![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moon_blitzTitle: Writing History In (One Step At A Time), Chapter 2
Fandoms: Doctor Who/Pokemon (Twitch Plays Pokemon!verse)
Rating: Teen
Characters: Eighth Doctor, Kris, Silver
Word Count: 3,552
Story Summary: Stranded, the Doctor meets a strange girl with a very familiar name. They set out on a journey together, each searching for something they lost.
Chapter Summary: The mysteries increase as their journey begins.
Chapter 2 - Beginnings
“Morning, Doc.”
He lifted his head at her voice, shaking off the drowsiness that still clung to his mind. He hadn’t truely slept, since he didn’t really need it, but he had dozed a few times. “Good morning. And it’s Doctor,” he clarified, rising and dusting off his jacket and trousers. Steeling himself, he turned and faced her.
Aside from her blue hair, her eyes were the first thing he noticed. The look in those dark blue was hauntingly familiar, reminding him strongly of A.J. and Red. They spoke of something unnatural, something hidden. The Doctor made a conscious effort to blink, feeling himself being drawn in by her gaze, and focused on her outfit instead. A yellow hat, a short-cut white jacket with a tight red turtleneck underneath, and tight gold and black short shorts. There was also a device of some sort around her neck which he was sure hadn’t been there last night.
“This is my Pokegear. Mom said it came back from the repair shop late last night,” she explained, seeing his interest. “Although I don’t think I set the clock right...”
“May I?” he asked awkwardly, still not quite sure how to act around her. He had spent some time thinking about her and his Charley last night, trying to determine what similarities, if any, there were between them. Had this girl been the reason the TARDIS had crashed in the manner she did? But that didn’t explain the bizarre power drain...There were too many questions he couldn’t answer, and it bothered him.
“Sure.” The Doctor nodded in thanks as she handed him the Pokegear, digging his sonic screwdriver out with his free hand. It was an oddly-shaped device, with a screen on the upper part attached to a strap and a rectangular keyboard with a spring lid on the bottom. A quick scan and a check of the sun showed that the time was indeed wrong, but it only took him a moment to correct it. While he was at it, he also set his pocket watch to the right time.
“There you go.”
“Great, thanks.” She looped it around her neck again and gestured to his screwdriver. “What is that thing?”
“My sonic screwdriver. It’s handy to have around. It can do all sorts of things.”
“I see. Um, Mom said that Professor Elm wanted me to do something. You wanted to see him, right?” From her tone, he realized that she was just as unsure what to make of him as he was of her.
Flashing her what he hoped was a pleasant smile, the Doctor nodded. “Yes, I have a few things to ask him.” If anyone would know about A.J., it would be the local professor.
“Let’s go, then.” He allowed her to take the lead, looking around once again at New Bark Town as they headed towards the lab. It was nearly as quiet by day as it was by night, but it was still pretty early. Perhaps he could poke around a little bit after they saw Professor Elm.
This time, the doors were unlocked, and he smiled as he entered the building, feeling his hearts beat a little bit faster. This was a completely new experience to him, and despite the circumstances, he was rather excited by the prospect of being able to study Pokemon up close. The interior of the lab was cool, and smelled faintly of old books. A young man standing by a bookshelf piled high with said books gestured for them to go in, which they proceeded to do.
“Ah, Charley, there you are! Who’s your friend?” A thin man with glasses and wearing a rumpled lab coat asked as they moved towards the back of the lab, and the Doctor studied him carefully, but saw no trace of the strange look that A.J. and Red possessed.
“This is the Doctor. He said he wanted to talk to you,” she replied, shuffling off to the side as the professor stepped closer.
“Doctor...?”
“Just the Doctor. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Elm,” the Doctor replied, holding out his hand.
“Oh no, the pleasure’s all mine! What brings you to New Bark Town, Doctor?” Elm asked as they shook hands.
“I was looking for someone, but it seems they don’t live here. I’d like to talk to you later, if you don’t mind.” He was uncomfortably aware of the girl beside him as he talked, knowing that she was the reason why he was here, not the other way around. “You said you had a task...?”
“Ah, yes, yes I do! Charley, I have a favour to ask of you. I have an acquaintance called Mr. Pokemon who keeps finding weird things and then raving about his discoveries. Anyway, his latest e-mail says that this time, his discovery is real. Unfortunately, my aide and I are too busy to investigate. I know today is the day you get your first Pokemon, so you’re prefect for the job. Could you look into it for us? And the Doctor too, if he’s interested.”
