All Alone (BEING EDITED)

Chapter 15: The Search Begins

I step out of the gym and into the bright sunlight. I grin at the badge in my hand and quickly put it in my case. After placing the case back in my bag and I begin walking to the pokemon center.

"Wattson was tough to beat, wasn't he?" Chatot says. I nod in agreement.

"That Voltorb managed to take out Combusken after three Rollout attacks. I didn't even know it knew a ground-type move." I stroll out of the corridor and into the central courtyard. Mauville City is one of a kind. Most of it is indoors except for the courtyard which has an open roof. The doors to the center slide open and I hand my pokemon over to Nurse Joy. I move to the lounge and throw myself onto a couch, sighing happily.

"Today was absolutely hectic. First the Team Magma encounter at Slateport, then all those trainers wanting a battle on Route 110, and finally the battle with Wattson. I'm exhausted." I close my eyes for a few minutes before glancing up at Chatot. He looks down at me and grins.

"I have an idea. While everyone is getting treated we can go to the bike shop here in the city. I think they have a pair of roller blades that they are giving away to anyone who asks." he suggests. I grin back and pull myself off the couch.

"What are we waiting for then? Let's grab them before someone else does!" I rush out the doors with Chatot following close behind. I enter a different corridor and stop for a few seconds to check out a map before sprinting in the direction of the shop. I slow down a few meters from the doors and calmly walk in. A man stands in the center of the shop looking around at the various bikes on display. He sees me enter and eagerly walks up to me.

"Why hello there! The name's Rydel. I am the famous owner of this shop. I can offer you either an acro or a mach bike. Just take your pick!" he says.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." I say, waving my hands in front of me. "I only came in to ask about the skates you are giving away." He grins at me again and leads me to a desk at the back of the shop. He pulls out a pair of black roller blades that matches my sweatshirt. Apparently they click onto the bottom of your shoes, so you can use them whenever you want.

"Good thing you came so soon. As soon as the news gets out people will start flocking this store to grab them." he says, handing them to me. I attach them to the bottom of my shoes and try skating around the store. Soon I'm flying around the store with Chatot standing on the desk watching me. I skate back to the desk and pull them off, shoving them into my backpack. Chatot flies back to my shoulder.

"Thanks!" I stroll out of the store and down the hall. I make my way back to the courtyard.

"Okay. Let's stop at the center to pick up my pokemon, then stop at the poke-mart for supplies, and finally-"

"Head down Route 111 before Paul shows up to make a mess of things?" Chatot interrupts. I stop to glare at him before walking across the yard towards the center.

"Yes, I will admit I (really) like him, but I don't need him to be my personal stalker. I've already had enough dealing with Conway." I whisper the last part quietly. I enter through the doors and make my way across the room to the desk. Nurse Joy hands my pokemon back to me and I click the balls back onto my belt. I re-enter the courtyard and saunter over to the poke-mart. I quickly restock my supplies before heading to the entrance of Route 111. I take the skates out of my bag and put them on my shoes. Chatot glides beside me as I begin skating down the path towards our next destination: Fallarbor Town.

"Seriously!? First the sandstorm and now the cable car to Mt. Chimney is blocked! I swear fate has something against me!" I exclaim angrily. Chatot lands on my arm and rubs his head on my hand to calm me down.

"All we have to do is head up the Fiery Path. We don't to use the cable car." he says soothingly. I take a deep breath to calm myself down.

"You're right. No use getting worked up over something like this." I turn towards the entrance to the cave. Heat radiates off of it and a faint red glow shines near the end of the tunnel.

"It's so hot." I say, unzipping the front of my sweatshirt, allowing the pink t-shirt to show. I trudge unwillingly into the cave and make my way down the sweltering hot path. Finally, I exit the hell-like cave and arrive at Route 113.

"Gosh. We're so close to the volcano that the whole route is covered in ash!" I gasp as I glance around at the piles of ashes accumulated on the sides of the route. Chatot flies down and lands on my shoulders.

"I can see Fallarbor Town from here. We are really close! By the way, you might want to take off those skates before they get ruined by the ash." he suggests, looking down at my skates.

"Right." I pull them off and set them in my bag. I straighten up and zip my sweatshirt back up before setting off in the direction Chatot had just flown from. Soon a few cabins and the familiar red roof of the pokemon center enter my vision. I sprint the last few meters to town. I let out a sigh, relieved at seeing some civilization in this deserted area. Just before I enter the pokemon center a woman in a white lab coat comes up to me and stops me at the doors. She looks worried and I tilt my head, wondering what the problem is.

"Sorry for bothering you, but I have a problem. Prof. Cozmo went out to study some of the meteorites nearby, but someone saw him get kidnapped by a group of people dressed all in red. I have no idea what to do! Can you please help save him?" she says frantically. I sigh inwardly. Of course Prof. Cozmo had to go and get himself kidnapped by Team Magma. Why is it always him? I nod politely.

"Yes. I will go look for him, but I can't promise anything." I reply reluctantly. She smiles gratefully and walks off. Chatot shakes his head in disbelief.

"I can't believe we have to save him again!" he exclaims, also annoyed at the professor. I pinch the bridge of my nose before walking into the center.

After getting a quick lunch and having my pokemon healed I exit the center, ready for my new task. I start walking down the road with Chatot still situated on my shoulder. I stuff my hands in my pockets, preparing for the long journey.

"Let the search begin." I grumble.