Pokémon Hyper Deluxe: Cherry Red and Neon Green Versions

Chapter 3 "To Catch a Mouse"

Written by Reginald Cosmic

Previously on the Adventure: Alexis Huron continues her Pokémon journey by heading towards Viridian Forest, a natural maze on Route 2, which connects Viridian City in the south to Pewter City in the north. Alexis has agreed to help a boy named Miles catch his first Pokémon there, but first, she'll have to get acquainted with the many tricks and traps within the forest.

Alexis was in the midst of training against wild Pokémon from just outside Viridian Forest. "All right, Paris, use Tackle one more time!" Alexis commanded. Her Rattata attacked the wild Caterpie.

Caterpie retaliated with String Shot. Paris the Rattata wasn't injured, but it slowed down in combat. In other words, Rattata's speed fell.

"Go! Pokéball!" called Alexis. The Pokéball shook once, twice, and thrice. Caterpie was caught.

Alexis checked Caterpie's PokeDex entry: "Caterpie, the Worm Pokémon: Caterpie has a voracious appetite. It can devour leaves bigger than its body right before your eyes. From its antenna, this Pokémon releases a terrifically strong odor. Its short feet are tipped with suction pads that enable it to tirelessly climb slopes and walls."

"Let's see here," Alexis said, "I'm feeling a bit eccentric. I think I'll call you Honolulu."

Caterpie cried out in happiness.

Alexis continued training for a time before finally deciding to head into Viridian Forest.

Alexis entered through the gate and found a few other people within.

"Be careful out there," said a lady a few years older than Alexis, "Viridian Forest is a natural maze. You may get lost. If your Pokémon get poisoned, you'll have to heal it, or it may faint on you while you wander around. I hope you have some antidotes."

"I do. Don't worry about me," said Aleixs. "You're looking at the future Indigo League Champion." Alexis, hands on her backpack straps, walked out of the gate and into the forest.

Alexis was a bit bewildered by the sight of the forest from inside as she had never seen a forest this dark in-person. "Well… time's a wasting."

"I'm here to catch wild bug-type Pokemon," said a ten-year-old boy. "My friends are bug catchers; some of them might battle you."

"All right," said Alexis. "Say, do you know how long it might take to catch a Pikachu here?"

"Pikachu come here? What?" the boy asked in moderate surprise.

Alexis began battling wild Pokémon to catch for the PokéDex. By this point, she was low on funds and did not want to waste Pokéballs on too many bug-type Pokémon (especially Metapod and Kakuna that only knew Harden). She eventually found a strong enough Weedle that she didn't mind training into a Kakuna and then a Beedrill.

"Weedle, the Hairy Bug Pokémon: Often found in forests, eating leaves. It has a sharp stinger on its head that injects poison. It is capable of distinguishing its favorite kinds of leaves from those it dislikes just by sniffing with its big red proboscis."

"Did it say 'Hairy Bug' Pokemon?" asked Alexis. "I guess I'll call you Asheville." Alexis recalled Weedle to the Pokeball. "Coming up with nicknames is hard."

…

Alexis finally ran into a Pikachu. "Woah, we can't let this one get away! Go, Venice!"

Venice the Squirtle was sent out. "Gosh, maybe I should be gentle and switch into Rattata…" The Pikachu was surprisingly Lax and let Alexis choose her move carefully.

"All right, Venice, I'm ready. Use Tackle! … but be gentle!"

Venice charged into Pikachu and dealt significant damage.

The Pikachu, having lost about 70% of its energy, stood up and used Thundershock. A jolt of electricity hit Squirtle for Super Effective damage, but it wasn't powerful enough to do much damage (even with the boost).

"All right… Umm… I think that's enough. I'll throw the Pokéball now."

Alexis used the Pokéball. It shook once. However, the Pikachu broke free!

"Shoot! Uhhh…" The Pikachu used Thundershock again. It did a little less damage than before (in other words, not much).

Alexis used the Pokéball. It shook once. It shook twice. It shook thrice, and the Pokemon had been caught.

"Yes!" said Alexis, "Second time's the charm."

