pokémon who's bones have been broken or fractured?!"

Nurse Joy giggled, followed with a blush. "Well...yes, but that hardly ever happens. Most of the major surgeries take place in much larger Pokémon Centers. I mostly deal with those who need to have their Pokémon healed of status ailments."

Matt blushed in embarrassment. "Of course....Anyway, my Squirtle here needs a rest," he said, picking up his Squirtle and placing it on the front desk. "Wait, I have two more: Spearow and Pidgey," Matt said, placing two extra Pokéballs on the desk. "I thought it'd be good if I stopped here to hopefully give them a little treatment."

Nurse Joy smiled, and took the two Pokéballs and looked at Squirtle. "Don't you have a Pokéball for this one?"

"Huh?" Matt responded, almost surprised by the question. "Oh, that. Well, when he was given to me, he's been resting inside the Pokéball for a long time. I just think he's tired of being inside of it. I hope this isn't a problem, nurse."

"Oh no, it's no problem at all." She placed the two minimized Pokéballs on the tray, and gently placed Squirtle on an empty slot next to them. "Since you're the only trainer here, it won't take long at all. But if you don't mind, it's breakfast time, and I won't start the treatment until after."

"Oh, that's fine," Matt replied.

"Good. Come back in about half an hour then, okay?" Nurse Joy picked up the tray and walked into a room close to the front desk. Matt figured it was where she was eating.

"Squirtle! You be good for Nurse Joy, all right?" Matt shouted. He then smirked, and then touched his stomach. "I haven't had anything decent to eat all day, have I? There has to be a restaurant around here somewhere."

Matt left the Pokémon Center and looked about. Fortunately, there was a family restaurant next door. He checked his wallet to see how much he could purchase and tried to make sure not to purchase anything which would give him virtually nothing left. He was greeted by a waitress inside and was lead to a seat close to a window. He took a look at the menu. "Geez, I could really go for a nice, huge breakfast, but that costs way too much."

The waitress who seated Matt approached with a notepad and a pen. "Are you ready to order?"

"Umm...yes please. I'll have some poached eggs, with toast; and to drink...an iced tea sounds good," Matt said, handing the waitress the menu.

"Okay then. I'll be back in a little bit," the waitress said, writing down Matt's order. She then took the menu and walked into the kitchen.

Matt pulled out his Pokédex and began to browse some of the other options and menus with it. There was nothing else to do now except wait, so why the heck not? Matt thought to himself. He managed to look at which Pokémon are most likely to be captured in which areas, along with some information about Pokémon gyms.

"I remember reading about this," Matt said aloud. "In order for me to qualify in this league's annual tournament, I have to collect eight badges from the eight gyms all around Indigo. It doesn't seem so bad," Matt smiled.

Matt shut off his Pokédex and decided to shift his head to look around the restaurant. It seemed to have the 'right' amount of people for that time of day. Not too crowded, yet not too busy at the same time, either.

The waitress then returned with a plate of two large poached eggs along with two pieces of toasted bread, covered with a thin layer of butter. The waitress placed it on the table next to a large glass of iced tea. She then left. Matt was pleased; normally there would be too many ice cubes for his liking. Matt broke off a piece of his egg with his fork and then placed it in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, then picked up his iced tea and took a drink.

Wow...that's good," Matt smiled.

While eating, Matt allowed himself to be absorbed into deep thinking. This training is going to be a lot more difficult than I thought, Matt thought. Well, of course I thought it was difficult, but I seemed to have overlooked how each Pokémon behaves. I have to be careful not to make any careless mistakes....I'll have to try and have some fun, though. There's no point in training Pokémon if I don't like it.

Matt finished the last few bites of his breakfast, and gulped down the final few drops left of his drink. When the bill arrived, he tipped the waitress, then he went and paid for his meal near the entrance.

After his filling meal, Matt returned to the Pokémon Center. Matt was still surprised to find absolutely nobody inside of it. He rang the bell, and called out for Nurse Joy, hoping that she wasn't still busy. Nurse Joy took a peek out of the back room, saw that it was Matt, and smiled. In a few moments, she exited the room, and approached the front desk with Matt's Pokémon. Matt thanked the nurse, placing the two Pokéballs back on his belt, picked up Squirtle, and left the center.

After exiting the Pokémon Center, Matt placed down Squirtle, then pulled out his map and took a look at it. "I remember seeing in my Pokédex that there's a Pokémon Gym in these parts."

