Ash and Nessa

Chapter Five -- Ash Meets Nessa

Ash handed his Poké balls to the Pokémon Centre nurse. Her carrot-coloured hair bobbed only slightly as she nodded at him with a smile.

As Ash turned from the counter, there behind him was someone he recognized. She jumped in surprise when she noticed him.

"Ash! What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Nessa," replied Ash. "How's your Pokémon journey going?"

Nessa didn't look happy.

"Nessa, your Pokémon are ready now," came the nurse's most commonly heard phrase in her usual manner. Behind the courtesy and friendliness one could feel a sense of authority and reliability, as if one could rely on someone who had great skill in her work. "Please take better care of your Pokémon next time," she continued, "and make sure you feed them a balanced diet."

"OK, I'll try," replied Nessa.

Ash noticed that she only picked up two Poké balls.

"So what are doing at Viridian City?" asked Ash.

"I've come to try my luck at the Gym here?"

"Try your luck!?" blurted Ash. "Nessa, winning Pokémon battles is a matter of skill, not luck!"

The room fell silent as all eyes turned towards Ash. He looked around, and felt embarrassed. Nessa looked hurt.

"Please keep quiet," said the nurse. "You know where you are." Ash knew the nurse at Viridian City well. For all her kind heart and gentle nature, she could be firm when necessary.

"Uh...sorry Nessa," Ash said meekly. "Hey, can I get you something to eat?"

The two walked around to the cafeteria and Ash ordered them both a snack.

"Anyway," Ash continued, "Viridian Gym's holding a gym leaders' championship today and tomorrow. There won't be any challenger competitions on."

"Oh really!" said Nessa, "Is that why you're here?"

"Yep! And I just won my first match."

"Can I come and watch your next match?"

"You can if you want. It's at three o'clock in the Rock Gym. You can come and watch me get creamed."

"Oh Ash! Don't talk like that. You'll win. You're good."

Ash wanted to change the subject. "Hey, you didn't tell me how your Pokémon journey's going. When did you start?"

Ash could sense that Nessa was debating whether or not to talk to him. After a moment's thought, Nessa decided that Ash really seemed interested, and he seemed to be a good trainer that might be able to help her.

"I started four weeks ago," she finally started in a soft voice, her fingers fidgeting, "but I haven't caught any new Pokémon."

"I figured as much." Ash noticed her miserable expression and tried his best to offer a look of understanding.

"Pikachu was my pet at home in Celadon City," she continued. It's the only Pokémon I'd seen much in real life. But I love watching Pokémon battles on TV--all those amazing abilities they have, all those attacks they fight with. And I wanted to be part of it."

"So you got yourself a Charmander. But why haven't you caught any more?"

"I tried, Ash, I really did. I've tried catching Pidgey, but they fly away. I've tried catching Rattata, but they escape from my Poké balls."

"You're making the same mistakes I did when I started out. Hey, Nessa! How about we go out to the Viridian forest and I'll show you how a Pokémon master catches Pokémon?"

"Viridian forest!?"

"Don't worry, there's plenty of time until my next match. Just bring lots of Poké balls."

"It's not that. It's creepy in the forest. All those bug types!"

"Aw, come on! A Pokémon's a Pokémon. Let's go. It'll be fun."

In spite of her fears, Nessa knew that this might be her only chance of fulfilling her dream of becoming a reasonable Pokémon trainer. And Ash's beckoning smile seemed to infuse encouragement into her. Somehow she she forced herself to find some courage and agreed to go.