Author's Note: Not much to say. Here's the next chapter:
Light's Adventures
Chapter 10: Shy
Light concentrated on making the campfire. He was trying to make it using Psychic only once. He placed the last twig on it and stopped the move. Unfortunately, he forgot about the headache in his celebrations and suffered one for a little.
Once he recovered from the headache, he looked around to locate the others. Nick was still on the first limb of a tree, binoculars up to his face. He hadn't moved for hours and if Light hadn't communicated with him, he would say that Nick had fallen asleep.
Blaze was sitting at the edge of their clearing, but approached as Light saw him to start the fire. Ace was perched in a tree, conversing with three wild Pidgey. By the movements of his wings, Light was sure he was bragging about something.
Light sat down, bored. Nick told them they weren't leaving the Saffron area until he caught at least one more Pokemon. Light was excited until he realized Nick wanted only a certain Pokemon. Not a certain species, a Pokemon with certain looks and was 'cool'. Nick had been searching and searching, but he hadn't found one he liked.
Light didn't know how to help. He didn't know what Nick meant, so he didn't know what to look for. If he did, he could get both Ace and Blaze to help and they would be gone quickly, but at this pace, it seemed like it would take forever. He tried to tell Nick the Pokemon he was looking for may be in another area, but he was too stubborn to consider it.
Blaze started the campfire. Now they needed dinner. Light wasn't about to wait for Nick's hunger to get the best of him. Using Psychic, he pulled Nick off the branch, much to Nick's surprise, and put him in front of the campfire.
He opened a channel to Nick, Dinner first, and then you can stay up as long as you want.
Nick gave him a mutinous look, but dug through his bag and pulled out their dinner. Nick, being himself, had only brought microwave food. So, they had to do with heating the food over the campfire, as Blaze couldn't lower the temperature of his fire or lengthen it to last long enough.
As they waited for the food to cook on a pan above the fire, Light continuously used Psychic to rotate the food to keep it from burning. Even though it was microwave food, a delicious aroma came from it. Ace's head shot around when the aroma reached him. Ace sent the Pidgey away and alighted on Nick's shoulder.
After the last rotation, Light released the move and waited for it to finish. All of them were quiet; the only noise the bug Pokemon starting up in the forest and the fire, crackling as it burned the wood underneath it.
Suddenly, a twig snapped at the edge of the clearing behind Light. He looked at the others and realized they hadn't heard it, intent on the food. Not wanting the Pokemon to run, he touched its mind. It was concentrated on the food. He knew Nick would yell at him for sending a Pokemon away as it might have been the one he was looking for, not that it wanted to eat their food or attack them.
Using Psychic, he grabbed the Pokemon and lifted above his head level. He then brought the Pokemon to Nick's lap, quickly. Nick's attention snapped to the Pokemon as it landed in his lap. He jumped back, startled, and Ace flew off the bumpy perch.
Light looked at the Pokemon. It was a regular Eevee. It was slightly smaller than Light had been when he was an Eevee. It also looked thinner than regular Eevee. Light realized that it must be really hungry.
The Eevee curled up in a ball and hid itself with its tail. It either knew running was pointless with all of them around it, or it was too scared to move. It started to make a low whimpering sound. It was scared.
Nick got up from lying on his back. He stopped as he saw the Eevee and stopped. He stared at it a long while. Finally, he exclaimed, "That's the one I want to catch!"
Blaze and Light moved strategically to block all the escape routes. The Eevee peered out from under its tail to watch them. It saw Light and quickly looked away, but gave Blaze a long frightened look.
Light and Blaze stopped and didn't move once they were in position. They waited for Nick's command. Nick stared at the Eevee for a little, and then crouched down. While crouched, he slowly approached the Eevee with one hand held out. The Eevee tried to back away, but the fire got in the way.
Nick stopped and thought, Light, I need a small portion of food placed in my hand as I put it behind my back.
Light nodded. He had gotten used to opening a channel as soon as battle was imminent. He used Psychic and lifted the whole tray off quietly so that nothing would burn. He then picked a piece off and moved it into Nick's hand without the Eevee seeing.
Nick put his hand back in front of him and held out the food. The Eevee moved its tail away and brought its head closer. It cautiously sniffed the food. It then completely uncurled and approached Nick's hand. The Eevee sniffed the food once more and then took a small bite. Obviously liking it, the Eevee quickly devoured the rest.
As it was eating, Nick reached out and petted it. The Eevee tensed at first, but relaxed after a little. After it was done eating, Nick scratched it on the head and asked, "Would you like to come with us?"
The Eevee darted a glance at Light and then looked back at Nick. It nodded.
"Okay, then, hold still," Nick said. He took a Pokeball out and tossed it onto the Eevee. The ball fell to the ground and started to vibrate. After a little, the Pokeball stopped and a small ding could be heard. Nick leapt up into the air, "Alright, I caught an Eevee!"
He picked the Pokeball up and released the Eevee. The Eevee looked around for a second and then returned to looking at Nick.
