Chapter 14

While Greta and Madison were looking at each other in the eye, the both girls seemed to be ready to explode. Greta thought she could finally find some peace in the nature after going on that journey. Quite the contrary, the person she would least like to see appeared in the worst place, Viridian Forest.

To calm both the girls down, Redwald stepped forward and talked nicely. “We have just arrived in the forest, Madison. We better get going. Viridian Gym was closed already, we have to arrive in Pewter City as soon as possible.”

Madison did not seem comfortable, but it was not a really surprise. The forest was so cold that without a coat, anyone would get cold. The place was particularly cold, because the trees were so long that they were covering all the sun lights from above. The forest remained in chilly breeze. Because of the blocked sun lights, the forest appeared to be darker than a day time, also. It would feel like cloudy day was going to remain for the rest of the season.

“What a shame...” Madison said. “I thought I could have a battle with Greta. But it seems like she has a boyfriend to cover an excuse for her now.”

Greta, almost like a bomb waiting for the right moment to explode, stepped forward and responded with a loud voice. “You talk like that all the time, only because you are afraid of being defeated by me! You have no tolerance to be below me. Therefore, you do what you can the best, talk!”

First, Madison glared down on Greta. She was really pissed off. But after seconds, she laughed. It did not sound a forced one, but Greta could bet on that it was.

“I am, what? Afraid of you?” Madison finally said after the loud laugh. “That is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a long time!”

“Why are you on a Pokémon journey, then?” Greta asked. She was still angry. Madison closed her eyes and answered her question carelessly.

“I will apply for Pokémon Academy in the end of this year. After I got my license from Professor, I thought of staying home and studying for the exam. My dad bought set of books for study. I even got a membership in the library. I needed a year to study, and that’s all. Then, my uncle visited us. My mom apparently mentioned him about it. My uncle suggested me to go on a Pokémon journey. I will go in particular places, and join study camps in these cities. Not only I will learn a lot more in these camps with other students and experts, but also, I will get a chance to train my Pokémon, and learn in the nature by experience. My uncle says that my experience and my trained Pokémon, along with my assumingly great result, will leave no chance for elimination to the Pokémon Academy.”

Greta remembered Pokémon Academy slightly. Years ago, going to Pokémon Academy was in question for her. Students who graduated from primary education of 8 years education could apply to them. Those who pass the test would attend to an interview. If they are accepted, they could study for 4 years. During their education, they would even get to meet Elite 4 trainers and the region champion, or other significantly remarkable trainers. After they graduate, they could get a job in great positions. But not only being accepted is too complicated and hard, also studying there would cost too much. Greta’s parents wanted their daughter to go there, but they realized they could not afford it after they learned more about it. Greta was disappointed, but she did not think about it ever again. Now, her childhood rival, Madison, was aiming to get there.

“How about you, Greta?” Madison asked arrogantly. “Why are you on a Pokémon journey? After all, all you want is to work with your family in that wood space.”

Greta ignored all the contempt in her attitude, and answered calmly. “Someday, Madison, I will take over my parents’ Day Care Service. When I do that, I want to be able to help Pokémon with the best of me, not with what would be enough.”

“Try hard, Greta.” Madison said. “If you turn out to be better, I can leave my Pokémon to you. After all, when I graduate, I will have a lot of places to go. Vocations, business meetings, travel with other important trainers... Somebody will have to take care of my Pokémon. I will pay you well.”

The last sentence sounded even more arrogant than how she sounded before. Greta knew she could not stand and take it anymore. Before she did anything big, Redwald stepped in the middle and stopped both sides.

“Why don’t you calm down now?”

It did not take too long before Greta and Madison were caught in a Pokémon Battle. While the cold breeze licked both trainers’ legs to the heads, they looked at each other in the eye in the dark place behind the trees, leaving an area enough to be considered as a battlefield.

“This will be a two on two Pokémon Battle!” Madison said. “Once the two Pokémon of each side is unable to battle, the battle is over. Is it clear?”

