Chapter 6.
The Pokemon Care Centre
After a few minutes of walking, Raquaelle and Mr Johnson both arrived at a large building, in front of it was a sign saying: "Welcome to the Pokemon Care Centre".
"Is this the place Mr Johnson?" Raquaelle asked.
"It's where I care for many different types of Pokemon," said Mr Johnson.
"So they could go to Pokemon trainers?" asked Raquaelle.
"Oh, yes," Mr Johnson replied.
"Wow..." said Raquaelle as she and Mr Johnson both entered the Pokemon Care Centre.
"And there are plenty of Pokemon here that I'm taking care of," Mr Johnson went on.
"Like what?" asked Raquaelle.
"Oh, many, such as Pikachu, Pidgey, Rattata, Spearow, Caterpie, Weedle... And some slightly less common ones such as Vulpix, Meowth, and Growlithe," Mr Johnson said.
"Hey Grandpa!" called an unfamiliar female voice.
"Oh! Excuse me, Raquaelle." Mr Johnson turned around to see who had called him. It was a girl with black hair, blue eyes and wearing a pink t-shirt, blue shorts and white trainers and her name was Jenny Johnson.
"Yes, Jenny?" Mr Johnson asked.
"Who is that Pokemon trainer you have brought here?" Jenny asked pointing at Raquaelle.
"This is Raquaelle, Jenny." Mr Johnson turned to look at Raquaelle. "Raquaelle, this is my granddaughter, Jenny. She's a Pokemon trainer like yourself."
"It's very nice to meet you Jenny," Raquaelle said as she offered a handshake towards Jenny.
Jenny walked over to her and shook hands with her.
"It's nice to meet you too, Raquaelle," said Jenny.
"Would you like to meet the three Pokemon I have got?" asked Raquaelle.
"Sure!" Jenny said with a nod.
"Charmander! Rattata! Caterpie! Come out!" Raquaelle shouted as she threw the three Pokeballs and the three aforementioned Pokemon emerged from their Poke Balls as they opened.
"Char-char!"
"Rattata!"
"Pieee!"
"Oh, they're cool!" Jenny said with a smile. "Hey, little guys," she said to greet the Pokemon.
"Char," said Charmander.
"Ratta," said Rattata.
"Pie," said Caterpie.
"It's really cool that you have Pokemon of your own, Raquaelle," said Jenny.
"Don't you have some Pokemon too, Jenny?" Raquaelle asked Jenny.
"Actually, I do," said Jenny. She pulled out three Pokeballs from her pocket. "Wanna see them?"
"Yes please," said Raquaelle with a nod.
Jenny pushed the buttons on her Poke Balls so that they became their normal sizes, and then threw them at the ground.
"Go! Golduck, Bulbasaur and Starmie!"
The three aforementioned Pokemon emerged from the three Poke Balls as they opened.
"Golduck!"
"Bulbasaur!"
"Starmie!"
"Oh, cool!" Raquaelle said. "I haven't seen these before!"
Raquaelle pulled out her Pokedek and held it in front of Golduck, which displayed a picture of the Pokemon.
"Golduck, the Duck Pokémon. The evolved form of Psyduck. Golduck is very adept at using its webbed hands and feet, making it the fastest swimming Pokémon of all."
"Sounds like a very useful Pokemon," said Raquaelle.
Raquaelle moved her Pokedek to Bulbasaur and a picture of Bulbasaur appeared on the Pokedek.
"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A young Bulbasaur uses the nutrients from its seed for the energy it needs to grow."
"That sounds cool" said Raquaelle.
Raquaelle moved her Pokedek to Starmie and a picture of Starmie appeared on the Pokedek.
"Starmie, the Mysterious Pokémon. The evolved form of Staryu. Its central core glows with the seven colours of the rainbow. Some people value the core as a gem."
"To be fair, that one looks pretty awesome," said Raquaelle.
"Jenny, I like all three of your Pokemon," Raquaelle said to Jenny with a smile.
Jenny smiled as well. "Thanks, Raquaelle, I worked hard for them."
"I especially like this Golduck," said Raquaelle gesturing towards Golduck, "It looks very useful."
"Yeah, he's one of my strongest Pokemon," Jenny replied.
"Tell me, where in Kanto could I find and catch my own Golduck?" asked Raquaelle.
"You'll have to find a Psyduck and catch it first before you have a Golduck," said Jenny.
"And where could I find a Psyduck to catch?" asked Raquaelle.
