The first encounter with Team Rocket
Season 1 Episode 5
Today is June 29th, our third day in the Pokémon world. We all wake up between half past 9 and 10 o'clock. The first thing that my cousin does is combing her hair (rightly she has brought with her tons of beauty products, hair dryer, plate, enamels, face powders and similar; and she complains about Lady Gaga…! When I change clothes, I withdraw my pajamas in my backpack, so I speed up a bit things.
«When will we go to breakfast?» asks my cousin.
«In a little…» I reply.
«Mirkho, should we begin to withdraw the stuff later?»
«Do what you want, Ylenia. But after breakfast we'll leave, because I would like to do a piadinata* for lunch»
«Great! I agree» rejoices James.
We go downstairs together. I drink Oran Berry tea (I have trouble digesting milk, whatever it is), Julia drinks milk and the others eat fruits, then I go out to smoke, followed by my girlfriend and my cousin.
«Today is a bit cloudy… will it rain?»
«I hope not, Mirkho, James yesterday has checked the weather forecasts on the iPad and gave partially cloudy, there wasn't written that it would've rained»
«Well, if it rains, I hope at least that it doesn't happen during lunch, otherwise goodbye piadinata»
«Eh, I hope that too»
«Rena, how are you?»
«Well, honey, you?»
«Me too»
«I think that also the others have done eating, I hope – I look inside – yes, they're calling us. Let's pick up our stuff?»
«Yes!»
We go up and begin a meticulous withdrawal of our merchandise: clothing, telephony, various technology, in half an hour we're good.
«Ah well, I wanted to do the piadinata without the stuff, good start… guys, if you have patience a few minutes, I'm going to buy it in Savignano…»
«But don't you do earlier going to Crai** that is closer to home?»
«Ylenia, with this medal here I can go anywhere now, if I go from here to Savignano or from here to Rivabella I don't do extra road. It's a dimensional portal!»
«Yes, I'm sorry, I still have to wake up, eh eh»
Ok. Where did I put it… here it is. Move all away if you don't want it to be sucked into the portal, ok? I go and come back, nothing extra»
All move away.
«Savignano sul Rubicone***, Hypermarket»
I close Riolu and Jolteon in the Pokéballs and I dive into the portal, then I find myself in front of the gigantic building. There are two or three people who look at me astonished after seeing me get out of the portal. I greet and enter. After having picked up three packages of piadina, I go around desperately in search of the squacquerone (Are years that I go here, but at the same time are years that I get lost all the time!), until I find myself in front of Ylenia's mother.
«Hello, our Pokémon Trainer! How is it going?»
«Don't shout, please. I'm fine, we're all fine»
«At what point are you?»
«We are still at the beginning, we have already visited two cities but without much importance, not having gyms. But they are very nice, we feel very good»
«All right, come on, I'm rooting for you. Why here?»
«We decided to do a piadinata, so I came here to take the material»
«Oh? Then enjoy your meal!»
«Thanks. I have to hurry because they are waiting for me, I promised that I would have sped myself up, when I arrive they will throw me all the saints in heaven because I'm getting lost in this labyrinth»
«Ah ah ok… if you're looking for the cheeses, they are near the cold cuts»
«Well, thanks, you've saved me from the Olympic marathon, eh eh… I go now, see you soon!»
«Bye, say hello to everyone!»
«You too, take care!»
I reach the cheese bench, I grab three packs of squacquerone, a pack of cold cut and some salad for Ylenia, then I pay and and I run out from the hypermarket. I make a run "1500 hedges" style, in the sense that I jumped 1500 hedges and bushes, up to the outer part of the north parking lot, which is empty, so I can open the portal without being noticed by over half of the supermarket. When I return, bag in hand, in the Pokémon Center, my cousin says me, with her Totodile in her arm:
«Good thing you said you'd have taken less time… it's passed almost half an hour!»
«For two reasons: I got lost and found Ylenia's mother»
«Oh God, she's always everywhere… what did she tell you?» asks Ylenia, incredulous.
«She asked how it's going, where are we, and greeted us all»
«Mh… same to her. Let's go?»
«Let's go. Let's go downstairs. Guys, don't forget anything, the same goes for me, I won't return back like in Pokémon Silver, ok? There Elm understands in some kind of way that the egg he gave you hatched, and forces you to go back 3 cities to let him see it… here not!»
