Chapter 2 - What a morning (Refurbished)

"Ok not long until we get to the camping grounds dear" Kangaskhan said.

"Camping grounds? I thought we were heading to town?" As much as a rest would help my throbbing feet, I'd rather not stop. " As fun as sleeping outside in the cold sounds, I would rather have a place with a roof, a nice comfy bed, with a side of a hot shower please."

"We are dearie. We won't arrive until….noon tomorrow. It is still a far way off after all since we had to take the long way to get around the raving river." She told me it's called the raving rivers because of all the wild water Pokémon living there. So the waters are extremely unpredictable and dangerous to cross without a water Pokémon as a guide. so a bridge was constructed to allow safe passage…and it's broken, great. my luck ladies and gentlemen. "Plus it's starting to get dark. Don't want to get caught out in the wild with night time Pokémon roaming about." She's right. Can't get somewhere or fight if you can't see what you are doing after all.

"Hmm ok yeah. I would rather not run into a giant spider Pokémon, especially in the night." I shivered at the thought of a Spinarak dropping in to say hi.

Gotta say though it was quite magical to see wild Pokémon, just carrying on their ways. I saw a couple of Pidgeys, Yanma, Murkrows hanging around in the trees. And I swear I saw a sleeping Noctowl sleeping in a tree burrow.

After more walking we arrive at a fork in the road. In the middle lies a sign to guide travellers. Now lets see what we have here….squiggles. Did a child draw this? If i was to compare it to any language it would be hieroglyphics, only without the Egyptness to it and more Pokémon themed.

"Ah here we are," Kangaskhan said after giving the sign a look over. "Just to the left here dearie" She proceeds to walk in said direction.

"Its Ace" I reply, trying to remind her that my name is ACE, I mean it's not hard to remember.

"Why yes you are dearie" …..I really wanted to facepalm after that.

Arriving at said campsite it looks just like that, a campsite. It is a large circular area with bits of dirt patches surrounded by grass, asking for a fire to be placed and a story or 2 to be sung around it. On some of the dirt clearing are remnants of a previous campfire. Kinda looks like it was put out in a hurry. The only structure here is a single booth near the entrance. It looks like an information booth with no one inside. There is some writing on the top of it but I can't read it.

"Alright let's choose a spot and get some dinner on shall we dearie? I'm famished." She leads on to a nice spot in the middle of the field.

"So what's to stop wild Pokémon coming to attack us in our sleep?" Looking around there aren't any fences or walls. There is nothing to stop a wild Ursaring coming to tear us apart whilst we are sleeping.

"Oh wild Pokémon don't come to these areas. See those flowers." She points to green and yellow coloured flowers. "Those flowers act as a repellent of sorts, as long as those are here wild Pokémon won't cross over to us. We are perfectly safe here." They circle around the campsite in small clusters.

"Wait, why don't we get repealed by it? We are Pokémon aren't we?"

"Of course we are Pokémon. It only affects wild Pokémon after all, dearie." Oh yeah because that makes sense. If I try to figure this out I'm gonna get a migraine. At least I know there is an actual difference between 'wild' and 'not so wild' Pokémon. Civilized Pokémon? Ah whatever.

We mirror each other on the grass with the dirt clearing in between. I just collapse onto my stomach. I can feel my feet throbbing in massive waves that reach all the way up my small legs. I have never sat down on a more welcoming and invigorating patch of grass in my entire life. I swear it wants to eat up all my pent up fatigue, allowing me access to the land of sweet dreams. I hear Kangaskhan doing something but i don't care. I'm feeling so good at the moment.

"Ok dear, I'm gonna get this sorted out so we can have some dinner. If you could get some dry wood from the grounds that would be really appreciated." As she starts to fiddle with her kit of some kind. Looks like some cooking equipment. Handy.

"Haaa ok, back up we go" I replied to her. Really not wanting to get back on my feet but I reluctantly do so, feeling a wave of discomfort coursing through my feet. Well now that I'm in a 'safe' area I can now try out my new vine powers. I walk over to an unused pile of wood checking for dampness in the wood. I'm convinced now that whoever was here left in a hurry. There are bits of food and some tools leftover from the last visitor.

