002.

I never in a million year expected to be the owner of a Pokémon, let alone a Houndour. I barely know anything about this creature in front of me, who's taking a nap at my feet. People like me aren't specialised in getting to know all of the hundreds of different Pokémon out there. All I know about Houndour is that they belong to the Fire-species and they often operate in packs. A few months ago I heard on the news how a young trainer and her Bellsprout got attacked by a pack of Houndour late at night. She was trying to catch one of them and then got surrounded by the others.

''Stupid trainer,'' I recall thinking, ''Look at you. Trying to take on a wild, dangerous Pokémon with your Bellsprout. Just go back to school. Go help your mom with the laundry and play with your friends. Leave the Pokémon world alone.''

And now I am a trainer myself. How does this work? My headache from last night is still going strong. I call Houndour back in her ball and make my way out of the hotel room. Back at my own place, I immediately call Will.

''I was just about to close the shop,'' he tells me. ''Let me guess… Your sugar daddy left? Told ya.''

''He left me with a Houndour.''

''I see you in five minutes,'' he immediately responds. ''I will put some whiskey in our coffees. God, Es. A Houndour?''

Yes, a true Houndour. I show him five minutes after our phone-call. Houndour looks at Will and then jumps up in the air, before making her way through the shop, sniffing at every plant and looking under every table. I tell Will the whole story: how I met Whitney, how me and Caine spent the night and then I show him the paper.

''You can easily bring Houndour to the Day-care,'' Will suggests, ''or maybe… sell it? Trade it with a trainer for allot of money?''

''I know,'' I say, ''but I don't want to.''

''Don't tell me you got attached to this… thing over there.'' Houndour has jumped upon a chair, who fell down with her and is now laying underneath it, trying to crawl her way out from underneath it.

''I don't know, Will. I feel like… I really connected with Caine. Like, he was different than the others.''

'"But he left you just the same. You're going to spend the following months training and traveling the world, trying to reach a one night stand? And then what?''

''Well, I have no idea,'' I once again have to admit. ''He trusted me. He trusted me with this Pokémon.''

''You're making no sense.'' Me and Will have switched to the bottle of whiskey, not caring about the coffee anymore. It's early in the morning, but we both can use a drink.

''I'm not saying I am happy about this, Will. I have to take care of a second person and I don't even have enough money to take care off myself. But maybe this is what's right for me. Maybe I can use my journey in a creative way. I could meet new people and make music with them, write songs…''

''A journey across the land to become a trainer isn't about painting art, Esmond!'' Will says. ''You're going to be in allot of harsh circumstances. You're going to be cold, alone, starving. Your little Houndour here is going to lose allot of battles.''

''So that's why I have to train her.''

''You don't have money.''

''I can sell my apartment.''

''You're serious?''

''I am.''

He's quiet for a while.

''You came in here knowing what your decision would be already,'' he realizes. I decide to play open cards with Will. He's my only friend and he deserves to know the truth.

''Aside from Caine, with who I'm still intrigued and who I still want to see again, there's another reason that I want to travel the world and explore what it has to offer,'' I say. ''It's about Carmen. Her death. Maybe, just maybe, I can find answers. Maybe the people who took her life is still out there and maybe I can defeat this person in a battle, before killing him. Maybe I can take vengeance for Carmen's death. And if I can't, if there's nobody out there who knows anything… I can still do her proud. She always wanted to become a trainer.''

Will looks at me.

''I never knew your sister,'' he says, ''but through your stories I have started to care about her. Maybe this is what you're meant to become. A trainer. A truth-seeker. Maybe, exactly because you don't care about always winning and becoming the best of the best, you will become so. You're humble, Esmond.''

He pours me a parting glass.

''Tell me when you're leaving,'' he says, ''I'll throw you a goodbye party.''

''I don't think I'm going any soon,'' I then say. ''There's someone in this town that I have to battle before I can leave.''

''Who- Ah. Whitney.'' He nods.

''We have to prepare you and that lady over there-'' He points at Houndour, who's coming our way, ''We have to prepare you, starting from scratch.''

The days that follow I don't spend any time at school. I tried to take Houndour with me one time, but she burned through the canvas of a fellow student, who started to curse us out until I had to gently push him to a wall and tell him to ''Fuck off'' in my nicest way possible. Instead I made a short phone-call to home. My mom picked up. We talked a little bit about Carmen and then I told my mom I wanted to become a trainer.

