*Updated December 2021*

Chapter 5

Shocking Events

Chris' head jolted up faster than a Jolteon who had drank way too much coffee. Sweat was dripping from his ruffled brown hair, and seemed to cover every other part of his body too. What the hell was that? Why did they list off all those words? What did they mean by awaken? And whose voice was that? He wondered, his brain scrambling for answers. The whole dream unnerved him straight to the bones.

(Are you okay, Chris?) asked a rather soft, feminine voice. The voice belonged to his faithful Charmander. (You awoke with quite a fright.)

"I think I'm okay. I just had a bad dream, that's all," he assured her. "Wait a minute, why are you up?" Chris looked over to the little table near the foot of his bed, and saw his Snorunt sitting beside his laptop.

(I woke up about an hour ago. I had to use the washroom. You know, despite the fact this is a Pokémon Center, the bathrooms aren't really Pokémon friendly,) she muttered.

"Why are you up, Snorunt?" Chris asked the former sheriff.

(Charmander stepped on me while she was trying to clamber off this here bed,) he muttered darkly.

(I said I was sorry,) Charmander moaned.

(Don't sweat it, Pardner. We decided to use this here compu-thinger till y'all woke up,) he told Chris.

"That's fine, I guess. I'm just surprised you can use it. No offense or anything guys. I mean, you don't have much in the way of arms, or hands for the matter, Snorunt. And Charmander, I'm surprised you can use it with your claws," he stated.

(Yeah, well we can,) Charmander pointed out.

"I suppose so," Chris laughed. He glanced around the room. Melanie and her three Pokémon were still sleeping. His gaze stopped on Sandshrew for a minute, and he tried to think of ways to get the Pokémon back for last night. Although, the Pokémon did have a point about him needing a shower, regardless of the very little tact he used to tell him this.

"I'm going to have a quick shower, guys," he told his Pokémon. They gave him a curt nod, and turned back to the computer. As Chris walked by, he made a note to see what they were doing. They're watching the anime again? We watched that last night. We even watched that same episode. I guess they like it, Chris thought.

As he stepped into the bathroom door and began to strip off his night clothing, the events of his dream started to come to him again. Just what did they mean by those words anyway? Yellow, Silver, Gold, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Diamond, Pearl and Platinum; what do they mean? I can't even figure out a pattern. Most of them are minerals, but I've never heard of a mineral called yellow. Nor have I heard of Diamond or Pearl as a colour. Ugh, this is all too confusing. Maybe the hot water will help.

As he lay his clothes down on the ground he noticed a small packet on the ground that was unopened. Itching powder? Why in the world is there a packet of itching powder in this bathroom? They must not do a very good job cleaning the rooms when trainers leave here, Chris mused, a grin coming to his face as he realized just how he could use this pleasant surprise.

Guess I should actually get in the shower, before someone thinks I'm up to something else in here, he noted. Chris turned on the tap, and stepped into the shower. The hot water felt refreshing on his sweat stained skin. Chris soaked up the hot water like a sponge, a feeling of refreshment brought upon him. All of this, though, brings me back to the last bit, he thought. What did they mean by awaken?

"My Lord, did my chosen receive his awakening?" inquired a telepathic voice. The telepathy, did not however, take away from the depth in the voice.

"Yes, in fact he did. However, his powers showed up far before I would have liked them to," muttered a second voice, this one managing to be even deeper.

"My apologies, my Lord, but I wanted to test him. I needed to make sure he was worthy of me," the slightly less deep voice murmured.

"So you let his powers slip out early?" accused the deeper voice.

"I had one of my disciples test his worthiness back in Silver Forest. The test would not have been a good way to judge had he not been able to understand the Pokémon. Besides, you and I both know we need to start awakening on our side" defended the other voice.

"I suppose it matters not. You have your disciples guarding him, correct?"

"One of them is stationed in Auburn Valley as we speak."

"Good. We must not lose the child."

That'll teach him, Chris thought proudly. Placing the red and white ball back onto the side table besides Melanie's bed, he turned back towards his Pokémon, as well as a now awake Tangela. They were still watching the anime on his computer. I really hope they know that Ash Ketchum is a fictional character. That being said, I doubt that Viney over there cares. She's a female Pokémon version of Brock. Mentally chuckling over his comparison, he took a seat near them.

"You're up early," muttered a voice behind him. Her usually well-groomed violet hair was sticking up in more places than Chris could count.

"You get shocked by a thunderbolt in your sleep or something?" he joked.

"Shut up! I just have a bad case of bed head," she pouted. Chris just laughed at her. "Stop laughing! It's not funny!"

"Oh but Mel, it really is," he snickered.

