Chapter 52 – The Elusive Abra
As we continued on our way to Viridian City, I got into a few trainer battles. My Pokemon, as always, battled very well. Abra did very well, himself, but after each battle, he would just vanish. He battled for me, but didn't seem to want to travel with May and I and our Pokemon.
His behavior surprised me the most on our last evening camping in the woods before we reached Viridian City. I woke up from a snooze and saw May sitting over by the campfire, with Amber, Redfur, Inferno, and… Abra! Flamefox and Firestorm, who were asleep next to me, woke up when I did. May was stroking Abra on his head, saying, "Good Abra." He just sat there in her lap, loving every minute of it! "I don't believe it!" I exclaimed. I stood up and began to walk over. Abra saw me coming, and teleported! "What the heck?" I loudly asked. May replied, "I guess Abra likes you as a trainer, but when it comes to attention, he prefers a feminine touch!" I didn't know what to say. What a strange Pokemon Abra was turning out to be – I mean, he was a great battler, but he sure didn't seem to want to show me any affection. Then I turn around, and he's letting May pet him! Anyway, May and our Pokemon had some dinner, and afterwards, we went to sleep under the moonlit sky as the fire burned itself out. Flamefox curled up on my chest and fell asleep, the moonlight reflecting on his soft, shiny fur. I caught a glimpse of Abra as he materialized in the branch of a tree above me and fell asleep up there. Then I closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of my Vulpix's breathing and the warmth of his body.
I awoke the next morning to the sight of the sun shining through the curls of hair on Flamefox's head. "Good morning, Flamefox" I said to my Vulpix, and he opened his eyes and raised his head to look up at me, and replied with a happy "Vulpix!" He stood up, stretched, and hopped off my belly so I could stand up and stretch, too. Abra was still asleep up in the branch above us. May woke up and said, "Good morning, Joe! Did you sleep well?" I said, "Yeah, very soundly, especially with Flamefox to keep me warm!" She replied, "Yeah, same with me and Amber." She then looked up at Abra in the tree and said, "I see he's still being as elusive as ever." I sighed and said, "Yeah. I hope he changes his mind, but I think he just wants to be a free spirit." She said, "Maybe, but if that's the case, why does he still choose to obey you in battle? And why does he follow us?" I answered, "Maybe he just wants to prove himself. He sure doesn't seem to want company." May said, "That's not the impression I got last evening." I just looked at her and said, "Let's have some breakfast, and then head for Viridian City." We cooked up some food and I left Abra a plate, which he teleported to himself up in the tree. After we ate, May mounted on Fierymane, I mounted on Tauros, and they galloped us to Viridian City. Abra still followed, appearing and disappearing at random. Suddenly, as May and I were riding, a bouquet of wildflowers materialized in May's hand! "Thanks, Abra!" she exclaimed. His face turned a little red, and I glared at him before he vanished again!
When we arrived, May and I recalled our riding Pokemon and walked into town accompanied by Redfur, Inferno, and our fire foxes. "There's the Viridian Gym!" May exclaimed, pointing it out. "That's right, you were here before" I replied. She said, "Yeah, the Viridian Gym was the first Gym in Kanto I battled in. The gym leader is tough! He didn't strike me as being a very nice person, and was very reluctant to give me my Earth Badge!" We walked past several tall pillars that led to the double doors of the large concrete building. "Oh no!" I exclaimed. "What is it?" May asked. On the doors were a large sign that read "Viridian Gym closed for remodeling – come back for the grand re-opening in 4 months". I said, "I can't believe it! Now what do we do?" May answered, "Go to the next city, I guess. Unless you want to wait around 4 months." I replied, "I think not! Come on, let's at least take our Pokemon to the Pokemon Center for a checkup!"
