Episode 2: Unusual Raticate! Catch on Route 1!
Last time, Yoshio had qualified to become a Pokémon trainer, as did her new friend and the son of Happy and Cool, Friendly. Although upset that she didn't get a Charmander, she was happy with the Lapras that Ken had Professor Oak give to her. The two are now on Route 1, heading for Viridian City.
"You know, I've wanted to become a trainer, mainly because of my mom having her own Pokemon.", Yoshio said. "She caught her first one thanks to her closest friend, Ken. He weakened a wild Sandshrew and gave her a Pokéball to catch it with. When she went on her own journey, she caught an Onix and Gastly. I recently found out that every one of them evolved into their final forms, and that she recently got a Treecko."
"Well, my mom has caught many Water Pokémon.", Friendly said. "She's also got a very strong Dragonite. She said something about going to another region because she wanted more Dragon Pokémon. And my dad went with her to catch a Fee-something. I don't remember exactly what it was he said. Hopefully they'll be back soon."
"Your mom has a Dragonite? Those are really rare and strong. Hopefully I can catch one of them, and I have just the Pokémon to help me." She takes out the Pokéball containing the Lapras that she got in Pallet Town. "Come to think of it, you haven't given a name to it, have you?", Friendly asked. "Actually I have.", Yoshio answered. "I've decided to call him Indigo."
Friendly noticed something on the path ahead. "What's that?", he asked. "It's a Raticate.",
Yoshio answered. "And it looks like it's hurt. But I heard that Raticate aren't usually
seen on Route 1. We'd better help it." Yoshio and Friendly go up to the Raticate and see what's wrong. "Are you okay?", Friendly said. The Raticate jumps up and tackles him. "Hey! He was just trying to help!", Yoshio yelled.
Raticate turns to face her, and growls. "If you want to fight, then let's do it!", she calls out. She takes out a Pokéball. "Come on Indigo! Help me with this Raticate!" She throws it, causing it to open and bring out her Lapras. "Indigo, use your Water Gun!" Friendly stepped in between the two Pokémon. "Wait! It's already weakened. Try something else.", he called out. "Okay then. Change of plans, Indigo. Use your Sing."
Indigo uses its Sing attack on Raticate, while Yoshio and Friendly plug their ears as Raticate falls asleep. Once the song is over, Yoshio takes out an empty Pokéball. "Pokéball, go!" she calls out and throws it at the sleeping Raticate. The Pokéball hits and sucks Raticate inside. The Pokéball shakes until it stops and registers a ping sound. Yoshio picks it up. "I caught a Raticate! Now let's go to the Pokémon Center."
The two reach Viridian City and head straight for the Pokémon Center. "Nurse Joy, we need your help!", Friendly calls out. Nurse Joy comes out from a room after checking up on an injured Pokémon. "What seems to be the problem?", she asks. "We found this Raticate injured on Route 1. I caught it and we brought it here." Yoshio says. "It's a good thing you brought it here right away. Let me have a look at it."
Yoshio gives Nurse Joy Raticate's Pokéball, who takes it into the Emergency Room. "Raticate...", she says silently. "Something wrong?" Friendly asked. "I was trying to figure out why Raticate ended up injured. Maybe it evolved in front of it's Rattata group, and they all attacked it for betraying them. I just hope it'll be okay.", she said. Nurse Joy exits the E.R. and heads towards Yoshio.
"Raticate will be just fine. All it needs is a good night sleep and by morning it'll be as good as new.", she explains. "That's good news. I feel kind of guilty catching it while it slept. But I couldn't just leave it there.", Yoshio said. Nurse Joy had a thought. "Maybe this Raticate was abandoned by Team Rocket because it could've been too weak.", she said. "Team who?" Yoshio and Friendly both asked.
"Team Rocket. They're a criminal gang that go after the strongest and rarest Pokémon possible, and abandon or even kill weak ones.", Nurse Joy explained "That's terrible! I'll get them for this!" Yoshio said angrily. "No one knows exactly where their hideout is. If I knew where it was, I'd let Officer Jenny know right away.
Suddenly, Yoshio's stomach growls. "Oh right. I haven't had anything since yesterday, since I was in a hurry to get to Professor Oak's lab. "Follow me to the cafeteria. I'll have my Chansey bring you some food.", Nurse Joy said. In the cafeteria, Yoshio and Friendly notice that it's completely empty. "I guess everyone else doesn't stay here too long.", Friendly says. He notices a poster on the wall. "Hey, what's that?" Yoshio goes up to the poster and reads it.
"Sign up for the Kanto League Pokémon Tournament. Eight gym badges required for entry", she reads. "Oh right, that's why I came here. To register for the Kanto League. Yoshio and Friendly are about to eat, but hear the sound of shattering glass. "What was that?", he asked. "Let's hurry. Something's going on.", she said. The two headed towards the sound. What is going on at the Pokémon Center? Are Yoshio and Friendly's Pokémon strong enough to take on this challenge? Find out next time.
