A Pokemon Story
Chapter 2
About an hour later the sun had fully risen, and we decided to stop in a grassy patch for breakfast. I rummaged around the front pocket of my messenger bag for the breakfast I had packed. I found my food and dug out a Poke'treat for Pyro.
"Pyro?" I called looking around for him.
"Where did he go?" I mumbled to myself.
"Pyyroo?!" I frowned looking around for a sign of where he had snuck of too.
"Vul?" he answered, as a nearby bush rustled, and he poked his head out looking around sheepishly.
"Get over here and stop poking around." I said frowning again.
He trotted over to me and laid down sulkily, his head on his paws.
I whistled to Pyro and motioned that I had a treat. He immediately bounced up to catch it as I threw it, and he curled up beside me to munch on it happily. Since Pyro had been taken care of, I unwrapped my Nanab berry muffin from its plastic wrap and uncapped my Moomoo milk to have my breakfast.
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I bent down to pick up a few more Cheri berry sized rocks off the ground.
"Ready Pyro?" I called to him. "Here're some more!"
As I walked, I threw the rocks so that they where above Pyro, and I instructed him to use ember and flamethrower attacks on each one. This was to improve his aim. When Pyro had started using fire attacks, his aim needed a lot of work, so I started to throw rocks, sticks and whatever else I could find to help him practice his aim on moving targets.
"You've really improved, Pyro!" I said grinning as he hit everyone with ease. I threw the last 3 rocks in the air and Pyro hit each one consecutively with brilliant displays of fire attacks. As we walked on I used the same technique on Akira and Pucca until we decided to break for lunch.
We scouted around for an area to eat lunch and found a small clearing in the woods.
"This is a perfect spot." I said as I passed out Poke'food to everyone. I started to take out my sandwich from my bag, but I abruptly put both down as I heard a muffled shouting and crashing noises.
"Hey, that's my secret spot!" someone yelled behind me.
I spun around to see a flash of green and short brown hair topple into the clearing from behind the trees and bushes. It was a little girl. She looked around 12, and she was short and very skinny. She was wearing a green Poke'Scouts uniform with high socks, MaryJanes, and a little green beret.
"How DARE you use my secret spot?!" she demanded as her thin face became very pink.
"Uhh…I…I'm sorry." I stuttered. I was so blown away that someone would become so very rude over a spot in the woods that I didn't quite know what to say.
"You should be!" She said haughtily. "Get your stuff and leave." She ordered rudely.
My eyes widened. "What?! No way!" I was not going to be ordered around by a puny 12-year-old Poke'Scout camper!
I let her have it.
"I found this spot with my Pokemon, and we were having a peaceful lunch until you came along little girl! I don't know who you think you are, but you DO NOT own this forest and all its 'secret spots'! And besides", I added. "It's not very secret if just anyone can find it so easy, now is it?!"
She looked like she was about to cry, but then she puffed up her chest and challenged for more.
"I…I'll battle you for it." She stammered.
I was amazed that she still wanted to fight for this spot! Fine, I'd agree. First battle away from home and it was for a spot in the woods.
"Alright, better get ready to lose little girl."
She didn't answer me but called out her first Pokemon.
"Hoppip, help me out!" She exclaimed as she threw her Pokemon's Poke'ball.
A very pink Pokemon jumped out of her Poke'ball. It hopped around, and its little leaves on its head bounced about.
I considered my choices.
"Akira lets go!" I smirked.
"Cynda!" He said as he leapt in front of me, from his spot next to Pyro, ready to battle.
"Let's make this short and sweet." I told the little camper. "Two on two?"
She nodded curtly and began the battle. "Hoppip, lets start of with sweet scent!"
"We're not wasting time on smelly attacks! Akira, tackle it!" I said as I thrust my arm out pointing to Hoppip. Akira jumped forward and ran square into the bouncing Hoppip just as pink mist and flowerily petals were coming out of its little leaves. The two crashed into a nearby tree, and Akira bounced off Hoppip and investigated the damage he had done.
"Hoppip!" The girl cried. "Are you okay?!" It got up slowly and gave its owner a little grin to signify it was alright. "Okay then, Hoppip use razor leaf!" Sharp leaves were coming toward Akira.
"Dodge them and use ember, Akira!" He just dodged Hoppip's razor leaf as one barely missed his face. He followed through with my instructions and let loose a fiery ember attack on to the grass Pokemon. The little camper cried out urging her Pokemon to get up. It winced and got up into a crouching position, ready to continue battling for its trainer.
"Akira lets end this! Finish Hoppip of with a headbutt!" I said.
"Da'quil!" He answered and charged head first into Hoppip knocking it straight into the air. Hoppip lay fainted in a grassy patch.
"Oh, Hoppip! You hurt my poor Pokemon! You meanie!" The girl returned her fainted Pokemon and felt around her belt for her last Pokemon.
"Sentret, it's your turn!" A little brown Pokemon came out of this ball, and it bounced about on its big tan and brown striped tail.
