The night was sleepless…
And I couldn`t sleep not because of bad thoughts or uncomfortable coach in PokeCenter`s hall – on the contrary, the place was pretty nice. The source of all problems was the local nurse on duty that repeated her damn question 'Coach isn`t good for you. Maybe you should rent a room, mister?' each damn time I find a good spot on my occupied couch and start to fall asleep… Holy damn she annoyed me a lot. And this was right after such a glorious victory over the lieutenant Surge himself! No rest for heroes…
Finally, when the morning came, I got up from the couch and headed to the exit. I will have no more sleep anyway, so let`s not waste any more time while my pokemon are still in process.
Firstly I checked my small hideout near the Pokemon Center to make sure the case is still here. To tell the truth, I was actually surprised to see it still in place. I`m going to return for it a bit later, so after that I quickly ran to the PokeMart, bought some supplies for the road and some other stuff. I had just one pokeball left, so I bought four more for the round number. This is where my finances ended. Maybe I should check some more trainers on my way to Lavender town.
There was also a small kiosk where I could buy a map of the region. I wonder why I didn`t do this before. The way to Lavender town can lie across the Route 11 and to the north, near the shoreline of Route 12. Or I could return back to Saffron City and hopefully find the path to Route 7 that will lead me straight to the goal. Or take the longest and the most useless path though Cerulean City, Route 9 and, I guess, some sort of cave. Yeah, the path through the cave is considered an official road here. What madness.
Well, the first way seemed to be the shortest to me, so I decided to follow it.
After a short and modest breakfast in the local café I returned back to Pokemon Center. The nurse gladly welcomed me and announced that my pokemon are fully healed, rested and ready for the next battle. That sounds enough promising for me. I thanked her for a nice job and headed to the status-device-thingy – the machine that defines the information about pokemon. After a quick check of all my team and familiarization to their current move sets I finally left the Pokemon Center. The case remained right where I left it, so I took it and continued my way.
Now I have to hurry and get to the Lavender town as fast as I can. I had to waste so much time on S.S. Anne operation and gym battle, but now I have the real chance to track down Team Rocket, and also save some wild pokemon from whatever Team Rocket is needed them for. Maybe the chances that I`m too late are very high, I have to try at least.
So my direction lies on the Route 11 now. I crossed Vermillion City once more and headed to the East. The only road was right near the lake on the one side and a strange rock formation from the other. I noticed a large group of trainers here, gathering near the entrance to a large cave in this place. Maybe this is the Diglett Cave lieutenant Surge was talking about. Getting a ground-type pokemon would be nice for my team, but I don`t like Digletts very much. Maybe I find someone better one day.
I passed the outskirts of Vermillion City and actually got to the Route 11. This place is a really large plain, full of different vegetation. Wild pokemon hide in tall grass, trainers wander around in searches of something, some other people are having rest under the shadows of trees. A high dense forest could be seen far away on the edge of this plain. Everything looks so alive here; the sight of it helped my mood a bit.
Pretty nice place, I have to say. Maybe I can find some trainers here that wish to battle. I feel the need for some more training before the possible encounter of Team Rocket in Lavender city. I should better be prepared anyway.
And so a couple of hours passed in trainings and battling other people here. Unfortunately, no one could give me a real challenge here and all battles were pretty easy for me and my team.
I battled one youngster with Ekans. This pokemon still gives me bad memories from the past, and the scar from that bite hurts again. So I unleashed my rage and defeated this foe very quickly.
A strange old man challenged me to a battle too. He told me about his 'great luck' and 17 losses. Well, despite I felt really sorry for him; I had to raise his number to 18. He used a Growlithe and Vulpix in battle – two fire-type pokemon. Anyway, this battle made me think about finding a water-type pokemon for my team as I could use just Dumpling and Moment here – Reaper and Harry would have a real disadvantage because of typing.
I even found an engineer working with the power lines nearby. He introduced himself as Bernie and challenged me with two of his Magnemite and also a Magneton. After an electric gym we had quite a lot of experience battling the electric-type pokemon, so this wasn`t too hard for my Reaper and Dumpling.