''I need money,'' I honestly told her, ''You still have something hidden away from when I would graduate, remember?''

She remembered.

''Take care, Esmond,'' she responded. ''I will talk to dad and he will make sure you get the money.''

I don't feel bad about asking my parents for money. At the end of the day, it's money that they put away for me. Instead now I won't use it to open my own gallery, but I will use it to buy food for Houndour, to buy a tent, good shoes, pokéballs and potions. What has my life turned into?

Me and Houndour spend the days and nights in my room working on her moves. She knows a move called Leer, which basically includes her looking at me with an angry look on her face. It doesn't really scares me, but that's because we have grown a little closer. She sometimes sleeps next to me or at my feet, and when I smoke I notice how she nods her head in the distance, probably happy with the little ember that comes from my cig. Ember is another move she can do. It's not really strong yet, but when I tell her: ''Houndour, Ember!'' She coughs up a few red-orange embers that drift through the room and then disappear as quick as they appeared. Then there are few other moves she can do, although they aren't developed yet: Roar, which apparently causes the foe to become so scared that he returns back in his pokéball; Bite (which she used a few times on me) and Smog, which created a thick, dark cloud in which I can't see anything anymore. One time I woke up when Houndour practiced the move, as I thought my room was on fire. Freaking out, I grabbed Houndour a few of my clothes, only for the smog to disappear and leave me in my boxers and the sweater that I always sleep in.

''I think it's time for your first battle,'' Will says after another few days of practicing the few moves that Houndour is able to perform.

''You're right,'' I tell him. ''But where?''

We quickly get an idea and, when Will is done with working, we both make our way to the Goldenrod City Gym. There are always people outside: tourists and people who are selling final products before trainers head inside, but there are also allot of trainers walking around, nervous for their encounter with Whitney.

Eventually I find someone who's willing to battle with me. He's somewhere around sixteen years old, I guess, based on the fact that he's a little smaller than I am and seems a little too confident.

''I just beat them in there,'' he brags. ''Whitney herself couldn't even battle me, so there was a replacement… Ha- They better fire that one. Me and my Muk defeated her within what- two seconds?''

Did I mention that he was too confident? It's better to say that this boy is cocky. Extremely cocky.

''Ofcourse I battle you,'' he says. ''I prepared all of my Pokémon, but I only had to use Muk. Where is a Garden?''

Gardens and Cages are special places where trainers can battle each-other. Although I don't believe it is actually forbidden, normally people don't fight on the streets. Not only will you receive allot of attention (which you don't like anymore once you have lost in front of the whole city), but it's also not safe. Cages are small squares with walls which you can use to battle each-other, although people also play soccer or tennis in them when it's sunny. Gardens are marooned, small fields with trees and bushes to keep you hidden away from the public places. I lead the guy, who turns out to be called Andy, to one of the gardens.

Will suggests to act as a referee. I didn't knew that Will knew any rules about actual Pokémon battles, but it doesn't surprises me that much. The last few days me and Will opened up to each-other. He told me how he has allot of nephews and uncles who own Pokémon. Although not particularly interested in becoming a trainer himself, he has saw enough battles.

''Both trainers will use one Pokémon,'' he tells us. ''As soon as one Pokémon can't continue to fight, the game is over. Ready- Set- Go!''

''Yanma!'' They boy screams.

''Houndour, let's go!''

At the same time, two red lights emerge into two Pokémon. I hate the fact that I still don't know a Pokédex. There's almost nothing I know about this flying bug in front of me and Houndour. However, I won't let that fact stop me and Houndour from winning. We have practiced her attacks for days now in my room and in Will's back garden, but now is the moment that truly matters.

''Yanma, use Sonic Boom!'' Andy screams.

The bug who's flying in the air is flapping its wings at such an extremely speed that shockwaves appear to be created, as they suddenly fly towards Houndour. Oh no! Oh God! Houndour has to- Too late.

''Dour!'' I can hear Houndour as she's hit by the shockwave coming our way. She flies through the air and smashes to the ground two meters further. What am I doing? I have to make decisions. I have to think rapidly. But things are happening so fast!

''Yanma, use Quick Attack!'' Andy now orders. Yanma appears, disappears, appears… while coming closer very fast.

