Chapter 37:

The Bully Bear

The Larvitar and Tyrogue stared at each other. Phillip knew this Larvitar was young, but it had been through so much in a short time, and Larvitar were known for their very tough skin. He wasn't going to take him lightly. Tyrogue brought his left leg behind him and readied himself with his right shoulder facing Larvitar.

Larvitar's dark stare was unwavering, almost as if he was analyzing Tyrogue. Larvitar put both of his arms on the ground as if crawling. Tyrogue readied himself. Larvitar pushed himself off the ground and leapt in the air. Larvitar landed behind Tyrogue. Tyrogue twisted his hips to face Larvitar. Larvitar had the most terrible look painted on his face. Tyrogue flinched. Larvitar did a Tackle attack.

"Counter attack!" Phillip yelled.

Tyrogue was a tad slower, but he caught Larvitar's claws and threw him to the side. Larvitar rolled onto his back feet. He was standing upright once more. He charged at Tyrogue. This time Tyrogue was too slow. Larvitar slammed into Tyrogue. Tyrogue flew back. He did a back handspring. As Tyrogue landed Larvitar charged again.

"Fake Out attack!"

Tyrogue disappeared. Larvitar slammed into the ground. Tyrogue reappeared to the side of him. Tyrogue smashed an elbow into Larvitar.

"Bullet Punch!"

Tyrogue's fist flew at an incredible speed. Larvitar fell to the ground after three punches. Phillip threw a Pokeball at Larvitar. The ball rolled around for a couple of seconds. Larvitar decided to stay in the ball. The ball then disappeared. Larvitar's siblings' eyes grew wide. They began to drag their claws on the ground as if preparing to charge.

Phillip cautiously approached them. He knelt to look at them. He spoke softly and kindly.

"He's safe. I will bring him around some time to visit."

Larvitar's natural position is defensive, especially the ones who have been through what these three have been through. Phillip knew the only way to reason with them was to get on their level and show that he is not a threat. The two young Larvitar looked at each other and then back at Phillip. They nodded and walked into the brush. The male looked over his shoulder at Phillip one last time. He then followed closely behind his sister.

The group watched until the bushes didn't rustle anymore. They slowly turned back on to Route 39. Phillip stopped and looked over his shoulder at the now deflated tent, and the grounds where he cared for and met the Larvitar family. He remembered the mom and his heart broke, as anger grew inside him. He longed for the day that humans and Pokemon could live in true harmony, not a threat to each other, but as long as there were people like Team Rocket and the pirates, he's had run ins with, there could be no peace. Kathy called out to him. He continued on.

After several hours of walking, Nathan put his hands on his head and talked about how cool Larvitar was.

"He's like a small dinosaur or something. I wish I could catch something new and cool like that soon."

"You will." Phillip encouraged.

"I want a new Pokemon too!" Ashley yelled. "I love Ledyba, but her and I have been alone together for awhile."

"You're not alone. You have us." Kathy said.

"Well yeah… but as far as Pokemon go, it's just me and Ledyba."

Phillip called out ahead of him.

"It's gonna happen soon. Just keep at it."

They continued until the sun began to set. They stopped their trek and made camp. As night fell a shadowy figured crept on the unexpected party. Kathy heard a noise. As she stirred, she saw a shadow digging through her bag in the tent. She made eye contact with it and then a crescent mark on its head began to glow. She maneuvered towards it but then froze.

Phillip woke up and found Kathy staring at the exit of the tent. He called out to her. She blinked a couple of times and then looked around lost. She saw Phillip staring at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"Are you okay?"

Kathy looked around. She thought she saw something, but couldn't recall what happened or why she was staring. After a few minutes of thinking about it she fell asleep again. The next morning, Phillip was outside with Ashley training. Kathy looked around and Nathan was laid out in a weird position facing her stuff. As she scanned the tent she noticed crumbs all around her bag. She searched her bag to find that half of her food was gone. She stomped over to Nathan and kicked him in the side.

Nathan jumped awake.

"OWWWW! OWW! OWW! WHY'D YOU DO THAT!?"