Alexis checked the PokeDex: "Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. When several of these Pokémon gather, their electricity can build and cause lightning storms. This Pokémon has electricity-storing pouches on its cheeks. These appear to become electrically charged during the night while Pikachu sleeps. It occasionally discharges electricity when it is dozy after waking up. Whenever Pikachu comes across something new, it blasts it with a jolt of electricity. If you come across a blackened berry, it's evidence that this Pokémon mistook the intensity of its charge."

"Wow, it must be important to have such a long summary," said Alexis. "You know, you don't have a lot of experience yet, but I bet you could be a pretty powerful member of the team. How'd you like to join me on my adventure through the Indigo League?"

Pikachu cheered.

"All right. I think I'll name you … Tokyo." Pikachu seemed to like this nickname.

…

Alexis arrived at the old diner of Viridian City at 11:44am. She soon found Miles sitting bored in a booth alone and sat down in front of him.

"Hey, am I late?" asked Alexis.

Miles smiled and said, "Well, I did say lunch time, so I suppose you're early. Do you mind if I get something to eat while we talk?"

"Not at all," said Alexis. "I might get something myself." She picked up and looked through the menu in front of her.

"Can I get you two anything?" asked the waitress.

"I'll take a sweet iced tea," said Miles.

"I'll take a Dr. Soda," said Alexis.

The two formally got to know each other before they talked business.

"That's the short and long of it," concluded Miles. "I can't get a starter like Charmander, so I could really use your help."

"All right, I understand a little better now," said Alexis. "I'll help you catch a Pikachu since you don't have a starter Pokémon."

"How much do you want in exchange?" asked Alexis.

"How much?" asked Alexis, "Oh. I hadn't even considered charging you for it. … I don't wanna exchange money for it. Somehow I don't think Professor Oak would approve."

"Wait a second," said Miles. "You know Professor Oak? THE Professor Oak."

"Yeah…"

Miles was incredibly surprised. "You know Professor Oak, like the ultimate authority on Pokémon in both Kanto and Johto!"

"Yeah, he gave me my first Pokémon," answered Alexis.

Miles was shocked. "Oak gave you a Pokémon?!"

"Yeah, and then my friend—" said Alexis "Excuse me—his grandson picked the Bulbasaur just to have an advantage over me in our first battle."

"You're friends with the great Professor Oak's grandson?!" Miles was about to faint.

"Yeah, we've been rivals since…" Alexis looked at the ceiling trying to remember and said, "gosh, before I can remember."

His eyes wide and unfocused from shock, Miles tried to compose himself.

Before Miles could move on, Alexis pondered, "I wonder how the Professor's last Pokémon is doing."

Miles fell sideways onto the floor.

…

"Please, just once?" asked Miles.

"All right, but just for a minute," said Alexis.

Alexis pulled out the Pokéball and let out Pikachu. "Tokyo, please be nice to Miles."

Miles hugged and cuddled the Pikachu. "Your fur's so soft…"

Tokyo the Pikachu was very annoyed. Miles was then mildly electrocuted by Pikachu.

…

Alexis and Miles continued searching through the southern entrance of Viridian Forest. It was now the twilight hours.

Miles, growing worried said, "Are you sure you met your Pikachu at the southern part of this forest? Should we maybe move to the northern end?"

"No," said Alexis, "I don't want you getting hurt while I'm engrossed in a Pokémon battle."

Alexis then ran into another Pokémon.

"Another Kakuna…" Miles said in disappointment.

Seattle the Spearow, of course, knocked out the Kakuna with a single Peck attack.

Then, at long last, Alexis and Miles came face to face with a Pikachu.

"Oh, my gosh, it's happening!" yelled Miles.

Alexis said, "All right, do it just like how we practiced."

Miles grabbed the Pokéball from his pocket and sent out his "loaner" Pokémon: Alexis's Rattata, Paris. "Get ready, Paris."

"Wow," said Alexis, admiring the Pikachu, "this one looks more experience than Tokyo was (before I trained him of course)."

"Paris, use Quick Attack," said Miles, nervously.

Paris shot forward in a rush and attacked the wild Pikachu. Pikachu then used Growl. Rattata's physical attack fell.

"Use Quick Attack again," said Miles. Rattata did not respect Miles's command. Rattata used instead "Tackle." Pikachu took a bit more damage. Pikachu launched its own attack of Thundershock.