"Oh that's it mister. You are so dead!" she screamed, and leapt at him. Chris just ducked to his right, and Melanie landed on the bed next to him. Chris started laughing at her lame attempt, but was promptly shut up by the look in Melanie's eyes.

"Holy crap! You're Serious?" he cried, and made a prompt dash for the bathroom, with Melanie chasing closely behind him, muttering various expletives.

(Humans are silly, aren't they Charmander?) Yanma snickered, his big green eyes wide in both fear and excitement.

(Very,) Charmander laughed.

(Should we help your man-hunk of a trainer?) Tangela asked Charmander.

(Nah, he got himself into this mess. Never taunt a girl about her looks, and never call her by an annoying nickname,) she stated.

(That is so true! I hate it when my vines get all messy,) Tangela whined.

(Aren't they always messy, Tangles?) asked a rather sleepy Sandshrew, who had obviously just gotten up. Almost as soon as he had gotten himself to his feet, his body had been thrown against the wall of the Pokémon Center's room.

(My point exactly,) Charmander laughed, watching the pissed off Tangela vine whip the mouse Pokémon.

After Melanie had finally calmed down, and let Chris out of the bathroom, she got herself ready for the journey to Evertown. Since she had demanded the right to have a shower, this gave Chris time to fiddle with his laptop.

(Come on Chris, one more episode,) Charmander begged.

"Sorry Charmander, but I need to look something up before we leave," he told her.

(That's not fair!) she whined.

"Life's not fair. Why don't you go help Snorunt? He looks like he needs a hand with Tangela," he suggested to her. He watched with a fair amount of amusement, as his ice type was trying to escape from the vine-covered female.

(Nah, he's got that covered. I'll go talk to Yanma or Sandshrew,) she told him.

After the little lizard left, Chris turned back to the laptop. Damn! Only the comic characters, but I doubt it is related. Not only did they leave some out, but also they are fictional characters anyway, he moaned. His attempt to search up the words from his dream didn't work.

(You okay, Pardner? You've just been a starin' at that there wall for a while now.) His Snorunt, who had seemed to escape Tangela relatively unharmed, had brought Chris out of his thoughts.

"I'm alright, Snorunt. How'd you escape Tangela?" he asked the ice type, hoping to diffuse whatever worry Snorunt had.

(She an' Charmander got themselves distracted by this magazine Melanie had. Somethin' to do with the latest trends,) he muttered.

"Seems even Pokémon are interested in the latest fashions," Chris laughed.

(I reckon that's the case too,) Snorunt agreed.

"Well I'm all done. You ready to go?" Chris jolted in surprise as Melanie appeared beside him. "What? I scared ya?"

"You could say that," Chris muttered.

"Well are you ready or not?" she pushed.

"Yeah, I'm ready. Return, Charmander, Snorunt," he called, picking up their Poké balls and returning them. Melanie returned her Pokémon as well, and the duo went to check out with Nurse Joy.

"You're leaving all ready?" she asked the two of them in surprise. "It is really early."

"We want a good start. We'd like to be in Evertown as soon as possible," Melanie told her quickly.

"Oh, well that's okay. Take care, you two," she told them with a compassionate smile.

"T-t-thanks, Joy," Chris muttered, blushing heavily.

"Control your hormones," Melanie hissed quietly, smacking him upside the head. Chris only grunted in reply.

The morning air had a small chill to it, but as Chris noted, it was considerably warmer then past days. The calls of Pidgeys filled the air, and Chris swore he heard a couple of Starly as well. The walk out of Auburn Town had been relatively quiet. Very few were out at this hour; even the PokéMart was closed.

"How'd you sleep?" Melanie asked suddenly.

"It was alright," Chris lied. No need to concern her with this, he thought to himself.

"We should hopefully be able to make Mt. Everstone within a few days if we keep up a good pace," she told him.

"That would be nice. I'm so close to my first gym match!" he cried excitedly.

"You have a decent chance to win. Charmander is weak to the ground type, but Snorunt has an advantage. And you seem to have techniques to deal with dig, which I believe is the TM they give out," she explained.

"I wish it was earthquake," he muttered.

"This is your first gym match. They are not going to give you earthquake," she answered flatly.

"I can wish can't I?" he moaned, causing Melanie to smack him. "You know, you're pretty violent,"

"Normally I would hit you again, but I'll let it slide this time. Do you hear something?" she asked him.

(What do you get when you combine an idiot and an idiot? A human!)

"Yeah I heard that. Someone is telling jokes," he muttered. "And they aren't very good."

"Really? I heard a Pokémon's cry," she replied.

"Well, I can understand them," he pointed out.

"Whatever, let's check it out," Melanie said.