The most interesting person on this route was another old man that looked suspiciously like the previous. This one, on the contrary, bragged about his victories and a desire to raise the number with my help. Too bad for him – I spoiled all his plans. My Harry personally dealt with both Poliwag and Horsea that man threw at us.
Some other trainers came to my battles, but in the end nobody more dared to challenge me. I quickly healed my team with potions and headed further, to the transition gate dividing the plain from the seashore on the East – Route 12.
I noticed some policeman standing near the closed gates, talking about something with a very worried tone. That attracted my attention and I came closer to scout the situation, but they spotted me listening to them very quickly.
"Oh, hello! Are you a trainer?" One of them suddenly asked me.
"Maybe. Is there a problem?" I cautiously replied.
"There is one. Is it possible that you can help?" The other policeman questioned.
"If this will not take too much time…" But I was interrupted as the first policeman opened the gates, covering my voice with the creak of heavy door, and led me further. Second stayed on his place, guarding the position. Something really suspicious is going on here.
The two of us passed the hall behind the gates and got to the Route 12. The bright sun stroke me immediately as we exited the hall, and the endless ocean appeared before me. This is the Route 12, the strangest Route I`ve ever seen. On the left and right from me is the very long and high cliff, from the depth of oceanic and to the height of forest high above. But the thing called Silence Bridge is built along the cliff across the whole Route, and this is the only way to move here. Except for swimming, may be. If I`m correct, this bridge must lead me straight to Lavender town.
And just when I came back to senses after a sun flash blinding me and looking around, I finally noticed the possible problem.
This exact Silence Bridge – the only way forward – was completely blocked by a large blue pokemon. His feet are white, as the belly. Head is round, with two small but wide ears. This guy was so fat he literally blocked the pathway; there is no space on the platform bridge to walk around – only to climb over him, maybe. And, according to the sound and the closed eyes, he was just sleeping here.
"What is it?" I pointed at the monster and asked the policeman.
"It is the Snorlax. And… It`s blocking the way." He replied with a bit of despair in voice.
"And THIS is your problem? A sleeping Snorlax?"
"Yes! The way is completely unpassable while it`s here."
Hah, a sleeping Snorlax is a problem. I wonder how he would name a huge criminal organization terrorizing the whole region. But the problem remains actual – this thing doesn`t let me pass the bridge and go to Lavender town.
"And what do you want me to do? Kick him out?"
"Catch it, move it, scare it away – it doesn`t matter. Just… Make the road free."
So, they want me to get rid of this Snorlax, in any way, no matter the cost. This reminds me of something…
"Step away." I said to the policeman and then took out a pokeball and threw it into Snorlax. To my extreme surprise, the capsule just bounced off his body and fell on ground right before me. "What the heck? He is sleeping! A sleeping pokemon must be even easier to catch!"
"We have tried this before." The cop told me. "For some reason during this… type of slumber Snorlax can`t be caught. Or be awakened. At least, we failed in it."
What an interesting situation. That means not all pokemon can be caught at all. And to awaken Snorlax we could put much more effort than needed.
"Okay, Dumpling, let`s go!" I put the empty pokeball back into my pocket and unpinned the Dumpling`s one from the shoulder belt. The pokemon was glad to see the light again. And me too, of course.
"Is this the best pokemon you have?" The policeman asked. I felt a bit of disappointment in his voice.
"Yeah. He is the ace pokemon of my team."
"Well, good luck to you anyway." He indulgently said. "I`ll be at the gates if you need me."
And the cop turned away and left us alone with the large and loudly snoring carcass. Dumpling twitched a bit when he noticed Snorlax and turned back to me with an unsure look.
"Don`t worry. The bigger they are – the harder they fall. Well, this one is lying already. Remember your battle with Onix. But now we need to do completely the opposite… Any ideas?"
Dumpling looked up at the rising stomach of Snorlax and then examined the body. For a moment I started to worry what will we actually do when he wakes up? What if he wakes up in a bad mood? Can we calm him down or he will just eat us like the damn breakfast and then unleash his rampage on the whole area?