"What just happened?" asked Miles.

"Oh, dear," said Alexis, "I forgot that without badges, outsider Pokémon won't listen to trainers."

"I thought that was just for trades," said Miles. "The rental Pokémon listened to me."

"Yes, but it takes at least one gym badge for me to get my Pokemon to listen to another trainer's—"

The wild Pikachu, tired of waiting, used growl again.

Miles, outright anxious now, responded, "Rattata use tackle just one more—"

Rattata took a snooze!

"Oh, dear," said Alexis.

The wild Pikachu used another Thundershock.

Miles then said, "Rattata, use…" Unfortunately, Rattata stayed in its deep sleep. "Aaagh…"

Pikachu hit Paris the Rattata with another Thundershock. Paris fainted.

"Doh, my GAWD!" Alexis was once again hit with that disgusting feeling of seeing one of her Pokémon faint. Alexis recalled Paris.
"Did I … just lose…?" asked Miles.
"DUDE! THROW THE BALL ALREADY!" said Alexis.

"Oh, right," said Miles. Miles threw the first of his three Pokéballs. It shook once. It shook twice. However, the wild Pikachu broke free.

"ARRRGH, it appeared to be caught," said Miles.

The wild Pikachu readied its Thundershock.

"Look out!" said Alexis.

The wild Pikachu fired its Thundershock right at Miles, but Alexis leaped forward and pushed him out of the way just in time.

"Thanks," said Miles.

"You can't just…" Alexis stopped her scolding as Miles grabbed another Pokéball.

Miles used the Pokéball. The Pikachu immediately broke free!

"I thought this thing was low on energy," said Miles.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?!" asked Alexis. "Wait!"

Alexis then dragged Miles out of the way of another Thundershock.

"I just gotta catch him!" said Miles.

Alexis grappled for whatever Pokéball she could in the dark. Venice got dragged out. "Phew!" said Alexis, "Well at least that's—"

"This one's gotta count!" said Miles.

Miles then threw the final Pokéball. It shook once. It shook twice. It shook thrice, and Pikachu was caught!

"Gotcha!" yelled Miles.

"Thank goodness," said Alexis. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"I know just what to name it! I'll call him Spark!"

"Miles, I appreciate your love of Pokémon, but do you have any idea how dangerous that is. You didn't even attempt to get away from that wild Pokémon's attacks."

"It was worth it for the Pikachu!" he yelled. He then hugged Alexis, "Thank you so much!"

Alexis had been caught off-guard. She thought about it, but she couldn't help but hug back.

"Well, let's get that Pikachu, and Paris, to a Pokémon Center. I don't want to see you get into any more trouble."

…

Alexis with her party-Venice the Squirtle, Tokyo the Pikachu, Seattle the Spearow, Paris the Rattata, Honolulu the Caterpie, and Asheville the Weedle—show up at Miles's aunt's house (where Miles had been staying that week) to say goodbye to Miles and Spark before they he headed off in a pickup truck with his parents.

"Alexis," said Miles, "I'm so happy you came. My parents didn't think you'd show up."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I'm late. It's sad to say goodbye so soon," said Alexis. "I don't think I'll ever forget you."

"You might see me again," said Miles. "Spark and I will be in Saffron City if you're interested. Maybe we'll be a lot stronger by then, and we'll be able to battle!"

"Just don't forget what I taught ya."

Miles's dad said, "All right, son, get in the backseat. We need to be on the road."

"So long," said Miles as the truck drove off. "Thanks for the Pikachu!"

"I hope we see each other again soon!" Alexis shouted back.

Narrator: Alexis has made a great friend on her journey. Soon she will make her way through Viridian Forest. What other friends could be waiting on Alexis Huron's exciting journey with Pokémon? Keep reading to find out!

Author's Notes: In this adaptation, Pokéballs burst into the Pokémon they contain, and the Pokéballs return to existence in the hands of the trainer as the Pokémon is recalled, hence how Alexis was able to recall her Rattata even though it was in Miles's possession.

I wrote a few paragraphs on this story last week, and then on Saturday the 30th of November, I wrote 95% of this chapter's rough draft. I finished editing and proofreading it on Tuesday the 3rd of December 2024. I'm really proud of myself getting it done in a timely manner.