Jordan: Here we go again

Camilla: Big companies own Pokemon

Jordan: Not the author of this series

Camilla: And away we go

A Brother & a Spark

Gold was kind enough to let us have breakfast before we left.

I didn't tell Camilla or Brock about my dream, it didn't seem necessary as it didn't seem like a bad one. It just felt like I had gained something I might need to know in the future.

As soon as we finished breakfast, Gold let us go on our way.

We stopped by the lab and professor Elm went over his request for us once again. I didn't forget it, but it was best to make sure we knew exactly what we were supposed to do.

As soon as we left the lab I looked out to the route that would take us to the next city, apparently on the other end was Cherrygrove city.

I could have a guess of why it was called Cherrygrove, but that guess would be right because of obvious reasons.

I wondered if we would encounter any Pokemon that we'd like to catch on this route.

This route was not like route 1 in Kanto, especially because it wasn't straight forward, it had twists and turns and the trees looked like they had been placed randomly, there was no straight path to Cherrygrove.

I was glad we had a new Pokemon, I wondered how it would be having Cyndaquil, this was my second starter type, but this time I was taking care of it from a lower level than Charmander was when I first received him.

I caught Charmander, whereas I was given Cyndaquil, but I think we already had a good relationship.

Camilla never had a starter Pokemon before and I didn't want to say anything, but her first experience with Chikorita didn't go so well, but I knew there would be something that would make them become the best of friends, eventually they would become almost inseparable, there is no bond like that of a trainer and their first Pokemon.

Brock normally used rock types, but at the moment he had a water type, something that was strong against the type he specialised in, but I guess this was good for Brock he was going to use a Pokemon who's type he was not familiar with. He had used fire before when he was given Suzy's Vulpix, although it was weak against his preferred type he still cared for it as much as he did with the rest of his Pokemon.

I wondered if we would catch any Pokemon on this route, it seemed likely, on the first route I went on Rachel captured a Pidgey and there were only two of us there, there are three of us now, so, it was likely we would.

I was curious about this route, it definitely differed from the first route in Kanto, but Brock and Camilla had never travelled their first route as a new trainer with one Pokemon.

It also felt strange travelling with just two other people, I had almost always travelled with three other people, we had been in a group of four.

'So, Jordan, what new Pokemon are you hoping to encounter?' Camilla asked.

We hadn't spoken since we started on this route, and Camilla was the one to break the silence.

I remember the Pokemon that we saw on Butwal, I didn't really fancy any of those Pokemon, maybe there were others here that I would use instead. Those Pokemon did seem nice and all, but I just didn't think they were for me.

'I'm not sure.' I replied.

There were loads more, but as soon as I see a Pokemon I want, I would catch it.

But that was the same with everyone, you see a Pokemon you like and you capture it and form a partnership.

'I'm sure we'll all find Pokemon that we want to spend this journey with.' Brock said.

I knew he was right, we had lost some good friends, but we would create new partnerships with other Pokemon.

This road was bare, even with Pokemon, we hadn't seen one and we had been travelling for an hour at least.

I heard a rustle to my left and looked in that direction. A Pokemon must be near but I didn't see it.

Brock and Camilla also looked in the same direction.

'Did you see that?' Camilla asked.

'What?' I asked back.

'It looked like a brown tail, but I didn't know if it was a Pokemon or not.'

'You just saw its tail?' Brock asked.

'Yeah.' Camilla replied.

We hadn't stopped looking in the direction the supposed Pokemon was.

Two dark brown ears with pink insides poked up above the grass.

The ears twitched left and right.

I got my Pokédex out and waited for the Pokemon to reveal itself.

It then poked its hole body from the grass and I saw the Pokemon was primarily brown and quite plump. It had a cream ring on its stomach and stubby little arms with three digits on them. Its feet were also small and also had three digits. Its tail had dark brown rings going the whole way down it, the tail was thin at the start, but threw thicker and rounded at the end. It had two small black eyes and looked at us curiously.