«Ah ah… yeah, there Elm made all angry, don't worry» replies James.
After a final goodbye to the nurse Joy, we leave the Pokémon Center with our backpacks, towards Violet City. We cross the main street of the city center fast but then, passed the last buildings, we slow down and continue at a normal pace. I carry Riolu on my shoulders, just to let her have some fun. Here the road is a bit wider than that between New Bark Town and Cherrygrove City, and then we can also keep everyone in line. At one point there is a big curve to the right, we follow it, finding also a sign that confirms that Violet City is in that direction. We are moving away from the sea, and the road is gradually surrounded by an increasingly dense bush. After a few minutes, on a bridge over the road, we see a very big train with a lot of cars.
«That's the Magnet Train that links Johto and Kanto, that's cool!»
«Yeah, good thing» James agrees with me.
«Magnet Train?» Lucy looks the train while it disappears behind the trees.
«Yes, that's the Magnet Train. As I said before, connects Johto, where we are now, with the neighboring region, Kanto. It departs from Goldenrod City and arrives in Saffron City. Now I can't tell even the departure times, I haven't read them yet. Anyway, for sure it will be wonderful travel with that train»
«It's obvious that it's better, is not one of Trenitalia****, eh eh» concludes James.
«So… yes, we're going north at this time, therefore, so Kanto is to the east now… ok, guys, we can go on, I just wanted to get my bearings a little»
We go on passing under the big bridge. A few minutes later we meet three guys, who propose us a challenge. No time to talk that Julia, David and James volunteer. So much the better, I was about to say that I made my battle against Jack and that therefore it was up to someone else. I get off from the bike and sit on a rock, reached immediately by my girlfriend. For a moment, though, I seem to hear voices, as mild whispers coming from the woods behind me. I look around for a moment, then I give up, and I focus on the ongoing fighting. Julia there is going all out, Totodile is usually a Pokémon who doesn't like to lose, and she's doing well, thanks to the superiority of the type, against a Charmeleon. David and his Hoppip, however, are a bit in trouble against a Kakuna (Pokémon I was afraid of, when I was a child, because it looks like a wasp, – but all yellow – and I've always hated insects, the same for Beedrill), James, finally, given its experience on the types of Pokémon who shares with me, he's doing pretty well against a Machop. All three fights are very interesting, after all, you also learn by observing. After less than fifteen minutes, David incredibly manages to turn the tables by using Stun Spore, and story finished, same for Julia, a Water Gun defeats the opponent Pokémon. James wins, but with his Pidgey in short of forces.
«Pidgey, good fight, now get some rest» says closing it into the Pokeball.
«Thank you, it was a good fight» say the three guys.
«Please, it has been a pleasure» answers my cousin shaking hands with all three who, after paying for their defeat, they go saluting.
«Have you finished?» I ask, picking up my bike.
«Finished, we can resume our journey» replies David.
I try to mount on the bike, but I put a foot in the wrong position and I fall on the other side.
«Mirkho! You're 17 and don't know yet how to mount a bike? And you said you want to get the driving license next year»
«Julia… shut up or I invest you! My foot has slipped!»
«Ha ha, I like to piss you off, silly» and smiles at me.
I ignore her without saying a word and I get back pedaling, followed by the whole group. But we don't do a long way: a Houndour and a Hitmontop with strange things on their head blocked our road.
«What the…?»
Then jump off two people who I seem to know: one has short light green hair, the other has blonde hair divided into two tails and with the arrow shape. Both have a white uniform with a large red "R".
«What? Butch and Cassidy of Team Rocket?» I am incredulous.
«I see that you know us, boy…» she says.
«Of course I know you, with all seasons Pokémon that I watched… by the way, what do you want from us?»
«From the others nothing, we are interested to you»
«You have to give us some valuable information» continues Cassidy doing a slight smirk.
«Couldn't you send Jessie, James and Meowth that we would let them fly?»
«Those three idiots are the shame of Team Rocket, we wouldn't dream of sending them to some mission. Now enough talking, we saw you yesterday with Suicune, you saved his life, ruining our plans»
«What?! But then it was you who putted that trap?!»
«Bravo, you got there» applauds Cassidy, speaking ironically.
«What, Mirkho? You and Suicune have met again?»