"Dry wood, nice ok vine, do your thing!" I focus on my vine trying to get it out of my back plant. With some focus I'm able to sense that I indeed have 2 of them, better just use one for now. Better to walk than to sprint after all.

I'm able to get a good feel for it. I find if I apply a command through to the vine it tends to react better then just moving it around freely. Slowly moving the vine, bending it, stretching to test the flexibility, I move it over to the bits of wood. I slowly wrap the vine around each individual stick, getting a better feel for this new 'muscle'. I place them all into a pile, wrapping my vine around the pile like a snack to its prey. Squeezing tight making sure the wood has no chance of escaping its fate.

"Ok here we go, HUMPH! Heavy grrr." I grunt trying not to tip over forwards since the vine is in front of me threatening to set my balance off. I'm able to tough it out to bring all the sticks in one go to the fire pit, taking more out of me then I'd like to admit.

I returned back to our camp really feeling the strain on my tiny physique. So with the precision and elegants of a stick carrying master, I dumb my collection of sticks to the floor in front of the fire pit scattering them in all sorts of directions. Woops.

"Ah, thank you dearie. Glad to see you in full working order. You are going to need to be strong from tomorrow on." I wonder what she meant by that?

"Are we going to be passing a dangerous area tomorrow? I hope not but then it would be nice to learn how to handle myself better." Really I just want to find out what this body is capable of.

"Oh no, we shouldn't be passing through too dangerous of an area tomorrow hehe. Well let's get some dinner on the way now shall we?" You can't fool me, I know a strained smile when I see it.

Shifting my thoughts to meal time to avoid this sense of unease I felt in my stomach. It's strange but I don't feel the need to eat as strongly anymore. I do however have an increased desire to bask in the sun.

After some curry that tasted like a spicy apple sauce with the texture of curry. Weird but nice. No sign of a woozy stomach, guess I can eat if I choose too? Or maybe I have to balance it between eating and sun bathing. We clean up what we can and just sit there enjoying the warmth that only an outdoors fire can produce. Staring at the glittering fire is oddly hypnotic, in a charming way.

"Hmm I thought grass types didn't like to be around an open fire?" Kangaskhan asked me with a puzzled face.

"Really? I always enjoyed it, there's just something so nice about an outdoor fire. Like there's only me, the warm cracking of the fire and the clear, glittering, night sky. It's freeing in a way." I replied to her, not taking my eyes off the fire. I wanted to get a stick and move around some of the inside of the fire but I decided against it. My vines are vines after, probably won't catch on fire due to the moisture inside of them, but hey, why risk it?

I shift my gaze to see Kangaskhan looking towards the fire with a pained expression. "Are you ok? Did you burn yourself or have some heartburn?" I asked her.

"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just….just gonna get some more firewood." She stood up and left to gather more wood. When she gathered a distance I swear I could hear her muttering a very sorrowful "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Huh weird, guess she's gone to walk her meal off. I wonder who she was sorry to though, I wonder if the fire reminded her of someone she misses.

I look at the fire with that thought and begin to remember those precious few i miss. "Guess we all have a past huh" I say to the fire without expecting it to answer me back.

I turn over to lie on my back, staring up at the glittering night sky contemplating today's activities. I woke up in a new world, reborn as a Pokémon, only to get into a fight with a Rattata. Then to get saved by Kangaskhan who in turn offered to take me back to town. To which I'm now at a campsite waiting for tomorrow to arrive. Quite the busy day indeed.

I wonder what the town is like, I do hope they have a guild. I do want to explore this new world. My eyes grow heavy as my thoughts fade away.

"Don't give up Zzzztcczz.'' what? Whose voice is that? "I know it hurts now but things will get better, you will see. I promise." I know that voice. That's my Grandpa.

"Grandpa!" My eyes shoot open. "OH a dream." Looking down, I feel a bit depressed after that. I can feel some tears under my eyes. Shaking off that bit of early morning depression. "Still at the campsite, still a Pokémon. Now that bit wasn't a dream after all. Huh, where is Kangaskhan?" She is nowhere to be seen. Has she gone looking around for some supplies?

