We got back to camp before anyone had even woken up. I got back to my sleeping back and crashed out, not even bothering to climb in. One by one the Pokémon all fell on me, exhaling as they then fell asleep. "Ugh…fine." I groaned, letting them crush me. At least I knew where the road to Vermillion City was now, it was literally only twenty minutes away to the city. Wish we'd known that last night otherwise we would have avoided this whole fiasco by just continuing on after dark. Still, what's done is done and the washing is on the line. As mom used to say.
When we woke up, I had an awkward time explaining why my Charmander was now a Charmeleon and why everyone was pretty wiped out. At first Ash was frustrated I hadn't woken him to join the fight, but then he was just an excited kid, sitting in front of me and asking me to go over it again like it was story time, telling me to focus on how awesome his Pokémon were.
Even on the road he was asking me to go over details and I, being too tired to tell him to be quiet, simply gave him the answers he wanted. However when he asked for the millionth time how awesome his Squirtle was in attacking the Onix, I smacked up upside the head.
"Will you get your head out the clouds and look where you're going?!" I yelled at him. "Try and fill that big head of yours with some sort of sense!" Drawing back with an unimpressed look I gestured to the city that we had just arrived at.
"Ah! Oh I can't wait to take a bubble bath!" Misty gasped and everyone looked at Vermillion's City splendour with relief.
"I can't wait to get some decent sleep!" I moaned, falling to my knees with a sigh of relief.
"I'm gonna find the Vermillian City Gym, right now!" Ash crowed then ran forwards but both Brock and I grabbed his jacket and held him back.
"Hold it!" Brock called and Ash looked back in confusion.
"Huh?" Brock rolled his eyes then pointed down to Pikachu, who collapsed on the ground with exhaustion and hungriness. "What's the matter?" Ash asked, scooping him up and I groaned. "Pikachu?" Misty looked at it sympathetically.
"It must be hungry."
"We haven't eaten anything decent for three days now." I stood up and nodded my head.
"I vote we go get something to eat." I suggested and Misty nodded her head in agreement as Ash looked down at Pikachu.
"Hey Pikachu, you feeling hungry little buddy?" In answer his own stomach growled and he blinked before blushing slightly then laughed. "I guess we're all a little hungry, hey Pikachu?"
"Pika." He nodded wearily and I shot Ash a blank look.
"Only a little?" I questioned then head inside. "Come on let's go, we'll find the Pokémon centre too." I suggested. "We'd better heal our Pokémon first, we can take care of ourselves later." Brock nodded his head and followed.
"I agree." We got directions from someone in the street then found our way to the smart Pokémon Centre with bright red walls, though when we went inside we were surpised to find another Nurse Joy, who looked exactly the same as all the others! Was this a new thing now?
"I know why you're surprised, I look like all the other Nurse Joys' don't I?" She questiond with a smile. "My first cousin works in Pewter City and my second cousin works in Viridian City. I think I'm the prettiest one, don't you?" She joked then gave a tinkling laugh.
"Yeah." Brock agreed but before he could spout off into a dramatic love declaration, the doors opened up and a kid came rushing in with a Chansey nurse and a Rattata laying on the bed completely unconscious.
"Hurry! You'll be okay Rattata. Hurry!" The boy called out again then rushed into the Emergency Room. We all stared after it and I felt sorry for the little guy.
"That Rattata is in bad shape." Brock noted aloud. "I wonder what happened." Nurse Joy stood up then put her hands on her hips with annoyance.
"Oh that's the fifteenth one brought in this month."
"What?" We all chorused and Joy nodded.
"Come and see, I'll show you." She led us to the recovery room where rows of Pokémon lay on beds, children and trainers gathered around them waiting for their recovery. Blinking I looked to a fainted Pidgey and instantly felt terrible. Who did this?
"This is terrible." Brock gasped.
"They all lost to Luitenant Surge, the Vermillian Gym Leader." Ash stared at the Rattata who had just been rushed in with slight worry on his face.
"Whoa, he must be a great trainer." He said and Misty gave him a piercing look.
"So, Ash, you scared already?" She questioned with a slight smirk and I chuckled. She really enjoyed irritating him, didn't she?
"No way!" Ash argued so she turned and lifted her chin proudly.
"Well you talk big, but when you see how tough it is to get badges then you turn chicken. Maybe you should just quit now. Besides, the badges you do have you only got out of pity." I shot Misty a grin and she winked at me as Ash rose up to her challenge.
"A badge is a badge!" He argued hotly but Misty merely reached out and flicked his nose sharply. "Ow!"
