A Misty Development
The Pokémon center is about what you'd expect in appearance. I noticed a couple trainers at the pc's but for the most part it was empty. Not many trainers populated this city that need a center and it shows. I suppose I should call my mom and the old man first before I forget. I'm sure my hospitalization and care within the center has been brought to light. My mom and most definitely Prof. Oak was notified about my condition and possible exploits.
You got to love Pokémon Centers. Highly advanced and free healthcare goes a long way for Trainers. Since the Centers are owned by the Pokémon Federation of Champions (PFC) and work in collaboration with PokéMart as a branch business. With the owners of PokéMarket and PFC together, these two control everything.
Trainers and Pokémon along with any of those in the military, Ranger Association, and SOB's receive free healthcare and discounts at the Pokémon market plus branched out business. That's only 6% of the overall population though. The rest pay for full coverage and only get benefits unless that are the immediate family or dependents of that 6%. Veterans as well are taken care of and their families. My mother doesn't need it but she is even though she's a veteran as well. My mom is the most awesome mom in Pallet Town and I'd punch anyone that bad mouthed her.
I thought of this and smiled then of yesterday's exploits. It's over and done with and I know for a fact it can't come back to bite me or get worse.
"You!" I nearly reached for my knife on impulse but stopped just as I was about to brandish it. I'm really on edge right now. Before I could recover, I was taken by the shoulder and turned around to the face of a girl. A girl with orange hair, a yellow tank top, blue shorts, and red suspenders. She looked downright furious as well. Her face was red and viridian colored eyes pierced through mine with such intensity that I was left froze in places and completely speechless. What did I do to make this girl angry at me to such a degree that her aura has strings of red in it.
"You toasted my bike!" The girl screamed at me. I thought on what she was talking about and then it hit me. I rode two bikes last night. Mine was destroyed once a couple spearow rammed into it causing a couple to get impaled. The last was hit by lightning after a few spearow lifted it up in the air out of my reach. That bike came from a girl that pulled Pikachu and I out of the water via her fishing pile. This must be her.
Oh no. Unsure of how to handle this, I did the only thing I could and said, "sorry?" I'm not used to dealing with girls. Most girls leave me alone because I'm seen as a crazy forest boy. This is the first time one got up into my face and grabbed my collar like this. If this were a boy I'd have thought that this was the beginning of a fight and punch them in the jaw to rattle their mind and vision, kick him in the stomach, grip both of his shoulders and jump up to knee him in the chest, and flip him back with a toss to takedown. This isn't the case and boys don't fight girls. Mom told me so same with Prof. Oak. In books rarely does a man hit a woman unless threatened to the point they have to, unless they're good friends. Yancy and I fought sometimes but it was all in good fun.
I suppose I'm at fault for taking it to save my life as well. I said one more sorry hoping it would resolve this but it only made her angrier.
"Sorry'," she said as if trying to impersonate me but made it sound more condescending than how I said it. "Sorry doesn't give me back my bike!" Before I could say anything else she pulled my collar and forced me out the Pokémon center doors.
"Hey, wait I need to…" I tried to speak but her over the shoulder "Mean Look" stopped that train of thought and put a poliwag in my throat.
"What you NEED to do, is fix this!" She threw me forward with strength I never imagined a girl could have, and I caught myself on something hard and slightly sharp. I pulled back and saw the remains of a bicycle, charred black. I'd assume from the lightning that stuck it after the murder knocked me into the air. She carried it from where I landed back here? What was the point. Going back on what the old man Oak told me about girls, girls tend do things sometimes just to do things whether or not they're rational or makes sense. Maybe this is one of those things.
"You threw me into the water then stole my bike punk!" The girl yelled and resulted to unnecessary name calling.
I pushed off the remains of her bike. I can understand where she's coming from but I had no choice. "I had no choice but to do what I did," I repeated my base thoughts hoping this would help appease her. It didn't.
