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Chapter 5: Coffee
It took approximately 20 minutes of walking from Pallet Town to reach Viridian City. A little bigger then Red's town, this city boasted the presence of more citizens, a Pokémon Center, a Mart, and even, if still closed, a Pokémon Gym.
Between inhabited centers hid a multitude of wild Monsters that could be caught to obtain more data for the PokéDex. They could also be challenged, and possibly defeated, to train one's pokémon for battle. Red hadn't retrieved his PokéBalls yet, so catching new specimens would have been impossible. He took this opportunity to improve his battling affinity with his charmander. In order to train, he walked through that mile long woods, Route 1, in far more than the necessary 20 minutes. About an hour to be honest. But in the end he did it: he was in Viridian City.
Even if he had five free PokéBalls waiting for him he knew that the first thing to do, once in a city, was to grant the Monsters some rest in a Pokémon Center. And his actually needed it.
He entered in the Center to leave his salamander to the nurse while taking a look around. In front of him there was a big counter, longer than most, with some ornamental objects. He noticed a little table on his right, not too wide, and seemingly somewhat worn: who knew how many trainers had laid their equipment on its surface, and who knew how many would in the future? A computer occupied the area between the counter and the wall on the right, everything else was just empty space. It was Viridian City after all.
"Welcome to our Pokémon Center!" Said the girl behind the counter.
She seemed in her twenties, with light red hair tied in two prominently displayed locks, and wore a classic white nurse dress. Red suddenly blushed. She was really pretty.
"Are you a Trainer? If you're looking for a room, I'm sorry, this is just a little Center, we don't have…"
Red slowly shook his head. Maybe he seemed mute to her but he couldn't do anything about that: he wasn't accustomed to strangers, especially if girls.
"But, even here, we heal your pokémon back to perfect health..." Continued the nurse. But noticing his laconism she asked, "Shall we heal your pokémon?"
He felt immensely stupid while only nodding and giving her his PokéBall. She took the sphere from his hand only to put it in a hole on a strange device. It seemed like a big copy machine underneath a padding, on which there were six holes with something metallic inside. Once the Ball was placed, a click came from the hole used while a quiet continuous buzz was emitted by the machine. A real unusual device. It took just a couple of seconds for the Ball to be returned to Red's hands. It was warm. Pokémon surely were peculiar creatures… now they seemed to be rechargeable like some kind of electric device.
"We hope to see you again!" The nurse inclined her head just the slightest bit, while a big smile graced her face. She was really pretty.
"Thank... You..." Red answered faintly, pretending to adjust his cap while using its visor to hide his face. The nurse chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand, likely hiding an amused smile. She really was pretty.
In a couple of seconds, he was already out of the Pokémon Center, his face as red as his name. He couldn't even remember when the last time he talked to a stranger was. Did he even ever talk to one in his life? Lost in his thoughts he reached the Pokémon Mart before he even realized it. The building was far too recognizable with its azure roof. Red entered the Mart quickly.
He found himself in front of shelves a little taller than himself, filled with all sort of commodities: canned food, households, feed and litter for domestic pokémon and, of course, Trainer's Items of all different colors. He had studied those items in detail, but that was his first time seeing large quantities of them in person. The local was divided into two areas: the left had a large counter, on which sat a quaint cash register. It had buttons like a writing machine, which was odd to see nowadays, since it was much more common to see more modern electronic devices. The right area was designed so that people could wander freely through the shelves and aisles. Once a shopper had obtained what they came for, they would return to the cashier behind the counter, who carefully registered everything on the ledger. An azure colored, old fashioned floral wallpaper covered all the walls, sometimes faded in spots.
Red smiled when he saw a poster taped onto the wallpaper, a big PokéBall icon on the center, with all the contacts needed on the bottom of the paper, and a catching headline on the top: "Do you want to be the very best, like no one ever was?". It was the advertisement for the summer class he had back at the Laboratory in Pallet Town.
With the professor back in his mind, Red reached the counter, the cashier on the other side courteously smiling at him.
"Hi," Red said, placing his coupon on the table.
The cashier was visibly puzzled by Red's action, as he placed a piece of paper in front of him without saying anything. But that ticked meant only a thing.
