Chapter 7: Bug Catching

After a short cut through Violet, Aaron and Andy made it back to Goldenrod.

"Hey Aaron. Look at the headlines." Andy said as he picked up a paper.

ST. ANNE SINKS

"Isn't the St. Anne supposed to be unsinkable?"

"Yeah. I guess the builders lied."

"What happened?"

"I haven't gotten that far." The fourteen year old told the ten year old.

"Chu." (I hope everyone's ok.)

"Were there any deaths?"

"Hold on."

There was a brief silence before Andy turned pale.

"Yes. Five trainers went down with the ship."

"Oh no. Do they give names?"

"No. They didn't. I hope their families know."

"I guess life is too short."

0000

After defeating Whitney after his second try (The Milktank gave him a hard time the first time), Aaron was having some technical difficulties.

"WHHAAAAAA"

"What's her problem?" Aaron asked the referee.

"This always happens. Give her some time."

Just then, Whitney came up to the ref and the two boys.

"Sorry about that. Old habits are hard to break. Here. This is the Plain Badge. It's proof that you have defeated me."

"Thanks Whitney."

0000

"So now where?"

"I think next is Ecruteak"

"All right!"

Just then, an Officer Jenny went by.

"Um. Aaron? Why don't you go on ahead?"

"Huh? Why?"

"Oh no reason. I just remembered I have other things to do."

"Like what?"

"Like asking Officer Jenny out on a date." Andy said before making a break for it.

"ANDY! Jeez Static. What's up with him?"

"Chu?" (Beats me)

"Do you want to go knock some sense into him?"

"PiKA" (You bet) the Pikachu said with a wicked grin

0000

"The rules are simple. Using one of your Pokemon, catch a bug pokemon to be judged."

"Sounds simple enough." Aaron said to himself.

Aaron and Andy were on their way to Ecruteak when they came upon the bug catching contest that was held every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Today just happened to be a Saturday.

"So Daddy's going to capture a new fwiend." A burnt Andy teased.

"Andy. Togepi is in its Pokeball right now. There is no need to talk baby-talk. In fact, I don't want you talking baby-talk when Togepi is OUT of its pokeball."

"You're no fun." Andy pouted as Aaron walked into the park leaving his friend behind.

"Static."

"Pi Pika" (Yeah Aaron)

"I'm giving you permission to shock Andy whenever he talks baby-talk"

"PIKA!" (ALRIGHT)

"Bzzz."

"Look Static. A Beedrill."

"P-Pikachu" (I-It doesn't seem too happy.)

Just then, a whole swarm of Beedrill popped out from the bushes.

Aaron turned to his first pokemon.

"You know Static. Dad told me the day before I got you: 'Aaron. There is a time and a place to capture pokemon.'"

"Pi?" (So?)

"Right now, I don't think this is neither the time nor the place."

"Pikachu?" (Should we run?)

"Oh yeah."

Before you could say "Ditto", Aaron and Static were already on the other side of the park.

"I-I think- we lost-them" Aaron panted.

"P-Pi" (Yeah.)

"What is this park? A Beedrill breeding ground?"

"Freee"

"AGGH! Oh. It's a Butterfree."

Static sighed with relief.

"Are there anymore of you?" Aaron asked while looking around.

"Free?" (Others?)

"Well in that case, would you like to come with us?"

"Freee." (Yes)

"Alright! Park ball! Go!"

In a flash of red, the Butterfly pokemon was captured.

0000

"Third place winner is Bugcatcher Ed from Cherrygrove who caught a Venonat. He gets a gold berry."

"A gold berry?" Aaron looked at Andy in confusion as Ed went up to claim his prize.

"You know how regular berry's restore a little bit of a pokemon's health?"

Aaron nodded.

"Well, Gold berries restore three times the amount."

"Oh."

"Second place winner is Aaron Ketchem from Newbark who caught a Butterfree. He gets an Everstone."

"Second?"

"Go up and get your prize."

After Aaron received his stone, he went back to Andy to see who beat him.

"First place winner is Greg from Newbark who caught a Beedrill. He gets a Sun Stone."

As Greg walked out of the crowd to receive his prize, Andy glanced at his friend. Sure enough, Aaron had gone pale knowing what would happen if Greg came up to talk to him.

"Aaron." Andy whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Let's jet before he notices us."

"I think he has since I've already been called up."

"I mean before he comes to us and starts bragging."

"Oh. Yeah. Let's go."

0000

On the way to Ecruteak,

"Thanks Andy. I owe you."

"No problem. I can't stand to see a grown kid cry."

Aaron shot him a glare.

"I'm just kidding. Jeez. Can't even take a joke."

"Shut up."

TBC