«James, I'll explain later…»
«Quiet, boy, we explain the story to your friends. So… your dear friend, yesterday, ruined us the day, although not directly: we had placed a trap with the intent to capture the Legendary Pokémon Suicune, and we were about to do it, because it fell in the trap, but then you arrived and have saved it… we don't spend a day in our lives without someone who always obstacles us!»
«Damn… you will pay for what you have done!»
«You'll tell us where he's gone, now!» shouts Butch.
«Never! First, I have not the faintest idea where he went, second, even if I knew, I would never tell it to you! You must let it alone!»
«Oh? So this is your answer?»
«Yes»
«Then we will make you taste the power of the "rage machine"»
I don't think twice: I let Riolu out and Jolteon and I get ready. Julia and James join with their Totodile and Pidgey.
«Riolu, Iron Tail on the machine on Houndour's head, Jolteon, Thunderbolt on the other!»
I hit them, and immediately destroy the two strange machines.
«No way! How is that possible?! The professor had said that they were able to resist to any attack!»
«They probably were mounted bad… better for us. Pidgey, Acrobatics on Hitmontop!»
«Totodile, Water Gun on Houndour!»
The attack ordered by James hits Hitmontop, but then Pidgey pants, because it hasn't fully recovered yet from the previous fight. Julia's attack, however, is eluded by the enemy.
«Houndour, Flamethrower on Pidgey, and you, Hitmontop, Rolling Kick on that Riolu!»
«Pidgey, dodge it!»
But the poor, tired as it is, can't move in time and is hit.
«No!»
The bird is no longer able to fight. James is replaced by David, who lets his Hoppip out.
«Hoppip, use Stun Spore, now!»
A yellow cloud invests the two Pokémon enemies without let them have the time to make a move. In a few seconds they are lying on the ground, not able to make a movement.
«Thanks David, now it's my turn! Riolu, Aura Sphere on Houndour!»
After dodging the previous Hitmontop's Rolling Kick, Riolu jumps up and, with a very large blue ball hits the fire/dark type dog. And is out.
«Very good job, Riolu!»
Riolu jumps in my arms and hugs me.
«Jolteon, Thunder Shock on Hitmontop, and you, Riolu, Iron Tail!»
«Hoppip, Vine Whip!»
«Totodile, Tackle!»
Despite all the attacks hit it, Hitmontop gets up, albeit with difficulty.
«Honey, let me do it now. I want to enjoy myself»
«All right, go Renamon!»
As soon as he finds her in front of him, Butch horrifies:
«But you what… what creature are you? You're not a Pokémon, right?»
«No, but I'm one who will make you the butt sliced! Cyndaquil, it's up to you!»
Hitmontop is very tired, I'll leave the rest to my girlfriend, after all, she has to train too.
«Cyndaquil, Ember!»
The attack hits it, but Hitmontop still doesn't give up.
«Oh, my… it's tough…»
«Hitmontop, Rolling Kick!»
Despite the enemy is still paralyzed (or at least, it's supposed to be), it Pokemon starts spinning upside down with spread legs, hitting the little Fire Mouse Pokémon.
«Cyndaquil, are you all right?»
Her Pokémon starts screaming "cyndaaaaaaa" and starts to run becoming a fireball, that hits hardly Hitmontop, placing the word "end" to the fight against Team Rocket, with an attack of Lucy's Chikorita in extremis. Well, so we all took part in the battle!
«Great, Rena!»
My girlfriend is in seventh heaven:
«I can't believe it, Cyndaquil, you learned Flame Wheel!»
My girlfriend and her Pokémon hug happy, then she hugs me. Finally, all of us give five.
«You brats, you will hear talking about us again, we'll see you soon!»
Butch and Cassidy they go away flying, but not because we have hit them, but with the "jet packs".
«Geez, it must be cool to travel with those things» says David.
«Boy, that was our first fight with Team Rocket, and we won! That's what I call teamwork!» I congratulate with all the group.
«I made a video with your camera, Mirkho, okay?»
«You're great, Lucy! Now we also have a documentation of our victory!»
«Like the advertising of the bitter "Montenegro"*****… seemed impossible, but we did it!»
«James, don't always think about bitter and grappa… you make me want to drink!»