"Why don't you just prove how tough you are at the Vermillion Gym?" Misty suggested, crossing her arms as she looked challengingly at Ash. Brock looked around the recovery room before interrupting as Ash growled at Misty.
"From the looks of things you'd have to be tough to challenge Luitenant Surge." He noted and I grinned.
"You mean rock tough?" I answered then punched his shoulder. "Do you think your Pokémon could take this Surge guy on?" He shot me a proud look, turning to face me.
"Sure they could! My Pokémon are the toughest around!" I smirked then folded my arms towards Misty.
"Oh I don't know, this guy looks pretty hard to beat. Almost impossible." Ash blinked then lost some of his bravado, face falling slightly.
"You think he's that tough?" Misty leaned forwards and placed her hands on her waits, glaring threateningly at Ash as he leaned back slightly to get away.
"We gave you badges you know. How do you think we'll look if you get crushed by Surge?" She has a point, you know.
"You have nothing to worry about! Except maybe seeing my incredibly strength!" Ash yelled back then went to punch her in the shoulder but Nurse Joy stepped in and smartly placed her hand over Ash's to stop him.
"Alright that's enough!"
"She started it." He accused instantly but Nurse Joy gave them both a stern look, which read they were both in the wrong.
"Remember, this is a hospital." She told them as they looked around to see all the trainers glaring at them and their loud argument. Nurse Joy then tried to make things a little better, but really, she only made things worse. "You know, they say when two people fight, they really care about each other."
"Me care about him?" Misty yelled as Ash said pretty much the same thing. With a humph of pride they both turned their back on one another, making Nurse Joy giggle and I just rolled my eyes.
"Honestly." Just then a bell rang and she looked up before smiling.
"That signal means your Pokémon are recovered." She told us then led us all to where our Pokéballs lay, Pikachu sitting beside them and munching happily into some food. Ash brightened when he saw his buddy then rushed forwards.
"Pikachu!"
"Pi?" Pikachu looked up then stood.
"I hope you're full because we're going to win big at that gym today." Ash started then struck a confident pose. "Come on, let's go win a badge!" Just then another kid trainer came rushing in, only this time it was a Pidgey on the hospital bed.
"Please hurry! Just hold on Pidgey!" As they rushed past, Misty hummed.
"I guess they must have come from that gym." With a sigh I shook my head.
"That makes sixteen in one month." I added but then saw how Pikachu reacted, leaping up and waggling his legs quickly in fear.
"Pi! Pikachu Pikachu!" He shook his head and Ash leaned a little closer.
"What? Don't be a coward!" Ash glared at Pikachu who instantly began to make movements with his arms as he spoke.
"Pika…Pikachu!"
"Huh? Don't I even care if you'll end up like that Pidgey in there?" Ash questioned, voicing Pikachu's concerns. "Is that it?"
"Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded his head with a shrill, worried voice and I sighed sympathetically. Knowing Ash, not even Pikachu's reluctance will stop him.
"Yeah…I gues you're right." His shoulders slumped and he looked down as Pikachu relaxed and sighed with relief. The relief was short lived as Ash suddenly beamed then grabbed Pikachu's hand. "No problem!" Ash cheered, trying to march off but Pikachu gripped onto the side of the bed desperately. "You won't end up that way because you'll win!"
"Pikachu!" He wailed and I placed my hands on my hips, giving Ash an unimpressed look.
"Don't be a scaredy-cat Pikachu!" He turned back and shot Pikachu a look, but before I decided to grab Ash by the ear or something, I waited for Pikachu to do what I guessed he would. He lit Ash up like a Christmas tree, sending a sharp bolt of electricity into his body before stopping.
"The way they fight must mean they care a lot." Misty said as I strode forwards and grabbed Ash by the scruff of his jacket to yank him away.
"Okay mister Pokémon Master, let's find you some ice because you're a little too warmed up right now." I let him go once we were out of the Pokémon Centre then waited for the others.
"I've gotta win a badge! It's the only way I can get into the Pokémon League!" Ash told me so I smacked him upside the head.
"Would you just calm down? You can't go into a battle all steamed up like this. You have to keep calm so that you can think straight." I shot him a dark look. "If you can even think at all." Just then Misty and Brock came out with Pikachu and their Pokémon, though mine were already clipped onto my belt. "You guys all go to the gym, I'm going to catch up on some sleep then get supplies for us all to continue our journey. I'll meet you back here in the evening okay?" I said and Misty nodded.
"See you later! Come on Ash, I can't wait to see you get your butt kicked." I laughed then waved to them as they head off.
