Sorry for the long delay, exams are back and their back with a vengeance :( wish me luck all! And good luck to anyone taking exams, hope this story gives you a bit of a break, peace!


The next morning in the early dawn I stood outside the Pokémon Centre facing Misty and Ash with a smile, Charmander and Pidgey now safely in their Pokéballs at my waist. "You sure you don't want to travel with me?" Ash asked again. "You're more than welcome to come along. You'd be doing me the favour, because then I won't have to deal with only Misty all the time." She clobbered him upside the head and I giggled.

"It's your own fault! You're the one who destroyed my bike and I'm not leaving until you repay me!" Still smiling I shook my head.

"No thanks, I really want to spend some time on my own, start to find my own strength and personality. Maybe next time we meet we could join up together, it will be fun." Ash nodded his head.

"Okay, if that's what you want."

"Pikachu! Pika, Pika-pi!" Pikachu called to me and I smiled to him and reached out.

"Aw, I'll miss you too Pikachu. But don't worry, we'll see one another real soon. I promise." I curled my hand around his cheek and rubbed him, ignoring Ash's suddenly worried face.

"Hey watch out, he might…huh?"

"Chuuuuu!" Pikachu cooed adorably and I giggled as I continued to rub his cheek.

"See? We're best buddies already." I winked at Ash. "I'll see you all soon. Goodbye! Good luck Ash!" I turned and began to walk away, waving to them as I went until finally I turned and began to jog towards Viridian Forest. It was full of bugs and new kinds of Pokémon. I couldn't wait!

Once I was out of the city and heading towards Viridian Forest I took out my two Pokéballs then flung them forwards. "Alright you guys, time for some exercise!" I cheered then caught both of them again when they returned to me, Pidgey and Charmander appearing after the flash of light.

"Pidgey!"

"Char! Char! Charmander clapped his hands then began to race around my feet before lowering his head and ramming into the back of my legs.

"Woah! Easy!" I yelped as I stumbled forwards but Charmander merely bashed into me again, trying to get me to walk forwards. "Alright we're going, just calm down that hot flame mister." I told him then began to walk, Charmander toddling happily at my side.

Pidgey flew overhead but then she spiralled down and flapped in front of my face, making me smile and giggle as I reached up and stroked her feathers. "Pidgey…Pidgey…" She tweeted happily. I said nothing, merely gave her a tickle in her favourite spot then watched as she soared back into the air again.

Looking down I noticed Charmander was looking at me strangely. He had his head cocked to the side, watching the interaction with curiosity. Noticing I was looking at him he snorted then lifted his head to proudly saunter away. Shaking my head with a sad sigh I followed after him.

I played games with Pidgey and tried to persuade Charmander to join in but he refused, sitting on a rock whilst looking away from us as I played catch with Pidgey. She soared through the sky gracefully, catching the small tennis ball easily in her talons as I launched it forwards as far as I could then brought it back to me. "Alright! Nice catch Pidgey, this time catch it with a Gust, try and throw it back to me!" I called then flung it with all my strength.

Pidgey called out determinedly then swept downwards, racing against the tennis ball before overtaking it and turning so that she could direct her wings back. Powerful gusts of wind flew against me and I lifted my arms to shield myself though I was smiling as the tennis ball came flying back to me.

I reached out and snagged it, just about managing to trap it in my fingers as Pidgey let up her attack. "Nice!" I cheered. "You're great at this Pidgey."

"Pidgey!" She agreed proudly, nodding her head then looked to Charmander. "Pidgey, Pi-Pidgey!"

"Yeah come on Charmander, come and play with us." I said to him. "It's a lot of fun if you join in." Obstinately he shook his head.

"Char." Signalling his answer was final, Charmander hopped off his rock then marched away down the road and into the Viridian Forest.

"Hey wait up!" Groaning with a roll of my eyes I stuffed the tennis ball back into my backpack then hurried on after him. I jogged to catch up but that little Pokémon sure can move. Pidgey flew on ahead to keep him company whilst I increased my pace into a run and only stopped when I had caught them up. "Wow, you guys…sure move fast…when you want to." I panted for breath whilst gripping my knees.

"Ha, you look more worn out than your Pokémon should be." A voice called out and I stood up.

