Single post in Life of a trainer

Chapter 18 – Inside the dark forest Andy had followed the advice George had given him and walked south, into Ilex Forest and on his way to Azalea Town. The trees in the forest were growing close to one another, allowing only little sunshine on the ground under the trees. Never before had Andy seen a dark forest like this, but that was alright, as long as he didn’t run into a gingerbread house he figured he would be alright. It felt good to be on the road again after spending that time in the day-care, even though he had to admit that it had been a fantastic experience and the couple running it had been really friendly. The forest was full of sounds, the moving of branches and leaves in the wind and the cries of wild Pokémon filled the forest. Other then that he didn’t see a living soul anywhere. Andy knew that when he got bored of walking alone he could always call his Pokémon to walk with him, but for now he enjoyed the tranquil stroll in the forest. He raised his backpack a bit higher on the shoulders and stopped when he noticed a Paras who ran from one side of the road to the other. He didn’t attempt to catch it, there was little special about the Pokémon and he didn’t feel for some kind of wild chase between the trees. He wanted to continue his walk when he heard a voice behind him. “My, my, travelling all by yourself?” Andy turned around to see a woman with long red hair and a man with short purple hear standing on the road. The woman was wearing a short white skirt, long black boots, long black gloves and a short white shirt with a big red R on it. The man was wearing white trousers and a white long-sleeved shirt, also with a big red R on it. Just as the woman he was wearing black boots and gloves. A Meowth was standing next to him on his hind legs. “Indeed I am,” Andy said, offering them a confident grin. “I can see you aren’t.” The woman chuckled. “No, indeed we aren’t. Tell me, boy, are you a Pokémon trainer?” “The most talented one you’ll ever see.” The man took over now. “So I take it you have some strong Pokémon,” he said. “Of course! Each of my Pokémon is awesome. Is this an invitation to a battle?” Both the man and woman grinned and the woman looked at him as if she was looking at a price. “You have no idea who you’re up against, do you?” The red-haired woman asked, with an almost genuine sweet voice. Almost. “Should I?” Andy asked in turn. “Allow us to introduce ourselves then.” She flung her read her over her shoulder and pointed at him, as did the man next to her. A sigh from Andy was followed by a shrug. “And I’m Andy, is this going to take much longer?” “SHUT UP!” both Jessie and James shouted, glaring viciously at him, as if he had comitted a horrible crime. “We’re not finished,” Jessie added, still looking angry at him. “Now, where were we? Oh yeah.” “So,” Andy said, looking from one to the other, completely missing the fact that the Meowth had said ‘that’s right’. “Do you always torture people like this? Forcing them to listen to that long-winded introduction? You could have just said your names and shake hands.” He showed a cocky grin. “But since we're introducing, I want to congratulate you with the best day of your life, seeing you have the fantastic honour of meeting the most awesome trainer around. Me.” Jessie and James stared at him in surprise that he didn’t seem to be intimidated by them at all and that he seemed even more full of himself then they were. “Hey you!” Jessie shouted to him, glaring angrily at him. “You are dealing with Team Rocket here, you little brat. So hand over your Pokémon.” “And make it fast, pretty boy,” Meowth added. Andy blinked and looked at the Meowth. “Did you just talk?” “Yeah, so what?” “That’s amazing.” Andy grabbed him from the ground and held him in front of his face. “Say something again.” The Meowth started wriggling, flailing his arms and legs. “I don’t have to say a thing, you brat, just hand over your Pokémon.” “Can you say ‘Andy is awesome’?” he asked, completely ignoring Meowths previous remark. Meowth stared at him, but James grabbed the Meowth in his neck and pulled him from Andy’s hands. “If he’s going to say anything he might as well say James is awesome.” “No, no, Jessie is awesome!” Jessie said to James. “Ahh! I’m not going to say anything like that!” Meowth shouted, again flailing his arms and legs. “Just get his Pokémon already!” “Right!” Jessie and James turned their attention back to Andy. “Hand over your Pokémon.” Andy crossed his arms in front of his chest, examining the individuals in front of him “Sooo, you’re a kind of Pokémon thieves?” he asked them. “That’s right,” James said. “We are members of Team Rocket.” Andy looked at them and shrugged. He had never heard about any Team Rocket back on Rhando island, but they said it in a matter that clearly showed the expected him to know about them. “So, Team Rocket…I guess I stand no chance then?” “Very true,” Jessie said and she extended her hand. “So just hand over your Pokémon and save yourself the embarrassment of we taking them from you.” “Alright then,” Andy sighed, taking one Pokéball from his pocket and enlarging it. “Here is the first.” He pushed on the button and a light came out of it. When the light faded away it revealed his Primeape. “This awesome Primeape here is Bear. Just one hint, don’t look him straight in the eyes. Primeape don’t like that.” Every time someone says don’t do this or that, there are always people who will do just that. Think about a button that says ‘do not push’. How many will still push it out of curiosity? If you say to someone ‘you may not, absolutely not, think about a pink Phanpy’, what is the first image to appear in your head? Exactly that happened. Jessie and James stared at the Primeape in front of them and looked