CHAPTER SIX

Amy sat cross-legged on her bed, counting the wads of money in front of her with a serious expression on her face. She would need a lot more than this to begin her journey. This barely covered accommodation in the finest hotels!

Growlithe barked and Amy turned to see that his food bowl was empty. Nidoran had almost finished hers.

"I'll call room service and have them get you some more food," said Amy, reaching for the phone.

Growlithe waited patiently, wagging his tail while Nidoran peeked into Growlithe's food bowl.

"I'd like some pet food for my Pokemon." Amy replied, when the line connected.

"Very good, miss. I'll have some delivered right away."

"Thank you." Amy hung up.

Amy looked around the plush pad in which she resided. Did she really need expensive hotels on her travels? If her knowledge of geography was right, Kanto was more than sprawling towns and cities - she would have to travel through many locales, most of which were difficult to traverse. There was Mount Moon, a cavern which connected Pewter and Cerulean City, rumoured to hold Clefairy and the fabled Moon Stone. Between Celadon and Fuchsia City, there was a biker's route which went south, only accessible for those who owned a bike. Amy had never ridden a bicycle in her life. She hadn't done much outside her pretty, privileged life.

Only recently had she returned from the economy cabin's deck, having won two more battles with more gusto and effort than she had exuded in her life. She was shaken out of her reverie as there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The steward nodded to Amy and filled Growlithe and Nidoran's bowls with nutritious Pokefood.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, miss?" he asked.

"No, thank you," replied Amy. The steward closed the door behind him.

She walked over to the window where she saw the sun begin to dip into sunset, casting a crimson glow upon the sea, sparkling in its descent.

"We will now be arriving in Pallet Town." spoke a gentle voice over the intercom. "Those who wish to view the sunset, please make your way to the observation deck. We will be continuing on course in one hour.

Amy put down the book she was reading and glanced out of the window. Pallet Town was a quaint, picturesque town with few buildings and even fewer houses. It was nothing like her home town, Celadon City; with its busy thoroughfare, noisy traffic and cosmopolitan avenues.

If she remembered correctly, the first Gym for beginner Trainers was in Pewter City. If she wanted to start collecting Badges, she would have to travel through Pallet Town. But the small inlet had no dock, let alone space for a cruise liner this size to disembark its passengers.

Amy turned to her Pokemon, watching Growlithe stare back at her and Nidoran curled up on its bed. If she left the S.S. Anne, she would have to tell the captain - which would mean that word would get back to her mother that she had decided to abandon the cruise and leave early. There would be no guarantee if - or when - her mother might even contact her next, let alone continue giving her money. Amy sighed. This was the only way she could do it.

"We're going on our Pokemon adventure," Amy smiled, although she didn't feel it. She felt nervous.

Holding out her Pokeballs, with a flash of red light Growlithe and Nidoran returned inside them.

Passengers aboard the S.S. Anne who crowded around the deck to watch the sunset, came upon a new sight as several sailors secured the rigging to descend a lifeboat into the water.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" the captain had asked dourly.

"Yes, I'm sure."

It was against regulations to allow the ship to be without one of its lifeboats, especially not worth the sailor's time to steer her over, so Amy had offered all the money she had won in the past few battles as compensation for his time and effort. She would be lowered by lifeboat from the ship, where the attendant would row her across to Pallet Town. She had given instructions to the stewards in first class to deliver her remaining possessions back to her parents' mansion in Celadon, once its return trip docked in Vermilion City.

Bobbing in the ocean, the S.S. Anne looked gigantic even as a speck in the distance as Amy sat in the tiny rowboat, barely large enough for her and the sailor, who glanced doubtfully at her one suitcase as they paddled closer to Pallet.

"Pardon me for asking. But this is a lot of trouble you're going to, especially since you've prepaid for a trip around Kanto. You won't be able to get any of your money back."

Amy clutched her monogrammed suitcase closer, where she had barely managed to fit three changes of clothes, one pair of flat shoes and a cosmetic bag to keep her feeling normal. There was a small compartment where she had managed to fit in the last bag of Poketreats she had purchased. Growlithe and Nidoran remained in their Pokeballs, clutched tightly to Amy's chest.

