Author's Note: Here's chapter three! So, who was that person the boys recognized as they made it to Viridian City? Let's find out!
I stared at a young adult. He had auburn hair that ended at his ears. He wore a green shirt with a white jacket with half sleeves, white pants with a green stripe, and white and green sneakers.
He had his back to Jason and I, so we weren't sure if he was who we thought he was.
"Is it him?" Jason asked, making me look at him.
"Only one way to find out." I replied and started walking towards the man.
He looks like the gym leader. Is he? Is he actually one of my dad's rivals? I thought as I walked towards the guy.
As Jason and I walked closer to the guy, he turned around as he heard us. I recognized him right away. It was dad's old friend and rival, Richie. He was the Gym Leader in Viridian City and my dad still kept in touch with him.
"Hello." he said plainly. But then he was taken aback as he looked at me. He knew who I was, since we'd met several times before, but I think it was Pikachu, who was on my shoulder, that gave me away.
"Adam! Long time, no see!" he said, giving me a pat on my shoulder. "And I see you've got Pikachu with you as well." he added, rubbing Pikachu's head.
He then noticed Jason, who was standing beside me. "And who's your friend?"
"This is my best friend, Jason. Professor Gary Oak's son." I told him.
"Nice to meet you." Jason greeted.
Ritchie shook his hand and gave a friendly, "Nice to meet you, too."
We stood awkwardly in the middle of the town with people looking at us strangely.
"How about we carry on this conversation in my gym? I think there's someone there who wants to see Pikachu, too." Ritchie said, breaking the silence.
"Sure." we replied.
"Pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu exclaimed. I think he knew who was waiting for him.
Richie lead us through the beautiful city that was enveloped in green all year.
We walked past the other townspeople who were going on with their normal lives saying "Hello", "Good afternoon", or "How about a battle, Richie?" as we continued through the town.
I saw little kids playing with one another, chasing Pokemon, or running from their parents who called for them.
Richie stopped in front of the gym. The Viridian City gym. A gym that had an old theme to it. It had white pillars, wooden doors leading into the gym, and the building was a light dust color. It had been refurbished several times throughout the years, but when Richie took over the gym, he decided to make the outside look like its original design.
Ritchie walked to the doors and pushed on the right door. It creaked as the door was slowly opened.
Jason and I followed Richie inside of the gym and stood frozen in place once inside.
The Viridian City gym. I always dreamed of entering it when the time came. I never imagined it to look like this on the inside. I thought as I looked around.
On the outside, you would never think the gym would look like this. The ground that was not the battlefield was black tiles, the walls were black, with flames that were green and orange lighting up the wall making a eerie feel to the gym. The field where Ritchie and the challenger would face off was a dark blue with green glowing lights going around the edges of it. Stone pillars held up the roof of the building.
"What kind of gym is this?" Jason asked, still shocked.
"Yeah...I thought it was a Ground-Type gym?" I asked, scratching my head.
"That is for you two to find out...later on." Ritchie replied with a chuckle.
He walked over to an area on the side and pressed a button. A table and chairs appeared and he sat down.
"Have a seat." he said, motioning to the table.
Jason and I slowly walked to the table and sat down.
"So Adam, I haven't been in touch with you and your mom since Ash disappeared. Have the police turned up any new leads on the whereabouts of your dad?" he asked.
I felt a pain in my chest when he said my dad's name.
"No, nothing yet." I said quietly, my voice barley audible. Even though Richie was dad's friend, I decided not to tell him that I was looking for dad. I couldn't let anyone know, or else they'd try to stop me or tell me it's too dangerous. But this was something I knew I had to do. Besides, my dad faced danger when he was my age, even greater danger than what I was expecting to face.
Richie seemed to notice the change in my mood so he changed the subject.
"Hey, Sparky!" he called.
I heard something running across the tile floor and I glanced around. I saw a Pikachu with a scruff of fur sticking out on its head running to the table.
"Hey Sparky, remember that Pikachu?" Richie asked, pointing at dad's Pikachu.
Sparky looked where its master's finger was pointing. Sparky let out a happy "Cha!" and Pikachu leaped off my shoulder, onto the tile floor. The two exchanged a tailshake and took off running, going somewhere to play, or catch up. I smiled, Pikachu hadn't looked that happy since before dad went missing.
"So what are you two travelling for?" Ritchie asked us.
"Well, we're both aiming to be Pokemon Masters." Jason and I answered proudly.
"That's good. You're your fathers' sons, alright."
"Richie, I remember my dad telling me stories. He said that Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket was once the gym leader." I said, remembering the story.
"That was true." Richie replied.
"I remember my dad telling me that Giovanni brought out Mewtwo and he lost even while using all of his Pokemon in battle." Jason said with a tint of anger in his voice.
"Yes, it is unfair when a gym leader uses Legendary Pokemon."
"How about a battle?" I asked Richie suddenly.
Richie looked up from whatever he was looking at.
"I would say yes, but I'm sorry. I don't really accept challengers unless they have a full team of Pokemon. I will battle you and Jason when the time comes and when you have six Pokemon." Ritchie replied politely.
"Oh, okay. Thanks anyway." I said, a little disappointed, since I was hoping for a badge.
I thought for a few minutes.
"Well Richie, when the time comes, I'll win that badge. So you'd better be ready for me when I come." I said with determination.
"Oh, I will be. Looking forward to it." Ritchie said calmly.
He looked towards the gym doors and at his watch.
"Well, I hate to ask you two to leave, but I have a challenger coming soon." Ritchie said, standing up.
Jason and I hopped down from our seats and watched as they went back under the floor, along with the table.
"Pikachu, come on! We've gotta go!" I called.
Pikachu came running up and leaped onto my shoulder.
"Well, later." Jason said, casting a wave over his shoulder.
