Amy's Sinnoh Adventure (A Pokémon D/P/PL Fan-fic)

Chapter 4: A Big Decision

Barry led the way as the three friends left Verity Lakefront and onto Route 201.

"We may not have found a rare-looking red Gyarados at the lake," said Melanie, "but we definitely had an exciting time fighting those Starly."

"You can say that again," Barry agreed.

Amy looked at the Poké Ball in her hand. Battling those Starly had certainly been exhilarating. And fighting along Turtwig had been awesome, too.

"Hey, look!" exclaimed Barry, stopping in his tracks. "It's those people from the lake."

Amy looked up from the Poké Ball as she and Melanie paused as well.

"Is that professor guy staring at us?" wondered Amy.

Lucas and the man turned around as they heard the three friends come their way. Then the two of them walked up to Amy, Melanie, and Barry.

"So I heard from Lucas that you three used our Pokémon," the old man said gruffly. "Is this true?"

Amy nodded. "Yes, sir," she said.

"May I see them for a moment please?'

Amy exchanged a glance with Melanie and Barry, who both shrugged. "I guess so. They are yours."

Amy, Melanie, and Barry held out the Poké Balls, waiting for the man to take back the Balls. However, he merely peered at the Poké Balls intently, staring at the Pokémon inside them.

"I see..."

Amy, Melanie, and Barry gave each other a nervous look. Wasn't he going to take his Pokémon back?

The professor turned to Lucas. "Lucas, I'm setting off for the lab." The professor walked away and was soon out of sight.

"Uh, sure," said Lucas uncertainly. He turned to Amy and the others. "You three should come and visit us the professor's lab. We'll see you there later."

Lucas turned away and ran after the professor. "Professor, wait up!" he shouted.

As soon as Lucas was gone, Barry looked at Amy and Melanie. "Well, that was weird. If that professor guy was angry, he could have just yelled at us."

"And he didn't even want his Pokémon back," added Melanie.

"We should get on home. It's starting to get dark and our moms' will probably be getting worried by now," said Amy. "We can worry about possibly going to Sandgem Town tomorrow."

"If our moms will let us go there anyway," said Melanie.

By the time they had gotten home to Twinleaf Town, the sun had already gone down.

"I'll see you guys in the morning," said Amy as they came up to the Russell's house.

"Let's meet up here again after breakfast," suggested Melanie. "We can all head out to Sandgem then."

Amy nodded. "All right. Have a nice night guys."

"Good night, Amy!" said Melanie and Barry at the same time. Amy waved as she walked down the street to her house.

When she got home, Amy took her house key out of her skirt pocket and inserted it.

"Hello, I'm home!" she shouted as she stepped inside the house.

"Amy's home!" yelled Dawn, running to the door and giving Amy a huge hug. "You're back! You're back! You're back!"

"All right, all right, calm down Dawn," said Amy, smiling.

"Welcome home, honey," said Mrs. Baker, coming out of the kitchen. "You're just in time for dinner."

"Yum, I'm starved! Just let me put up my stuff." Amy ran up the stairs and unlocked her bedroom door. She quickly took off her backpack, hat, boots and put on her slippers.

"Come on Amy, we can't start eating until you get down here!" David shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

"I'm coming!" Amy ran back down the stairs and into the kitchen.

As they ate dinner, Amy told everybody what had happened at Lake Verity: how Melanie and Barry had wanted to search for a discolored Pokémon, the two people at the lake, Lucas leaving behind the suitcase, the wild Starly attacking Amy, Melanie, and Barry when they went into the grass, and the three of them using the Poké Balls inside the suitcase to defend themselves.

The rest of the Bakers stared at Amy as she finished explaining. Dawn gaped at her sister, David's face was a mixture of astonishment and pride, and Mrs. Baker looked amazed, concerned, and mad that Amy had gone into the grass.

"I still can't believe that happened to you three," said Mrs. Baker.

"That man you mentioned was probably Professor Rowan of Sandgem Town," said David. "He's been traveling abroad for the past four years. He's very well known for his research in Pokémon evolution."

"He seemed pretty imposing to me," said Amy.

"Yeah, he can seem really intimidating on the outside," David continued. "But he's pretty awesome once you get to know him."

Amy took Turtwig's Poké Ball out of her skirt pocket. "What do I do with his Pokémon though?" she asked. "He didn't seem to want his Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup back. That Lucas kid said that Melanie, Barry, and I should visit them up in Sandgem Town, but..."

"Then you three should go up to Sandgem Town tomorrow then," Mrs. Baker put in.

"Huh?" Amy asked, confused.

"I think you should go to Sandgem Town and properly explain to Professor Rowan why you had to use his Pokémon," her mom explained. "I'm sure he'd understand. And I should think he will tell you why he didn't take them as well."

Amy looked down at the Poké Ball in her hand. A small journey to Sandgem Town sounded pretty interesting. That way, Amy could get a chance to see what a journey was like, even if only for a few days.

"Okay," Amy finally said. "Tomorrow morning, I'll head out for Sandgem Town!"