Chapter 62:  Different Paths (Part A) by Exodus  

Emily’s and Scott’s journeys into Johto had begun, as had Abby’s and Rick’s, 
but there were others of the old gang making their first steps into Johto.  
“TAIL WHIP!!!” screamed Chad in his usual loud fashion.  
“Aaaiii-POM!!!” screamed Snatch, his newest Pokémon a purple monkey, its long 
tail and glove-like hand slamming into a bear Pokémon and making it roll back 
uncontrollably.  
“Come on Honeybear! Strike back with Scratch attack!” called the Teddiursa’s 
trainer, a girl in revealing green clothing with spiky outwards auburn hair.  
“Teddiiii-Ur... Sa!!!” it squealed, scraping its tiny claws across the Aipom’s 
face.  
It fell back out of control but as if its tail had a mind of its own, it 
wrapped around the nearby climbing frame and retracted the body to land safely 
on it.  
“Go after it Hon’! Catch it with Lick attack!”  
The Teddiursa hastily climbed up to the Aipom’s level, its little tongue 
hanging out its mouth the whole time.  
“Sand Attack...” said Chad quieter than usual, it usually meant he was 
calculating something sneaky, though those close to him who were used to his 
loud commands would now see that when it happened.  
The Aipom quickly twisted and somersaulted with the equivalent of five limbs 
until it was close enough to scoop up some dirt in its hand-shaped tail end, 
it then climbed back up and hurled the contains in its possession into the 
poor bear’s face.  
It rubbed its eyes desperately, unable to see as it spat dirt from its mouth.  
“GO FOR OUR BIG FINISH! DYNAMICPUNCH!” shouted Chad, and the Aipom’s right 
fist glowed with power as it rotated back and punched forward with excessive 
force.  
“Drop now!” ordered the opponent, and the blinded bear quickly took a fall, 
but held out its arms to catch the railings one level down.  
Meanwhile the Aipom couldn’t stop after activating the attack, and nearly fell 
off the climbing frame if not for its tail stretching out and swinging the 
Aipom around.  
“Now Leer!”  
The Aipom was surprised as the Teddiursa had recovered its sight and had 
climbed back up in such a short time; it and its trainer Chad had 
underestimated its speed.  
The Teddiursa’s eyes glowed white along with an evil expression, as impossible 
as it sounded, the cute little Teddiursa actually looked scary, and froze the 
Aipom for a moment, causing it to drop.  
“After it! Find it and finish it with Head Butt.”  
“Teddi!” it called back, dropping one level to search for its opponent.  
“FINISH IT WITH YOUR SCRATCH ATTACK!” called Chad.  
The surprised Teddiursa looked up too late to see the Aipom swinging down upon 
it, its tail wrapped around the highest point of the frame and having hung 
there until the paralysis wore off.  
Its hand tore past the Teddiursa as it swung in an arc and landed on top of 
the climbing frame, while the poor Teddiursa crashed its way down until it 
reached the bottom.  
“Honeybear...” whined the trainer, recalling it, she sighed and held out her 
hand, “Good match Chad...”  
“Wait a minute; I never gave you my name!”  
“You didn’t have to, I remember you from the Kanto Pokémon League.  Loud 
mouthed overconfident guy, hung around with Tetsubo?...”  
“I’M NOT LOUD MOUTHED!!!” shouted Chad, proving the girl’s point, “Well if you 
know me then shouldn’t I know you?”  
“You should, but you’re forgiven, this new look has made me appear to be a 
whole new person.  It’s me, Carrie.”  
“You’re right, you Do look different...”  
Carrie had let her hair grow exceedingly long, she’d lost the hairband and a 
long spiky fringe replaced it, along with spiky curves that stuck out of the 
top, she wore a sleeveless green suit with deliberate cuttings around the 
chest, and patches in kind down the sides of her legs.  
“You’re looking a little different yourself Chad, I wouldn’t have recognised 
you if not for your unique voice and dialogue.”  
Chad’s spiky hair was now all black, he’d removed the yellow streaks he’d once 
had, and his hair no longer stuck up, it overlooked his face and fell past his 
shoulders in a long pony-tail.  
He now wore a tight beige T-Shirt that really showed off Chad’s muscles and 
physique, along with brown trousers and small boots.  
“You look good.” added Carrie.  
“Of course I do, and of course you’d say that, no woman can resist me now...”  
“I beg to differ.” whispered Carrie to herself.  
“Return Snatch, our opponent’s mistake was trying to beat you on specialty 
territory.” grinned Chad confidently, recalling the monkey to its Pokéball and 
then turning with Carrie to leave the playground.  
They both turned to about thirty children in awe, having watched the whole 
battle; they couldn’t help but cheer and shout for the battlers.  
These children didn’t own Pokémon of their own, so watching a Pokémon Battle 
was very pleasurable to them.  
Chad and Carrie gave off waves as they left, Carrie had a nervous grin, not 
having noticed they were here before, while Chad acted like himself and wore a 
confident smug while waving like a celebrity to his fans.  