"No choice," she lifted me up to my toes when she took me by the collar of my jest once more. This girl has to be older than me to be this much taller than me. She has me beat by two, almost three inches. "What forced you to throw me in the river then steal my bike?" She growled face to face to me. Our noses were nearly touching. I caught her scent with us this close to one another. It's like sea salt and bitter berries if that makes any sense. Maybe the bitterness contradicts the sharpness I'm witnessing right now.
"I was being chased by a murder and didn't want you caught in the middle." The wince told me that she knew what a murder is and probably heard the horror stories much like I did as a kid. Wait, I'm still a kid.
"Yeah right," she scoffed before slightly placing me down until my heels touched the ground. "Tell me then, how are you alive?" She snort at me in disbelief.
"Because of my training, my knife, pikachu, Pidgey, my ruined bike, your ruined bike, and a lightning storm." I summed together most of how I survived.
"W-what?"
I sighed and reached up gently prying her fingers off of my collar. Like I explained to Nurse Joy I got ready to tell her my little tale as simple and easy to follow as I could. "Last night I was cooking some goldeen to eat..."
"You cooked a goldeen?" She roared at me with a sharp interruption.
"Can I finish please?" I rose my hands up a second time and pried her hands off of my collar and returned them to her side without a fight. "A spearow landed on my catch and tried to eat it and I didn't like that. I forced it away and it took exception to that in the manner of calling its fellows to swarm me. I took my bike first with the aim to get to this city and picked up pikachu in the way. The spearow destroyed my bike in a pincer maneuver and injured myself and pikachu in the mix. I picked him up and ran for the water to escape them."
"During a storm? That's crazy," she exclaimed.
"Desperate times," I sighed. "You pulled us out and just when I thought we escaped one of them found us. You remember that right?"
The girl blinked as she thought back and nodded. "I remember seeing something but then you pushed me into the water. For all you knew I could have drowned. I might not even been able to swim."
That was a valid point but what fisherman doesn't know how to swim. They teach us to swim in school as well unless your in the Fighter's Dojo where they focus on breaking bricks over basic survival skills.
Regardless of this thought I continued. "Yes, I pushed you in and yes I took your bike, but I didn't want you caught in the middle of the swarm. I rode your bike away before they knocked me off and picked it up into the sky."
"And it got stuck by lightning," she guessed.
"Yeah. Sorry about that. I defended myself and pikachu the best I could but they proved too much. Just when I thought I would die pikachu jumped in front of me. A bolt of lightning struck him and he struck the murder with all he had. They remaining birds retreated leave us both bloody and exhausted but alive. I woke up after that storm and that's when Pidgey came in covered in peck wounds and cuts. He defended me in the rear and still flew to me to see if I was alright. I picked them up and ran here as fast as my legs would let me and arrived a couple hours ago. As you can see," I rubbed the bandages wrapped around my forearms and neck. "I was nursed back to help thanks to Nurse Joy. I was about to see how my two friends are and then you came into play and took me out here to see your bike."
The girl looked down in thought and shook her head. "That's insane. You, a pikachu, and a Pidgey against a murder? What was it like?" She childlike curiosity showing. Most never see a murder up close and personal like I did and it's to be expected. Most steer clear of a flock of spearow unless armed with a standard issue scatter rifle or a flare gun. One of the two.
"It was during night time so I couldn't see much but I felt they were out for blood. It was like my life was over every step of the way and yet I still could keep moving despite this. It's not the best experience a guy can have," I joked a little with a smile.
The girl smiled as well then sighed. "Well then it's a good thing my bike helped in saving your lives," she said with a roll of her eyes. I don't think she believes me and sees my story as some dreamt up fantasy as an excuse for stealing her bike. I may be wrong but that's what I feel. "But still, what am I going to do about this?" She gestured to her bike again.
I felt responsible for this and I have to pay my dues. It's only right. "Once I get the money I can buy you another."
"Really? So you have," she leaned into my ear and whispered a number.
