Chapter Two
Erika's shoes sank into mud as she trudged along the swamplands of the forest. As Erika went along, the mud grew deeper and Erika looked behind her to see if anyone was following her. When the mud was past her knees she felt the urge to turn around and head another way. Erika looked ahead and noted that the mud went further up ahead. With a sigh Erika tried to trudge back but found it very difficult to move back, going forward was much easier. Erika pulled out Torchics pokeball and carefully released it on her head, so Torchic wouldn't completely sink in the mud. Torchic shook its feathers and Erika pointed in front, "Torchic, do you think that you could use an ember to harden this mud?"
Torchic gathered his energy and shot a mass of fire, turning the liquidy mud into a hard substance. Erika lifted her dirty body from the mud and climbed up onto the new land and sat down. As Erika sighed she felt a creak under her and felt herself fall through and back into the muddy swamp. Mud covered her from head to toe and quickly Erika grabbed the startled Torchic from sinking into the mud and pulled out Wurmples pokeball. Maybe…if there were trees around here, Wurmple could use string shot to act as a rope onto the land…but there's no land either… Erika thought softly. Erika squinted into the distance and noticed a light coming towards her. It hung in the sky and slowly approached her, as she watched it she noticed that it became the shape of a giant bird, a Pidgeot, and a very large one, even by Pidgeot standards. A boy a couple years younger than Erika looked at her puzzled through his black-framed glasses,
"What in the world do you think you're doing?" The boy said shrilly.
Erika laughed, "I…"
The boy shook his head, "Get on."
Erika climbed onto the Pidgeot and recalled Torchic and the boy nodded to his Pidgeot to take off. The two rode in silence until they were out of the woods. Then the boy looked sharply at Erika, "What were you doing out there, are you crazy?!"
Erika said nothing and neither did the boy until they were far beyond the woods. The boy looked back at Erika and sighed, "Well anyway, I'm Furi"
"Erika," put out her hand to shake his put sharply Furi pulled his hand back, "I don't shake hands with those you haven't earned by respect."
Hurt, Erika recalled her hand and the two rode in silence the rest of the way. Erika looked into the sky and noticed that the sun was setting, with beautiful shades of blue, pink and purple. Without warning, the Pidgeot swooped low to the ground and Furi all but pushed Erika off. Erika landed on the ground with such a force it felt as if her anklebone had shattered. Furi stared at her for a moment before throwing his hand out in front of Erika. Erika stared at him for a while before finally he said, "Pay up. Do you think I got you out of there just out of pity? Hand over five bucks." Not wanting to cause trouble, Erika grabbed a crumpled five from her pocket and hastily handed it to the boy. Checking the bill over, Furi motioned to the sky and Pidgeot took off in a strong gust of wind. Erika stared at them into they were only a small speck in the distance.
Forgetting what had just happened, Erika turned her sights on getting to the next town. Erika tightened her pack and looked ahead of her. A wide, opened plain lay in front of her, meeting a dark blue sky. It was getting too dark to travel, and she was tired, but there was no place to seek shelter. In the back of her mind, Erika began to wonder if the boy had done this on purpose with hidden intentions. Erika quickly walked across the plains, as it grew darker and darker. Erika pulled out her map and scanned it; I was so sure that a town was closer… Erika thought as she noticed the next town was two miles away. Erika felt a chill go down her spine as a cold wind blew. Erika hunched up her shoulders and walked onward. She had to make it to the next town; it wasn't safe for anyone to sleep out in the open. Bandits, Rapists, murders, anyone could attack her in her sleep. In one more hour it would be too dark to sleep. It would take at least two more hours to get to the next town. Tiredness plagued her, but she kept onwards and as she went onwards, her situation worsened as the sky opened up and a heavy rainfall poured. Soaked, alone, scared, Erika felt fear in the depths of her heart. Erika walked forward; sue will she had covered a mile now. Erika squinted into the distance, but all she could see was darkness. Erika kept on though, the thought of salvation in front of her. For what seemed like hours, Erika walked through the darkness before far in the distance seeing what looked like a light. She squinted and realized it was. Sprinting she raced forwards to the light. As she neared it though, something sharp hit her in the back of the neck and she fell forward into the dirt. She spun around and saw no one. Shivering, she stood up but the same sharp force knocked her down again. When she spun around again she saw the outline of a young man. He glared at her through his green glowing eyes and bent down, quietly whispering, "Careful"
"Why" Erika questioned just as softly as he had spoken.