The Doctor smiled at the excitement in the professor’s voice, feeling that same spark inside of himself. He was eager to go see what this Mr. Pokemon had found, but the decision wasn’t up to him. He looked over at the girl beside him, seeing that she was frowning slightly. “I’m game for it if you are,” he said by way of encouragement.
“Alright,” she agreed after a few moments, and Professor Elm beamed at them both.
“Wonderful. I’ve prepared your starter Pokemon, Charley – they’re all rare Pokemon that we just discovered, Go on, pick one!”
The Doctor looked around at the lab a bit more as she moved over to examine the Pokeballs sitting on a table nearby, his interest caught by a strange machine in the corner. “What’s that?” he asked, nodding towards it as the professor walked up to him.
“That’s a modified version of the healing machine the PokeCenters have,” he explained, then lowered his voice. “I’m afraid I can’t give you any of these Pokemon, Doctor. Do you have any at all?”
“That’s perfectly understandable, Professor. They are valuable creatures, after all. And no, I don’t.” He wasn’t surprised that the professor wasn’t willing to trust him that much, what with him being a stranger and all.
“I thought as much. Not every parent lets their child explore the world, and it is possible to get by without a Pokemon...”
The Doctor nodded, looking over at how the selection process was going. She was circling the table now, occasionally pausing and studying the Pokeballs intently. Watching her made him wish he knew what Pokemon A.J. had chosen, for he wondered if she would somehow follow in his footsteps.
“Has she always been so...indecisive?” He hated to ask, but she was taking a while to choose a Pokemon.
“Not when she was younger, no,” the professor said with a shake of his head. “But recently it seems like even a simple task takes longer than it should. I don’t know why, but it seems like her self-confidence is extremely low. I’m hoping having a Pokemon will change that.”
“I hope so too.” Watching her reach for a Pokeball made him think back to their conversation the previous night. She had been worried about not doing everything right – was this what she meant?
“You’ll take Cyndaquil, the fire Pokemon?” Elm asked as the middle Pokeball was picked up and held for a moment.
“Yeah, I think so.” Despite having made a decision, her tone was still doubtful, and the Doctor wondered if she was second-guessing herself.
The professor didn’t seem to notice, simply grinning and exclaiming, “I think that’s a great Pokemon too! Now, Mr. Pokemon lives near Cherrygrove, the next city over. And here’s my phone number, in case anything comes up.” As Elm rattled off his number, the Doctor wandered over to examine the healing machine further, thinking about his future. He would probably be better off with a Pokemon of some sort, but that would mean accepting that he was stuck here.
“Doctor, I’m going to go home and pack a few extra things. I’ll meet you on the edge of town, ok?” He turned to look at his new travelling companion, seeing that she wasn’t ready for him to meet her family yet either.
“Of course,” he said, giving her a smile. “I’ll see you later, then.”
Professor Elm approached as she left, and got directly to the point. “Charley mentioned that you had a few questions for me. What can I help you with?”
Recalling the reason why he had come to New Bark in the first place, the Doctor took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know if anyone by the name of A.J. has ever lived in this town?”
“A.J.? Hm...” Elm rubbed his chin as he thought, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anyone by that name ever calling New Bark home. Is it important that you find this A.J.?”
“Oh no, I just wanted to chat. Still, I’m certain the information I was given said that he lived here.” The Doctor frowned, not liking the way the mysteries were piling up around him. “Also, I know this is an odd question, but are there any Pokemon related specifically to time?”
“Ah, now that I can help you with!” The professor beamed at him, quickly explaining, “The Johto region has a legend that a certain Pokemon called Celebi is able to travel through time at will, along with having the ability to make forests flourish. It’s only a legend however, so I don’t know how much good it’ll do you. You might want to look in Azalea Town for more information. And I believe that another region has a mythical Pokemon who is linked to time. I can contact the local professor for you, if you’d like.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you, Professor.”
“I’m always happy to help a fellow researcher. Come with me.” They walked over to Elm’s desk, where the man started to rummage through various drawers. “I know I have it here somewhere...ah, this is it!” Elm produced a small but thick book from beneath a stack of Pokemon-related magazines, and held it out. “You look like you’re new to Johto, so have this guidebook. It served me well when I was younger.”
