Hard enough - Chapter 359 - Intermission III - Rock on, the prelude?

Yolanda didn’t bother holding in her giggles, instead she allowed them to spill out of her in trickles. 

Brock’s eyebrow twitched as he stared at a list that Titan and Bertha had just given him.

“Giving you transceivers feels like a mistake,” he muttered as he began to scroll through the list. “You used to just hand me a large stack of scribbles that I couldn’t make heads or tails of.” 

Yolanda continued to laugh. 

“Now you give me an itemised list of… suggestions for a Bertha-Titan book series that can sell in the Gym shop, a movie deal, a suggestion for all pokemon to get bedazzled once a month for a magic day… and what looks to be a series of notes around the coming Egg giveaway event.”

Yolanda perked up. “You’re giving away an egg?”

“One of Bertha’s, she suggested we make an event of it,” Brock replied with a distracted manner. 

He rubbed his forehead and gave Titan a firm look. “Listen, I knew Bertha was going to push for more, but this is new from you. Did she spike your water or did the recent showing where you got to play the baddy in a Samurai Furret stage show really get to you that much?”

Titan rubbed the back of his head in a manner Yolanda had seen Brock do often enough to recognise as his guilty-happy pose.

It was kind of funny to see on Titan though. 

She glanced down to Terra where she found her starter staring up at Bertha and Titan with stars in her eyes.

“Did you… like some of their suggestions?” she asked carefully.

Terra’s head bobbed up and down so quickly that if Larvitar weren’t naturally hard-headed, Yolanda might have worried about Terra concussing herself.

“...which?” she asked.

“Tar, tar, Larvitar!” Terra opened her arms and began to chatter quickly, causing Yolanda to feel a small drop of sweat run down her forehead. Oh dear, she’d opened a floodgate with that question, hadn’t she?

Brock glanced up with a smirk. “She wants to be bedazzled.”

Terra continued to nod and Yolanda sighed. “What even is bedazzling?” she asked.

Brock chuckled. “It’s a style of art where you use glitter, rhinestones, or other sparkly material like sequins to create a shimmering effect that is bright and attention-grabbing. You can use a glue gun for pokemon with tougher hides.”

Yolanda stared. “You know about Bedazzling?” she asked.

“I know some fashion,” Brock defended with a slightly hurt expression. “Also, I’d done it once for Bertha back when she was a Rhydon for a festival,” he admitted. “Where was that?”

Bertha tilted her head in thought before shrugging.

Brock copied her. “Eh, I’ll have to look through my old photos, I’m sure it’s in there somewhere,” he muttered as he turned back to inspect the list of demands.

“I think we can make some of this work but… I really have no idea if we can get you a movie career,” he chuckled with a shake of his head. Yolanda decided to leave him with it and get out while she was ahead.

She scooped Terra up and skipped towards her room where she loaded up her computer to begin looking at what she’d need to ‘bedazzle’ her starter.

Terra sat in her lap humming a song that Yolanda had been practising earlier. Yolanda giggled and set about opening up a painting app that allowed her to test various styles of artwork that she could make for Terra.

The problem quickly became that Terra liked all of them, and so instead of creating a signature look, Yolanda created several that she could build on going forward.

Some things she noticed quickly was how Terra liked it when attention was drawn to her horn by edging it in glitter and adding darker colours underneath.

It sort of reminded her of what Celia did with her Milotic, but the look worked really well for Terra as well. 

Which wasn’t to say that she was averse to colouring herself up in brighter hues. It was rather amusing thinking of Terra being as colourful as a Sunflora while kicking butt.

She was going to have to work on this… and also buy a lot of glitter.

With several concepts created Yolanda worked through the process of finding what she needed and then ordering it in bulk.

“Lar! Lar! Lar!” Terra squealed with glee as she pointed to the ‘instant shipping’ option.

“The express option is almost as good,” Yolanda teased, only for Tera to go up to her tippy toes, causing her to dig in uncomfortably on Yolanda’s lap.

“Alright! Alright! I’ll pay the extra thirty pokebucks!” she conceded, tapping the item and filling out the rest of the details.

Terra bounced off her lap and sprinted to the door. “Tar! Vitar! Larvitar!” she urged as she took off as fast as her little feet could go, leaving Yolanda to laugh and follow after her.

When they made it to the front door they found Mum there staring at a confused-looking Hypno mailman.