"Hi, I'm Nick. What's your name?" Nick asked.
The Eevee tilted its head in confusion before hesitantly saying, "M-my name is Cream." Light sent the answer to Nick.
"Well welcome to the team, Cream," Nick said. Cream looked at him in surprise as he stood up. "Over there is Light, he is Blaze," Nick said. Ace landed on his shoulder again, "And this is Ace. Light told me your name through telepathy."
Cream glanced at Light, though she quickly looked away. "H-hello, everyone," she said.
Blaze nodded and he returned to the tray and got his food.
Ace nodded and said, "Great to meet you. Don't mind Blaze, he doesn't talk much."
"Nice to meet you," Light said.
"Oh, wait, the food!" Nick exclaimed, going past Cream to the campfire. "Where's the- oh there it is. For a second, I thought it was burning," Nick said. He picked the food up and distributed it out to everyone. Light noticed that Nick shortened his amount so Cream could have some.
After the meal, Light went back to his spot and fell asleep, suddenly tired from using Psychic so much today.
(0)
Light got up and stretched. He looked around and saw the others were still asleep. Early to bed, early to rise, Light thought. Ace was roosting in a tree while Blaze was sleeping in his spot. Cream was sleeping next to Nick's pallet.
Light meditated until Ace awoke. He had expected Ace to wake sooner, as the sun was already up. Ace nodded at Light in a greeting and started to groom himself. So much for a conversation.
Soon, the others awoke. Blaze of course didn't say much, as was expected. Light tried to start a conversation with Cream, but stopped when he saw she was uncomfortable. Nick, as always, was too groggy to talk this early.
Now that Nick had another Pokemon, he wanted to go on to the next gym. Nick wanted to head toward the Fuchsia City Gym. Blaze had told him that Fuchsia City was directly south. Light was really confused when they headed west toward Celadon City first.
Why are we going to west? Wouldn't it be faster to go straight south? Light asked Nick.
"Yes, but we would have to cross a large river, something we aren't able to do right now. We'll pass through Celadon and take a road from there to reach it. There's a bridge that we can use on the road," Nick said. Cream looked confused, not hearing Light's question. Blaze and Ace were already used to it.
Is there a gym in Celadon City? Light asked.
"Yes, there is, but me and Blaze defeated it. We also have already beat Lt. Surge's gym in Vermilion City. Both gyms allowed me to use one Pokemon, so I challenged them first. Also, Blaze and I got lost and ended up on this side of the region so we had to face the gym leaders here first," Nick answered. Cream was looking even more confused.
Light changed the channel to Cream. I was talking to him through telepathy.
Cream jumped as he talked to her through her mind. She glanced at Light but looked away quickly. How many times was she going to do that?
When sunhigh came, Nick stopped and pulled out his Pokedex. He read Cream's moves over lunch. "So, you know Tackle, Sand-Attack, and Tail Whip," Nick murmured under his breath.
Blaze looked at Light, "Well now you have someone to teach."
"What do you mean?" Light asked.
"Cream needs someone to teach her how to battle," Blaze said.
Why can't you? Light said mentally, keeping the channel between them.
Because, I taught you, Blaze answered.
Exactly, which means you're the better teacher. I haven't taught anyone. Also, Cream won't so much as look at me as listen, Light reasoned.
Take it as practice for when you become a father, Blaze teased.
Why don't you take it as practice for when you become a father? Light asked.
For a second, Blaze glared at him. In that glare seemed to be an equal mixture of grief and anger. But it passed so quickly, Light thought he imagined it. Just go and teach her already, Blaze said tersely.
But- Light started.
Fine, I'll teach her, Blaze stopped him, though he looked annoyed.
Blaze took Cream to the side and started to instruct her. Light noticed that she wasn't shy around Blaze at all. Why was she so shy around him? Light sighed, knowing the answer wouldn't come.
"Come on, Ace and Light, let's practice some of your moves," Nick said.
They were just beginning to practice when Blaze stomped over angrily. "She won't listen. She says she doesn't want to battle anyone. She says she doesn't want to hurt anyone," he said with a snort.
Nick looked worriedly down at Blaze, knowing something was wrong. Cream doesn't want to battle or hurt anyone and Blaze is fed up with helping her, Light informed.
"Well, this is a predicament: a Pokemon that doesn't want to battle," Nick said, scratching his head. He turned to Cream, "Well, I can't make you battle, but . . . that's kinda what I caught you for."
Cream suddenly put on a sad, pleading face. "Please don't make me battle, Nick," she said. Light translated for her.
"Alright, then, I won't make you battle. Do you want to go back to being wild then, because I'm going to be battling with the others often," Nick said.
Cream shook her head quickly.
"Okay, then," Nick said.
Light looked at her. He was still a little stunned that she didn't want to battle. He loved to figure out how to beat an opponent, as long as he wasn't battling for his life like with the Nidoking. Cream was certainly a different addition to the team.