The Pokemon League, Chapter 2

I was beyond out of luck. The road north towards Viridian was still pretty long, and those rain clouds looked ready to pour. That same road was also in the open, so if it started to rain, Vulpix and I would be soaked. As if my bad luck wasn't enough, within seconds I felt a droplet land on my head. The next landed on my glasses. Without them, I was blinder than a Zubat, so instead of running ahead, I ran to the side.

The trees wouldn't keep me dry, but at least I could stay out of most of the rain. That same rain scared most of the other Pokemon into hiding, so at least I didn't have to worry about running into any more angry Rattatas. Vulpix was still tired from the fight, so I had to carry her along the way. I used the road next to me as a guide, make sure I was heading towards Viridian City.

That plan failed, though. Once it started raining hard, I couldn't even see where the road was, and I started moving through the trees on the side. I was more focused on staying dry than anything else, so my sense of direction kind of went out the window. After a little while of running, I got lucky and ran into a small area where the rain couldn't get through the trees much. I was still getting wet, but at least it was much less than before.

I let Vulpix go, her fur mostly dry. She stayed close, trying to use me as an umbrella. I took off my glasses, and tried to find a part of my dress that wasn't completely soaked. I ended up using a spare from my bag to dry them off, after a few seconds of digging around to find it. I honestly couldn't see a foot in front of me without them, it was all a big blur.

The rain continued strong forever. The trees above us began to let more and more rain through, so I picked Vulpix back up and started walking again. I was still lost on the side of the road, and I couldn't be sure I was heading towards Viridian City anymore. So, I just kept walking, Vulpix in my arms growling at the rain. Suddenly her ears shot up and looked to my right.

It was only for a moment, but I saw a giant flash in the sky through the trees. There was a huge lightning bolt all the way out there, like it hit a tree or something. The sound of the thunder made my heart skip a beat, so much so that I started running in the opposite direction. If more of those were going to fall, I didn't want to be hit by one.

~o~

A little while after the lightning hit, the rain stopped. I was happy, and so was Vulpix, but now I was lost in the trees. After that lightning bolt hit, I just ran in some random direction. Probably in a direction away from the main road. I placed Vulpix down on the ground, letting her walk for herself. The ground was wet and muddy, so I didn't like the idea of her walking all over it. Mom always made me give her a bath when it rained and I let her outside. It was never any fun.

It didn't take me long to find a road outside the trees. It looked like the same road on Route 1, but now there looked to be a lot more trees close by. I knew something strange was going on. Left or right was another problem. If I was on the left side of the road when it started to rain, that meant I had to turn left again to reach Viridian. I shared this with Vulpix, and she looked at me like I was crazy. Guess it wasn't such a smart idea to ask a Pokemon for directions.

I went with my first idea and turned left. The road was pretty hard to follow after a few minutes, the dirt getting covered more and more with grass. It was around that point that I started worrying about my decision. That is, until I ran into a familiar face. It was Deneb, of all people! I called out to him before he noticed me.

"Star? How did you find me?" He asked.

I quickly explained everything that had happened in the last few hours, about how I escaped Pallet and started my own journey. Deneb could hardly believe it.

"But how did you get here? This is Route 22." I couldn't believe what he said. Had I gotten that lost? I asked him where Route 22 was, and he explained it was another road leading out from Viridian City. I had managed to cut through the forests and skip the city entirely.

That same route also led to Victory Road, a special place for Pokemon Trainers. Deneb explained that every trainer wanted the same thing, to be allowed through Victory Road and to the Indigo Plateau, where all the greatest trainers go. Naturally, this meant I wanted to go there too!

"There's a test you have to pass first," Deneb told me. "You have to prove you can handle the road by collecting eight gym badges."

Gym badges, proof that you could fight Pokemon battles against the best trainers in the region. Viridian City had one of those gyms, but Deneb said it was closed for some strange reason when he went there. He wasn't sure where to go next, so he visited the entrance to Victory Road to ask. He told me that I'd have to go there and ask myself for a map of the region and where the gyms are located.

"But first," he said right after the explanation, "we should have a Pokemon battle!"

I looked at Deneb, confusion clearly visible on my face. I had heard about trainers fighting at random points along the roads, but I didn't expect to be fighting Deneb first! With only Vulpix at my side, I guess I had no choice but to ask her to fight again. She didn't object, and walked forward, holding her head high. Deneb threw a Pokeball at the ground, and out came his Bulbasaur in a red flash of light.

"One on one, Star. You ready?"

It made no difference what I had to say at that point, as Deneb's Bulbasaur ran forward. Vulpix stood there, not moving, unsure what to do, much like I was. It took Bulbasaur landing the first hit on Vulpix for me to finally snap into gear. Bulbasaur was a grass type, and Vulpix was a fire type. I had the advantage.

"Use your embers!"

My command rang loud and clear, and Vulpix spun forward, releasing dozens of small fires on Bulbasaur.

