CHAPTER 3

The house next to the pink Apricorn tree was much bigger and fancier than the first house. It has a big sign on the side that read, "Mr. Pokemon's House".

"Oh. It says right there that this is his house. I wonder what he has that Elm needs." I walk to the door and knock. It sounds like two people are talking to each other. I knock again, but louder. This time, they stop talking. The door opens. I look up, shocked at who I see. "You... You're..."

"Please, call me Sam. Elm sent you, did he? Come on in." The man guides me in and I sit down. A second man walks over with an egg in his hands. It's white, with red and blue triangles on it.

"Hello Dave. Professor Elm sent me an e-mail saying that you were on your way. Are you surprised to see Professor Oak here? He's visiting for now. He'll be going back to Goldenrod for his talk show soon. Now, about this egg. I need you to bring it back to Professor Elm for me. I believe this kind of egg isn't found anywhere in Johto. Can you bring it back to him for me?" As I open my mouth to say yes, Oak cuts me off. Why do old people like cutting me off so much?

"Now, Mitch. Don't send him off so soon. I wanted to give him something." Oh Arceus... What is he giving me? "Dave, I want you to have this. It's the newest version of the Pokedex. It can record information on any Pokemon you see. The thing is, I'm too old to be battling and catching Pokemon now. I want you to do this for me. In order to get complete info on each Pokemon, you have to catch them." He hands me a flat, red machine-like thing.

"That's it? It's tiny!"

"It's pocket-sized." His pocket makes a noise, and he pulls a phone out. "What's that? Oh! Okay. I'll be there in a minute." He puts the phone back in his pocket, and leaves. "I have to go back to Goldenrod now. Sorry!" Mr. Pokemon waves and turns to me.

"You can go now, too. Remember to give that egg to Professor Elm!" I head outside. It's not as bright as before. I check the time on my Pokegear. It's almost noon, and by time I get home, it will probably be night-time already.

"Cilantro, we need to hurry. I don't know what's out here at night." I open the phone section of my Pokegear and select Mum. The phone rings for a few seconds, and she picks up.

"Dave! Are you okay? It's almost noon! Where are you?"

"I just left Mr. Pokemon's house. I might not be back until later tonight." I hear a ringing noise. Someone else is calling me. "Hey, someone else is calling me. I gotta go." I hang up and answer the other line. "Hello?"

"Dave! Thank Arceus you answered! Something came up! I need you to come back right away!" He hangs up before I can answer.

"Cilantro, Elm needs help. We have to hurry."

After running all the way to Cherrygrove, I have to slow down. Just as I step outside the town, someone knocks me over.

"Hey, watch it kid!" Who is this kid? He has bright red hair and gray eyes. Wait a second... This kid is the one that was staring into the lab this morning! He looks pretty angry at me. "If you won't get out of my, I'll have to show you how weak that Pokemon you have is. I challenge you to a battle."

"Alright. Fine. Cilantro, show this kid how strong you are."

After a few minutes of battling, I finally defeat this kid's Cyndaquil.

"You... That's still a weak Pokemon. How does a wimp like you get something so stupid?" He runs off, disregarding the fact that he dropped his Trainer Card.

"So... His name is Dirk?" He comes back and snatches the card out of my hand.

"You... You saw my name!" He runs back off, panting.

"Well, that was weird. But you learned Razor Leaf during all of that. Good job. Let's bring you to the Pokemon Center before we go home. You got pretty hurt in that battle."

As we walk to the Pokemon Center, I take out my Pokegear and call Elm. He doesn't pick up, so I leave him a message.

"Hey, uh... Elm? It's Dave. I needed to bring Cilantro to the Pokemon Center, so... I'll bring you this egg tomorrow. Okay. Bye." I call Mum, too. She doesn't pick up, either. "Hey, Mum. We were challenged by someone, and I had to take Cilantro to the Pokemon Center. I'll be home tomorrow. Bye."