For safety purposes, this chapter will be rated a hard K+. I mean, borderline T. Reader's disgression is advised.


Renard walked into the field of tall grass from the tall connifer tree they'd stopped to rest under. He took another step, then a flock of small birds flew from the grass. Being a beginner, and having no prior knowledge of being a trainer, he tensed up. Brimming with an odd mix of confidence and anxiety, he launched a Pokeball at a random Pidgey. The smallest, slowest, and more sickly of the tiny birds was the one to get hit. The pokeball shook once. Renard balled up his fist, squeazing the pokedex. The ball shook a second time. Renard bit his lip, then clenched his pokedex harder. The ball shook a third time. Renard clenched his eyes closed, crossed his fingers, buclked his knees, and curled his toes.

"Bing..." The ball chimed. Renard looked over at Zane, who was still sitting under the tall willow eating his sandwich. Renard cracked a grin, then picked up the pokeball.

"I... I did it!" He bellowed. He threw his ball, allowing his newly obtained Pidgey to come out of the ball. He looked at the picture on the pokedex, then at his Pidgey... "Height... One foot. Weight... four pounds..." He picked up his newly befriended Pidgey. It bairly felt heavier than two pounds, and it was definitely not a foot tall... The Pidgey wasn't nearly as round as the other pidgeys and his feathers were paler. Not to mention they were definitely less plentiful than the other ones...

"Congradulations. I think your Pidgey is sick..." Zane said, lifting the wing of the Tiny Bird pokemon. It let out a soft cooing noise, then fluttered. Renard called it back into it's pokeball, then looked at Zane. "We should have Nurse Joy examine it before leaving the city."

"I think he's fine!" Renard said, holding the orb. He sighed, allowing reality to hit him. "Okay... one check up... Then we stock up and leave."

"Agreed." Zane said. It was amazing how less than twenty-four hours ago, they mildly disliked each other, and now they were joking and paling around like they'd been best friends all this time. Renard started the short walk back into town, feeling confident In his capture. It really wasn't a long walk, because in less than two minutes, he was at the pokemon center. He placed the pokeballs at the counter, then sat back in a chair, watching while the nurse examined the Pidgey.

"So, you just caught this Pidgey?" The nurse asked, handing the sickly pidgey to Renard

"Yep. Something wrong?" Lance asked. The nurse smiled, then nodded

"No, nothing is wrong! It's in tip-top condition. I think you'll be pleasently surprised by how fast it grows..." The nurse said, handing the pokeball towards Lance.

"Pidgey on steroids?" Renard asked, allowing Pidgey to roost on his arm. "Alright. I'll just have to train you..."

"Torchic!" The pokemon exclaimed, popping out of his ball. "Tor-torchic!" It started to run frantically around, before tripping and landing on Zane's boots. Zane picked up on this and placed the jealous Torchic on his arm. The trainers walked out of the center, carefully balancing their friends on their shoulder.

It wasn't long before the two were out in the field and training their new partners. So far, Zane had won five times, while Lance had won only three.

"Ready for round nine?" Zane asked, holding his pokeball out in front of him.

"You know it. Pidgey needs all the help it can get." Renard said, calling out his Pidgey. He watched as Zane called out his Nidoran. A yellow gas seeped out of the ball as the pokemon emerged. It started out by running full speed toward the pidgey, who easily avoided the attack.

"I swear, your pidgey wasn't this fast a couple of matches ago... Nidoran, use Leer!" He commanded. The Poison Pin Pokemon stared at the Pidgey, making it feel uneasy.

"Pidgey, use Gust!" Renard called. Pidgey flapped his wings repeatedly, whipping up a strong gust that sent surrounding debris towards the Nidoran. Almost instantly, Nidoran dropped to the ground, unconcious. Zane stood there, gaping as Renard and his scrawny Pidgey were making quick work of his Pokemon. Just then, Pidgey chirped, then started to glow.

"Wait... is it--"

"WHAT'S WRONG!? I knew it was sick! Go get the incompetent nurse!" Renard yelled out, flailing his arms. Pidgey's wings spred, then doubled in size. He jumped, flapping his newly grown wings and allowing his body to fill in. Renard was still flailing around in semi-ignorance and close to tears when he suddenly, he received a peck to the head.

"Pidgeotto! Pidge gee ooooo..." It called out. Renard looked at the bird, standing in awe at it's size alone. It was almost his height, and possibly still growing! "Pid?" He called, cocking his head to the side.

"Uh... Um..." Renard began. Pidgeotto fluttered his wings, then turned to the Torchic. Lance took out his Pokedex, still staring at his beastly pokemon.

"Pidgeotto," the voice rang out, "The Bird pokemon. It immobilizes its prey using well-developed claws, then carries the prey more then 60 miles to its nest. It has outstanding vision. However high it flies, it is able to distinguish the movements of its prey." The pokedex chimed, then shut down as Renard clamped it shut. Pidgeotto jumped up, taking one of Renard's hands into his talons and lifted him off of the ground, then chirped happily as Renard fell on his back and stumbled to get back up.

"Huh..." Renard mouthed. He sighed, then called the pokemon back into the ball. "Hey, Zane? I think I'm done for the day..."

"Hm? You are?" Zane asked. Renard simply nodded. "Is this because Pidgey evolved? You know, it's still the same pokemon from a couple hours ago..."

"I-I know! It's just... they really aren't the same. Pidgey was small, and now he's huge! He was probably in desperate need for a trainer, and somehow, I think he's-"

"Grown more independent?"

"Yeah..." Renard called out his Pidgeotto, who almost instantly tackled him down in a show of affection.