We walked over to the Pokemon Center with the Pokemon, and there stood Nurse Joy behind the counter, with Chansey. She said, "Good afternoon! And what can I do for you today?" I answered, "Just a checkup for our Pokemon, thanks!" Our posse of fire Pokemon followed Chansey into the back room and we handed Nurse Joy our remaining Pokemon in their pokeballs. "Is this all of them?" she asked. I responded, "Not quite!" and Abra suddenly materialized. Another bouquet of wildflowers appeared, this time in Nurse Joy's hand! "Why thank you, Abra!" she exclaimed, and he floated into the back room. After Nurse Joy went in there, I asked May, "What is it with him?" She answered, "Isn't it obvious? He has an eye for the ladies!" I just gave May a funny look, then said, "I'm gonna call Professor Oak and let him know how we're doing." I dialed up Oak's lab on the video phone, and soon he appeared on the screen, eating some tofu. "I'm sorry, Professor, did I interrupt your lunch?" I asked. He answered, "That's okay! What can I do for you?" I said, "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to call to let you know we reached Viridian City okay." "He said, "That's good! Have you gone to the gym yet?" May said, "Yeah, but it's closed for remodeling for a few months." I then said, "I guess we'll have to go to the Pewter City gym first." Professor Oak said, "You're probably better off, anyway. There's something about the Viridian City gym leader that I just don't like. He's a very shady character." May replied, "I felt that way about him, too! He struck me as someone not to turn my back on." Then Professor Oak asked, "So, how are things working out with Abra?" I answered, "To be honest, I'm not sure! He's completely obedient to me in battle, and he's a very strong fighter in battle, but after he battles, he vanishes! I haven't been able to get him to return to his pokeball! He just teleports here and there, but stays close to May and I, and if I need him to battle, he's right there!" Professor Oak replied, "Interesting! Sounds like he wants to battle, but isn't big on affection, or being kept in a pokeball!" May then said, "But he let me hold him and pet him, and he teleported flowers to me and Nurse Joy!" He said, "Very interesting indeed! Sounds to me like he only likes affection from females, but doesn't mind having a male trainer!" I said, "I wonder why." Professor Oak replied, "Psychic types are very enigmatic Pokemon. They can be temperamental and sometimes very difficult to control. What really strikes me as odd, though, is that you found him in an area where Abras don't occur naturally. Of course, he could have just gotten lost and strayed off, but that's unusual for a psychic type." May said, "Maybe it was fate!" I then said, "Well, the problem now is, what if I want to switch him out for another Pokemon? I really wanted my Onix for my battle with Brock." Professor Oak said, "I'll tell you what – since Abra seems to like May, he can stay in her party for a time so you can have Onix with you!" I said, "That would be great! Thanks, Professor!" He replied, "You're welcome! Do you want Onix now?" I answered, "Not just yet, but I sure would like to have Scyther!" He said, "Very well then!" Scyther's pokeball materialized on the transporter pad. I said, "Thanks, Professor!" He replied, "You're welcome!" I put Scyhther's pokeball in my pocket, and just then, the back door opened. I said, "Well, Professor, we gotta go! Our Pokemon are ready!" He said, "Okay! Train hard and keep up the good work!" and we hung up. Flamefox, Firestorm, Amber, Inferno, and Redfur ran over to us, and Nurse Joy said, "All of your Pokemon are in excellent shape." We replied, "Thanks, Nurse Joy!" and we each took our other pokeballs. Abra appeared, and I said to him, "I decided to bring Scyther back into my party. Is it okay with you that you'll be in May's party for a little while?" He vanished, then materialized on May's shoulder! She said to him, "Aww, how sweet!" and cuddled his head. I couldn't believe it! I asked, "Abra, how come you won't let me touch you?" and walked over to May to try and pet him, and he vanished! "What is it with you?" I half-angrily asked. May said, "Calm down, Joe! You're not jealous of Abra, are you?" My face turned red and a sweatdrop appeared as I said, "Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" May laughed and said, "Come on now. Let's get going" and she took my hand and we walked out of the Pokemon Center together, with our Pokemon.
Upon departing town, we released our other Pokemon to roam freely, and we each mounted on our riding Pokemon. We had a long route ahead to follow in order to get to the Viridian Forest. Tauros and Fierymane galloped us full speed ahead! Scyther and Fearow flew above us, while our other Pokemon ran with us, except Flamefox, who was in my lap, and Amber, who was in May's lap. Abra was nowhere to be seen. We watched the scenery zoom past us in a blur. In a couple hours, we reached the Viridian Forest and took a little rest. The place was full of mostly bug type Pokemon, especially Caterpie, Weedle, Metapods, Kakunas, Butterfree, and even the occasional Beedrill. I said, "Be careful. There might be a Beedrill nest around somewhere!" May said, "With all the fire Pokemon we have with us, I wouldn't even worry about them!" I replied, "That's true!" Regardless, I had a fear of those big bees, but I didn't want May to know that. May then said, "We should let our Pokemon rest up ahead before we continue through the forest." I said, "Good idea!" Flamefox hopped off my lap and onto the ground, and I dismounted from Tauros. Amber hopped off May's lap and ran over to Flamefox so they could nuzzle. May dismounted from Fierymane and took out some equine Pokemon chow from her backpack which Fierymane ate out of her hand. I asked, "Is that a special formula?" She answered, "Yeah. I like to give Fierymane little treats like that after taking me long distances." I said, "That's a good idea!" and took out some pokechow from my backpack for Tauros to eat from my hand. Then both Pokemon walked off to graze in some grass. Vaporeon headed for a pond nearby and dove in to swim, Fearow and Scyther each found a tree to perch in, and the 3 fire foxes, along with Inferno, Redfur, and Jolteon just kind of played together in the fields. Abra was his usual elusive self and we didn't see him anywhere. May and I both sat under a tree. She said, "I love times like this, don't you? The sun's out, it's a beautiful afternoon, and we can just sit here and enjoy it!" I replied, "Yes, it is quite tranquil!" We each ate some energy bars from our backpacks, and threw some pokechow out for the Pidgeys to eat. Then we dozed off for a bit.
