I woke up in the morning with remnants of a restless night weighing heavily on me. Despite going to bed early, I had woken up soon after with anxiety plaguing my thoughts and my heart racing. This lasted throughout most of the night making it difficult for me to return to any meaningful sleep every single time. It was after 4-5 episodes of this that exhaustion had completely overwhelmed me and I was able to return to my slumber.

Confusion clouded my mind as I sat up on bed, unsure as to the source of my anxiety and restlessness. Glancing at the clock, I realized that it was already quite late in the morning. Even though we weren’t able to find the orange menace during the previous day’s trek into the western outskirts of Viridian City, I mustered the motivation to continue in my search and started forming a plan to try lure it out.

Peering outside the window, I was greeted by the warm rays of the sun illuminating my room. Seeking a much-needed pick-me-up, I released Chikorita to keep me company as well as to allow her to soak in the gentle sunlight. After tidying up, I slipped into my weather-resistant trainer outfit, although it really needed a good wash. Thankfully, the Pokemon Center had washing machines I could make use of later tonight.

I made my way downstairs to the cafeteria with Chikorita hanging on my shoulders. To my dismay, no matter where I looked, every single table was occupied and a line was slowly being built of trainers waiting to eat. For once, I decided to splurge and we ventured outside in search of a cafe. The weather was pleasant, yet my mood remained melancholy. The sight of so many trainers in the Pokemon Center served as a stark reminder that they all likely had a place to call home, while I remained without even the memory of one. Trudging through the city streets, my gaze fell upon a small cafe adorned with a sign carried by a cheerful Dedenne, inviting people inside.

Deciding that this was as good a place as any, I entered the quaint cafe. The aroma of freshly ground coffee and baked goods enveloped me, and my eyes were drawn to a surprisingly diverse display of delectable treats, even some that seemed to be specifically crafted for Pokemon to consume. Chikorita's eyes sparkled with delight and her gaze quickly fixated on a rolled-up leafy log with a golden filling. Behind the counter stood a teenager with curly brown hair and a pair of red-rimmed glasses. As I stood in front of the counter, she greeted me warmly and introduced herself.

"Hi there! I'm Amily and welcome to Cafe Dedenne! What can I get for you today?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine friendliness.

“Hi Amily, I’m Avery and this is Chikorita.” I replied, pointing to Chikorita on my shoulders. Amily waved to Chikorita, engaging her attention for the first time.

I browsed the hanging menu and quickly decided on an order.

“Can I get a caramel latte and that croissant sandwich with cream cheese? And for Chikorita, can you get me that.” I replied, indicating the treat Chikorita had been eyeing.

“What is it by the way?” I added with curiosity. Amily's face lit up as she explained its preparation

“Well, in short, it’s one of our specialties made from birch leaves dipped in honey syrup, rolled, and filled with a thick jam made from tree sap and local flowers.” She explained as I felt my mind explode at the delicate craft of creativity.

“Woah, that sounds tough.” – “Chiko-ri-chiko” Both myself and Chikorita couldn’t help but express our admiration.

“Thanks!” She puffed up with pride, “My dad makes most of it but I also help out whenever I can!”

“Well, I’m sure Chikorita is looking forward to trying it. Oh, can I also get a spare plate?”

“Sure, any specific reason?” Amily inquired, which I felt a bit odd but harmless enough to explain.

“It’s for Chikorita’s PokeFeed hah. Even though I know she would like to, she can’t just stuff herself with dessert!” I explained.

“Oh, wanna try out our own PokeFeed? We have a Grass-type variant made from selected greens that are hand-picked. Quite a lot of our regulars prefer it over the PokeMart version and its only just a bit more pricey.” She offered and I was surprised that I didn’t think of custom PokeFeed being a menu item.

I looked over at Chikorita who was employing her undeniable cuteness with a whiny pleading expression and agreed to the order.

“Great, that’ll be 355 P, just tap your PokePhone here when you’re ready to pay and I’ll have your order out real quick.” she finished, pointing to a pad on the counter. I proceeded to tap my PokePhone on it and confirmed the paymentI for our meal before heading to a table bathed in soft sunlight. I started to relax as we sat down on the soft colorful seats and Chikorita raised her forelimbs against the glass while gazing at the passersby.