'Sentret, the scout Pokemon. Sentret always sleep in groups of two or more so one of them can keep watch and alert its friends if danger threatens. When alone, they're too nervous to sleep.' Our Pokédexes said.

If Leaf was here she would tell us more facts about Sentret, but at the moment she was travelling with Liam giving him a second chance.

She forgave him pretty quickly, I hadn't exactly forgiven him yet, even though we talked and had almost the whole morning once we got back from me winning the Orange league.

But I knew Liam would never hurt Leaf again, so I guess I could forgive him, but it would have to wait until I saw him again.

This Pokemon turned and quickly rushed back into the tall grass, then it was gone from our sight.

That was not how I expected our first encounter with a Pokemon to go.

'That was a little disappointing.' I said. I mean we got to see a new Pokemon, but it wasn't for long.

We kept walking.

Maybe we'd see a few more Pokemon before the route ended. We didn't know how much father this route went, but it seemed almost as long as my very first route at the moment, but I still couldn't see the exit up ahead, so I guess it went on for a little while longer, we may not even be halfway through the route.

If this was anything like the cycling road and its length, it would take us at least another hour to reach Cherrygrove, thank goodness we didn't have to walk the cycling road, but we hit a bump at the end where I had to battle three punk trainers, one after the other.

Why was I comparing this place to Kanto, this was a completely different region, but I had nothing else to compare it to, I had only had one journey and the only things I could compare this region to was my home region.

'I'm sure we'll see more Pokemon before the route is up.' Brock said. 'This route is apparently longer than some in this region, it appears as if the routes in this region are quite long, none are really that short, the distances between the towns and cities surpass that of Kanto.' Brock continued.

So the distance between the time between each settlement would be longer. I wouldn't mind, besides Camilla might actually find a dream while we're here in Johto, that would be great for her and I would support her the whole way, and even if I wasn't able to compete in the Pokemon league this year there was always next year, its not like the Pokemon league was going anywhere, it had been there since my dad claimed the title all those years ago and it would still be there at least a couple years after a new trainer claimed the title of champion.

First, before I thought of taking on the Pokemon league again I had to battle the eight gym leaders in this region and obtain the badges for beating them, I had no idea where the first gym was or what type it was. I had a feeling that my first badge would not be in Cherrygrove, although it is a city it seemed like there was more to it instead of being a gym there was probably something a little more interesting.

I saw a new Pokemon, there was a small group of them scurrying in a hurried sense.

They were primarily red, they had a large round back abdomen which had five black dots on them, their head was remarkably smaller, but was also round. From the large abdomen it had three blue legs protruding on each side, the legs ended with white round feet each with a tiny horn on the end of each foot. It had large eyes, with a black pupil. It had two small black antenna protruding from atop its head, they pointed up and then backwards.

It seemed that these Pokemon were trying to get away from something.

I took out my Pokédex before they went out of sight.

'Ledyba, the five star Pokemon. Ledyba gives off a fragrant fluid that it uses to communicate with others. It changes the scent to indicate its emotions.'

I wish Leaf was here to give us more insight, but once again we were left in the dark.

'Leaf would give us a small snippet of information on this Pokemon that the Pokédex didn't tell us.' Camilla said, voicing my thoughts.

'She was very informative.' I affirmed.

'Didn't those Ledyba seem a little scared, like there was a sort of prey coming after them? ' Brock asked.

Now that he mentioned it, I didn't exactly want to stay and find out what was chasing the Ledyba, but it wasn't as scary, as soon as the Pokemon emerged.

This Pokemon seemed a little creepy, on its light green back was what looked like a frowned face, it had two black round eyes and a black frowned mouth. From this green abdomen there were three legs that protruded from each side, these legs were yellow with a black line where the knees or joints were. The back of its abdomen was black, like a black semi circle, but it only covered a small portion of its abdomen. On its head was a small white horn, it had two large black eyes with white pupils, It also had two small red pincers on the front of its head.

I had kept my Pokédex out and scanned this Pokemon before it scuttled away.