"Bye." I said to Richie, waving and following Jason out of the gym.
"Let's head to the Pokemon Center. Our Pokemon need to be healed." Jason said, once we were walking around the town.
"Okay, then." I replied.
We walked into the Pokemon Center and headed to the counter.
"Hello. How may I help you?" Nurse Joy asked kindly.
"Can you heal our Pokemon?" Jason and I asked.
"Certainly. Just put your Pokeballs in the tray." Nurse Joy instructed.
I grabbed my Pokeballs and placed them in the tray and Pikachu hopped into the tray. Jason slid the tray to Nurse Joy once he placed his in the tray.
We sat on the seats in the lobby.
When my dad was ten he ran into this very Pokemon Center with a severely wounded Pikachu. This is also where Team Rocket decided they were going to start stalking him and trying to steal Pikachu. I wonder if that Nurse Joy is related to the Nurse Joy who saved Pikachu? I thought to myself as I played the scene out. I had no idea how long I sat there, but it must have been a while because I was snapped out my thoughts by my friend.
"Adam?" Jason said suddenly.
"What?" I asked, coming back to the real world.
"The Pokemon are ready." he stated.
I nodded and walked to the counter. Pikachu hopped on my shoulder and I hooked my Pokeballs back to my belt.
I glanced at the clock and saw that it was only one in the afternoon.
"Are we staying or heading towards Pewter City?" I asked as I adjusted my bag.
"We'll camp outside if we don't make it. That fine with you?" Jason asked raising an eyebrow.
"That's fine with me. But let's get some lunch, first."
After we ate, we left the Pokemon Center and walked through the city.
Soon, we entered the Viridian Forest, which was lively with the sounds of Pokemon communicating and running around.
As we walked through the Viridian Forest, I thought back to the stories my dad had told.
He had told me about how Misty was terrified of the forest because of all the Bug-Type Pokemon. He also told me about how she always reminded him of her broken bike at different points in their journey.
I laughed at the memory.
"What's so funny?" Jason asked, confused by my laughter.
"Oh I was just remembering what my dad told me about Misty Waterflower." I answered.
"Misty...Misty...she was that fiery red-head right?"
"Yes."
"Oh, I remember your dad telling me about that. She was terrified of bugs and screamed when your dad..." Jason trailed trying to remember.
"When his Caterpie climbed up onto her!" I cried.
We both cried laughing in the forest.
After we finished laughing, I decided to carry on the conversation to help pass the time.
"My dad caught his first two Pokemon here in this forest. It was his Caterpie and Pidgeotto."
"Well, my dad made a bet that your dad wouldn't have caught a single new Pokemon by the time he reached Viridian City. My great-grandpa never did pay up for that bet he made." Jason replied.
I smirked and said, "And look where my dad is now: a Pokemon Master."
Pikachu nuzzled into my cheek and I rubbed under his chin, because I knew that's what he wanted.
After walking and talking for a few hours, I suggested, "How about we stop and let all our Pokemon play? We could all use a break."
Jason nodded and we sat down on the lush green grass and released all our Pokemon.
"Go and have some fun." I said.
Pikachu ran over to Charmander and Bulbasaur, who were running around. Jason's Charmander ran over and started running around with them.
Jason's Spearow looked at Jason who showed no fear. Spearow ignored Jason and flew over to Pidgey.
"Let's just hope they don't fight." Jason muttered.
"Agreed." I muttered. "Your Spearow can be quite temperamental."
I leaned back on my hands and elbows and looked at the sky.
I just wish there was some way I knew where dad was. How will I find him? I thought as I looked at the sky.
Jason ran a hand through his hair and watched the Pokemon play.
"Hey Adam, did your mom or dad ever contact Misty again?" Jason asked.
"I know they did when they got married. I heard your dad talking about visiting her one day. Did he ever?" I replied.
"Yes, he did. Her husband had ran off so she was left alone with a kid."
"Man...that sucks."
I glanced at our Pokemon and smiled slightly. It was nice to see everyone getting along. I looked at the sky yet again and yawned.
A little nap won't hurt... I thought as I closed my eyes.
"Adam!" Jason cried.
I opened my eyes and looked around sleepily.
"What?" I asked, rubbing my eyes and yawning.
"It's dark now. We both dozed off." Jason said.
As soon as he said "we both dozed off", I noticed he looked half asleep. I leaned up on my elbows and saw our Pokemon knocked out of the world and in their world of dreams.
"Well we should just camp here." I said, yawning again.
Jason nodded his head and we started setting up a small camp. I went to gather wood while Jason laid out the sleeping bags and prepared some food which would be berries and bread.
Berries and bread...we really need to learn how to cook. I thought sadly.
I looked around and gathered some branches and twigs. The forest was a little creepy at night, but it didn't scare me. It's just the fact that I didn't have any Pokemon with me at the moment...that's what bothered me.
I looked at the amount of twigs I had and decided this was enough wood for a fire to last a while.
I walked back to where the camp was and saw Jason sitting on the ground.
I placed the wood down and Charmander used ember to light the fire.
Soon, the soft glow of the fire reflected off of mine and Jason's faces. Our Pokemon ate from their bowls which contained their food. Jason and I silently ate our bread and berries.
The forest life was dying down. The Pokemon were retreating to bed. The sounds of occasional Pokemon scurrying or shuffling in the forest filled the air.
"Return." I said, returning Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Pidgey.
"Return." Jason also said, returning Charmander and Spearow.
I laid down in my sleeping bag. I lay there with my hands under my head looking at the sky. Pikachu was lying by my head, watching the sky.
"Cha..." Pikachu said tiredly as he closed his eyes.
"It's okay, Pikachu." I muttered and closed my eyes.
"'Night, Jason." I muttered.
"'Night." Jason replied.