"You came from Pallet Town?" Said the cashier. "So you know professor Oak?" Red nodded. "You're... Not the talkative type, huh?"
"Not with everyone..." Answered Red, trying his best to be polite.
"So..." Chuckled the cashier starting to examine the ticket, putting on his glasses. "This is a coupon for five PokéBalls! You passed the test...!" After waiting a couple of second, hoping for an answer from the young man, dejected, he continued. "Oh, well. There you are, your PokéBalls." From beneath the counter the cashier took five sparkling little spheres, holding them towards Red. "To use them you..."
"I know already, but thank you." Said the young man that, after putting the brand new items in his backpack, walked to the door. "Good day." Red said, exiting the shop.
"No one ever wants to talk with the Mart cashier..." Complained the man returning to his duties, bent over the counter. One could almost feel sorry for him.
Once outside, Red looked around. This wasn't his first time in Viridian, but he didn't go to the city often, and he'd never gone alone. Routes between cities weren't safe places, but this time was different…
It's the first time I'm here, alone, I'm... Pathetic. Without this pokémon I could never have crossed even Route 1.
"Hum, Excuse me...?" Called a female voice. She seemed troubled by something. "I know it's random but, could you please bring me a coffee?" She was behind a short wall and, for some reason, still. From time to time she almost knelt down while looking at her feet, maybe, and whispered something in the same direction.
"Can't... You do that by yourself?"
She's weird, and I have to reach Blue.
"Oh, you're right, and I'm sorry, but I really have to ask you because I can't move from here... Please be my hero." She looked at Red with dazzling round eyes, her expression charming and pleading.
Screw Blue, she's hot.
Even if he didn't really want to, Red nodded. Two pretty girls in one day was just too much for his little farm boy heart.
"Really? Thank you!" She shouted happily joining her hands. "Ok, so. Just behind you, on the left, there's a kiosk... Maybe that one's closed, but next to it there's a vending machine!" She smiled.
"..."
Reluctantly, Red went to the vending machine on the left side of the city. The kiosk that the girl pointed out was actually closed: 'We are open during Pokémon League Only.' But his attention was all focused on a certain person leaning against the machine, casually drinking a Cola.
"What are you doing here, going to the Pokémon League?" It was Blue.
Red continued walking to the vending machine. He was looking for him, yet, that arrogant tone almost made him want to go back.
"Can't I?" Answered Red, bitter.
"Forget it, without badges the guard won't let you through. I bet you don't even have a Ticket for the tourney at Pewter Gym." Said Blue, sure of his words.
"..."
Busted.
"Seriously, still nothing? You should hurry up, today it's at... Oh well, no need to worry. You won't even reach Pewter. You should go back to kick your football." He surely enjoyed looking at people from his high horse.
Now the two of them were looking at each other's eyes. The atmosphere wasn't great.
"Worry about yourself, at the Gym you'll battle without your grandfather's aid."
"What-what? Was that a dig...?" Answered Blue, nervously chuckling. Those words had been a stab to his pride. "Then why don't I show you what I can do?" Blue didn't get any verbal answer, but Red's look was more than enough. "We'll use every pokémon we've got!"
Every? Thought Red, surprised.
"Don't worry, I won't attack you. What about the usual bet...?" Blue crossed his arms, his voice fading to a thoughtful murmur before returning to its usual brash arrogance. "Everyone use to bet some money before the fight but... It would be so sad to steal from you..." Now he was faking a concerned tone. "Since I will obviously win," he chuckled, "Let's say... Just 1500 yen, ok?" Blue grinned while opening his fanny pack.
Red nodded, reaching for the PokéBall and the PokéDex in his waistcoat pocket.
"Ah, one more thing." Red watched Blue lift his eyes from his fanny pack, lips quirked in a way that showed his hubris. "Please, don't disappoint me too much."
Asshole...
He followed him, sure of the fact the two of them would travel together. But right now he only wanted to delete that confident smirk out of his face.
Without any further comment, Blue threw his PokéBall and, in an instant, his Monster appeared midair.
A tiny brown little bird, with bristly fur on its head, came out. Its small black beady eyes, almost hidden by the same colored feathers of the plumage, carefully stared at each moves its opponent made. It was a pidgey, a male one as stated on Red's pokédex, and, incredibly enough, level 12.