For away from there, in New Bark Town, two trainers, Emily and Scott arrived, 
after a couple of days worth of walking.  
“At last, a town.  I could really use a shower and a real bed to sleep on.” 
sighed Emily happily.  
“The bed thing is new but you could have showered back at that small 
waterfall.” pointed out Scott.  
“With a guy tagging along, no thanks!”  
“Emily, you could have trusted me not to look, besides, you know I only have 
eyes for Carrie.”  
“Fine, fine, just let me get out of these clothes and cleaned up.”  
“And into an exact copy of those clothes.” smirked Scott.  
“What? I happen to like what I wear, and there Are copies of these clothes, I 
don’t wear the same thing day in day out for a year you know!”  
“How Tetsubo puts up you on a constant basis is beyond me...” whispered 
Scott.  
“I heard that!” called Emily some distance away, “And lay off a little, I 
don’t criticise your style or personality unless it’s especially bothersome.”  
Scott sighed and made his own way through town for a little exploration.  
New Bark was larger than he’d expected, so finding the Registry Area to 
confirm his participation in this year’s League was a little more difficult 
than he’d thought.  
Scott realised too late that this was located inside the town’s Pokémon Centre 
from posters pasted around town, and that Emily had been on her way there.  
“Oh well, guess I’ll have to find it on my own...”  
Scott took the time while exploring the town to grab a bite to eat, the food 
he’d brought along was okay, but it didn’t compare to a freshly cooked meal.  
After that he continued his search, circling around the outskirts of New Bark 
for his destination.  
“It’s so cool that you’re gettin’ a Pokémon.”  
“I know, and I know which one I’m gettin’, it’s the cutest of them all!”  
“Not as cute as mine though...”  
The three young trainers ran by continuing to chat away, Scott smiled, he’d 
really missed out.  
Rather than becoming a trainer young in his life, he’d let the opportunity 
pass him by, while getting involved in a small gang that operated in Azure 
Town.  
The gang took excessive risks and cared little for others in their mindless 
ways of passing time, eventually when everyone grew up; they got involved in 
more life-threatening feats.  
It took the loss of a friend to make Scott quit that life, but by then it’d 
shaped him into a different person than who he could have been without getting 
involved with the gang.  
If not for Casey and the mission Scott had to embark on some time ago, he 
would have become too withdrawn to make friends, friends like Tetsubo and 
Abby, Emily, Eve, Carrie, and to a lesser extent Chad.  
This was the only thanks Scott had for the whole thing; it’d given him a 
purpose that changed his ways and outlook on life, and much more.  
And now that Casey was safe and alive, Scott was doing something enjoyable by 
training Pokémon by choice, not because he had to, but the chance to pay 
Tetsubo back for his extreme generosity would be nice.  
He turned a corner and bumped into a woman, making her drop a bunch of metal 
objects.  
“This crashing into people thing is getting old.” he moaned in thought before 
apologising, “I’m sorry-  Nurse Joy.”  
“How did you know my name?!” she accused.  
“Cos virtually every nurse I meet is named that?” he answered, “So I just 
assumed.”  
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m just a little wound up, I’ve been rushed off my feet at 
the Pokémon Centre sorting out registrations and now Professor Elm needs me to 
check on one of the Pokémon he’ll be giving away.”  
“How would you like a little help? Carrying all those medical supplies can’t 
be easy.”  
“That... would be nice...”  
“Although I must ask a teeny favour in return, add one more registration to 
your day’s work?”  
“Oh of course.” smiled Joy, holding about a third of what she had originally 
been carrying...  

