Pokémon: A Tale Of Time (Volume One: Zephyr)

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Between A Rock-Type And A Hard Place

Raido walked up to the commotion to investigate.

As he got closer, he could hear the father reassuring his son. "I'll get you what you want for your birthday, I promise."

The child, still visibly upset, stammered, "But it's all I want! My birthday will be sad without it."

Raido approached the pair. "Excuse me, what's going on here? Maybe I can help."

The father looked up, a mix of relief and frustration on his face. "My son wants a Bellsprout for his birthday. It's his favourite Pokémon because we live near Sprout Tower, and he's grown attached to it. I've tried for years to trade my Onix for a Bellsprout, but no trainers ever helped."

The boy, clutching a Bellsprout plushie, continued to sob. "Dad promised I'd have my own Bellsprout one day, but now he wants to keep Onix."

The father sighed, patting his son on the back. "I've grown so attached to Onix over the years. It feels wrong to trade him away, but I know it's the only way to make my son happy."

Raido watched the young boy, still clutching his Bellsprout plushie, eyes red from crying. Raido's heart ached for him. He thought hard about how he could help. Suddenly, an idea clicked in his mind.

"Hey," Raido began, kneeling down to the boy's level. "What if I helped you find a Bellsprout, catch it, and bring it back to you? Then we could trade for your Onix as planned."

The father's eyes widened in surprise. "You'd really do that for us?"

Raido nodded with a warm smile. "Of course! I'd be happy to help. Besides, I've always admired Brock and his Onix from Pewter City. It would be great to have an Onix of my own."

The boy's eyes lit up, brimming with hope and excitement. "Really? You mean it?"

"Absolutely," Raido reassured him. "Where can I find a Bellsprout?"

The father thought for a moment, then replied, "They used to be common just outside of Violet City, in the grass of Route 31. But over the years, their numbers have dwindled and they've become harder to find."

Raido nodded thoughtfully, absorbing the information.

The father continued, his face brightening as an idea struck him. "You should head over to Sprout Tower. The tower is over 100 feet tall, held together by a giant flexible pillar that shakes from side to side. Despite its age, it still stands tall and strong."

Raido's curiosity piqued. "Sprout Tower, huh?" He looked into the distance, spotting the towering structure.

"Yes," the father confirmed. "The monks there idolise Bellsprout. Each one has their own highly trained Bellsprout by their side. Elder Li, who once ran the tower, but has since left, used to tell us all stories about the 100-foot Bellsprout that supposedly formed the central pillar of the tower."

Raido's eyes widened. "A 100-foot Bellsprout?"

The father nodded. "Elder Li left not long after battling a young trainer he said had a dark heart, someone who used Pokémon solely for power. It left him with many unanswered questions about the world of Pokemon, and how us humans interact with it. He eventually handed over the title of Elder to one of his promising understudies and left to do some soul-searching in the mountains. Nobody has seen him since"

Raido listened intently, fascinated by the story. "So, you think the monks there could help me find a Bellsprout?"

"I bet they could," the father said. "They know more about Bellsprout than anyone else."

Raido stood up, feeling a surge of excitement. "Sprout Tower it is, then! I'll head there right after I finish at the Pokémon Centre."

The young boy looked up at Raido with gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

The father placed a hand on Raido's shoulder. "Good luck. And thank you. This means a lot to us."

Raido nodded. "You're welcome. I'll do my best to make sure your son gets his Bellsprout."

With that, Raido and Nidoran turned towards the Pokémon Centre. As they walked, Raido couldn't help but peer at the towering structure of Sprout Tower over the trees. It loomed majestically in the distance, its ancient architecture blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. He wondered what adventures lay ahead for them there today.

The Pokémon Centre was bustling with trainers and their Pokémon. Trainers convened, talking and spinning tales at the round tables in the room. Raido spotted a fierce looking Scizor, and a proud Ursaring, both powerful Pokemon that he admired.

As Raido approached the front desk, where Nurse Joy greeted him with a smile. "Good morning! How can I help you today?"

"Good morning, my name is Raido" he replied. "I'm here to pick up my new PokeBank card."

Nurse Joy nodded, reaching under the counter and retrieving an envelope. "Here you go! Your new card arrived this morning."

"Thank you so much," Raido said, taking the envelope and tucking it safely into his bag. "By the way, thanks for the recommendation last night. The PokeStop was perfect."

"You're welcome," Nurse Joy replied warmly. "I hope you managed to get some rest."

Raido nodded. "I did, and we're going to need it for today!"

Leaving the Pokémon Centre, Raido glanced at Nidoran, who looked up at him eagerly. "Ready for another adventure?" he asked.

Nidoran chirped enthusiastically.

"Let's go find that Bellsprout," Raido said with determination. "Sprout Tower, here we come!"