«Of course I think about it! We have to celebrate! Mirkho, go back to Savignano to take the beers and a bottle of Sangiovese!******»
«You go! And they won't let me buy it, I'm not 18 yet, and I still have in my stomach all I drank yesterday at the party! We will celebrate with our piadinata!»
«Ok. But now I have to find a Pokémon Center to cure Pidgey, it suffered some damage. Let me
Check the map on the Pokédex… let's see… yes, there is one five kilometers away from here!»
«Well, let's get there then, if we move quickly, we will arrive soon»
«By the way, Mirkho, explain us well what did you do with Suicune yesterday»
«For sure it wasn't anything planned, it was a pure coincidence… I was around, I came out a moment from Cherrygrove City, not to here, but from where we had arrived, and I heard a scream of some powerful Pokémon. Surely, by the power of the scream, it could have been a big Pokémon, and in fact I was right: Team Rocket had placed a trap and Suicune, somehow, is finished inside. I couldn't stay there and pretend nothing happened, I intervened immediately, and with the help of Riolu I removed everything and I took care of it. I was overjoyed… it showed his nicer side, despite it's so impressive»
«I can't believe it ... wow, you're very lucky, really»
«Well… it has been three days that we are here, and one thing I think I have understood: here I have much more luck than in the real world, I never spent three straight days of my life without something unfortunate happens, as I remember»
«Be careful, Mirkho… saying you're luckier than usual is the number one cause of bad luck!»
«Yeah, you're right… maybe it's better if I stay quiet. Hey, here is the Pokémon Center!»
In the distance we see a building with the orange roof. Thinking about Pidgey, still in Pokéball to suffer, we accelerate like we were in the Giro d'Italia up to the Pokémon Center. Upon entering, we find nurse Joy talking to Officer Jenny. James and Renamon ask the nurse to cure their Pokémon.
«Excuse me nurse Joy, can you cure our Pokémon? Especially my Pidgey, which is in bad conditions…»
«Sure, I'm here for that. Put your Pokéballs here for a moment»
While the nurse Joy enters the back of the center, the agent Jenny calls us:
«Sorry, guys, did you see Team Rocket here around doing something fishy?»
«Saw them? Much more, we have also battled them! That's why we're here» I reply.
«Oh? Then you can tell us something, can we sit there?»
We sit at a table.
«So, guys, can you tell me everything, in every detail?»
«Sure – I begin – then, I should better begin by saying what happened yesterday. I was going around just outside Cherrygrove City, on the way to New Bark Town, I've heard a scream, and I've found Suicune with a paw into a big trap. It was incredible, with the help of my Pokémon, a Riolu, I immediately saved. Today it came out Team Rocket, who after having blocked us, pretended from me to know where Suicune went, and they told me that I've ruined their plans. I didn't say anything, because I didn't know where it went, and then we started the battle, we won»
«Well done, I'm glad to hear that. Where did they go after?»
«Ah, I have no idea… they have flown with jet-packs to the southwest, I don't know the exact place where they went to»
«It fits well. Is there anything else?»
«Yes, there is other… both their Pokémon, a Houndour and a Hitmontop, had on their head something metallic that they have defined as "rage machine" which I think is something that stimulates the Pokémon to be the more aggressive as possible»
The rest of the group confirm.
«Ah, interesting… I've already heard of something similar… well, thanks guys, you gave us a lot of help, now we will investigate more thoroughly»
We hear a sound (the classic sound of video games!) and nurse Joy announces that our Pokémon are very fine, and therefore we go to pick them up (I preferred to let rest even my ones).
«Thank you» says James.
«You're welcome, always at your service»
While withdrawing my two Pokéball in two large pockets of the pants, the agent Jenny says us:
«I let you go, you gave valuable contribution to the investigation. Call us if there are news»
«Of course, goodbye» I reply.
«Goodbye, have a good journey» greet the two women.
We go out, we take the bikes and we go back in the saddle. James, while we're on the march, still
controls the map.
«So… before we get to Violet City we will face the entrance of the Dark Cave, that it's said to be an underground tunnel that runs throughout Johto, then we turn left again»
«What? Do you want to enter the cave? I hope not»
«No, Mirkho, don't worry, I was just thinking… even I don't want to do it… at least until we have Pokémon that know how to use Flash»
«"At least" a couple of balls! We won't go in it! I'm not claustrophobic, but I prefer to travel Johto in the surface»
«Ok, ok… rather, what time is it?»