After a couple of minutes of running before the Snorlax, observing him and poking his body in different places, Dumpling returned back to me and raised his right hand, causing it to shine with a mystic metallic color.
"Maybe this could work. Okay, Dumpling, use your Metal Claw!"
He jumped high and smacked the face of pokemon with his claws. The scratches left by our attack were barely visible and simply vanished right now. My Dumpling jumped away after the attack and landed right in the center Snorlax`s stomach. The sleeping giant didn`t even moved after that too. But my Dumpling suddenly discovered that springy stomach is a very fun thing, and started to jump on it, completely forgetting about my orders.
"Hey, Dumpling, enough fun! We need to clear the path."
Charmeleon stopped jumping and stood on fours above the Snorlax. With his eyes he was literally begging me to give him some more time for fun.
"Oh well, fine. I guess you deserved it, after all." I just waved my hand at him and headed to the nearest bench on the bridge. Maybe a jumping pokemon can wake up this monstrosity, I think. But what about a whole bunch of jumping pokemon?
"Hey, guys, come on all out!" I shouted while throwing all my pokeballs high in the air and releasing all my team outside.
Reaper started to look around clutching his stings, Harry just laid down right here periodically looking at me suspiciously and Moment screeched from the sudden light flash and quickly flew up the cliff to hide under the shadow of nearest tree.
"Well, I think not all of you will enjoy this strange trampoline…" I said while looking at my Moment in his small hideout. Harry isn`t very joyful person and Reaper prefers to fly on his own. "Doesn`t matter, Dumpling will have all the fun. We`re going to have some rest for half an hour – no more, and then move on. Enjoy the fresh ocean breeze and the sunlight…" I noticed how Moment twitched again after these words. "Do you want back?" I asked him.
Moment nodded in agreement. Well, he is a night creature, and a sunlight like this isn`t the best weather for him. So I returned him back to pokeball and turned to the rest.
"Have some rest nearby. But don`t go away too far."
The team was glad to have some real rest after the battle. Dumpling continued jumping on Snorlax, Reaper was just flying around, enjoying the freedom of flight and Harry stayed on place and taking sunbathe. I guess, for a grass-type pokemon this could be very nice.
As for me, I sat on bench, looked around to make sure we are alone. Some fishermen were far away on the south from us, but they are not the problem. Anyway, this Snorlax was lying right on the crossroad, blocking two pathways at once.
With a relief, I took out my Diary that Misty gave me and after skipping a lot of blank pages I started writing the chronicles of my misadventures here in Kanto, starting from the point where my car was stolen.
I looked up periodically to observe my team to be nearby and make sure they are all right and in my eyesight. No one tried to escape from me, even Harry. I could expect something from him. The Snorlax was lying here completely motionless even with Dumpling actively jumping on him. If not for the loud snore I would consider him dead.
After a quick look around I continued my writings. But the calmness wasn`t going to last for long as the jumping noises from Dumpling and Reaper`s buzzing stopped. Someone was approaching us.
I closed the diary and looked at the visitor. It was an old man in a shabby brown suit with a lot of patches. Seems like he wears this as the casual clothes. The look on his face seemed too strange. It was determined, serious and at the same time… suspiciously kind.
"This is useless, young man…" He said to me.
"What is useless?" I asked in reply.
I had some time to look at his eyes. Yes, this man definitely saw a lot of things. He came here for a reason. I sensed he is here because of Snorlax.
"This one will not wake up with usual methods…" The old man came closer to the lying pokemon and gently scratched his foot.
"What do you mean?"
"The slumber of any Snorlax is very deep. You can attack it, move it, explode bombs under it… Just two things can wake him up. The first one… is hunger."
He intentionally mentioned two things but said just about one.
"You know a lot about pokemon, right?" I asked him.
"Ho-ho-ho, of course, I do. I spend a lot of time with these awesome creatures." He looked back at Snorlax again. "Wild Snorlaxes sometimes cause troubles in this area. I know how to help you. But I need a help of a skilled trainer by myself."
