Paul Challenges Unova!

by warp writer

Paul goes to Unova to challenge its gyms and compete in its league. He learns that Ash has also come to Unova to compete in the league. Paul tries to change himself from how he used to be. As he travels he catches new pokemon and makes new friends and rivals on the way. The question he has for himself is he changing or is he still the same coldhearted trainer he always was.

1. Paul Goes to Unova!

Paul Challenges Unova

Chapter 1

Paul Goes to Unova!

In an airport in the sinnoh region, a trainer named Paul was leaving for the Unova region.

"You sure you want to go with just those two?" Paul's older brother, Reggie, asked with a smile.

"Yeah I'm good." Paul assured Reggie and then held out two pokeballs. "I decided to just bring Torterra and Electivire with me for now. I'll call you if I need any of the others."

"Okay then Paul. It's up to you." Reggie said. He looked through the big window where he could see all the planes in the lot. "Unova, huh? Lots of rare pokemon there."

"I'm aware."

"Oh when you arrive in the Unova region, make sure you visit Professor Juniper in Nuvema Town. I've asked her to provide you with a Unova pokedex." Reggie explained.

"Alright then." Paul nodded.

"You know what," Reggie began. "You seem a lot different this time around from all the other times you've left for a region. My guess is it's because of Ash."

Paul's eyes widened as Reggie continued. "It's no lie to say that of all the trainers and people you've met on your journey he's the most influential."

"Ash huh?" Paul thought about the trainer who beat him in the Sinnoh League. At the time when they had first met he honestly didn't think much of him. Or so he thought. Initially, Paul was only interested in Ash because his Pikachu knew volt tackle. Before their first battle Paul originally saw Ash as a second rate trainer with no talent. But afterwards he was bothered that he only tied with Ash and always strived to crush him in all their other battles.

At least that's the reason he came up with.

Truth was Ash bothered him. The way he talked, the way he acted, it was exactly how Reggie was.

"But Paul Ash isn't Reggie." Ash's friend, Dawn, had once told him. She was right. Ash was Ash and that was all that mattered. Ash influenced him to become a better trainer and he would him back for that with interest.

Paul smiled softly. "Whether or not he influenced me doesn't matter. It's whether or not I can beat him now."

"I see." was all that Reggie said.

"Well I'll be going now." Paul was about to walk for the corridor when Reggie stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Paul do your best."

"I will." and with that Paul went to the plane.

The plane ride was uneventful. Paul spent most of the time looking through a brochure on allthe different pokemon in the Unova region.

The plane landed and Paul had arrived in the Unova region.

Paul took a cab to a small town called Nuvema Town. In that town, like so many other regions in the world, lived the Unova region top pokemon researcher, Professor Juniper. He headed over to her lab which wasn't to far from where he was let off.

"Hello is anyone in here?" Paul called out as he entered the lab. "Professor Juniper?"

"Oh yes I'm here." Said a female voice. A tall woman came from a hall. She wore a labcoat and had big brown hair. "How can I help you."

"Hello my name is Paul from Veilstone City, in the Sinnoh region."Paul introduced. "I was told you could provide me with a pokedex on this region's pokemon."

"Oh yes Paul, we've been expecting you. Your brother called us before to tell us you would arrive." Professor Juniper said. She pulled out a rectangular pokedex and five empty pokeballs from her pocket. and held them out to Paul. "Here you are, a Unova region pokedex and five pokeballs."

"Thank you." Paul said as he took them and put the items in his pocket. "Well if there's nothing else I'll be leaving."

"Wait just a moment Paul." Juniper called out.

"Yes."

"I was wondering if you'd do me a favor?" the Professor asked politely.

"A favor? Like what?" Paul asked curiously.

"Well you see…" she turned toward the hall. "Tepig please come out here."

A red, pig like pokemon came running out. Paul assumed that the pokemon was a fire type, and, for some reason, it reminded him of the Chimchar he had once owned.

"This pokemon is the Fire type, Tepig" Professor Juniper explained. "It, along with the grass type Snivy, and water type Oshawott, is one of Unova's starter pokemon."

"I see and what does that have to do with me?" Paul asked, but he already had a good idea of what she would ask.

"Well you see, a couple of weeks ago, a new trainer named Trip chose Snivy as his first pokemon and not to long after that Oshawott followed a trainer named Ash Ketchum-"

"Ash?!" Paul said in shock.

"Do you know Ash?" Professor Juniper said startled.

"He and I have battled a few times." was all he said.

"I see. Well it might interest you to know that Ash is challenging the different pokemon gyms in Unova right now."

Paul smirked. "I see, but that's no surprise. I am excited to know he's in the region"

"But we're getting a bit off track here." said Professor Juniper with an awkward smile. "What I would like to ask you is would you please take care of Tepig?"

"You want me to be Tepigs trainer?" Paul's mind wandered to thoughts of the Chimchar he had once possessed.

"Yes. So how about it?"

Paul glanced at the Tepig standing next to Professor Juniper. He had looked at Paul with hopeful eyes. It obviously did not like being left behind while the other pokemon went with their new trainers.

Paul wasn't proud of all the choices he had made as a trainer. He treated the pokemon who fought for him like dirt and threw away the weaker ones like trash.

But not anymore.

After meeting Ash and having all those battles with him, it changed how he treated his pokemon and looked at himself.

Paul took a deep breath. "Alright I'll take Tepig."

Professor Juniper clapped her hands with joy and Tepig jumped with excitement. "That's great! I'll give you Tepig's pokeball."

"Thank you." Professor Juniper hand him Tepig's pokeball. "Alright Tepig return."

"You won't regret this Paul. I know it." Professor Juniper assured.

"I'm sure I won't." Paul said. "Excuse me, but do you know where the nearest gym is?"

"Yes I do. It's in a place called Striaton City and it's just passed Accumula Town." the Professor explained. "In fact Ash called me a few days ago and told me he had just beat that gym."

"Did he, now?" Paul said with intrigue. "Well I guess I'll just have to pick up my pace then. I'll be going now."

"Well bye and good luck with your gym battle." Professor Juniper waved good bye.

"Thank you." with that Paul exited the lab. He looked at the pokeball containing Tepig in it. He used the pokedex to check out Tepig's moves. Listed there was Tackle, Tail Whip, and Flame Charge. He had never heard of Flame Charge, but apparently it was a damage dealing fire type move.

"It would probably be a good idea to test Tepig's battle ability." he said to himself. And he knew just how to do it.

So how'd you like it? I hope I caught Paul's and professor Juniper's personalities right and I hope you like him getting the Tepig that wasn't chosen. I'll update soon.