"I agree."

The two of them followed the path of the voice until they were under a short tree. Sitting on one of the higher branches, was a small bird like Pokémon. Its green and yellow belly was puffed up proudly, and the white ring on its neck was well groomed. It possessed two blue wings, and its head was shaped like a music note.

"A Chatot?" Melanie muttered. "I was kind of hoping it would be some exotic bird, like a Pidgeot."

"Beggars can't be choosers," Chris murmured, although he too was disappointed. While Chatot was a cool looking Pokémon, it didn't seem to be anything special.

(Ah, an audience! You hear 'bout the kidnapping?) the Chatot asked.

"Kidnapping?" asked Chris, his voice full of alarm.

(Yeah, and then he woke up!) Chatot laughed.

"That was lame," Chris moaned.

(So was your mother last night,) cried the cheeky Chatot.

"What is he saying?" asked Melanie, seeming thoroughly confused by the situation.

"Nothing that isn't really, really old and clichéd," Chris replied.

(Ah, but so is your mother. In fact she's so old, her birth certificate is expired!) Chatot chuckled.

"Swing and a miss, she's only 37!" Chris shouted back.

(She's so poor, that when someone rings the doorbell, she yells ding!)the Chatot laughed.

"Good one," Chris said sarcastically. "The doorbell works! You just have to work it a little."

(That's what she said!)

"Will you just shut up! You're really not very original," Chris yelled.

"Chris, maybe we should leave," Melanie suggested to Chris, but she was ignored.

(Chris, I am your father,) Chatot cried, obviously changing from corny jokes to overused pop culture references.

"Don't talk about my father," Chris snapped, the bird finally gnawing at his patience..

(Daddy issues, big guy?) Chatot poked. (I heard he was so stupid that he locked himself inside a grocery store and starved?) Chatot poked.

"That's it! Your going down, bird!" Chris snapped, and charged towards the Chatot, causing the flying musical note to panic slightly.

(Squawk! Angry human, angry human!) he cried, and flew off in the other direction.

"Chris wait!" Melanie cried hopelessly.

"Get back here bird!" he screamed. "Snorunt, let's teach this thing a lesson!" He reached onto his pocket, and pulled out a miniature Poké ball. Enlarging the ball, he angrily threw it at the small music note Pokémon, and it bopped him straight on the note. Without warning, it sucked him inside. The Poké ball fell towards the ground, and began shaking violently. One shake, two shake, three shake; click.

W-w-what just happened? Chris pondered, completely dumbstruck.

"I think you just caught a Chatot," Melanie panted, after finally managing to catch up.

"I thought I had Snorunt's ball," Chris muttered. Might as well keep it. Might serve useful, Chris thought. Just have to find a way to teach it some manners.

"Well you didn't. It's on your belt," Melanie pointed out. Chris looked down at his belt, and saw the Pokéballs of Charmander and Snorunt clipped onto it.

"Smooth, Chris," he muttered to himself.

"Well on the Bright side, your team certainly got an interesting character," Melanie chipped in.

"Interesting is one way to say it. I'm going to have to teach it about tact, tho-"

(Well, well. Bout time you showed up, Dumbass. Seems you've gotten yourself a new friend. And a girlfriend too. You've been busy,) Chris spun around at the sound of the voice. Standing in his line of sight, directly in front of a large pond, was the Mankey trio.

"What do you three want?" he muttered.

"Who are they? Besides the obvious answer," Melanie asked.

"Just three, very annoying Mankey that I've had some past meetings with," he explained. "These nimrods hold one hell of a grudge."

(We've been waiting for you on this route all night! Don't you think you could have hurried up a little more?) asked the very annoyed Mankey, the leader of the trio.

"If I knew I had this to look forward to, I would have hung out in Auburn Town another couple days" Chris deadpanned.

(Awe shucks I am truly flattered. Did your girlfriend occupy all your time?) he asked cheekily.

"Melanie is not my girlfriend. She is just a friend," he stated, as if it were the obvious answer.

"Yeah, just a friend," Melanie added, but she couldn't help blushing slightly at the insinuation.

(Well Chrissie, it was fun catching up and all, but it is now time for revenge. We've been feeding an angry Pokémon since we got here, and I think it should come in handy,) the Mankey leader declared triumphantly.

"What do you mean?" Chris asked, now fully on alert.

(Why don't you just meet him?) As if on cue, a large Bird flew out from behind some trees. It was a shade of brown with white feathers along its back. It had a long, sharp, red beak, and a red crown like feather figure on its head.

"T-t-that Fearow is bigger than normal," Melanie stuttered.

"Yeah it is," Chris agreed.

