Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.
Note: Hi there! Thank you all so much for following, reviewing, and adding my story to your favorites (some of you did that, and I thank you.) As you know, I enjoy reviews, though I will update regardless. I am sorry for not being able to update very often, but I want you to know that I have it all planned out, and there will always be a new chapter in the making. Special thanks to ElphieUpland (Yes, you may steal my chapter virginity^^), DarkVestroia2 (one of your characters is appearing in the next chapter!:), Silver Don (I really appreciate your review!), dogperson13 (I thought she was annoying too. That is why I *cracks knuckles* decided to... do something about it; thanks for the heads up! Your character will be incorporated, as I thought it was a great suggestion!) and misty4ever (It means a lot to me to read that, you know, and I am glad you are enjoying my story!) *out of breath* There we go. Onwards to the story, brave men and women.
Before long, mother and child were out of the Viridian Forest, ready to take on Diglett's Cave. Lena had been asking quite a lot about her mother's Pokemon, learning that the second one in her team, next to Shake the Spearow, was Strike, a sleek Furret. After the battle with Carl the Bug Catcher, when Lena had explained why Shake had won, Lena had been allowed to try to determine the level of the two, as she and her mother emerged out of the Forest, and into the gateway that lead to the field before Pewter City. Sadly, she had not been able to determine the level of either one of them, and so her mother had smiled and said that she would learn more about it when she started attending school.
"I have never been able to see that with my eye only," Susie confessed, as she led her daughter by the hand through the gate and onto the little road. "It takes years of practice, I think, and most people use either a Pokedex or Pokegear to scan a Pokemon to see its level."
"A Pokedex?" Lena said, tilting her head. "Isn't that what that Professor Oak gives to trainers if he trusts them?"
Susie shrugged. "Yes, it is. The Pokegear is different, though; it even has a phone, and a map! Sadly, we don't have either in the family. We stick to the good, old map."
Lena nodded in agreement, thinking that she would probably had done a better job at determining levels if she had consulted the book she carried with her most of the time. It was in her backpack, and she got the urge to ask her mother whether it would be okay to let Oso out of his Poke ball, when a small Rattata jumped out of the grass before them, snarling, its tail wavering.
"Ah!"
Susie jumped back, thoroughly surprised at the suddenness of the attack, but she knew what to do; she had seen it happen countless times on TV, after all. A Pokemon would appear from somewhere in the grass, or hill, cave or ocean, and the trainer would throw his or her Poke ball, and the Pokemon would battle. This was exactly what she intended to do.
"Let me handle this, Lena," her mother said, readying Shake's Poke ball. To Susie's surprise, though, Lena was already two steps ahead of her. This time it was her turn, she felt. Her mother was always there to 'handle things' for her, but this little Rattata (seemingly, the little girl had forgotten the time she was mauled by three of them ganging up on her) posed no particular threat.
Oso's Poke ball opened on the ground, and the little Teddiursa emerged from it, snarling back at the Rattata. The Rattata moved around Oso, its tail swishing to either side; it was trying to intimidate its opponent. "Eh... Oso, would you... scratch at it?"
Even though Lena seemed to have no idea what to do in a battle, Oso seemed to have at least some clue. He flung himself at the little creature, his claws scratching furiously at it. The Rattata lunged at him in a tackle, trying to knock Oso down, but the Teddiursa stood his ground. Finally, or so Lena thought, Oso seemed to had had enough. He took his right paw out of his mouth, and gave his opponent one last blow. The Rattata bounced back, three red streaks on its back. It skittered away into the tall grass before Oso could even snarl at it.
"Grr!" He said happily, turning to Lena and lifting his paw as if to high-five. Lena complied, a big smile on her face as she touched her hand to his paw. Oso nodded, seemingly quite happy with his own doing.
Lena grinned from ear to ear. "Great job, Oso! I knew you could do it!"
Oso sniffed, as if to tell her that she had certainly not thought anything of the sort. After he promptly sat down on the ground, he stuffed his right paw into his mouth, munching happily on it.