"It's not about the money," replied Amy, meaning it. She couldn't turn back now. Pallet was coming into view.

After paying the sailor his fare, she watched him row back towards the gargantuan S.S. Anne. The sunset streaked crimson across the sky, and taking a deep breath, Amy turned towards Pallet Town.

It was quiet and well-paved and every pair of eyes she met stared back. These citizens had nothing but time on their hands and watched her as she strolled past, wheeling her suitcase behind her while Growlithe and Nidoran followed.

The Pokemon Research Laboratory, headed by Professor Oak, as Amy had earlier read in one of the books in her cabin, studied discoveries of current and new Pokemon to better understand their abilities and locations in Kanto. It was closed, to her dismay, and she continued on, past pretty little houses with bay windows and small chimneys.

She consulted a passerby for directions, who pointed her to the path which took her to Viridian City. It was not difficult to find; indeed, if she had spent only a few minutes longer to explore the town she would've found it was simply laid out. It was tranquil at sunset, thought Amy, as Growlithe sniffed the air, fresher than that found in smog-heavy Saffron.

Continuing past Pallet and onto the route which lead to Viridian, Amy let out a "oh!" of surprise, as a Rattata crossed her path, eager to avoid the Pidgey hot on its heels. Minutes passed in which only the gentle hoots and rustling in the tall grass made her acquaintance. There was so little activity here, so little to disturb their rest. No wonder the Pokemon chose this as their home.

Amy reached Viridian just as it was getting dark. She would have to stop by a PokeMart - the provincial equivalent of Celadon's Department Store and pick up a few supplies - but she had no money. She entered a Pokemon Center, consulted the nurse after healing her Pokemon at the terminal and asked if there were any Trainers to battle.

"School's out," announced the kind nurse, consulting a Chansey who held out a check list. "The children will be home by now. Where are you from?"

"Celadon City," replied Amy. She glanced around and saw a bank of pay phones and realised with a twinge of guilt she should probably call her mother…

"That's nice, dear," the nurse replied absently, ticking several items off the check list the Chansey proffered and turned back to Amy. "Perhaps you'd like directions to an inn?"

Amy exited the Pokemon Center, surprised at how quickly the night had descended upon the small town. Viridian was slightly bigger than Pallet, more winding roads and buildings, but essentially still a rural town. Store fronts were closing, families returned home and pulled curtains across their windows, and few residents remained on the streets as Amy rolled her suitcase up to the lone inn, the bell above the door ringing as she entered the warm foyer, with a lit fireplace and colonial-era furnishings spread about.

"Welcome," smiled the landlady, consulting a register from behind the counter. "Are you staying with us or would you like a room?"

"How much are your rooms?" asked Amy, feeling gauche. Her fingers itched for the credit card in her purse. Who said she had to start using her own funds today? Her self-discipline could begin tomorrow.

Amy provided the landlady with the particulars of payment and the length of her stay - one night - and took the stairs to her room, which she unlocked with a brass key. It was spartan, functional; at best, cosy. It was smaller than the cabin she had occupied on board the S.S. Anne. It would do.

She changed for bed, tucked herself in tight and allowed Growlithe and Nidoran to sleep atop the single bed made with scratchy linens. She told herself it didn't matter that her first step to independence was funded by her parents' money, and this kept her from falling asleep. She was still dependent on them.

The next day, sunlight filtered through the gauze curtains and Amy roused blearily from the bed. She had woken several times in the night, unaccustomed to the occasional sound she could hear from neighbouring rooms. Whether it was a creak in the landing or the plumbing flushing, she awoke easily and constantly, missing the air-conditioned, sound proof comfort of her cabin aboard the S.S. Anne.

She slept in long enough until her bad thoughts threatened to overtake her, showering quickly and changing into a sun dress with a silk scarf around her neck. She spritzed the last of her perfume on her wrists before zipping up her suitcase and heading downstairs to pay her bill.

"There's been a problem with your card, dear," explained the landlady, showing her the invoice where the once-paltry sum of a hotel fee now grew menacing. "It won't approve the transaction."