«Twenty to noon» replies Ylenia.
«Here, this is the confirmation of my hunger attack… come on, let's look for a place where to eat our beloved piadina»
«But wait a bit… kind until noon»
«Fuck, Julia, you're so boring! You always contradict everything I say, you do it natural or just to make me turn my balls?»
«Hee hee… maybe both»
I send her to hell with a gesture of my arm and then I whisper to James:
«Is she normal or…?»
«I think we should better fly over…»
After a quarter of an hour, we see a little park with tables, and therefore we stop right there. We settle at a table near the road, James pulls out from his backpack a gas stove like those used in picnic or by the scouts, I pull out the pan, and my cousin pulls out the piadinas, the cold cuts and the cheese (My backpack was full, it's not very big, I have clothes, "medicines", the Pokéballs, a bottle of water and, in fact, the pan, which is not small, not counting the laptop). In a few minutes a delicious smell rises from the table, and everyone enjoys his piadina.
«To the win against Team Rocket» James ago.
«Hurray!» we all reply, but without shouting.
I smile when I see that even Riolu enjoys her slice of piadina with squacquerone, she likes it a lot. Jolteon, however, preferred the classic food for Pokémon. It seems obvious to me… Riolu, since she was born until now, has never eaten anything of this world, except an Oran Berry, and is in excellent health. Jolteon, however, was raised by Falkner, and then it's used to eating food of these parts (it seems strange that Riolu eats the Kinder snacks, or yogurt, and she likes them, I don't think there are any other Pokémon that eat something different than Pokémon food). I, James, David and Renamon (she has adored it immediately) do an encore, Ylenia and Lucy stop with the excuse that they don't want to become fatter more than they already are (it's not true, but they continue to consider themselves fat). In the end, all on the swings to digest better. After ten minutes we come back to the table and find that something miss:
«Hey… I left the pack of squacquerone here, who has taken it?»
«Oh, we didn't for sure, we were with you» answer the girls.
«Are you sure that you left it here?» asks James looking under the table.
«Yes, I swear»
«And how much there was in it?»
«Well, a little, not a significant amount…»
«So what? Don't care about it…» says James beckoning me to help him clean the table.
«I care, because I wanted to finish it»
Finished cleaning the table, we start over again.
«Will we get to Violet City before dark?» I ask.
«Eh, I don't know… it's far away, unless we don't sleep on the lawn, as you did the first day you were here» I answered my cousin.
«I wasn't here, but in the Sinnoh region, however, it's the same, it's not bad»
«Yes, but where do we take the sleeping bags?» intervenes James.
«I have two of them, used by me and my brother to scout, Julia has one… four are missing»
«That's not a problem, me, Lucy and David will use the blankets only» answers Ylenia.
«Yeah, – continues David – once I forgot it, and I slept with a blanket… for me there's no problem»
«As you wish, just that then nobody protests»
I don't know how far we go, when another problem comes: the bike pedals suddenly get stuck and I do a nice flight forward.
«But what the…?»
While other help me, I look at my bike and I see the chain down, stuck in the spokes of the wheel.
«Ah well… now with what will I arrive in Violet City?»
«Don't worry, you don't know how many times I repair the chain of my motocross bike… I won't take so much time, let me do it» says me James putting a hand on my shoulder.
It starts to work on my bike, pulling out the chain from the spokes and repositioning it in its place.
«I mean… it's not the first time that happen problems with this bike, but I insist to use it… maybe it was better if I had taken of my aunt's one…» I comment.
«Yes, so then she finds a way to get into this world to kick your ass… don't you remember a few days ago when you've taken her bike that to go around with Riolu and when we returned she welcomed you by screaming?» Julia appears in front of me.