The two made their way through town towards a Pokémon Lab, no doubt owned by 
one of the many Pokémon professors and experts when it came to the background 
or study of Pokémon.  
“Oh dear...  This is all my fault...” sighed a soft male voice as Scott and 
Joy neared the building.  
It came from a man in a white lab coat; he had glasses and short hair apart 
from three spikes at the top that stuck upwards and outwards.  
“Professor Elm.” spoke Joy, “Please don’t tell me one of the new Pokémon 
wandered off again.”  
“Well, that is to say...” he trailed off.  
“You have got to stop getting so involved in work especially at this time of 
year.  Which Pokémon is missing this time?”  
“It was the Cyndaquil...”  
“Cyndaquil?” questioned Scott, thinking back to some things his Pokémon 
Professor and sponsor had told him about Johto Pokémon, it came under the 
classification of a Fire Mouse Pokémon, and one that Scott had been looking to 
catch, but alas, even if he played a part in finding this Pokémon, he’d only 
have to give it to the trainer that was meant to have it.  
Still, it wouldn’t keep the new improved Scott from helping out.  

Chad and Carrie had stopped off for some lunch and were conversing to each 
other about their recent journeys and adventures.  
“So you actually stepped aside and simply watched Tetsubo take on the Orange 
Crew.”  
“I didn’t do so good at those silly tests of theirs, and Tetsubo was in a 
hurry to finish the Orange Cup challenge in record time to move onto another 
area.”  
“The Rainbow League.  I know; I was there with him.”  
“Yeah, now that’s my sort of thing, pure battle, not silly athletic and 
obstacle tests.”  
“You know, I think it’s a good idea to test Pokémon in other aspects beside 
battle, Tetsubo’s gotta have really dynamic Pokémon now.”  
“He... does?...” trembled Chad, “Aw man! I should have tried harder!”  
“It sounds like something every trainer should try.  I’ll have to make plans 
to go there sometime after this League.  Maybe you can come with?” invited 
Carrie.  
“I think I’ll go alone if I ever go back, I hate being overshadowed by 
another.”  
“Your loss...  Hey, I think something’s going on in town.”  
Carrie motioned towards an alley where two darkened figures were escaping, the 
heavy bags they held spilling out a few notes of money and several coins.  
“Rockets...” growled Carrie, her rage visible as if a dark aura burned around 
her.  
“I don’t think so.” stated Chad, “They look more like those Shadow School 
Assembly guys Tetsubo told me about.”  
“Oh yeah.” replied Carrie, the anger having vanished in that moment of 
realisation, “They’re wearing those bizarre cowl headgear things so they must 
be.”  
“You were awfully scary just then, what difference does it make if they’re 
Assembly guys or Rockets?”  
“Every bit of difference...” Carrie said in the dark voice heard a moment 
ago, “But they’re not.” she added in her lighter tone.  
“Guess its time for me to be the hero again.” smiled Chad confidently, 
standing up and making a move.  
“Hey! Wait for me!...” called Carrie.  