Amy's throat was dry. How could this have happened so quickly?

"May I make a call?" asked Amy, suddenly quite fearful.

"Are you alright? You look a bit peaky, dear."

The landlady permitted Amy to use the phone, to get in contact with the bank in Celadon. Yes, there were enough funds to approve the transaction, came the clipped reply. No, you are not authorised to use the card any more, was the second response.

Suddenly very cold, Amy passed the phone back to the landlady who clucked in concern.

"I-I don't have enough money to settle my bill," managed Amy, feeling like a fraudster.

The landlady stared at her for what seemed like an eternity. "Well, that's a shame."

Never before had she felt so humiliated. In the end, Amy had to resort to calling her parents, neither of whom answered and whose personal secretaries - professionally in her father's case and socially in her mother's - informed Amy that she would have to wait for them to get back to her.

Alone and ashamed, she sat on the couch opposite the reception desk where the landlady eyed her suspiciously over her magazine and sighed in irritation. She felt like a truant sent to detention, waiting outside the principal's office. Amy bet the landlady didn't want to spend her lunch break as a rudimentary bounty hunter for a customer who couldn't pay - worse, a teenage girl who had run from home and waited miserably for her parents. Amy was frozen to her seat, scared to move. If she left, she would be in even bigger trouble.

The guilt came in waves, first heat to her face and a tightness in her gut that warned her never to do this again. She muttered internal mantras over and over to herself, until finally the landlady answered a call during which she beckoned for Amy to come over.

"It's for you," said the landlady, who had long since dropped the 'dear' suffix she added on for all her paying customers and handed over the phone.

The landlady attempted to eavesdrop as Amy muttered half-hearted apologies into the receiver, becoming more red in the face in response to the shrill voice which screamed from the other end. After a few minutes, Amy bowed her head and handed the phone back.

There was definitely no turning back now. Having agreed to pay the hotel bill, her mother had given her a sharp reprimand and ordered her to come home at once. There was no method of transport to hasten this - being stuck in a small town provides precisely this kind of refuge - so Amy had obeyed instructions and agreed to meet her younger brother Liam in Pewter City, who was travelling nearby.

Her adventure was over before it had even started. Dejected, Amy wheeled her suitcase through Viridian, her Pokemon in their Pokeballs. She hadn't wanted them to see her so bleak, barely glancing passersby in the eye who stared at her curiously. She had never done something this crazy before, defying both her parents' wishes and what had seemed like the right thing to do, but there was no denying that before she had been caught red-handed, Amy felt an uplifting in her spirit at the taste of taking on something new and exciting, otherwise forbidden to her. It was scary, but she wanted to test herself.

Glancing around, she was surprised to see how many children were out and about and realised they were filing into class, at a building named Pokemon Trainer's Academy. She felt a stab of envy, for all those young minds shaped by the knowledge of Pokemon, and wished she could've tried her hand in the study of Pokemon instead of how to sit, curtsey and respect one's elders.

"Hey! Give that back!" shouted someone nearby.

Startled, Amy turned to see a boy with a Pokeball in his clutches being pursued by a red-faced girl. The boy glanced over his shoulder and bumped into Amy, who instinctively moved into his path to stop the chase.

"What's going on?" Amy demanded. This boy looked like a rascal, just like her brother.

"He took my Pokemon!" the girl cried. "I put Vulpix in her Pokeball, and he snatched it from me - "

"What's wrong with you? Why would you do something like that?"

The boy was taken aback by Amy's sudden outrage, but sullenly shrugged in the way boys try to stay cool in the face of authority. "I dunno. But if you want it back, you'll have to battle me, Beth."

"You took my only Pokemon, dork!" she shouted in despair.

"I'll battle you, instead," interrupted Amy, stepping forward. "If I win, you give back her Pokemon."

"And if you lose?" sneered the boy. He named a sum that amounted to a week's worth of his pocket-money.

Amy hesitated only for a second, in which she debated the pitfalls of bartering with money. She had none of her own - but she wouldn't let this little twit know it. Her only option was not losing.

"Done." Amy nodded. "Let's battle over there."

"You'll fight him? Really?" Beth's face lit up and Amy felt more guilty. What if she didn't win?

