Chapter 27: The Makings of a Good Trainer
After going to Cerulean Cape for a break and meeting Bill, the trio headed towards Pewter.
"There's Mt. Moon." Andy said.
"I wonder what kind of Pokemon are there?" Aaron asked.
0000
After about a week of heading up to the mountain, Aaron had captured a Nidoran Male and Female. Marie had found out about his Unown and convinced him to let her keep it for research purposes.
"Finally. A cave to get thru the mountain." Aaron panted after some mountain climbing.
"Well, well. Long time no see." A voice said from the cave.
Marie looked confused as Aaron, Static, and Andy groaned.
"Good things never last do they?" Aaron asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Greg said leaving the cave.
"You should know." Aaron told him.
"How are you doing on your badge collecting? I have the Earth badge and the Bolder badge."
"Really? I'm on my way to receive them. I have the other six." Aaron showed off his badges.
"I see you have a new addition to your loser group. I'm Greg." He introduced himself to Marie.
"I'm Marie." She introduced herself.
"Why don't you leave these two losers? Aaron wouldn't know what to do with a female around since he's never had a mother."
Out of the corner of her eye, Marie saw Aaron tense, Static start to spark, and Andy making fists.
"I'm quiet enjoying my time with them. Thank you." She told him.
"You'll regret it." Greg said leaving.
"What a jerk." Marie said. "He's worse than you Aaron. Aaron? Are you alright?"
Aaron hadn't let lose on his tense body.
"What's wrong with him?" she asked Andy.
"This is the worst I've ever seen Greg pull. He must have really wanted you to leave us." Andy said.
Just then, Aaron knelt to the ground.
"Don't worry about it Aaron. She had her reasons. If she knew how much your Dad has changed, then she would come back." Marie told him
"Do you think so?" Aaron asked, his eyes glistening.
"I know so. Now c'mon. Let's get thru this mountain and head on to Pewter."
0000
When the trio got to Pewter, they headed toward the center first, and then to the Gym. However, their greeting from the leader was totally unexpected.
"Is Brock back already?" the gym leader asked them.
"Not to our knowledge." Aaron said. "I'm Aaron from New Bark. I've come to challenge the gym leader."
"Oh. Sorry for the mix up. I thought you were my eldest son's friend. I'm Flint. The gym leader."
"I thought the gym leader was Brock?" Marie asked.
"He is. He's just fulfilling his dream to be a breeder at the moment, so I've taken over. And I'll accept your challenge."
After Totodile and Gloom defeated the Geodude and Graveler, Aaron received his 7th badge.
"Thanks Flint." Aaron said.
"No problem Aaron." A half confused Flint said.
"Why was he looking at me funny?" Aaron asked his friends.
"Most of the gym leaders were." Marie told him.
"We'll compare the reactions once I earn my next badge."
0000
"WE ARE SO LOST AGAIN!" Marie yelled.
"Calm down Marie." Aaron told her. "At least I caught a Ditto."
"Poor abandoned thing. And did you hear the way its trainer was talking about it?" Andy said.
Flashback
"And this Ditto can't even transform right." The trainer said.
"But Damian, what about that Charmander you lost? You abandoned it, and it was strong." Another trainer asked.
"Charmander has strength. Not a lot, but it was a lot stronger than this Ditto."
"Ditto?" (Are you going to leave me?)
"You bet. Now stay here."
"HEY!" Aaron called. "You can't do that."
"You again? Did you get tired of my Charmander?" the first trainer asked.
"What Charmander? I've never met you before. I just know that it takes someone cruel to abandon a pokemon because they think it is weak."
"Aaron. Calm down." Andy said to the younger trainer.
"Sorry. I thought you were someone else. If you think you can train Ditto, then here." He said throwing the Pokeball towards Aaron and leaving.
"Jerk." Aaron said.
"Ditto." (Master)
"Pikachu pika pi chu" (You'll like Aaron better.)
"Dit?" (Really?)
End Flashback
"Why do trainers treat their Pokemon that way?" Aaron asked.
"I don't know." Marie said. "It's horrible."
"At least Ditto has a good trainer now." Andy said.
"Yeah." Marie agreed.
"You think I'm a good trainer?" Aaron asked her.
"Of course. You never abandon pokemon, and you pick up those that were. You give them a nice home, whether it's with you or Professor Elm. Static has yet to leave you."
"Pikachu pika" (And miss the free food?)
"You've gotten badges with only one try." Andy told him, "That means your Pokemon are strong."
"That's why Pearl and Heart are always after us. They think your Pokemon are the strongest. I bet Team Rocket would love that power." Marie said.
"You don't force evolve your pokemon." Andy continued.
"And you always think of them." Marie finished.
"Thanks guys. That means a lot to me." Aaron told them.
"What town is next?" Andy asked.
"This is the Viridian Forest." Marie said giving him a look.
"WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO VIRIDIAN CITY!" Andy started to sing as Aaron, Static, and Marie covered their ears.
"Static?" they asked.
"CHHHHUUUUU!"
TBC