"Tackle her!"

Deneb's command reached Bulbasaur, and the Pokemon shot forward, evading the embers and ramming straight into Vulpix. I was beginning to see why Deneb wasn't worried about the type disadvantage. After two full on tackles, Vulpix was having trouble standing up. She was still slow from the Rattata fight before. One more attack was all Bulbasaur needed to win the fight.

"Vulpix, try Ember again!"

She heard me, but it took her a few moments to attempt the move. By that time Deneb had already ordered another tackle. I knew it was all over. I couldn't bare to see Vulpix hit again, so I jumped in the way. Deneb noticed, and told Bulbasaur to stop just in time. Vulpix couldn't keep her eyes open anymore, and finally collapsed.

"Vulpix, are you okay?" I called to her in my arms. Her breathing was heavy, but I guess it was more exhaustion than anything. I felt Deneb walk up behind me and tap on my shoulder with something.

"Take this." Deneb gave me a small, purple spray. He called it a potion, a special medicine for hurt Pokemon. It wouldn't bring Vulpix back to fighting strength, but it would stop her pain. I sprayed the potion on her, and watched as some life returned to her.

"I'm sorry about that," Deneb said. "I guess I went a bit crazy with that battle."

I couldn't exactly hold it against him. Pokemon battles were all going to be like that, whether I liked it or not. This was ultimately the test: could I endure the heartache of seeing Vulpix, and any other Pokemon that would eventually join me, take these kinds of beatings? I needed time to think.

"It's okay. I just need to let Vulpix rest for a while." I picked my tired critter up and faced Deneb.

"Viridian City is a couple hours back the way you came. Or, you could stay at the Pokemon Center outside Victory Road. It's only a few minutes away."

With Vulpix in the condition she was, I didn't want to risk anything. I asked Deneb to show me the way to the center, which he did without issue. However, once we were outside the door, he turned around and started towards Viridian City.

"Deneb? Aren't you going to stay?"

"Sorry, but I can't spare any time. If you plan to continue this adventure, maybe we'll see each other again on the road. Tell your mom I said hi!"

And just like that, Deneb started walking away. He stopped after a few steps, running back to me with a couple things in his hands.

"These are Pokeballs, you use them to catch wild Pokemon. I know you've never used one on Vulpix, but sometimes it's easier to keep them safe inside. You can have them, just in case."

I thanked him, and this time he left for good. I stayed outside the center, watching him until he disappeared behind the trees.

~o~

Inside, I left Vulpix in the care of a Nurse Joy, a beautiful lady that worked behind the counter of the center. The center was filled with papers about the Pokemon League, the same thing Deneb explained to me. The challenge was to collect eight badges from the region and face the Elite Four, the greatest trainers in the world. If reaching them was going to be as painful for Vulpix as today was, I didn't know if I wanted to go through with it.

There was a phone in the lobby, so I decided to give Mom a call. She was probably sick with worry, so there was nothing wrong with letting her know I was okay. Worst case scenario, I could ask her to drive out here to pick me up. The phone rang only once before she answered. When her face showed up on the phone's monitor, I could tell she had been crying.

"How could you leave like that? You know how worried I was? Why didn't you just tell me?" Her questions continued to flood the phone, not even giving me a chance to answer. I couldn't help but tear up a bit as she continued to yell at me. When she finally finished yelling at me, she asked one more definitive question.

"Where are you?"

"At the Pokemon Center," I told her. I didn't specify which one, though.

"The Viridian City center? I'll be there as fast as I can, so don't go anywhere!" I saw her gather her car keys and purse as she prepared to take off.

"No, Mom. I'm not going home." I said. She looked at me through the screen like I had just said a bad word.

"What? Why not?" I had never seen her look so angry about something. Still, I took a deep breath and explained.

I had decided, right then and there. It's true I never realized how dangerous the adventure would be, but I didn't want to quit. I didn't want to return to Pallet Town, to live a normal, boring life. There was a whole world out there, filled with things to do. I just needed a guide and a reason. Mom was the reason, and the Pokemon League challenge was the guide. I told her what I was planning to do, and that I needed some things for my adventure. I wanted her to go out to Viridian tomorrow and help me get off on the right foot.

"I want your help, Mom. Please."

There was nothing to stop her from driving out to Viridian City and taking me back home. I knew this, and so did she. She looked away from the screen, unsure how to answer my plea. With or without her help I was going on this adventure, for better or worse. This exact thought is what prompted her reply:

"I'll be there first thing in the morning."

I thanked her a dozen times over the phone, and said good-bye a dozen more after we sorted out the details.

It was dark outside by the time I finished talking to her. I asked Nurse Joy how Vulpix was doing, and she told me it'd be best if she slept the rest of the night without interruptions. Worried about me, she even offered me a bed on the second floor of the center. Before I took her up on that offer, I took a brochure from the League.

There were a few things I needed to brush up on before I set out the next morning.