"In front of you, yes that is town, but just as well, you were about to cross into a sinkhole had I not stopped you"
Erika watched as the man shone a flashlight in front of them, and there, outlined in the darkness was a hole, deep enough to be buried twice, hard to climb out, a possible death trap. Erika looked at the man, "A sinkhole, and here?"
The man nodded, "Yeah, this region is prone to them…at least recently, ever since construction to expand the town. The locals spoke against it, though little in number, and failed to gain support. Their reason? Ancient legends tell that beyond the town, were the grounds of Diglett and Dugtrio. If even an inch from the town to right here is tampered, sinkholes will be uncovered. Thus, it started a chain reaction"
Erika was quiet for a while, "Thanks. I owe you one"
The man moved in the darkness with his hands but Erika couldn't see and the man spoke, "I'll be glad to take you into town on my Arcanine. He has a kack for dodging these kinds of things"
Erika looked at the man for a moment. She was glad it was dark out; if it had been light the man would have seen the lack of trust in her face. With a heavy heart, Erika said, "Okay. Take me into town please"
The man nodded and threw something into the air. A red light lit up the area and a large Pokemon rose in front of them. The man got on first and Erika hopped on behind him, setting a distance from him. The man nodded to his Pokemon and they bounded and zigzagged their way across the sinkhole laid land. Erika took this moment to reflect on things. Why…is something inside me telling me not to trust him? As soon as I get into town I'm just going to stay for a day or two. I feel a strong resistance to him. Ever since childhood I could feel auras of people. Good and bad. His aura…so dark and clouded…he's evil…but his intentions seem good for the moment. As soon as we get to the town, I'll find a hotel.
Erika felt a tap on her shoulder and noticed a strange, yet handsome man was looking at her. His green hair was to his shoulders and he looked at her with two brown eyes. It took a while, but Erika knew whom he was, the man who had saved her.
"Here we are."
Erika got off and looked at a clock on a nearby store, it was only 9:50, yet very dark…too dark. Erika started down the road when the man called to her,
"I…would you like to get some coffee somewhere?"
Erika stopped in her tracks and looked at him. He was defiantly in his late twenties she could see, and something wasn't right. Quickly Erika scanned her memory for an excuse then remembered why she had wanted to come this way, her uncle lived here, Leon Waner.
"Sorry…." Erika said shaking, "But my uncle is waiting for me…."
The man sighed, "Fine" And walked away.
Erika walked down the street; it was empty except for the streetlights and maybe one or two people. Erika navigated through the roads and finally came to an older brick home, her uncles home. He wouldn't mind if she came, besides, the lights in his house were on Erika slowly walked up to the door and knocked softly. There was no answer. Erika tried again and this time there was an answer. Her uncle came to the door and looked down at Erika then smiled and hugged her,
"How's my favorite niece?!"
Erika nodded, "I'm fine, and you?"
"Muy Bien!" Leon said with a Spanish accent. Erika's uncle was only seven years older than here, and a master of seven languages. Usually when she visited him he lapsed into another language.
"Your staying right Erika?"
Erika nodded; her uncle and her were very close, almost like brother and sister. Erika and her uncle walked inside, but as Erika turned to go inside, she looked around to make sure that mysterious man still wasn't following her.
"Uncle Leon?"
Leon looked up from his coffee cup. Some got caught in his goatee. His hair was black with a small goatee on his chin. He looked like a model but would never accept that kind of occupation, he dubbed it immoral.