Emily exited the Pokémon Centre feeling refreshed, although a night’s rest in 
a warm bed would still be nice.  
“Guess I’ll register when Joy gets back, and deliver my package now.” spoke 
Emily to herself, “I’m so glad we’re not meeting Tetsubo here, I was a mess 
before that shower, I’ll have to avoid meeting him in Violet until I can do 
the same thing as-  Ai!”  
Emily had just crashed into someone, a shifty looking guy with long auburn 
hair which fell to the sides with spiky bits at the ends, wearing a black 
jacket and purple trousers.  
“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” he shouted, feeling the insides of his jacket 
for something.  
“Did you lose something? I should have watched where I was going, what is 
it?”  
“Cynda-Quil.” came a high pitched voice; Emily traced it to a black and white 
Pokémon with squinty eyes with red spots on its back.  
“Oh, did I hurt you Cutie? Let me check you for damage.” said Emily, picking 
up the Pokémon carefully.  
“Hey! Give that back!” shouted the guy.  
“I’m not stealing it.  Jeez, people are so untrusting.” Emily complained, 
before defensively holding the Pokémon away from her as its back briefly 
blazed with fire.  
“I said give it back!” the guy repeated.  
“And rude too it seems.” Emily added to her statement.  
“Hey!” shouted a female voice, “I’ve found it! And the thief!”  
“It?” questioned Emily, looking down at the Pokémon, and then at the guy, “You 
stole this?!”  
The guy gave a nervous look but then wiped it all away in a moment to look as 
innocent about the situation as possible.  
Emily released her light grip on the Pokémon but it now clung to her.  
“Don’t do this to me now Quill... thing.”  
“Growlithe! Flamethrower!”  
Emily barely dodged, her arms flailing in panic, “Cru---ud!!!” she screamed, 
running into the forest.  
Officer Jenny stopped near the guy as her Growlithe stopped and started 
sniffing around.  
“... What’s the problem Officer?” the guy asked with a clueless expression.  
“That Cyndaquil the girl has was reported stolen, do you know her?”  
“No.  She was just asking me the quickest way out of town.”  
“If she returns, please contact me.”  
“You should know, she threatened me, she’s more dangerous than she looks, 
maybe I should come with you; I have a couple of Pokémon that can help 
retrieve that Cyndaquil.”  
“Officer Jenny!” called Joy a little way away, “Did you find the thief?”  
“Yes, it’s a girl, she ran into the forest, I was about to chase her down as 
soon as my Growlithe picked up her scent.”  
“Let’s go.” said Scott, “We’ve got a thief to catch.”  

Emily had to stop to catch her breath, “This is terrible, if I don’t clear my 
name and expose that thief, I’ll never see my Tetsubo...  I’ve waited over six 
months to be with him again, and I won’t be arrested for something I didn’t 
do!...  Not that I’d be arrested for something I did do cos I’m not a 
criminal!”  
With that she released her Pokémon, Blossom, her Gloom, Lucky, her Chansey, 
Aqua, her Marill, and another new Pokémon.  
“Gloom.”  
“Chansey.”  
“Marill...”  
“Maaaareeeeep!!!” purred a cheery sheep Pokémon Mareep, nicknamed Beam.  
“I’m in trouble friends...  This little Pokémon...” she explained, turning 
slightly so they saw the Pokémon practically attached to her.  
“Cynda...” it yawned, before sneezing, igniting for a moment and making Emily 
jump again.  
“... Was stolen, and now everyone thinks I’m the thief.  I’m going to double 
back into town if I can and I need you to distract anyone looking for me and 
this Cinder-thingy that you meet...  They won’t hurt you I’m sure, and they 
can’t catch you either...  I’ll see you all at the back of the Pokémon Centre 
at nightfall...”  
With that she hurried away, leaving her Pokémon to deal with things without 
her and forcing them to assist in her plan.  

End of Chapter 62A  

Back to Chapter 61B
Chapter 62B
Back to Story List #61 - #80
Back to the Pokézone