DPA: Rivals

Chapter 44: A Chance To Encounter

Cameron stepped out of the PTFC, a little tired, but ready to go.

He took three steps out of the building, and then-blam!

Something ran into his legs, knocking him over onto his side, onto his healing arm. Cameron grit his teeth, looking at the thing that ran into him.

A terrified, malnourished Bulbasaur looked up at him with a scared expression, shaking, ready to run.

"Wait," Cameron said gently, holding up a hand, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. "Don't go."

Mudkip popped its head out of Cameron's backpack, clearly upset at being woken up by the sudden fall. Cameron reached into the backpack, past Mudkip, grabbing a small Tupperware container.

Careful not to make any sudden movements, Cameron opened up the container, taking out a piece of leftover Oran berry pancake. He held out the pancake. Bulbasaur looked at him for a moment, sniffing his hand, before quickly grabbing the pastry between its teeth and jumping back, devouring the first meal it had eaten in days.

"You're pretty hungry, aren't you?" Cameron smiled.

"What's that?!" Max said loudly, exiting the PTFC. Frightened by the sudden noise, Bulbasaur turned around, bolting away.

"Wait!" Cameron said, getting to his feet and chasing down the scared Pokémon. The rest of the group had just joined Max outside, and were surprised to see Cameron running off. They followed him.

Cameron jumped over trash cans, shoved past other people, ducked under a stop sign, never taking his eyes off Bulbasaur. He reached into his backpack as he ran, removing a Pokéball and sending out Beedrill.

"Slow it down, but don't hurt it," Cameron ordered. Beedrill nodded, zipping through the air, stopping right in front of Bulbasaur, and delivering one swift Peck to its bulb, stunning it, but not doing any damage.

Catching up, Cameron slowed down, very gently picking up Bulbasaur. "Don't worry," Cameron whispered, cradling the weak, shivering Bulbasaur. "You're safe."

M Hex watched Cameron carefully from a distance. He/she had planned on stepping in, caring for the Bulbasaur his/herself. But something about this trainer made him/her stop. Bulbasaur was in good hands.

M Hex grabbed Bulbasaur's former trainer's Pokédex from his/her pocket, typing, releasing Bulbasaur from its former trainer's ownership. Cameron could catch it now.

"Stay still," Cameron rubbed Bulbasaur's head, gently pressing a Pokéball against it. Bulbasaur went inside the Pokéball, which instantly clicked, ensuring capture.

"Is everything okay?" Daryon asked, he and the rest of the group having caught up.

"Yes, everything is fine," Cameron smiled, returning Beedrill to its Pokéball. "Before we stop at Sabrina's Gym, we need to go to the Pokémon Center."

"Of course," Ero said, sending out his Abra. "We'll go right now."

With that being said, Abra teleported everyone to the nearby Pokémon Center.