''Houndour, do-'' I try to scream, but again, Houndour is hit by the attack. She starts barking and growling, and I realize how she's not only getting weaker, but also getting more angry. She's looking at me. Houndour is relying on me, I realize. She doesn't do anything unless I give her the order. I'm a trainer. We have to think alike. I have to say something, so she can follow me and my thoughts. We're going to win this.

''Yanma, another Sonic Boom!'' Yanma starts flapping his wings again and another harsh breeze of electronic waves is coming our way.

''Houndour, use Smog!'' I scream. ''And follow up with Ember!'' Houndour nods and barks loudly. As she opens her mouth, a thick black fog is released from it. Yanma's Sonic Boom doesn't reach Houndour, but instead hits the smoke. As the Sonic Boom drifts away the black smog, Houndour's Ember is already shifting through the air at a high speed. This is the best version I have seen thus far. Houndour is really trying her best this battle. The small embers hit Yanma in his chest, as the bug is smashed towards one of the trees standing around the battle-field.

As Yanma flies back up, Houndour gets a second to recover.

''Another Ember!'' I ask, but Yanma knows how to dodge the second attack.

''Quick Attack,'' Andy orders. Yanma comes flying our way again.

''Roar, Houndour!'' Houndour lets out her loudest bark yet, and frightened by the sound, Yanma bounces back, unable to perform his attack.

''Use your leer to lower Yanma's defence!'' I scream. Houndour's eyes light up red, as Yanma is clearly getting more and more intimidated by Houndour. My Houndour. It's obvious how Andy is getting frustrated. Clearly the battle isn't going as he planned.

''Yanma, use Double Team!'' He screams. All of a sudden there are twenty or even more Yanma flying in the sky, without me or Houndour being able to find out who the real one is. Slowly they are flying towards Houndour, who doesn't knows where to look.

''Quick Attack, now!'' Andy screams. From the bottom of the large group of Yanma the real one rapidly flies towards Houndour and hits her full in the chest. Houndour flies through the sky and smashes down to the ground.

''Yanma, Sonic Boom!''

''Houndour, please get up!'' I ask Houndour. She's shaking on her feet, but can still stand. However, there's another Sonic Boom coming our way. Then I get an idea.

''Houndour! You have to trust me!'' I tell Houndour, and she barks quietly. ''Use Ember but aim it on the ground!'' She does, and because of the strength of her small flaming bubbles, she's launched into the sky, just when the Sonic Boom hits. Because Houndour is already in the sky, the Sonic Boom blows her into one of the trees that are surrounding the Garden.

''Now! Jump onto Yanma and use your Bite!'' I scream. I hope this works: Bite is clearly the most difficult attack for Houndour to practice, but I have faith in her. Houndour runs, jumps out of the tree and towards Yanma, who she grabs by one wing with her jaw. As they both are falling to the ground, Houndour gives a swing to Yanma's wing, as Yanma is eventually smashed to a tree, just when Houndour hits the ground. Hard. Yanma hits the tree and falls down.

For a while it's unsure whether or not the two can stand up, but eventually Houndour tries to get up and eventually sits down, clearly tired but still standing. Yanma however can't move anymore.

''Yanma can't participate anymore!'' Will screams, ''Houndour wins!''

We did it! A feeling I almost can't describe, but which comes most close to being proud and being relieved overfills me, while Andy lets Yanma returns into his pokéball and leaves the Garden without another word. I immediately run towards Houndour, who seems happy the battle is over.

''You did such a great job,'' I tell her. ''This is what we worked for in my room. I'm so proud of you.''

She nods and then closes her eyes.

''Let's get her to a Pokécenter,'' Will says. ''Seriously Es. What a game.''

I have never been to a Pokécenter. For some reason, all the nurses inside have pink hair and most of them are called Joy, which makes it a little hard when one of them tells me: ''Sister Joy will keep you posted on the health of your Houndour,'' because I don't know which of the twelve women running up and down the hall she means. Me and Will both sit down in a chair. There are allot of trainers sitting around. It's logical, because the Goldenrod City Gym is just around the corner. I wanted to go with Houndour, but the sisters wouldn't let me. They seemed surprised when I didn't knew that I couldn't go with my Pokémon.