'Spinarak, the string spit Pokemon. Spinarak uses its web like another sensory organ. It can read the vibration of the strands to tell what's happening nearby.'

I didn't understand how a group of Ledyba was trying to get away from one Spinarak when the Ledyba were slightly bigger, but with Pokemon size meant nothing, my Squirtle took on an Onix and my Pikachu took on a Gyarados.

Plus the face on the Spinaraks back was enough to creep me out. I would probably run if a Spinarak was chasing me and that was only one Spinarak. I guess there would be more at night, that would make this place seem creepy and a place I did not fancy staying tonight, I hoped we got to Cherrygrove before long.

'It doesn't seem like there is much going on in Cherrygrove, its just a city, that I know of, it will be somewhere to stay before we me make the last trek to Mr Pokemon's house.' Brock informed us.

'How far is Mr Pokemons house from Cherrygrove?' Camilla asked.

'About a days walk.' Brock replied.

I think it would be best to spend whatever was left of the day when we reached Cherrygrove in Cherrygrove, I didn't fancy spending the night outside when Spinarak could be around.

I know I had been around scarier Pokemon, but I knew almost nothing about Spinarak. It was best I didn't get up close and personal with them.

Ledyba and Sentret seemed like okay Pokemon, I wouldn't mind spending the night with them, but its just that Spinarak was beginning to make my skin crawl.

A few seconds later a few Sentret ran past us, they looked like they were in a hurry, something must have scared them.

We turned and I almost fell over, a Pokemon loomed over me and I moved out the way.

This Pokemon was primarily blue and reptilian. It stood on its hind legs which were quite small, its feet had three claws at the end, on its knees were blue protrusions that looked like pads. On its stomach it had two cream patches that created a v shape. It had powerful arms with pad shapes on it, two from the shoulder to the elbow, one past its elbow and one on its wrist. Its hands have five digits and each digit has a claw on it. It has a large jaw with a cream underside and a few teeth were sticking out from its upper and lower jaw. Its eyes were large and yellow. Atop its head were red spikes, it also had a set of these spikes on its back and another set near the end of its tail

I took out my Pokédex to scan this Pokemon.

'Feraligatr, the big jaw Pokemon and the last evolved form of Totodile. Feraligatr uses its gaping maw as an intimidation tactic, Its powerful legs propel it into a high-speed charge.'

I looked at Brock, his Totodile would one day look like this large intimidating Pokemon.

'Feraligatr, use hydro pump on those Sentret.'

A man around twenty years old followed behind the Feraligatr.

The thing that shocked me about the man the most was the red hair he had. I knew exactly who that was, it was my half brother.

'Silver?' I asked before I could stop myself.

The man stopped dead in his tracks.

He turned slowly and I saw the look in his eyes, it was confusion before it morphed into a glare, it didn't faze me.

'Look, kid, I don't have time to chat or ask how you know me, I'm a bit busy,.' Silver said.

'Too busy to see your mother, Delia Hale?' I asked.

Silver looked at me his face looked in shock and hurt.

I swear I saw a bit of remorse in his face before he his intensified his glare toward me.

'That woman is a liar, and so is your father.' Silver said, hie tone had a hint of malice, like he loathed his own mother.

'They loved you.' I replied.

'Whatever, two things for you kid.'

'I'm Jo...'

'I don't care who you are, and stay out of my way, if you interfere again, you'll have wished you hadn't.' Silver said before he took off, before I could call out to him he was gone.

I had now met my half brother and he was hunting down Sentret.

It wasn't exactly how I pictured this meeting would go, I didn't think he'd be happy to see me, but he seemed dark, darker that my parents told me he was.

Our meeting was less than a minute, but he seemed darker than anyone else I had ever met.

Okay maybe he was as dark as Giovanni, like father like son, but then again I didn't know what his relationship with his father was, was he helping his father behind the scenes, if so where was he when I infiltrated the Silph. Co or when I had my gym battle with Giovanni?

Silver seemed very mysterious and powerful.

