"Come on Damion wake up"

I opened my eyes and Sarah was standing over me.

"Huh?" I said.

"Come it's time to go we gotta get moving if we want to make it to the next city" she said.

I groaned and sat up stretching my arms.

"Hurry up Jake is already waiting for us downstairs" she said.

Then she went into the bathroom and shut the door probably to do her hair or something girly like that. I put the pillow back on the bed and got dressed then I put my bag on my back and walked out the door leaving Sarah behind in the bathroom. I walked down the hall and down the steps Jake was sitting at a table waiting for us.

"Hey there sleepy head I see that Sarah finally got you awake."

I sat down across from him and moaned.

"Let me guess you're tired?" he said.

I nodded.

Jake chuckled and then took a bit of the bagel in his hand.

"Where'd you get that?" I asked.

He swallowed and then pointed over to a stand near the front counter it had a bunch of breakfast food.

"Oh thank god" I said.

I ran over to the food and grabbed two pieces of toast and then walked back to the table munching on one of them. Then I saw Sarah walking down the stairs her hair was all wet and it was down.

"You took a shower?" I said.

She nodded.

"Why?" I asked.

"Why not" she answered.

I shrugged and munched on my toast as she went over to get herself something to eat before we left for the next city.

"Hey where are we going next?" I asked.

Jake handed me a map.

"Here I got one for all of us open it up and look at where we have to go next" he said.

I opened the map and looked for Viridian when I found it I followed the path that led to the next city.

"Looks like we have to go to Pewter city… But first we have to get through Viridian forest it says here that there are a lot of bug type Pokemon living there" I said.

"Cool" Jake said.

"Gross bugs" Sarah said.

"You're such a girl" I said.

She punched me in the shoulder.

"What?" I said.

No one answered me and we finished our food then left the Pokemon center.

"Goodbye nurse Joy" we said.

She waved goodbye and we walked out of the door and down the sidewalk toward the city exit as we walked I spotted the gym and stopped.

"Why can't I challenge that gym" I whined.

"Because that gym leader is so tough to beat that you have to have a total of seven gym badges before you can challenge it" Jake said.

"Wow I wonder who could be that strong?" I said.

"I heard that the gym leaders name is Blue" Sarah said.

"Yeah me too and that he grew up in Pallet town with Red and Green" Jake added.

I raised an eyebrow.

"You really expect me to believe that his name is Blue and that his friends are named Red and Green."

"Oh I almost forgot about Yellow" Sarah said.

"Oh yeah" Jake said.

"Whatever."

Then we continued down the sidewalk and to Viridian forest and to Sarah screaming that a bug landed on her head at least thats what I thought would happen.

"There it is" Jake said.

I looked at where he was pointing and saw a bunch of trees which was definitely the forest because there was nothing else out there that it could be. We got to the entrance to the forest and then walked in we were greeted by a buzz of bug type Pokemon people were walking around with nets. I was guessing that they were bug catchers trying to get a rare bug Pokemon or something like that.

"Come on lets go get some bug Pokemon!" I said.

"Shhhh!"

I looked to the right of me and there was a guy with a net glaring at me.

"What?" I said.

"If you want to get bug Pokemon you have to be quiet" he said.

"Don't tell me what to do" I said.

"Calm down Damion" Jake said.

"I've been catching bugs for a long time I know what you need to do" he said.

"Well then you do it your way and I'll do it my way" I said.

"No you have to be quiet or you'll scare away all of the bugs" he said.

"You know what?" I said.

"What?"

"We can settle this with a Pokemon battle" I said.

"Damion!?" Sarah said.

"Fine by me" said the bug catcher.

He put his net down and grabbed a Pokeball off his belt and I grabbed Pip's Pokeball from mine and I threw it.

"Alright let's do this Pip" I said.

In mid-air the Pokeball opened up and then a white light flashed and Pip was standing in front of me ready for battle.

"Troo!" he said.

The bug catcher threw his Pokeball and it opened releasing a Pokemon that I didn't know so I pulled out the Pokedex and pointed it at the Pokemon.

"Caterpie the worm Pokemon, Caterpie is a bug type Pokemon, Caterpie uses the suction cups on its feet to climb trees and feed on its favorite leaves" said the Pokedex.

I didn't know too much about bugs but, I could still beat them.

"Pip use Sand-Attack!" I said.

Pip dug its claws into the ground and flung the dirt at Caterpie.

"Caterpie us String Shot!" yelled the bug catcher.