“How very helpful. Thanks yet again.” The Doctor examined the battered book closely, seeing that it had been well-used. He was sure that he would be consulting it many times, since he knew practically nothing about the region he was about to see. Feeling like it was time to go, he tucked the guidebook away and said goodbye to Professor Elm and his aide.
Breathing in the fresh air as he stepped outside of the lab, he looked around but saw no sign of his companion. Still packing, then. Turning right, he began to walk towards the path at the edge of town, deciding that he would sit and read until she arrived. As he reached the edge of the building, a flash of colour caught his eye and he looked over to see a boy with bright red hair leaning against the side of the building.
The Doctor paused as their eyes met, the boy’s expression quickly deepening into a scowl. “What are you staring at? Mind your own business!” the boy snarled, glaring at him.
“Good day to you too, youg man,” the Doctor replied, giving him a cool nod before walking off. He could feel the boy’s eyes on him for quite some time, and was relieved when the forest bordering the town hid him from sight. Settling down under a tree, he pulled out the guidebook and flipped to the section on New Bark Town and surrounding area.
- - -
“Whatcha reading?”
“An old guidebook Professor Elm gave me,” he replied, showing it to her as he got to his feet.
“That’s cool, I guess. Ready to go?”
“Ready if you are.” He would have liked to stop by the TARDIS, but he had elected to keep exactly what he was hidden for the moment.
As they walked out of town, he noticed that she was looking at him critically. After a minute, she asked, “Are you really going to wear that? It seems awfully formal...and, um, old-fashioned.”
“I’ve always travelled in these clothes,” he said with a touch of indignation. “They’re quite study for the most part. Besides, I could ask the same of you. Are those clothes really fit for walking long distances?”
“Sure they are! I look better than you do, anyway.” He smiled at that, glad to have finally gotten a rise out of her.
“How about we agree to disagree on our outfits?” he suggested, and she nodded in agreement. As they neared the end of the path, the Doctor noticed a signpost that he must have walked right past the night before. “Route 29, hm? An interesting number to begin with.” He could think of several alien culture who regarded the number as lucky, and an equal number who avoided it at all costs.
He hesitated before entering the tall grass that lay before them a few minutes later, now aware of the dangers that lurked within. His companion also halted as well, and he saw that she was clutching Cyndaquil’s Pokeball tightly.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Wild Pokemon don’t tend to attack humans until provoked. And I’m rather good at running if it comes to that,” he said softly, trying to reassure her. She gave a tight nod, took a deep breath, a strode into the grass. He followed closely, listening to the faint rustles around them. They didn’t get far before a small rat-like creature leaped out at them, fangs bared.
“Go, Cyndaquil!”
Cyndaquil proved to be a small hedgehog Pokemon, covered in short fur – black on its head and back, and tan on its stomach and chin. Patches on its back glowed red-hot, quickly flaring up into proper flames as it sniffed the air with its long nose.
“Tackle!”
“Cyn!” It squeaked as the order was given, rushing towards the opposing rat Pokemon. The wild Pokemon was sent tumbling from the force of the blow, but quickly righted itself and whipped its tail from side to side menacingly.
“Never mind that, Cyndaquil. Tackle it again.” This time, the attack sent the rat flying into the tall grass and out of view.
Craning his neck, the Doctor spotted it sprawled in the dirt, apparently unconscious. “Out cold, by the looks of it,” he commented as Cyndaquil was recalled to its Pokeball. “Not bad for your first battle, don’t you think?”
“Not bad? That Rattata didn’t even attack us,” she replied, once again taking the lead through the grass. Filing the name of the creature away for future reference, he simply stood back and watched during the next few battles against a small bird Pokemon, impressed by her skill in commanding her new Pokemon. Cyndaquil was also improving rapidly, learning a new fire-based attack by the end of the third fight.
As they approached the area where he had left the TARDIS, he looked in that direction, wondering if he could somehow walk back to tonight. He would like to grab a few things before they got too far away, and that included a change of clothes.
“I don’t think there’s anything that way, just more forest. Cherrygrove’s in the opposite direction, anyway,” his companion said, point off to the left. West, if he was remembering his compass directions for this Earth correctly.