I didn't want to get in his way, just as long as he didn't get in my way.

'Are you okay, Jordan?' Camilla asked placing her hand on my shoulder.

I felt myself relax and unclench my fists. I hadn't noticed I had them clenched.

'Yeah, I think so, but I don't like him.' I replied.

'He doesn't seem like someone I would concern myself with, he made his intentions clear, Jordan.' Brock told me.

'Yeah, but I don't like him, not because he despises me or my dad, but because he despises his mother, my mother, our mother.' I replied.

My mother was the most caring person in the whole world, I don't know how anyone could not love her?

I didn't want to dwell on this, I wanted to focus on my journey. I wanted to focus on finding more Pokemon native to Johto, more Pokemon to become friends with. I wanted to focus on collecting more gym badges so I could enter the Pokemon league at the end of this year. But this time I would be more prepared.

'Aaah.' We heard a scream and not a second later a girl a little older than Camilla and I and a little younger than Brock ran toward us, looking behind her.

She looked toward us and her face morphed into shock, I tried to move out the way as she tried to stop, but she bumped into me and we both fell to the ground.

This girl had light brown hair that fell to her elbows, she had two orange spheres that had brown hair pointing upward away from them. She was wearing a mint green knee-length dress that had a white frill at the bottom, the dress was also white near the top, like she had a small white coat over it, but the white was short sleeved. A red ribbon was tied at the neckline of the dress. The girl had light brown eyes. She was also wearing white flats with a green gem on the front.

The clothes looked like she had worn them everyday for the past few weeks and had had a few tumbles in them too.

'Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry.' The girl rushed out as she slowly got up.

'Wait, why are you running?' Camilla asked as Brock helped me up.

'Trying to get away.' The girl replied.

'From who?' I asked.

'From something, not someone.' The girl replied.

'A Pokemon?' Camilla guessed.

'No, that's...never mind.' The girl said.

She obviously didn't want to tell us, that was understandable, she didn't know who we were and we didn't know who she was.

I felt an obligation to introduce myself.

'My name is Jordan Hale.' I said. I almost said this is Pikachu, but he wasn't here, he was at professor Oaks lab.

I frowned at the memory.

If the girl notice the change in my mood she didn't indicate that she noticed.

'I'm Camilla Fo...Brook.' Camilla said, she just told this girl her real name, a girl she hardly knew, but maybe she wasn't trying to hide from her past any more.

Sure Brock and I knew, but we were her friends. This girl was a stranger to us, but I guess we wouldn't be with this girl for long.

We'd find out her name, see if we could help her then be on our way.

'My name is Brock Harrison.' Brock introduced himself.

'I am Jasmine.' The girl said. She didn't give us her last name, there must be a reason, but I didn't want to press her if it was personal, she would have told us if she chose.

'Jasmine, if you tell us what it is you are trying to get away from we can help you.' Camilla said.

'How about we help you out in Cherrygrove?' Brock suggested.

Jasmine looked hesitant about that idea.

'It will be easier if you tell us when we are sitting down together.' Camilla encouraged.

We didn't want to scare Jasmine and pressure her, Camilla was the best not to push Jasmine, she was a girl, so Brock and I let her handle talking to Jasmine to persuade her.

Camilla steered Jasmine in the direction of the way we were facing, and she started walking. Brock and I walked behind them.

'I'm sorry about Pikachu.' Brock said after a few seconds of silence.

'Huh?' I asked.

'Even when we parted on Valencia Island you two were as close as any partnership of people and Pokemon I have seen, and I was a gym leader since I was ten years old. In those two years of being a gym leader no bond that I have seen has ever been stronger.' Brock started. 'It must have been hard saying goodbye and letting go.' Brock continued.

'It feels as if a big hole has been left, he wasn't just my Pokemon, he was my best friend.' I said.

'I thought that was me?' Brock joked.

'You know its different.' I told him.

'Yeah the bond I have with Onix is close to your bond with Pikachu, but Onix is considerably larger, but he and I spent loads of time together when I wasn't training at the gym or somewhere in Pewter. He was the first Pokemon I received and immediately we had a connection.'

