Chapter 9: When Things Go To Seed

"Blue…"

"That's my name."

"You just yelled at your grandfather!"

"He deserved it."

"Are we really going to leave for Sinnoh by ourselves?"

"You know we are."

The trainer and and his Pokemon had argued on the short trip back home. Unfortunately, one was as stubborn as the other.

"Okay, so maybe it was too soon to talk to the Professor. I just thought you would've cooled off by then and if not that, at least seen things from his perspective," Eevee explained.

Blue scoffed as he recalled Alakazam. "Oh, I totally see what he's saying."

"Yet it sounds like you're holding a grudge," Eevee said in mild surprise. "What's with that?"

"I can be pissed off if I want to. Don't tell me you're siding with him."

"Wh...siding!? Blue, you have NEVER disrespected him like that! Arceus, you wouldn't even let him talk!"

Heated, Blue faced her. "So you don't think he's talked enough about this? Huh? Tell me what you think and you know what, maybe I'll go grab a soapbox for ya."

"I am TRYING to get you to see reason here," Eevee exclaimed angrily. "Why aren't you listening!? What's with you right now, Blue?"

"What's with—!?"

Pikachu wandered into the living room. Before he could ask what was going on (or whatever complex thing Blue and Eevee were arguing about now), Blue pivoted and punched the wall as hard as he could. Both Pokemon recoiled in surprise.

"Damn this," Blue hissed at the wall. "Why do I even…"

It took a few seconds for the pain to register and for him to realize what he'd just done. He'd never lost his temper to the point of violence. In a sense he liked arguing and debating as long as it was productive in the end. This was far from a normal argument or circumstance, however.

He felt a sharp movement in the pouch. Holly was thrusting her little nub-arm out with a surprisingly fierce expression.

Okay. Bad move, Oak. You're not setting a good example for her. Blue thought, staring down at Holly. Just calm down. It's not that serious. Just calm down.

"Blue?" Anya called. She had stayed the night in the guest room and Blue had honestly forgotten she was there. He shook his fist out, eyeing the hole he'd made in the paneling.

Anya came into the living room, taking the pins out of her hair. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I, uh…" he mumbled, standing in a way that blocked his wall. "Nothing."

"Come on, now. Tell me what's the matter."

Blue couldn't tell her that he'd just gotten done yelling at his grandfather. In the most sincere and nicest way, he wished she would just leave.

"You don't want me to make breakfast?"

"Not hungry," Blue muttered.

"Well, okay. I won't make myself any more comfortable here, then. I just had to make sure you were alright after what happened yesterday. You seem more well off than I thought you were."

…on the outside. I'm starting to think there's a much bigger change on the inside, Blue thought.

They stepped out on the porch. Anya hugged him. "I'll check in on you later. Make sure to change your bandages tonight."

"I will. You sure you'll be fine walking back?"

"Oh, you know I love the scenery!"

"Yeah, but the creator of the universe just descended and rained fire and brimstone down on an unsuspecting city. Who's to say he won't target our sweet old Kanto next?"

"Goodness! I hope not. And many blessings to those who were affected…"

Blue saw her off, watching until Arcanine escorted her to the gate. He sighed regretfully and went back inside, avoiding eye contact with Eevee and Pikachu. All he could see in his mind was the hurt expression his grandfather had had earlier.

He made himself an ice pack and went upstairs to lie down. Holly clumsily slid out of the pouch, looking sleepy; she crawled onto his chest and in a few winks, was out. Blue leaned his head back to stare at the ceiling.

He wanted to go apologize to his grandfather and take back what he'd said, but even now, it felt like there'd be no sincerity on his part. He also wouldn't change his mind about flying to Sinnoh on his own. With the current tension between them, he knew it'd get ugly if he and Agatha were within two miles of one another.

He couldn't have thought that would work out. Couldn't have! Did he think we'd magically start tolerating each other over some dumb trip? Because they're getting married?

"Like, who does he think I am?" Blue muttered. "Who she is?"

He felt that his grandfather had tried, but once again failed to understand how Blue would feel about something very important. Blue shut his eyes, grimacing in disgust.

It's not like he's being malicious on purpose. I know that.

Still, you'd think he'd learned by now. Agatha and I just can't stand each other.

That night, a vicious storm began brewing.

In the dark and rainy heart of the Viridian Forest, a green and brown Pokemon rushed down the path, propelled by short legs. The Bulbasaur ran with raindrops streaking from his face like tears.

"Come on, come on! Somewhere! Anywhere!" he cried.

The rain was blinding. He trampled through bushes, tall grass, and so many mud patches that he lost count. The forest was beginning to flood in many different areas and he needed to find higher ground before he got swept away.

Bang!

"Yowch!" the Bulbasaur fell back to his rear. "What—AHH!"

He'd run into something big, tall, and...not living. It was some sort of stone fence or wall. He desperately followed it one way, searching for the entrance. What he eventually came across was a locked gate.

"Agh!"

He dug at the mushy ground, flinging muck here and there. Rainwater kept rushing into the hole. He steadily dug deeper, curving the tunnel underneath the gate, and popped out on the other side. By now he was so covered with mud one could hardly tell he was a Bulbasaur. His paws found a stone path and he followed it faithfully, relieved when he spotted a structure looming into perception. A house!