I got up and did some stretches, soaking in that early morning sun. What to do? Guess I'll practice my vines. I move over to a clear area with the most amount of sun available, might as well get as much of a snack as i can after all. I pull my vine out, bending it moving it to shapes and holding various items I could fine

Some time passes with my practicing going well when I can feel something, something sending a shiver down my spine making my back plant shiver slightly.

"I'm being watched" I whisper to myself. I can't explain it, but I can feel the prying eyes of something on my person. Stripping me down, examining my every fibber of being. My new senses are screaming that there is something, someone rattling the nearby bushes. I shift my attention to where the bushes are rattling violently before they are stead silent upon my gaze. A very uneasy noise starts playing throughout the air, like someone playing a flute, only horrendously. I have to run. Who is doing this? 'DANGER'. My instincts are screaming at me. 'DANGER! RUN!'.

Not wanting to find out what fate awaits me from the bush, I begin to walk away at a quick pace backwards. Daring not to show my back to the focused danger.

As if aware of being noticed, a very large Grey and black wolf shaped silhouette comes charging out from the bushes towards me. Deciding I'm not having it, my legs turn over to MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE to try to get my person out of danger. The wolf-like creature, unfortunately being a more quick and nimble being, is able to cut me off in my pursuit of escape. With the beast in front of me I'm able to see it is indeed a Mightyena.

"Uh huh hey there, can I help you?" The Mightyena smiled as a response. "Look, I don't want to fight, But trust me when I say I'm not alone, I have a rather large friend here somewhere."

"Ha…ha HAHAHAHA!" the Mightyena started laughing rather menacingly. "You idiot! Who do you think sold you out by bringing you here? Now be a good little thing and surrender." The snarly voice said.

"You liar! She wouldn't do that!" I scream with rage.

"Heh poor little thing, all alone. Well don't worry then, we will make this quick." I can't let her get into my head, she's trying to trick me, yeah Kangaskhan wouldn't do tha…..did she say we?

As on cue a small ball like shape is hurling over towards me at a breakneck speed. Not wanting to play single pin bowling with it, I jumped out of its way as it scoots past me. Missing its target it comes to a screeching Halt turning 180 degrees, allowing it to continue its pursuit back towards me. I prepare to dodge the bowling ball of doom reading my vines for a counter attack.

"Did you forget about me?" The Mightyena said to me before its head collided with mine sending a sparkling pain throughout my head. Before I even have a chance to recover I'm pelted by the scooting ball sending me skidding across the floor into a net of some kind.

"Argh what's is this sticky stuff? Uh yuck, Let me out! HELP! HELP! Stranger danger!" I scream about it. Hoping, anyone would hear me. Where are you Kangaskhan?

"Scream if you wish no one is coming to save you." The grizzly voice of the Mightyena said to me.

"Yeah yeah! we got him good, didn't we Mightyena?" The bowling ball, orienting itself up right, is a Nuzleaf.

"Yes yes you did very well now get ready to hoist the Bulbasaur onto Ariados." barked Mightyena. Ariados, Ariados….oh no that's one of those spider like Pokémon.

"Ok! Will do!" The littler of the 2 said as it approached me getting ready to do so.

"Ariados get out here and tie its back up, we don't want it to use its vines now."

"Yesh yesh coming." A new voice said from the direction of the net.

"Don't you touch me spider!" I yell at the spider. Before my vines can come out to defend their master. The hole of the plant is covered and tied up, cutting my vines from escaping. Well now isn't this one of my worst nightmares, stuck in a spider's web with no way to defend myself. Wake me up when I'm dead, ok brain?

Satisfied with her handy work the Ariados goes down low to allow the Nuzleaf to move me on to her back.

"And here we go, huyup!" The Nuzleaf huffed, cheeks full of air, as he hefted me onto the hard and gross aria doses' back. "Uh uh." he nods after hefting me up, still holding on for some reason. "Yep it's as I thought I'm stuck to your webs Ariados!" Did..did he really grab spider web with both his hands bare?