“Fine by me!” Greta said.

Madison reached to her Poké Ball and threw it in the air. “Come forth to show your best, Weedle!” She said. Weedle appeared on the ground. Greta could not be sure, but either because of the dark, or because he was trained well, but his hair has changed its colour a bit. He had a darker skin.



“Then, I choose you Caterpie!” Greta responded by throwing the Poké Ball. Caterpie appeared right in front of Weedle. Therefore, the battle officially began.

“Weedle, don’t hold back. Use Poison Sting right away!” Madison ordered. Weedle’s stinger on his head glowed in a sudden as he began to run through Caterpie. Greta had no intention to step back and watch. “Slow down the foe, Caterpie. Use String Shot!”

Caterpie used String Shot on the grass. Before Weedle reached Caterpie, his feet stuck on the strings. He started to run slower, but the bright light on his stinger never faded, even a little.

“Now, use Tackle!” Greta said. Caterpie ran to his foe and used Tackle on him. Weedle stepped back and stumbled. He lost his balance and fell on the ground. There, the stinger faded to its ordinary colour. Caterpie was glaring at him, while Weedle forced himself to stand up.

“It is alright, Weedle.” Madison said softly. Greta was absolutely sure that Madison was trying hard to keep herself calm. But deep inside, a fire was burning up. The desire of a victory was so tense in her bones that the possibility of not getting one would destroy her into a million pieces. Thinking of this fact made Greta feel much better.

“What do you have now?” She said. Madison was surprised to hear that. She glared at her rival Greta, ignored her completely and focused on her Pokémon. “This is just the beginning, Weedle.” She said. “Use Poison Sting all over again!”

Weedle nodded his head, and ran to the Pokémon. While Greta waited for the right moment to counter attack, the only thing she could truly focus on was the glowing stinger on Weedle’s head. That venomous stinger could really damage someone seriously, even if not Caterpie in that case.

“Weedle is much more dangerous in the nature.” Greta thought. Caterpie could only slow down the foe to escape. But in Weedle’s case, it was much different. If a Weedle wanted an enemy dead or hurt, they could simply poison them and leave alone. They would die on their own. Thinking of something like that to come true gave Greta goose bumps. “I can prepare antidote in any case...” She thought. “...unless I lack supply, and don’t know where to get them...”

While she was distracted from the battle, Weedle reached to Caterpie and used Poison Sting on her. Caterpie stumbled back and fell down. Now it was Weedle’s turn to be arrogant.

“Caterpie! Are you alright?” Greta shouted out. She hoped Caterpie to stand up, show herself not poisoned, and keep up with the battle. But Caterpie stood on the ground longer while than she expected. She was in uncertainty if that was a call to end the round. Instead, she did the only thing she could think of, ran to her Pokémon.

“Caterpie, are you alright?” She said softly while he reached her, and put her in her arms. Caterpie opened half of her closed eyes, and showed her tired face. She was not poisoned, but she was damaged. Greta knew it would be extreme if she kept her in the battle. Instead, she decided to substitute Pokémon.

“You did a great job.” She said with a motherly smile on her face. Then, she showed her Poké Ball to Caterpie before calling her back in it. After that, she walked back to her standing point and showed the other Poké Ball. “Time to substitute.” She said.

But before she threw her Poké Ball, some other sound distracted them. Not only Greta and Madison, but Redwald was distracted by the sound as well. For a brief moment, they could not figure out what was that sound of.

“What is this?” Greta asked, while everyone was staring around them, trying to find out the source of the sound. Madison knew that her question was going to bring nothing good, but for safety instincts, she had to ask it. “Is the sound getting closer?”

Out of nowhere, a pack of yellow Pokémon appeared before the trees. This species had a small body, but they had an angry expression on their faces. The yellow and black body, despite how small it was, was floating in the air. Those small bodies were carrying two big stingers and hairy legs that did not give any friendly impression.

