Alex and the boy sat in a room in the back part of the Pokémon Center. They were briefly separated so the doctors could exam them for injuries, the boy getting bandaged up. Afterward, the police talked with them about Team Rocket and what had happened.
The officers who had been questioning them thanked them for the information. The one who had been with the boy reassured him they would retrieve his Pokémon. He also asked for his pokéballs to confirm they found the right ones. The boy reluctantly agreed, relinquishing them, tears trailing down his face as he did so. The officer thanked him again, patting him on the shoulder, giving him a sad smile.
Now sitting in the lobby, Alex glanced at one of the booths, unsure whether to call home or not, but decided it couldn't hurt. She watched as the boy seemed to share the same thoughts.
Dialing home, she waited a bit before the screen flicked on, her mother wearing a bright smile, watching it fall quickly.
"Alex? Honey, what's the matter? Did something happen?" her mother asked.
"I…I'm fine, but…" she started. She paused when hearing the boy talking to his parents, his sobs starting again. "I ran into some Rockets while I was in Mt. Moon."
"What? Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"I'm fine, Mom. I mean…"
Alex took a breath before releasing it, her mother anxiously waiting. Managing to sort her thoughts enough, she told her what happened, reassuring her again that everyone's safe. She told her that she and the boy she rescued have spoken with the police. She added that her Pokémon haven't been returned yet. Her mother suggested that they could be trying to get evidence from them, like blood or hair stuck to their bodies.
"I'm just relieved that you're safe, all of you," her mother sighed, a concerned smile forming. "If we had known Team Rocket could be this dangerous, we would have waited or asked an experienced trainer to go with you and Azure." The woman almost jumped, looking to Alex worriedly. "Have you seen Azure by any chance?"
"I haven't yet. I can try asking Nurse Joy if he's come by or ask the gym leader if he's seen him."
"I'll ask Sam if he's heard from him as well." Her mother paused, worrying her lip briefly. "Alex, honey, if you feel it starts getting to be too much for you, we won't be disappointed if you ask to come home. We'll understand."
"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind, but I'll want to talk it over with my Pokémon. I don't want to make decisions without including them."
"I understand. Just try and be safe, okay?"
"I'll try."
Both feeling a little better, they talked a bit more to lighten the mood. Her mother told her about some dishes Mrs. Oak had helped make when swinging by, the state of her leg, and how helpful her Pokémon have been. Alex shared about the more positive aspects of her journey, such as Nala's evolution, Max's friendliness, and the Pokémon she's seen.
"By the way, how are Max and Lizzy doing?"
"They seem to have acclimated quite well here. Lizzy was a little nervous, but she's warming up. You're lucky to have found such sweet Pokémon."
"They seemed really nice when I talked with them. Also, if you're going to talk to Professor Oak, tell him that it's okay if he wants to borrow Max at any point. He told me that he wasn't much of a fighter. I figured he could help him with some tasks around the lab and he liked the idea."
"Alright, I will… To be honest, I still find it hard to believe that you can understand Pokémon. I might not have believed it if Sam hadn't told me."
"It's still strange, but I'm really enjoying being able to talk to my Pokémon. And thanks to Azure, I have a pretty good idea how to tell people and Pokémon apart when they're talking."
"That's a relief."
Talking a bit more, they eventually said their goodbyes before hanging up, leaving Alex to her thoughts.
Having started feeling better, the mood quickly left when seeing how upset the boy still looked. She saw that he must have long since finished his conversation as he currently sat at one of the cushioned sofas. Worried about him, she walked over, sitting next to him. He looked up when noticing the sofa dipping slightly with the added weight.
"Is…" Alex paused for a moment. "Did everything go okay with your parents?"
He drew his knees up, resting his chin on top. "My parents are upset as I am that my Pokémon are gone. They told me they'll pay for the funeral costs though."
"That's really kind of them."
"Thank you. At least it'll give me time to figure out how to get to Lavender Town to pay my respects."
"Aren't they coming to get you?"
"They want to, but they don't have a way to get to me. Besides owning no flying or psychic Pokémon, they don't have cars."
"Couldn't they send someone then?"
"Most of their friends are their coworkers who are simply too busy. Anyone else is out of the region or in Koga's case, a gym leader."
"That doesn't seem fair though."
"I guess, but it can't be helped sometimes," the boy sighed, turning to her. "I really appreciate what you've done for me. Not just chasing that Rocket off, but getting me here."
"I hardly did anything though. It was Ansen who mostly took control, at least dealing with that man."
"Maybe…" He paused. "I never gave you my name. I'm Chase." He unfolded himself, his feet back on the floor as he held a hand out to her.
"I'm Alex," she smiled softly, taking his hand. "By the way, if you don't mind me asking, what was it that Rocket was after?"