Caterpie shot a silk like thread from it's mouth and entangled Pip.

"Pip use Screech" I said.

Pip opened his mouth and screeched making Caterpie cringe and move back as Pip struggled free of the silk.

"Good job Pip" I said.

"Caterpie use Tackle!"

"Caterpie!" it said.

Caterpie moved toward Pip but, at a slow pace.

"Pip use Gust!" I said.

"Troo troo!" he said.

Then Pip flapped his wings and whipped up a small gust that sent Caterpie flying into the nearest tree.

"Caterpie no!" said the bug catcher.

Caterpie didn't move meaning that I had won the battle.

"Yes good job Pip!" I said.

Pip chirped happily as the bug catcher returned his Caterpie.

"You're a good trainer kid" he said.

"Thanks" I said. "I just started yesterday."

"Well your Pidgey is very strong I'm a little surprised that it was able whip up a gust that powerful" he said.

Then he picked up his net and walked away to get more bug Pokemon and I turned toward Jake and Sarah.

"Good job" Jake said.

"Please don't battle everyone we see" Sarah said.

"I won't" I replied. "Just most of them."

Then I returned Pip and put his Pokeball back on my belt then we continued through the forest walking through the grass since there was no clear dirt path to follow.

"Ahhhh!" Sarah screamed.

"What?!" Jake and I yelled turning around.

Sure enough there was a bug type Pokemon on her head but, it wasn't a Caterpie so I pulled out the Pokedex once more.

"Weedle is the hairy bug Pokemon Weedle is a bug/poison type Pokemon, Often found in forests, eating leaves. It has a sharp venomous stinger on its head" said the Pokedex.

"Cool" I said.

"Get it off! Get it off!" Sarah yelled.

"Pip come on out" I said.

I threw Pip's Pokeball to let him out and Pip came out ready to battle.

"Pip use Gust and blow Weedle out of Sarah's hair!" I said.

"Troo."

Pip whipped up a gust that sent Weedle flying just like Caterpie the gust also messed up Sarah's hair but, I wasn't concerned about that.

"Pip use screech" I said.

Pip let at a screech that made Weedle move back a little trying to avoid the sound.

"Alright Weedle prepare to join my team!" I said.

I threw a Pokeball and captured the Weedle.

"Yes!" I said.

I ran and picked up the Pokeball and attached it to my belt.

"I can't believe that you just caught that… that bug yuck" Sarah said.

"Don't be mean Sting is apart of the team now" I said.

Both Jake and Sarah looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

"What?" I said.

"Sting?" they said in unison.

"Yeah Sting what about it?" I said.

They shrugged and we continued through the brush trying to find the way out of the forest so we could get to the next city and battle the first gym leader. We walked on for almost an hour and we still couldn't find the exit and the worst part was we didn't remember which way we had come from so we were lost.

"Great" I said. "What do we do now?"

Jake shrugged.

"I have no clue" he said.

I sighed.

"Wait a minute" Sarah said.

"What?" Jake and I said.

"Have Pip fly above the trees and then he can lead us out of this forest" she said.

"I would but, Pip needs to rest he's gone through two battles already and I don't want to push him to hard in one day" I said.

"Yeah I guess that makes since" Sarah replied.

We sat down by a tree to rest for awhile when we heard rustling in the bushes.

"What's that?" Sarah asked.

"Probably another Pokemon" I replied.

"Dibs!" shouted Jake.

I smiled and handed him a pokeball.

"Here you go" I said.

"Did someone just call dibs?" said a voice.

The three of us looked around for who could have said it but, didn't see anyone around. Then the bushes rustled again and a twig snapped Jake stood up and grabbed Bulbasaur's Pokeball from his belt.

"Alright my turn" he whispered so as not to scare away the Pokemon.

Then a pair of yellow ears poked out and into sight and then the Pokemon came into full view it was small and yellow with brown stripes running across it's back and black tips on the end of it's ears. It also had red circles on it's cheeks it looked at us with a curious face it was so cute, I pointed the Pokedex at it.

"Pikachu the mouse Pokemon, Pikachu is an electric type, It occasionally uses an electric shock to recharge a fellow Pikachu that is in a weakened state" it said.

"Pika" it said curiously.

"Time to shine Bulbasaur" Jake said.

Jake threw Bulbasaur's Pokeball and released him into battle.

"Bulba bulbasaur" he said.

"Bulbasaur use Tackle!" Jake ordered.

Bulbasaur ran at Pikachu and tackled it Pikachu didn't look curious anymore it now looked very very angry.