“—I assure you we didn’t order fifty packages of glitter! Take it and go!” she snapped.

“Mum wait!” Yolanda shouted only to see the Hypno vanish with an annoyed huff with the bulging package in its grasp.

“That was mine…” she said softly, her hand raised imploringly.

Mum turned and beamed at her. “What was that dear? Sorry I had to see off a pesky pokemon!”

Yolanda groaned. “Muuuuuuum! That was mine! I had it labeled and everything!”

“I didn’t know we were getting packages delivered today!” Mum defended with a huff. “And anyway, what would you need that much glitter for? It was too much. There was obviously a clerical error!”

Yolanda put her head in her hands and stifled the urge to scream. “I didn’t tell you cause I only just ordered it! It’s for Terra! We were going to experiment with a couple of new looks for her!”

“Hmmm, and where did you get that sort of money young lady?” Mum said.

Yolanda twitching. She knew what her mother was doing, she’d seen it play out all too often. She’d change topics or lines of inquiry so she didn’t have to be in the wrong. 

“It’s my money from working at the Gym! I get money for my work as a Gym Trainer. Brock makes sure to pay everyone in the Gym, even the interns who come from school! It makes the Gym internship the most contested position!”

Mum sniffed. “Well it was a frivolous expense. You should be focusing on other things, like your Journey in a few years.”

Yolanda hissed. “First of all it’s my money! I can do what I want with it! Second of all, I am going on my journey during the next circuit! Not in a few years! I have travel plans, travel buddies, and a few pokemon already on my team!”

Mum curled in on herself, and Yolanda just knew what was coming next, so instead of sticking around, she whirled back around and stormed to her room only for Mum to call out after her.

“Don’t you storm off like that youn—” 

Yolanda made sure to give her door a hard enough slam— after checking that Terra was inside with her— that the wall shook slightly. Which was a feat considering that Brock had this place built to handle Bertha’s antics.

Yolanda grabbed her guitar and was about to start strumming it to bleed off some of her annoyance when a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Go away!” she growled, expecting it to be her mother.

“...” the silence made her frown, Mum would have tried to walk in by now. Was she trying something different? 

Then a soft voice sang out. “...wanna build a snowman?” 

Yolanda felt the anger douse instantly as she marched back to the door, where, sure enough Suzie, Cindy, and Tilly were all standing wearing winter gear.

Cindy grinned at her. “Brock is taking everyone to the park… wanna come build a snowman?” she asked instead of singing this time.

“I’d love that,” Yolanda replied as she made to deposit her guitar only to consider it. “I’ll bring this for later,” she said to herself.

Terra grinned at her as they marched back out after rugging up for the cold. 

When they returned to the entryway all of her family were there, toddling back and forth with big puffy jackets, pants, beanies, and gloves.

Brock was wearing a normal long-sleeve shirt and jeans with the only acknowledgement of the cold being a scarf and a beanie on his head.

“Aren’t you cold?” Yolanda complained as she shrugged her guitar case up onto her back. 

“Eh, I have better thermals than all of you, but also I don’t feel the cold as bad.”

Yolanda gave him a look. “Resistant?” she asked leadingly. Brock just smiled and winked.

She couldn’t wait to start learning some of the aura tricks that Brock was able to pull off. The covering more ground than he should have when he ran was certainly neat.

Munchlax, Sylveon, and Nanny Grav all accompanied the family.

The march through the snow was a typical affair with little siblings darting back and forth and questions being asked. The most prominent being if they’d get to watch Jessiet’s battle against Yuji that was happening tonight. Or if they’d get to go back to Pummelo for Forrest’s match.

He’d been pretty lucky getting such an early spot after the recent events but other trainers that had booked in had apparently sustained some injuries during the weather event and had begged off.

Champion Yuji himself was said to have sustained injuries during the fighting in the middle of the weather event. Something that Brock was fairly tight-lipped about. When Yolanda had approached Sabrina later, she’d given Yolanda a long, measuring look before promising to talk about it in private.

At the local playground, there was a cluster of Kangaskhan assisting a group of local mothers running a canteen for the families that braved the snow.

Children sprinted over the snow-covered ground as laughter rang out like music. Challenges and calls filled the air with the number of children that had made it to the playground.

Her family claimed a patch of ground. Spyro, Hephy, and Spot the growlithes were quick to clear the area of snow, making it warmer than it should while any water that resulted soon steamed away. 