"Good luck Ash!" With that, I went back into the Pokémon centre, found somewhere quiet then crashed out into sleep.
Waking up a few hours later I yawned, stretched and then took a bath. It felt so nice to be clean again! Once I felt like a decent, hygienic human being again I head out into town and bought a loud of supplies from the shared pot we had put together.
I bought a few extras of essentials, just to make sure we would have spares and enough to last then head back to the Pokémon Centre. I had just made it to the doors when I saw Ash and the others running up to us. Instantly I smiled.
"Hey Ash! Did you win?" I questioned and he beame, instantly whipping out his badge to show me.
"You bet I did!" The Thunder Badge gleamed in his hand and I beamed at him proudly.
"That's great! Though I'm surprised you only got back just now. Did you have to wait for a battle with this guy?" I asked, entering with everyone but Ash shook his head.
"No, turns out Surge had a Raichu, which at first totally knocked us out, right Pikachu?" Pikachu nodded his head as he walked proudly alongside us.
"Pika!"
"But then we came up with a new stragedy." Brock explained as we contined to the waiting area where we could settle down for the time being. "Surge let slip that he'd evolved his Pikachu the moment he got it, so it didn't learn any of its speed attacks like Agility. We then used that to our advantage and Pikachu was able to avoid being hit until Raichu had run out of electricity." I laughed.
"That's great! I'm proud of you Pikachu, I bet you were awesome!" I tickled his belly as I said this, making him squeal adorably. "I'll be sure to watch you next time you fight, I promise."
"So what did you get?" Ash asked, trying to take a peak at my bags. "Any food?" I smacked him upside the head as he tried to dive into the supplies. "Hey!"
"No peaking. Wait your turn." I told him sharply then began to list off the things I had bought. "I've stocked us up on Super Potions, Antidote, Paralyse Heal and Burn Heals and also made sure to get a few extra Pokéballs for everyone because I know Ash was getting a little low. I've also got all the things on that list you gave me Brock and Misty, I made sure to get you your shampoo but it was on offer, so I got two instead." Her eyes sparkled at me. "There's also suncream, soap, a new line to put up our washing because the other one mysteriously snapped, rubber gloves to do the washing because you boys always complain about getting wrinkly hands and all other things we'll need."
I handed bags out as I said this, letting everyone stock up on their supplies before seeing to my own. "Hey, what's this?" Ash asked as he pulled out some spray. "Is it Repel? I don't need Repel! I want to catch Pokémon." I rolled my eyes at him.
"No you doofus, its deodorant." I answered him simply as I began to rearrange my stuff carefully.
"What about this?" He picked up a smaller spray and I grinned.
"Oh that? That's just some breath spray, because your breath always stinks in the morning." Misty burst into laughed, giggling in the seat as she sorted through her esentials whilst Ash's face deadpanned at me.
"Gee. Thanks."
"You're welcome!" I trilled then looked at Pikachu. "I got you something too, want to see?" Pikachu nodded his head excitedly then ran up my arm to settle on my shoulder. I giggled as he leaned forwards curiously.
"Pika Pi?" I pulled out the rubber ball and his eyes widened and sparkled brightly. "Chuuu!"
"Uh huh, because you fried my tennis ball." I laughed then threw it up into the air. Pikachu launched himself after it, catching it easily then landed on Brock's head, making us all laugh as he began to kick and header it, bounding around the place to chase it.
"Thanks Ruby, he loves it!" Ash laughed then tossed the ball for Pikachu as he brought it back to him. I smiled and nodded my head as I lifted my finger pointedly.
"I find that simple game time is a great way to improve the bond between you and your Pokémon. Also it provides exercise and a break from training where the Pokémon can simply enjoy life and spend quality time with their trainers." Brock nodded his head.
"Of course, people always forget that a strong bond is important to be effective in battle. Your Pokémon will be more willing to work harder for you if it cares enough for you and what you want." Ash caught Pikachu and beamed as he ruffled his head, laughing as he hugged his buddy.
"Me and Pikachu are best pals, aren't we buddy?"
"Pikachu!" He agreed then gave a little spark to show his affection. We all chuckled then joined everyone else staying at the Pokémon Centre for dinner then settled down for the night. I let both Charmeleon and Pidgeotto out for a stretch beforehand, though, letting them get some fresh air and proper food whilst watching the sun set on top of one of the buildings.
Charmeleon sat a little away from me, watching the sun and didn't pay me much attention, but that was okay. We'd crossed a huge hurdle in our relationship, I think he trusted me now. All I needed to do now was work on our friendship. Maybe if he liked me enough, he'd choose to stay with me.
