Beyond the Adventure - A Pokémon Story

Chapter 13: Atonement pt1

                The midday sun beams down upon us as we walk down Route 110.  The dirt road is overgrown in brush, and I am constantly picking the burs from my socks.  Jaws seems to enjoy himself, every now and then finding an interesting Pokémon peeking its head from the tall grass.  He finds a small yellow Pokémon that looks kind of like a Pikachu, but with blue ears and cheeks.  It is sitting still, eating a berry, while Jaws tries to sneak up on it.  He pounces, but the little Pokémon sees him and darts out of the way.  Jaws chases after it, but the mini Pikachu zaps him with a startling bolt of electricity.  Jaws gets knocked back and the Pokémon darts away.  Jaws shakes his head and stands up.  I laugh and hope he learns his lesson when messing with electric rodents.

                Darius looks around in awe, seeing many new species he has yet to see.  He mentions that he has recognized some, like the little yellow Pokémon Jaws tried messing with (he says it is called a Minun, and has a red counterpart named Plusle), and there are some he has not seen, like the white and blue birds diving into the nearby water.  Jess says they are called Wingull and it evolves into a large-billed Pelipper.  She says many traveling trainers like to keep Pelipper with them to help catch lots of fish.

                Up ahead, a large looming high-rise towers above us.  I look up and it appears to be a man-made road high above the grass and water.  Just ahead, I see a building that appears to lead to the road.  I point to it.  “Hey, what do you say we take that road up there?” I suggest.  “It would be nice to get out of this unkempt path.”

                Jess looks at it in awe.  “I was wondering when this would get finished,” she says.  “When I left, they announced the beginning of construction on a bicycle path.  This must be it!”

                “Huh, a bike path,” I say.  “I wonder if we can walk along it.”

                Darius shrugs.  “We can always ask,” he says.

                Jess shakes her head.  “I doubt it,” she says.  “It’s meant for bicycles.”

                “Bah, let’s go anyway!” Darius says, and he starts running toward the building.

                “He sure perked up when we got here,” I say.

                Jess nods.  “Yeah, I think this is exactly what he needed after his loss…”

                I look down, her words a painful reminder of what went on mere days ago.  I know he has not forgotten, and his loss causes him tremendous pain.  I have seen Darius staring out at the ocean in the middle of the night during our trip, alone.  I felt like going up to him, give him some company, let him know that we are here for him, but I let him have his space.  He has been through a lot, and when you lose someone close to you, sometimes the best medicine is some solitude.

                We follow Darius into the building, where we see Darius arguing with a lady at the gate.  “What do you mean it’s for bicycles only?” he grumbles.

                “I mean…” the lady says, looking annoyed.  “…only those on bicycles can enter!  It is a bike road, not a foot road!”

                “So there are no sidewalks or anything?  Nothing?!” Darius complains.

                “No sir, no sidewalks!” the lady says.

                Darius sighs.  “Fine!”  He stomps past us, fuming.

                I look at the lady.  “I’m sorry,” I apologize.  “He’s had a rough week.”