"Huh?" The bushes ahead of us rustled and Pidgey instantly took a defensive stance, angling her body to prepare to protect me. "Who are you?"

"I'm Carl, I'm a bug catcher and I challenge you to a battle! I've recently caught a whole hoard of bug Pokémon and not even your little fire lizard will be able to beat them!" A spindly guy crawled out of the bushes then grinned at me, a net in his hand and a healthy collection of six Pokéballs at his waist. "Go Caterpie!"

He sent out a little caterpillar Pokémon and I giggled. "Aw it's so cute!" Pulling out Dexter I listened to the information it had on the Caterpie.

"Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon. To repel enemies, Caterpie releases an unpleasant odour from its red antenna. It malts several times while growing." So maybe the information didn't paint it to be as cute as it looked, but look at those big eyes! It's just adorable.

"So, do you accept my challenge?" He questioned and I grinned.

"You bet! Pidgey, I choose you! Charmander, come stand back with me." Charmander huffed then folded his arms, walking away then sat down on the ground away from both the battle and me. My shoulders and head drooped instantly as I groaned. "Charmander…"

"That Pokémon doesn't even listen to you. I hope that bird doesn't pick on its habits." Smirking I turned back to face him.

"Pidgey is the best Pokémon in the world! Let's show him Pidgey!" Pidgey flapped her wings and lisfted herself off the ground, hovering as she called out confidently.

"Pidgey!" Smiling I looked over to Carl who clenched his fingers tightly around his net.

"Okay Caterpie, use String Shot!" Instantly I came up with a counter attack.

"Dodge it and use Gust!" Pidgey banked swiftly to the left, avoiding the String Shot then flapped her small wings, which still created a strong wind which whipped the bug Pokémon backwards, its tiny voice shrilly calling.

"Pie!" I felt a little sorry for it, its body suddenly going limp as it flew towards a tree.

"Catch it Pidgey! Don't let it hit anything!" Pidgey called out in agreement as Carl chomped down on his nails and gasped.

"My beautiful bug Pokémon!" With a swoop through the air Pidgey angled her body then arched her body, stretching out her talons to catch Caterpie as if it were the tennis ball. "Don't hurt it!" Carl fussed in fear as Pidgey brought the fainted Caterpie back.

"It's okay, she knows to be gentle." I assured him as Pidgey carefully put the Pokémon down in Carl's hands.

"I'm sorry Caterpie. I'll fix you up real soon." Now he turned an angry look on me. "I'll show you. Go Metapod!" The cocoon like Pokémon appeared and I blinked at its blank expression. "Quick, use Harden!"

"Metapod, the Cocoon Pokémon. Metapod's vulnerable body is surrounded by its hard shell, which protects it while it waits to evolve." Dexter informed me without me even needing me to ask.

"Hmm, hard shell huh? Okay, shouldn't be a problem. Pidgey! Use Quick Attack!" Pidgey tucked in her wings and slammed into the Metapod, knocking it over but then it just lay there, completely useless.

"Use Harden again Metapod! Don't let that stupid bird crack your hard shell!" Pidgey, with a look of disgust, sent a gust of air at Carl and knocked him over.

"Nice one Pidgey, now let's use Peck!" Pidgey landed beside the Metapod then began to peck at its shell. "Keep using Peck!"

"Harden! Use Harden Metapod!" Carl practically screamed and Metapod's shell began to glow but Pidgey pecked away, spreading her wings to shield him before I lifted my hand.

"That's enough Pidgey, you've done it." Sure enough when Pidgey stepped back, Metapod's eyes were closed and his shell was slightly scuffed from the attack it had endured.

"Oh! Darn it." Carl pouted as he returned Metapod. "Alright then, let's see you take on Weedle!" I smirked.

"Fine by me. Use Gust!" Pidgey sent that Pokémon flying right back into its Pokéball. The next two Pokémon were just another Weedle and Caterpie, so Carl was now down to his last Pokémon as Pidgey dispatched them all with relevant ease. With only one Pokémon left, Carl growled in irritation whilst biting at his nails.

I looked over to Charmander to see if he was okay and was surprised to see that he was watching the battle with a little interest. I smiled at him but he merely growled then looked away and my face fell.