What about that? Thought Red.
He was used to tame pidgeys back at Pallet's Laboratory, but the fact that Blue already had caught one pokémon, and trained it long enough to reach that crazy level, left him speechless. More so than usual.
"Haven't you ever see a pidgey...?" Chuckled a teasing Blue, noticing his expression. "No, wait," he widened his eyes, while a big smile spread across his face. "Don't tell me... You still have only that charmander!" He laughed heartily. "Two versus one: easy peasy!" He stated. His tone was really unbearable.
"..."
Unluckily he was right and Blue knew his only monster, he would have used that to his advantage.
Not being able to choose, the salamander appeared on the ground. A level 10, male charmander.
He thought his pokémon was strong enough to knock out every pidgey he encountered, as it had been like that until this moment. But the one in front of him was different, for every pidgey he had encountered thus far had been around level 2. Even it was just a pidgey, a level 12 one would prove for a tough battle.
"Scratch, Charmander!"
"Quick Attack!"
Pidgey proved to be far faster than charmander. The little bird flapped its wings a single time, propelling itself forward so fast that the naked eye had difficulty tracking the move. The pidgey slammed into the salamander's side before Red's charmander could even start to move, making it curl up with the impact. The Fire Type rolled a couple of times on the ground, that little bird pokémon having proved itself more powerful than expected. Even pidgey had stepped on the ground for an instant before regaining the air, its wing had been hurt. All of the training on Route 1 had paid off - Charmander had managed to reach its opponent with its nails just an instant after the impact.
But Blue's smile was still there and Red hopes started to fade as he looked at his PokéDex. Charmander's HP wasn't so high anymore. Even if both attacks landed, that pidgey was both faster and more powerful.
"Oh... C'mon..." Blue shook his head. "Would you please entertain me more than... This?" That last word came out with an ironic tone. "Pidgey, use Gust!"
Red ground his teeth. He knew pidgeys were physical attackers, using a special one would deal less damage. Blue was playing with him.
Those tiny wings, proved once more to be far stronger than their appearance, whipped around strongly, creating a small vortex of dust and that crashed onto the poor salamander, forcing it on to the ground.
Meanwhile, a mile away at Oak's place, both Daisy and Claire had decided to enjoy a cup of tea in that place so full of memories. No one had stepped inside that house for all those years.
"Rather, tell me..." Continued Daisy while putting the empty teapot in the sink. "If I recall it right, Red had never been interested in pokémon." The fresh water from the tap stated to overflow out of the teapot.
"You do recall right." Claire was wandering around the kitchen with a wet teacup in her hand. "Where do you keep the dish cloths?"
"Ah, no! Sit down. You're my guest!"
"Ah... Right... It's the force of habit, I guess." She chuckled. It had been long since the last time she had such a genuinely pleasant conversation. "By the way it was my fault." She smiled.
Daisy seemed puzzled.
"For what you asked, for Red. I suggested that he take that class."
"Are you serious!" Daisy was thrilled. She turned the tap off and went back to sit on the couch, gesturing Claire to follow her. "Tell me, I'm curious now!"
Red looked at his PokéDex.
Ah, crap... I need to finish this in one move!
Red had been one of the few that never skipped a lesson at the Laboratory. He remembered Elm's word far too well.
"STAB means 'Same Type Attack Bonus'. If a Fighting Type pokémon used a Fighting Type move, this would result in the move having far more power than if used by... Ah, let me think... A Water Type. I mean, if I would have been an Electric Type..." Elm had told them, causing some laughter in the classroom. "I would be better and stronger at casting Electric Type moves than... Let me think... Scratch, which is Normal Type. This is basic knowledge, STAB. This'll certainly be in the final test, don't forget this!"
And Red didn't.
His pokémon had the ability to channel his rage into firepower after getting some hits, an ability that boosts even more the Same Type Attack Bonus: Blaze.
Ember... Thought Red. But I don't want to rely on a move that charmander has used only a couple of times! It's not like in video games... It needs more practice! What if my pokémon doesn't recognize my order? But... Red tightened his grip on the PokéBall and looked at Blue directly in the eyes. This is my last chance!
"Charmander, use Ember!"