The next hour saw Yolanda laughing and running around, playing games and just enjoying herself with two pokemon at her side. 

Sabrina eventually turned up which resulted in one of the shortest snowball fights in history as someone attempted to throw a snowball only for it to arc around her and turn into ten in return.

The next fight, wisely, didn’t include her in it and instead allowed Sabrina to linger to the side talking with a man in a suit about something.

When Yolanda was done pelting her brothers, she moved back to sit on a bench, watching her family at play in other ways. The younger kids had enlisted Spyro and Hephy to lead sleighs around the playground while they rode or ran along.

This resulted in a queue forming as other kids wanted to ride along.

In the lull, Yolanda spotted movement to the side and turned only to find her mother moving towards her.

Yolanda glared, still annoyed at her. 

“Yolan—” Mum started to say only for Yolanda to cut her off.

“No, I’m not talking about that. Go play with the others,” she growled. “Or do you want me to make a scene?” she said sweetly. 

Lola stiffened, and Yolanda had to bite back a vicious grin. 

Usually, it was Lola threatening to make a scene against others that made them play her game when in public, but now the shoe was on the other foot.

Lola rather than looking annoyed, gave a small proud smile and moved off.

Yolanda suddenly felt dirty and the shiver that ran through her had nothing to do with the cold.

Terra stomped up to her, chattering and shaking. “Oh dear. Spot! Come here, please!” she called and her dutiful Growlithe was quick to wrap himself around Terra and warm her back up.

With her mood still feeling a bit ruined Yolanda glanced towards her guitar case. She had been considering playing it for the kids.

She kicked it open and drew out her guitar. With a quick strum she started up an easy tune.

The crunching of snow heralded little feet making their way towards her and before she’d gotten halfway through a silly song Brock had once sung about making a snowman and friendship, she had half the kids in the park camped out around her.

She felt a flicker of worry as she realised that the way the song truly ended wouldn’t be appropriate for this crowd, so she switched up and repeated the lyrics and made them bounce with a happier ending.

When she’d come back around for the chorus the kids were singing along and giggling.

Applause made her look up to find that it wasn’t just kids who had joined the crowd but also some adults. 

One even went as far as to throw some money into her open guitar case.

“Busking in the park during the cold, rather clever of you young miss!” called the old man who Yolanda knew was active in the pokemon battle scene for any young trainers coming through Pewter.

“Oh uhmm that’s not… well thanks I suppose?” she muttered before coughing. “Uhmmm did you want to hear another song?” she suggested.

“Yes!” cheered the kids, and Yolanda smirked as she swept her hand down to set her guitar roaring to life as another song came to her.

From there, songs flowed and a new sound filled the park with Yolanda’s singing taking centre stage, drawing in more and more people.

By the time she’d gotten through five songs, she felt a different sort of fatigue building up on her. She’d never done so many in a row and never this loud before. She coughed as the last song finished and shared a hesitant smile.

“Sorry gang, I don’t think I should drag this out much more cause we’ll all get chills if we do!”

“Awwww!” chorused the crowd, kids and adults as one causing Yolanda to giggle.

She rose and bowed. “Sorry! But maybe we can do this again next—”

“Tomorrow!” begged one of the kids and Yolanda coughed, glancing towards Brock for some support.

Rather than bailing her out, he raised an eyebrow and gestured at the crowd in a manner that she suspected meant ‘you caused this mess, now deal with it’.  

Yolanda shifted. “Uhmmm, no promises!” she replied, earning a wave of whining from the kids but thankfully the parents were quick to sweep in and take their kids away, but not before thanking her for the performance.

“Oh, it was nothing. Just something I’ve been doing as a hobby,” she demurred only to blink as she got a good look at her guitar case.

There was now a healthy stack of money sitting within it.

“Huh,” she said, “busking pays this well?” she muttered aloud. She’d have to consider doing this more on her journey, especially if she could use this as an incentive to get more fights and experience with better trainers. Plans began to shift with this new variable.

“Heh! Some buskers can earn pretty well if they have the right spot and tailor their approach!” declared a deep voice. 

Yolanda found herself face-to-face with the rotund-looking man that Sabrina had been talking with.

He nodded amicably. “Hello there! I’m Howard Hammersby! Head scout for the Golden broadcast group, or GBG as we’re known.”