Now I see where this is heading.
"Help for a help, right?" I crossed my hands on chest, showing the old man my mistrust. He didn`t seem to be touched by that.
"Call this however you want. We can help each other, and that`s it."
"So, you know how to wake up this Snorlax. And you will do it when I help you do… what?"
The old man smiled and nodded to me silently. He looked back and then whispered.
"Meet me in Lavender town. Heading street, 15."
After that he turned back to walk away.
"Hey, wait a second! How will I get to you if this Snorlax blocks the way?"
"There are other Routes that lead to Lavender town…" He replied and immediately disappeared behind the trees. What an odd old man. He didn`t even introduce himself.
As if one strange thing wasn`t enough for me, the second one happened. Suddenly something in my pocket started to vibrate and play a ringtone. I quickly took this out and realized it was PokeDex.
The small red light was flashing, and the screen stated that… professor Oak is calling me?
Damn it, I actually didn`t knew that PokeDex can be used as a phone. I don`t like phones because of my paranoia and the feeling of constant watching. But this… Damn!
I carefully raised the PokeDex above me and looked at the sun through it. The frame doesn`t show through on the light. Well, I hope this is actually professor Oak calling, otherwise…
"Hello?"
"My boy… WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU WANDERING?" Loud and cross voice of Oak sounded from the PokeDex. Despite him being very angry for some reason, his voice actually calmed me down a bit.
"I am on Route 12 now…"
"Remember - you promised me information about regional pokemon! A filled PokeDex! How many pokemon did you encounter?"
Oh crap… I really forgot about the deal with old professor. Until now I used PokeDex just to learn about my own pokemon, so all entries my PokeDex has now are just of my own pokemon. I`m not sure professor will be glad to see nearly five entries.
"Well… Quite a lot."
"Don`t mumble, boy! Listen, we have an emergency here and, I afraid, we can lose all our data on server we have. Wireless connections don`t work right now. So I need you to meet my aide in person and give him your PokeDex to copy."
Shit… What could possibly happen when he discovers I didn`t tried too hard to complete this PokeDex of his? Can he… Can he take Dumpling back? No, he can`t do that! He can`t just give me my pokemon partner and then take him away!
"Hey, boy, are you listening to me?" Oak`s voice disturbed me from my thoughts.
"Yes, professor, of course…"
"Good. Whatever you are doing now – drop it and go to the hotel on the east road of Route 2. My aide is on field researches somewhere there. He will be there until tomorrow morning."
"Route 2?! It`s a whole region away from me! How can I possibly get there in time?" He scared me really much right now, making me worry even more.
"…wait, where are you now?" He replied with a serious tone.
"Um… The crossroads of Route 12. On the bridge."
"Let me think…"
Some second of silence were soon disturbed by the rustle of paper. Professor Oak was looking for something.
"Right, found it." He finally said. "You can quickly take a short path through the Diglett Cave on Route 11. It will lead you straight to Route 2. But beware of wild pokemon there."
"Are you sure I will make it in time?"
"I`m a scientist. I doubt everything… In theory." And after that he disconnected.
Well, additional delays on my mission. Damn it, it`s like the destiny itself keeps me away from the Lavender town. I will get there anyway…
But now I need to get back to Route 2. I`m still worried about what will happen when I`ll show my empty PokeDex. I don`t even want to think about it! I won`t give Dumpling back, I became so attached to him. And he became so attached to me. There is no way anyone can split us apart!
Okay, we`ll see what awaits us. Now we have to head back to Route 11. My team has already gathered around me, waiting for the next command.
"What are you staring at, comrades?" I playfully replied to their interested eyes. "The rest is over. Get back to your pokeballs and let`s roll out!"
I beamed all them back to their pokeballs, and packed up for the way back.
To my surprise, it was already afternoon and just now I started to feel hunger. Good for me I stocked up on more chocolate bars and now have something to chew on my way back.
So, with the very dark thoughts in my mind and a chocolate bar in my mouth I headed back to Route 11, where the entrance to Diglett cave is.