Erika looked at her shoes, "It's nothing, really"
Leon nodded, "I won't pressure you, if you don't want to talk about it"
Erika yawned and stood up, heading to the spare room. She was tired and had had an eventful day. Erika released Torchic and Wurmple and climbed the spiraled staircase. Her uncle was wealthy because of his smarts and occupation. Erika found the spare room and cracked open the door and walked into the plain, cold, damp room. She didn't even bother to turn on the light, but merely flopped onto the bed. The impact rippled through her and quickly sleep overtook her.
Erika felt soft sunrays strike her face. Erika slowly got up and took her pack with her to the bathroom, took a bath and got ready before heading downstairs to greet her uncle"
"Hola!"
"Good morning Leon,"
Leon stretched his arms; "I made waffles if you'd like some…" Before Leon could complete his sentence, Erika had dove into the pile of waffles and began gobbling them down. Leon laughed softly as he watched his niece, and then began his own chow down. Between the two of them, they each ate three waffles and downed a bottle of syrup. Erika thanked her uncle and Leon smiled,
"Would you like to go shopping?"
Erika nodded. She had heard about a new Pokemon shop that had opened that sold both Pokemon and Pokemon supplies. Leon could read his nieces mind, "To the new Pokemon store?"
"To the new Pokemon store"
Erika wore a khaki skirt and a black shirt on their way to the Pokemon store. It was a very warm day and the streets were bustling with people. Erika and her uncle walked slowly along the street, taking in all the sights of the town. Erika looked in front of them and saw a giant store with a giant sized pokeball on the roof. The store was painted Red and white. Erika and Leon walked inside the store and Erika looked around, it was like a mall, only there were only five stores along a wide circle. From left to right the first store was a Pokemon pet store. The second store contained accessories, the third a food store, the fourth a TM and pokeball store ands the fifth was a remedy store. Erika and Leon decided to hit the stores in order and walked into the first store, the Pokemon pet store. Erika and Leon were greeted by a older woman who handed them a blue paper, "These are all the Pokemon we have now, if any interest you, please tell me"
Erika and Leon ran down the list, "Pidgey, Rattata, Poochyena, Zigazagoon, Skitty, Eevee, Meowth, Pichu and Spinda."
Leon looked at his niece, "Any interest?"
"Yeah...Eevee, that is. Until I looked at the price, 2,300!
Leon's eyes widened, "I think not"
Erika and Leon left the store and spent the rest of the day shopping, by the end of the day they had amassed an array of things. Erika had found a necklace set that could hold one pokeball, a box of cheese nips for Pokemon, a first aid kit for Pokemon (containing seven of each; super potion, potion and antidote) and a piece of red cloth. Leon had gotten only a Meowth sculpture; Leon had a fascination with art.
"Ready to go Erika?"
Erika nodded and they headed to an ice cream shop and both got hot fudge sundaes and returned to Leon's house. Erika and Leon sat on the couch and Leon turned on the television. Leon pointed to the television with his remote while he talked, "Today is the premiere of Bakuretsu Tenshi. It looks pretty cool"
Erika agreed, she had wanted to watch it as well. Bakurestsu Tenshi came on and Erika and Leon found themselves glued to the television for the next half hour. After it was over they both hungered for more and continued watching as Inu-Yasha came on, followed by anime after anime. By the time they looked at the clock again, it was past seven. Erika stretched her legs and yawned, "Nothing beats watching anime this long"
Leon yawned, "I agree, but I can't do this that often, I have to go back to work tomorrow"
"And I guess I need to continue on my journey…to be a Pokemon professor"
Leon nodded, "so you took up your dream, good luck then"
Erika and Leon went into the kitchen and Leon made ramen. After eating they went into the living room and talked for a while before both heading off to bed. Erika climbed the stairs and flopped onto her bed, quickly falling asleep.