“Your group funds the production of Sleuthing out, Sabrinas show right?”

Howard blinked. “Good spot! We don’t usually get much attention as we’re only a few seconds on the credits at the end of the show, but I suppose with your interest it would make sense,” he mused glancing towards where Sabrina and Brock were standing together, close enough to step in but giving Yolanda room. 

Dad looked uncertain like he wasn’t sure if he should step in or let this play out. Mum was off talking with other mothers. 

Yolanda decided to throw her dad a bone. “This is my dad—”

“I know Flint of course! Many a nephew and niece of mine faced him for the Boulder badge back in the day!” Howard said, extending a hand for Dad to shake.

“Listen, I want to scout you Yolanda. You’ve got some real appeal. A few seconds hearing you was enough to let me know that much, and other people noticed it as well!” he drew out his transceiver and Yolanda blinked as a video clip of her singing to a crowd of children played out. 

“You’re trending quite well. If I don’t jump in now, you’re going to receive a lot of offers! Please! Sign on with us and we can see about making you a superstar!” he offered.

“I… don’t really know, this was just a hobby,” she prevaricated with a quick shake of her head.

“Hmmm, listen, I won’t push now but take my card, both of you. I’ll reach out to you again tomorrow after you’ve had some time to process this with a proper sit down, how does that sound? I can come around to your house or you can come to the office and I can even show you around our recording studio!”

“Uhmmm, I’d like some time to think about it!” she demured, earning a polite nod. Howard shook Dad’s hand. 

“Heck of a voice on your girl there Flint! It’d be a shame to miss her, I’ll be looking forward to talking tomorrow!” Howard called as he departed, making sure to give Brock and Sabrina a nod. “Loved your pitch by the way Brock! We’ll talk about that later as well!”

Brock chuckled, giving Yolanda a smirk.

“You brought him here?” Yolanda asked, a hint of embarrassment and anger beginning to bubble to the front of her mind.

Sabrina beat Brock to the punch. “He was here to talk about Brock’s idea for Bertha, not to ambush you. Although now that I’ve heard you properly and not just through memories, I have to agree Yolanda. You’re a gift.”

“Oh.” Yolanda felt her emotions seesaw at that reveal. This was all proving to be a bit more than a simple trip outdoors with her family. She rubbed her head as Mum approached. 

“Ooooh! My daughter the idol! I like the sound of that! Sabrina’s right with your gift, you could be great!”

Sabrina coughed. “Actually a gift is just that, a gift.” Her gaze shifted from Mum, who was getting worked up at Sabrina, to Yolanda. “It will be up to Yolanda to put in the effort if she wants more from it,” she pointed out.

Yolanda blinked, considering that. “Oh,” she repeated, understanding what Sabrina was saying. She could be great, but it was up to her. It wasn’t just going to hand itself over.

“I…” she glanced around at the various faces peering at her, from her family to that of lingering parents. “I think I’d like to go home,” she admitted, feeling suddenly very small and childish.

Brock coughed. “That’s a good idea. Best to get some distance emotionally and physically if you’re feeling overwhelmed sometimes.”

“What? No, fast off the cuff reactions work best!” Mum said. “One, two, three don’t think! Do you want to be a pop sensation that is adored?” 

Yolanda swallowed. That… did sound kind of good.

“Lola, don’t Houndour her like that,” Sabrina cut in. “Also that’s a leading statement. Give her time.”

Yolanda glanced around, realising that while she had support, she was also going to feel stifled at home. She turned to the only adult not saying anything right now.

“Uhm Dad, could we go to Viridian Forest actually? Just you and me? I want to catch a flying type and…” she trailed off before coughing. “I don’t want an Onix as I have Terra, but I’d like to go on a trip with you to catch a pokemon together!” she declared.

Dad blinked, only for a true smile to bloom. “I’d love that!” he replied and Yolanda exhaled in relief, knowing that she’d made the right call.

Brock shot her a small thumbs up while Sabrina offered a smile. Mum looked a bit caught by surprise but then she perked up like she normally does. Nothing ever seemed to keep her down.

“Oh! And then we should go out! Have a mother-daughter trip where we catch a water type!”

“That… would be nice too,” she conceded. “It’ll help lock in my starting team for my Journey”, she declared.

