Ch. 34: New Friends

Kari Arc

Kari is traveling the short distance between Pallet Town and Viridian City. Although it doesn't take her long to traverse Route 1 normally, Kari decides to take her time and enjoy the journey. It's a straight dirt path with lots of grass and trees surrounding them.

It's not even lunchtime when both Kari's and Eevee's stomachs start growling. They both look at one another, "Weeeell, why don't we stop for an early lunch..?" Thanks to Prof. Oak, they have leftovers from last night's dinner packed away in the lunchbox Al gave her. They sit together in the shade of a large tree and settle in to eat. Out of the corner of her eye, though, Kari notices some rustling in the grass. She stops.

Eevee doesn't seem at all bothered as he continues to devour his food. Kari catches a glimpse of something purple. She furrows her eyebrows, confused. Before she can react something jumps out!

It's a Rattata! The Wild Pokémon lands on Eevee's bowl upsetting the contents and spilling the last of the stew all over them. Eevee is stunned. The two Pokémon are covered in food now. The Rattata, though taken aback with its failed attempt at stealing he food stands and shakes it off. Its eyes find Kari's. She still has a full bowl.

Rattata readies itself to pounce, but it doesn't get far..! Eevee grabs Rattata by the tail and tosses it aside. He's yelling at the stranger now. How dare it just come over and ruin their picnic! Rattata has its eyes wide open- shocked at the sudden lecture. And although Kari doesn't quite understand all that Eevee is saying to the little Pokémon, she can get the idea…

Kari steps in front of Eevee with a handkerchief, "There, there, it's alright..! There's still plenty of food for everyone." Eevee calms down just a bit. Kari looks back at the Rattata and smiles, "Plenty for you, too, if you'd like to share." Rattata doesn't know how to respond. It's not used to being treated so kindly by wandering Trainers.

Kari and Eevee are surprised to see Rattata's head hang low. It's almost as if it's trying not to cry. Kari goes over to comfort it. She pets its head gently. Rattata looks up at the two of them, grateful. When Rattata woke up this morning he would have never expected to be sitting with a group of new friends by lunchtime…

Kari stands, pulling on her backpack straps. She waves at the Rattata, "Thanks for having lunch with us!" She and Eevee turn to continue on their way through Route 1. Rattata takes a hesitant step. Should he, or..?

Rattata zooms out of the tall grass to block their path. He's giving Kari a fierce look she doesn't quite seem to understand. Eevee jumps from Kari's shoulder to talk to it. After a couple minutes Eevee is nodding and smiling. He looks back at Kari and jumps over her shoulder. She stumbles, trying to keep her balance, "Hey! What are you-?" Eevee was burrowing through her backpack. He pulls out a Pokéball and drops it in her hand. Kari looks between the ball and the two Pokémon.

"Wait..! Are you saying you want to come along with us?" Rattata nods. Kari jumps up and down, smiling. She readies the Pokéball, "Well, alrighty then! Here we go!" She throws the ball and it lands squarely atop Rattata's head. After a moment, it stops. Kari and Eevee turn to look to each other- stars in their eyes and smiles plastered on their faces, "We just caught our very first Pokémon!"

They've arrived back in Viridian City. Not wanting to stay for long, she opts for staying at the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy is happy to see Kari after all this time and the two get to talking while she cares for her Rattata. It never occurred to her that people would wonder where she disappeared to…

She'd been Training and learning at the Team Rocket Academy for so long now, but the locals who've known her all her life had no idea. Not to mention, as the Gym Leader's sweet daughter, she was well known…

Nurse Joy isn't at all surprised that she's starting a journey of her own, "Your mother was a great Trainer, too, in her day, wasn't she?" Nurse Joy is smiling… That's right… her mother was really loved by everyone, too. That was just her nature. Nurse Joy asks to see Kari's Earth Badge. Though a little embarrassed, Kari pulls out the the little leaf-shaped badge. "You really are your father's daughter!" All Kari can do is smile, her eyes not quite meeting Nurse Joy's.

"But you know…" Nurse Joy tilts her head to the side, "If you keep it in your pocket like that it's going to get dirty, or worse! You might lose it…" She snaps her fingers, disappearing behind the counter. Kari leans over trying to see when her head pops back up, suddenly. She has a thin silver tin container in her hand. It's a little dusty, but Kari can still make out the official Pokémon League Pokéball Insignia in the corner. She gives a soft blow and rubs off any excess dirt, "Over the years your father has gained himself quite the reputation as a very powerful Gym Leader, you know. But that also means less and less Trainers are making their way out here to register for the Pokémon League and begin their own journeys." She holds out the tin to Kari, "We have a lot of these badge cases lying around." She opens it for Kari to see, "You can use it to hold your badges as you collect them! Oh!" She nearly drops the tin as she runs off again.

Kari sits on the counter watching as she disappears behind the door. Nurse Joy's partner, Chansey, walks over to them with a tray of tea. She seems just as confused as Kari is. After a few minutes Nurse Joy returns with a black belt in her hand. She shows it to Kari, "And this, too!" Kari looks it over: the belt seems to have silver clasps sewed onto it. They're small, circular, and the perfect shape for-

"Pokéballs! It makes carrying them around much easier! And with this little pouch attached in the back you can store any spare balls for the journey!" Kari jumps off the counter, excited. She wraps the belt around her small waist and Nurse Joy attaches the pouch to the back. Nurse Joy hands over Rattata's Pokéball. Kari pulls out Eevee's and clip them onto the 1st two clasps on her left hip. The pouch is filled with the balls Prof. Oak gave her.