"STOP EATING MY FOOD YOU TWERP!"

Nathan popped up, sitting with his legs crossed rubbing his side. He yelled back.

"I HAVEN'T TOUCHED YOUR FOOD SINCE WE STAYED WITH THE PHARMACIST!"

Phillip and Ashley stuck their heads in the tent curiously. Phillip snapped at them.

"What is going on in here!?"

Ashley giggled.

"Are you two fighting again?"

Kathy stormed out with Nathan walking slowly behind her, still rubbing his side. Kathy stood between Nathan and Phillip. She was pointing at Nathan and yelling.

"YOUR ANNOYING LITTLE FRIEND KEEPS EATING MY FOOD!"

Wooper and Tyrogue, who were out of their balls watching everything, noticed food on the ground leaving a trail into the woods. Phillip walked over to the first few crumbs and looked out into the woods. He looked back at Kathy.

"I don't think it was Nathan."

Kathy looked at Nathan with an apologetic look on her face. Before she could say anything, Nathan crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and turned his nose up towards the sky.

"Mm hm. Someone owes someone an apology."

Kathy leaned towards Nathan, and began to stutter.

"I… I'm sorry. You didn't steal my food."

Nathan shook his head, keeping his arms crossed and his eyes closed.

"Not forgiven. Why are you even here still? We passed your home. Go back."

Nathan stuck his tongue at Kathy. She went back to inspect her bag. Phillip ran his hand through his hair and sighed deeply. Kathy shrieked.

"Whatever it is took my honey Moo Moo grahams! Oh man! Those are my favorite!"

Nathan threw his shoes on with enthusiasm.

"I bet it was a Pokemon! Let's go catch it!"

They all looked at Phillip waiting for him to tell them what to do. He looked at Kathy. She also seemed eager to get moving. Phillip took a deep breath.

"Fine…"

Nathan and Ashley were shaking with excitement. Kathy seemed annoyed, but focused. They quickly packed up their camp. Wooper and Tyrogue led them in tracking down the path of the thief. They all continued down the path for a few hours only to lose the path. Once they lost the track of the thief they came across a picnic table with a grill in the middle of the woods.

They set up their table for lunch. As soon as they sat down they heard a rustling in the nearby bushes. As they investigated it a small bear popped up and was sucking on its paw. Ashley and Kathy cried out in unison.

"HE'S SO CUTE!"

The crescent mark began to glow. Within a few seconds the whole group looked around confused. Their food was gone off the top of the table. There were some crumbs, but nothing that they could follow. Phillip was frustrated, but after a couple minutes of seething he realized that there was nothing they could do.

"What are we supposed to do?" Nathan asked.

"There's nothing we can do. Let's head to Olivine City."

Their shoulders were low, and they were a bit discouraged. Their stomachs were growling, and their heads began to hurt. Every time they tried to eat in the last day their food was stolen. They came across a pond. As Kathy's stomach grumbled again, she spoke out.

"I'm gonna go fishing. Anyone interested?"

"I'll go with you." Ashley said weakly.

"I'm gonna take a nap." Nathan said.

Phillip released his Pokemon and took his Pokemon into the woods to train. Ashley and Kathy were fishing for a while. After an hour or so they felt their lines tug. As they reeled in their catches the bear looking Pokemon jumped out of the woods and grabbed Kathy's catch.

The bear took off. Kathy ran after him. Ashley hesitated and didn't follow. As Kathy was closing in on the bear, she realized that it was going to sense her and disappear if she continued running so hard. She slowed down and began to creep. She saw the little bear stop and begin to paw at her catch. Just as the little bear was about to take a bite, a large broad bodied brown bear with a circle on its stomach came roaring out of the woods.

Kathy laid on her stomach as flat as she could, terrified. The little bear laid out trying to cover the catch. As the giant bear approached him, he roared at him. The little bear began shaking. The giant bear swatted the little bear sending him rolling on the ground. The giant bear took the catch and walked away.