"Pikachu!" it yelled.

Then lightning bolts discharged from it's cheeks and hit bulbasaur.

"Bulbasaur!" Jake cried out.

"Bulba" he said weakly.

"Hang in there Tackle one more time" Jake ordered.

Bulbasaur nodded and ran at Pikachu one more time but this time Pikachu dodged the attack and countered with it's own Quick Attack that hit it's mark knocking Bulbasaur back. Bulbasaur was heavily damaged and wouldn't be able to take much more, but he still struggled to his feet not wanting to let Jake down.

"Bulbasaur!" he said.

"Come on Bulbasaur we can do it" Jake said.

"That Pikachu is just way too fast for Bulbasaur" Sarah said.

I nodded.

The Pikachu discharged another lightning bolt which hit Bulbasaur who cried out in pain Bulbasaur was almost beaten. I grabbed a Pokeball from my belt not caring who it was I just wanted to be ready if Jake needed back up. Bulbasaur struggled to it's feet and looked at the wild Pikachu it looked like it was amused at Bulbasaur and how it continued to battle even though it was clearly beaten.

"Bulbasaur come on use Tackle!" Jake said.

Bulbasaur used a last burst of energy and rammed into Pikachu at full speed Sending the little yellow Pokemon into a tree with a thud.

"Jake quick the Pokeball!" I yelled.

"Right" he said.

Jake took the Pokeball in his hand and threw it at the Pikachu.

"You fought well now you're mine!" He said.

The Pokeball hit Pikachu on the tail and opened up then Pikachu went inside the Pokeball and it shook once, but in a flash of light Pikachu escaped the Pokeball.

"No!" Jake said.

I threw my Pokeball and out came Sting.

"Sting use String Shot!" I said.

Sting shot silk from it's mouth and tied Pikachu up making it so it was harder for Pikachu to move.

"Jake try again" I said throwing him a second Pokeball.

He caught it and threw the ball at Pikachu it hit trapped Pikachu inside and then shook once.

"Come on" Jake said.

It shook again.

"Almost there."

Then it shook for the last time and Pikachu was caught.

"Yes!" Jake cheered.

He picked up his Pokeball and raised it above his head.

"I caught a Pikachu!" he said.

"No!"

We looked around for who had just said that and then someone came down from the tree to our right and looked at Jake.

"I was going to catch that Pikachu I've been tracking it for days" he said.

"Ummm… Who are you?" I asked.

"I'm Brendan" he said.

"Hi I'm Damion this is Jake and that's Sarah" I said.

He nodded.

"Well I am going to have to ask you to hand over that Pikachu now" he said.

"I caught it" Jake said.

Bulbasaur weakly walked over to Jake who returned him and attached the ball to his belt along with Pikachu.

"Yes but, I've been the one tracking it" Brendan said.

"So what" Jake argued.

"So it is rightfully mine" Brendan said.

"Stop arguing!" I yelled.

Both Jake and Brendan stopped talking and looked at Brendan.

"We will settle this in a battle" I said.

"Sounds good to me" Brendan said.

"Damion Jake's Pokemon are too injured to battle!" Sarah yelled.

"Jake won't be battling I will" I said.

Neither Jake nor Sarah said anything at first and then Jake spoke .

"Are you sure?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Thank you" he said.

"Don't thank me yet" I said.

I returned Sting and stood across from Brendan and picked Charmander's Pokeball from my belt.

"We will each use three Pokemon" Brendan said.

I nodded agreeing to the rules.

"Alright Go Charmander!" I said.

"Go Metapod!" Brendan said.

I pointed the Pokedex at Metapod.

"Metapod is a bug type Pokemon, and the evolved form of Caterpie, a steel-hard shell protects its tender body. It quietly endures hardships while awaiting evolution" said the Pokedex.

"Gross another bug" Sarah winned.

"Damion you have type advantage you got this!" Jake said.

I nodded.

"Metapod used Harden!"

Metapod shined silver and then stopped.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Metapods Harden makes it so his defense gets stronger" Brendan informed me.

"I can still beat you though" I said.

"So you think I know that your Charmander doesn't know any fire type moves yet."

"Charmander use scratch!" I ordered.

"Char" he replied.

Charmander ran at Metapod who didn't move and he scratched it multiple times but, it didn't seem to do that much damage.

"Metapod use String Shot!" Brendan said.

Metapod shot silk out of it's mouth and tied up Charmander who flailed around trying to escape the sticky substance.