If I wasn't in a state of shock before I am now, and my eyes had to be as wide as dinner plates right now. That bike was worth ten of mine. I suppose it makes sense. There's a reason it rode so smoothly on the muddied road without losing traction. The seat was soft as well now that I think of it and it changed gears as smooth as my mom's seaking coat. It was an expensive bike that will cost me a fortune to replace and by the smug smile on this girls lips she knew I don't have the money to pay her back. I bit my lip in thought and looked around for something. Anything to help me out. My eyes stopped on a poster. The words Pokémon League caught my eyes but not as much as the prize money for the winner. The trophy doesn't matter to me all that much but that money could be my ticket to getting her that bike she wanted.
I nodded and turned back to her feeling a lot more determined than before. "I'll win the Pokémon League championship and use the prize money to get you any bike you want," I declared firmly.
The girl burst out laughing and crossed her arms. "Really?" She laughed again. "You're going to face the best of the Indigo League and win? Yeah right." She laughed but I was serious, dead serious, and she noticed this. Her laughter eventually turned into awkward titters and then died right then and there. "You're serious?"
"I pay back my debts so I will do what I have to so make sure you get that bike. It may take a while but please be patient with me enough to do it."
The girl smirked and scoffed again. "You're unbelievable. First you steal my bike, then tell me some crap story of how you survived a murder, and now you claim to win the League just to get me a new one. You're insane kid."
I stem from a family of danger addicts so insane is part of the job description. I also ignored that "kid" bit coming from a girl maybe two years over me. "Just give me time and I'll do it." I turned away from the girl. "Nice meeting you girl," I waved and walked back to the Pokémon Center.
"Hey! Wait a moment." She caught up to me at the door and took me by the shoulder again. This girl really likes touching my upper body. She's so weird. "How are you planning on finding me once you win?"
"You can meet me at the arena or at my home town when I return after winning. There's always a way." I reached for my Pokédex and held it up. "We can trade numbers as well if you want," since the Pokédex acts as a phone, scanner, computer, and so much more. All it's missing is a knife sharpener. If it had that it'd be perfect.
"No way," she declared and pulled me back around and looked dead into my eyes. "I'm with you until you replace my bike." I rose an eyebrow. First she touches me all over my shoulders and screams as me. I calm her down and explain. Now I have this task to pay her back for the bike which will no small task; my word must not mean much to her and my word is my bond. Now she wishes to follow me on my journey as well? What a hassle. I could barely take care of myself and my first night was a disaster. I'm sure with a girl on board this will be a nightmare. That look in her eyes though kept me from denying her this wish. Her gaze tells me that I have no way to decline her and if I did, from what the old man told me, I'd be wasting my breath. Once a woman has her mind set in something your input would only solidify her decision all the more.
With a single word I felt I just ripped my soul out and handed it to her. Is this the feeling Gary told me about when it comes to having multiple girl friends? If so I don't like this feeling all that much. Yancy has always been my only girl friend and now I'm adding another. I sighed and shrugged and said a soft, "Okay."
The girl grinned and let my shoulder go but placed her hand in front of me. "My name is Misty. Water Pokémon trainer." A handshake? Most girls I've seen never initiated a handshake. I was led to believe it was one of those "boy things" or something like that. Maybe it's a "boy thing" and a tomboy thing because this girl sort of acts like "one of the boys," just with more confusing swings in mood.
I took her hand and squeezed. She squeezed just as hard back being one of the more "manly" handshakes I've had to date; from a girl no less. I suppose I can treat her like a guy then if she's going to be like this. I can always use more boy friends. "My name is Ash. Ash Ketchem, pun intended," I jested with a smirk.
Misty giggled a bit from that. "Well then Ash I guess it's going to be a fun journey huh?"
"Hopefully not too much fun. Last night was a little too much for my first day."
"First day? You started on this journey yesterday?"
I nodded. "I come from Pallet Town."
Misty giggled. "The sticks huh?" I rolled my eyes at this. She's a tomboyish city girl. Great. Prof. Oak warned me about city girls and how much struggle they can cause those of male persuasion, whatever that means. They can be loads of fun but also a heap of trouble. I've read about them in my books as well and how they act. "Day one and attacked by a murder. That's some bad luck," she noted.
"I hope you have enough to compensate."
"Maybe I'll be your lucky charm," she joked.
