PKMN Odyssey [3]

[The Pokémon Odyssey]

[Route 1: Seize]

[Y1/M1/D2]

Leaves spun in tiny cyclones on the dirt path, rustling as they scraped against the floor and each other. A calm river moved with me, making gentle noises as it flowed past. The late morning fog was beginning to dissipate, only to reveal an overcast sky containing a palette of grays and whites. Thunder shouted in the distance, and Viridian City couldn't feel farther away from me.

I reached shelter beneath the trees, adjusting my windbreaker and pulling out Charmander's Poké Ball. I pressed the center button to convert it to its larger size, and it opened with a flash of bright blue energy.

"Char!" he said, raising his arms.

"There's about three miles left," I said, "Would you like to accompany me until you get tired?"

Charmander nodded, and I reached into my pant pocket for Dexter. A loading icon spun around on the screen after I scanned him. I squatted next to Charmander when his picture lit up on the display.

"Charmander's known moves are Scratch, Growl, Ember, and Smokescreen," Dexter computed.

"Let's train a little so we won't get confused during a Battle," I said, replacing Dexter.

"Charmander char!" he said.

I moved away from the tree, motioning for Charmander to remain facing it, "Scratch!" I said.

Charmander jumped with his hands sprawled open. He lunged at the trunk and slashed right, denting the hard fibers.

I approached the tree and felt each notch on the wood. Sap oozed from the green claw marks.

"This material's softer than something cut down, but I still wouldn't want to be in the way of this," I said, smiling, "Use Growl on me."

"Man?" Charmander asked.

"It'll only hurt a little," I said, "Growl, please."

Charmander inhaled a huge amount of air, and then screamed at me for what could have been four hours. I flinched to cover my ears and squeeze my eyes shut, the sonic force intolerable.

"Charmander!" he said, shaking me.

I didn't realize he finished the attack.

"That was...impressive," I said.

I reoriented us onto the main path, with Charmander facing the river next to it.

"Practice your Smokescreen," I said.

Charmander leaned back when he inhaled, similar to the motion before Growl. Swinging forward, Charmander released a concentrated cloud of black smoke as big as a car. The wind blew following the attack, ushering the haze down the river. The color was richer than the density, which was something we might need to practice.

"And now Ember," I said.

The Pokémon reached backwards a third time, but faster, and sent out a small jet of flames that sliced the air like a sword. Heat flashed back at me, warming my face. I watched as Charmander continued to spray the inferno, stretching to the end of the river and singeing a tree.

"Great work!" I said, not looking to cause a forest fire.

"Mander?" he asked, waiting for a critique.

"You're strong for-"

"Sprear! Sprear!" voices screamed, wrestling through the leaves of the tree Charmander burned.

Two brown birds stumbled from the brances, attacking each other as they pecked and battered one another with their beaks and red wings. Their feathers began falling to the floor as they chirped and yelled.

"Maybe we won't practice on trees..." I said, taking out Dexter and scanning them.

"Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokémon," Dexter said, "Spearow's cry is audible up to a mile away, as they signal to each other for danger."

"A Flying-type would be useful," I said, "Charmander, Smokescreen!"

Charmander jumped in front of me an released another cloud of black smog at the Spearow. They were smarter than they looked, flapping their wings back towards us. Charmander covered his face with his arms as I started coughing.

"Scare...scare them off and use Growl!" I said, between the wheezing.

"Char! Char!" Charmander cried in a weaker voice.

"What? That isn't Growl!"

I began to wave the smoke away, relaxing my lungs. My eyes burned from the pollution, but when I forced them open, I saw both of the Pokémon harassing Charmander with a Fury Attack.

"Hey! Stop that!" I demanded.

They ignored me, and Charmander continued to try to duck and get out of the way of the barrage of pecking and batting.

"Ember!" I said.

Charmander released the grip on his face, taking several hits before he began blindly shooting flames everywhere. The Spearow dodged Charmander's slow movements with ease. At some point, Charmander turned to me and fired the attack. I weaved to my left, feeling the heat alone almost burn my face. The smell of burnt hair terrified me, but I tugged at it only to find a few crispy strands.

I looked up to see the Spearow had left, with Charmander face-down on the floor holding his head. I knelt next to him.

"I'm sorry," I said, reaching into my backpack for a Potion.

He didn't say anything as I began to spritz areas that got hit repeatedly. After a few moments, I could feel the warmth of the flame on Charmander's tail, and he sat up.

"Maybe this wasn't a good choice," I said.

"Char?" he asked.

"I don't know if I'm cut out to be a Pokémon Trainer. Like Prof. Oak said, it's a fun decision at first, but it's tiring. And look, we couldn't even protect each other from a couple Spearow."