“Is it far?” he asked, eager to change the subject.
“I don’t think so. Maybe another hour? It depends on how many Pokemon we run into.”
An hour would make it late afternoon by the time they reached Cherrygrove, and the Doctor was unsure whether he wanted to travel at night. A glance over told him that spending the night in Cherrygrove would be for the best, for she looked rather tired.
Seeing that she was rubbing her forehead, he asked the obvious question. “Not feeling well?”
“I’m ok. Just got a bit of a headache.” She seemed bothered by his question, so he restrained his curiosity and focused on the scenery. Much of Route 29 was like he had witnessed the night before, alternating between forests in the north and meadows farther south. He noticed a small building nestled among the trees as they crossed a meadow, and he wondered if it lead to the mountains in the distance. Perhaps on their way back to Professor Elm, they could check it out.
The next forty-five minutes saw them talk to several helpful people who were also exploring Route 29, although none of them were Pokemon Trainers. Cherrygrove was almost within sight when his companion stopped and pointed to a tree up a nearby hill. “Look, it’s a berry tree. Wanna go get some?”
Picking out bright spots of colour amid the green leaves of the tree, he nodded in agreement and climbed the gentle slope with her, impressed that she had spotted the it before he had. As they got closer, the Doctor saw that most of the tree was covered in flowers at various stages of growth, most of the fruit having already been picked. There were a few left however, so they helped themselves to one each.
“I believe the guidebook said that this type of berry will restore a small amount of health to an injured Pokemon,” he said as he examined the small red fruit.
“That sounds about right. We should check the tree again when we come back, since there might be more then.”
“A fine idea.” Placing the berry in an inner pocket for now, he wished he had some money on him so he could at least invest in a proper bag. He had several in the TARDIS, but they were little help to him here.
Finding the path to the south again took a bit of searching, and they encountered an unfamiliar mammalian Pokemon which liked to lift itself up using its long tail, but Cyndaquil defeated it without incident. The dirt path was free of grass however, so no other Pokemon pestered them as they approached Cherrygrove. Like with New Bark Town, the forest closed in on either side of the path, but the Doctor thought it looked quite pretty at this time of day with the sunlight slanting down through the trees.
“Well, here we are. Welcome to Cherrygrove City, Doctor,” his companion said as the trees thinned out and the buildings appeared.
“Seems rather small for a city...” he murmured as he got his first look at Cherrygrove. It was hardly larger than New Bark Town, and he had found that small as well.
“Excuse me!” They both turned as an older man walked up to them, a large smile on his face. “Cherrygrove may be small, but it has plenty of attractions for visitors! I’ll give you both a tour, if you’d like.”
“Sure, that would be great. Coming, Doctor?”
“Of course.”
“Excellent. Follow me!”
They stood outside of the man’s house half an hour later, the Doctor slightly tired but happy to have seen the city. The small island just offshore was of particular interest to him, but boats and swimmers were discouraged from visiting unless they had strong Pokemon with them.
“Here, take this as a gift,” their guide said as he emerged from his home, holding out a thin card. “It’s a Map Card for your Pokegear. Pokegear becomes more useful the more cards you add, you know.”
“Thank you,” the Doctor said as his companion busied herself inserting the card. The map in his guidebook was useful, but probably a bit out of date.
“Thank you for letting me show you around. Good luck on your travels, you two!” Flashing them a final smile, he went back inside his house.
“Shall we go to the PokeCenter for the night? I’m just about ready for supper myself.” He had almost forgotten that he hadn’t eaten in nearly a day, but the prospect of a nice hot meal appealed greatly to him.
“Sounds good. Mom packed me some Cinnabar Volcano Burgers and buns, so we can have those after I get Cyndaquil a meal. I hope you like spicy food!”
They shared a small smile, and he replied with, “I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it.” Back at the Academy, he’d once been dared to take a bite of one of the hottest peppers in the universe, so compared to that, he was certain that this Volcano Burger would be quite mild.
The Doctor dropped behind a few steps as they headed for the PokeCenter, examining his new companion. He couldn’t bring himself to use her name, not yet. Charley. His hearts still ached at the mere thought of that name, and while the two girls were nearly nothing alike in terms of personality, he still felt that familiar tug of curiosity towards this one. There was something mysterious surrounding her, and despite himself, he wanted to find out what it was.