"Someone has to be." This is nice. This Misty girl is really nice and easy to talk to. Not like the girls back at home. They talk about stuff I don't care to understand and call me names for no reason. Not Misty through. Maybe this is another one of those feelings boyish girl friends give you. If so I can get used to this.
"You two going to hold hands all day?" I turned my eyes and saw the smiling face of Nurse Joy. "Didn't know you had a girlfriend Ash," she teased me for some reason. I don't see what the big deal was being friends with a girl.
"We're not!" Misty took her hand away from mine and hugged it to her chest. So we're not friends then? Well we just met so becoming friends after our interactions is bit of a stretch. I just shrugged and walked past Misty.
"How are they?" I asked.
Nurse Joy smiled and waved for me to come in. "Good but first you have a call." I thought on who would call me but the Nurse answered not a moment later. "There's a call for you from the Pokémon professor." He knows I'm here already eh? Well if not for those spearow I would have arrived at this time anyway on my bike so it makes sense. Or maybe they alerted him. I'll find out in time.
"You know the Pokémon professor?" Misty asked as she followed me.
"He lives in Pallet Town and gave me my pokédex." Not really an answer but she's not going to know that. I can tell by the shine that came to her eyes.
"Wow, that's cool."
"Yes it is," I just agreed with a shrug.
I followed Nurse Joy to the Pokémon pc. The screen was blank and will be until I place my ID into the slot. I pulled off my pokédex and slid it into the slot. The screen came on and the call from wherever transferred to this pc. The old man's face came up onto the screen with an easy smile on his lips.
"Ahh my boy I see you made it to the center alright. Good job." I picked up the phone and placed it to my ear. Even though he didn't need one the pokémon center did. They really need to upgrade their technology with the times.
"It wasn't easy old man. I got here around seven hours ago."
"So I've heard. Just like a Red to face a trial like that and show your true perseverance." I felt my cheeks redden at his praise and smiled.
"Thanks Prof. Oak."
"If you really want to thank me tell me about this unknown Pokémon you scanned with your pokédex." I explained to him my finding and her listened intently. He nodded from his own form of understanding. "I believe I know the Pokémon you speak of Ash. If you saw that after your trial I must say you are blessed." I rubbed my back and shoulders. I don't feel blessed that's for sure. "According to this you released your pikachu?" I saw this coming.
"Yeah Professor. He wanted nothing to do with me so I let him go."
"But you arrived at the Pokémon center with him in tow?"
"I picked him up on my way. It could be the same pikachu or a different one. I'm not sure but he listened to me and helped me survive."
"That's true I suppose, but you should take this Pokémon with you. You shouldn't journey through the grass without a Pokémon to protect you."
"I know," I said with a tired rub of my head. I've heard his lecture about the tall grass for years now and I know how right he is. Late night was proof that I need a pokémon to protect me.
"This Pidgey as well," the professor pushed something and a picture of the Pidgey came up on my screen. Golden and shiny like in real life. "This is quite the find as well. If you can add this one to your party as well."
"He's been my friend for years old man. I can't just do that out right."
"He's' your Friend? Ah I see. Well don't worry about that my boy because if this friend willingly protected you like you said I'm sure they wished to come with you anyway right?"
He had a point. Pidgey followed me from his home and defended me despite my wishes. "You have a bond with these two my boy and that's a good start of any journey. You've faced the worst and now I'm sure you'll pull through anything if you keep pushing." 'Keep pushing.' That's a motto my mom told me every time I was hurt or I came home crying. Keep pushing because your effort is what sets you apart from the rest. Those who give up surrender themselves to a limiter but if you keep going and never stop you can go as high as you wish. I nodded my head with my fist up as a fierce sense of determination filled my body.
"Okay old man, I got it."
The Pokémon professor smiled. "Because of your entries I've sent you some money. It's in your account ready for use. You know how to use your pokédex for this correct?"
"You've had me read your book a hundred times so I think I have an idea."
"Then I leave you to it son. Stay safe and record everything. Once you get companions as well, like that girl in the back watching you right now, cherish them." I glanced back and Misty was in fact behind the wall of the cubicle I'm in, watching me.
