As I got up the next morning, my first sleep away from Cinnabar Island was restless. I stumbled across the room to my pack and grabbed a fresh shirt then left to find the kitchen to buy some breakfast, after all I was so lost in thought last night I forgot to eat. As I sat down Nurse Joy brought me breakfast, I seemed to be the only one in the centre. Nurse Joy also turned on the television hanging up in the corner, switching on the local news. I went back to my breakfast before a news headline struck my interest.
"Professor Oak's new trio has been selected, with the three trainers picking up their starting Pokémon yesterday." The newscaster read further as pictures of the three trainers and the Pokémon that they chose flashed on the screen
"Charmander was chosen by trainer Percy." Percy seemed strong and confident, his short brown hair and strong jaw making it seem he was ready for anything. The newscaster continued
"Squirtle, chosen by trainer Airen." 'Ugh, I hate the way I look in photos.' I exclaimed.
"And finally trainer Lucy, with her Bulbasaur." Lucy had light blonde hair and green eyes, gentle features yet very familiar, I sat up immediately, thinking back to Oaks lab and Route one, it was her, she was trainer Lucy. These two trainers got their starters at the same time as me, Lucy couldn't be too far ahead, must be the next town, or at least in the forest, who knows when Percy picked his Charmander up and where he is right now, either way, I'm behind.
Knowing how far I was behind I walked to the Gym in Viridian City, only to be stopped at the door by an obviously annoyed doorman being asked the same question too many times,
"No!" he snapped, "You need seven badges before you take on this Gym, it's too difficult for the likes of you." Rather pissed at that last shot, I walked away attempting to keep my cool, and instead headed to route two. This route housed the entrance to the Viridian Forest, but there were a few Pokémon we were able to battle in order to train, walking throughout the route and managing to catch a male Nidoran. Continuing through the entrance of the forest, the sheer size of this massive maze was incredible, you can barely see the sky amongst the treetops. I started walking through the forest, battling wild Weedle and Caterpie, one trainer in Viridian mentioned Pikachu in this forest as well, but I haven't seen a single one yet. I found a Weedle amongst the grass and managed to catch another making a party of five Pokémon. As I continued this forest kept getting creepier and creepier, then I heard a noise go past behind me, I turn to look but nothing was there, and then in front of me, nothing again, the pace of the sound got quicker and quicker. Slightly startled, I picked up my pace, desperately trying to find the exit, then it appeared, like a yellow blur throughout the grass, it stood a little high from the ground and seemed really up for a battle, it was a Pikachu, and it didn't seem like it wanted me to pass, knowing Squirtle and Pidgey would be useless against an electric type, I decided on Weedle. Pikachu started bolting towards Weedle.
"Weedle, string shot to slow it down!" Direct hit, didn't affect it much though as it kept coming, Pikachu slammed into Weedle with an effective quick attack, calling it back before it fainted I replaced it with Archie,
"Let's go Archie, Ember!" that did more damage as the Pikachu seemed to fall, I decided if I was ever going to catch a Pikachu, it was now, I threw the Pokéball and Pikachu reluctantly went inside, only to fail and allow the Pikachu out again. Pikachu's used its' speed to its' advantage and sprinted away,
"Damn it" I sighed "I missed my chance." Disappointed in myself, I slowly shuffled forward, attempting to find the exit, which was thankfully roughly one hundred metres away. Truthfully I was relieved to exit this forest. As I left I found the rest of route two, something caught my eye to the left and without watching where I was going I ran into something and sent myself backwards, before I could open my eyes I heard a voice,
"Oh you again!" I almost immediately knew who it was, but when I opened my eyes, I didn't expect two faces looking down on me.
"You must be Airen." the male trainer said, focussing better I managed to recognise them,
"Lucy and Peter?" I inquired which was replied with a loud sigh,
"Its Percy." I sat up to see a fireplace and what seemed to be dinner on the fire all set up, I didn't even realise it was night already, I must've stayed in that forest all day.
"Sorry." I said reluctantly, "Lucy? Why were you in a hurry at Oak's Gym and at route one, when you bumped into me?" Lucy seemed to blush a tad,
"Oh my, was that you, I'm so sorry, I left my summoning letter at home in Celadon, so I was rushing to get to Oak's in time."
"Ah okay, and what about route one?"
"Oh, yes well I wanted to travel with Percy here, as we were this semester's intake of trainers, so I asked him to wait before the forest." For a while we stayed up talking about our past, family, and hometowns, even showing each other our current Pokémon. Lucy, from Celadon city started her journey with her Poliwag, she was the same age as me as well, wearing jeans and a Pokémon shirt that looked really cool and actually made me kind of jealous to think I didn't have one. According to Erika, Celadon's Gym leader, she showed the patience and resilience while having the determination needed for training. Percy on the other hand started off with a Dratini, a Dragon type, being from Blackthorn City in the Johto region, the entire city's trainers used Dragon types. Percy being strong and determined wore jeans with a University of Blackthorn City shirt. Though for gym battles, his father advised him to dress for the occasion, recommending dress pants and a buttoned up shirt, and a black blazer with red lining. Percy's reference letter came from Clair, the Blackthorn City Gym leader, saying he had grace and power, a trait all Dragons and Dragon trainers must have. We settled down for the night, Percy and Lucy gladly sharing their dinner with me, and allowing me to stay for the night, I let Archie out of his Pokéball and laid a blanket down next to me for his comfort. Tomorrow morning we would find Pewter City, the gym of course awaited me but the museum intrigued me and I really couldn't wait to see what they had on display. I started to fantasize about the museum and the upcoming gym battle, before long, I rolled over and fell asleep.