It's Crystal clear!
~*~*~*~*~*~
The day is nearing. They are all beginning to return to me. I am regaining power much quicker then I previously predicted. But, I suppose we masterminds are wrong sometimes too...
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ugh..." groaned Taylor, COMPLETELY LOST. "Where the heck am I?"
It was already 6:00 pm, and he still hadn't quite reached Cherrygrove City. He was tired, hungry, and tired- and yet he still didn't know where he was. He yawned, stretched, and yearned to be back at home playing "Beedrill Hatcher", his favorite video game. However, in his fantasies of his Nintendo Gamecube, he had forgotten to look where he was going.
"WAAAAGH!!!!!" Taylor shouted, tripping off of a ledge, and scrambling to his feet- and it's a good thing he did, too, for there, just a few minutes' walk down the path, was Cherrygrove city.
"YAAAAAY!!!" shouted Taylor (he's happy!!).
Well, for the most part, his walk was pretty uneventful, so he reached Cherrygrove city in no time.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Then, deciding to let Cyndaquil get some fresh air, he gave the Pokéball a toss, and with that, Cyndaquil appeared on the bed.
"CYND!!!" chirped Cyndaquil excitedly, doing a somersault on the bed.
Well, at least she doesn't have flames on her back, thought Taylor, putting his hand out to stroke her head.
Cyndaquil flinched, but after a second, she let out a sigh of relief, and began to relax.
"That's a good girl," whispered Taylor, stroking the relaxed Pokèmon.
He was beginning to like his Cyndaquil- but it was really too bad he would have to return Cyndaquil to the lab, journey or no journey.
Deciding that this really wasn't the time to worry about things, he returned Cyndaquil and got into bed. He needed as much sleep as he could get. Tomorrow, he had a package to deliver.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The thing that woke Taylor the next morning was the loud rumble of construction outside. He checked his watch. 7:43. It was a good thing he had woken up on time. He got changed into a different pair of clothing and left the room, is backpack in hand. When he exited the center and was out on the street, he realized how hungry he really was.
Looking both ways beforehand, he crossed the street and entered a local Hoppip's Magic Pancake Land restaurant for breakfast. He ordered hotcakes for himself and a hash brown for Cyndaquil, who approved and ate it hungrily. By the time they stepped outside again, it was somewhere around 8:30, but the sun was already mercilessly hot, and the streets were full of cars and trucks, with people and Pokèmon trainers going about their daily business, whatever that was.
Taylor decided that it would be best to get out of the city and back on his way as soon as possible. He took a bus across town and by early afternoon, he was walking through north towards Mr. Pokèmon's house once again.
At around 2:00 o' clock the sun was high and even hotter then before, Taylor kicked off his shoes and socks to put his feet in the icy cold lake. It was refreshing, and he decided to let Cyndaquil join his. Cyndaquil appeared to be happy about getting some fresh air, but she wasn't too thrilled about jumping into the water. This was obviously due to the fact that she was a fire Pokèmon.
Minutes later, Taylor was back on the road and well on his way, when to his surprise, he saw a large nest containing four bird-like Pokèmon in nearby tree. There were two different kinds of them- two of them were very small, had short stubby wings, and brown feathers. The other two were like bigger versions of the smaller ones- with bigger wings that looked like they made flying much easier. They also looked like they could carry maybe one or two light human passengers. Taylor instantly recognized the smaller birds as Pidgy, and the bigger birds as Pidgeot.
Great, thought Taylor, I'm gonna catch one of those Pidgeot and fly from gym to gym! That way, I'll be safe and secure, and I'll still be able to go on a journey!!!
Taylor had brought along a few Pokéballs on the off chance that he would see a Pokèmon that he liked and wanted to keep. He grabbed one out of his bag, and got ready to throw. He took aim, and then...
"Pokéball, GO!!!" shouted Taylor, aiming at the big male.
It easily slapped the ball away as though it was nothing, and then it, as well as all of its family flew away.
"AGH!!! YOU BIG DUMB JERK!!!" screamed a voice from beside him.
Taylor practically leapt ten feet in the air. He had failed to notice that, hiding in a bush to his right, was a girl.
She leapt to her feet. Taylor got a good look at her. She was tall, and looked like she couldn't have been much older then him. She had light blue hair tied back in a Ponytail. She wore jean shorts, sandals, a red tank top with a Pokéball on it, and she was carrying a backpack. She also had a Pokéball in her right hand. She looked oddly familiar...
"What do you think you're DOING???" she shouted.
"Trying to capture one of those Pidgeot!!" exclaimed Taylor. He didn't see what was so wrong about that.
"Without weakening it?" she shouted.
"Uhh..." said Taylor. He didn't know he had to weaken a Pokèmon before capturing it.
The girl scowled. "Don't tell me you didn't know that..." she said.
"What can I say? I'm new at this!"
