Cubone kept his paws clutched to my shirt, whimpering profusely as I put one foot on the route.
There were tons of trainers.
Was I even ready to face them?
Bohdi placed a hand on my shoulder. "You've got this." He told me.
Cubone shivered as I held on to him.
"I won't let them hurt you or touch you, I promise." I whispered to him as I stepped around a trainer, trying not to engage in a battle. I doubt I would win anyways.
I wasn't the most skilled when it came to Pokémon battles anyways. I was more of a caretaker than a trainer, even though I was a trainer in most of those games.
And now it's real.
Cubone settled in a bit in my arms, barely content with what's happening.
I pat the bone on his head.
The trainer seemingly noticed me trying to be sneaky, but didn't seem to care about battling.
Odd.
Or maybe the trainer just didn't want to battle like in the games.
I snuck past more of the trainers.
None of them tried to even engage me in a battle.
"Don't the people around these routes usually want to battle?" I wondered aloud as the sun trailed towards the west.
"I think. Have they seemed off to you too?" Bohdi wondered as he passed a trainer, giving them a glance.
"Have you—"
"Battled them? Some of them. I've lost many times to a couple of them, but none of them seem to want a rematch with me or a match with you."
"That's not—"
"Normal? No. Sorry I keep interrupting you, but there's something weird going on today that hasn't happened the last time, or even the last few times I came by here."
Odd. They seem to be acting aloof, not how the game would have them at all. Then again, this might be an open, free world where they can talk and battle as they please. But then again what Bohdi told me makes it seem like it shouldn't be this way, I thought as we continued to walk.
"Ah." I commented.
It became quiet after that, but our footsteps continued anyways.
We walked until we hit a patch of grass.
I spied a Jigglypuff in it, moving his stubby paws around like he was conducting a marching band or along those lines.
The Jigglypuff stopped for a moment and waved at us.
Some of the other Pokémon ran away, while others waved at us as well.
"What is going on?" I wondered.
"I don't know. First the trainers are acting off and now the Pokémon?"
Have the Pokémon and Trainer's brains switched around like some sort of brain swamping movie? It's definitely weird.
The sun lowered even more as Bohdi and I settled by the tall grass.
The Jigglypuff was nice.
Unlike the ones in the anime, this one wouldn't sing at the sign of a human. He was just there, enjoying the feeling of the tall grass on his bouncy body.
I bent down next to the Jigglypuff.
"Hey, can I ask you a question, Jigglypuff?" I wondered, speaking to the male softly.
The Jigglypuff nodded.
"If you can understand me, then sure! I'll be glad to answer your question, human!" He cheerfully exclaimed with an excited bounce.
Bohdi gazed at me with a strange glance before smiling, and an excited expression overtook his darker features.
"You can talk to them too? Wow. You sure are cool!"
"Ha. Yeah. I don't really think much of it, though. It's just like talking with people, but with Pokemon." I poorly described.
It was a little weird to describe this stuff to someone. Especially since this person thought I was a chosen one. I probably am, but I don't need to be some glorified super hero.
I'd probably fall at the first boss fight, I thought as I shrugged.
Bohdi blinked at me unemotionally before smiling.
"Of course! It must be natural for you." He remarked.
Jigglypuff pulled on my shirt, and I looked down.
"Oh, my apologies. I forgot to ask my question." I remarked stupidly, facepalming.
The Jigglypuff only gigged and I went down on my knees to try to be level with him.
Cubone sniffled, and wiped his eyes as he watched my interaction with the Jigglypuff.
"I was wondering if this route has seemed odd to you lately. I mean, you're a Pokémon, so you might not know what's normal and what isn't—" I rambled before the Jigglypuff held out a paw near my mouth.
I figured he wanted me to stop.
My ramble was an embarrassing one.
"Of course I've noticed. All of us Pokemon noticed. Recently, it has been really weird. I've seen Team Rocket come around these parts for a brief amount of time before leaving. They had the logo and everything. I thought nothing of it, but now that I think about it...didn't they disband over 20 years ago? I wasn't born then, but my parents told me stories."
Huh. So this team Rocket that I faced in Lavender Tower...? They're...not even the one from so long ago? They're not even the one from eighteen years ago? How odd.
"What did the Jigglypuff say?" Bohdi asked, pulling me up eagerly to my feet.