The Bulbasaur ran up the porch, slipped on the last stair, and crashed into the door. Something fluttered against his snout. To his surprise and delight, there was some sort of little door he could fit through! He had a little trouble with the huge bulb on his back, but managed to squeeze into the house.

He was finally out of that dreadful storm! The little Pokemon collapsed, exhausted. He could've fallen asleep right then and there. So he did.

"Hey, little guy!"

The Bulbasaur woke up. All he registered at first was that something or someone was leaning over him. Startled, he jumped up and bopped foreheads with Blue.

"Arceus!" the trainer snapped, clutching his head. "Everything's cool, everything's cool!"

"Huh? Where? Where am I?" the Bulbasaur asked frantically, looking around. He couldn't see much over the edge of the tub. "What is this? Am I in trouble?"

"What? No. You're in the bathroom. You roll up in my house lookin' like that, you'd better believe you're getting a bath."

"Oh," the Bulbasaur looked down at himself, a little ashamed. "Sorry. I was running around trying to find somewhere to hide from the lightning…"

"Hey, don't apologize. I understand. You're safe here." Blue grabbed plenty of towels and then pulled a stool up to the tub. "Now, hold still for me."

Blue extended his shower head and gently drenched the Bulbasaur down, scrubbing firmly with a brush to loosen the dried patches of mud on him. Once Blue had gotten him rinsed off he popped open a bottle of special shampoo for grass-types and lathered the Bulbasaur up from the top of his bulb to the bottom of his feet. The little Pokemon didn't resist at all and had his eyes closed for most of the time.

"...see? Didn't take long," Blue said, lifting the little Pokemon out to dry him off.

"Thank you, mister."

"Now," Blue set the Bulbasaur down, "come on and follow me."

The grass-type cautiously waddled after him. It was dark, though it was morning, and rain pattered heavily on the windows.

"Watch your step," Blue said as they went downstairs. "You hungry? Tell me what you're in the mood for."

"Oh! Do you have any, um…Lum berries?"

"Ah, you like the good stuff, don't you? Good and expensive…" Blue humorously uttered the last part to himself. Within a minute he was sitting back, watching the Pokemon eat. The Bulbasaur looked and acted perfectly fine.

Good. Looks like he weathered that storm pretty well. I know the forest's probably flooded in a lot of places. I just hope there were no fires… Blue thought as he looked out the window. He wasn't going to go anywhere until the storm rolled out. He didn't want to take any more chances.

Right. I also need to figure out when I'm going to head up north and make sure to check the weather for that date. Before we leave I've got to get Holly into her ball, teach her Protect, and maybe get her walking upright if I can. Definitely the first two, at least.

The Bulbasaur suddenly ran up on him, mouth covered in berry juice. "Thank you again!" he said cheerfully. "I like it here with you. Can I stay?"

Well, here's a kid who knows what he wants, Blue thought, amused. "Why, of course. If that's what you want."

"R-Really? Do you want me to?"

"I don't have a single issue with it."

"Yay!" the Bulbasaur cried, bouncing into the air several times. "Thank you!"

He leapt into Blue's arms and the latter almost fumbled him. "Whoa, easy!" Blue laughed. "You're a young poison type, y'know."

"I'm poison?"

"Yeah, little guy! Ah, that tells me you definitely don't have control over your poison glands yet."

"Oh…no, I guess I don't. Sorry! I don't want to poison you by accident," Bulbasaur said, backing off. "Can you teach me how to not do that? I…didn't have anyone tell me I was poisonous…"

"That's alright, I can help you with that. That'll be the first order of your training. Then you can jump on me however many times you like, 'kay?

"'Training'?"

"Yep. I'm what you call a Pokemon Trainer."

"So you have other Pokemon besides me?" Bulbasaur asked in surprise. "Humans can do that?"

"Sure can! You've never seen a human before me?"

"Yes. Only my former human. He wasn't a trainer, though," Bulbasaur said, looking at the ground. "He's gone. Something bad happened to him. So…it's just me, now. I was his only Pokemon."

He looked up at Blue with innocent eyes. "I've never shared a human with other Pokemon, but that's fine. Maybe…we can all protect you if we work together. That's what I wish. I don't want to lose another human-trainer."

"Aw, I hear you," Blue said, patting him on the head. "And hey, yeah…my team has certainly saved my tail more times than I can count."

"Could you…maybe…"

Bulbasaur squeezed his lips shut, looking strained.

"What's up?" Blue asked. "Come on. Don't be afraid to keep speaking your mind."

"I had a…question? I…well, I lost my human because we were doing something…something really dangerous. He told me if something happened to him, then I needed to move on without him and make our wish come true," Bulbasaur mumbled. "But I don't think I'm able to do that the way I am now. I'm too weak. S-So…"

"You need help?"

"Yes…"

"Okay!" Blue shrugged. "Hit me with the damages, what d'you need?"

"We had traveled up this tall mountain just to meet a certain Pokemon. A Pokemon that could grant any wish no matter what it was," Bulbasaur said. "We were trying to summon Arceus, the Alpha Pokemon."