"Well," she said, "so am I. But I still know that you need to weaken a Pokèmon before capture. And anyway, if you're new, what were you doing going after a fully evolved Pokèmon?!"
"I- err..." mumbled Taylor, lost for words.
"Whatever," she scowled. "Anyway, you're a Pokèmon trainer, right?"
"Well, sorta- I guess-"
"Great! Then I challenge you to a battle!! Oh, by the way, the name's Crystal Sage! What's yours?"
It was only then that Taylor remembered who this girl was. She had been in his second grade class, and he had had a crush on her, but she never noticed him. He dedided to keep that to himself, though, and just state his name. "Taylor. Taylor Bronze. Anyway, Crystal Sage, I accept your challenge! How about a one-on-one? That's all I've got."
"That's all I have too! Okay Taylor, prepare to get squashed!"
The two of them stood on opposite sides of the clearing, ready to battle.
"I'll save you the trouble of sending out first. I choose you, Chickorita!!" Crystal shouted, tossing a Pokéball underhand.
Out onto the field appeared a small yellow Pokèmon with big red eyes, and a large leaf on its head. It stood on all fours, in a battle-ready position.
"Ha!!" laughed Taylor. "a grass type! That gives me an advantage! Cyndaquil, go!!"
Taylor tossed the Pokéball, and Cyndaquil appeared in a flash of red light.
"Cynda?" chirped Cyndaqui, cocking its head to one side.
"Ugh..." moaned Taylor. "This is a battle! You do know attacks, don't you?"
Cyndaquil nodded, the flame appearing on her back once again.
"COOL!!" exclaimed Taylor, grabbing the list of attacks Professor Elm had given him out of his shorts pocket.
"Err..." Taylor mumbled, scanning the paper quickly. It read four attacks: 'Tackle Growl Leer Ember'. "Okay, start it off with a Tackle attack!"
Cyndaquil nodded and began to charge at Chickorita.
"Get ready..." said Crystal, as Chickorita began to slowly inch sideways. Cyndaquil was just about to ram into Chickorita, when Crystal shouted a command.
"Chickorita! Maneuver 2!" shouted Crystal. Instantly, Chickorita leapt in the air, and Cyndaquil rammed into the rock right behind it. Chickorita then landed on top of Cyndaquil's head, and Cyndaquil let out of moan of pain.
"Ah!" gasped Taylor. This Chickorita had skill, but he had the type advantage. He quickly thought up a plan, and decided to put it into action.
"Cyndaquil, flip it off!" shouted Taylor.
Cyndaquil flipped its head back, sending Chickorita flying.
We've got it now, thought Taylor.
But he was wrong. Chickorita had gracefully landed on her feet, and was still ready for more.
Thinking quickly, Taylor shouted his next command. "Ember at that Chickorita's leaf!"
"Chickorita, duck!" shouted Crystal.
Chickorita did, so Cyndaquil's ember was completely off.
"That was pretty smart, to aim at Chickorita's leaf- that's how it keep's its balance. But- it's my turn! Chickorita, Vine whip!"
"Chicka!!" shouted Chickorita as vines shot out of its neck and grabbed Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil was brought off of the ground, and Chickorita was pulling it up and smashing it back down again.
"Cyndaquil! Hit it in the face with an ember!"
"Cynda!" shouted Cyndaquil in reply.
Cyndaquil took a big breath in and prepared its attack.
"Chickorita, Maneuver 5!" shouted Crystal.
Just as the flames were about to reach Chickorita, Chickorita smashed it back onto the ground and leapt into the air, releasing the vines. The flames from Cyndaquil's attack narrowly missed Taylor's leg.
"Eep," whimpered Taylor, stepping back.
"Chickorita, finish it," shouted Crystal. "TACKLE!!"
"Cyndaquil! Get up and dodge it!" commanded Taylor.
But it was too late. Cyndaquil couldn't get up in time. Chichorita charged, and Cyndaquil was sent flying into the air.
"Cyndaquil!" gasped Taylor, running out onto the field to catch his Pokèmon.
"Chickorita is the winner!" cheered Crystal, hopping up and down hugging her laughing Pokèmon.
Cyndaquil moaned weakly, resting in Taylor's arms. "Quiiii..."
"Cyndaquil, you battled well. Take a rest in your Pokéball," said Taylor, returning Cyndaquil.
"You battled well too, Chickorita! You deserve a rest!" said Crystal returning Chickorita.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"So, Crystal, you're on a journey, hu?" said Taylor as the two of them walked on the path northward. It was around 5:00 in the evening, and they had gotten bored from resting, so they decided to hit the road.
"That's right," she said. "I started from New Bark town yesterday. Professor Elm gave me a package to deliver to Mr. Pokèmon. He said something about an invention he was finishing..."
"Really?" said Taylor. "Well, I wasn't exactly ready to go on a journey quite yet. But he called me to the lab to deliver a package. I think it had somethin' to do with the invention he had finished."