"Akira, you did a great job!" I said as I smiled at him. He bound over to me, and I bent down to pick him up.
"Cyndaaa." He cooed as I cuddled with him. He nuzzled my cheek as I decided who to send out next.
"Pucca, let's finish this battle with a bang!" I motioned for her to come with my right hand, as Akira snuggled closer to me while he lay in my left arm.
"Pikaa", she answered. Her zigzag tail moved about as she sprinted to a spot in front of me. Sparks flew from her scarlet cheeks as she readied for battle. I have make this quick; have to get to the nearest town soon. My parents are going to be looking for me, and I have to make sure I'm out of their reach. Pucca is the perfect choice! We'll be done in no time.
"Pucca, start off with a quick attack!" Sentret wasn't ready as Pucca hit it in the side at blinding speed.
The little camper finally realized the battle had begun again and flustered about trying to get her Pokemon up.
Pucca let sparks loose again as she itched to fight some more. I let her have her wish.
"Pucca, shock it while its down! Thunderbolt!" White streaks of electrical power left her cheeks and she attacked Sentret as it was getting up.
"Sentret!" The girl was horrified as she motioned for her Pokemon to get up. Painfully, it sat on its haunches.
"We have to go Pucca. Finish with a slam, and add some electrical power!" I formed a fist and thrust my free hand up, excited for near victory. Sentret didn't know what hit it. Pucca's fast footwork and powerful electrical slam knocked Sentret out before it even had the chance to retaliate. The match was over, and I had won.
Tearing up, the little girl returned Sentret to its ball. I shuffled over to her as she was digging for something in her pocket.
"Here", she tried to shove some money in my free hand. "It's not much…but you won." I didn't accept it.
"Take it!" She said.
"No." I replied. "You keep it. You did pretty well back there, and I bet if you train them some more your Pokemon will become very strong." I smiled softly at her; sorry I had beaten her so easily.
She looked up at me sheepishly and grinned, "You think so?"
"Mhmm, I do. Well, I better be off now. I gotta get far away from her real quick like." I grinned and she giggled at me.
"Bye…maybe I'll see you around." She smiled and leaned towards me to pet Akira still in my arms.
I nodded at her and motioned to Pucca and Pyro to get ready to go. I picked up my messenger bag and slung it over my shoulder and turned to leave.
"Wait! I didn't get your name." She said.
I turned around to face her. "It's Puu." I told her "And yourself?"
"Kimmy," She said smiling, and turned around to leave the clearing as she came in. I saw a flash of green and brown, and then she was gone.
I had to go too. I unclipped Pucca and Akira's Pokeballs from my belt and pointed them at my Pokemon.
"Into your balls…Pucca, Akira." A red laser flashed, and they were gone. I downsized the Pokeballs and clipped them to my spiked belt.
"Come on Pyro, let's get going. We have a lot of ground to cover."
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It was about 2o'clock, and Pyro and I had arrived at Coalley town; the little mining town between Lilycove and Fortree. I sat on a bench to catch my breath and Pyro lay at my feet panting. We had traveled a long way in the past 2 hours, a feat hard even for us. Even though we had trained all those days on the beach my head felt like it was up in the clouds. I took out my vibrant blue water bottle and took a few big sips. I poured some into my free hand and offered it to Pyro, and he gulped it down hungrily.
Once we were refreshed, I started to scout about for a Pokemon Center. I learned from a little boy that there was one by a flower shop in the east part of the town. We walked in the direction he pointed to, and I glimpsed the cherry red roof of the Pokemon Center. As we neared I noticed the flower shop had buckets of flowers outside the store, and I decided to have a look. Pyro went around sniffing some of the flowers while I looked around for my favorite one. I found them and went over to the sunflower bucket to check the price.
Should I buy some? What would I do with them…they're so nice, but where would I put them?
I thought I saw someone in the window above me, so I stood up to look. I looked into the window and thought I saw a boy about my age, but as I tried to make out his face through the tint on the window he was gone.
"Come on Pyro, we have to go to the Pokemon Center. I almost forgot while we were looking at these." I shook my head trying to forget about the boy in the shop as we walked into the Pokemon center.
"Good afternoon." Nurse Joy said happily as I walked to the front counter. "I haven't seen you before."
"Uhh…yeah I'm just stopping by." I answered. "My Pokemon need to be healed." I told her as I unclipped my Pokemon's balls from my belt and placing them on the little tray Nurse Joy had set out.
"Oh, and Pyro," I said. I bent down to pick him up and sat him on the counter.
"I'll have them all healed in about 10 minutes." She informed me. "You can finish up anything you have to do and come back for them if you like."
"Yeah, I'll be back." I told her.
I made my way out of the Pokemon center and looked around for someone. I spotted another little boy.
"Hey kid, do you know where the Poke'mart is?"
He looked at me with wide eyes and pointed around the corner.
"Thanks." I mumbled. "Oh, and is there any where I can buy a Poke'nav?"