I didn't doubt Brock's story, the first Pokemon you get always has an impact, Squirtle always had an impact with me, but for some reason Pikachu and I had a stronger connection.

Brock looked at my expression.

'I know, its not the same feeling getting a Pokemon than catching your first one.'

'Even more when you have type disadvantage. I bet that was a wonderful feeling, you had caught a Pokemon you liked because of a previous experience with another trainers.' Brock said looking toward Camilla.

'Her Pikachu was so agile, I just wanted to show her that a water type shouldn't be underestimated.'

'But instead you liked how her Pikachu showed you what it could do.' Brock guessed.'Maybe it caught you off guard and you lost which made you want one more. It seems like Camilla is the one to thank for you having a best friend as a Pokemon.' Brock told me.

I never thought of it that way. If I won with my Squirtle against Camilla's Pikachu I may never have caught one of my own.

Did Camilla really have that much of an impact on me when I first started my journey ? Now she and I had been through so much together, we had seen the same amount of legendary and mythical Pokemon.

Camilla was originally going to be someone I was going to see every now and then on my journey, but since Cerulean she decided to travel with me.

'Thanks for understanding, Brock. Just think of all the Pokemon we'll encounter and befriend here in Johto though.' I said.

'This region is as alien to me as it is to you.' Brock reminded me.' But I have missed the travelling part of my journey.' I missed all your Orange island adventures, you'll have to tell me about them sometime.' Brock said.

As long as he reminded me as I'd probably forget.

'You've missed out on loads of fun Brocko, I almost died again.' I chuckled.

'Almost?' Brock asked 'Again?'

He did make a point , I died before. Only once though.

'Okay, I almost died a few times.' I said.

'Nothing new then.' Camilla said from in front of us.

'I'm surprised you haven't run away yet, Jasmine.' I said.

'Your adventures sound fun, except the dying part.' She replied.

'Well, I promised Camilla I'll never die again, so I'm still alive.' I told her.

'Jordan has never broken a promise, so if we say we promise to help you, we will.' Camilla said.

I looked forward to see if I could see Cherrygrove, but I couldn't see past an incline, we'd probably have to walk up, maybe we would be able to see Cherrygrove city from up there.

I wondered if the view would be as nice as when we first saw New Bark town.

The sky started to get dark.

The way it looked, there were only two towns in Kanto, it was nice to see a new town. I wondered if there were more towns in Johto than in Kanto, it was nice to see a quiet little place every now and then. Lavender was nice little town, but it was filled with so many events. We met Leaf after a few years, we infiltrated the lost tower to stop team Rocket, I almost died jumping from the top of the lost tower. I'd like to be in a town where there were no massive events. I know I'm apparently "the chosen one" along with Camilla, but I'd like life to calm down sometimes.

Even this route was filled with uncertainties. I met my half-brother who despised me as much as he did my parents, he was mysterious and I loathed him as much as he loathed me.

We had met a few new Pokemon which was a good experience and I was glad I was filling up the Pokédex.

We had met up with Jasmine who we had promised to help, but we had to reach Cherrygrove first and then she would sit us down and tell us her problem to see if we could help.

To be honest New Bark town, was quite eventful, we even had to say goodbye to our Pokemon, who we had travelled with for almost two years, save for my Aerodactyl, he spent more time with Lance than me. I had to leave my best friend behind, he was now in a separate region, but maybe he was having fun behind professor Oaks lab.

I wondered if everywhere we went was going to be as eventful as the previous three places we had been in in Johto.

I don't think I couldn't handle so many events at once, hopefully Cherrygrove would be calmer and we would be free of such events. If Jasmine travelled with us for a while I'm sure she'd leave after what we happened to run into.

I was sure Camilla would have after the few events after Cerulean, but she stayed with me, Brock had travelled with me through the events even after he got captured. Rachel had been with me since day one and she said she would travel with me no matter what. Leaf asked to travel with us even after all she heard I had been through. Tracey had just tagged along and he wasn't really that fazed by the events we had either.

