The young trainers spent the evening after their victory at the Azalea Town pokemon center, where they let their pokemon have a much deserved rest. While at the center, Adrian learned from Nurse Joy that the move his cyndaquil had been using against scyther was flame wheel. He was very proud of his starter pokemon for learning a new move. The boys spent the majority of the evening planning the next leg of their journey and preparing for the relatively large distance between Azalea Town and Goldenrod City, which held the next gym.
The next morning the small group set off towards Ilex Forest. The forest was much larger than any forest they had traveled through thus far. It would take them at least a couple days to get through the entire thing. Chance was not pleased at the idea of being in the forest for such a long time, as it would limit his training time with his onix. Adrian was just glad that they wouldn't be walking through a storm this time.
The boys soon found themselves walking through the dense forest. Within the branches around them they spotted glimpses of all kinds of pokemon. Bug pokemon would sneak glances at the group as they walked below. Grass pokemon would occasionally walk across the path in front of them, a few friendly oddish even stopped to investigate the group. The Ilex Forest was clearly a treasure trove of pokemon in their natural state.
About three hours into their walk through the forest, as they were walking and listening to the pidgey cooing together in the sky trees around them they spotted a small pond, nestled within the trees. The small clearing appeared to be even more of a haven for the pokemon of the forest. They spotted many rattata, oddish, caterpie, pidgey, and so many other pokemon enjoying the sunshine, playing in the water, or just getting a drink. The serenity of the moment was a bit breathtaking at first.
"Lunch?" Adrian questioned lightly.
"Wouldn't it kind of disrupt the pokemon here?" His redheaded companion replied. "I don't want to be a burden on them…" As he spoke his eyes traveled over all of the pokemon enjoying themselves.
"Well, how about this, we will get a little closer and if they seem bothered we will keep walking. Deal?" The redhead nodded in response. The two boys slowly approached the little pond. Snivy watched the other pokemon closely from her perch on her trainer's shoulder. As they neared a few pokemon stopped to look at them, but for the most part they continued their activities unperturbed. The group continued to watch them as they unpacked their lunch onto the grass.
As they brought out the food the pokemon slowly became more interested in them. Several of the pokemon approached them, most of them slowly, but several young rattata ran over to the food the moment they could smell it. The boys released all of their pokemon to join them, minus onix, who couldn't comfortably fit within the area without smashing some trees and scaring the pokemon.
Chance reached a hand out towards one of the young rattata that had approached, offering it a chunk of bread from his sandwich.
"You want some, little guy?" He smiled at the little creature. The small rat sniffed the bread a few times before taking the offered bite. As it munched on the piece of bread the other rattata approached Chance, looking almost jealous that its friend got food and it didn't. The redheaded trainer tore another chunk off his bread and offered it to the second rattata. "Don't worry, little guy. I wouldn't forget you." He reached out and scratched behind the pokemon's ear as it ate.
Adrian couldn't help but stare at the sight before him. His friend was feeding a wild pokemon, and seemingly bonding with them as if it was no huge feat. It all just looked so natural. He continued to stare as several more of the forest pokemon began to move closer, each getting offered a piece of food, though Chance had swapped to offering some pokemon food rather than his sandwich.
"I've never seen anyone bond with wild pokemon so easily…" The blonde stated as his companion patted an oddish on the head when it approached. "You're really a natural at this, aren't ya?"
"Well, I grew up with pokemon." The redhead smiled. "I spent all day every day with pokemon, learning how to care for them and raise them. Ever since the day I was born my mom taught me how to be make friends with pokemon." Chance's blue eyes seemed to gloss over as his thoughts drifted to distant memories. The smile on his face broadened as his hand reached over to scratch his hoothoot's head. "This is what I was meant for." He let out a content sigh as he looked over the gathered pokemon.
The boys continued to eat and enjoy their picnic, Chance sharing the majority of his food with the wild pokemon. Adrian's eyes never left his kind-hearted friend. Eventually the blonde stood, startling a few of the pokemon for a moment.
"You know, I don't think I have ever seen you this relaxed…" The blonde mused. "But if I don't make you get up I don't think we will ever leave." The redhead smiled up at his friend.
"You say that like it would be so terrible." The redhead reached out to give a grape to a butterfree that had just recently landed with the group. The boys smiled at each other and slowly began to pack up. Adrian recalled his tentacool and nidoran, but decided to allow cyndaquil to remain out of its ball for a while longer. As the boys packed the pokemon that had gathered watched closely, still a bit apprehensive about the strange beings. Some of the younger pokemon continued to try and play with Chance and hoothoot the entire time. Snivy remained on her trainer's shoulder, not wanting the attention of the overly active pokemon.
Finally, Chance recalled his hoothoot and shouldered his bag, everything being stored away. The young rattata from before jumped up on his leg, wanting to play more. "Sorry buddy, but it's time for us to go." He smiled as he picked up the tiny rat. He began to walk over to the raticate that had remained on the edge of the clearing. "I'm glad you had fun today, little guy. Don't worry, we will come back to visit some time. Until then you make sure you keep your family safe, okay?" He smiled at the rodent as he set it down with its family. He bid the little pokemon farewell one last time before the group began walking once more. As they departed the pokemon in the clearing shouted out to them, some waving hands or paws. Chance smiled at the warm send off.