Chase was hesitant for a moment before picking his bag up, opening it to reveal its contents. "While I'm not a master at it, I took some courses on how to excavate fossils."
"Those are fossils?"
"Yes. I had gotten permission to excavate for them. I planned to get a particular one, but I ended up finding it and this one." He pulled them fully out, showing her the differences between them.
"What kind are they?"
"This one is called a dome fossil. It's recognizable by the mostly smooth shell. Sometimes there's a claw or two poking out. The other fossil is called a helix due to the design of the shell."
"Oh wow, and you were able to find them? That's really cool."
"Thank you, but I couldn't have found them alone. I had help from…" Chase paused when he thought of his Pokémon.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring them up," Alex apologized.
"It's not your fault. It…it's just going to take a while to adjust not having them around."
"I would think so…"
She was taken off guard when Chase held out the helix fossil. "I'd like you to have this. It's the least I can do."
"I couldn't though," she gasped. "You and your Pokémon worked so hard to get them; I couldn't take one of them."
"It's alright. I was mostly looking for a dome fossil. I didn't really make plans for a second one, let alone of a different species."
"But…"
"You put yourself in danger to save me. Maybe if my Pokémon and I hadn't been so stubborn with that Rocket… Or I recalled them sooner… Maybe they would still be with me?"
"Chase…" Alex could see tears falling from his dark eyes, causing tears to fall from hers.
They fell silent, Alex slowly rotating the fossil now in her hands. She couldn't tell if the shell pattern was whole or a piece of it because of the stone around it.
"I'll be sure to take care of it," she said, breaking the silence. She saw him smiling. The sight made her smile back. She was glad to have accepted the gift if it made him feel better.
"How are your Pokémon doing?" Chase asked.
"They're still being looked at. My mom guessed that the police are examining them for anything they could use to track Team Rocket. Ansen and Sienna along with some of the others attacked them as much as their Pokémon."
"Them? You're saying that guy wasn't the first Rocket you fought?"
"There were others that we ran into. One even harassed a Clefairy shortly before coming across you and that guy."
"I didn't think there were so many in there. If I had known…"
"No one did apparently. I had told the Pewter City Police, but I guess something went wrong. The Cerulean City Police are looking into it."
"Let's hope so," Chase sighed. Toying with a strap from the bag, he spoke again. "Your Pokémon are really strong. How did you find them?"
"Oh, well, it's kind of a long story."
"I've got time…"
"Okay then," Alex smiled. She could see that he wanted a distraction, something she and her mom needed after talking about Team Rocket.
Therefore, she shared with him about her Pokémon, starting with Sienna before ending with Nala. However, she watched how she talked about her interactions with them. She didn't want to let it slip about her ability. It was amazing enough that Azure and Professor Oak accepted it as well as her mother. But Chase was someone new, she doesn't know who him or how he'd react.
"Wow, they sound like really amazing Pokémon," Chase complimented. "And to think that there's an actual term for Pokémon of different colors."
"I know, it was really cool to learn about that."
"Bet he's pretty spoiled then, huh?"
"They all are in their own way," Alex giggled. "But they're still really good Pokémon and a lot of what they do is far more than I could ever ask of them."
"It shows how much they care about you, a lot like mine had…" he said with a sad smile.
"I'm sure they're happy you're okay."
"I really hope so."
Silence hung again, Chase's comment about getting to Lavender Town repeating in her head. If he doesn't have Pokémon, how will he get there? He doesn't look ready to catch more and he made no indication that he owned more.
"Chase, do you have any idea how you'll get to Lavender Town?" she asked worriedly.
"I'll probably have cut through Saffron City, but it might still be blocked off."
"Blocked off?"
"Yeah, at least it was the first time I tried going through when I was coming here. I had to go through Lavender Town and get through Rock Tunnel."
"Did you ask why?"
"The officer stationed told me that they were doing some major construction. Apparently, some trainers were battling and it grew out of control where a lot of roads are either destroyed or became heavily unstable. I wouldn't even be surprised if any gas or water lines broke as well."
"But aren't those kinds of battles illegal because of the destruction?" the girl asked, the other nodding.
Thinking about this newfound knowledge, Alex had an idea form, but she needed to confirm some things.
"How about we travel together?"
"Come again?"
"You need to get to Lavender Town, right?"
"Well, yes…"
"Then we could go together. I'm challenging the gyms, so there's a chance I might have to pass through Lavender Town if Saffron City is still closed off. And you said that this Koga person is a gym leader, so I'm probably going to at some point challenge him in Fuchsia City. That's where you live, right?"
"Yes, but you don't have to do all that. I wouldn't want to slow you down."
"I don't mind. I can even put my challenge on hold if you wanted to get home as fast as you can after reaching Lavender Town."
"I…I don't know what to say. Thank you so much, Alex!" Chase smiled, eyes tearing up once more. Alex couldn't form words, only smile back, her cheeks flushing with how happy and relieved he looked.