He thought for a minute and then mumbled some directions.
"Thank you." I said again.
As I made my way to the Poke'mart, I made a list of things I needed in my head. The mart was bustling with people, and I had to use some fancy footwork to get around them and find a basket. I walked up and down the aisles loading all the things I needed into my green basket. I didn't have time to get much when I left home this morning, so I made sure I had enough to last me through a few towns. I rummaged through my basket to make sure I had everything while I waited in line.
Potion, full heal, repel, Poke'food, food and drinks for me...yeah I got everything.
"Next!" I looked up and noticed I was next in line. I hastily put my basket on the counter and piled all my things out.
I looked around the store as the cashier tallied all my things. I gave her £30 and she trust about £1 in change in my hand. I took my things, now in a bag, and weaved around people once more to leave the store.
I hurried over to the Pokemon Center to pick up my Pokemon. I walked up to the counter and Nurse Joy greeted me with a smile.
"Your Pokemon are ready." She said remembering my face. "Oh, and your Vulpix didn't seem to have a Poke'ball to go into." She added as she presented me with my Poke'balls in a tray and Pyro in her arms.
"Yeah," I answered. "He has a ball, but he doesn't like it since he was born at a breeding center that never put him in one. It's in my bag even though I never use it." She handed me Pyro and he cuddled against me, happy to accompany me once again.
"I hope he was okay. He's never been to a Pokemon Center before." I said.
"All your Pokemon were very well behaved." She said with a smile.
"That's a relief," I answered. "Thank you for healing them." I turned to leave, then I remembered something. "Oh, Nurse Joy!"
She looked at me with a puzzled look. I had remembered that I had to sign up if I wanted to be in the Hoenn league challenge. I presented my Poke'dex that I had gotten from Takashi a little while back, and requested that she enter me in the competition. She took my Poke'dex and inputted the required data into it and her computer.
"Your name is Puu Ichijiku?" She asked me.
I nodded, and she handed my Poke'dex back. I put Pyro down and put my Poke'dex back into my messenger bag.
"You're all set." She smiled.
"Thanks again." I said as Pyro and I turned to leave. Trying to remember the directions the boy had told me, I finally found an electronics store. It stuck out a lot with all its huge gadgets in the tiny town. We walked through the sliding doors and around the store until I found what I was looking for. The store had a small section of Poke'navs, and I picked a blue and black one; the same colours as my Poke'dex. I paid the cashier quite a sum for it and put it in my bag as I left the store wondering if nearly £50 was worth it for a electronic map.
I had everything I needed, so we made our way out of the town. I pulled out my new Poke'nav and turned it on for the first time. I figured out how it worked quickly and found out Fortree was nearly 21kilometers away.
"Damn it Pyro, we have to hurry up if we want to get there by sundown." He looked at me and seemed to frown. I giggled and we hurried to get out of the town and onto the trail. We were so close to the gate that led out of town, and then…
"Ouch! Watch were your going!" I yelled at whoever I had bumped into.
I stepped back to see a boy who was a little older than me. I stared at him for a minute, and then I remembered where I had seen his face - or at least a flash of it. He was wearing a dark blue apron with the name of the flower shop I had stopped at printed on it over his black short sleeve jacket and tight dark jeans. His apron confirmed it. He was the boy I saw looking at me in the flower shop.
He must work there. What's he doing bumping into me?
He just stared at me, his dark brown bangs covering his eyes and his face becoming very red.
"I...uhhh…sorry" He stuttered turning redder still.
"Um…yeah it's alright." I told him and tried to sidestep around him to leave.
"Oh, uhh…wait!" He said quickly. "Wanna have a battle? You're a trainer right?" he nodded at Pyro.
"Yeah…yeah I am, but I don't have time right now. I have to be somewhere." I tried to head for the gate again but he got in my way. "What's your problem?!" I had no idea what this guy was doing.
Pyro started to growl as the boy insisted we battle. His tone of voice started to get stronger, and he seemed more self assured as he persisted, his face started to turn back to a very pale complexion.
"Come on. Don't tell me you can't even have a little battle." His words were slick now, and he had a sly grin on his face.
I peeked at my Poke'nav in my bag. The little clock on it flashed 2:45. We weren't going to make it by sundown at this rate. He persisted still. His words were smooth and icy. I finally cracked. If he wanted to battle so badly, then fine. But, I had to make it quick if we were going make it.
"Fine!" I yelled. "Two on two. Show me what you've got!"
"Duskull! Ariados! Time to fight!" He said with a smirk.
I had no idea what this guy was doing, but I had to win. "Pyro! Pucca! Let's go!"
Pyro jumped in front of me growling and ready for battle as I released Pucca from her ball. Immediately she started to growl at the boys Ariados, and I understood why.
We were ready to battle, and I knew I had to beat this guy if I wanted to leave for Fortree. The funny thing is, I felt a connection with this boy… not one of friendship or love, but one of competition; one of rivalry.
- Puu and Hamachi xxoo