Chapter 25:  Reunions (Part A) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

After some serious apologising, I made it up to the Pokémon by keeping them in 
the team and proving that I could retain my original kinder state.  
I felt a lot better after last night and after certain people had made me see 
my errors.  

I had had a long talk with Blossom and told her everything, she forgave me for 
keeping secrets from her, she understood that I must have been scared of Bryan, 
though now I saw him as nothing but a two-faced coward.  
Blossom now knew that Bryan was the thief that stole her Growlithe, but I told 
her that Bryan was a successful trainer.  
I know in a way, that was lying, I had seen the way his Pokémon were treated 
but he hadn’t shouted at his Growlithe, not yet anyway.  

I left the Pokémon Centre and let out my Pokémon, I still felt guilty about my 
shouting at them and I had to properly make it up to them.  
“Guys, if you’d like, you can stay out of your Pokéballs today.”  
“Haunter...”  
“Pidgeotto...”  
“Char...”  
“Kudabra...”  
“Star!”  
“Free?”  
“Spectre, I’ll take full responsibility if you want to scare someone, and you 
guys can go where you want provided you keep moderately close to me.”  
The wandered around a little.  
“Star.”  
“Twinkill, anything you want?”  
It leaped into my arms and I simply hugged it, Twinkill jumped off and stood by 
my side.  
“Is that all Twinkill?”  
“Star.” it answered.  
It wasn’t angry at me, I think Twinkill would have followed me no matter how 
much I changed.  
“Free...” said Flutter suddenly before taking off.  
I chased after him and the Pokémon followed at their own pace.  
He stopped at a cafe and landed on my shoulder, then tilted its head towards 
the door.  
I couldn’t see through the glass, it seemed like a one way mirror that the 
police used.  
Curious at what Flutter wanted, I motioned for my Pokémon to wait and then 
stepped inside.  

I looked around carefully and there was a familiar face.  
“Abby?”  
She looked up at me and turned her face away for a moment, then turned back and 
motioned for me to go to her after some hesitation.  
“Its been a while.” she said in her usual manner.  
“How have you been? What have you been up to?” I asked a little excitedly.  
“This and that.”  
She looked around and saw my Pokémon outside.  
“Where’s Green?” she asked me.  
“She’s... not travelling with me anymore.  We had a fight.” I said a little 
hesitant.  
“That’s... too bad.”  
I couldn’t help but notice a little happiness at the news, Emily and Abby never 
did get on.  
“So, where are you headed?” I asked her.  
“Saffron City, as soon as the path is cleared.”  
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but its been clear since this morning.”  
“You sure?” she asked a little suspicious.  
“Uh huh, I was there when it was destroyed.” I grinned.  
“Figures...” she said quietly.  
“Well, there’s a Gym there, isn’t there? Need some company?” I asked politely.  
“Not really, but if you really want to accompany me, then I shan’t disappoint 
you.”  
Laid back and emotionless as always, but she was playing it quite cool.  

We came out of the cafe, and my Pokémon came closer, some had gone on little 
strolls.  
“Come back here you mischievous ghost!” shouted a chubby shopkeeper.  
I quickly recalled Spectre.  
“I’m very sorry sir, it was my fault.” I apologised.  
“Just don’t let it happen again...”  
Flutter had flown over to Abby as I recalled Spectre, I guess she wanted to see 
how I trained it, pretty well I would have thought considering his progress.  
Inferno, Whirlwind, Psychot and Twinkill had finished strolling and came back 
to me asking for a rest in their balls, so I recalled them as well.  
“I’ve taken real good care of it.” I said to Abby referring to her Butterfree.  
“Have you taught it all its moves?” she asked calmly.  
“Sure, except it takes initiative sometimes and I get blamed for cheating.  Did 
he get that from you?”  
She let Flutter fly back to me.  
“Who knows? Get to know me better and perhaps you’ll find out...”  
I didn’t know how to answer that so we headed down Route 7.  