Nurse Joy takes a step back and looks her up and down, a kind smile on her face. Kari's trying to get a feel for her new gear, looking side to side at her belt. Nurse Joy kneels down to her level giving her a look, "You look just like a real Trainer now! And you know what else..?" Kari meets her eyes, "I'm sure your mother would be proud."

Kari swallows, blinking back some tears. She can't express her thanks with words and instead smiles.

That night Kari is lying awake, staring up at the ceiling. She just can't get Nurse Joy's face out of her mind. [ "I wonder if Mommy really would be proud…" ] She turns over and sees the open badge case, her Earth Badge sitting in the 1st spot. One after the other she's feeding into the lie her father created… Is that really ok, or..? She grips the blanket and buries her face into the pillow. After a while, Kari falls asleep to the soft mixed snoring of both Eevee & Rattata.

Chansey rushes out of the sliding doors holding Kari's lunchbox. Chans! She hands it over to Nurse Joy who packs it into her backpack for her, "Now you've got everything you need, right?" Kari nods. Nurse Joy zips up the bag and turns her around, "And you know which way you're headed? The Viridian Forest can be tricky for new Trainers." Kari giggles, "Don't worry. I've played in those woods my whole life! I know it better than most people." She turns to the stairs, waving once more to Nurse Joy and Chansey who are seeing them off.

Out in the forest, Kari can finally breathe again. Eevee and Rattata walk alongside Kari throughout the forest, not in their Pokéballs. Kari says it's a lot more fun this way. "You prefer walking than being your ball, too, huh Eevee?" Vee!

Along the way Kari meets with several other Pokémon Trainers. Some are confused why there's a little girl wandering the forest, others wonder why her Pokémon aren't being kept in the balls. But no matter the taunts, Kari beats them every time. How strange battling with people outside of the Team Rocket Academy… She pulls Rattata into a hug as he wins another battle. She's never Trained with another Pokémon besides Eevee.

On the 2nd day in the forest the group are walking through a dense patch of bushes when both Pokémon suddenly stop. They're suddenly alert. Kari looks up to see where they're looking. Far away, high in the trees, there's a small Pokémon watching them. She pulls out Dex to check the data. It's just a Pidgey. Kari gives a smile, looking at Rattata, "What do you say?" Ra!

Within seconds, Rattata is climbing up the tree. He jumps from branch to branch getting closer to the Wild Pidgey. But she sees them coming. Pidgey takes off, circling Rattata where he's stopped on a branch. Pidgey hits Rattata with a powerful Gust, trying to blow him away, but Rattata manages to hold on. Kari calls up to him, "Use Tail Whip!" Pidgey is taken aback by the move, giving Rattata the perfect opening.

"Bite!" He jumps from the branch and lands atop Pidgey. She's flapping her wings with all her might, trying to keep them airborne, but the two come crashing down. Rattata jumps back to where Kari and Eevee are. Pidgey stands, her legs a bit wobbly. Kari pulls out a Pokéball, "You're a tough one, but that's as far as you're going!" She throws the ball and catches the weakened Pidgey. They've got another one!

Now with their new friend, Pidgey, Kari and the others continue on through the Viridian Forest. And boy is she loving the freedom that comes with starting a journey! Kari can take as many snack breaks as she wants, she can take a nap in the middle of the day if she feels like it, go for a swim in a stream just for fun… It's all up to her.

While traveling through the forest she captures a Caterpie and Weedle and all together they continue to battle Trainer after Trainer. They're all shocked with how quickly the two Bug Pokémon manage to evolve- by the end of the 4th day she now has a Metapod and Kakuna. And, of course, she's sure to collect data along the way for Professor Oak. He was right. It was extremely helpful having Dex with her. She'd never have learned so much about her Poke'mon without it.

Kari isn't at all surprised with how well Eevee is getting along with all their new friends. She smiles to herself, thinking out loud, "I can't wait to meet more Pokémon on this journey..! And together… We'll get stronger and stronger!" She looks up towards the top of the canopy where the last rays of sunshine are gleaming through. An old memory is jogged in the back of her mind… The day she made that promise with her friend…

[ She stands and happily does a pirouette past the boy, her dress catching the wind. His back is turned away where you can't make out his face… It'd been a long while, but she still remembered like it was just yesterday… "A 'Poke'Idol' is someone who is not only the top Trainer in the world, but they are also a great performer and idol for all Trainers!" The sun was setting just as it was now… She takes the boy's hands, "Alright then. It's a promise!" ]

As the light hits her face, Kari blocks it out with an arm. She smiles, "To become the world's very first PokéIdol..! That's right…" Eevee calls out to her. They've hit a break in the trees. She follows her Pokémon out of the opening.

Dirty and grimy from her days in the Viridian Forest, Kari finally arrives in the next town. Just below them is a small landscape of lights, "There it is! It's Pewter City!" Kari and her Pokémon stand atop some rocks. She looks around at them all, "There's a gym here… And that'll be the first step towards a new goal..!"