“This is a Beedrill pack!” Madison shouted. She quickly called her Pokémon back in the Poké Ball while she prepared herself to run. “Run for your lives!” She said the only thing her mind could bring out.

As Madison passed Greta and Redwald in order, she began to get away from Beedrill pack as far as possible. Redwald and Greta did not do anything, because they needed a moment to understand what danger they were in.

“Come on, Red!” Greta said once she pulled herself together. She put the Poké Ball in her bag in the moment she began to follow Madison behind.

“I will not run!” Redwald responded. Now, he was holding a Poké Ball. “I will battle these Pokémon. Running is not an option for me!”

He threw the Poké Ball. Eevee appeared before all the Beedrill. Redwald prepared himself to order a move, but all of a sudden, the pack aimed on Eevee all at once. Redwald realized that Beedrill pack was not going to battle fair. But he did that too late. Redwald suddenly ran to his Pokémon, hugged him to hide in his arms, and turned his back to the pack to escape.

“I was wrong!” He said. Greta knew that the small body that Beedrill had made them look like just an ordinary wild Pokémon to encounter in the wild world. But if they appear as a pack, battling was not an option. Redwald learned that in the hard way.

Madison was the farthest one from the pack. Greta was seven meters behind her. Redwald was chasing Greta from right behind. The pack did not have a long distance as Redwald and Greta wasted their time close to them. But the running was not helping anyone, either. Beedrill were quite fast in the air that they caught up with Redwald and Greta in less than a minute. But Madison stumbled on a rock and fell down. With the rush and adrenaline Redwald and Greta had, it took seconds to catch up with her. Madison was the first one to come close. Madison was trying to stand up and keep the run as soon as possible. But Greta was already there. As much as she seemed unpleasant to be in a hard situation to make a tough decision, she reached her hand to Madison to help her. Her face expression was almost screaming that she was not doing that out of the love she had for Madison, but because of humanity. Madison could not tolerate the feeling of pride she had since her childhood. She did not only reject the help offer, but also, she slapped Greta’s hand to show that she could stand up on her own.

But nothing mattered at the moment, as the pack caught up with everyone. They split in three groups, and gathered around all of them to attack. Redwald was still protecting his Pokémon with the feeling of guilt for putting Eevee in this situation only because of his inconsiderate plan.

“Do something, Red! I am begging you!” Greta shouted out with a desperation. Redwald did not want anything more than helping her out. But he was limited at the time, as there was pretty much nothing he could do, until a Pokémon appeared.

When the purple, almost shadow Pokémon appeared, he caught all the attention on himself. Not only the pack of wild Beedrill, but even Redwald, Greta and Madison looked at him. The Pokémon had an evil smile on his face, and Redwald only hoped that he was not working with the pack.

The shadow Pokémon’s eyes began to glow in pink as everyone was watching him. After he had an eye contact with everyone, he had an evil smile on his face. But his glowing eyes were too magical to not look at.

“Don’t look at Haunter’s eyes!” Someone said. A man appeared behind the bushes. He was young, and his height was longer than Redwald and Greta. He had a clean face. The light brown hair was combed to the back. Only a piece of it was hanging down from the front. The crystal blue eyes were glowing bright in the dark forest. The purple suit and white coat he was wearing made him look like an elegant person. Greta wondered if he was a member of the royal family of Kanto.

As the man told the others not to look at the Pokémon’s, that he called Haunter, eyes, Redwald and the others broke the eye contact and paid their attention on the man. In seconds, Haunter put all the Beedrill in sleep. They dropped on the ground one after another.

“What was that about?” Madison said. She was lost in the chain of incidents. She sounded like she was trying to figure out if she was out of the danger, or the man was the new danger.

“This is Haunter’s Hypnosis.” The man said. “He uses this move to put the foe in sleep. They have to have an eye contact with him to make it work.”

