Journeying Through Johto

Chapter 9: Seeing Red Or Seeing Nothing

Hey everyone! Here's another chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

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May haphazardly packed her breakfast dishes back into her bag which was already untidy, littered with various trinkets and souvenirs she had bought since starting her travels in Johto, as well as food and supplies for her and her pokemon. She even still carried, in one of the pockets of her bag, from many months ago, the half ribbon she had won at the Terracotta contest in which she and Ash had tied for first place. She kept it with her as a good luck charm as well as a reminder of all the journeys and adventures she had been on in those two and a half years.

She picked Blaziken's pokeball from her bag after getting the idea to always have one of her pokemon out with her to keep her company while she travelled and also so she could train with Blaziken every now and then since she planned to use it in the upcoming Violet City contest.

"Blaziken, come on out!" She tossed the pokeball in the air and the mostly red pokemon appeared from a burst of red light. May smiled at her much taller starter pokemon. "Do you want to walk with me to Violet City, Blaziken?"

"Blaze-blaziken." It nodded.

"Great! Let's go," May began walking on the dirt road and Blaziken fell into step with her. "And we'll do some training as we go too!" Blaziken nodded. May had been a lot more cheerful since the morning, after Max called her and told her that after the weeks he had spent training, he earned his second badge on his second try in Mauville city. Now she needed to get her second one too. She was sure Violet city would be the one. She would make sure it was.

After walking silently for some time she turned to Blaziken and asked curiously, "So Blaziken, do you still remember everything from back when you were just a Torchic?"

"Blaziken-blaze." The fire type nodded.

"Really?" May smiled. "So then you remember how Ash's Corphish used to steal your food and make you cry? And that time when you ate those Bluk berries that you weren't supposed to eat?" Blaziken nodded, looking slightly embarrassed.

"I can't even remember how long ago that was anymore. Doesn't it feel like forever ago?" Blaziken nodded. "You used to be so small. I didn't even enter you in any contests back then. And now look at you." May grinned. "You're so strong and you work so hard. You've always done your best, Blaziken. And I want you to know I'm really proud of you! I don't think I've told you that enough." Blaziken smiled down at her. As they continued on through the forest, May talked to Blaziken about random things. She told stories about her childhood and how she didn't used to like pokemon. She talked about all her favourite places in Hoenn and Kanto and in Johto so far. After a while she decided to train with Blaziken. They stopped in a small clearing and got to work.

"Alright Blaziken, let's start with a few fire type moves!" May called out. "Ember upwards!" Blaziken shot the balls of fire towards the sky in a straight line. Now add Flamethrower!" Blaziken did so by releasing a blast of fire in a direction that was clear of trees. After a few seconds she called, "Now Overheat!" The firepower increased and May could feel the sudden heat from the attack as it blasted more ferociously. After a few seconds she called Blaziken to a stop.

"That was perfect Blaziken!" May praised. "Now let's practice some of your other moves!" Blaziken nodded. May pulled one of her pink frisbees from her bag. "Okay let's start with Sky Uppercut!" She flicked the frisbee high. Blaziken jumped into the air, its arm glowed white and swung down onto the frisbee with such force that it split in two and struck the ground hard. Blaziken then swiftly landed on the ground in front of May and stared down at the broken frisbee and May looked at him, both surprised and confused.