Fandoms: Doctor Who/Pokemon (Twitch Plays Pokemon!verse)
Rating: Teen
Characters: Eighth Doctor, Kris, Silver
Word Count: 3,552
Story Summary: Stranded, the Doctor meets a strange girl with a very familiar name. They set out on a journey together, each searching for something they lost.
Chapter Summary: The mysteries increase as their journey begins.
“Morning, Doc.”
He lifted his head at her voice, shaking off the drowsiness that still clung to his mind. He hadn’t truely slept, since he didn’t really need it, but he had dozed a few times. “Good morning. And it’s Doctor,” he clarified, rising and dusting off his jacket and trousers. Steeling himself, he turned and faced her.
Aside from her blue hair, her eyes were the first thing he noticed. The look in those dark blue was hauntingly familiar, reminding him strongly of A.J. and Red. They spoke of something unnatural, something hidden. The Doctor made a conscious effort to blink, feeling himself being drawn in by her gaze, and focused on her outfit instead. A yellow hat, a short-cut white jacket with a tight red turtleneck underneath, and tight gold and black short shorts. There was also a device of some sort around her neck which he was sure hadn’t been there last night.
“This is my Pokegear. Mom said it came back from the repair shop late last night,” she explained, seeing his interest. “Although I don’t think I set the clock right...”
“May I?” he asked awkwardly, still not quite sure how to act around her. He had spent some time thinking about her and his Charley last night, trying to determine what similarities, if any, there were between them. Had this girl been the reason the TARDIS had crashed in the manner she did? But that didn’t explain the bizarre power drain...There were too many questions he couldn’t answer, and it bothered him.
“Sure.” The Doctor nodded in thanks as she handed him the Pokegear, digging his sonic screwdriver out with his free hand. It was an oddly-shaped device, with a screen on the upper part attached to a strap and a rectangular keyboard with a spring lid on the bottom. A quick scan and a check of the sun showed that the time was indeed wrong, but it only took him a moment to correct it. While he was at it, he also set his pocket watch to the right time.
“There you go.”
“Great, thanks.” She looped it around her neck again and gestured to his screwdriver. “What is that thing?”
“My sonic screwdriver. It’s handy to have around. It can do all sorts of things.”
“I see. Um, Mom said that Professor Elm wanted me to do something. You wanted to see him, right?” From her tone, he realized that she was just as unsure what to make of him as he was of her.
Flashing her what he hoped was a pleasant smile, the Doctor nodded. “Yes, I have a few things to ask him.” If anyone would know about A.J., it would be the local professor.
“Let’s go, then.” He allowed her to take the lead, looking around once again at New Bark Town as they headed towards the lab. It was nearly as quiet by day as it was by night, but it was still pretty early. Perhaps he could poke around a little bit after they saw Professor Elm.
This time, the doors were unlocked, and he smiled as he entered the building, feeling his hearts beat a little bit faster. This was a completely new experience to him, and despite the circumstances, he was rather excited by the prospect of being able to study Pokemon up close. The interior of the lab was cool, and smelled faintly of old books. A young man standing by a bookshelf piled high with said books gestured for them to go in, which they proceeded to do.
“Ah, Charley, there you are! Who’s your friend?” A thin man with glasses and wearing a rumpled lab coat asked as they moved towards the back of the lab, and the Doctor studied him carefully, but saw no trace of the strange look that A.J. and Red possessed.
“This is the Doctor. He said he wanted to talk to you,” she replied, shuffling off to the side as the professor stepped closer.
“Doctor...?”
“Just the Doctor. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Elm,” the Doctor replied, holding out his hand.
“Oh no, the pleasure’s all mine! What brings you to New Bark Town, Doctor?” Elm asked as they shook hands.
“I was looking for someone, but it seems they don’t live here. I’d like to talk to you later, if you don’t mind.” He was uncomfortably aware of the girl beside him as he talked, knowing that she was the reason why he was here, not the other way around. “You said you had a task...?”
“Ah, yes, yes I do! Charley, I have a favour to ask of you. I have an acquaintance called Mr. Pokemon who keeps finding weird things and then raving about his discoveries. Anyway, his latest e-mail says that this time, his discovery is real. Unfortunately, my aide and I are too busy to investigate. I know today is the day you get your first Pokemon, so you’re prefect for the job. Could you look into it for us? And the Doctor too, if he’s interested.”