«It was an idea…»
As I start to make some photos at the environment, James calls me:
«Hey Mirkho, I'm done, it's like new»
«Well, thanks James»
«You're welcome, after all, I'm the mechanic of the group»
«I don't doubt»
I get back on the bike and restart pedaling. I really hope it doesn't happen anymore because otherwise we will never arrive at Violet City. Well… it can happen everything, but nothing will take me away the happiness of having found my ideal world. Yes, we've just started, we haven't even reached the first gym, but I'm happy anyway. My goal is the same as Ash: win the Pokémon League and become Pokémon Master. But the road is long, very long, I don't know any way to estimate the time we'll take to reach all the cities of Johto, from first to last; but I have no hurry, I can take it slowly, and seeing that the school begins again in September, we will also have time to take a break. I look in the sky: I see flocks of Pidgey and Pidgeotto, and in the background the clouds that come and go. I was savoring the taste of freedom when…
«Mirkho, looks straight, you go to crash!»
«Oh mother, Julia»
What the hell, when I have mental dreams there's always my cousin who brings me back to Earth! And the point is that in school, professors know me for that particular "skill".
«Hey, we could make a picnic to the Safari Zone when we get there, what do you think?»
«James, the Safari Zone is full of bug type Pokémon… you know that I don't like them!»
«Ok ok I got it…»
«Do you even know where it is?»
«Eh… I honestly don't remember»
«Near Cianwood City»
«Oh my… is at the other side of the the Johto region!»
«Exactly! If you really want to go, we must get there before»
At one point, the road is a bit more uphill, and it's not well for me: I hate the climbs, and after what happened before I'm scared to shift gears to the bike: in the state in which it is, it doesn't take much to make fall the chain again. The asphalt is very smooth, and the strips are just been painted. We are overtaken by a sporty, bordeaux car. I read the brand: Monsuta.
«But… look that great piece of car!» says James.
«Yeah. From what I've read, it's a Monsuta. Who knows, from the engine and the lines that it has, you think it could be a local Lamborghini?»
«I think so, Mirkho… surely, it's a car that would cost something as a six-digit number, in our world»
«You're right… lucky those who have it. However, there isn't much traffic… this is the first car we see»
«They could be all at the beach. Rather, every so often we have to return to Rimini to enjoy our beach»
«But there is a sea that sucks, James… between seaweed, jellyfish, broken shells and shit that the people throw in the water, it's impossible to take a bath! And look, I don't like going to the beach, not because I hate it, but because I don't take so much time to burn myself, I have a sensitive skin, I swear it's not a nice feeling. And after burning, I lose the skin like snakes!»
«But where do you like to go?»
«Around in the evening, that's where I want to be! There, I feel absolutely good! And then we count also the amusement parks!»
«You're so boring! Don't you consider beer festivals?»
«Those are included»
«Oh well…»
At half past four we are still pedaling. Tired, we decide to take a break. I pull out my Nintendo DS and start playing Black Version. And who did I put as a starter along with Oshawott? None other than Zorua, eh eh eh! Everything thanks to the cheats. Yeah, I never bought Pokémon Black Version, I downloaded it and put it on my R4, and I modified the game as I want with a program called "Pokésav". Of course I don't touch the fights, otherwise it's too easy; more than anything else I put the "medicines" and the tools (especially Masterball) in the maximum number (999). Returning to Zorua, I've never participated at any event, once I couldn't, another time it was a mess. In the case of the Tricky Fox Pokémon, you had to have Celebi that was distributed in another event (and here I begin to not understand a fuck, because you need Pokémon that come from events for which you needed other Pokémon of other events… stuff to make fall the balls to the ground!) which I hadn't gone to and so I've thrown down all the saints in heaven. But I wanted it at all costs, and finally I did it: in the package in addition to the game there was also this program I have learned to use right away, the only problem is that, despite being good at English, it's a mess for me to translate the names of the moves, and so I have to look on the internet the name of the move with the translation. But over time I've made a habit. In conclusion, I chose Oshawott because I love Samurott, its final form. James also is equiped, and starts to play my own game. Another thing… I would love to do this Dream World or how the heck it's called, but there is needed the Nintendo WFC and I don't know a place where I can use the Wi-Fi. Another break of balls, seeing that my DS is prehistoric and therefore it doesn't have a good connection. Oh well, as they say, let's take the one that goes to the convent.
I decide to pull out a soccer ball, with which the Pokémon start playing happy.
«So, did you enjoy the trip up to now?» I ask, out of curiosity.
«Come on, it's not bad. In my life I never took into consideration the Pokémon, but I must say that the adventure experienced directly is another thing. I regret not having loved them before» answers Ylenia.