This time Mum didn’t fight it and Yolanda felt like progress had been made. That or whatever was going on with Howard’s offer had shifted Mum’s goals. Urgh! It was annoying that she had to keep second-guessing whatever was going though her own Mum’s head but…

Well, twice stung twice shy as the saying goes about certain poison types.

Dad led everyone home with a slight bounce in his step and a twinkle in his eyes. Terra matched him, eager for an outing while Spot trotted along at Yolanda’s side. 

Brock eyed the Growlithe and just shook his head. “Did I ever have a chance at making those into guard dogs for the reserve?” he asked Sabrina with a carrying whisper.

Sabrina giggled. “No,” she replied instantly as she patted Brock on the cheek earning a fake mournful sigh from him.

Dad was thankfully quick to gather up his gear when they got home and from there they trudged through the snow towards Viridian forest.

“So I hope you understand that the bug types around here are going to be sparse with this being winter, yes?”

“I know. I’m not looking for a bug type pokemon today though. I’ve been thinking about my team roster and I need a flying type for both utility and closing off some gaps I have with fighting type pokemon. 

She walked into her father and stayed close. “Also, I just want to spend some time with you. At home things are always a bit crazy.”

Dad shot her another smile that made Yolanda feel like a million pokebucks. It was nice, just trudging through the snow, listening to her dad talk about the forest and what sort of pokemon they could expect with this being winter.

“Now the occurrence of Hoot-hoot is going to be higher due to winter with certain pokemon that are going to be foraging like Rattata being great sources of food for them,” he stated, reminding Yolanda of Brock and Salvadore. 

The resemblance between them all was rather obvious when they got talking about their passions.

They continued on with Dad leading her towards a patch of berry bushes as that point would have the best chances of finding pokemon.

“So a flying type eh? Which would you prefer, Hoot-hoot or Pidgey?” he asked quietly as they slowed to a crawl to approach the berry bushes.

“I think I’d prefer a Pidgey if I’m honest,” Yolanda offered.

“Oh? Hello there Honest! I’m Dad,” Dad replied with a smirk causing Yolanda to groan at the ‘dad joke’.

When they made it to the grove there weren’t any pokemon around, but there were signs of them. Dad shifted. “I… don’t actually know of any other berry bushes that are still around. I haven’t really gone on patrol but I knew of this from talking with people around town,” he admitted with a sheepish laugh.

Yolanda giggled. “That’s alright, I’ve been on patrol in Viridian and I know a few other spots.”

Dad beamed as he gestured forward. “Lead the way then!” he suggested and Yolanda led them to the next site only for it too to be bare of pokemon, and berries.

“Huh, this is odd,” Dad said, “something’s been eating all of the berries and pruning the trees of branches.” He indicated a sharp cut on one of the branches. 

“A person?” Yolanda asked.

“No… this reminds me of a hunting method used by some pokemon. But the only pokemon that would have such that I know of in Viridian forest would be a Scyther and they’re usually careful not to cut down berry bushes. Might be something else,” he mused.

It didn’t take them long to reach the next berry grove and when they did the sound of squawking and something growling made them come in carefully. 

What they found was rather surprising as there was a Pidgey flock fighting with a Sneasel of all things.

“Sneasel?” Dad blinked. “What’s it doing here? Is it some trainer’s pokemon?”

“Couldn’t it migrate here? Pokemon do that, right?” 

“It’s got quite a ways to go,” mused Dad before nodding. “But it’s possible. Want to run it off so you can befriend a Pidgey?” Dad asked.

Yolanda watched for a few moments, seeing how one Pidgey would bait the Sneasel to attack it, only to dart away with a Quick Attack so that the other Pidgey could attack Sneasel from behind.

The harrying action kept going and in response Sneasel started targeting the berry bushes.

Yolanda nodded. “I’m going to try for all of them!” she decided, she moved forward and released Terra and Spot who took up guard at her side. The flock of pidgey retreated at her appearance to the nearby trees, watching on angrily. 

“Sneasel!” barked the Sneasel before it whirled around. “Snnnnneeee!” it growled only for Spot to match it.

“Growllllll!” 

Yolanda held her hand out. “Sneasel, you’re not where you’re supposed to be and you’re getting bullied for that. Would you like a change?” Yolanda asked.

Sneasel frowned at her for a few moments, and Yolanda decided to keep talking.

“I’m interested in having you join my team! I want to grow strong and a pokemon like you would be a great addition to my team!”