"Don't bother," a voice said behind him. "The gym has been closed for months now. Nobody at all knows where the leader went."

"Geez!" Matt jumped, startled. He turned around and saw an elderly, balding man. "You startled me!"

"Sorry about that, young man," the elderly man responded in a sincere voice.

"No, wait. The leader here's gone? What happened to him...or her?"

The elderly man shrugged his shoulders. "I've been hearing several different things from several different trainers and news articles, kid. Some say it's about Team Rocket, others say it's about financial difficulties; I'm honestly not sure. But I am aware that the gym here is closed."

Matt looked confused. "Team Rocket?"

"Team Rocket is a cruel, awful organization that commits evil deeds by manipulating the minds of Pokémon," the elderly man said, pointing at a wanted sign. "They either use their Pokémon to help steal other trainers' Pokémon, and they use them to invade, conquer and destroy. Sometimes they have been known of commiting murder."

Matt approached the wanted sign and took a good look at it. The wanted sign showed a sketched photo of a man with a red R on a white shirt.

"Geez, I never knew that such an organization existed. I've heard of a thief appearing here and there, but I've never heard of some big-name organization." Matt finished examining the poster, and looked back at the elderly man, with some insecurity in his eyes.

"Team Rocket is found in the Silph Co. building around Saffron City, I think. Hopefully I've gotten my facts straight. But don't think you're safe; they could be everywhere. Even here." The elderly man cleared his throat.

Matt's eyes widened, and his face started to become pale. Such an evil organization like this exists? How is this possible? he asks himself.

"I don't mean to sound disheartening or anything like that, young man, I'm just telling you now so that you'll be more on the alert. If you can, try to find a traveling companion; you'd be safer traveling through Viridian Forest with a friend or two."

Matt shook his head. "I don't have any traveling companions. Other than Squirtle here, who doesn't seem to like his Pokéball."

"As long as you have somebody looking out for you." The elderly man then pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, and lit it with a match. "These parts ain't safe, kid; just thought I'd give you a warning."

Matt nodded his head. "I appreciate it very much, sir. Thank you." He turned towards Squirtle. "Well, come on, let's go."

Squirtle pulled himself to his feet and began to follow Matt, as he walked towards the entrance to the Viridian Forest. The elderly man stood there, smoking away, watching Matt and his Pokémon fade off into the distance.

"We've lost so many good kids to that damned Team Rocket." He spat out his cigarette and stomped on it. "It's amazing on how the authorities have absolutely no power over them. It all seems so helpless to those who become victimized." He looked at an empty Pokéball lying in his hands. "So much power is contained inside one of these. This includes the power to help, but mostly it is used for the power to terrorize. I hope that some day...somebody will have the power to stand up to Team Rocket, and defeat them." He tossed the empty Pokéball aside, and walked inside a nearby building.

Matt had reached the exit to Viridian City, which was also the entrance to the Viridian Forest. He enthousiastically entered, with his companion Squirtle behind him the entire time. Matt awed at all of the different types of bug Pokémon he spotted.

"Caterpie...Weedle...they're everywhere!" Matt said, in complete awe. He pulled out a Pokédex and compared their statistics to those of the Pokémon he had already captured. He shook his head. "The levels of these things are far too low for my tastes. I do have time to train, but I don't want to be backtracked by weaker Pokémon. I think I'll just leave them for now."

Matt yawned and checked his watch. "It's nearly nine. I'm a bit tired, do you mind if we rest here for a bit?"

Squirtle blinked in response. A Pokémon does everything its trainer says, so if we rest here, it shouldn't be a problem, right? Matt thought to himself.

Matt sat under a tree and began to absorb himself into deep thinking again. Team Rocket...how could I have never heard of this group before? Are they some sort of secret organization? Regardless, I'll have to remain on high alert on all times. Also, I should have contacted my parents back home; they're probably wondering how I'm doing. Pewter City is on the other side of the forest, and if I move fast enough, I should make it there by evening. I'll make sure to give them a quick call then.

After resting for ten minutes, Matt pulled himself back up. "Okay, let's keep on going!" He picked up Squirtle, placed his backpack on his shoulders and started walking again.

Matt tried hard not to become too worried about Team Rocket. It was a trivial matter; there are far more issues to be thinking about right now, such as his Pokémon training. He had just started this journey, and there was no way that a small obstacle like Team Rocket could stop him.

Besides, there was a gym match awaiting him in Pewter City that he must attend; and it is rude to keep others waiting.



TO BE CONTINUED.