"AH! That's why I tell you to use some leaves when you touch the webbing so that YOU don't get stuck! How many times do I have to tell you?" Mightyena said with a funny look of irritation to her.

"Hehe Sorry.'' He said with a sheepish smile

With some struggling and rope cutting they help him out of his sticky situation and we begin moving away from the campsite. After a short hike, I begin to hear a familiar voice protruding from the trees it gets more clear the closer we get and I'm finally able to make out what the voices are saying.

"...promised that if I delivered a rare Pokémon to you, that you would release her." Ah yes it's Kangaskhan! She will help me.

"And I'm a Mon of my word. You will have your little one back as soon as they arrive with our new 'friend'."

Arriving at the new area it appears to be a clearing of sorts with little 1 man tents, a fire pit, some small bags and a wagon with a Tauros near it. Finding Kangaskhan i can see she is talking with a muscular Pokémon being a Machoke.

Oof this is a pure bag of muscle, the games don't give Machoke enough justice. Even though Kangaskhan is taller, I would put money on that Machoke and would destroy her in a fight. Fighting beats normal types I know, but still.

"Ah there you are, no troubles I presume?" He says turning his head towards us all arms crossed like. His voice was weird, you would expect a macho like voice for his persona but it's that of a posh British man. I bet he has a mean evil villain laugh, he just needs a suit and a monocle to complete his image.

With a Fwoop I am dropped to the floor. "Ow thanks for the ride fellas, Kangaskhan a little help here." I look over to her.

"She won't be helping you dummy. We have her kid, you are screwed haha." The Nuzleaf mockingly pointed out towards the Tauros. There is indeed a small looking Kangaskhan in front of the Tauros.

"No problems at all," Mightyena said, ignoring us. "The Kangaskhan was right, he really isn't experienced in combat." Ah crap, i really am in a hostage situation.

"Can I have her now?" Kangaskhan asked the Machoke with impatience in her voice.

"Hmm, yes you upheld your end of the deal so here you can have your infant back." the Machoke flicks his head to the Tauros. The Tauros arrives with the object, the joey in question, once close enough the Kangaskhan snatches her infant from it and holds it tight, making sure that nothing could get between the infant and her again.

"It's ok mummy is here, mummy has you." Kangaskhan says to reassure the now crying infant. I feel a pit open in my heart from seeing them together again. I bet it's nice having parents willing to do whatever it took to save you.

"You best leave now Kangaskhan, before I change my mind." Machoke said. She begins to leave before looking towards my direction.

"I'm so sorry." Before she says looking into my eyes. Tears begin to fall from her eyes as she moves quickly away from the camp. I wanted to cry so badly after that. But I'm able to manage from doing so.

Oh hoh, it really is a Bulbasaur." Machoke said, stroking his chin looking me over. " What a rare catch indeed. The Master will be quite happy."

"The master? What a stereotypical name, let me guess your name is lackey and you do lackey stuff because the master tells you to?" It's just so stereotypical i had to comment on it

"And he has some spirit in him, good. Ok put him in the cage with the others." Not looking fazed at all by my comment.

The Machoke walks over to Mightyena and begins to discuss something. I'm unable to make out what is being said with dingus here talking so loudly.

"Is it true that Bulbasaur's are rare?" The Nuzleaf now referred to as dingus asked Ariados.

"Yeesh they are. Quite hard to find indeed. Very Allushive. Hide from the world." Ariados replied with a slurry voice.

"Oh, well this one was easy to catch, is it stupid? I bet it is, HA stupid!" Dingus jabbed at me. Oh if i get a chance you are gonna get a smack down all right. We continue onwards to the cage as the Tauros move aside allowing us to continue to the cage.

"Alright losers you know the drill! To the back with ya or my big buddy will deal with you" dingus said to the captures while tapping the Taurus's leg. Tauros gives the dingus a steam cloud of a sniff towards dingus scaring him off from the Tauros. "Uh hehe."