"Only you could get a bunch of wild pokemon to wave goodbye to you… I swear." The blonde laughed at his friend. The boys continued to walk along the narrow forest path, spirits high from their lunch encounter.
Several hours passed as they walked, occasionally one of the boys would point out a pokemon they hadn't encountered yet. At times they would stop and observe the pokemon, but mostly they just kept to their leisurely pace. Before long they came across an unfamiliar sight. As they rounded a bend in the small path they spotted another trainer ahead.
As they approached they got a better look at the trainer. The trainer was a female with light blonde hair with a few bright pink highlights. She wore a light red tank top and jeans with a rip in the left knee. In her arms was a round yellow object with black stripes. The girl appeared to currently be training two pokemon. She had a small pokemon with a leaf on its head, as well as a small monkey pokemon that were currently battling each other.
As the boys neared, the pokemon with a leaf on its head hit the little monkey with a vine whip, tossing it against a nearby tree and ending the sparring match.
"Not bad." Adrian spoke up, alerting the girl to their presence. "Your chikorita's reflexes are pretty quick." The girl quickly turned on her heels to find the source of the voice.
"Thanks!" She smiled back at the two boys. "You know it's rude to sneak up on people though!" She said in a playful tone.
"Sorry about that…" Chance muttered. "We were just making our way through the forest and caught the last bit of that sparring match of yours…" He blushed slightly as he explained.
"Don't worry! I'm just teasing. I was just working with Chikorita and Aipom a little bit because they are the newest members of my team." She smiled as she picked up her aipom.
"Well they both seem like rather capable pokemon, if you ask me. I'm Adrian and this is Chance, by the way." The blonde reached his hand out to the girl. She took his hand and shook it firmly.
"I'm Cassandra, but my friends call me Cassie. It's nice to meet you." She gave a broad smile as she greeted the boys.
"Well, Cassie, where are-" Adrian started.
"Cassandra."
"Wha… What?" The blonde boy stuttered.
"My friends call me Cassie. I don't really know you yet." She kept her playful tone the entire time she spoke to the boy.
"Oh… Well, Cassandra… Where are you headed? We are on our way to Goldenrod City currently to compete for our next gym badge." The blonde explained.
"Oh! You're going to be going up against Whitney then! She is one of the strongest gym leaders in the Johto region! I almost lost when I took her on." Cassandra smirked as she pulled out a badge case, revealing four badges.
"Oh wow!" Chance stepped forward to examine the badges she presented. Two of them were familiar, but the other two were new to the boy. "So you already beat Falkner and Bugsy. One of those is from Whitney. Who is the last one from?" The redhead asked.
"That last one is from Morty. He is a ghost user. I had to challenge him twice." Cassandra pouted at the memory.
"A ghost user, huh?" Adrian seemed to drift into his thoughts for a moment. "That will be a real challenge."
"It really is a pain. Not many of my pokemon could really damage them. But we managed." She reached down and pat her chikorita on the leaf.
"You never did tell us what you are doing in the middle of this forest, by the way." Chance said questioningly.
"Oh! Right. I am just headed home, currently. We just beat Bugsy, so we are going to stop back at my parent's place before heading off to Olivine City. My parents live just outside of Goldenrod City, so it is kind of on the way." She shifted the object in her arms as she spoke.
"What is up with the egg?" The redhead asked as Cassandra adjusted it to her other arm once again.
"Oh, this is an egg that was left at my parent's daycare that the trainer didn't want. It happens quite a bit, so I always take the eggs with me until they hatch. Then they either go live with my parents, join my team, or we find a good home for them. Most of my team came from eggs that were left at the daycare, actually." As she spoke her backpack began to wiggle and out popped a little yellow head. The pokemon let out a big yawn before taking in its surroundings.
"Well hey there, sleepy. Finally decide to join the party?" She asked the little pokemon from over her shoulder. "As you can see, some of them are a bit younger than others. Pichu here still likes to take too many naps." Pichu yawned once more before wiggling out of the backpack and climbing onto her shoulder.
"What kind of pokemon is in that egg, then?" Adrian leaned forward to inspect the egg as he asked.
"Well, that is a surprise!" Cassandra shifted the egg away from the boy as she spoke.
"Well, you said that sometimes you give eggs to other trainers. How do you choose trainers to give eggs to?" The blonde inquired.
"Well, they just have to prove themselves. If I see that a person is a caring trainer who will love and take care of the pokemon then they earn the egg. I also will usually have the trainer battle me if I think they are worthy. I don't want one of my eggs to go to a mediocre trainer." A slight smirk appeared on her face as she spoke.
"A battle, huh? Well, I would be up for that challenge." The blonde boy said eagerly.
"Well, how about this. We battle now, and if you win we will travel together until we reach my parent's house. If during that time you prove to me that you meet the other half of the criteria, then the egg is yours."
"You've got yourself a deal!"
The two blondes faced off. Both readying themselves for this challenge.