Since I have him on the phone now I can ask him. "Old man, I don't get girls."
"You and every other man in this world my boy."
Now I'm even more confused than before. "I helped her at the cost of her bike to escape the murder and she yelled at me. Then she was quiet when I tried to explain myself but interrupted me a couple times during instead of waiting to let me finish. She kept grabbing in me and if she were a boy I would have hit her but you said I can't hit girls. When I explained to her how I saved her life she still demanded I get her a new bike only for it to be a Runners." The old man's eyes widened. I can't blame him because that's an expensive brand of bike. "I told her I'd win the Pokémon League to get her one but decided she'll follow me until I have the bike for her. I just do understand old man. Why can't she be patient and let me talk. Why can't she take my word for it and let me do this? Why does she feel everything is my fault and I need to take like, responsibility for everything? Why is it when she's called my girl friend does she gets flustered? Why are girls complicated old man?"
The Pokémon professor sighed and rubbed his head. "My boy the female are a species us as men will never understand fully. They will do one thing then turn around and say the complete opposite. This makes no sense to you and at your age I wouldn't try to. Read a book or two if you want an idea in the Romance genre if you're that curious but just know that most of these questions will be answered in time and with experience. Examine her and how she does things and try to learn what you can. You're an observant boy. You always have been and this will give you the edge you need for the many types of woman out there."
I rubbed my head. I'm still confused but from what he tells me it's because of ignorance. I've studied Pokémon and how to survived in the wild but not domestic topics like girls. I suppose this is a learning experience. I need to get some Romance books as well based around girls help me. Now that I think of it most of the books I've read are about crime, crime fighting, thrillers, and on how to hurt people. I don't believe I've read many romance novels. I've read more technical manuals and survival guides than that genre. Maybe I should indulge a bit.
"Also don't ask them outright why they act how they act. Be tactful." That's the thing, I don't know how to be tactful. I just know what I saw from the old man and his interactions. Give compliments, jokes, and smiles and if that doesn't work look into their eyes with all the seriousness in the world and repeat. It's worked so far with women but girls, I'm unsure. I can't ask outright so I need to figure out how to talk to them then.
"Good luck on your journey son and remember to trust your friends. Do this and they will trust you back and more. You take care of them and they'll take care of you."
"Right," I gave the Professor a Ranger Cadet salute with a beat of my chest at attention as he signed off. The screen went black and I hung up the phone. My pokédex slid out the slot and I took it back. I have a lot to think about now I guess. A lot to do and a lot to improve on. First and foremost, don't go into the tall grass without a pokémon to protect me. This is the second time I almost died and I don't want a third.
I walked out the cube to the awaiting Misty. "That was him?" She asked me suddenly. I assume she means then old man so I nodded. "Wow. I wish I could have talked to him about his haiku." The mention of that old man's poetry left a bad taste in my mouth.
"That's nice." I walked way from cube aiming for the front. The Chansey at the counter greeted me. "Can I see pikachu and Pidgey?" The Chansey bowed then waved for me to follow.
"You're going to see your pokémon ?" Misty asked
"Yeah, want to come with?"
"Sure." Misty and I walked to the rear through a hallway.
Chansey brought us through a door and there I saw my friend Pidgey picking through his wings on a small table. He noticed me right off. "Prrp," he flew up and landed on my shoulder.
"Hey buddy you okay?"
"Prrp!" I smiled and walked over to a small tube and saw Pikachu inside. The tube was getting clean air cycled through with a pump to the side and inside pikachu rested. He was wrapped up in bandages with a headband on his head. It glowed a little then went out periodically.
"Pikachu," I called. The pikachu opened his eyes weakly. I leaned down so he could see me and smiled. "How ya doing pikachu?" He didn't answer but the look in his eyes told me everything. He's still recovering and I'm not surprised. He was struck by lightning so it's to be expected it's circuits are a little fried right now. "By night fall you should be good to leave. I'm leaving in an hour so this might be the last you see of me. You can go back out into the wild and…"
"Pi…" Pikachu said weakly.