«Not bad, – adds my cousin – but I'd like to meet the legendary too, huh? Up to now you're the only one who have met them»
«You think I did it on purpose? And it happened only once by accident. I swear that I could never take away the joy of seeing the legendary. Look, from now on we go around always together, no one will separate, so if we meet someone we all see it, okay?»
«Okay»
«For me it's the same that Ylenia said. I feel good here and the adventure with Pokémon makes me happy» adds David.
«I agree. It has been a fortune to discover this beautiful world»
«Well, Lucy. It seems that more or less all of us think so. James, I know what you want to say, that is the same idea as mine, that this was your big dream and seeing it realized brings to light another part of life that you would want to live… I apologize if I wrong some verb but the concept is clear, no?»
«Yes, you've read my mind»
«In my case it may seem strange. Some people prefer the Pokémon, some other the Digimon. I'm a Digimon, it's true, but I always loved so much Pokémon… for someone it's a bit difficult to accept»
«My love, you've already said it, and the conversation was ended. – I hug and give her a kiss – All this doesn't matter. Really, being a Digimon who loves Pokémon is a detail that makes you unique, you have to be proud of it. True, it's not easy to find people who love them both, but I think this condition that we have in common is a good thing, isn't it?»
«Yeah, it's true. Thanks Mirkho»
When we go back pedaling, I ask what time is it.
«Almost six o'clock» replies Ylenia.
My stomach grumbles a bit. Knowing that I have the Oran Berries in my fanny pack, holding the bike with one hand I take a couple and eat them. The good thing is that you find yourself full of energy, that's why I do escort of them.
«Ah, Mirkho, now that I think about, when do you have recovery exams at school?» asks Julia.
«I think September 2nd, but first I have another day of the recovery course»
«And that is?»
«In two days, on July 1st»
«Well, let's get to Violet City before that day»
«Yes, I think we will arrive there… we should spend a night at least, then I think we will enter the city…»
«We need to program the "turns" with which we will go to challenge Volkner»
«Ok, in that case I think I have to go first, or second, I don't know, it depends on when we arrive, to make sure I'm done for when I have to go to the recovery course at school. If I lose, obviously, I won't start to whine or make scenes like "I don't go to school until I win" or similar»
«Oh I hope so… I joke, you silly clown» and gives me a pat on the back.
I don't know why, but I like to make me give nicknames from my cousin, I take it as another demonstration that she loves me.
And then… another thing I was thinking: I don't know if bring my Pokémon with me or not… sure my girlfriend not… okay, in summer the school is deserted, there are just two or three janitors to clean and those two professors there to do the courses, no one else, but I'd rather not create havoc, it's enough one that get scared and goodbye. But Pokémon… well, the Pokéballs shrunken seem a kind of keychain, and sure the teachers don't play while explaining. Well, let's do it a try, after all, like when I showed up suddenly in front of my aunt with Riolu on my shoulders, I'll try to bring them with me, obviously trying not to let them run free around the school, but keeping the Pokéballs in my pocket.
«Uhm… quarter past seven…» I comment looking at my cellphone.
«Yeah, let's stop to eat?» asks Ylenia.
«Mh-mh» we all respond in unison.
As soon as we find a lawn we stop. It's on a hill, particular that make everyone happy.
«Ok, now we have to decide what to eat» says my cousin.
«How about a nice soup berries?»
«Come on, good idea, but… do you know how to do it?»
«Brock passed me the recipe, but it's better if cooks Julia, who is definitely better than me»
I pass the sheet to my cousin, who reads it carefully. To her question of how to recognize the berries, I give her a little book that I had brought with me, with the photos of all types of berries.
«Ok, thanks. How about give me a hand to look for them?»
To be even safer, each one takes photos with the phone of the various berries on my book.
«Guys, I give you some Oran Berries, here. You have a berry in less to search»
After the others thanked me, I join the group and I go to look at an area of the wood that we had little close.
Eventually, after a few minutes, we picked up six or seven different types of berries. Julia gets immediately to work: she cuts into small pieces the berries and blend them in a blender that she bought in Cherrygrove City while James puts some dry wood for the fire, surrounding it with stones.
«Wait a moment… couldn't we use the stove as this morning?»
«Oh, Julia, I have finished it, this stove was the one I used a few months ago in camp» answered James chuckling.