The Doctor smiled at the excitement in the professor’s voice, feeling that same spark inside of himself. He was eager to go see what this Mr. Pokemon had found, but the decision wasn’t up to him. He looked over at the girl beside him, seeing that she was frowning slightly. “I’m game for it if you are,” he said by way of encouragement.
“Alright,” she agreed after a few moments, and Professor Elm beamed at them both.
“Wonderful. I’ve prepared your starter Pokemon, Charley – they’re all rare Pokemon that we just discovered, Go on, pick one!”
The Doctor looked around at the lab a bit more as she moved over to examine the Pokeballs sitting on a table nearby, his interest caught by a strange machine in the corner. “What’s that?” he asked, nodding towards it as the professor walked up to him.
“That’s a modified version of the healing machine the PokeCenters have,” he explained, then lowered his voice. “I’m afraid I can’t give you any of these Pokemon, Doctor. Do you have any at all?”
“That’s perfectly understandable, Professor. They are valuable creatures, after all. And no, I don’t.” He wasn’t surprised that the professor wasn’t willing to trust him that much, what with him being a stranger and all.
“I thought as much. Not every parent lets their child explore the world, and it is possible to get by without a Pokemon...”
The Doctor nodded, looking over at how the selection process was going. She was circling the table now, occasionally pausing and studying the Pokeballs intently. Watching her made him wish he knew what Pokemon A.J. had chosen, for he wondered if she would somehow follow in his footsteps.
“Has she always been so...indecisive?” He hated to ask, but she was taking a while to choose a Pokemon.
“Not when she was younger, no,” the professor said with a shake of his head. “But recently it seems like even a simple task takes longer than it should. I don’t know why, but it seems like her self-confidence is extremely low. I’m hoping having a Pokemon will change that.”
“I hope so too.” Watching her reach for a Pokeball made him think back to their conversation the previous night. She had been worried about not doing everything right – was this what she meant?
“You’ll take Cyndaquil, the fire Pokemon?” Elm asked as the middle Pokeball was picked up and held for a moment.
“Yeah, I think so.” Despite having made a decision, her tone was still doubtful, and the Doctor wondered if she was second-guessing herself.
The professor didn’t seem to notice, simply grinning and exclaiming, “I think that’s a great Pokemon too! Now, Mr. Pokemon lives near Cherrygrove, the next city over. And here’s my phone number, in case anything comes up.” As Elm rattled off his number, the Doctor wandered over to examine the healing machine further, thinking about his future. He would probably be better off with a Pokemon of some sort, but that would mean accepting that he was stuck here.
“Doctor, I’m going to go home and pack a few extra things. I’ll meet you on the edge of town, ok?” He turned to look at his new travelling companion, seeing that she wasn’t ready for him to meet her family yet either.
“Of course,” he said, giving her a smile. “I’ll see you later, then.”
Professor Elm approached as she left, and got directly to the point. “Charley mentioned that you had a few questions for me. What can I help you with?”
Recalling the reason why he had come to New Bark in the first place, the Doctor took a deep breath and asked, “Do you know if anyone by the name of A.J. has ever lived in this town?”
“A.J.? Hm...” Elm rubbed his chin as he thought, then shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember anyone by that name ever calling New Bark home. Is it important that you find this A.J.?”
“Oh no, I just wanted to chat. Still, I’m certain the information I was given said that he lived here.” The Doctor frowned, not liking the way the mysteries were piling up around him. “Also, I know this is an odd question, but are there any Pokemon related specifically to time?”
“Ah, now that I can help you with!” The professor beamed at him, quickly explaining, “The Johto region has a legend that a certain Pokemon called Celebi is able to travel through time at will, along with having the ability to make forests flourish. It’s only a legend however, so I don’t know how much good it’ll do you. You might want to look in Azalea Town for more information. And I believe that another region has a mythical Pokemon who is linked to time. I can contact the local professor for you, if you’d like.”
“That would be lovely. Thank you, Professor.”
“I’m always happy to help a fellow researcher. Come with me.” They walked over to Elm’s desk, where the man started to rummage through various drawers. “I know I have it here somewhere...ah, this is it!” Elm produced a small but thick book from beneath a stack of Pokemon-related magazines, and held it out. “You look like you’re new to Johto, so have this guidebook. It served me well when I was younger.”
