The Best Day

You’re bouncing on your heels excited. After spending all this time in Viridian City, you’re so excited to finally be moving on. The forest and Pewter City beyond. You’ll finally be moving towards your first badge!

Hector’s Magby fires a burst of flames at the wild Pidgey. “We’re unstoppable,” he laughs.

“Shouldn’t we get going?” you ask, as the boys start searching for more wild pokemon.

They look to each other then to you, “Get going? We just started for the day.”

Your earlier excitement flickers out. They hadn’t planned on leaving today. That was all in your head. You’re on the verge of tears. “There’s one!” Lars calls out, pointing to a Rattata behind a tree.

You stare at the entrance to the forest. So close but so far away. The true start to your journey just beyond the line of trees. You watch as Hector and Lars battle the wild pokemon.

What would Amber do? She wouldn’t need Hector and Lars. You can’t do this, you can’t stay in the city for another night. Or how many nights they want to stay. You’re about to tell them that you’re going into the forest. But stop yourself, would they change their mind and come with you? Or would they challenge you, trying to stop you? Amber wouldn’t need them and neither do you.

With the boys distracted by wild pokemon, you grab your bag and take off to the forest. Your eyes take a second to adjust to the lower light levels. But once you can see, you’re amazed at the sight. Bugs flying around the trees, sunlight filtering through the canopy of the trees. This is really happening, you’re a trainer on your own journey.

You battle a couple wild pokemon as you make your way through the forest until you hear some one shout out to you, “Let’s battle!” He is a scrawny boy, with a net over his shoulder. Your heart skips a beat, Hector and Lars aren’t here to protect you. This is real, if you lose here, you’ll be used by this scrawny bug catcher.

“Bring it on,” you say, pushing the fear of loss away, focusing on the thrill of a real battle. Elekid rubs his hands together, the buzz of electricity crackles through the air.

The bug catcher releases a Metapod. It propels itself forward tackling. Elekid is able to easily dodge out of the way. He fires a blast of electricity from his head plug. The green bug falls on its side, and the opponent recalls his pokemon.

“You got lucky!” A second Metapod appears on the battlefield.

By the time you take down the bug catcher’s sixth Metapod, you’re feeling confident in your skills. “No fair, how’d you win?” the boy pouts but pays his forfeit. Your first victory over another trainer! Your bank account no longer empty.

You continue your trek through the woods. Giddy at the new experiences. You squeal as something green drops in your face. You fall over backwards, and look up where a Spinarak hangs from a silk strand. A smiley face drawn across his body.

“Hey little buddy,” you say brushing dirt off your butt. “Sorry if I scared you.”

“Spin,” he chirps.

You chuckle as he chirps again. “You want to battle?” He lowers to the ground and positions himself in a defensive stance. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Elekid dodges a poison sting from Spinarak’s horn. The spider is quick, but Elekid keeps up the dodging while managing to land a couple thundershocks. Spinarak starts to limp as it continues to strike at your partner. You fumble through your bag. A pokeball! You throw it at the injured pokemon.

It shakes back and forth. One, two, three, ka-chink. You’ve done it! You’ve caught your first pokemon. You jump up and down cheering. This is the best day of your life! You’ve won your first trainer battle, you’ve caught your first pokemon, and you haven’t had a cock in your mouth for hours.

You release your newest pokemon. Using one of your healing items from your bag to heal him up. You’re excited for what comes next, now with Elekid and Spinarak at your side, you feel unstoppable.

BRRR-RRRR-URRR-BRRR-RRR-URR! A loud mechanical noise sounds off from the distance. A pack of Tailow squawk as they fly in the opposite direction. You watch the blue birds fly under the thick canopy. Your curiosity compels you to investigate the noise.

You stop before entering the clearing. There is a camp set up, maybe a dozen tents. Not personal tents like the one in your bag, but large canvas tents fit for a Snorlax, maybe even two. The canvas is black, with red highlights along the edges. People are scurrying about, men and women entering tents, moving wheelbarrows of dirt and rock, and sitting around tables relaxing.

You can hear the noise fire up again. It draws your attention to a cave in the cliffside, all of the tents seems to be formed around the opening. The cave is odd, perfectly round. Unnatural, manmade. Why are these people digging into the mountain?

You decide against investigating any further. The people in the mining camp don’t look particularly friendly. You turn to leave, and run face first into something. It knocks you on your ass, and you look up at a pair of black clad people.

They aren’t wearing the same uniform as the people in the camp, but the coordinated colors denote they’re relation. The man is wearing a black button up shirt, the top half of the buttons undone to reveal his hairy chest beneath. The shirt only half tucked into his pinstripe black pants. And a bowler hat that matches the lady’s.

Alongside her own bowler, she wears a similar outfit. Her half open shirt revealing ample cleavage rather than a hairy chest, and the hints of a bright red bra beneath. Her shirt is neatly tucked into her pinstripe pants. Her fingers are bejeweled in a handful of rings featuring red gemstones.

“It’s dangerous for a pretty little thing like you to be alone out here,” the man drawls. Your heart rate spikes, and you wish Hector and Lars were here.

“Oh Harry, please say we can keep her. She’s just absolutely delectable,” the woman lilts.

“Etta, my dear. For you anything, but you know Cass gets the say-so,” Harry replies, scratching at the scruff on his jaw.

“Oh dear, I hope he doesn’t take a shine to her,” Etta gazes over your body. The way she stares you doubt for a second if you’re dressed, heat rising to your cheeks. Your heart is pounding against your ribcage, your mind screaming at you to run, but you’re frozen in place staring at the couple.

Harry cups Etta’s pointed chin, his thumb just below her bottom lip. “We can have some fun before bringing her in,” he drawls. And the way the pair turn to you confirms that you should have ran.