The salamander's tail whipped the air, stopping at an inch from its open mouth. Rapidly, a thin colorless gas jet came out of the animal's jaw, hitting the flame on the tail, and in an instant, that feeble breath became a gold and red tongue of flame skyrocketing towards the bird pokémon. Red held his breath until the flame exploded on its target in a dark cloud glowing in golden sparkles. The attack had been powerful. Pidgey fell on the ground, hurt and burned.
Red looked at his pokédex. Both pokémon had only tiny and dark piece of bar left, a small portion of the initial health, and his opponent, the little bird, was the one in the worst shape. Yet... It was a dead end, not a single ray of hope could reach him.
When a pokémon suffers from a burn, its physical power decreases, as well as its stamina slowly but surely depleting itself. In this situation, Blue's next move would have certainly been Quick Attack, charmander couldn't hope to avoid such a fast charge. Even if pidgey's offensive skills were compromised, the salamander would have been knocked out easily. The flame on its tail now burned with the same intensity of a match; it was almost exhausted.
"Oh, come on!" Daisy was laughing out loud.
"I swear to you!" And Claire was no less. "He was like... 'I'm going to knock at his door, lecture him and only then I'll be back home'. And then each time... 'No one opened'."
"Oh god he was so cute! Now I'm sorry for him..." But both of them was still laughed. "But Blue didn't meant to be mean. How old was Red?"
"Ten, actually."
"And this is why he decided to take that class?" Daisy asked while still wiping her tears from the laugh.
"What you mean?" Asked Claire, visibly puzzled.
"Well, maybe he knew that Blue was still studying pokémon..."
"And then give him a lesson in a battle?" Said Claire with her eyes mirthful. "No, that's impossible." She warmly as she paused. "You know, I don't think Red cares about this... To be honest I don't think he still sees Blue as a friend." Daisy was on the verge of saying something, but Claire continued. Even if she was still smiling her voice turned melancholic. "What I want to say is... Your brother was gone, and for six years Red lived in a deserted town just with me. I've been his only family and his only friends... And I can say the same about him. It's been tough."
"But why didn't you asked to my grampa to come with us to Cerulean?" Claire's words touched Daisy.
"Daisy... Samuel is just barely more than an acquaintance to me. I would never ask something like that." Claire smiled again. That day Daisy's presence brought a wind of happiness. "That's why Red agreed to take that class: to leave, to go out and get some fresh air."
Daisy was the one depressed. Even if at the beginning she wanted to defend her little brother no matter what kind of doubt Red had about their friendship, now she could do anything but feel empathy for both the Suzaku's. Mom and son for six years all alone in a little deserted town.
"Oh but..." Continued Claire briskly. "Don't think he is going to lose against Blue! He would never forgive himself!"
Blue looked at his PokéDex and grinned. One more hit and his little bird would knock out the opponent.
Goddamnit! Thought Red. There's no way out!? Even if I defeat that fucking pidgey... Blue still has Squirtle!
"This last attack wasn't bad, bravo! I wonder why you didn't Ember from the beginning..." Said Blue with a mocking tone in his voice. "Oh no, wait! I know! You're not used to that move, am I right?" Blue smirked. "Oh, well. TIME TO FINISH THIS!"
"I quit." He had his answer. "Enough... Take your money and go away." His ball activated, sucking the huffing charmander inside.
The brown haired guy widened his eyes out of incredulity. "You can say it!" Huffy and unsatisfied, Blue withdrew his pokémon.
He took Red's 1500 yen, pocketing it before walking away. He didn't seem to really care about the money, it was a matter of pride. After a couple of steps he decided to stop. "God... You really suck, don't you?" Chuckled Blue. "As I was saying before, no need to worry. You won't even reach Pewter. You should go back to kick your football. Smell ya..."
And this time he vanished for real, leaving Red immobile to stare at an empty space for some seconds.
"..."
I didn't lose... I got crushed. Thought. I couldn't anything against a pokémon he trained in so little time... I had to win! I had to...! FUCK!
He stayed still for a couple of seconds, thinking back to how much he felt irritated at being judged, on a personal level and not only as a trainer, because of a stupid battle. Even Daisy's words came to his mind.
Blue doesn't want to be part of this journey... I've believed her like a moron.