Abby was as quiet as ever on the trip and that made it hard to have a proper 
conversation with her.  
“So, you’re also training for the Pokémon League?”  
“Of course.” she answered, though a little annoyed it seemed.  
“Maybe we’ll battle against each other.”  
“For your sake let us hope that isn’t true.” she replied darkly.  
I stayed silent for a while, she seemed to want to win the Kanto League a lot, 
but for what reason? I just wanted to prove myself to the world and to certain 
people, and to make Pokémon Tech famous for having their top student win a 
League Tournament.  
“How come you want to compete?”  
“I have my reasons as I’m sure you have yours.”  
“Of course.” I sighed.  
I was sure she wouldn’t share with me, she was so mysterious because no 
outgoing emotions really came out of her mouth.  
“Come on, we must have something to talk about.  How are your Pokémon doing?”  
“My Drowsee evolved into a Hypno, happy?” she asked annoyed.  
“I kinda wanted more than that.” I sighed.  
“And you?”  
“Oh, I got an Electabuzz and a Haunter since the last time we met and my 
Oddish, Nidoran and Charmander evolved recently.”  
“That’s nice.” she said, though it was obvious she was being sarcastic.  
I was getting nowhere fast, I wondered if she just wanted to be left alone and 
if I should grant her wish.  
“Growl!!!” roared a Growlithe suddenly from just ahead of us, I hoped it wasn’t 
Bryan’s, I was in no state to deal with him.  
“Down boy, its just...  You.” said a familiar voice, though slightly different 
than I remembered.  
“Cody!” I shouted happily.  
“Cody?” asked Abby, though as if she only half-cared.  
“My little brother.  Excuse me.”  
I ran forward to greet him, he had his two friends with him, Natalie and Tom.  
Cody hesitated to hug but did eventually, it had been several months since I 
last saw him.  
He didn’t look too happy to see me though, his copper hair had been left to 
grow it seemed, and hung over a white headband in a curtain style, he wore a 
thick light blue waistcoat with many pockets and blue jeans with brown boots.  
Natalie was becoming quite the young lady, but she was probably as immature as 
ever, she was African in origin, her hair was in beads and curls and she wore a 
yellow waistcoat and purple trousers, and Tom looked as stern as he always was, 
he had short brown curly hair and a red overcoat, brown trousers and green 
sneakers.  
“So, how’s Mr Top Student doing on his Pokémon Journey?” asked Cody a little 
sarcastically.  
I was getting tired of this treatment.  
“Just fine.” I replied politely.  
“You know it was a waste of time and money:  You going to Pokémon Tech and 
staying the full five years, only to leave and go on a Pokémon Journey.” he 
lectured, he was quite annoyed with me.  
“I completed the exams, didn’t I? That entitles me to a good job in the world 
of Pokémon as well as access to the League, I just decided that I needed to 
test my knowledge in the real world!” I said putting my points across.  
“I still don’t see the point.  You lost valuable training time at that college, 
and now you’re way behind!”  
“I have four badges.”  
“Impossible! So do I!” Cody spluttered.  
“Not as behind as you thought, eh?” I grinned darkly.  
“I’m sure you got lucky, but I bet your Pokémon aren’t as developed as they 
could be.”  
“You mean...”  
“Uh huh, I challenge you.”  

We found a good place to battle in a field, Cody’s friends sat on one side 
while Abby chose to sit alone.  
“Three-on-three suit you?” called Cody.  
“Fine with me.” I replied, “Go! Flutter!”  
“Poisonpin!”  
“Free Freeee!”  
“NIDO!!!”  
I drew the Pokédex, I had to get back in the fashion of using it, Emily 
wouldn’t be my partner anymore and I felt bad about missing some entries 
yesterday.  

“Nidoking, the Drill Pokémon.  Its rock-hard hide is worn like armour.  The 
long horn on its head is sharp and highly venomous and its powerful tail can 
smash, constrict and break bones.”  