“Sneasel?” chirped the pokemon before cocking its head to the side. It pointed a claw at Yolanda and then at Terra and Spot. 

“Yes, these are my two current pokemon. Terra is my starter. You’d be my third!”

“Sneasel,” said Sneasel as it rubbed its chin with the soft part of its paw. It gained a dark look in its eyes before brandishing its blades. “Sne sne snea!” it cried out.

Terra stepped forward and lifted her chin.

Yolanda smirked. “Oh? You want to see how good we are? Alright! But if we win—”

Sneasel didn’t wait; it launched itself straight at Terra, trying to sucker punch them with a Quick Attack. Yolanda wasn’t surprised by this however as she’d gotten the chance to scan Sneasel before the match.

“Protect into Smack Down,” she ordered using the faster shield to block Sneasel cold. 

When it bounced off the Protect it lashed out at it twice more in confusion only for Terra’s Protect to drop and for her to appear mid-leap. 

She swept her head down and slammed it into Sneasel, knocking Sneasel into the snow where it lay flat.

“I’ll count that as our win,” Yolanda smirked as she enlarged a pokeball and deftly flicked it at Sneasel. It struck true, and with a few wobbles and beeps, a chime rang out.

Yolanda bounced on the spot but stopped herself from celebrating.

Before Dad could step out and scare them off, she turned to the watching crowd of Pidgey. “I’m also looking for a strong flying-type pokemon to join me! I want a Pidgey! Is anyone here interested in joining my team?” she asked.

The watching pokemon stirred at this and a flurry of chirps rang back and forth only for one Pidgey to fly down and land in front of her.

It nodded firmly and Yolanda grinned. “I like that attitude!” she declared, leaning down and tapping another pokeball to its head.

With that done she pumped her fist in the air. “Awwww yeah! From two to four! That’s how it’s done!” she cheered, giving Terra a quick high five.

Spot got a pat and when Dad swept forward to hug her she responded with as much strength as she could manage earning herself a chuckle from him.

“Well that was certainly something! Two pokemon from one fight! Well done! I think you’ll need to watch out for that Sneasel. Seems a bit of a trickster with how it leapt into battle like it did.”

“Eh, it’s just a quirk of hers,” Yolanda replied as she deposited a small pile of berries for the Pidgey flock before bowing and leading Dad home.

Dad hummed and it only took a moment for Yolanda to recognise it as one of the songs she’d sung earlier today. “Daaaaad!” she whined. “Really?”

“Heh, what can I say? I’m a fan of yours already!” he declared before drawing her in. “But whatever you want to do honey. I’ll support your choice.”

Yolanda nodded at that and when they got out of Viridian she unmuted her transceiver only to receive a wave of messages from her friends and people reaching out to her cause of how the clip of her was going viral.

Yolanda left that alone for the moment, instead heading to the pokecentre where she had her pokemon healed up. From there it was introducing Sneasel and Pidgey along with giving them the lay of the land so they knew what was expected of them.

Brock had spoken about this several times, and she’d made sure that going in, any pokemon she had would know what she wanted from them along with what she offered in return. 

Sneasel went from grudgingly respectful to honestly interested in being her pokemon which Yolanda considered success.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon when her friends stomped around to question her about her lack of response that she remembered the other thing that had happened.

Crystal outright asked. “So? Are you going to become a superstar?” she teased.

Yolanda tilted her head and considered it. She’d gotten some distance, like Brock had suggested and it had helped.

Now she had a clearer idea.

She nodded. “Yeah, I think I want to. I’m going to call Howard back tomorrow and see what we can work out.”

“Awww, shame we’ll lose you for the circuit,” Greta said sadly.

Yolanda smirked. “Who said anything about not performing my Journey?” she replied. “If anything it will just be considered a ‘tour’ won’t it?” 

That got both girls to blink in shock, and the more Yolanda thought about it, the more she liked it. She could work on her pokemon, and rock out. 

_______________

A.N. Thanks go to my Patreons for your continued support.

Thanks also go to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter.

Started writing this chapter with the goal of getting Yolanda out to Viridian to catch a pidgey. Somehow, that morphed into a much bigger event in her life and another pokemon, but I couldn’t help but consider how a wintry Viridian Forest would handle pokemon.

Yolanda’s pokemon team

1. Terra- Larvitar

2. Spot - Growlithe

3. Sneasel

4. Pidgey