Before we got more than 10 feet down the road towards my next gym battle in Dewford Town, suddenly Lavender stopped. I was about to ask why she stopped, but Lavender’s expression was full of dismay and sadness. But I asked curiously anyway. "Let's go, I can't wait to get back home!"
She looked up with sadness in her eyes, and replied gently. "The closest Pokemon contest, is in Verdanturf Town." I got a little light-headed, but then it came across me. Back in Dewford Town, there is no contest hall. We would have to split ways, so I could go to they gym and she could go to the contest. My eyes started to flood with tears, but I tried to hold them back.
She stared at the ground, and muttered. "I have to go there to compete. Maybe we could meet up in Slateport City, later." I wasn't ready to travel on my own yet. I only had two Pokemon, I would be screwed! If my gym battles and her contest were like this, then we could't travel together.
Regardless, a response came out of my mouth, like a bolt of lightning. "OK. B-bye." The moment after those words came out of my mouth, I sprinted away with tears dripping down my face, but didn't look back. I could feel her eyes staring at my back like a laser. I knew if I turned back, I would look like an even bigger wuss.
So I ran and ran through Rustboro City, not stopping once. My vision was a blur, but I still didn't stop. I passed what seemed like a hundred store fronts, before finally reaching the dirt road leading onto Route 104. Out of nowhere, I tripped on a tiny stone sticking out of the ground, then tumbled to the ground, and started sobbing. Thoughts were racing through my mind.
How could I travel throughout woods again, alone? What if I get kidnapped or something? I wiped the tears off my face and pushed those thoughts past me. So I stumbled to my feet, but nearly collapsed again before regaining my balance. The sun was still up and beaming, so I had a lot of time left in the day.
I had no choice, so I tramped on towards the woods. So much for a great day, things were going downhill, and fast. Before long, I had made it to the forest, but the sun was starting to set and I couldn't turn back now. So I made my way into the brush, and was greeted by darkness. "Just what I would have expected."
Feeling lonesome and scared already, I whispered. "Go, Riolu! You are helping me get through here, you got that." As he materialized out of his Poké ball he nodded, but even he seemed threatened by the daunting forest. I knew this wasn't gonna be easy, but we shuffled on, aware of our surroundings.
My eyes weren't adjusting, even though it was broad daylight outside, so I pulled a flashlight from my bag and flicked it on. The path ahead illuminated instantly, but it still seemed like we were being watched. I couldn't help but whirl around every moment, ready to command Riolu to attack the assailant. It took a little convincing, but soon I stopped and concentrated on the task ahead.
Shadows crawled up on us from all around, only to reveal thin air where it was. Riolu also started sensing something was off, and even whimpered softly. “Ri-Riolu.” My instinct told me to dart back towards Route 104, but my determination drove me forward.
I flickered my light back and forth, but spotted nothing and relaxed a bit. Suddenly I bounced up after snapping a twig below my feet. "God dang it! Stupid branch!" I kicked it aside, and slammed my foot into a pile of leaves.
" Yikes!" My foot had made contact with something. I started to back away but then the pile of leaves rattled, revealing a surprisingly large and angry Shroomish. He looked drowsy, so I concluded I had just awoken him from a nap. Still taken back by surprise, I pointed my Pokédex at it. Shroomish, the Mushroom Pokemon. Shroomish is mild tempered and inhabits piles of rotting leaves inside of forests.
A little pissed off, I remarked. "Wow what a lame Pokemon." I don't think Shroomish liked that comment one bit, because it started spraying Poison Powder. I held my breath, but soon all the air around us was engulfed in powder.
Riolu instantly charged for cover, but I had already sucked some powder in and my vision was getting hazy. I kept on coughing, and then I would inhale more and more dust. After looking around and spotting Riolu, I bolted after him but soon I was even losing control of my body. The only thing I could see was Riolu's small figure ahead of me, so I kept on scampering after it. All I could think about was getting away from that stupid Shroomish and it’s idea of perfume.
Suddenly, I started wobbling and plunged to the ground. My body was twitching all over the ground, and Riolu looked on in horror. Only seconds later though, I came to a rest but my vision was blacking out. Luckily, I was able to cough up a couple words. "Riolu, please help!" Then my sight went black.
(Unless the menacing Poochyena was menacing because it was a Shadow Pokémon?)