Soon enough, Nurse Joy called Alex over, informing her that her Pokémon were ready. Going to her, she thanked her as she took the balls back, quickly returning to Chase. She fished through the pile, grabbing a few and releasing the Pokémon inside. Ken was instantly on her shoulder, happy to be reunited with how much he was nuzzling her face, practically vibrating with joy.
~I'm so happy to be back. Those police guys were so invasive when using those weird sticks and tiny metal pincers,~ Ken complained.
Alex couldn't help but snicker at this, paling slightly when noting Chase staring at her.
"Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," she answered with a nervous laugh. "I just noticed how pouty Ken looks. I'm guessing that he didn't have fun getting poked and prodded by the police."
"Chuu…" the Pikachu whined softly.
Switching the topic, Alex looked at everyone. "Now that I got my Pokémon back, why don't we get something to eat? It's been a really stressful day."
"That's not a bad idea. I haven't realized how hungry I am until you suggested it," Chase answered.
~We do need to keep our strength up,~ Sienna nodded.
"Alright then. I'm just going to ask Nurse Joy where I can go to find something for Nala."
"Good idea, the last thing the city needs is a hungry Gyarados," Chase half-joked.
Alex couldn't help but laugh, knowing Nala wouldn't hurt anyone.
Heading back, Ken still on her shoulder, she asked the nurse about any stores that sell food for larger Pokémon like Gyarados. The woman kindly wrote down some directions to a store she knew.
Thanking her again, she returned to the others. "I shouldn't be gone for too long." Turning towards Lance and Sienna, she gave them a smile. "Think you two could stay with Chase until I'm back?" Both Pokémon nodded, responding happily to her.
"Are you sure about leaving them with me?" Chase asked.
"I don't mind. Hana and Ken should be more than enough. Plus, I still have Ansen and Nala in their pokéballs."
~We'll make sure he's safe,~ Sienna reassured, placing her paw on the boy's arm, mindful of her sharp claws.
"I'll be back soon," Alex said as she left the Pokémon Center. Once outside, she followed the directions that the nurse gave her.
~That boy seems really nice,~ Hana beamed.
"He is," Alex hummed.
~What's going to happen to him though?~ Ken inquired.
"Chase's parents are going to take care of the funeral costs for his Pokémon. That way, when he's ready, he can head to Lavender Town to pay his respects."
~Lavender Town?~ the mouse repeated.
"I only heard about it, but it's a small town known for ghost type Pokémon. There are a couple of known towers there, one of them being a cemetery."
~What's a cemetery?~ the butterfly asked.
"They're places that deceased Pokémon and people are buried. The tower that acts as a cemetery is used solely for Pokémon. They would be buried or cremated depending on the family's preference. Then a stone would be picked with names and dates of the deceased chiseled on them. It makes it easier for loved ones to find them."
~Why would they do that?~
"I guess you could say it's a comfort thing."
~So he'll be going to that place to give respect to his Pokémon then? He must have loved them a lot,~ Hana mused sadly.
~Is Lavender Town far?~ Ken asked.
"Afraid so."
~Then how will he get there without Pokémon to protect him?~
"I suggested that we could travel together."
~But what about the gyms?~ Hana asked.
"It shouldn't delay us. Plus, we might have to go through Lavender Town anyway, so it would still work out for all of us."
~You're really kind and smart, Alex,~ the butterfly beamed. She flew lower so she could nuzzle into her trainer. ~I bet we'll have a lot of fun so Chase won't be so sad or feel lonely. I bet he thinks you talking to us is really cool.~
Alex suddenly stopped, having completely forgotten about her ability.
~Alex?~ Ken squeaked out, pawing at her face. ~Are you okay?~
"Y-yeah," she answered. "The thing is, I haven't told Chase about my ability."
~How come?~
"Right now… Right now it doesn't feel appropriate to tell him. His Pokémon just died, I don't want to make him think that I'm teasing him or something."
~But you would never do something like that. Not if it would upset someone!~ Hana cried out.
"I know, but right now, Chase and I hardly know each other."
~Then what are you going to do? Are you still going to travel with him?~ Ken asked.
"I've already promised we would. It wouldn't be right to take that back. At least not without a really good reason."
~So what will you do?~
"I don't know, but I'm sure I'll think of something. Or maybe we can think of something when we get the chance to talk alone." Alex released a small sigh. "I know I can't keep this a secret for long. It would be impossible to do that if we're going to be traveling together."
"Well, he does seem really nice. I'm sure he'll understand why you didn't tell him sooner and he'll believe you too. And if for some reason he doesn't, we'll figure something out so he does,~ Hana reassured.
"Thank you, Hana."
