Chapter 23: A Week Later

It had been a week since the events in Viridian Forest. After all the trainers were rescued, the League released an official statement.

[All the trainers have been saved, and all the Team Rocket grunts behind the act have been caught]

They did not tell the truth, not even to the trainers. Only Aeron and Nessa were the ones who knew about The Syndicate, but Atlas had asked them not to speak about it. The League did not want people to go crazy over another criminal organization running wild in Kanto.

"Axe, use [Scratch]."

In Viridian City Pokémon Centre's training room, Aeron and Axew continued their training. After another checkup from Nurse Joy, Aeron got the green light to train.

Axew lowered his body and ran toward the Pokémon waiting for him.

"Horsea, use [Bubble Beam]."

The battlefield was similar to any Water-type gym.

Axew tried his best to jump around on the floating platforms while dodging the [Bubble Beam] fired by Nessa's Horsea. The focus of this training was not to beat each other.

The Dragon was learning how to dodge attacks while constantly trying to maintain his balance on the floating platforms, whereas the young Horsea was improving his aim and learning to stay away from his attackers.

Axew tried to get close to Horsea, but the Water-type kept his distance while firing the [Bubble Beam].

"Axew!"

The Dragon growled as he got annoyed at the slippery Water-type.

"Se Se Se."

Nessa's Horsea did not waste the opportunity to taunt him as well.

"XEW!"

Axew leaped towards the Water-type without caring for the incoming [Bubble Beam] with a crazed look.

BOOM

[Bubble Beam] collided with Axew, but the Dragon scoffed it off before jumping toward the Horsea.

"Sea?" The Water-type was shocked when the Dragon took his attack head-on, suffering only a few injuries.

"Horsea, quick, use [Smokescreen]," Nessa ordered when she saw Axew was dangerously close to her Pokémon.

"Not so fast." Aeron looked at his Dragon, who was just a few platforms away. "Axe, pick those platforms and throw them at Horsea."

"WHAT?"

"Horsea?"

The dragon ignored his opponents' shocked cries before picking the closest floating platform and throwing it at Horsea.

"Horsea, dodge."

The Water-type immediately got away from the incoming projectile, however...

The Dragon clenched his fists before Aeron gave his command.

"Show them our progress. Use [Dragon Claw]."

"AXEW!"

With his frustration built for almost an hour, Axew gathered Dragon-type energy toward his claws before he charged at Horsea. The energy took the shape of his claws, and Axew swung his right claw at the opponent.

"[Water Gun]."

Nessa knew it was too late to dodge and thus decided to trade damage.

BOOM

Two attacks collided, creating a small explosion along with a smoke cloud.

Both Pokemon were sent flying back from the impact. Horsea was blasted into the pool's wall while Axew was thrown into the water.

"Axew."

"Horsea."

The trainers called out for their injured Pokémon.

"Xew..." The dragon winced in pain before finding a nearby platform to climb upon.

"Sea..." The Water-type returned to the water, but its face was pale due to intense pain. However, he, too, refused to give up.

"Alright, that's enough."

Axew and Horsea relaxed when the trainers stopped the battle before returning to their respective trainers.

Aeron and Nessa healed their Pokémon while rewarding them with their favourite berries.

"Axew is something else. It took him, like, what? Three days to learn the [Dragon Claw]?" Nessa praised the Dragon, now eating his favourite berry with a small droll around his face.

"Axew is the best."

"Axew." The dragon nodded his head at those words.

"Your Horsea has made so much progress in a week." Aeron walked forward and picked up the Water-type in his arms before patting his head.

"Sea...."

"Your head pats have become very addictive for him." Nessa shook her head as she saw her Pokémon melt in Aeron's arms. Those headpats were something else. No matter how much she tried, Nessa could not get the same results. "Just what secrets are you hiding in that hand of yours."

Aeron shrugged his shoulders, not knowing it himself.

"Shall we start our training too?" Nessa said as she walked toward the corner with training equipment for trainers. She wore black leggings and a sports bra. Her dark blue hair was tied into a bun.

After the incident with The Syndicate, Aeron realized many things. Firstly, he needed his Pokémon to be strong enough to fight anyone who wanted to harm him with their own. In that regard, Axew had been training even more intensely and voluntarily challenged Nessa's Horsea to a battle. Secondly, Aeron realized he needed to be strong himself. He could not be as strong as Pokémon, but what about against other humans?

After he got a green light from Nurse Joy to move around, he immediately started training himself.

"I should be thankful for that friend of yours." Aeron followed Nessa and stretched his body. He was a beginner in body training, but Nessa was not.