"Now Metapod use Tackle"

Metapod rammed into Charmander who rolled toward me.

"Come on Charmander!" I said.

Charmander broke free of the silk and stood ready for battle once more I was proud of him.

"Alright use Growl."

Charmander growled at Metapod who kept the same blank expression and didn't seem to care that much.

"Metapod use String Shot once more"

Metapod shot the sticky silk at Charmander once more and Charmander dodged once and then once more.

"Good job Charmander!" I encouraged.

"Charmander!" he said.

Then Charmander swung his tail and a small flame shot from his and flew at Metapod who didn't move and was hit head on.

"What was that?" I asked.

"Hmmm… It seems your Charmander has learned the move Ember" Brendan said.

"Sweet!" I said. " Charmander finish this with another Ember!"

"Char!"

Charmander swung his tail again and hit Metapod with a second Ember attack and this time Metapod fell on it's side and didn't move.

"Metapod return" Brendan said.

Metapod was returned to his Pokeball and I had won the first battle.

"Alright go Slowpoke!" Brendan said.

"What?"

I pointed the Pokedex at the pink animal.

"Slowpoke the Dopey Pokemon, Slowpoke is a Water/Psychic type Pokemon. It is always so absent-minded that it won't react, even if its flavorful tail is bitten" said the Pokedex.

"Cool a psychic type" Jake said.

"Slowpoke use Water Gun!" Brendan said.

"Slow...poke" it said.

Slowpoke opened it's mouth and shot a jet of water toward Charmander it smashed into his chest and he went flying backwards smashing into a tree and when the water subsided Charmander struggled to stand.

"No! Charmander!" I yelled.

"Char" he said weakly.

Charmander fell on the ground and didn't get up it was now one to one.

"Charmander come back" I said.

I returned Charmander and Grabbed Sting's Pokeball.

"Come on out Sting!"

Sting landed on the battlefield ready for a fight.

"Alright Sting use Sting Shot" I said.

Sting shot the sticky silk from it's mouth and tied up Slowpoke who didn't move or even seem to care that much at all it just sat there staring at me with that creepy blank expression.

"Alright now use Poison Sting."

Sting Shot a bunch of needles from it's horn and hit Slowpoke which still didn't seem to care it was really scaring me now.

"Slowpoke use Confusion!" Brendan said.

Slowpoke's eyes started glowing blue and it just starred at Sting until Sting's eyes were also glowing blue.

"What are you doing?!" I yelled.

"Just using a Confusion attack" he replied.

Then both Sting and Slowpoke's eyes stopped glowing and Sting fainted.

"Nice job Slowpoke only one more and that Pikachu is ours" he said.

"Slow...poke"

I returned Sting and Grabbed Pip's Pokeball I had to win fast before Pip got to tired he had already fought and won two battles before but, I didn't think he would be able to win if the battle was long and drawn out.

"Alright let's show them what we got!" I said. "Come on out Pip!"

I threw Pip's Pokeball and released him onto the battlefield I wasn't about to let this stranger win and take the Pikachu that Jake and Bulbasaur had worked so hard to capture.

"Alright Slowpoke use Tackle!"

Slowpoke charged Pip but, wasn't fast enough and missed as Pip took to the sky and flew above Slowpoke.

"Pip use Gust!"

Pip flapped his wings and blew Slowpoke on it's back and it squirmed to get up right.

"Now go for a Screech!"

Pip opened his beak and let out and ear splitting sound that made Slowpoke flail around even more until it was off it's back and staring at Pip.

"Finish it Pip Gust!"

Pip whipped up one final gust and blew Slowpoke back into Brendan's legs knocking him over.

"Good job Pip just one more" I said.

Brendan returned his Slowpoke and started laughing maniacally as he took his third Pokemon from his belt he was really scaring me but, it wasn't going to stop me from beating him in this battle.

"Are you ready to face the strongest Pokemon in my arsenal?" He asked.

"Who?" I asked.

"Let's go Magikarp!" he said throwing a Pokeball.

Then as the Pokemon came out of the Pokeball it sparkled meaning that it was shiny just like my Charmander, then flailing around on the ground was a golden fish animal flopping around I pulled out the Pokedex.

"Magikarp the fish Pokemon, Magikarp is a water type Pokemon. It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokemon in the world" it said.

I raised an eyebrow.

"Thats your best Pokemon?" I said.

Brendan nodded.

"But, the Pokedex just said it is the most weak and pathetic Pokemon in the world" I replied.

