Chapter 3
Ricki listened closely to her pokedex as she watched the purple and black moving figure glide over the air around her.
GASTILY THE GAS POKEMON. WITH ITS GAS-LIKE BODY, IT CAN SNEAK INTO ANY PLACE IT DESIRES. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE BLOWN AWAY BY THE WIND. GASILTY IS IMMUNE TO NORMAL ATTACKS.
"Scyther won't work on Gasilty, but maybe Pichu can shock it"
The Gastly had stopped dead still and opened its pale white eyes at Ricki,
"Well, Well, if it isn't the daughter of Ash and Misty"
Ricki let her mouth hang out,
"How can…how do you know?"
"Easy…I'm really a trainer…or was…. until…"
"Wait a second...are you by any chance Brock?"
"Brock…. no of course not…. okay…yeah I am"
"Did my father really…. accidentally kill you?"
"No he didn't, you see…I cut myself when I was making supper and the rocks didn't really hurt me…they probably wouldn't have killed me anyways…."
Ricki edged away from Brock,
"So a knife cut killed you, why didn't you tell my father!?"
"I did…that was what made him sad…. but he got over it…"
"Can you show yourself…in human form?"
"Human? That is the past…I'm but a ghost now…wandering…"
"Shouldn't you be…. somewhere else though?"
"Yes, but something has kept me to this world…. it was you…"
"Me? You died before I was born…."
"Yes…. but you see…. I can't tell you this…not until your journey's over…"
"Tell me now Brock, tell me now!"
Brock slowly began to fade and drift away as the wind picked up,
"Ricki…. I'll see you again…never forget…."
Brock disappeared into the wind and left Ricki and Pichu starring blankly into space. Ricki stood for a long time, staring off into the sky, waiting and hoping she could make sense of the entire conversation. She felt a tap at her back and spun around to see a man in a blue trench coat waving a Lanturn above her,
"Ma'am, its raining, are you okay?"
Ricki lifted her hand and felt as raindrops plummeted onto her hand. In her deep thought she had not realized it was raining,
"I'm fine," Ricki looked behind the man and noticed a carriage, "I didn't know they still had carriages"
"They don't, this is mine, I fixed it up and that's how I drive, how I dislike technology with all the cars, video games and such…. the names Dave, and you are…?
"Ricki" Ricki said extending her hand, which Dave shook, "Are you a trainer?"
"Of course not! Trainers use Pokemon like slaves, I'm glad your different, you let your Pichu ride on your shoulder"
"Yes, Pichu is a special friend to me"
"Well, I need to get back home…need a lift, Ms. Ricki?"
"No thanks…I like to walk in the rain"
Dave nodded, "Thank my umbrella at least, it'll keep you a little dry"
Ricki thanked him and Dave got back into his carriage and rode away. Ricki opened the umbrella and began walking through the rain,
"Listen Pichu, just forget whatever we saw okay?"
"Pi?" Pichu said puzzled.
"Just…please…"
Ricki and Pichu continued through the rain. It was getting darker and darker in the sky and it was growing hard to see. The path in front of Ricki and Pichu was lined with trees and a muddy path that strove out for seemilingley endless miles. Ricki looked at Pichu who had fallen asleep on her shoulders. Ricki smiled and wished she could find a cave or something soon, so they could take a rest. Ricki continued on even though her legs were aching and her feet had developed blisters and were wet with cold. The rain only seemed to be coming down harder and harder. Ricki noticed a small cabin up ahead and walked across the rocky steps and rang the doorbell. No answer. Ricki knocked a few more times and the door creaked as an old woman answered the door. The old woman's face was wrinkled and warm and her hair was held back tightly in a bun,
"Ma'am, my name is Ricki, can I stay here until the rain clears up?"
"Yes you may Ricki, I don't get visitors very often, come in, come in"
Ricki stepped into the old woman's house. It smelled of oak and pine and a pie was baking in the oven. The old woman motioned for Ricki to sit down and she brought out some tea. Ricki took a sip,
"Thank you ma'am, can I release my Pokemon?"
"Yes, my Pokemon would like the company"
"You have Pokemon?"
"Yes I do, a Venonat, an Oddish, a Bellsprout and a Houndoom,"
Ricki released Scyther and woke up Pichu,
"This is Pichu and Scyther"
"My Venonat is Vine, Oddish is named Chikorita, Bellsprout is named Whitney and Houndoom is Houndy"
Ricki looked at the old woman's Pokemon and petted Houndy on the head,
"Your Pokemon are very healthy looking"
"Thank you, I don't have enough energy or money these days, so Whitney, Chikorita and Venonat tend to my garden and Houndy does all my running around"
Ricki pulled out her Pokedex, lets see what it says about Oddish, Houndoom and Venonat,
HOUNDOOM THE DARK POKEMON. THE PUNGENT-SMELLING FLAME THAT SHOOTS FROM ITS MOUTH RESULTS FROM TOXINS BURNING IN ITS BODY. HOUNDOOM IS THE EVOLVED FORM OF HOUNDOUR.
ODDISH, THE WEED POKEMON. THIS POKEMON BURIES ITSELF IN THE GORUND AND LOOKS LIKE COMMON GRASS; UT WHEN ITS LEAVES ARE PULLED IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SCREAM.
VENONAT, THE INSECT POKEMON. THE SMALL BUGS IT EATS APPEAR ONLY AT NIGHT, SO IT SLEEPS IN A HOLE IN A TREE UNTIL NIGHT FALLS.
"Is that a pokedex?"
"Yes ma'am, its an updated model it contains info on every Pokemon that is known to exist"
"Technology these days, wish I had it when I started Pokemon training"
Ricki looked out the window and noticed that the rain was beginning to slow down,
"What time is it…ms…."
"My names Gertrude, and its 12:00, if you want, you may stay here tonight, it wouldn't be much fun to sleep on the cold wet ground would it?"
"No, thank you"
"I'll show to the spare bedroom"
Ms. Gertrude got up from her chair and lead Ricki down the hall to a small room with a bed and a dresser,
"Make yourself at home, if you don't want your wet clothes, I have a washer right next door, just give it to my Chansey,"
"You have a Chansey also?"
"Yes, but she's on a vacation at the moment…she should be back in the morning though"
"Thank you"
Ricki went into her room and took off her wet clothes and put on her dry ones. Ms. Gertrude came by and gave her and her Pokemon a bit to eat and the trio went to sleep.
"Thanks Chansey thanks Ms. Gertrude!" Ricki said waving good-bye as she left the cabin the next morning.
"Thank you for the company!" Ms. Gertrude said waving good-bye.
Ricki looked out into the sky and noticed a bird flying overhead with rainbow wings,
"What…. what's that?"
Ricki pulled out her pokedex and looked back into the sky and couldn't find the bird with rainbow wings,
"Pichu…what was that?"
"Pichu! Pichu!"
Ricki laughed and continued on her way,
"One day, I'll see all the Pokemon, and we'll meet again…Rainbow bird"