"Is that so?" asked Crystal. "But why did he give you a Pokèmon?"
Taylor shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe it was for safety, or something. I'm not completely sure."
"Well, you two work so well together," said Crystal. "I was surprised you're not on a journey."
"Well, I was gonna be, but something came up. "Hey! I can see the house just ahead!" exclaimed Taylor, eager to change the subject.
"Hey! That's right!" said Crystal.
The two decided to pick up the pace in order to get there quicker.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Minutes later, the two of them arrived in a clearing with two buildings- a small Pokèmon centre, and what could only be the home of Mr. Pokèmon.
They decided to drop their Pokèmon off at the centre, because that was apparently a place for Pokèmon to be healed, as Crystal explained to Taylor. They bought dinner at a restaurant inside the building and ate dinner, and then grabbed the two packages and hurried next door to the house of Mr. Pokèmon.
From the outside, the house looked completely normal- it was light blue in color, with white shutters, and it had one floor. It has rose bushes in the front, along the walkway leading up to the front door. The two of them walked up the walkway, packages in hand, stepped in the welcome mat with the smiling Chansey on it, and rang the doorbell.
No one answered.
They rang once again.
Still, no one.
They decided to ring one third and final time- but before they could, the floor opened, and they began falling.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Down, down, down, they fell, for what seemed like an eternity, but maybe because the tunnel they had fallen into was moving downward in twists and turns.
When they finally landed, they found themselves on an old mattress in an odd room. On the walls were odd looking Pokèmon with oversized facial features. There was a fuzzy, comfortable, rainbow colored carpet on the floor. The walls were painted orange, with many different colored creatures on them, upside down, or sideways, or any other way there was to put them, and the ceiling was painted like the dark, nighttime sky, complete with many different consolations that Taylor recognized from the times he had gone stargazing on camping trips. There were many colorful bookcases filled with Pokèmon magazines, and, oddly enough, there was a giant disco ball overhead, which actually looked like some type of strange, one-eyed creature with magnets on either side of its head.
"Uhn..." moaned Taylor, rubbing his hear wearily. "Where are we?"
Crystal shrugged. "I honestly have no clue. Maybe we're in the basement of Mr. Pokèmon's house, or something."
"Right ye are, lassie!"
Taylor and Crystal practically jumped with surprise. Standing in the doorway was a short, chubby man with snow-white hair and bright green eyes. (He looked kind of like Santa) He was dressed in tan khaki pants that were much too big, and a bright red t-shirt that read, "Old Dude".
"Err..." said Taylor. "Umm... hi?"
"Ehehe! I always do like to do that. It's quite funny seein' the looks on the faces of all ye' young 'uns, when ye realize what's happenin' to ye!"
"Well, I didn't think it was very funny!" scolded Crystal. "We could've been hurt!"
"No, I don't really think so, it's completely safe, I've tried it out meself, you see! Done it many times I have, and I've never been hurt!"
"Yeah Crystal, lighten up!" laughed Taylor. "It was just a joke! It wasn't meant to hurt anybody!"
"Oh, alright," said Crystal. "But anyway, we're here on business! We had packages to deliver, remember Taylor?"
"Oh yeah! Umm, Mr. Pokèmon?"
"Aye, that be me," said the old man
"We've got something for you. It's from the Professor in New Bark town."
"Professor Elm, I'd assume. Fine young lad. A bit anxious though."
Someone else had appeared in the doorway. He was tall, and dressed in a white lab coat, and he has grey hair, and bushy grey eyebrows. He was holding a pipe in his left hand.
"Hey! Its Professor Oak!" shouted Crystal.
"Indeed," replied Professor Oak, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Taylor cocked his head in utter confusion. "Yeah, so... who's Professor Oak?"
"Agh!" everyone in the room accept Taylor did one of those anime style "fall over" things.
Crystal leapt to her feet in a fit of rage. "Who is Professor Oak? WHO IS PROFESSOR OAK??? How on EARTH can one be so NIEVE????"
"Eheh..." laughed Taylor nervously.
"Professor Oak is the top Pokèmon researcher in the world. He's the inventor of the Pokèdex, and he's discovered more about Pokèmon in the last five years then you will EVER DISCOVER IN YOUR LIFE!!" explained Crystal.
"Aye, the lass speaks the truth!" commented Mr. Pokèmon.
The Professor laughed nervously. "Now Seamus, don't encourage her..."
"Well, anyway, we still have packages to deliver. Mr. Pokèmon, these are for you, I think," said Taylor, handing both of the packages.
"Aye, I'll go upstairs and look at them now. How about a spot of tea?"
"Okay," said Crystal and Taylor simultaneously.
So the four of them ascended the old woodn staircase for a spot of tea.
~*~*~*~*~*~
I am beginning to regain control. My next act needs careful planning, but I'm sure I can pull it off, with the right assistance.
End of Chapter Two