Day 20
Warm and breezy
Current mood: happy, but tired
Current location: Violet City Pokemon School
Dear Diary:
What a day! Running around trying to entertain 60 different children at the same time can wear you out quickly! If you don't believe me, ask Ash and Misty--they're collapsed on the couch here in the Pokemon School's teacher lounge. Misty's trying to take a nap (which is near impossible with all the noise outside), and Ash is rummaging in the medicine cabinet trying to find some asprin...
What's all the noise outside, you ask? Brock is busy giving the children tap dancing lessons, and all the clicking and clacking of their shoes was driving Misty crazy--so we retreated in here for some peace and quiet...
Okay, I've digressed long enough, so here's the full details of todays adventure:
As we explored Violet City, some of the local children saw us and asked if they could play with me. Ash said okay, but on one condition--treat me nicely. The boys mostly gave me targets to shock (perfect training for the Gym Leader), and the girls mostly petted me and brushed me. Believe me, I sure needed a brushing after all this traveling, the girls were finding barbs and twigs all over me and picking them off! Some of them attempted to give me a bath by dumping water on me! (but Ash stepped in and showed them how to do it right)
The trouble started when two of the children started to tease me when Ash wasn't looking (he was busy chatting with the teacher in charge of the group, Miss Priscilla). The boy, Zackie, continually kept poking me in the stomach with a stick--not a pleasant feeling! The girl, Lizy, wasn't any better--she kept holding me in funny positions and stroking me the wrong way! (I'm like a Meowth when it comes to being petted--I don't like being stroked the wrong way!)
I finally let both of them know that I'd had enough of their poking and prodding by giving them a warning zap--and that got everyone's attention! Miss Priscilla stepped in and gave them a little lecture about how to treat a Pokemon nicely...they shaped up rather quickly!
Brock noticed that the children seemed to be having fun playing with us, so he offered to let us teach at the school for the day. Miss Priscilla found that to be a wonderful idea, and so off we went to the school with the children in tow (it was the morning break for them when we arrived).
Once in the classroom, Miss Priscilla left the children with some work to do, then took us down the hall to meet the principal--a rather oddball guy named Earl. (Personally, I think he looks and sounds like Mario!) We managed to catch him doing an odd ballet dance in his office...which irked Misty somewhat. Miss Priscilla assured us that Earl likes dancing because it expresses your happiness and joy. Inspired by this, Brock slipped into a closet--only to return clad in a sparkling red shirt, black pants, and tap with a rousing jig blaring in the background! Needless to say, I didn't know Brock could tap dance...or that he was so good at it!
After we applauded Brock's performance (Earl was VERY impressed!), we returned to the classroom--where Ash began to tell the children about our adventures in Kanto and the Orange Islands. It was nice reminiscing about Kanto...but Zackie had to interrupt by taunting Ash for not being the winner of the Kanto League. Ash assured him that even though he didn't win the League, he DID learn some valuable lessons along the way...that silenced Zackie really quick.
All the storytelling made the morning fly by, and before long it was time for recess (and lunch). Miss Priscilla ate with everyone and talked about the afternoon's field trip to Sprout Tower--and as for me, I still had to deal with Zackie, who was more than determined to have me for his own...and I thought Ash's behavior when we first met was bad...
I finally gave Zackie a static shock and ran into a nearby forest...and Zackie followed in hot pursuit! Ash also chased after him, after he told Misty and Brock that he'd meet up with them at Sprout Tower...I, meanwhile, ran behind a tree to get Zackie off my back!
As I stopped to catch my breath, a curious Bellsprout passed by the tree...he offered to be caught in my place so I could escape! Relieved by this, I accepted his offer...so I peeked out from the tree--and quickly hid when Zackie fired a Poke Ball in my direction! I couldn't resist snickering over the fact that he had actually caught a Bellsprout instead of me...he was dancing around all happily...but to be honest, I don't think Ash knew I was okay either...he started yelling and screaming, and ultimately tumbled into a pit along with Zackie...and Team Rocket was waiting for them!
I'm not exactly sure what happened next, but apparently they saw what Zackie had actually caught, howled with laughter, and then tried to fool me into thinking Ash was nearby...but quite frankly, I'm smart enough to know the difference between Ash's voice and an impersonation of Ash...if they're going to catch me that way, they should practice their Ash voices more...so I dodged their net trap, allowing Ash and Zackie a way out. Once Ash was out (and elated to see me), he ordered me to give Team Rocket a little payback--so I gave them a nice Thunderbolt into the stratosphere!
We arrived at Sprout Tower a short time later, only to notice that everyone was outside for some reason...but I knew Team Rocket was here...Weezing's Smokescreen is highly potent!
Zackie was still a little upset about catching a Bellsprout, and offered a trade to Ash...he refused, but assured Zackie that he could catch his own Pikachu. Once inside, we met up with Misty and Brock again...where we dueled Team Rocket!
Ash summoned Squirtle and Misty summoned Poliwag to clear the smoke...and about then, Jessie picked me up. I tried shocking her, but she had insulated clothing on! They whisked me over to a large rocket and tied me up, while Lickitung and Arbok were trying to cut the Tower's central support.
Zackie decided to join the duel--and Bellsprout managed to cut me free! I fired one more Thunderbolt, and that was enough to send Team Rocket packing!
So here we are, resting in the teacher's lounge--we would stay here all day and teach the children to dance, but that will have to wait....I've got a big duel tomorrow!
Until then,
Pikachu
Day 21
Sunny
Current mood: elated!
Current location: Just outside Violet City
Dear Diary:
All right! Our first badge!
Ash is dancing with joy tonight after clenching a well deserved Zephyr Badge...the flames of the campfire make a lovely backdrop for his performance, if I say so myself.
The day began when Team Rocket decided to swipe me in a slightly unconventional manner--an inspection. They even went so far as to call me fat and unfit for the Gym! I've got news for them: Do you call a Pokemon that works out every day fat? I don't think so!
However, before they could make their getaway, the Gym Leader, a daring and adventurous boy named Falkner, came to rescue us! With Team Rocket out of the way, we went inside the Gym and prepared for the duel!
Once inside the skybox arena, Ash started by summoning Chikorita--a bad move on Ash's part, since Falkner's Hoothoot clobbered her easily! I hurried into the area and squared off against the Hoothoot. He opened with a Tackle, but I was all the way around the arena by the time he hit the floor--shows him what a little Agility can do!
Next, Hoothoot attempted to Fly, but a Thunderbolt coupled with a Quick Attack brought him down! One Pokemon down, two to go!
My next opponent? A Dodrio...and this one was tough! No matter what move I used, he used Mirror Move to reflect my attack back at me! Despite my constant barrage of Thunderbolts, he managed to land both a Fury Attack and a Drill Peck at the same time. Although I was heavily weakened and battered, I used some of my remaining strength to bring him down--Ash decided that was enough and sent me back to the sidelines to recover...As I sipped a Potion, I watched as Charizard stepped in to duel Falkner's pride: a Pidgeot.
Although both Charizard and Pidgeot were good Flyers, Pidgeot used a Wing Attack to ground Charizard...but Charizard managed to recover enough to knock Pigeot out--earning us the badge!
Falkner was quite impressed by our skill, and he told us that he was going to train even harder so that he can be strong like us...and on that note, we rested and set out to camp.
Our next objective is the Gym in Azelea Town--but for now, I'll just savor the victory dance Ash is doing...
Until tomorrow,
Pikachu