When I woke up, I looked over at May and jumped up! She had a crown of flowers on her head and flowers laced around her neck! "May, wake up!" I shouted. She was startled and asked, "What is it?" and then realized she had the flowers on. "Oh, very funny, Joe!" she said. I answered, "I didn't do it!" She asked, "Well, if you didn't, then who did?" Then we both looked over and saw Abra, sitting in a meditative position, under another tree. May said, "Aww, Abra, that's sweet! Thank you." I said, "Wait a minute! He does that and it's sweet, but when you thought I did it, you were not too thrilled?" She answered, "Well, I wouldn't expect someone as mature as you to do something like that, but we both know that your Abra likes ladies, and it's just his own little way of showing affection." I said, "I suppose you're right. You DO look pretty, though!" She said, "Why thank you!" Then I asked her, "You really think I'm mature?" She answered, "Believe me, after some of the male trainers I encountered here last year, some of them older than you, you are VERY mature for your age!" Suddenly we heard a boy's voice say, "Ha! Look at you. And who are you supposed to be? Princess of Flowerland?" May remarked, "I rest my case!" Then he asked, "Are you 2 Pokemon trainers or flower children?" I angrily replied, "We're trainers, all right, and if you want a battle, you've got it!" He said, "The likes of you don't seem like much of a challenge!" Then he tossed out a pokeball and shouted, "Go, Rhydon!" The large, horned beast appeared and let out a roar! I shouted, "Tauros, you're up!" As Tauros charged over, Abra materialized in front of him and he stopped. Abra looked like he wanted to battle Rhydon! The boy said, "That little Abra want to challenge my big, tough, Rhydon? Well, prepare to be flattened! Rhydon, use mega kick!" As Rhydon came at Abra, Abra teleported and reappeared behind him! Rhydon turned around and tried again! Again Abra vanished, then appeared behind him! Then Abra launched a psybeam at Rhydon, but this was a strong beast, and the attack just bounced right off of him! Then the boy shouted, "Use fury attack!" Rhydon attacked Abra several times, missing the first 2 times, but anticipating his re-appearance the third time, he slammed Abra against a tree with his tail! "Abra!" May and I both shouted. He fell to the ground underneath the tree, apparently unconscious. "Well, that was a joke! Who's next?" the boy asked. May and I both ran over to Abra, and May cradled him, saying, "Thank you, Abra. I know you only battled him because you didn't like the way he was talking to me. That was very noble of you." Suddenly, Abra began to glow and got bigger! "No way! It can't be!" I said in disbelief. When the glowing stopped, there stood before us a Kadabra! The boy said, "Oh, very nice evolution! Too bad you won't be able to appreciate it for long! Rhydon, use horn drill!" As Rhydon charged at Kadabra, Kadabra raised his hands towards the air and said "Kadabra!" He used a psychic attack, launching a very powerful blast of psychic energy from the spoon in his hand! The blast hit Rhydon, and he fell over in defeat! The boy shouted, "Ahhhh! Rhydon!" and recalled him. Then he said, "Hmmph! If I ever see you again, I'll beat you for sure!" and walked away. I said, "Excellent job, Kadabra!" and ran over to him, but he vanished! Another bouquet of flowers appeared in May's hand and she said, "Thanks, Ab… I mean, Kadabra!" I just let out an angry sigh, and then we mounted onto our riding Pokemon and continued ahead, through the Viridian Forest.