"You can fish for one on Route 24 and 25," said Jenny. "You'll need a Fishing Rod, though."
"Okay. Where can I get a Fishing Rod?" asked Raquaelle.
"I got mine for free from a Fisherman in Cerulean City," Jenny stated.
"Okay then," said Raquaelle and she turned back to Mr Johnson, "Mr Johnson, where do you keep these Pokemon Eggs that you have in this place?"
"I keep them in this room," Mr Johnson said as he placed his hand on a nearby doorknob. "Come with me and I'll show you."
"Okay," said Raquaelle, she returned Charmander, Rattata and Caterpie to their Pokeballs before following Mr Johnson into the nearby room.
When Mr Johnson opened the door and turned on the light, the first thing Raquaelle saw was a variety of Pokemon Eggs with different colors and patterns.
"Wow. This room is amazing," said Raquaelle as she looked at all of the Pokemon Eggs in awe.
"It sure is," Mr Johnson agreed. "In each one of these Eggs is a different Pokemon waiting to be born and exhibit its full potential."
"That's awesome!" exclaimed Raquaelle.
"Indeed, it is," Mr Johnson replied.
"What do I do now that I'm in here?" asked Raquaelle.
"You may look at the Pokemon Eggs if you'd like," said Mr Johnson, "but I have one in particular that I believe will help you greatly."
"Really? What egg is it?" Raquaelle asked.
Mr Johnson reached over and pulled out a Pokemon Egg that he showed to Raquaelle, it was light purple with strange markings on it.
"This is a Nidoran Egg," said Mr Johnson. "If you take it with you and look after it properly, it will eventually hatch into a potentially useful Pokemon."
"Oh wow! Thank you, Mr Johnson," said Raquaelle as she gently took the Egg from Mr Johnson, "Can it be okay if I have two Eggs?"
"Of course it is," Mr Johnson stated. "Which other one would you like?"
"Can I have look at which one I would like first?" asked Raquaelle.
"Certainly," Mr Johnson said. "And take your time; we're in no hurry."
Raquaelle looked along the shelves of many Pokemon Eggs until she stop when she came to an Egg that was orange with black and tan markings.
"Mr Johnson, what is this Egg?" asked Raquaelle.
"That? That is a Growlithe Egg," Mr Johnson said. "Would you like that one?"
"Yes please," Raquaelle said with a nod.
"Very well, then," Mr Johnson said with a nod. "You may have it, but you'll have to treat the Pokemon that hatches from it with care as well."
"Oh I will," said Raquaelle and she picked up the Growlithe Egg and placed it in her backpack, along with the Nidoran Egg.
"Thank you very much, Mr Johnson," said Raquaelle.
"Your Welcome Raquaelle," said Mr Johnson as he and Raquaelle went out of the room and back where Jenny was waiting.
"Hey, Raquaelle, can I see what Pokemon Eggs you got from there?" Jenny wanted to know.
"Of course," said Raquaelle and she took out the Nidoran Egg and Growlithe Egg out of her backpack and showed them to Jenny.
"Wow..." Jenny said. "I think you're in for two awesome new Pokemon, Raquaelle."
"Thanks Jenny," said Raquaelle with a smile as she put both Eggs away into her backpack, "By the way, who is the first Gym Leader here in Kanto?"
"His name is Brock," Jenny said. "He resides in the Pewter City Gym. They say if you defeat his Pokemon, you'll get a Boulder Badge. Doesn't that sound cool?"
"Yes. So it's off to Pewter City I go!" Raquaelle announced.
"Good luck!" Jenny said.
"Before you go Raquaelle I have something that might help you greatly in your gym battles," said Mr Johnson.
"What is it?" asked Raquaelle.
"I'd also like to give you this Pokemon," Mr Johnson stated as he showed her a Poke Ball.
"Thank you sir," Raquaelle said to Mr Johnson as she took the Pokeball from him and place it in the fourth empty slot on her belt, "I must be going now."
Raquaelle then began to walk out of the Pokemon Care Centre, with Mr Johnson and Jenny waving goodbye to her. Raquaelle stop at the door of the Pokemon Care Center, turned back to Mr Johnson and Jenny and said:
"Goodbye Mr Johnson, goodbye Jenny."
"Bye, Raquaelle!" Jenny replied.
"Good luck on your mission!" said Mr Johnson.
And with that, Raquaelle left the Pokemon Care Centre and walked out of Viridian City but she was still unaware that the mysterious Pokemon was still following her and she couldn't help but wonder what Pokemon she would face at Pewter City's gym...