My eyes widened, perhaps Cody was right about my being behind everyone else.  
After the fiasco that set the exams back two months, starting my journey after 
my exams did put me a little behind the others, but my constant battles with 
Team Rocket gave me and my Pokémon lots of experience.  
I’d see what he had taught it before switching.  
“A Flying/ Bug...  Poisonpin, use your Fury Attack!” said Cody while analysing 
the situation.  
“Free!” shouted Flutter diving to the side as the Nidoking dived past.  
I had to wear it down, if I was behind like Cody said, one Psychic attack 
wouldn’t be enough, and I wanted Abby to be proud of my training with Flutter, 
and maybe even talk to me.  
“String Shot!”  
He threw a lot of sticky string into the Nidoking’s eyes.  
“NIDO!!!” it roared.  
“Now use your Sleep Powder!”  
“Duck and Tackle!”  
It ran forward and lowered its head to get by the dust and slammed into 
Flutter.  
“Free!” he squealed.  
“Counter it with Psybeam!”  
“Free! Freee!”  
“Nido...” groaned the Nidoking.  
“Free!” he squealed tackling it out of choice as always.  
Surprisingly, the Nidoking went down.  
“How the-  Haven’t you raised it to use Horn Drill or Double Kick?” I asked.  
“Wha?...  He never learned those moves.” said Cody a little shocked.  
“Boy, do you need some guidance.”  
“Go! Sharp! Thundershock attack!”  
“Jolt!” screamed the Jolteon.  
It attacked quickly, and after the shock, Flutter floated weakly, sparkling 
with electricity, he looked upset.  
“Return!” I shouted holding my Pokémon forward.  
“Free!” he screamed, flying away from my Pokéball recall laser and using 
another Psybeam, which connected with the Jolteon.  
I caught him the second time, he got angry easily and never left things 
unfinished.  
“I choose Inferno!”  
“Char!!!” he shouted breathing flames.  
“I never thought you’d have a Stage 2.” commented Cody.  
“What about my Butterfree?”  
“Anyone can train a Butterfree or Beedrill, they evolve quickly.” said Cody 
confidently.  
“And anyone can evolve a Pokémon with Stones, but it takes a pro to realise 
when its the right time.” I added.  
“Wha?” spluttered Cody.  
Inferno saw the Jolteon radiating with power and looked menacingly at it.  
“Bite it Sharp!”  
“Ember!”  
He sunk his teeth in but Inferno swung his tail at it and convinced it to 
stop.  
“Flamethrower!”  
He shot a large flame but the Jolteon leaped over it.  
“Double Kick!”  
The Jolteon leaped over Inferno while he breathed flames and kicked his hind 
legs back like a donkey, Inferno fell to the floor, the second kick was more of 
a stomp as the Jolteon leaped onto Inferno and then leapt back to its trainer.  
“He’s good.” I commented.  
He was better than the Nidoking, and both evolved through Stones, the only 
difference was that Eevees were usually evolved early and continued to learn 
moves and develop their skills.  
“Sand Attack!”  
It kicked dirt into Inferno’s eyes.  
“Now Tackle it!”  
“Smoke Screen!” I shouted, and Inferno shook his tail around and smoke came off 
the flame and surrounded both Pokémon.  
“Now, use your Ember attack!”  
I couldn’t see, but he was spinning around, his tail flame flicking the ashes 
around.  
“Jolt!” screamed Sharp.  
“Finish it off with Slash attack!” I shouted.  
“Thunder Wave!”  
An explosion occurred in the cloud and both Pokémon fell out, Sharp defeated by 
Inferno’s claws and Inferno was surrounded in electricity that would only 
handicap him.  
“Return.” we both said.  
Cody’s Growlithe was nudging his leg.  
“No Torch, you’re not strong enough, we need to train more, or find you a Fire 
Stone.”  
“Go!”  
“Hau ha ha ha!”  
“Maaaaa-chop!”  
“You’ve already lost.” I said confidently.  
“You can’t say that about Muscles, use your Karate Chop!” growled Cody.  
“Hau ha ha ha!” laughed Spectre as he stood there, and the Machop went 
through.  
“So this is the power of a Ghost Pokémon...” thought Cody out loud, “Try your 
Mega Punch instead!”  
Again the Machop attacked and it was as if the Haunter wasn’t even there.  
“Finish it off with Psychic.” I said.  
“How can it-”  
Cody’s trail of thought was interrupted as the Machop was blasted back by a 
blue explosion.  
“Maaaa...”  

“Return.  I can’t believe you beat me, I started before you...”  
“Sometimes the amount of training is meaningless if the way a Pokémon is 
trained differs between trainers.” I recited.  
“I guess I should leave.” said Cody sadly.  
“No Cody, please, stay, we’ve got a lot to catch up on and I could give you a 
few pointers...”  
He sighed, “Okay then.”  
It was time to spend some quality time with my little brother...  

End of Chapter 25A  

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Chapter 25B
Back to Story List #21 - #40
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