"Bea loves training herself along with her Pokémon. I picked that habit from her along with other things." Nessa thought about her friend. 'I should call her tonight.' She turned toward Aeron, who had finished stretching his body. "Ready?"

"Yes."

-0-

Huff Huff

Aeron lay on the floor in the training grounds, panting for breath. This was the third day he had been following Nessa in her training, and he had to say, as strong as he considered himself, he was not. It hurt his pride, somehow, that Nessa was a bit on the stronger side than him.

One hundred push-ups, one hundred sit-ups and ten km of running. Followed by ten minutes of rest, and then repeat.

Aeron looked at Nessa, who was standing over his head. They both were covered in sweat, but unlike him, Nessa was not panting for her breath.

"Here." She handed him a water bottle, and the black-haired boy sat up. "Ready for spars?"

-0-

Nessa and Horsea sat in the cafeteria. They had parted ways when Aeron got a call from Atlas Derlick.

'It must be about the Growlithe egg.'

Thirty minutes after she arrived in the cafeteria, she saw Aeron coming toward her from a distance.

"How was it?" asked Nessa, curious about the call.

"It's happening today," Aeron replied with an excited expression. "The egg will reach the Pokémon Centre in the evening." He proceeded to grab some food for himself and Axew before sitting opposite Nessa.

"Did he say why it took so long?"

Aeron was supposed to get his Growlithe egg the same day he met Atlas but was later informed of some delay.

"The egg is coming from a different source. But it will be here in the evening for sure," Aeron answered before changing the subject. "What are your plans for the future?"

Nessa came to Kanto Region to look for answers and to train herself. Though her first few weeks in Kanto were...eventful, Aeron wondered what the girl had in mind.

"The plan is still the same," Nessa replied between her bites. "Travel and train. What about you?"

Aeron thought for a few seconds before pulling out his Pokedex. He turned it toward Nessa.

"Hmm? Are you sure?" Nessa frowned as she saw the online form on the screen.

"I am not registering to win but to learn and improve." Aeron took back his Pokedex. "Indigo Conference is about a year away, enough time for me to gather a team and train. Even if I didn't beat the Gym Circuit on my first try, I would have grown a lot stronger than I would have otherwise."

"That means you will be travelling around the region, challenging gyms and looking for new Pokémon?" asked Nessa.

"And that is exactly why I was thinking about it..." Aeron paused before taking a brief look at Nessa. He knew the girl was waiting for it. It was obvious to both of them by now, but as calm as Aeron could be, this was his first time asking a girl...out? Was it even asking out? But he asked nonetheless."...how about we travel together?"

A smile that showed how happy she was, appeared on Nessa's face, but she controlled it before muttering to herself.

"I don't know. I hoped to travel alone and...oye, oye oyeeee, where are you going?" Nessa immediately stopped her teasing when she saw Aeron walk away.

"Getting some more food," Aeron replied with a teasing smirk.

Nessa immediately realized that Aeron was messing with her like she was doing with him. She puffed her soft cheeks in fake anger. "Meanie."

Aeron returned to his seat, smiling as he looked at Nessa and thought to himself. 'Cute.'

"Where do we go from here?" asked Nessa dropping the act, excited for their journey.

"I was thinking of following the general route of Kanto, and we just happened to be in Viridian City." Viridian City was famous among new trainers for its Viridian Forest, which had Pokemon that were easy to catch. It became a starting point for trainers to start their journey. "But I want to reach Lavender Town as fast as possible."

"I agree." Nessa knew why Aeron wanted to go to Lavender Town.

The Pokémon Tower or also known as The Graveyard of Pokémon.

She learned about Pichu's death and knew Aeron wanted to give the little Pokémon a proper burial instead of burying it in a random spot.

A Pokémon's body did not decompose quickly, while the Pokeball ensured it didn't deteriorate even a little. Therefore, they did not have to worry about when they reached Lavender Town. However, Aeron still wanted it to be as soon as possible.

"It might sound weird, but it was the second Pokémon I caught." Aeron looked at the Pokeball officially registered under his name, which meant that any Pokémon inside belonged to Aeron. "Even though it died, it was still my Pokémon, and I want to give the little guy a proper burial."

Nessa could sense guilt in Aeron's eyes. She knew he blamed himself for being unable to save the Pichu even though he could not have done anything.

"Then let's ensure Pichu gets it as soon as possible."

-------------------------End of Chapter-------------------------

Author's Note:

- I have plans for Pichu, but later down the line.

- If you want something to happen in the story, let me know, and I will see if I can play around with it and make it happen.

- Have a wonderful day, you all.

- Peace!