Chapter 13: A Stormy Pursuit
We resumed our pursuit, Misty's determined strides eating up the ground, me jogging slightly to keep pace. I was actually impressed by her stamina, considering she was still probably fuming about her stolen bike. Just as we started to gain ground on Ash's… borrowed ride, the sky above us turned a disturbing shade of bruised purple. The air grew heavy, and a low rumble echoed in the distance.
"Something's not right," Misty said, her voice losing some of its earlier fire, replaced with a note of genuine worry. She glanced upwards, her brow furrowed as we pressed on.
No sooner had she spoken than the heavens opened. A sudden, violent storm descended upon us, drenching us to the bone within seconds. Rain lashed down, blurring our vision, and the wind howled like a wild beast, whipping my hair across my face. The air crackled with an almost palpable energy, making the hairs on my arms stand on end. It felt… unnatural, charged. Like something big was happening.
Then, as abruptly as it began, the storm ceased. The wind died down instantly, the rain stopped mid-torrent, and the oppressive purple sky began to tear apart, revealing patches of clearing blue. An eerie, unnatural stillness fell, broken only by the dripping of water from leaves and our own ragged breaths.
The sudden shift felt… wrong. Like a switch had been flipped. Maybe a localized effect? Or… something else entirely?
And then, I saw it.
A majestic, rainbow-colored bird, larger than any Pidgey or Spearow I'd ever imagined, soared across the newly clearing sky. Its wings, impossibly vibrant, shimmered with an ethereal, multi-hued glow, catching and refracting the sunlight that pierced through the clouds. It moved with a grace and power that stole my breath away.
"Ho-Oh…" I whispered, the name escaping my lips in a breathy, awestruck sound. My heart leaped in my chest. No way…
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[Hidden Achievement Unlocked]
★ First Legendary Pokémon Sighting (Ho-Oh) ★
Caught a glimpse of the sacred Ho-Oh, igniting a burning Passion for adventure.
Rewards:
LCK +5
EXP Gained: +100
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A translucent blue screen flickered in the corner of my vision for a moment, announcing the "Hidden Achievement." Holy crap, a Legendary Pokémon. In real life. This is… insane. I'd seen Ho-Oh countless times in the anime and games, of course. But to witness it in real life – to feel the air literally shift with its majestic presence – was something else entirely. This world… this world had a magic, a weight, a reality that was far beyond anything I had ever experienced before in the 'real' world.
Misty stood beside me, equally stunned, her usual sharp expression softened into something close to wonder. "What… what was that?" she murmured, eyes wide as she tracked the legendary Pokémon's flight path across the sky.
I couldn't answer her. Words seemed inadequate, pointless. All I could do was stare upwards, at the fading shimmer of rainbow feathers against the blue, lost in thought. There was no denying it anymore – I was truly in the world of Pokémon, with all its incredible wonders and potential dangers.
When we finally reached the spot where the strange storm, or whatever that was, had seemed to center, we found several fainted Spearow scattered haphazardly across a small clearing. Lightning strike? Maybe. The air still smelled faintly ozone-y. I spotted one lying slightly apart from the rest, unconscious near the edge of the clearing, its brown and black feathers ruffled and damp from the storm.
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[Spearow]
[Lv. 7]
[Gender]: Male ♂️
[HP]: 1/24 (Fainted)
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Another blue window popped up, this one giving me a closer look at the lone Spearow. Level 7. Not bad. Without hesitation, and on pure impulse, I pulled out a fresh Pokéball from my belt and tossed it in a smooth arc at the Spearow. It hit its mark, engulfing the fainted Pokémon in a red flash. I'd noticed a small, slightly darker patch of ruffled feathers on its head earlier - I think this was the one that had taken a hit from Pikachu and triggered the whole Spearow gang-up on Ash. Redemption arc, perhaps? The ball clicked shut after a single, satisfying shake. Yes!
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[Pokédex Updated]
Spearow #0021
[Type]: {Flying}{Normal}
Inept at flying high. However, it can fly around very fast to protect its territory.
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The familiar Pokédex entry flashed in my vision as I picked up the Pokéball. A strange sense of quiet satisfaction settled over me. This Spearow was strong, I thought, considering its level and resilience. It had been part of the aggressive flock that had attacked Ash, yet it had somehow survived both Pikachu's electric attack and that bizarre storm. There was something undeniably tough, even defiant, about it. Something that instinctively told me this was the kind of Pokémon I could rely on in the future. Maybe I'm actually getting the hang of this whole trainer thing.
(Misty's Internal Monologue) Seriously? A Spearow? After everything we've just been through, that's what he focuses on? And just… throws a Pokéball at it without even assessing its condition properly? No battle, no weakening? Beginner's luck, I suppose. Or just… impulsive. Hopefully, he realizes capturing a Pokémon is more than just adding to a collection. Still… it was a remarkably resilient Spearow to survive that storm and Pikachu… hmm.
Misty approached, looking around at the unconscious Spearow scattered around us. "I don't know what happened here," she said, shaking her head slightly, "but… I'm glad we're okay."