We reached the top of the hill and I saw Cherrygrove, it wasn't that much further from where we were, that means the route was over.

Cherrygrove was quite big, but most of it was greenery, I thought it would be a big city, hustling and bustling like most cities were, this one looked bare though, like no-one lived here, the only signs of life was that the lights that had just turned on.

As we got closer I really understood why it was called Cherrygrove, there were groves of cherry trees dotted all over the place.

I looked around as we reached the bottom of the hill and the Pokemon centre was not that far from us, it was close enough I could see it.

That was convenient, the Pokemon centre was so close to the entrance of the city, why wasn't every Pokemon centre that close to the entrance, I bet it was so far away from the exit though. I mean if you came from the other way I'm sure it would be too far away. You had to walk all that way just to rest your Pokemon.

I didn't run, none of us did, this place seemed vacant, either that or everyone was inside, even at night some people were outside, in every town or city I visited someone was out at night at least a few people, but here, no-one.

We entered the Pokemon centre and there were a few people in here.

There were always people in the Pokemon centre.

My friends and I went to sit at a table I went to sit next to Camilla while Jasmine sat opposite her, Brock sat opposite me.

'Don't you guys have Pokemon?' Jasmine asked.

'We do.' Brock replied.

'We didn't let them out in the first route.' I continued.

'We didn't find any Pokemon to battle.' Camilla finished.

'Where did you get those Pokemon from?' Jasmine asked.

'Professor Elm.' I replied.

'We originally come from the Kanto region.' Brock told Jasmine, she looked at us in confusion.

'We travelled the Kanto region and then Blue told us of this neighbouring region...' I started.

'Wait, Blue? The Blue?' Jasmine asked. 'The Pokemon league Blue?' Jasmine asked.

Apparently Blue was known in both regions, he must have been a pretty great trainer to be recognised even in this region, maybe one day that would be me.

'Yeah... that's the one.' I replied.

'You know Blue?' Jasmine asked.

It seemed like she liked Blue.

'Who is Blue to you?' Camilla asked.

'A role model. I want to be known all over the region like him.' Jasmine replied.

I'm glad she kept her voice down if not we might have been the centre of attention, I did not want that, not now. I didn't want any recognition until I won at least my first Gym badge. Whenever or wherever it was.

'Why don't we get some rest now and we can talk about your problem in the morning?' Camilla suggested asking Jasmine.

Jasmine nodded, they both got up and made their way to nurse Joy for a room key.

As soon as they entered Brock turned to me.

'What's troubling you?' Brock asked.

I looked at him in shock.

'How do you know something is troubling me?' I asked.

'Jordan, I have known you before Camilla, I know when you are troubled.' Brock said.

'It's just the last dream I had.'

'An Aura dream?' He asked.

I nodded. 'But it was more informative than what my aura dreams are normally like.' I replied.

'Tomorrow we'll be on our way to see Mr. Pokemon, he might have information that is useful to you now. He might be able to tell you about some of the Gym leaders in this region.' Brock informed me.

That would be good, knowing something about the challenges that I would face, that was my sole purpose of coming here, not to dwell on dreams that may not happen for ages, but to tackle the Gyms and fight my way to the silver conference.

Brock always had a way to get my mid back on track, he was always a big help. I just wondered how it would be when he would no longer be around to help me.

Now I had to keep my mind focused.

I headed to the room Camilla and Jasmine where in, it seemed they were already asleep.

As soon as my head hit the pillow I was gone.

I've taken back the A/N for this chapter, it helps when the protagonists are asleep. How was this chapter, I know it was kind of a filler, but it is necessary, I had to introduce Silver, this is sort of where you meet him in the games, but after Mr. Pokemon. Jasmine will be travelling with the group in this region. In the next chapter someone will catch their next Pokemon, and and old face will resurface. Who will catch what Pokemon, and who will reappear?

Chapter Five: Cherrygrove Turmoil