''Let the Chansey take care of it,'' They simply told me, a little frustrated when I permitted to go. Eventually Will had to sit me down.

''I don't know if I can take this stress after every battle,'' I tell him. ''I have to buy potions. I have to get studied on those berries they sell on every street corner. And I for sure need a Pokédex,'' I think out loud and Will agrees with me.

''It will be fine,'' he says ''Maybe you can make a bet the next time. I heard how more trainers do so. Millionaires have been made from fighting and placing the right bet at the right duel. You got money from your parents right? Use that to buy a Pokédex. We still need to buy a good backpack for you and a tent, I can get started with getting to know about berries tomorrow after work, and-''

''Why are you doing this?'' I interrupt Will. ''I mean, we're friends, Will, that's for sure. But you have your business. You're missing out on customers and money because me and Houndour are destroying halve of your shop by her failed Ember attacks. You're so involved with the whole process, Will. Why?''

''Because…'' He's quiet for a while. He makes a hand gesture and I realize what he means. A little later we're smoking outside the Pokécenter. Here, outside a health center, there are more people smoking than I have ever seen in my whole life. Apparently the fear of your Pokémon being unhealthy, turns you into a smoker with bad health yourself.

''I want to come with you,'' Will eventually decides. I want to say something, but he tells me to let him speak.

''I am thirty, Es. When I was younger, when I was around twenty-two, twenty-three… My own shop seemed so great to me. Working on my own time… A little flirting with my customers… If I didn't felt like it I just didn't opened the shop. But the world is much bigger than that. The world isn't serving up cups of coffee five days a week, and spending my weekends getting drunk on cheap beer. I want to join you. I want to see the world, I want to see new cities- maybe meet a nice girl, catch a Pokémon and start a family.''

''You're more than welcome,'' I say. We blow out smoke and are quiet for a while.

''Is it weird that I am scared?'' I ask Will. ''I mean… Maybe we're never coming back to Goldenrod City. Maybe we will die on the road, attacked by wild Pokémon.''

''It's not crazy at all,'' he says. ''But we'll be fine. It's never too late to start living, Esmond.''

After two hours of making plans together, we can finally pick Houndour up. She looks better: healthy, although she is still a little tired from her first battle ever. As Houndour walks with us, me and Esmond make our way back home. We have decided to start renting my apartment, while also putting his coffee shop up for sale. As soon as both are rented, I will try to battle whoever replaces Whitney at the Goldenrod City Gym.

Although I expected to be all hyped up after my battle with Andy, I find it too early for any real battles yet, and thus I spend my days making walks towards the outside areas of Goldenrod City, where there are fields and small bushes in which me and Houndour battle Caterpie, Pidgey, Ledyba and a Pineco who seems lost and turns out to be hard to beat because he keeps on using Protect. As the days pass, the normal life continues. Will works even more shifts at Tauros Coffee, because he wants to earn as many money before we go.

''Don't worry about the money,'' he once told me during a late night talk, ''You don't have allot, I have after I sell the shop and empty my safe. We just throw it all together and share. You're my friend, Esmond. That's what friends do. They help each-other out.''

As Houndour gets stronger, she develops more speed and I even see her grow a little. Sometimes I feel a little guilty towards Caine. But what did he expect? For me to go out into the woods with an Houndour who never fought one single Pokémon? Without money? It's been three weeks since he left me and I haven't even moved more than a few miles out of the city.

Everything gets into motion when Will one evening shows up at my door with great news and a few pizza's.

''Someone's interested,'' he smiles. ''An anonymous person called me, didn't said his name. Said he wanted to give a friend of his a nice birthday present.''

''He's buying Tauros Coffee as a birthday present?''

''Yes!'' Will laughs. ''Crazy, huh? But I'm not asking too many questions. Now it's just your apartment and we're free to go.''

The next day I take Houndour on a walk through the park and then head over the University. I haven't been around for long, but I want to speed things up. I want to leave this city. Eventually I find a girl that I sometimes hang out with after school. Her name is Diana, always wearing black with her blonde ponytail sleeked pushed back. She plays guitar and is really rich. That's pretty much all I know about her, but then again, she knows even less about me.

''Hey Es,'' she greets me when we're both walking through the hallway and I grab her arm. ''Haven't seen you in a long time.''