«Ah, well… thank goodness that in one way or another we always manage to get away»
James, when he finished, says me:
«Mirkho, you have a lighter? Come on, you smoke 3 tons of grass per day, you cannot don't have it»
«I have it, I have it, now I light the fire»
I help James to light the fire. After having done it, we settle the support for the pot on it, and Julia puts everything to warm.
«You who have eaten it, how does it taste?»
«It's pretty sweet and tasty, it's worth to eat it. After, you feel better. It's ideal for dinner, so when you go to bed, you digest well during night»
«Ok, we trust you»
After ten minutes, Julia slowly pours everything into plastic plates, and after a few turning of the spoon to cool, we sip the soup. Good or bad everyone likes it, only Renamon doesn't seem to like it particularly:
«Excuse me, but I don't like it so much… I'm not saying that Julia has cooked badly, for Arceus' sake, for me is a bit too sweet»
«If you don't like it, give it to me, no problem»
«Don't worry, Mirkho, now I got it and I will try to eat it, don't bother»
«As you want. – I give her a little kiss – In case you change your mind, my stomach is always here. And look on the bright side, maybe it could be good for you»
«I don't doubt about it»
Finished eating, while James was keeping alive the fire and Julia was settling blankets for everyone, Ylenia, David and Lucy lay on the lawn to look at the stars. I was going to do that too, but my girlfriend calls me:
«Mirkho, come stay a bit 'here with me?»
I look around but can't find her.
«Yes, I would do it if I could see you»
«I'm up here, come on»
I see her lying on the thick branch of a nearby tree.
«Eh, Rena… I'm not good to climb, the last time I tried, I did an incredible flight, I got almost broken two ribs»
«I give you a hand»
«All right… I just hope to be alive when I go to sleep»
I try to climb, but soon after I slipped my foot and I land on my back with a thousand pains.
«Ouch… ouch… you wanna kill me…»
Renamon jumps down.
«Are you okay?»
«Mh… yes, more or less… I told you so» I moan getting up again.
«Come on, try again, I'm behind you to keep you, go quiet»
«But we must necessarily go up there?»
«From there you see a beautiful landscape»
«If you insist…»
I start to climb holding on as I can, with Renamon that keeps me on the flanks. Eventually we did it, and we sit down at the beginning of the branch, with her in front of me leaning with her back. Renamon was right: you can see the hills, one behind the other, with in the background of the setting sun. We take some pictures together, then I photograph my friends lying on the lawns. I call Julia from up here:
«Wibble»
She puts the phone and stares at us.
«What are you doing there? Kill yourselves, I recommend»
«I've almost done it. She has no problem, she's much more athletic than me. And it feels so
good…»
«Ah well… that's your business, I care about my life»
«But why are you so tax, Juliet?» asks Renamon, lying on me and with her eyes closed.
«I'm not "tax", once I got broken a foot going to karate, from that moment I've a little fear to strain it too much, that's all»
«Moumantai, they say in my parts»
«Which means…?»
«Think positive»
«I'll try… (yawn) I'm a bit tired huh…»
«We are tired too» add Ylenia and Lucy.
«Rena, what about if we go down? My ass is getting plate staying here, among other things I don't wanna sleep here, I'm not Tarzan»
«As you want. I go down and then follow me, so at least if you fall down I help you»
«Ok»
Fortunately nothing went wrong. It's almost 11 o'clock, we sit everyone around the fire, style scout, Renamon beside me as always.
«Julia, wanna let your Totodile extinguish the fire?»
«All right, Mirkho»
Julia asks her Pokémon to use Water Gun, but it aims too high, it goes through the flames and hits me to the arm.
«You have to put out the fire, not my cigarette!»
«I'm sorry»
This time the water spray hits the flames. I also put out my cigarette, I put it in my cube-shaped ashtray. Me and Renamon lie close under the same blanket.
«Good night, guys» says James.
«Good night» all of us respond in unison.
Tomorrow, another day in the world of Pokémon!
THE END
*=Piadinata: piadina's party time
**=Crai: an italian supermarket
***=Savignano sul Rubicone: a small town at about 15 km from Rimini, where there are many supermarkets
****=Trenitalia: the main Italian railway agency
*****=Montenegro: an Italian alcoholic bitter
******=Sangiovese: typical wine of the Romagna region
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