"Yeah," I agreed, though my mind was already racing ahead, considering team composition and training regimes for my growing Pokémon roster. Capturing this Spearow felt like the right move, a gut feeling I was starting to trust. It had proven its toughness in a chaotic situation. Maybe, just maybe, this newly caught Spearow would grow into something just as impressive and reliable as Ace already was becoming.
Nearby, Misty knelt down with a sigh by the charred, twisted remains of her bike. "Well," she said, her voice flat with a mixture of anger and resignation, "I guess I won't be riding this again." She gestured to the mangled metal frame, clearly beyond repair.
I winced, looking at the wreckage. "Looks like we're walking to Viridian City," I stated the obvious.
Misty straightened up, giving me a dry, exasperated look. "You think?" Her tone clearly conveyed exactly how thrilled she was about the prospect of a long walk while still soaked and bike-less.
By the time we finally reached the outskirts of Viridian City, the sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the newly lit streetlights cast long, eerie shadows along the quiet streets leading to the city gate. As we approached the main gate, Officer Jenny – the Officer Jenny, I realized with a jolt of recognition – stood at her post, her hand resting casually but alertly on her belt as she scrutinized us with a sharp, slightly suspicious gaze. Canon Officer Jenny sighting! Check that off the mental list.
"Halt!" she commanded, stepping forward, her voice clear and authoritative. "What's your business here?"
I raised my hands in a deliberately peaceful gesture, trying to project 'non-threatening newbie trainer' vibes. "We're just passing through, Officer. We had some… trouble with Spearow in the woods back on Route 1, and… well, my friend's bike was… uh… stolen." I winced internally at the blatant understatement.
Misty shot me a sharp, sidelong look that could have electrocuted a Pikachu, but thankfully, she stayed silent, letting me handle the… explanation.
"Stolen?" Jenny's perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched upwards, her expression darkening further. "By whom, exactly?"
"A trainer named Ash Ketchum," Misty replied tersely, her voice clipped with barely contained fury. Yep, still not over the bike.
Officer Jenny's eyes narrowed even further, her gaze intense and assessing, as if she was personally calibrating her internal lie-detector to gauge the truthfulness of our… story. "I've had some reports of suspicious activity near Professor Oak's lab recently," she said slowly, her voice thoughtful but still sharp. "You wouldn't happen to be involved in any of that, would you?"
I blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in topic. "Suspicious activity? Professor Oak's lab? No, Officer, we didn't have anything to do with that." Suspicious activity? Team Rocket already? This is moving fast.
Jenny's hand subtly hovered even closer to her sidearm – her taser, probably, based on the anime. "I'll need to verify your identities," she stated firmly, all business now. "Standard procedure. Hand over your Trainer IDs, please."
My heart skipped a beat. Trainer ID check. Okay, gotta play it cool. I quickly unclipped my Trainer ID from my belt and handed it over to her, trying to keep my hands from visibly shaking. Misty, with a sigh that clearly indicated her extreme impatience with the whole process, did the same. Officer Jenny efficiently scanned our IDs through her own device. After a few tense moments of electronic whirring and screen flickers, Jenny's posture visibly relaxed, just a fraction, but enough to be noticeable. "Alright," she conceded, handing back our IDs. "You guys check out. For now. But I'm keeping an eye on you two." Her tone made it clear this wasn't just a figure of speech.
Misty actually sighed in relief, the tension visibly draining from her shoulders. "Finally," she muttered under her breath.
"By the way, Officer Jenny," I asked, remembering Ash's desperate need for a Pokémon Center, and playing along with the 'concerned bystander' act. "Have you happened to see a trainer named Ash Ketchum pass through here recently? He was heading this way, and seemed… distressed."
Jenny's face hardened again, her professional demeanor returning instantly at the mention of Ash's name. "As a matter of fact, I did. A boy fitting that description passed by earlier today. At first, he did seem suspicious, I'll admit, because he was carrying his Pokémon – a Pikachu – outside of its Pokéball. That's not exactly normal practice around here, especially with the recent… incidents."
"Yeah, we, uh, kind of ran into him earlier, back on Route 1," I said, glancing quickly at Misty, who just crossed her arms and remained pointedly silent, still radiating bike-theft indignation. "What happened after that? Was Pikachu alright?" I asked, injecting appropriate concern into my voice.
Jenny nodded slowly, her stern expression softening just a fraction, revealing a hint of professional empathy. "I had my initial doubts, yes, but I verified his Trainer registration. Once I confirmed he was a registered trainer, and saw the state of his Pikachu… I escorted him personally towards the nearest Pokémon Center. His Pikachu looked like it was in bad shape – it had clearly taken a serious electric-type hit. Poor thing was… twitching, electricity still crackling faintly around its fur."
Misty's eyes flashed with genuine worry, overriding her lingering anger. "Viridian City Pokémon Center? That's where you took him?"
Jenny nodded again. "That's right. If you're looking for him, and it sounds like you are, I'd suggest you head there. But be careful," she cautioned, her voice regaining its edge. "There's been some strange activity in the area all day, and with all the… suspicious reports coming in, I'm not taking any chances. For anyone."