"Good job, both of you," Susie said, nodding. "You seem to be better at this than I thought, Lena." She sighed. "Though you should probably have let me have-"
Her daughter couldn't hold it in any longer. "Mama. Would you listen to me... and Oso," she added, "for a little while? I think we just showed you that we're capable of taking care of ourselves... at least until we get to the Academy."
Susie looked at her little daughter, her mouth open in surprise at what the girl had just said. "But... there are so many dangers..."
On the inside, Lena quivered. It was not easy standing up to her mother, and she felt bad about having to say what she meant in this way. Her mother only loved her, she knew that, but sometimes, such love could be quite smothering. Her bad conscience was suddenly broken by a small thought; ...well, Baba often calls her a control freak behind her back when he wants to poke fun at Mama... She shook her head quickly. "Yeah, but Oso knows how to take care of himself, and I think he knows how to take care of me too, if he wants to... And more importantly," she added, "I feel I can take care of myself until I get to the Academy."
Her mother looked from Oso to Lena. Then she rubbed her eyes with one hand. "Thank you for telling me, little one... Though you are not so little anymore, I think. I'll let you go on your own, then." She smiled. "After all, if other mothers can send their children off on a whole journey without considering the dangers, I think I can send you to Violet City at least."
Lena beamed. "Thanks, Mama! I was hoping you would see it that way, and don't worry; I'll remember all the safety rules, and I won't battle Pokemon or Trainers who are much stronger than me."
"Perhaps it would be best if you didn't battled at all," mumbled Susie as she handed Lena the map. "Call once you get to Vermilion, alright? And," she added, her eyes kind,"be happy."
Lena hugged her mother goodbye. "I will. I promise to call when I get to Cerulean, and Saffron too."
And with that she turned to Oso to return him to his Poke ball, and waved to her mother as she stepped into the grove where the entrance to Diglett's Cave was. Now she was on her own.
Diglett's Cave seemed to Lena bigger and scarier than before. Without Baba or Mama there, it was as if something was lurking behind every corner. She felt very alone in there, no Trainers seemed to be passing through. Not even Bug Catchers. Then again, why would Bug Catchers venture into a cave? She shrugged. Other than to look for Paras, of course... Other than that feeling of being very alone, she was somewhat glad she had stood up to her mother. Susie was always there for her, but she had to realize that she wasn't two years old anymore. Many girls went on adventures through every region when they were ten years old; boys too. So it was important for Lena to tell her mother that yes, she would go to the Academy, but she wanted to do it alone if she had the chance.
A thought suddenly came to her mind as she walked past a sign (which that she shouldn't step on bumps on the cave floor, as it could be Diglett sleeping); why did she not just release Oso from his Poke ball? That way, they would both get the fresh air (well, as fresh as the air in a cave can be, she thought) and get to know each other a bit better.
Lena dropped the Poke ball to the cave floor, and it opened. Oso stretched, and then tilted his head, looking at her. "Grr?"
"What?" She replied, tilting her head too. "I wanted some company, and we're on our own now. Isn't that okay?"
The Teddiursa shrugged. He seemed happy to trot along beside her, and before long, she started talking to him, telling him of what she expected of life at the Academy, when they finally got there. It seemed like an endless journey there, and she was not at all certain if they would make it. Then again, hundreds of boys and girls had before her, so chances were good that she would manage too, without breaking down and sobbing after her parents.
After about an hour and a half of walking through the torch lit tunnels, Lena decided it was time for a little stop. She stopped by a torch on the wall, taking off her backpack and stretching forwards to straighten her back. Oso pointed at her with one paw, tilting his head again.
"Gaw."
Lena sighed. "What now? Haven't you seen anyone stretch before? Baba says one should always stretch ones back and legs when out walking. Perhaps you should, too?" When he shook his head, she shrugged too, and dug in her backpack for some snacks.
Oso sat down on the ground, taking the peanut she offered him, and watched her go about her activity. Soon they would have to get going again.
Thank you for reading^^ A bit boring, I know, but the next one is a bit more action filled, that I can promise. Please review if you so wish, and tell me what you thought. Tune in for the next chapter; Out of Diglett's Cave, and Vermillion