"I'll get your Vulpix back for you." smiled Amy. She summoned up what slivers of pride hadn't been scattered earlier and assembled her formidable stare.

"I have four Pokemon," the boy announced proudly. "If it wasn't such a weakling, I'd use her Vulpix, too."

"My Vulpix isn't weak!" screeched Beth. "She's very pretty!"

"I have two Pokemon," replied Amy, a little anxious.

"Two?" the boy scoffed.

"Only two?" Beth cried. "We've got to beat him!"

Amy gave her a reassuring smile. "I know what I'm doing. Head back to class before you're late. You'll have your Vulpix back before you know it. Trust me."

They watched Beth turn and head for the Pokemon School, when Amy turned to the rascal boy.

"Aren't you worried you'll be in trouble for skipping class, little boy?" she taunted.

"I'm not a little boy! I'm Owen. And you're about to find out what kind of trouble you're in for!" Owen chose one of the four Pokeballs attached to his belt and tossed it into the battlefield. "Go, Spearow!"

In a burst of red light, the Pokemon called Spearow appeared. It was a small, brown bird Pokemon with rough plumage and a hooked beak, cawing menacingly at the threat posed by Amy.

Amy selected Growlithe's Pokeball from her purse, throwing it into the field. "Growlithe, you're up!"

Growlithe appeared in a flash of light, pawing the ground and watching Spearow who flew overhead.

"Spearow, Leer Attack!" Owen shouted.

"Growlithe, look away!" cried Amy.

Growlithe put his paw over his eyes and turned away, avoiding the sharp glare from Spearow's eyes.

"Spearow, Peck Attack!"

Spearow let out another caw and swooped down upon Growlithe, small wings flapping and beak poised.

"Growlithe, avoid the attack and use Ember on Spearow!"

Growlithe leapt to the side to dodge Spearow's attack, then opened its mouth and released a volley of flames at Spearow. Critically burned, Spearow dropped to the ground, heaving as it attempted to move.

"Finish it with Bite Attack!" shouted Amy.

Growlithe ran at the fallen Spearow and took the bird in its mouth, biting down hard. Its shriek pierced the eardrums and caused nearby passersby to turn, as Spearow lay unmoving upon the grass.

"Return, Spearow!" Owen pointed his Pokeball at his fallen Pokemon.

"Good boy, Growlithe. You did well," Amy said, as Growlithe bounded over for a quick pat.

"That's it!" Owen yelled. "Go, Rattata!"

His next Pokemon appeared from its Pokeball in a burst of red light. Rattata readied itself to attack, its teeth bared.

"Rattata, Tackle Attack!" he cried.

Rattata set off at a fast pace, headed for Growlithe.

"Growlithe, use Roar!" Amy ordered.

Growlithe let out a menacing growl which surprised Rattata and caused it to stop, eyeing him warily.

"Use Ember, now, Growlithe!" Amy called.

"Rattata! Quick Attack!" Owen ordered.

Shaken, Rattata barely leapt out of the way in time as Growlithe's flames scorched a path close to Owen. Appearing out of thin air, Rattata tackled Growlithe in the side and the two wrestled upon the floor, with Growlithe delivering a hefty bite to Rattata's side.

"Rattata!" cried Owen.

When Rattata managed to break free, Growlithe opened its mouth and consumed its opponent in an Ember attack. Injured from burns, Rattata was too weak to continue.

"Two down, two to go." Amy was revelling in the feeling of victory. "Your next Pokemon, Owen."

"Don't be so cocky!" Owen shouted, returning Rattata to its Pokeball and retrieving another from his belt. "Go, Ekans!"

Ekans appeared in a burst of red light. This Pokemon was serpentine, with a purple body, a yellow underbelly and bands at intervals on its body. It had a rattle at the tip of its tail.

"Ekans, Wrap Attack!" cried Owen.

"Growlithe, use Roar again!" shouted Amy.

Growlithe opened its mouth to roar, but Ekans shot out and wrapped its body around Growlithe, surprising it with its speed as Ekans tightened its body grip on Growlithe. Growlithe howled in pain, trying to wrestle free.