“How very helpful. Thanks yet again.” The Doctor examined the battered book closely, seeing that it had been well-used. He was sure that he would be consulting it many times, since he knew practically nothing about the region he was about to see. Feeling like it was time to go, he tucked the guidebook away and said goodbye to Professor Elm and his aide.
Breathing in the fresh air as he stepped outside of the lab, he looked around but saw no sign of his companion. Still packing, then. Turning right, he began to walk towards the path at the edge of town, deciding that he would sit and read until she arrived. As he reached the edge of the building, a flash of colour caught his eye and he looked over to see a boy with bright red hair leaning against the side of the building.
The Doctor paused as their eyes met, the boy’s expression quickly deepening into a scowl. “What are you staring at? Mind your own business!” the boy snarled, glaring at him.
“Good day to you too, youg man,” the Doctor replied, giving him a cool nod before walking off. He could feel the boy’s eyes on him for quite some time, and was relieved when the forest bordering the town hid him from sight. Settling down under a tree, he pulled out the guidebook and flipped to the section on New Bark Town and surrounding area.
“Whatcha reading?”
“An old guidebook Professor Elm gave me,” he replied, showing it to her as he got to his feet.
“That’s cool, I guess. Ready to go?”
“Ready if you are.” He would have liked to stop by the TARDIS, but he had elected to keep exactly what he was hidden for the moment.
As they walked out of town, he noticed that she was looking at him critically. After a minute, she asked, “Are you really going to wear that? It seems awfully formal...and, um, old-fashioned.”
“I’ve always travelled in these clothes,” he said with a touch of indignation. “They’re quite study for the most part. Besides, I could ask the same of you. Are those clothes really fit for walking long distances?”
“Sure they are! I look better than you do, anyway.” He smiled at that, glad to have finally gotten a rise out of her.
“How about we agree to disagree on our outfits?” he suggested, and she nodded in agreement. As they neared the end of the path, the Doctor noticed a signpost that he must have walked right past the night before. “Route 29, hm? An interesting number to begin with.” He could think of several alien culture who regarded the number as lucky, and an equal number who avoided it at all costs.
He hesitated before entering the tall grass that lay before them a few minutes later, now aware of the dangers that lurked within. His companion also halted as well, and he saw that she was clutching Cyndaquil’s Pokeball tightly.
“I’m sure we’ll be fine. Wild Pokemon don’t tend to attack humans until provoked. And I’m rather good at running if it comes to that,” he said softly, trying to reassure her. She gave a tight nod, took a deep breath, a strode into the grass. He followed closely, listening to the faint rustles around them. They didn’t get far before a small rat-like creature leaped out at them, fangs bared.
“Go, Cyndaquil!”
Cyndaquil proved to be a small hedgehog Pokemon, covered in short fur – black on its head and back, and tan on its stomach and chin. Patches on its back glowed red-hot, quickly flaring up into proper flames as it sniffed the air with its long nose.
“Tackle!”
“Cyn!” It squeaked as the order was given, rushing towards the opposing rat Pokemon. The wild Pokemon was sent tumbling from the force of the blow, but quickly righted itself and whipped its tail from side to side menacingly.
“Never mind that, Cyndaquil. Tackle it again.” This time, the attack sent the rat flying into the tall grass and out of view.
Craning his neck, the Doctor spotted it sprawled in the dirt, apparently unconscious. “Out cold, by the looks of it,” he commented as Cyndaquil was recalled to its Pokeball. “Not bad for your first battle, don’t you think?”
“Not bad? That Rattata didn’t even attack us,” she replied, once again taking the lead through the grass. Filing the name of the creature away for future reference, he simply stood back and watched during the next few battles against a small bird Pokemon, impressed by her skill in commanding her new Pokemon. Cyndaquil was also improving rapidly, learning a new fire-based attack by the end of the third fight.
As they approached the area where he had left the TARDIS, he looked in that direction, wondering if he could somehow walk back to tonight. He would like to grab a few things before they got too far away, and that included a change of clothes.
“I don’t think there’s anything that way, just more forest. Cherrygrove’s in the opposite direction, anyway,” his companion said, point off to the left. West, if he was remembering his compass directions for this Earth correctly.
“Is it far?” he asked, eager to change the subject.