Greta stepped forward and walked to the man. She had a gentle smile on her face. “Thank you for saving us.” She said. “We don’t have well trained Pokémon to deal with a pack of Beedrill yet.”

In the meantime, Redwald scanned one of the Beedrill with his Pokédex. The Pokédex identified the Pokémon for him.

“I saw you in need of help, so thought it would be good to reach a helping hand.” The man said calmly. He had almost gentle smile on his face, as well.

“I am Greta.” She introduced herself. “This is my friend Redwald.” She pointed out him.

“I am Eusine.” The man said. He reached his hand to Greta to shake hands. Greta realized that he was wearing white gloves. She was almost sure that Eusine was from an upper stage family. But his accent was different than people in Kanto. He was probably from somewhere else. Greta wondered the answers to all these questions, but she did not want to startle him with all the personal questions. Instead, what Redwald said changed the conversation.

“I think Eevee is poisoned.”

Everyone gathered around Eevee. Redwald put the Pokémon on the grasses, but Eevee was writhing there. Redwald grabbed his backpack despite he knew for sure he did not have any antidote, and he was right.

“Nothing to worry.” Greta said. “I had the same problem before. All we need is some herbs. I can prepare an antidote for Eevee. But we have to collect the herbs before.”

“Tell me what you need.” Redwald said. He was already getting ready to run for the herbs. But Greta showed her both palms. “You, stay here with Eevee, Red.” She said. “Somebody will have to stay with him here. He can’t go to places with you in this circumstance.”

She had a point. Redwald agreed with her. Greta took a paper and listed the herbs she needed. But there was one issue in the plan. She was not sure if she could find the herbs in Viridian Forest.

“No worries.” Eusine said, however. He grabbed a book out of his backpack and showed it to Greta. “This is a guide book for Kanto.” He said. “I am sure we can find a list of herbs in Viridian Forest, and where to find them.”

He put the book on the ground and started to leaf through. V was almost in the end of the book, but Eusine finally found it. Greta matched her list to the list of the herbs. She was also taking notes quickly.

“Peppermint for indigestion and colic, and Evening Primrose Oil to lessen the stiffness in the east side. Feverfew for the pain in the north side. Ginger for the nausea and Witch Hazel for the metabolism, in the west side...”

“It will take a lot of time.” Eusine said. “We have to separate in three different directions to look for them.” Greta thought that even if she and Eusine took two directions, there was still one missing.

“But...” Greta said, staring at the ground. At that moment, Madison stepped forward to show herself. “I am in, too.” She said. “As much as it was the silliest thing to do, you tried to help me with the Beedrill pack. I owe you one and I don’t like to owe anyone anything.”

“This is not for Greta, but for me.” Redwald said. “You don’t pay for her if you help me.”

“No.” Greta interrupted. “If she doesn’t help us, I will be the one to go to the third direction. If she helps, she does that for me, too. And I consider it you pay.”

Madison nodded her head. After that, Greta told Madison to take the eastern side to get Peppermint and Evening Primrose Oil. Then, she told Eusine to take the western side to get Ginger and Witch Hazel. As for herself, she took the direction to the northern side for Feverfew. The three agreed on it and departed.

Madison was walking through the path to the eastern side. She had a paper in her hand which was showing her which direction to take, and what the herbs she was supposed to get looked like. She turned from the corner and found a stream. The rocks in it would let her pass through. She jumped from one to another. A while, water Pokémon jumped from the stream and splashed water on Madison. As a reflect reaction, she reached to a Poké Ball in her pocket, but she did not call out the Pokémon. Instead, she scanned the Pokémon.

“You could be a promising Pokémon for my team, Seel, but I will let you be.” Madison said. “You would likely have trouble going on a journey with me. I am not living in the north, after all.”

Madison took a towel out of her backpack and got rid of the wet clothes. Then, she was ready to go on.