him straight in the eyes. A heavier and nasal breathing sounded from Bear as his anger rose. Some bloodvessels on his forehead thickened and widened, showing the increase of blood pressure due to his anger. “Primeee,” he growled ominously and both Jessie and James backed away a bit. Normally Andy would say something in the lines of ‘don’t worry about it, Bear. They just stare at you because you’re awesome, you’ll better get used to it’ and usually saying that helps to calm his Primeape down. But Andy wasn’t going to say that now. “They want to steal you guys away from me,” he told his Primeape calmly. “You and Benny and Kim.” “Primeape!” Bear shouted, glaring viciously at Team Rocket, taking a step in their direction, breathing heavy through his nose. Both Jessie and James did one step back. “Oh, no, no, we wouldn’t dream of it, would we, James?” “Oh no, of course not Jessie.” “But he looks strong.” They looked at each other, took their Pokéballs and threw them in the air. The Pokéballs opened and released the Pokémon inside. One moment later an Arbok and a Weezing were standing in front of Jessie and James. “Leer,” Andy said and Bear aimed his vicious glare at both poison Pokémon, who backed away a bit under the glare. “Poison sting, Arbok!” Jessie ordered and Arbok opened it’s mouth to release it’s white needles at the Primeape. “We’ll first defeat him and then take the other Pokémon as well.” The needles hit Bear, who’s eyes started to shine red. Whether it was the attack or the words Jessie spoke, but Bear went into rage. “Oh boy,” Andy said when he noticed that. “This is going to take some time to cool him down again.” While he had expected his Primeape to get angry and teach these members of Team Rocket a lesson, he had wanted to avoid an actual rage. With a thoughtful expression he put his hand in his pocket to search for the right Pokéball as he watched Bear using his fury swipes on both the opposing Pokémon. “Use tackle!” James ordered his Weezing “Arbok, use bite!” Both Pokémon executed their moves, but it only increased Bears rage, who low kicked both of them, followed by a new set of fury swipes. With a calm expression on his face, Andy called his Butterfree to the field and told Benny he would need him later on. Benny nodded and remained flying next to Andy. “Use wrap!” Jessie said and Arbok jumped forward, but Bear took it by it’s tale and started swinging it around as he used his seismic toss and released the Arbok in the direction of Jessie, James and Weezing. The body of the large snake hit them and they all fell on the ground. But the raging Primeape didn’t stop there, he jumped up and used more fury swipes. He paused only to let out a loud and ominous growl, but the pause was long enough for Jessie and James to get up and flee, with their Pokémon right behind them. Bear started to chase them and Andy started running as well. “I feared that would happen. Benny! Use your sleeping powder on Bear.” Benny nodded and flew ahead of Andy, catching up with Bear. “Oh, that reminds me,” Andy said to himself while running. “I could have called Benny and just use his sleeping powder to let Team Rocket fall asleep and sneak away. That would have been a better idea then using Bear.” He shrugged as he continued running, it was something to remember for the next time. Andy could see Benny had caught up with Bear and he unleashed his sleeping power. Bear slowed down until he fell down on the ground, fast asleep. Andy stopped next to Bear and looked around, but there was no sight of Team Rocket. He took Bears Pokéball and returned him to it. “Well, that was interesting. But enough time wasted, let’s go-“ Before Andy could finish his sentence something long and purple wrapped around him. “Ah crap,” Andy muttered, looking at the face of the Arbok above him, who was hissing at him. “Benny use…no, never mind, bad idea.” Sleeping powder would make him fall asleep as well. From the bushes Jessie and James re-entered the scene. “Well now,” Jessie said with a sickingly sweet voice. “You didn’t think you would get rid of us that easily, did you?” “Well, of course I hoped for that,” Andy admitted, “but I’m not going to give up just yet if you don’t mind. I’m way to awesome to lose from you. Benny! Tackle this Arbok here.” Benny tackled Arbok against his head, who released his muscle tension enough for Andy to free himself from the wrap and quickly take some distance again. “Weezing, use smog!” James ordered and Weezing released a thick, black smog from his body. Andy started coughing as the smog entered his lungs. “Benny, clear the air with gust.” Benny flapped his wings and the gusts created with that cleared the air from the smog, but the Arbok came and wrapped himself around the Butterfree and squeezed. Benny let out cries of pain. “Use confusion!” Andy quickly instructed. The eyes of Benny started glowing light blue and a similar light was seen around Arbok, who tried to fight of the invisible force. With the confusion Benny managed to free himself from the wrap and he flew up and went to Andy. “I’m getting tired of this. Whirlwind. And make it a strong one, will you?” Benny nodded and flapped his wings as hard as he could. The gust created from it made the trees and bushes around shake violently and lose their leaves. Team Rocket and their Pokémon tried to stand their ground, but soon after were picked up by the wind and blown into the sky, along with all the ripped of leaves. He could here them shout ‘Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!’ as they flew through the air. “Whatever,” Andy sighed, turning around. “Come Benny, let’s head to Azalea Town.” The Butterfree nodded and followed Andy, who continued the walk through the forests with his hands in his pockets, whistling a tune as if nothing had happened.