''That's right,'' I say. ''I've been busy with things. I… received, a Pokémon.''

She stands still in the hallway and looks at me, interested.

''What kind of Pokémon?''

''A Houndour.''

''Really? Oh, I would love to see him!''

''Her. It's a her.''

''Well congratulations, Esmond! You're becoming a Pokémon trainer now!''

''Yeah, well…'' I say, ''I can't leave until I have sold my apartment. So I was thinking…''

''You want me to buy your apartment?'' She laughs. ''Oh, Esmond, I am doing fine in my own house. It's right outside the city. It's just me and my mom. It's big, with a big lane…''

Besides not wanting to rent my apartment, she's also making me jealous, intentional or not. I'm about to brush her off, when she grabs my hand and looks me in my eyes.

''But I love a place to use as a gallery,'' she smiles. ''Esmond, although we don't know each-other that well… I always liked you. The way you go around school with that mysterious, dizzy look on your face… Always running late, always smoking, always with nice stories about your midnight flings… I will rent your place, Esmond. So you can do what you have wanted for as long as I have known you.''

''That's not true…'' I mumble, but she starts laughing harder.

''You might not have knew it yourself, but I always saw it in your eyes. Just send the price and details to the office of my dad.'' She gives me a card from her father's business and gives me kiss on my cheek.

''You're a good kid, Esmond,'' she says and then she's gone.

Now that my apartment and Will's shop have been taken care off, I find it's time for another real battle. Through the weeks me and Houndour have been battling enough wild, weak Pokémon. I want to face another trainer, someone else with a brain and his own strategy. A challenge.

When I approach a girl named Tiffany about doing a one on one battle, she immediately agrees.

''I haven't done one in a while,'' she admits, ''but I am here for my second badge, and I could definitely use some more training.''

We meet up that evening at one of the Cages. Since Will has to work, I told Tiffany to bring one of her friends as referee, as she has brought a female friend of hers named Lyla.

''As soon as one of your Pokémon isn't able to find any further, the game stops,'' Lyla says. ''Trainers ready? Set- Go!''

''Go, Houndour!'' I yell out.

''Aipom, I choose you!'' Tiffany says. I am happy she chose a Pokémon with a normal type, since I will be battling the same type at the gym.

''Use Sand-Attack!'' She screams. Aipom runs towards Houndour and swipes with her tail across the floor, as large amounts of sand drift into Houndour's direction. I can see how she's blinded by the fire.

''Tail Whip, now!'' Aipom continues running towards Houndour and smashes her to the ground with her tail. Houndour immediately jumps up, but is still blinded.

''Use Smog!'' I scream, and a smoggy black fog fills the cage. Now both Pokémon can't see, I realize.

''Ember!'' Houndour uses Ember and based on the painful noises from Aipom, I suggest she's been hit.

''Use Sand-Attack again!'' Tiffany yells. Aipom twirls around, and the sand that gets lifted up blocks the smog. Houndour's eyes are back to normal.

''Leer!'' I tell Houndour, ''and then another Ember!'' Houndour's loud growl causes Aipom to do a few steps back, shifting on her little purple feet, as another load of fire balls then come her way, as the monkey is hit.

''Aipom, get back up and use your Fury Swipes!'' Aipom comes running up to Houndour, faster than I expected, and is able to hit Houndour with a few of her hits, before I tell Houndour to jump aside.

''Use Bite!'' I tell Houndour, ''use Bite on the tail!'' Houndour reacts immediately, goes straight for Aipom's tail and bites herself in it, before swinging Aipom through the Cage. Aipom however gets up, ready for another swing of Fury Swipes.

''Smog!'' I scream. ''And then use Bite once more!''

As the dark cloud has disappeared from the cage, Aipom is laying unconscious on the ground, with Houndour next to her, licking her own wounds.

''Aipom, return!'' Tiffany says disappointed, and after I give Houndour a hug, I also let her return.

''Houndour and Esmond are the winner of this battle!'' Lyla says, a little saddened by the fact that her friend lost.

''Congratulations,'' Tiffany tells me. ''Maybe we'll meet again sometime.'' After the fight, me and Houndour make a short pit-stop at the Pokécenter, but Houndour is out within fifteen minutes.

''You did a great job,'' I tell Houndour when she's being given back to me. ''It's time to challenge the gym.''