In the meantime, Eusine was following the road to the western side. He already passed more than half of the way. He did not need a picture of the herbs he needed, he was familiar with them, after all. But he needed a guide to show him the way. The Guide Book he bought a while ago helped him with that a lot. He was way faster than the other two. “They should be just about to halfway through.” He thought. He climbed a bulge, passed through the rocks, and finally found himself in the hill. His hand was always very close to his pocket to reach to the Poké Ball. He knew, without Haunter, he would be in a big trouble all the time.

“I can’t forget the time I was driven to the cliff by those Primeape when I just set foot in this forest.” He whimpered. When he found the Gingers. He collected extra to keep in his backpack. Eusine spotted the Hazel Witch right behind the tree close to him. He leerily checked behind of the tree in case a Pokémon would come forth to attack. Eusine took the Hazel Witch more than he needed as well. “It’s been easier than I thought.” He said while he put all the herbs in his backpack.

Greta was walking through the path along with the map she was holding. Feverfew was easy to spot as they were white and shiny flowers. “But I can’t confuse with daisy.” She repeated herself once. “Otherwise, all the trouble would be gone in vain.”

She started to think about the new guy, Eusine. He was an interesting person, Greta thought. He was respectable and he knew how to behave. “He should have been educated well.” She said. “I bet he comes from a rich family. He learned the manners, and he went to the private schools where the students are trained to be like the elite people. He definitely knows how to get attention.”

It took a moment for Greta to realize that she was overthinking about the new guy. She forced herself to think about something else, as it seemed to be the only option to feel more comfortable. But it became easier as she stepped on something that slipped away.

Greta reacted to it reflexively. She levitated her right leg and watched down the grasses. A small, orange Pokémon with plants on her head walked away from Greta fast, and turned her back to see Greta’s face. Greta smiled to say sorry, but the Pokémon began to shake her foremost legs which had sharp claws at the tips. She was clearly mad at her. Greta scanned the Pokémon right away.

Greta found the info grisly. Instead of messing with the Pokémon, Greta simply turned her back as if nothing happened, and kept walking. Her heartbeats fastened in seconds, as she walked away. Once she thought she went far enough, she checked her map once again.

“Darn it!” She responded. She got out of the road a little, but it would be easy to get to the right path. She changed her direction and found the path that she was supposed to be going on.

Finally, she found the Feverfew planted all around a tree. Greta ran to the herbs and brought out a tiny bag from her bag. She collected the Feverfews as much as she needed.

“That should be enough.” She said while she checked the bag. But before she put it in her bag, a voice distracted her. That was cry from a Pokémon. Greta was scared, but turned her back. She saw the same Paras with another Pokémon. The other one was bigger. It had to be evolved form of Paras, Greta thought while scanning him.

“What do you want?” Greta asked. She was scared but she had no intention to run away. There was no use in escaping, anyway. Paras and Parasect would chase her behind for a long time.

Parasect stepped forward to attack. Greta quickly grabbed the Poké Ball and threw it. “Go, Caterpie!” She said. Caterpie appeared before Parasect and stood in the middle.

Parasect started to run through the foe, while Greta stepped forward and ordered Caterpie to use String Shot. While Parasect got closer to her, Caterpie put strings in the middle which were to stick on Parasect’s feet and slow him down.

“Now is the chance, Tackle!” Greta responded. Caterpie quickly got closer to the foe and used Tackle on him. Parasect was effected, but the mushroom did not feel any pain, which was barely an excuse for Parasect to step back. Parasect quickly pulled himself together, and attacked Caterpie with Scratch. Caterpie was hurt, and she stepped back.

“Show him what you got, Caterpie!” Greta said. But someone else appeared as Greta was about to order her another Tackle.

“Hold it, Greta!” A man said. Surprised, Greta turned her back and saw Eusine running through her. He was trying to stop her as soon as possible. “No, Greta! Call Caterpie back!” He said. But Greta waited until Eusine came close enough to have a conversation, which took a couple of more seconds.