He was mad with himself for being that immature. He spent some years alone with his mother and at the first snaps of Blue's fingers, there he was, running after his ass, like a teenager always ready to come back to the idiot that broke with her.
That reminds me...
"The coffee!"
The vending machine was functioning. Red inserted some coins and waited for the coffee to be ready. Once back to the girl, walking around the little wall, he noticed an old man. Down, on the ground... He didn't look very well.
"Oh my god!" Red startled. "Is he alright? Is he drunk?" He was visibly worried.
"Ah, finally! What in the world took you so much time!?" Said the old man furiously.
He was fine, but laid down in that way he blocked the young Trainer's path. Red's expression changed instantly, he gave the coffee to the girl and continued straight on, not even caring of the man's foot he just stepped on.
"You! You want to kill me! You... Brat... You don't even know who is in front of you!" He shouted while the young man continued walking.
"Actually you're behind me." Red stopped and turned. "Anyway no. And I don't even care..."
"I PARTICIPATED TO THE TOURNAMENT ON THE INDIGO PLATEAU! I DEMAND YOUR RESPECT!" The old man was out of himself, nothing could the girl trying to calm him down.
"I see," answered Red calmly. "But you're not the winner, don't brag." The old man almost had a heart attack.
"Where are you going?" Asked the girl, leaving the coffee in the old man hands while getting closer to Red.
"Pewter City."
"A young trainer, huh? Well, allow me to help you, traveler." The old man stepped in, with a renewed calm.
"He looks... Happy..." Said Red.
"He... Feels great after a coffee? Think that he wouldn't let me go if I didn't bring him one." She explained to Red while the old man came closer.
"Boy, feel lucky, today I will teach you the noble art of catching pokémon." He surely looked different after his coffee.
"As I was saying, I'm going to Pewter. Have a good day you two."
The old Trainer pretended to hear nothing.
"First of all let us find a little Monster to catch..."
"Please, listen to him... Or I'll have to do it for the rest of the day..." Prayed the girl in hushed whisper.
"..."
That wasn't a pleasant situation.
"There we go, a rattata!" The old man pointed; he seemed truly happy.
Rattata. A purple mouse with red irises and long incisors. Red remembered how it was the rodent to let the world discover pokémon's existence. But it was one of the weakest monsters in Kanto. Red had defeated whole packs on Route 1.
"Now behold, young Trainer!" Exclaimed the spry old man, getting ready for the battle.
Why is he so hyped...?
The old man took out a PokéBall from his pocket and threw it at the rodent.
Each time a Ball came into operation it was a breathtaking spectacle. The little monster became pure light that rushed to the center of the device. It rattled violently before bursting open. The little pokémon was once again 'solid' and squeaking furious at the sphere that just hit him, that now laid on the ground, dissembled and useless.
"Devil's tools! Back in my days we didn't use those freakin' disposable things!"
Angrier than ever, the old man continued to target the little rattata with every Ball in his possess. It took him more than five minutes to catch the rodent. He could barely say "that's how it's done" huffing and gasping while he tried to take some breath.
Red tuned to the girl, pretending nothing ever happened.
"I'm leaving, humm..."
"Midori," she said.
"Goodbye Midori, take care of your grandpa," Red said, and walked away, following the trail leading to Pewter City.
"Grandpa?" She asked, turning to Red. "No, no. What about you, what's your..." But the young man was already hidden by the houses behind them. "You have no manners..."
The old man walked to her.
"There's your pokémon, as promised. So, can we have our coffee now?"
"What? You were dead drunk and already had yours! I have to go now..." Even she, quickly, walked away. The old man was left alone.
"But that's not what I meant!" He said. Obviously the girl was far too distant to hear him and, anyway, she would have never came back.
"Worse for her, she could go on a date with a celebrity from the past."
Question Of The Week
Recognized him? The infamous Viridian City old man! But did you know that in the Japanese version he need no coffee? He so drunk to pass out in the middle of the road! What a fine gramps he is... Have you ever wanted to just stomp on him and pass through? XD
Still here? Then let me thank you, I really appreciate it! I would remind you that the following chapter will be available on the next Monday; it would be awesome if you'll decide to Fave/Follow/Review my story, just one click means a lot.
Thank you so much.