“Here we are” Jenny said pointing to a spot just outside of Viridian City. A beautiful small lake surrounded by hills on one side and the forest between Route 1 and Route 22 on the other. “Looks like the perfect spot for a picnic” I said with a smile. “Go ahead and let out your Pokémon while I go ahead and get everything set up” I said. The weather was a perfect Spring afternoon with some light clouds floating by. I laid out my big picnic blanket I had borrowed from the Oak family, and put out the food. “For us, I made some finger sandwiches to start. We have Cucumber & Cream, Smoked Salmon & Dill, and the classic egg salad” I said laying out some plates and utensils to serve. “To drink I brought some Pecha Berry Lemonade and Tea with cream & sugar” I said laying out the thermaces and cups. “Wow! Did you make this all yourself?” Jenny asked as she began to make herself a plate. “Yes, I’ve always loved to cook, grill, smoke, and bake food. I’m not a professional by any means, but I have been cooking and baking for most of my life” I said with a smile. “Oh, here I forgot to bring out my Pokémon. I was too fixed on the food” Jenny said with a cute giggle. “Come on out Spitz and Queeny” Jenny said throwing the two Pokéballs up in the air. Out popped a Growlithe and Nidoran♀. “Come on out gang and say hello” I called out throwing all four Pokéballs into the air. “Go say hello to Jenny’s Pokémon, their names are Spitz and Queeny. Please be gentle and play nice, okay?” I said prepping my Pokémon. “Lick Lick” “Tang Tang” my first two Pokémon said as they started to walk over. “Pidg Pid” Cha said as he fluttered over to Jenny and started jumping around her. “Rwarrr” Tremor said looking at everyone. “It’s okay Tremor, I know you must be worried about hurting anyone. If you want to go slow that’s all right. Just take your time and get used to your new size. Back at the lab, we’ll practice moving and being gentle. I promise, you will get used to your strength and size, okay?” I told Tremor while rubbing his shiny plating trying to help him relax. Tremor nodded very gently and slowly moved away and then turned back so his head was about five or six feet away from where everyone was sitting. “For the Pokémon, I brought some of my all natural snacks I made specially for you. “For Cha and Po, your special insect cookie snacks. For Rapunzel and Queeny, these are a sweet and savory snack made with some meat and berries. For Spitz, we have some meat sticks and some bones with fat on them to chew. Tremor gets the mineral supplement stick special!” I said passing out bowls with their snacks. Tremor got a giant plate with various minerals and soils packed together to help maintain his metal coating and ease the movement of his joints.

  While everyone was snacking and eating, I finally got to talk to Jenny more and get to know her. “So, Jenny, have you always lived in Viridian City?” I asked her. “Yes actually, my Mom was the Officer Jenny here before I took over when she retired. Now she works at the Officer Jenny academy based in Saffron City” she said while trying different sandwiches. “Austin, you said you were new to Kanto Region right?” Jenny asked. “Yes, although I have only seen Palet Town and Viridian City so far” I said smiling and watching the Pokémon eat and play together. “Where were you before Kanto?” Jenny asked looking curious. “Do you want the safe answer, or the confidential answer were you are sworn to secrecy?” I said giving her a silly serious face. “Let’s say the safe answer for now. As cute as you are, let’s save secret origins and serious talk for the second date” Jenny said with a giggle. “So there’s going to be a second date already?” I asked with a wiggle of my eyebrows. Jenny started to laugh, “Only because I like the food so much. The company isn’t so bad either I guess?” She said trying to be sly. “So I guess that means, I’m not too bad?” I asked playing along. “Eh you’re fine, but I think I like Cha better” Jenny said pointing to Cha who was dancing around with a cookie in his beak. “Oof shown up by a bird. Right in the heart” I said making a cutting motion to my heart. “Well I guess we don’t need to eat the rest of the food I brought then either huh?” I said closing the basket. “Oh right in the stomach” Jenny said making the same motion to her stomach. We both just sat back and laughed. “Well since you are pretty cute, I guess I could share my lunch with you after all” I said giving Jenny a wink. She blushed and looked down before she started to help clean up the sandwich plates. All of the Pokémon had finished eating and were playing at the edge of the water except for Cha and Tremor. Cha was flying back and forth from Tremor’s head to next to Jenny over and over again. Tremor was practicing moving each and every part of his body slowly and one at a time.

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  “For lunch, I made some Teriyaki Tauros and rice bowls with a fresh salad” I said passing her a still steaming bowl. “Wow, this is a perfect meal. Are you sure you don’t want to be a chef?” Jenny asked as we began to eat. “That might be fun, but I think I want to explore and give these Pokémon a chance to have an adventure. They were all abandoned and came from bad situations” I said pointing to all of my friends who were being silly. “That sounds like a lot of fun! I wish I could leave Viridian City” Jenny said looking a little jealous. “Well, have you ever thought about being a trainer or doing the gym circuit?” I asked her. “Of course, but no Officer Jenny has ever done that before” she said looking down-trodden. “Is there any way you could get permission to try?” I asked. “Well, I could always ask for a replacement and just quit the force to go” she said while watching the Pokémon. “I know this is very VERY forward of me, but you could always come with me?” I said while blushing and looking down. “You know what, sure! If everything works out, I’ll go with you. We have till next Fall to see if we are still getting along. Why don’t we try this and see how far we get by Fall, and then we can go together if we still like each other” Jenny said while blushing. “It sounds like a plan” I said while smiling. “If you want any help planning your team or training your Pokémon you can write to me, and we’ll set up times to train and work together. Outside of dates of course” I said starting to blush again. “I would like that a lot” Jenny said giggling.