"Growlithe!" cried Amy in dismay.

"Ekans, use Poison Sting!" Owen shouted.

Its body was so contorted around Growlithe that Ekans' head was facing the back of Growlithe's neck. The Poison-type Pokemon opened its mouth and released a series of sharp barbs which impaled Growlithe at close range.

"Growlithe!" Amy was shaken. She had to come up with something, and fast.

"Ekans, tighter! We need to make that Growlithe faint!"

Growlithe's eyes began watering and its breathing became laboured.

"You monster!" Amy screamed. She was on the periphery of giving up, just to stop Growlithe from feeling pain, when her mind clicked and she shouted, "Growlithe! Use Ember!"

Growlithe took a moment to inhale, then expelled a stream of fire which burned Ekans at close range. Wriggling to suddenly get free, Ekans fell to the ground, writhing in pain. A reddish tinge had overcome Ekans' colouring.

"Growlithe, return!" said Amy suddenly.

Wheezing and in pain, Growlithe disappeared into the Pokeball. Amy selected her other Pokeball. "Go, Nidoran!"

Nidoran appeared in a flash of light, lowering its horn and ready to attack.

"Finish it, Nidoran!" cried Amy. "Tackle Attack!"

"Ekans! Fight back!" shouted Owen.

Nidoran ran towards the weakened Ekans, tackling it with its horn and sending it writhing further still, where it lay uncoiled and unmoving.

Amy realised she had held her breath and exhaled. She might actually have a chance of winning.

"Return, Ekans!" Owen held out a Pokeball and Ekans disappeared in a flash of red light. Owen detached his fourth Pokeball from his belt and tossed it into the battlefield. "Go, Rattata!"

A second Rattata appeared in a flash of red light, fixing Nidoran with an angry stare.

"Rattata, Quick Attack!"

"Nidoran, wait for the right moment to use Double Kick!"

As Rattata disappeared into thin air, Nidoran waited a second before turning around and using Double Kick at nothing in particular. Rattata appeared just as Nidoran's first kick missed, but its second kick landed straight on its chin. As Rattata, a Normal-type was weak to Fighting-Type moves, it sailed backwards across the battlefield as Nidoran charged towards it.

"Finish it with Tackle!" Amy cried.

Nidoran lowered its head as Rattata managed to get up, but it was too late - Nidoran tackled Rattata and it rolled further across the battlefield, landing at Owen's feet. It was unconscious.

"I win!" Amy jumped up and down in ecstasy. "And outnumbered, no less!"

The Trainers returned their Pokemon to their Pokeballs and walked over to each other.

"Hand over the stolen Pokemon."

Sulkily, reluctantly, Owen handed over the stolen Pokeball. Amy weighed in her hand, half expecting a prank of some sort, when Owen turned tail and fled -

"OWEN!"

Owen stopped dead in his tracks, as everyone turned to see a middle-aged woman, her cheeks flushed and her expression palpable. Her eyes bulged out of her face and her bracelets jangled on her wrists.

"Mom!" Owen winced, while Amy watched with her arms folded.

"Owen, how many times have I told you not to steal?" Owen's mother grabbed her son's arm and lead him away. "What are you doing outside of school? That's truancy! I will have a talk with your teacher about assigning you extra homework - and you can forget about getting a Great Ball for your birthday!"

"But Mom," he protested. "She - "

"I don't want to hear it! You should be lucky she didn't report you to the police! What will people think? My son, a delinquent!"

"Mom, everyone can hear you," said Owen.

As Owen was led away by his mother, Amy came to her senses and called out, "Excuse me!"

Mother and son turned in surprise and Amy walked up to them.

"I believe Owen owes me some money. I've won a Pokemon battle against him."

Owen's mother looked at her son, horrified. "That'll be coming out of your allowance!"

"Mom!" Owen cried, as his mother took money out of her purse and handed one hundred dollars to Amy.

"I'm sorry it's not the full amount; but you see, Owen isn't supposed to be battling for money… he's only a child!"

"That's quite alright," Amy demurred, remembering her manners. "Thank you."

"Nice job battling!" called out a bystander.