When Eusine came, he took another second to take a deep breath. “Fine...” He said, staring at the ground. He was not talking to anyone. Then he recovered, and was ready to talk.

“Parasect’s ability is Effect Spore. There is a high possibility that your Pokémon will either be paralyzed, burned, frozen, or anything like that as Caterpie makes contact with him.” He said. “We don’t need that.”

“But he will keep chasing me.” Greta said. “What am I supposed to do?”

In the moment Greta pronounced the last word, Parasect suddenly jumped on Caterpie and used another Scratch with his glowing claws. Greta screamed as a reflexive reaction. Eusine quickly reached to his Ultra Ball and called his Pokémon once again. Haunter appeared on the top of Caterpie and Parasect. Greta turned on her Pokédex to scan him.

“That’s even creepier than Parasect...” Greta said. She was in shock. She learned too much information to absorb in one day.

“Diamond cut diamond.” Eusine responded. Then he turned to his Pokémon. “Use Shadow Ball, Haunter!”

As Haunter’s eyes glowed in pure light purple, his hands began to move rhythmically. Greta thought it looked almost like Haunter was performing a ritual. A ball made of pure darkness appeared in Haunter’s hands in seconds, however. Haunter raised his both hands and threw the ball through the mushroom on Parasect. The ball hit the mushroom so hard that Parasect suddenly jumped by the other side, and Caterpie was finally set free.

“Once more, Haunter!” Eusine said. Haunter repeated the same move while Parasect tried to pull himself together. After the second Shadow Ball, Parasect was sent floating in the air until he hit a tree and fell down the ground. Little Paras walked through him fast, and brought him away.

“Thank you, Eusine.” Greta said. “I had no idea Viridian Forest could be that dangerous.”

“Are you alright?” Eusine asked, while he held Greta’s hands. For a moment, Greta felt like her heart was going to stop. Eusine’s gloves were so soft that Greta could feel his hands through them. Greta felt woozy, and stumbled on foot. Eusine caught Greta from her back, and let her sit down on the grasses.

“I think I am fine now.” Greta said. She was holding her head. Eusine looked at Greta’s Caterpie lying on the grasses. She was hurt and tired. Eusine walked through her slowly, took the tiny creature in his hands, and brought back to Greta. Caterpie, despite of tiredness on her face, smiled when she saw Greta next to her.

“You’ve done a great job, Caterpie.” Greta said. “You better have some rest in your Poké Ball now.”

Greta reached to Caterpie’s Poké Ball in her bag. When Greta was about to push the button on it which would activate the system to call the Pokémon back in, Caterpie glowed bright for a moment, but returned to her normal skin colour in seconds. But Greta did not realize that, instead she simply completed the process to call the Pokémon back in the ball.

“I think we should get back to Redwald and Eevee now.” Greta said. “They must be waiting for us.”

Eusine nodded his head, stood up and took Greta’s hand to help her stand up. After that, the two started to walk the path back to the beginning.

“Are you from this area?” Greta asked. For a moment, Eusine did not speak. “Not here.” He shortly said after that. Greta thought he did not want to reveal the truth on purpose, and did not ask more about that. They walked for a while in silence, until Greta came up with another question.

“Where are you going?” She said. Eusine was in silence for seconds again. When he opened his mouth to say something, a rustle interrupted the forced conversation. The two turned their back to where the rustle came from, and they saw three Parasect coming out.

“You still want more?” Greta said. She sounded mad. But right after, a lot of Parasect came out of bushes all around. Then, Greta sounded worried. “What do they want?” She asked.

“Revenge.” Eusine kept it as short as ever.

Humans

 * Redwald Walker
 * Greta Parker
 * Eusine Hunter
 * Madison Dickens

Pokémon

 * Wild Beedrill
 * Wild Seel
 * Wild Primeape (mentioned; several)
 * Wild Paras
 * Wild Parasect (several)
 * Wild Seel
 * Wild Primeape (mentioned; several)
 * Wild Paras
 * Wild Parasect (several)