Pokémon Voyages Red-Blue (8)

            I got my Pokémon healed, and then went on toward Route 2. I had just finished up catching some new Pokémon and sending them to Oak when someone behind me yelled, “HEY! IT’S YOU!” I turned to see Jake the bug catcher running toward me. “I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT REMATCHING YOU!” 
            I laughed. As usual, his enthusiasm was infectious. He pointed at me. “Bug versus bug! Let me rematch your Caterpie!” I nodded and tossed Caterpie onto the battlefield, and he sent out Weedle- except Weedle wasn’t a Weedle anymore- he had hardened into a Kakuna.
            “WHAHAHA!” Jake laughed. I’ll admit, I was a little worried. Caterpie hadn’t evolved yet, and now she was facing an evolved opponent. But Caterpie was up for it, so I shook off that worry. 
            “Caterpie, Tackle!”
            “Oh yeah? Kakuna, Harden!” 
            The Bug and Poison type’s shell hardened, and Caterpie bounced off.
            “Bug Bite, Caterpie!”
            “Uh… Harden again!” Caterpie gnawed at Kakuna’s now rock-hard body, then backed off with a face that implied Kakuna tasted disgusting.
            “Caterpie, Tackle!” Caterpie rammed into Kakuna, barely doing anything. Jake, however, had no idea what he was supposed to do. “Um…”
            “Caterpie, play the long game- Tackle again! Keep at it!” Caterpie continued to ram Kakuna, and Jake blurted, “Uh, Tackle!”
            “String Shot!” I called, and Kakuna got caught mid-attack. Jake continued to be at a loss for commands. “Uh… Harden… Tackle… something…”
            “Bug Bite!” Caterpie finally bit Kakuna until Kakuna gave in, and Jake returned him, sighing. “I probably should’ve thought more about what Kakuna’s moves are- hey, your Caterpie!” Caterpie had started glowing white-blue. A hard shell formed around her, encasing him, and shaping her into a curve. Metapod let out a cry, and then… stood still. Jake yelled, “WOAH, CATERPIE EVOLVED NOW!” I returned Metapod, shook hands with Jake, and kept going on the route. 
            Soon, I reached Pewter City. I healed Metapod, and then while I was walking to the Gym, something yellow and furry and very fast used my face as a launch pad, knocking me to the ground. I rubbed my face and turned around to see a Pikachu with a Nanab berry, staring at me, then looking up in shock and running away. I got up and saw a berry farmer with a shovel chasing after the Pikachu, yelling “Outta my way, kid, unless you’re here to help me catch that furry thief!” 
            I watched the Pikachu dash off, stealing a cap right of someone’s head, causing them to join the chase as well. It was like Pikachu was the Gingerbread Man, but cuter and more of a menace. I watched him steal berries, sandwiches, someone’s shoes. Eventually I came to my senses and threw Bulbasaur into Pikachu’s path. “Vine Whip, catch him!”
            Pikachu easily avoided the twin vines and bounced away, right into Charmander. “Ember!”
            Charmander launched a flaming coal, which singed Pikachu’s tail, but he dodged the worst of the attack and got past by electrocuting Charmander which a Thunder Shock. And so he ran past Charmander, thinking he was so smart- until he stepped on a Pokéball. The trap I’d placed where a stone had been missing in the sidewalk sucked the Electric-type in, and after some thrashing, clicked. 

I peered inside the Pokéball at the little yellow menace. He was very purposely turned anywhere but towards me, except once to make a rude gesture that Pikachu should NOT be able to do because they have no fingers, but he did it.
            The farmer ran up to me. “Great! Now lemme at him!”
            “What?! No!” I jumped. “I caught him! You can take back everything he stole, but don’t hurt him!”
            The mob grumbled, and started to gather their things. I considered sending Pikachu to Oak, but I thought about it. The one Pokémon Red always has at his side… is his Pikachu. Maybe I could train this little lightning bolt menace. I let Pikachu out of the Pokéball. “Alright, Pikachu. What is it you want?” Pikachu turned his nose up at me and turned around, very purposefully shaking his rear end at me.
            “You don’t have to scavenge anymore. I’ll feed you,” I told him. His ears twitched, but he stayed firmly turned around.
            Bulbasaur and Charmander attempted reasoning with him. What they said exactly, I don’t know, but Pikachu did not care for it. He changed positions with the sole purpose of making sure his butt faced all three of us.
            Just about then an old woman walked over to me. “Hello, young sir. I saw you excel in capturing that Pikachu, so I know you’re good with Pokémon. Would you mind watching my Slowpoke a while?”
            “Uh-” I started, more focused on stopping Pikachu from eating all the Pewter Crunchies from her purse.
            “Great! Thanks so much!” She gestured at a park bench with a Slowpoke next to it. “Make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble! See you later!” With that she dashed off, leaving me babysitter of a Pikachu with more Pewter Crunchies in his mouth than any human could accomplish, and a Slowpoke that I’m 90% sure was sleeping with his eyes open.