Amy jumped when an elderly woman gripped her wrist.

"It was very good of you to teach that whipper snapper some justice," she intoned. "Very good indeed."

Amy was surprised of their attention, but acknowledged it all the same. As the few bystanders dispersed, Amy realised she finally had some cash of her own. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

When Amy made her way back to the Pokemon School, Amy she that the doors were closed while class was in session. She came upon an idea and headed towards the PokeMart. When she entered, she met the glance of a middle-aged woman behind the counter.

"How may I help you?" she asked.

"This is a bit of a strange predicament." Amy began. "I'm returning this Pokemon to its owner, but she's in class now. Do you know a girl named Beth? She attends the Pokemon School."

"Of course!" the woman said. "I'm her mother. My name's Mary. You can give the Pokeball to me and I'll give it to her when she comes out for her break."

"That sounds wonderful. Here you are," Amy said, handing over the Pokeball.

"What happened?"

"A boy took it from her and I had to battle him to win it back."

"What an interesting series of events."

"Boys will be boys," smiled Amy.

"Thank you for helping my daughter." said Mary. "She's very attached to her Vulpix."

"I understand," replied Amy. "I couldn't ever give up my Pokemon."

"If you're staying in Viridian, why don't I buy you lunch?" asked Mary. "I have my break at the same time Beth will be out to play."

"That sounds great." Amy smiled. "When does Beth have her break?"

"Not too long from now," Mary checked her watch. "How about we meet in front of the Pokemon School in a half hour?"

To kill time, Amy took Growlithe and Nidoran to the Pokemon Center where they were healed to full health. She browsed a few shops, but none which took her fancy nor her budget. She had to keep a careful eye on her finances, considering… Amy sighed to herself. Telling her mother would be the hardest part.

Amy heard the bell ring and watched as a swarm of students exited the school, heading for the swings or the see-saw or to play with their Pokemon. Their unrestrained shouts of joy and laughter and sporadic clapping made Amy laugh, watching them bounce and play with enthusiasm.

"Amy!" She turned to see Beth approaching, her dark hair held in a headband.

"Hello, Beth." Amy smiled. "I got your Pokemon back."

"You did? Thank you!" Amy was surprised when Beth hugged her around the waist.

"Where's Vulpix?" asked Beth.

"I met your mother at the PokeMart and I gave the Pokeball to her. She's agreed to meet you here."

Beth sat on the grass beside Amy, looking up at the clouds as students ran past their field of vision.

"Your Growlithe's cute," Beth said, watching as Growlithe and Nidoran fought with each other for play. "Your Nidoran is, too."

"They are, aren't they?" Amy said, not immodestly. She gazed at them in affection, noticing that a figure was walking towards them. She blocked her eyes from the sunlight and saw Mary approaching them.

"Hi, Amy," Mary smiled. "Thank you again for returning Vulpix."

Amy smiled, standing up. "It's quite alright."

"Mom!" Beth whined, as Mary took her time to retrieve the Pokeball. Mary passed it to her daughter.

"Finally," Beth exhaled. She tossed the Pokeball onto the ground. "Come out, Vulpix!"

Having never seen a Vulpix up close, Amy breathlessly reached out and patted the gentle Pokemon.

"She's beautiful," Amy said.

Vulpix darted away to leap into Beth's arms.

"It's OK, Vulpix," comforted Beth, petting her Pokemon. "This girl saved you."

Vulpix looked at Amy, its eyes crinkling in warmth.

"I think she likes you," Beth smiled, nuzzling her face into Vulpix's neck.

"Shall we have lunch?" Mary asked. "I know a good place not too far from here."

The three of them stood and walked together to a café which barely fit three tables inside. The patrons were the friendly sort who had come for years and ordered the same thing every time. When Amy selected a lemon slice and reached for her purse, Mary placed a hand on her arm.

"It's on me," Mary smiled.

When they seated themselves, Amy was surprised to see Beth moving a fourth chair to their little table.

"Vulpix, don't be slow! Come on!"

Astonished, Amy watched as Vulpix leapt up onto the chair. She couldn't think of any restaurant she had been to in which Pokemon were allowed indoors.