Chapter 24: Take a bike.

I was getting ready to leave Goldenrod City, but there was one more thing I wanted to do.

I entered Miracle Cycle, the Goldenrod Bike Shop. There, I saw a man crying at the counter. "It's no use" he wailed. "I'm going to go out of business in a week".

I asked him why that was, and he said that less and less people were buying bikes. I asked if there was anything that I could do.

"Well, I moved business to Johto from Kanto to further business, but the only shop that was affordable was this corner shop which no one can see. For that reason, business has been a disaster."

I told him that I would like to buy a bike.

"Really? Thank you! In fact, do me a favour. Borrow this bike and be a walkin- err I mean riding advertisement! Take my Pokegear number to!"

I thanked him and then went out the shop. I got on the bike. I could go a lot faster now!

As I rode out of Goldenrod City, I saw people take interest in the bike.

"Oh my goodness, is there really a Bike Shop in Goldenrod City?" "I have been needing one for a while." "I know what I'm getting my Son for his Birthday!" These were the audience reactions. This was great. It was working.

All that cycling tired me out, so I decided to take a rest in National Park. It was a Sunday, so no Bug Catching Contest. I just watched the Sunkern playing in the field.

Sunkern

102

Grass Type

Seed Pokémon

1'00" (0.3m)

4 lbs (1.8 kg)

It may drop out of the sky suddenly. If attacked by a Spearow, it will violently shake its leaves.

Just then, I saw a piece of paper blow over to me. I looked over to where it was coming from. To my utter shock, litter was everywhere.

"Unbelievable" said the Park Ranger. "Vandalism, that's what it is. Some guy didn't win the Bug Catching Contest yesterday and threw a hissy fit."

Unbelievable. It's okay to lose. I mean he probably lost to a Caterpie but I digress. This was wrong and I offered to clean up.

"Well, you will need assistance" said the Park Ranger, sending out a purple Pokémon with a hand on its tail.

Aipom

122

Normal Type

Long Tail Pokémon

2'07" (0.8 m)

25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)

It lives atop tall trees. When leaping from branch to branch, it deftly uses its tail for balance.

"That's not the only help". I turned around to see the Officer from the other day with the kids that tried to blow me up. "These naughty young'uns are on community service. They will give you a hand."

"But its Sunday. I want to play video games!" whined one.

"You should have thought about that before putting a person's life at risk. Now get to work."

One of the young Camper's came up to me whilst I was clearing up. He wanted to ask me a question.

"So Mr Ethan. What's it like being a Pokémon Trainer who collects badges?"

I told him that its as fun as it is challenging. It takes a lot of responsibility to train Pokémon on the go, there are no parents to tell you what to do so you need to make your own judgments and it could even be quite dangerous.

"I'm not old enough to travel the world. But when I get your age, I will take on the Gym's and be the best Trainer ever! Just watch me!"

I gave him a grin.

"You know, there is this one guy named Red who went on a Journey 3 years ago and he became Champion. But then, he disappeared. What happened?"

I told him I didn't know, but I would find out one day. Red is my role model, and he is out there. This was followed up by telling Quilava to throw the rubbish away and not to burn it along with telling another child to get off his GBA.

"Well kids, you have all worked very hard. That should be enough" said the Officer. He took the children home and I set up my tent in the park.

Kids are tough.