“I don’t think so. Maybe another hour? It depends on how many Pokemon we run into.”
An hour would make it late afternoon by the time they reached Cherrygrove, and the Doctor was unsure whether he wanted to travel at night. A glance over told him that spending the night in Cherrygrove would be for the best, for she looked rather tired.
Seeing that she was rubbing her forehead, he asked the obvious question. “Not feeling well?”
“I’m ok. Just got a bit of a headache.” She seemed bothered by his question, so he restrained his curiosity and focused on the scenery. Much of Route 29 was like he had witnessed the night before, alternating between forests in the north and meadows farther south. He noticed a small building nestled among the trees as they crossed a meadow, and he wondered if it lead to the mountains in the distance. Perhaps on their way back to Professor Elm, they could check it out.
The next forty-five minutes saw them talk to several helpful people who were also exploring Route 29, although none of them were Pokemon Trainers. Cherrygrove was almost within sight when his companion stopped and pointed to a tree up a nearby hill. “Look, it’s a berry tree. Wanna go get some?”
Picking out bright spots of colour amid the green leaves of the tree, he nodded in agreement and climbed the gentle slope with her, impressed that she had spotted the it before he had. As they got closer, the Doctor saw that most of the tree was covered in flowers at various stages of growth, most of the fruit having already been picked. There were a few left however, so they helped themselves to one each.
“I believe the guidebook said that this type of berry will restore a small amount of health to an injured Pokemon,” he said as he examined the small red fruit.
“That sounds about right. We should check the tree again when we come back, since there might be more then.”
“A fine idea.” Placing the berry in an inner pocket for now, he wished he had some money on him so he could at least invest in a proper bag. He had several in the TARDIS, but they were little help to him here.
Finding the path to the south again took a bit of searching, and they encountered an unfamiliar mammalian Pokemon which liked to lift itself up using its long tail, but Cyndaquil defeated it without incident. The dirt path was free of grass however, so no other Pokemon pestered them as they approached Cherrygrove. Like with New Bark Town, the forest closed in on either side of the path, but the Doctor thought it looked quite pretty at this time of day with the sunlight slanting down through the trees.
“Well, here we are. Welcome to Cherrygrove City, Doctor,” his companion said as the trees thinned out and the buildings appeared.
“Seems rather small for a city...” he murmured as he got his first look at Cherrygrove. It was hardly larger than New Bark Town, and he had found that small as well.
“Excuse me!” They both turned as an older man walked up to them, a large smile on his face. “Cherrygrove may be small, but it has plenty of attractions for visitors! I’ll give you both a tour, if you’d like.”
“Sure, that would be great. Coming, Doctor?”
“Of course.”
“Excellent. Follow me!”
They stood outside of the man’s house half an hour later, the Doctor slightly tired but happy to have seen the city. The small island just offshore was of particular interest to him, but boats and swimmers were discouraged from visiting unless they had strong Pokemon with them.
“Here, take this as a gift,” their guide said as he emerged from his home, holding out a thin card. “It’s a Map Card for your Pokegear. Pokegear becomes more useful the more cards you add, you know.”
“Thank you,” the Doctor said as his companion busied herself inserting the card. The map in his guidebook was useful, but probably a bit out of date.
“Thank you for letting me show you around. Good luck on your travels, you two!” Flashing them a final smile, he went back inside his house.
“Shall we go to the PokeCenter for the night? I’m just about ready for supper myself.” He had almost forgotten that he hadn’t eaten in nearly a day, but the prospect of a nice hot meal appealed greatly to him.
“Sounds good. Mom packed me some Cinnabar Volcano Burgers and buns, so we can have those after I get Cyndaquil a meal. I hope you like spicy food!”
They shared a small smile, and he replied with, “I’m sure I’ll be able to handle it.” Back at the Academy, he’d once been dared to take a bite of one of the hottest peppers in the universe, so compared to that, he was certain that this Volcano Burger would be quite mild.
The Doctor dropped behind a few steps as they headed for the PokeCenter, examining his new companion. He couldn’t bring himself to use her name, not yet. Charley. His hearts still ached at the mere thought of that name, and while the two girls were nearly nothing alike in terms of personality, he still felt that familiar tug of curiosity towards this one. There was something mysterious surrounding her, and despite himself, he wanted to find out what it was.
Tags: