Nuzlocke Blue Episode 4- A Rocky Road

Dear Diary,

The sun was high in the sky the day we finally left Viridian Forest.  Before us lay a lesser-traveled road in disrepair with weeds and grass growing through cracks in the pavement.  But it was a straight shot to Pewter City, visible on the horizon, a grey mass of stone and marble buildings juxtaposed against the rolling green hills and surrounding fields.

I let all of the Pokémon out of their Pokéballs so that they might have some fresh air at last.  I gave a cursory look at Nidoran's side before we set off- she had recovered perfectly from her fight with Red's Charmander.  We left the oppression of the age-worn trees behind and made our way toward the city, determined to reach it before dusk.  


Pidgey and Butterfree swirled and dove high in the sky above us as we briskly marched ever closer to our stony destination.  After several hours' travel, we stopped for a brief rest and dinner.  Before leaving home, I had perfected a recipe for a nutritious type of Pokémon food- a kind of cracker that restored energy and nutrients.  This was the sort of thing that interested me most when I was home, and I took infinite pleasure in crafting these delicious treats for my friends.


Home.


I lowered myself onto a rock and sighed, looking behind me toward the south.  Where shall I call my home now?  Even years of preparation had not provided the answer.  The road is no home for a boy of ten.


Lost in my meditations, I fell into silence while my Pokémon crunched on their crackers and chattered amongst themselves.  I came back into focus after several minutes, only then realizing that something had been nudging my leg for some time.


"Saur?" Bulbasaur peered up at me.  I scratched his head and slipped off the rock to sit beside him on the ground.  My constant companion.  Pals from Pallet.  The Boy Bard and his Faithful Friend.  The list is long, dear diary.


I let my meditations drift away and began to put my things back together.  Packing the crackers back into their bag, I began to put them away but stopped when I heard a sniffling sound from behind.  I turned and saw a Rattata standing on its hind legs, sniffing the air and making its way toward me, waggling its tail.  It cocked its head and chittered to itself.  Unhesitatingly, I offered it a cracker.  It bounded forward, mouth wide to receive the delicious treat.


WHAP!


A green vine shot past my outstretched hand, missing the cracker by inches and struck Rattata across the face.  Rattata pinwheeled backwards, head over tail to land sprawling in the grass.


"Rattata!"


A boy, younger than me by the looks of him, ran out of the tall grass toward us.  "Rattata!  Are you ok?  Hey, you!  Don't let your mean Pokémon hit him again!  Rattata, are you hurt?"


Rattata stood up slowly and shook its head, whiskers twitching and snout sniffing the air again.


"He looks like he'll be alright.  My name's Joey.  I'm from Pewter.  I came out here today to train Rattata.  It was going great until he suddenly ran away from me!  I saw you from way back there and thought it might be fun to have a battle, but I think I'll pass after seeing the way your Bulbasaur took him out.  That must be some pretty good food you've got there for Rattata to ignore me.  What is it?"


"I'm Blue, from Pallet.  I stopped here on my way to Pewter for dinner with my Pokémon.  I make my own Pokémon food.  This is a cracker made from my own recipe.  Would you like one?"  I offered it to Rattata again.  He edged forward slowly before snatching it out of my hand and retreating behind Joey.


"I thought it was a wild Rattata.  Bulbasaur must have known that it belonged to a trainer.  That's why he stopped Rattata from taking the cracker.  Isn't that right, Bulbasaur?"


He looked up at and nodded slowly.  "Bulba!"


"That's ok!" Joey said.  "Hey, Blue!  Your Pokémon seem pretty strong.  Have you thought about taking the Gym Badge challenge?  Didja know there's a gym in Pewter?  You should check it out!  Brock's tough, but I think you'd have a chance!  What do you say I take you to my house tonight so you and your Pokémon can rest up before the big day.  I'm sure my parents would appreciate the company!"


Home.  The prospects of a home excited me and I took him up on his offer.  It had been a full week since I had left my own home, I discovered upon reaching Pewter.  A week of nomadic living.  Tradition of Pallet.  These thoughts swirl in my mind, diary.  Joey lies on his bed, asleep.  Bulbasaur lies curled up on the covers of my bed, mouth gaping in reverie.  I sit here, ponderous and anxious.  Tomorrow is a big day, after all.  I shall go to bed too, I believe.  It's been a long week.


-Blue.  Day 7.  Joey's house.