"Charmander char..."

"No, this is going to be a bad idea. I'm not strong enough to go to the Indigo Plateau, let alone Viridian City...I should bring you back to Prof. Oak and then just go home and pretend this didn't happen."

Charmander looked down, his flame flickering. I got up and removed his Poké Ball from my jacket.

"It was nice to-"

"Li! Li!" a crippled voice screamed.

Charmander and I turned to witness a dark blue creature emerge from the bushes. It had a swirl on its white stomach, and the entire Pokémon shined with a gloss. It panted and began to stumble as it approached the river. Prof. Oak would get so much data from me today...

I took out Dexter and scanned it, "Poliwag, the Tadpole Pokémon," Dexter said, "It is possible to see this Pokémon's spiral innards through its thin, but flexible skin. Sharp fangs may bounce off its flesh."

"No," I said, "We need to-"

A long, purple mass jumped out of the brush and wrapped around the Poliwag. Despite the slippery coating, the snake maintained a firm grip as it squeezed the life from the Poliwag.

"Let go!" I shouted.

"Ekans, the Snake Pokémon," Dexter said, without me realizing that I was still holding him up, "Ekans is a common sight in grassland areas. When it is first born, its poison is not developed, making its bite painful, but harmless."

"Char!" Charmander said.

I looked down, and Charmander had his little hands balled into fists. I adjusted my gaze to the Ekans and then back at Charmander.

"Sorry, but I shouldn't have told it to let go. This is none of our business, Charmander."

"Char!"

I sighed, not wanting to waste another Potion. But it's easy to pack up and go. It's easy to conform to authority figures and want what they want.

"Growl, please."

But it's hard to be strong.

With a hop, Charmander screeched at the Ekans, catching its attention. It craned its neck at the new prey, and released Poliwag, who landed on the dirt with a bounce. Ekans began slithering toward Charmander at an alarming rate.

"Use Ember right before he lunges!" I said.

I want this.

The Ekans sprung back as it prepared to pounce, and Charmander shot an Ember as it inched forwards. With a scream, it fell to the side, wriggling around as flames danced on its purple body.

"Smokescreen!"

Charmander let out a mass of smoke, encasing the Pokémon in a dark billow. The Ekans was hissing and crying for a moment, but then it stopped. I stepped back, and the bright yellow eyes of its Leer punctured the pollution. Before I could give an order, slim, white needles pierced through the cloud and pelted Charmander.

"That's a Poison Sting," I said, "Charmander, you need to-"

The Ekans sprung at Charmander, trapping him in its Wrap attack. Charmander struggled to breathe, flailing his arms and tail to escape its hold.

"Scratch!"

Charmander prepped his claws, but it was no use. Ekans only squeezed harder in response, barring its fangs to get ready to crush Charmander.

"No!" I screamed, running forwards.

I jumped and clung the thick neck of the Ekans, who tried shaking me off. It aimed to snap at me, but the angle I was holding it in prevented my pain. I tried pulling Charmander out and tossing him aside, but i couldn't properly grab him and the Ekans at the same time.

As we continued to fight for a few moments, purple and yellow circles began flowing in the air around us. I felt drowsy for a moment, and let go of the Ekans, who also released Charmander.

I attempted to sit up, only to see Charmander use Scratch to push Ekans towards the river. Then, another figure stood next to Charmander, and fired a jet of water at the Ekans to seal its fate.

My eyes were heavy, as if I couldn't control how tired I suddenly felt. I saw the leaves of the trees jitter above us, and the clouds move overhead. My mind became numb and everything fell mute, and then the world was black.

---

A torrent of water splashed onto my face. Yelping, I sat up, and Charmander was sitting in front of me.

"Charmander char!" he said, running up and hugging me.

"Are you okay?" I asked, "What happened to that Ekans?"

He pointed to the river.

"You...you pushed him into it? Charmander, what if-"

"Poli!" another voice said.

The Poliwag that the Ekans was trying to eat was standing to my right. He smiled as I looked at him, and his tail swished from side to side.

"Hi..." I said, "You helped Charmander, didn't you?"

The Poliwag jumped in confirmation, and ran to the river and dived in. He surfaced, swam with the current hopped out to come back to us. His tail pointed at the where he plunged, and then further down.

"The Ekans got out later," I said.

"Char!"

"Well, thank you for saving us," I said to Poliwag, "Uhm...I don't have anything I can give you, but-"

"Poli! Poli!" he interjected, running to Charmander and leaping about before facing me.

"I see. Poliwag, I'm sorry, but we're not planning on continuing to train anymore. I-"


"You're not going to give up, are you?"