"Well it doesn't know what it's talking about my Magikarp has the most powerful move in the world" Brendan announced happily.

"Hyper Beam?" Jake asked.

"No!"

"Then what?" I asked.

"I'll show you Magikarp use Splash!" he said.

Magikarp splashed around on the dry ground and nothing happened to Pip whatsoever.

"Umm?" I said.

"It just missed it has a 0.0000000000000001% chance of hitting but when it dose it is the best" I said.

"Whatever" I said.

"Magikarp come on use Splash once more!" Brendan yelled.

Magikarp splashed around on the ground trying to make the aprentally strongest move hit Pip who was still flying above the golden fish.

"Pip use Gust!"

Pip flapped his wings and created another gust that blew Magikarp and sent him flailing to Brendan and to a second loss for him I had won and Jake could keep the Pikachu that he had fought so hard to get.

"Awesome job Pip" I said.

"Troo" Pip replied.

Then Pip's wings stopped flapping and he fell out of the sky.

"Pip no!" I yelled.

I ran toward where Pip was going to hit the ground I reached out my arms and caught Pip then I tripped and fell I held Pip close to my chest so that he wouldn't get hurt as I tumbled to the ground.

"Damion!" Sarah called.

I looked at Pip whose eyes were closed and was breathing heavily.

"Pip come on Pip you're going to be ok" I said.

"Damion is Pip ok?" Jake asked.

"I don't know" I replied.

"Let me see."

I turned and saw Brendan kneeling down next to me I laid Pip down on the ground for him to see and he studied him carefully.

"He's hurt really bad that last Gust was probably too much for him to take and it exhausted him to the maximum we need to get him to the Pokemon Center and fast" he said.

"If it was too much for him why did he still do it?" I asked.

"Because the bond you share with him is strong and didn't want to let you down now we need to hurry before it's too late get him back in his Pokeball it's the safest place for him" Brendan said.

I nodded and returned Pip to his Pokeball and then Brendan did the same with Magikarp then he turned to look at me.

"Follow me I'll lead you to Pewter city that way we can get Pip healed" he said.

"Ok then let's go" I replied.

"Damion go on ahead me and Sarah will catch up with you at the Center" Jake said.

I nodded and then I followed Brendan as he lead me through the bushes and trees and out of the forest we ran because I didn't want to take to long and have Pip be in pain any longer then he had to be.

"The exit is just down this path" Brendan said.

"Got it" I replied.

We burst out of the forest and I looked for the red roof that each Pokemon Center was supposed to have.

"This way" Brendan said.

I followed him down the streets and pass shoppers and other people roaming the streets as we made our way to the Pokemon Center and then we made it and I burst through the doors completely out of breath.

"What's wrong!" cried the nurse as she ran to me.

"My Pidgey is hurt bad he needs help" I said.

The nurse nodded and I handed her Pip's Pokeball and she ran into the emergency room I followed her and when I got there Pip was lying on a bed with a breather on as well as a bunch of other things to help record his heart rate. The nurse who looked a lot like the nurse at the other Pokemon Center was monitoring the charts as Chansey was attending to Pip and I watched with Brendan by my side.

"Nurse Joy is the best there is don't worry she be able to fix Pip up a ok" he said.

I looked at him.

"You really think so?" I asked.

He nodded.

"I know so" he replied.

I turned and looked back at Pip and I didn't want to worry I wanted to believe that he was going to be ok but, I just couldn't stop wondering if Pip would ever really be the same after this. Then the nurse sighed and walked out of the room she looked at me and smiled.

"Your Pidgey is exhausted and badly injured but, he should be fine" she said.

"Oh thank god" I said.

Then she looked at me with a mean glare in her eye.

"But, how dare you exhaust your poor little Pokemon to this point you're just lucky that you were able to make it here!" she yelled.

"I know I'm so sorry" I replied.

"Well you should be" the nurse said.

"Nurse Joy it isn't completely his fault some of it's mine" Brendan said.

"And how is that?" she asked.

"You see I challenged him to a three on three battle and Damion brought out Pip because he had no other option and then Pip used the last of it's energy to win the battle even though it knew what would happen."

"Hmm it seems that your Pidgey trusts you a lot" she said.

I nodded.

"Pip was the first wild Pokemon I ever caught" I said.

"Well he should be all rested and healed by tomorrow why don't you go upstairs and rest for the night so you can be rested as well" she said.

"Thanks" I replied.

Then I walked up to the rooms and found one that was unlocked and vacant so I laid down on the bed and slowly drifted off into sleep.