The captures do as they are told and the gate is lowered with Taurus blocking any chance for running. I'm then thrown into the cold cage like a bag of compost, smacking to the floor once again. I'm getting sick of being thrown around. They do have the decency to cut my legs free so I'm not completely bound up. My plant is still bound…wait is the webbing loose there from when dingus got stuck? I bet I could get a vine out if I tried. Escape plan? Yes please just need a final piece for my plan.

"Letsh return to the othersh." Ariados says to dingus whilst Tauros is busy closing the door again blocking my view from the dynamic duo.

Well trapped on my 2nd day in the world of Pokémon, lovely. Well since i have nothing better to do, might as well get acquainted with my fellow captors. Let's have a look at what I'm dealing with.

In front of me are 5 in total. Them being a Poliwag, Mankey, Zigzagoon, Wynaut and a rather angry looking Sneasel. Out of everyone here only the Sneasel is bound by her mouth and claws. I wonder what she did to deserve that?

"Alright Ladies and gentlemon, we shall shortly be on route. Get the camp packed and be ready to move out, we won't be stopping until nightfall after all." Machoke ordered the others.

A quick glance shows them all working on packing up, not much to watch. So I focus my attention on captures.

"Hi there, names Ace, what's yours?" I smile at them. Gotta get their trust if I want their help after all.

"Ace? But aren't you a Bulbasaur?" The Zigzagoon asked with a puzzled look.

"Yes I'm a Bulbasaur, I just prefer to be called Ace." Replying to the Zigzagoon

"What's the point of that though isn't Bulbasaur enough?" The Mankey asked

"True but if I was in a crowd of Bulbasaur's that name would help find me wouldn't it?." I replied.

"Weird, but ok Bulb…Ace. Do you know where they are taking us?" The Zigzagoon asked.

"No. I was hoping one of you might. All I can figure out is wherever we are going, it's gonna be a great distance from here."

"Waaaaa, I don't want to go with the bad Pokémon, I want to go home! I want my mommy!" the Wynaut cried setting of Poliwag to join in. The Mankey began to hush the 2, asking them to quiet down.

"OI QUITE IN THERE!" A loud booming voice came from outside the cage. Turns out it was the grumpy looking Tauros. This however did not help the crying ones as they cried even louder now. The Tauros being a big old grouch smacked up against the cage with his large body. "If you keep crying, then I'll give you something to really cry about!"

"Hey go pick on someone your own size, coward!" I yell back to the Tauros. I despise bullies after all. Hey, I didn't know Tauros could change colour. His face went from his normal brownish colour to a bright red one.

"Oh you want some now do you?" The Tauros backed up begins to kick the dirt, getting ready to charge at us.

"Tauros , stop this tomfoolery now!" Machoke yelled. Stumbling around now the Tauros has stopped his intended charge. "Ssorry boss." Tauros then left with a hurry. Machoke must be something fierce if he has something as large as Tauros to leave with his tail between his legs.

"Oh dear sorry about him, such a temper. You ought to be wiser with who you pick fights with Bulbasaur, wouldn't want you getting hurt yet after all."

"Teach your tools some better self control then."

"Ha you seem to have some fight in you yet. If you get too rowdy though, I might have to let you share the same fate as that Sneasel over there. Such a vulgar mouth that one has." Machoke said walking away to do whatever villain bosses do.

"Th-thanks for standing up to that bully." the little Wynaut said.

"Ha he isn't so tough, I could have taken him." No I couldn't but hey add one to the cool hero phrases bucket list. I think seeing me stand up for them made them feel a bit more at ease. They don't seem as tense as before. They still look plenty gloomy though, besides for the Sneasel. She looks raging for a fight, I think I can use that.

"All right, all set, let's load the wagon up to Tauros then we will be on our way." Machoke said, approaching the front of the wagon. Like I knew Machoke were strong but damn. He just lifted the front of the wagon up and hooked it onto the Tauros alone with one arm and not a single bit of strain on him. "Ok we all set, now march would you please."

"Yes sir." They all replied in unisons and we were off to who knows where.

End Chapter 2.