A cold feeling settled in my stomach. Suspicious activity, reports, Team Rocket… this is definitely escalating. Ash's journey had always been filled with challenges, yeah, but seeing it unfold right in front of me, experiencing it… that was something entirely different. His Pikachu wasn't just pixels on a screen anymore—it was a real, living creature, and it was hurt. We needed to make sure he was okay. And… maybe try to subtly steer him away from any Team Rocket entanglements, if possible. No pressure, right?
"Thanks, Officer Jenny," I said, offering a polite nod. Turning to Misty, I added, "Let's head to the Pokémon Center then."
She nodded curtly, her expression still stormy about the bike, but her worry about Pikachu was clearly winning out, at least for the moment. "Yeah, let's go. And if we do find Ash," she added, her voice hardening again, "he definitely owes me a new bike. Top of the line model. With all the upgrades."
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[Quest(s) Updated]
1. You have reached Viridian City
a. Clerk's Gift:
• Meet the PokéMart clerk. They'll give you an item that will help on your journey.
• Reward:
- Map of Kanto
- 100 EXP
b. Checking In
• Visit the Pokémon Center.
• Reward:
- ???
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Another blue screen flickered, updating my quests as we walked through the now-dark streets of Viridian City. The sun had fully set now, and the streetlights cast long, dancing shadows that seemed to writhe in the growing darkness. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that something big, something ominous, was brewing, about to happen. The Ho-Oh sighting, the freak storm, Officer Jenny's cryptic warnings about "suspicious activity" and Team Rocket… it all weighed heavily on my mind. This world wasn't just a game anymore. It was real, tangible, and yes, undeniably dangerous. Far more so than I'd truly grasped back when I was just playing the games or passively watching the anime.
But despite the creeping sense of unease, despite the warnings, despite the clear and present danger… I couldn't deny a thrill of… excitement? Yeah, excitement. Mixed with a healthy dose of trepidation, sure, but excitement nonetheless. My journey was just beginning, and with Ace's Pokéball warm against my belt, and my newly captured Spearow added to the team, I was… well, maybe not ready for whatever came next, but definitely… intrigued. And more than a little determined.
We finally spotted the familiar red roof of the Viridian City Pokémon Center up ahead, its brightly lit windows a beacon of safety and normalcy in the gathering darkness.
"Here we are," I said, taking a deep breath and trying to consciously relax my tense shoulders. "Let's hope we find Ash – and Pikachu – inside. And in one piece."
Misty grumbled beside me, her frustration with the bike theft still simmering just beneath the surface. "Yeah, let's go. And my bike. Don't forget my bike."
As we approached the sliding glass doors of the Pokémon Center, I glanced down at the Pokéballs on my belt. Ace was officially registered, my starter and my reliable partner. But I still had Magikarp, Spearow, Rattata, and Mankey – my slightly less… glamorous captures – unregistered. Each one represented a new piece of this complex, dangerous, and fascinating world that I was slowly, tentatively, beginning to understand. I needed to get those registered soon, officially expand my team. And I needed to keep all my captures in mind, train them up, build a team that could actually handle whatever this world threw at us. Because I had a sinking feeling, deep in my gut, that whatever was coming… it was going to be big.
Just before we reached the entrance, I overheard snippets of hushed conversation from a small group of townspeople gathered nervously near a community bulletin board just outside the Pokémon Center's doors.
"Did you hear about the trouble in the outskirts?" one of them whispered, glancing around with wide, nervous eyes. "There's been reports all day of a group of trainers causing chaos, stealing Pokémon and supplies from other trainers, even ordinary citizens."
"Yeah, they say it's Team Rocket again," another added, lowering their voice conspiratorially. "If Team Rocket is this close to Viridian City… who knows what they'll do next? It's not safe out there anymore."
Misty frowned, her steps faltering slightly as she caught the worried whispers. "What's going on? Team Rocket? Here?" Her hand instinctively went to the Pokéball on her belt.
I felt a cold knot tighten in my chest. The casual, almost whispered mention of Team Rocket was more concerning than a shout. Especially here, in Viridian City, practically next door to Pewter and Viridian Forest. If Team Rocket was active this close to the starting towns… things were definitely escalating, and fast.
"Let's get inside," I urged, placing a hand lightly on Misty's arm to gently guide her forward. "I really don't want to stick around out here to find out what 'next' means."
With a quick, shared glance between us – a look that acknowledged the growing unease and unspoken threat – we stepped through the automatic doors of the Pokémon Center, leaving the gathering darkness and the ominous whispers behind us, ready to face… well, whatever awaited us inside. My heart raced, a mix of adrenaline and apprehension. Not just from the immediate anticipation of finally seeing Ash again, and hopefully seeing Pikachu safe… but also from a strange, almost reckless excitement at the prospect of possibly, actually, encountering Jessie and James, from Team Rocket, in real life. This is really happening, a part of my brain screamed in a mixture of terror and exhilaration. And I have absolutely no idea how this is going to play out.
***
Chapter End