Reaching the store, Alex searched through, finding what she needed among other stuff when the clerk asked her what other Pokémon she was raising. Bags in possession, they quickly returned to the Pokémon Center. As they entered, the found Chase, Sienna, and Lance waiting for them.
"Welcome back," Chase greeted. "Did you find what you needed?"
Alex nodded, gesturing to the bags. "Do you mind if we eat outside? I'd like Nala to be out of her ball."
"That's okay. It'll be nice to get some fresh air."
Collecting what they wanted, they headed to the back portion of the Pokémon Center.
~Is everything okay now?~ Nala asked when she was released. She spotted her meal, though she was more concerned about her friends than filling her stomach.
~It seems so. The police should have what they need from us to hopefully track those Rockets down,~ Sienna reassured, patting her gently.
"Your Pokémon get along really well," Chase commented.
"We try to work together and be friends," Alex grinned.
~Except for Mr. Grumpy sometimes,~ Hana teased.
~Watch it,~ Ansen grumbled, glaring at her.
"Well, most of us try to get along," the girl laughed nervously.
"I'm curious, how many badges have you gotten so far? With a team like this, you must have gotten a few by now."
"Actually, we only have one. The Cerulean Gym will be our second after some training and maybe catching a grass type."
"I'm sure you'll do really well, I've heard that it's a water gym."
"Same."
They continued to talk, trading stories of what they saw, Chase having quite a bit to share from his travels.
"So you've been a trainer since you were ten?"
"Yeah, when I was old enough, I did some traveling. My Pokémon and I wanted to see some places we couldn't before. Whenever I wasn't traveling, I sometimes helped my parents out at their jobs. Usually, I would help my dad since I thought it was more fun."
"That's really neat. I thought challenging the gyms would be something fun to do for myself and my Pokémon."
"That's what I've heard from other trainers," Chase laughed before a thought came to mind. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you wait until you were thirteen to start?"
"Oh, well this might sound a little silly, but I wanted to wait for a friend."
"So she's younger than you?"
"He," Alex corrected. "But yeah, he's younger than me. There weren't a lot of kids that were our age, his mostly, that would be starting out. Any that were, lived in other towns."
"That was really nice of you. He's lucky to have a friend like you."
"Thank you," she blushed. "We've been friends for a long time. He and I always played together when we were in school, even after I graduated."
"Is he taking the Pokémon League Challenge as well?"
"Yeah. What about you? Were you ever interested in challenging the gyms?"
"Not really. I was planning on someday working with my dad in the Safari Zone."
"That's really cool! You said that you had more fun there, right?"
"That's right. Sure, it still has its fair share of dangers, but it's still a lot of fun. Most of the Pokémon are really friendly, though some can be shy."
"How does it work though? I heard you couldn't battle the Pokémon in there."
"That was done so trainers could try and form a bond with the Pokémon. Entrants would go in with two bags. One holds about thirty pokéballs made for the Safari Zone. The other carries bags of treats you can feed the Pokémon you encounter."
"That sounds so cool, but what if you encounter a dangerous Pokémon?"
"That's where people like my dad and sometimes Koga will do a sweep through to check for signs of aggressive Pokémon. If they find one, they'll try to either catch it or tag it at least. If they find a lot, they'll close that zone down if not the entire park until it's been dealt with."
"What do they do when they catch them?"
"They'll have them examined for health issues. If it turns out they're healthy, just ornery, they'll be relocated to a sanctuary."
"That's good to hear. I also heard there was a zoo in Fuchsia City."
"Yeah, my mom also works there. That's also the reason why I was in Mt. Moon looking for fossils. The main attraction, a Kabutops, recently passed. I thought I could try and find another dome fossil and find a lab that restores them, then the zoo could have another Kabuto."
"What happened to the last one?"
"I don't really know. Mom and Dad never told me other than that she was really sick. They and the warden didn't know until she suddenly passed."
"I'm sorry that happened," Alex apologized, placing a hand on his.
They continued to talk until it began getting late. They agreed that it would be wise to turn in for the night, Alex recalling her Pokémon as they packed up.
When they went in, the nurse informed them that they would be sharing a room, neither bothered with how tired they were. They quickly cleaned up and got changed before going to their room, collapsing on the cots.
Alex - Pokémon 8 - Badges 1 - Deaths 0
Team:
Sienna - Charmander - Charmeleon
Ansen - Pidgey - Pidgeotto
Lance - Nidoran M. - Nidorino
Hana - Caterpie - Metapod - Butterfree
Ken - Pikachu
Nala - Magikarp - Gyarados
Home:
Max - Jigglypuff
Lizzy - Clefairy
Alex has now acquired her own traveling companion who can help her as much as she'll help him.
Also, I would like to thank, PinkTheDinosaur on Deviantart for helping me with some edits on this chapter.
If you enjoyed this, please leave a review and any helpful critique that may better improve the writing.