"Alright, so you've beaten my other precious bug Pokémon, but this one won't be so easy. Go Beedrill!" I gasped and stared as a Beedrill was let out of its Pokéball, the buzz of its wings instantly putting me on high alert.

"Talk to me Dexter."

"Beedrill. This Pokémon is an evolved form of Weedle, following its Kakuna stage. Its sting is highly poisonous." Looking up I swallowed nervously at the three foot tall Beedrill, who pointed its drill hands towards Pidgey.

"Be careful of that sting okay Pidgey? Use your speed and evasiveness to keep out of its clutches." I called out then put Dexter away. "Okay, let's start things off with a bang. Use Sand-Attack!" Pidgey dived for the ground then began to kick up sand, throwing it into Beedrill's face and it buzzed in annoyance.

"Beedrill, use Poison Sting!" Carl cried then began to laugh manically. "Go my beautiful bug Pokémon!"

"Get out the way and fly high! Get above the Beedrill!" I called out and Pidgey instantly darted forwards, flapping her wings just as the Beedrill slammed its stinger towards her but hit the ground instead, burying it deep. Instantly I punched the air. "Alright! Go Pidgey, let's give them a taste of your strength, use Twister!"

Pidgey began to fly in tight circles, creating a small twister around the Beedrill as it tried to fight against it. "Hurry and get out of there! Fight against it Beedrill, you can do it!" Carl yelled but Pidgey did not let up. She spiralled around and around, building her Twister higher until finally, she struck through it with a slice of her wings and it finished, leaving Beedrill a crumbled heap on the ground. "Beedrill!" Carl yelled then ran forwards. "Beedrill are you okay? Can you get up?"

"Bee…drill…" It muttered then fell limp. Red washed over it and it went back into the Pokéball, leaving Pidgey and me victorious.

"Alright! We did it Pidgey." I cheered and caught her as she dove towards me and I nuzzled into her feathers, laughing. "You were excellent Pidgey, I'm so proud!"

"Pidgey! Pidgey!" She rubbed her head into my neck, making my giggle as her feathers tickled my skin then I let her go so she could fly up into the sky.

"Thanks for a great match, I hope your Pokémon will all be okay?" I questioned Carl who offered me a weak smile.

"Yeah we'll all be fine. Thanks for stopping to battle me, I guess I got a little over excited. I haven't had a battle in a long time because I've been focusing on catching bug Pokémon but I guess I should probably look after the ones I already have a little better first." I smiled to him.

"I know you'll do great. Goodbye!" I waved as I continued to follow the main path that led the way to Pewter City. Along the way I played more games with Pidgey to increase our bond but no matter how hard I tried, Charmander just didn't want anything to do with me. "Come on Charmander, just one game?" I pleaded with him, on my knees and grovelling before him as he kept his back turned to me. "Please? I'll throw the ball one time and all you have to do is catch it. Please? Pretty please? I just want you to have some fun." I continued, holding the tennis ball in my hand then held it up. "I'll buy you some chili spiced sweets in Pewter City…?" I bribed and this seemed to do the trick.

Charmander turned then sighed, rolling his eyes before nodding his head. "Charmander."

"Alright! You ready?" I asked as I leaped up then prepared to throw the ball. "You'll have to run for it, go!" I flung it forwards and Charmander watched it with a bored expression before walking forwards at a slow pace. Instantly I felt my entire composure slump as I watched Charmander approach the ball as it landed on the ground, picked it up then tossed it over his shoulder back to me. "Ugh…great job Charmander." I muttered then picked up the tennis ball.

Charmander snorted then pointed to the road, telling me to get moving. "Okay, yeah. Let's go." Despondently I followed, feeling really put out. Why won't he play? He's meant to still be a baby, I thought all babies liked to play games!

Pidgey landed on my shoulder and tried to console me, rubbing her head against mine and I sighed. "I don't know. Guess he'll only be happy when we take him back to his family. But what if they're not there?" I whispered to Pidgey who shrugged. "We'll just have to keep looking, I agree."

So we continued our journey through the forest, seeing several different bug Pokémon but I didn't catch any. Bug Pokémon were cute but I didn't really feel a tight bond to any of them. I'll know my Pokémon when I see them, then I'll catch them.