*Hey everyone, this is my first fanfic, and I'll try to keep it updated. Enjoy!*

Chapter One

Risky Business

"Concentrate, Gio!" The man snapped. "What's wrong with you? You haven't landed a single hit all day!"

Gio picked himself up off the ground and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, master Tanah. It's just… I'm getting married tomorrow. I guess I just keep thinking about her." The forest clearing where they had been battling was a disaster area. There were jutting rocks, fissures in the ground, and deep gouges in the surrounding trees. Giovanni looked down at his Nidoran , who was breathing heavily from Dugtrio's Magnitude attack. "I'll try harder, master. Nidoran, return!" Giovanni called, returning his tired Pokemon to its ball. "I choose you! Meowth!" The cat Pokemon, who had been standing beside his trainer, purred softly.

Tanah nodded. "Begin! Dugtrio, use Magnitude!"

I hope it's not a magnitude nine again, that one even knocked me off my feet! Thought Gio. "Meowth, use Scratch!" Meowth leapt forward, jumping over the shockwave from Dugtrio's attack to swipe at its face, claws extended. "Again!" Gio called, as Meowth nimbly avoided Dugtrio's Slash attack.

Tanah laughed. "Is that the best you've got? Dugtrio, use Earthquake!" Dugtrio focused intently on the ground, as it started to shake.

Gio gasped. Earthquake? There's no way we can hold up against an attack that strong! "Meowth, we've gotta give it a shot. Try… Fury Swipes!" Meowth's expression was determined; its claws began to glow white as it rushed towards Dugtrio as the ground started to shake violently. It's working! Thought Gio excitedly. "Now!" He called out, and Meowth lunged at Dugtrio, its claws moving at blinding speed. In a blur, scratch marks started appearing rapidly all over the Pokemon, who was too focused on its Earthquake attack to defend itself. The ground shook harder, making Gio stumble. Then, it stopped. Meowth landed softly on the jagged ground, an unconscious Dugtrio beside him. Both trainers ran to their Pokemon. Tanah returned his Dugtrio to its ball to recover. Gio petted his Pokemon proudly. "You did it, Meowth! You did it!"

Tanah smacked Gio upside the head. "Foolish boy! Don't you care about your Pokemon?" Gio, stunned, could only look at his master in confusion. "You and I both know that Meowth hasn't mastered Fury Swipes yet!"

"But it worked," Gio retorted defensively, "And we won, didn't we?"

"It was reckless and stupid! Would you really risk your Pokemon on a single move like that? What would have happened if it didn't work?"

"Master Tanah, I thought –"

"No, Gio, you didn't think anything. This lesson is over." Tanah left the clearing.

Gio knew better than to follow him. He turned to his Pokemon, who had gotten distracted by a shiny, round pebble. "Well, I think you did great, Meowth. Let's go home."