The little bear stood up with a sad look on its face. He grabbed his stomach and slowly walked in the opposite direction of the giant bear. Kathy realized that the little bear had been starving the last few days because the giant bear kept stealing its food. She walked away, feeling sad for the little bear. She made her way back to the pond where her and Ashley were fishing. She could smell a campfire nearby. She followed her nose to see Nathan, Phillip and Ashley eating. Phillip stood up as Kathy approached.

"There you are! I… we… were worried about you. Everything okay? I saved you some food."

"Thank you." Kathy said weakly.

"What's wrong?" Phillip asked.

Kathy kept looking over her shoulder, hoping the little bear would turn up again. The group was finally able to finish a meal without interruption.

"Finally, that stupid bear isn't around." Nathan shouted.

"Be nice…" Kathy retorted.

"Weren't you madder than the rest of us?"

"Maybe I had a change of heart!"

Phillip, foreseeing another fight between Nathan and Kathy decided to encourage everyone to push on. Kathy looked over her shoulder one last time. She left some of her food untouched. As the rest of the group moved on Kathy left some food behind for the little bear. Before they were out of eyeshot the little bear came out of the woods and began to chew on the leftovers Kathy laid out. Nathan turned around and yelled out.

"There he is!"

Nathan pulled out his Pokedex.

"Teddiursa, Before food becomes scarce in wintertime, its habit is to hoard food in many hidden locations."

Teddiursa's head popped up as it heard the Pokedex. He scooped up the leftovers and tried to run away. It was cut off by the giant bear. Nathan turned his Pokedex to the giant bear.

"Ursaring, In the forests inhabited by URSARING, it is said that there are many streams and towering trees where they gather food. This Pokemon walks through its forest gathering food every day."

Ursaring roared loudly. Brett and Betty fell out of a nearby tree. Once they hit the ground. Teddiursa turned to them. Ursaring swatted Teddiursa sending him rolling on the ground again. Ursaring took the food and ran away. Teddiursa looked weakened and injured. Brett and Betty popped up and laughed. They recited their rhyme about going to the highest heights and then released Rattata and Murkrow.

"Let's catch this Teddiursa! That Charm move will be helpful!"

Kathy ran towards Teddiursa.

"No, you don't! Go Bayleef!"

Murkrow and Rattata charged at Teddiursa.

"Reflect on Teddiursa!"

Bayleef cast Reflect on Teddiursa that repelled Murkrow and Rattata's attacks. As the two of them bounced back Kathy shouted.

"Razor Leaf attack!"

A swarm of leaves overtook both Rattata and Murkrow. As they fell back two massive Twister attacks flew at Team Rocket. Charlie and Delta appeared flanking Kathy. The Twister attacks joined to send Team Rocket flying.

"TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

The Reflect wore off and Teddiursa was laying in the fetal position shaking. Kathy crouched down to him and spoke gently to him.

"It's okay. You're safe now."

Teddiursa looked up into Kathy's eyes. His were shaking as they began fill with water. He hugged her. Kathy's heart melted and Ashley spoke out loud.

"Awww!"

"Did you want to come with me?" Kathy asked.

Teddiursa clutched her tighter. Kathy opened an empty Pokeball and Teddiursa jumped into it. It rolled around for a few seconds and then Teddiursa stayed in the ball. The ball disappeared.

Everyone congratulated Kathy on catching Teddiursa. After a few minutes of reveling in their victory they pushed forward. They began to see signs indicating that they were getting close to Olivine City. After a couple of hours the layout changed. The woods turned to roads, and the smell of nature turned to the smell of an urban city. They arrived at a high tech sign advertising a thing called "The Battle Frontier." A robotic head came out of the sign talking.

"Sign up for the Battle Frontier. The place where the best of the best trainers gather to test their skills."

Nathan got excited.

"Well that's me! Let's do this!"

He looked at Phillip.

"Can we? Please? Can we? Can we?"

Phillip sighed. Part of him was curious how he would do against more seasoned trainers. He looked at the group. Kathy and Nathan were very interested. Ashley looked embarrassed. Phillip nudged her.

"You might learn a lot here."

She looked at them and then nodded her head. Phillip smiled.

"Alright. Off to the Battle Frontier."

To be continued…