"He told me that Team Rocket came by this route briefly, which he didn't think was odd until he explained it to us." I explained.
"Team Rocket? How many times do they have to disband before they disband for good?" Bohdi wondered.
I don't know. I know there's Rainbow Rocket, but this isn't Rainbow Rocket. Is it possible that...no! Archer and those other admins wouldn't dare try a second time. But I suppose I could try to ask them. If I can find them.
"I don't know." I slowly responded.
My gaze turned towards the sky.
Something was flying up there. A Pokémon, to be more specific.
The Pokémon was circling over us.
Bohdi noticed my change in attention.
"What are you...? Oh! A Murkrow!"
I watched in curiosity as the Murkrow dove down and landed right in front of me.
Is this...another dream, or is this real?
The Murkrow set it's red-amber gaze right on me and opened it's—I mean his—beak.
"The password is: Hail Giovanni." The Murkrow told me.
I was confused.
"Huh?"
"The password is: Hail Giovanni." Murkrow repeated, squawking a bit, flapping his jet black wings.
I've heard this before. Heartgold and Soulsilver. The password...Hail Giovanni. It's the password for the Team Rocket base. Or at least the one I know of within Johto. Mohogany Town is where this secret base is located.
I have to figure out how to fly there.
I mean the Murkrow is right in front of me, but I'm not sure if such a little guy can carry two humans, and a couple of Pokémon.
That would be quite the task.
The Murkrow took off, and I tried to follow it.
"Wait! I am confused. Where are we going now?" Bohdi wondered.
"To the Johto region. Somehow. I don't suppose your Qwilfish knows how to use Surf, does she?"
I turned around to gaze into his brown eyes.
He shook his head.
I sighed.
This trip just got harder. I just had to find out if there was something important in some stupid headquarters in a region blocked by water and sky, didn't I?
I suppose it's not supposed to be easy with the mystery of Red and now this Team Rocket return, but it would be nice to have something easy. If only...
"Neither do I. Let's go somewhere private. I need to talk to...our hidden pals."
Like that wasn't obvious I had a special Pokémon or two.
Bohdi nodded.
It was weird. He just let me do whatever I wanted and followed me around like...a Pokémon caught within a pokeball.
Am I sure he's out of this...weird Team Rocket spell? Well, actually, he acts normal enough to not be controlled, but yeah I better keep my eye on this dude.
It was weird either way.
We took off in the opposite direction of where Murkrow was heading, but I think I know my Kanto and Johto map just enough to know that this cave we're approaching, Mt. Moon.
As I approached, I wondered if someone knew about me and that's why Murkrow was sending me on this...wild Zangoose chase around the Kanto and Johto region.
Does that mean it's possible that someone from Team Rocket knows something that might help lead me to Red? But...this also means I'll have to get a water type...and possibly somehow find the move Surf.
I then groaned.
And that meant I might have to fight the Gym Leaders just for the access of the HMs.
And honestly, who really needs those HMs just to do that anyways?
Can't I just have a Pokémon swim on water normally? Well, I suppose it's Pokémon logic. I thought as I sent out my council of Mew and Mewtwo. Well, I actually whispered out to Mewtwo.
"Hello there, human!"
What do you want now?!
Author's Note: Wow! Over 3k? And almost halfway to 4K? This story just keeps on going further and further than what I expect it to.
Anyways, yeah...I'm serious about the further thing. I think I caught onto an actual plot...after years of this existing. Lol.
Anyways, I would just like to let you know that pretty soon I'll be finishing up this story, as well as give it a new cover....as soon as I find some cover that fits this story. I might have to upgrade my cover to something even better than what I've got in the previous chapters that I've shown because I'm way better at making covers now than I was a while ago.
Also I want to put Pokémon I think are most relevant to the story.
I'm trying to decide between having Mew or Mewtwo as a background. I know Mew will be staying in both. I could always put Murkrow in....but idk how much longer Murkrow is important....
But I think Cubone might be important to the plot line.
I can't say much, but the plot might be way better than I expected it to be.
One more thing: I would put this story on hold until I finish it, but I'd probably end up getting to this far more sooner than the year/ year and half I was gone since I've been writing a bunch. Thankfully.
Anyways its way past bedtime. I hope I didn't keep people waiting...I mean I did, but I hope it wasn't the worst. Lol. Anyways thanks for reading! Means so much, especially since I'm not very frequent with chapter updates....