Our order arrived shortly after, Amily indicating each of the dishes. The caramel latte was just the perfect mix of sweet, creamy, and bitter and the croissant was soft and buttery; the cream cheese filling was also tart and well, creamy. I savored every single bite. Chikorita also seemed particularly enamored with the Grass-type PokeFeed as she munched down much more actively, pausing to chew and process after each bite. Seeing her enjoyment, I asked Amily about the greens they used and she kindly handed me a small pamphlet, detailing the carefully selected ingredients. Chikorita finished her PokeFeed and then moved on to her sought-after treat; taking a soft bite, Chikorita’s head-leaf went vertical as her ruby-red eyes widened prominently. She gave a quick call of her name before going back for another bite, and another, and in less than a minute, only crumbs were left on her plate. Chikorita in the meanwhile seemed to have achieved some form of enlightenment as she sat dazed.

I quietly laughed to myself as I took a picture of her on my PokePhone and posted the picture and a check-in to the cafe on Swabble. I set up the account after some prompting from Joey the second time we met but hadn’t posted any Gusts yet; this picture of Chikorita seemed like the perfect first Gust. As we finished our meal, a sense of tranquility washed over me, the weight of the restless night gradually lifting from my shoulders.

Checking the time, I realized that it was almost noon—a reminder that I needed to resume my search for the orange menace. Chikorita soon came out of her fugue and exuded a newfound energy, playfully swirling around my legs as I headed to the counter, thanked Amily for the great meal, and set off toward the western outskirts of Viridian City once more.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Facing the dense forest, I decided to venture a bit deeper into the route, aiming towards Victory Road. As long as we proceeded with caution, I was confident that we wouldn't encounter any wild Pokémon too formidable for Chikorita and me. We roamed the area for about an hour, enjoying the serenity of the surroundings before stopping suddenly.

A soft scratching sound emerged from the foliage nearby. Reactively, I distanced myself from that side of the path, while Chikorita assumed a defensive stance in front of me. Emerging from the bushes was a small, purple quadruped Pokémon with spiky shards—a male Nidoran.

This was the first time I had encountered a wild Nidoran, though I had battled one before against a Jr. Trainer the day after my battle with Joey and Mimi. During that encounter, the Jr. Trainer had let the Nidoran just do what it wanted, which was a surprise for me and resulted in Chikorita suffering a nasty injury from a vicious Poison Sting. I forfeited quickly after, applied an antidote to Chikorita, and rushed her to the Pokemon Center after not seeing the poisoning improve. After arriving at the Pokemon Center, Nurse Joy quickly took Chikorita in and allowed me to join her in the exam room; she taught me that Poison-type attacks frequently leave remnants inside a Pokemon’s body that need to be removed first before applying any antidotes. Nurse Joy then proceeded to show me exactly how to remove the stingers from Poison Sting and also taught Chikorita how to expel spores if she’s ever affected by a Poison Powder, which, on hindsight, I now realize might also help her to start developing her Leaf Guard ability.

Reflecting on that defeat and the subsequent lessons, I knew I had to be cautious this time.

“Chikorita, I need you to stay on top of your feet, be careful, and be ready to dodge at a moment’s notice.”

The Nidoran, hearing my command, initiated the battle as it hopped forward and unleashed a Poison Sting; a thin, long purple barb shot out from its glowing horn. In a display of agility, Chikorita deftly evaded the attack and I reinforced her decision with my order.

"Chikorita, keep dodging and strike back with Razor Leaf! Maintain your distance!" I instructed, my voice laced with determination.

This would be a tricky fight; not only did Nidoran have an advantage against Chikorita due to its Poison-type attacks, if it had the Poison Point ability, any physical damage Chikorita took or any physical move Chikorita used could result in her getting poisoned as well.

The battle unfolded like a carefully choreographed dance. Chikorita's Razor Leaf and the Nidoran's Poison Stings were launched back and forth, each Pokémon demonstrating their agility and skill. For a while, neither of them managed to land a hit. When it seemed like this would be the status quo for a while, the Nidoran suddenly paused and bunched its muscles tightly.

“Chikorita, he’s using Focus Energy!” I reminded Chikorita and she seized the opportunity, by launching another Razor Leaf; unfortunately, the move only managed to leave a few shallow scratches on its flank and snout and Nidoran himself seemed completely unfazed.