"Save your strength until you back at one hundred buddy." My advice went out the window for he tried to stand regardless with his eyes boring into my own.
"Plrpp prrrp."
"Really?" I looked back to the pikachu. "You want to go with me pikachu? What for? You want to get back to the wild right? That's why I released you."
"Your pikachu is wild?" Misty murmured. "In this city a pikachu is a rarity and might get snatched up then sent to a pound. I'm actually surprised the Pokémon Center nursed him back to health. They're only authorized to nurse Pokémon with registered trainers or breeders." That's common knowledge and I never thought of it once until now. I only wanted to get these two help as quickly as possible and they were accepted regardless. There's a fee that goes into treating Pokémon unless you and the Pokémon are in the Nexus and both of them aren't. Someone paid and I'm thinking I know who it was. If so it makes sense why he wants me to capture these two. He's paid the due and requested I do this to make it up to him. For an old poetry hack the old man's a sneak.
"The both of you want to stick with me then while I go through the Pokémon League.
"Pi."
"What… what do you mean?" I asked now a bit cautious. Making a deal with a pokémon is a bit crazy but I do owe this Pikachu something for what happened before. "What do you want from me?" I questioned him.
"Pi…pika..pi…pipi."
I narrowed my eyes at the mouse and cupped my chin a bit in thought. I suppose it's not impossible but the odds of actually completing this task is slim. Even slimmer than a leaf shriveled up by the sun. But that look of defiance in those black Pokémon eyes left me curious. It's not out of my way and maybe could be beneficial for the both of us. We are searching for the same thing after all.
"Alright Pikachu," I nodded with my hand on his clear box. "We'll go out and hopefully find what we're searching for. If not it will be a good journey all the way through." I promise him this.
"Plrrp." Right, my friend. Let's make it official then. I reached for a red pokéball and held it in front of my friend Pidgey but maybe I should give him a name instead. Pidgey leaned to touch the circle but I pulled back at the last moment. "I want to call you something. A name if you'll give me one." The Pidgey looked up and flapped its wings suddenly. "Prrrp plurrp!" I rose an eye or at the name then shrugged. "Well then Ace lets do this."
Ace touched the pokéball and a red light appeared. Ace broke down into data that looked like a red mist to me. The ball opened and the mist flowed into it then closed. My pokédex lit up suddenly. I rose it up and looked into the screen. "Looks like I caught a Pidgey." I pressed the button on the pokéball and this time a red stream fired out and gathered at my shoulder. "Pluurp." I placed the ball back to my side and went back to my pokédex. "Okay Ace I just need to put you name into the system and… done." I closed my pokédex and placed it back on my belt.
"Hey Pikachu, get some rest okay. I'll see you once you're out of this." The Pikachu gave me on last look before collapsing to the cushion below him and closed his eyes. I smiled and walked out. I waited with the door in hand for Misty. She gave pikachu look before following out. She gave me a smile for some reason and stepped out the door. I closed it with my own practiced smile. "Hey Ace how about we tour the town a little. It can't hurt right?" My friend spread his wings. "You wanna come with Misty?"
"Nah, I'll be here. Just don't run off on me."
"I won't. I'm a man of my word." I waved at Nurse Joy on the way out.
Her knowing look made me a little agitated. I don't like this feeling. The feeling that I'm being used or that I'm not in control of what I say or do. It's… not a good feeling. Ignoring this I walked out the Pokémon center and noticed something strange as I walked down the street. At the window of the Pokémon center I noticed two people and a pokémon stating at a window in black outfits as if trying to appear inconspicuous.
"Hey Ace you see those three over there?" Ace turned his head towards the three at the window. "Plrrp."
"So I'm not just seeing things." Well like any other good model citizen its best I call the proper authorities and report this suspicious act in place. But since when was I a good model citizen? The answer is: Not often enough. I look after me before others after all unless I think it'll work. It almost never does.
A/N: School is a pain same with a slow update rate. I'll try to keep it steady but who knows. Thanks for reading and please review.
A fox is more deadly when it's cornered.