Chapter Seven: Playtime for Pikachu
Gloria ran out the backstage door. She didn't care that she looked foolish like she did with her ponytail holder coming loose. She couldn't possibly look like an idiot more than she just did.
She tripped on a root of a tree or something, because next thing she knew she landed face first in the muddy ground. She tried to scurry to her feet but she fell again. Pikachu was holding onto both of her legs. Bulbasaur was laughing like crazy.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" she asked trying to pry the mouse Pokémon off her legs.
"PIIIIIIKAAAAAAA-" Pikachu started as it started to charge for a Thunder attack.
"Oh no!" Gloria started as she covered her head in an attempt to block the attack.
"Bulba!" her Bulbasaur had leapt in front of the Pikachu. "Bulb! Bulb, bulbasaur! Bulba-bulb!"
"Pi?!?" said Pikachu in pure surprise, stopping the attack cold and letting go of Gloria's legs. "Pik, Pika-pikapika-pikachu-pika-pi-PIKACHU!"
"Bulba? Bulb-bulb-bluba-saur-bulb-BULBASAUR!" Bulbasaur squealed back stepping towards Pikachu.
"PIKA?" Pikachu shot back, "Pikachu-pika-pi-pikachu-pika-pika-pi! PIKACHU!!!"
"BULB?" Bulbasaur yelled back "Bulbbulb bulbasaur bulba bulb, bulb BULBASAUR BULB!!!!!!"
Whatever that translated into in Poké-language, (Gloria wasn't paying attention to what they said) it must have been an insult, because Pikachu just Tuhndershocked Bulbasaur.
"Stop! Now!" Gloria commanded, but the Pokémon were too busy trying to settle the "argument". They circled each other looking neither vengeful, upset nor angry. They seemed to be-playing!?!?
"Bulbabulb!" Bulbasaur did a half-hearted Tackle on the Pikachu. It missed, landing on the ground with a thud. Pikachu laughed.
Gloria took her Pokédex out. "Maybe," she thought, "it has information on their behavior…"
"Pokémon usually fight only when instructed to do so by their trainer(s)," the Pokédex said as Pikachu Tackled Bulbasaur back, " but they sometimes fight each other to build skill, to see who is stronger, or to settle a disagreement. As long as other Pokémon and people are kept away from these 'play matches', this fighting is completely harmless, is a great way to sharpen their skills, and will not reduce their HP."
To Gloria, it made perfect sense. She sat down in the grass and watched the two Pokémon play, wondering if she could join them…
Meanwhile at the Concert Hall…
"Hey!" Julie said, "Where did Gloria go?"
"I thought I saw her go backstage. She didn't look too happy…" Joshua replied pointing toward the backstage entrance.
"If only I had checked the cages before the concert…" Julie sighed.
"Don't act like that!" Joshua yelled running to the door. "I forgot too…" Julie ran behind Joshua, Charmander and Squirtle followed closely behind her, each seeming very sorry for what they did…
Back in the grassy field…
"Hey! Come back here!" Gloria shouted. Pikachu had run off to a grassy hill. Bulbasaur followed Gloria as she chased Pikachu.
"Pika, pika!" Pikachu squeaked pointing toward a group of people coming toward the Forest…
"Julie and Joshua, just who I need…" Gloria grumbled.
"Pika pi, pi pika! Pikachu pi pika pi pika!" Pikachu squeaked back.
"Translate for me, Bulbasaur." Gloria said.
Bulbasaur repeated the speech as " Bulbasaur bulb, bulb! Bulbasaur bulb bulba bulb bulba!"
"Oh, you want to show me something?"
"Pika," Pikachu ran off towards a cave "pi! Pikachu!" it pointed inside the cave.
"What do you want me to see in there?" Gloria asked puzzled.
"Pika, pi, pi chu! Pika, pika! Pi, pi, pi, pikachu!"
Bulbasaur repeated the speech again. "Bulb, bulba, bluba saur! Bulb, bulb! Bulba, bulba, bulba, bulbasaur!"
"You're saying you have a present to show me?" Gloria replied, surprised.
"Pi!" Pikachu ran inside the cavern, Gloria and Bulbasaur following it…