Realizing that Focus Energy might lead to Nidoran becoming faster and harder to dodge, I decided to gamble and preemptively changed tactics, ordering Chikorita to switch to the almost developed Bullet Seed.

Chikorita nodded, her determination shining through as she unleashed a relentless barrage of seeds upon the Nidoran. Each seed hit its mark, causing the Nidoran to wince with every impact. After enduring four successive strikes, the Nidoran evaded the final onslaught by swiftly dodging to the side. Undeterred, it retaliated with a faster Poison Sting, giving Chikorita only a split second to react and narrowly evade. Determined to turn the tide, I judged the speed of the Poison Sting and commanded Chikorita to continue.

"Chikorita, you’re faster, keep using Bullet Seed!" I shouted, my voice brimming with confidence.

The exchange of Poison Stings and Bullet Seeds continued, both Pokémon refusing to yield. Although the Nidoran sustained more injuries than Chikorita, a single hit from Poison Sting would very likely close the gap between their health differences completely. I try to think of a countermeasure, something, anything, to give us an edge in the fight; before I could come up with anything though, the state of the battle shifted once more. Something seemed to have clicked in Chikorita’s mind and the next Bullet Seed from her was on a completely different level. Each barrage seemed to be significantly faster, more accurate overall, and quite a bit brighter. The increased intensity caught Nidoran off-guard as a full round of Bullet Seeds hit Nidoran, damaging him significantly and clearing space between the two.

The battle is put on pause as the two Pokemon observe each other; I’m hoping that this is enough and the Nidoran chooses to run away. Unfortunately, a dangerous glint appears in his eyes accompanied by a strengthened purple glow from his horn. With a sudden burst of energy, Nidoran lunges at Chikorita, forsaking the ranged duel for a close-quarters encounter. Sensing the danger, Chikorita tries to distance herself while continuing to bombard Nidoran with Bullet Seeds.

Nidoran eventually closes the distance between the two of them to a few feet when his Poison Sting finally propels out of his horn, this much harder to dodge than any prior. Chikorita tries to evade to her right but the stinger finds its mark and Chikorita winces from the super effective damage as a web of purple venom spreads out from the impact point. Before Avery can command a retreat or the Nidoran could make another move, two vines explode from either side of Chikorita’s nubs and slam the Nidoran away from her and into the foliage it had originally emerged from..

Both Chikorita and I tense, waiting to see if the Nidoran would return to continue the battle but we hear it hopping away and vanish deeper into the forest. It seems like Nidoran was already prepared to retreat but made a last ditch attack in order to regain some of its pride.

I quickly rush towards Chikorita while taking off my Bag, taking out a piece of cloth, an antidote, and a Potion as I kneel beside her.

“Easy there girl, let me get this out and we’ll have you healed up in no time, yeah?” Chikorita whimpers and I can see the venom slowly spreading out from the injection point. Carefully, I grip the venomous stinger with the cloth and slowly shift it out of her, rotating it every inch to make sure the barbed points are dislodged just as Nurse Joy showed me. It takes a bit and the poison spreads further but eventually, I’m able to get it out.

I quickly throw the nasty stinger to the side and apply the antidote directly at the injection site. As the medicine is sprayed on, the purplish discoloration eventually gives way to Chikorita’s normal yellow-green hue and she starts to breathe easier. Eventually, the bottle of antidote is used up and not a single speck of the venom is left inside. I spray on the potion at the injection site, Chikorita being uninjured otherwise, and the wound slowly closes up.

“Phew, good job girl, that was hella stressful.”---”Chiiii.” We both let out a sigh of relief, and I lift Chikorita up so that I can carry her and let her rest for a bit. We just had brunch less than a couple of hours ago, neither of us were quite hungry but we were a bit wired out from the high intensity battle.

“Let’s find a spot to sit down and rest for a bit alright?” I ask Chikorita to which she nods. Before I start walking, I bring up the PokeDex app and scan Chikorita; sure enough, there’s a different entry under her Known Moves.

> Chikorita - Known Moves:

>> Growl(Normal-SS-NV)

>> Tackle(Normal-Ph-V)

>> Razor Leaf(Grass-SA-V)

>> Aromatherapy (Grass-SS-NV)

>> Vine Whip (Grass-Ph-V)

>> Bullet Seed (Grass-Ph-V)