(So you are the child those Mankey wanted to be rid of?) the Fearow asked incredulously. (You look rather meek. You will make a nice meal.)

(Well, Chris, now that you've met Fearow, we will be off. See you later- not!) Mankey cried triumphantly, and scampered off.

"We should run, Chris," Melanie suggested.

(Don't bother. I can find you anywhere in these woods. You cannot escape me!) Fearow cried.

"It claims that it will be able to find us anywhere in these woods. We have to fight," Chris said.

"What! Our Pokémon will be murdered!" Melanie cried.

"No they won't. We have to believe in them. They are our only hope," Chris told her firmly.

"I guess you're right. Take care of him, guys!" she shouted, releasing her Pokémon. Instantly, her Tangela, Yanma and Sandshrew appeared in front of her, although the latter looked very uncomfortable. "Sandshrew, what are you doing?"

(I don't know! Ever since you returned me, I've been itching like crazy,) he muttered, scratching himself in various places.

That'll teach him, Chris mentally chuckled. "You go too, guys!" Upon command, Charmander, Snorunt and his new Chatot appeared.

(So, you captured me eh? The names Chatot, don't call me nutin' else, got it? And you better learn how to take a joke,) he pestered Chris.

"Got it, got it. Now guys, we have a murderous Fearow to deal with. You guys up for the challenge?" he asked them.

(Geez, first battle and I'm already gonna die. You get nothing in my will,) he told Chris.

(Calm down, Pardner. We won't die,) Snorunt assured Chatot. (I've been dealing with tougher scoundrels my whole career I do declare!)

(Cowardly little bird, I will enjoy sticking this through you,) the Fearow said, staring daggers at the music note Pokémon, directing to its beak with its wing.

(That's what she said,) snickered Chatot. Despite the itching, Sandshrew began to laugh hysterically to, as did Charmander. Yanma, however, was slightly more confused.

(Who is she? Is it Melanie?) he asked.

(Well she is-) Charmander began, but was cut off by a loud screech.

(Oh will you all just shut up! I'm here to kill you, not amuse you!) Fearow cried, frustration becoming more apparent the longer the discussion lingered.

(Who pissed in your cereal this morning?) Sandshrew asked cheekily.

(Shut up, all of you! This six on one thing is horribly unfair. I just came for this Chris character. Now I demand a one on one match,) Fearow yelled.

(Then allow me to be your opponent,) cried an unfamiliar voice. Within seconds, the once formidable Fearow was lying on the ground in a heap, its feathers singed beyond belief. It didn't even get a chance to let out a pained scream.

"What the hell!? Was that a lightning bolt?" Melanie asked confused. "The sky
isn't dark."

"I think it was a Pokémon attack. I heard a voice, did you?" Chris asked Melanie.

"No, I didn't," she muttered.

"Then it had to be a Pokémon. Just which one?" he pondered.

"I think it was an electric type. It was an electric attack it was hit by, and a very powerful one at that," she answered.

"Yeah," Chris agreed. Suddenly Chris turned his head around, and in the horizon Chris saw what looked like a bird. From a distance, Chris could tell it was yellow, but that was all he could figure out about it.

(Silver Heart,) Chris heard the voice say. (My master wishes to meet you tonight in your dreams. Do not be frightened.) With that, the large bird flew a way.

"I wonder what the Pokémon was," Melanie muttered.

"I don't know," Chris answered. That much was true, he didn't know what the Pokémon was.

"No use pondering it, I guess. Let's just carry on, before the Fearow wakes up," Melanie said impatiently.

"I don't think it will wake up for a long time," Chris muttered, but his mind was elsewhere. What the hell did he mean by Silver Heart!

Agent Two to Agent One: My quest is complete. I have informed him.

Agent One to Agent Two: Good. Our Lord wants his presence known to the child.

Agent Three to Agent Two: Is the Almighty Lord alright with this?

Agent Two to Agent Three: Yes. Our Lord confirmed this to me.

Agent One to Agent Two; Agent Three: We must continue to look out for the boy.

"Hey Chris, what do you say we set up camp here for the night?"

Melanie's question caused Chris to pause. He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't realized that the sun had begun to set. I've been kind of dreading the thought of going to sleep tonight. What could that Pokémon have possibly meant about their master meeting me in my dreams tonight? And just who is their master? Melanie is probably right though, no point staying up all night worrying about it.

"You're probably right, Melanie. I don't think that Fearow is going to be getting up anytime soon, so we should be fairly safe here to camp out," Chris agreed.

"Just one question though," Melanie said, staring her green eyes directly into his soul.

"Hmm?" Chris replied, not quite sure what she needed to ask.

"You have your own tent right? Because you're not sleeping in mine."