"See? Still the little Pidgey he was before" Zane chuckled.

"Pidgeotto!" He called, nuzzling Renard as if to say Thank You.

"I guess... So... How about we move on? We've spent a long time in Viridian City... I hear there's a really thick forrest full of interesting pokemon..." Renard said.

"Alright..." Zane said, cradling his fainted Nidoran. The duo stopped for Lunch, restored their pokemon to full health, then continued on.


"I think the forest is just up this way..." Renard said, pointing toward a building. The duo walked up to it, shaking the errie feeling in the air around them. Upon opening the door, they saw a few trainers resting in a hospitable lounge-like setting. The errie feeling was dropped instantly and they relaxed into this calming setting. There, they saw a peculiar boy sitting on the couch. He was wearing a sleeveless hooded sweatshirt with a pair of red sleeves sticking messily out of the side. He snapped out of his aparent trance, then walked over to the duo.

"Hi! You must be new trainers. Allow me to... wait... Is that a Nidoran?" The strange young lad in the sweatshirt gasped. He picked up the small animal whom Zane had been carrying, then stared at it. "Wait... This is one of those alternate coloration pokemon you read about in books, isn't it?" he lifted it up, looking eye-to-pokemon-eye with it. "Yep! It is... This here is a female, but with male coloring! I wish I had one... wait... Can we trade?" The young lad asked, his face almost lacking emotion.

"Uh... Are you usually this... what's the word... lethargic?" Zane asked, snatching the pokemon. Indeed, the boy's tone sounded bored, tired, a synonym for tired, and a synonym for bored. "And, I'm fairly positive this here is a Male. I battled like eight of them before this one stayed in it's ball."

"Wait... I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Claus... And people think I sound like that Red guy... the champion or something..." Claus muttered. "And, my good sir, This is a male..." Claus pulled out a regular pokeball, then called out his pokemon. A Nidoran popped out, pink in color, and longer thorns pertruding from it's head. "I'll happily trade with you. I need to repay one of my friends for helping me raise one of my current pokemon."

"Wait... You guys are serious about Nidoran being a girl?" Zane asked, dumbfounded.

"Yeah... Why does it matter? What difference does it make if a pokemon is a guy or a girl?" Renard asked.

"Well, Nidoran evolves differently according to gender. Technically speaking, Nidoran Males and Nidoran Females are completely different species. I take it you want a Nidoking?" Claus asked in a monotone voice.

"You know it!" Zane said, placing his MP3 player into his pocket.

"Am I the only one who knows practically nothing about pokemon!?" Renard yelped. They both snickered, then walked over to a machine. "So, if I get like a male Pachirisu, it might evolve into a Pikachu or something?" Renard asked.

"It's not like that. Only certan species evolve according to gender. Like Burmy, Combee, and Nidoran. Then, there are the rest of them, such as Houndour or Growlithe, who will evolve reguardless of gender, and then there are such pokemon as Snorlax, Dunsparse, Absol, and Pachirisu who cannot evolve at all." Claus explained. Renard continued to stare blankly, then Zane interjected.

"We get it. You're a walking pokedex. So, how about that trade? How do we do a trade in the first place?" Zane asked, picking up his Poison Pin pokemon.

"Wait, shouldn't we be going throught the Viridian Forest?" Renard interjected. "It's getting pretty late, and we should get to Pewter A.S.A.P."

"Yeah, yeah. Sure... Just as long as I get the trade in." Zane hastily said. Claus, unaffected by all the commotion, walked over to the pay phones. He quickly dialed a number, murmered, then hung up. He then presented the Nidoran to Zane, who pressed the button on the center three times. Claus did the same with Zane's pokeball. After that, two beams of red light shot forth from their respected pokeballs, blinding the surrounding folk. There was a "Bing" Sound, then silence.

"Was that it? I thought it would be flashier than that..." Claus said, holding Zane's "Z" ball. Claus quickly deposited it into his "BOX" via a computer, then walked out the door and into the Viridian forest.

"That guy was a... strange one..." Zane said, recatching his newly obtained Nidoran in his "Z" ball and erasing the effects of his trade.

"Yeah... Let's get going. I want to get out of the Viridian forest as fast as possible..." Renard said, fighting a whimper.


"LIES!!! ALL LIES!!! They aren't any interesting pokemon, they're all DISGUSTING ones!!!" Renard called out, narrowly avoiding a Caterpie. With his little freak-out over, he continued along the forrest path. Renard walked along the tall grass, Pigeotto by his side and Turtwig in his arms. The crisp afternoon air feeding his goosebumps as he narrowly avoided "Bug Infested, Dirty" trees. Zane was having the time of his life, braving "Disgusting" Caterpie, "Revolting" Weedles, "Vile" Wurmple, and searching for his goal. A Pikachu to call his own. However, finding no such luck, He randomly hopped from one patch of grass to another, Metal music blaring from his headphones, in hopes of finding signs of the small mouse. No such luck.

"Dude, just give it up. Like there would be a Pokemon in this entire forest that wasn't a disgusting, foul, and completely awful one." Renard yelled, making a hopefull Caterpie who'd been seeking his trainer slink away.

"Yes, there are. When we first moved here, there were a bunch of them running around. So much so that my Dad battled some just to get them out of the moving van's way." Zane said, drawing his Pokeball. "And, I think I just found one..." Zane threw the ball, sending out Torchic. Just then, a yellow blur flew from the bushes, latching onto Torchic and unleashing a powerful Thundershock. Torchic screamed in agony, then flipped away.

"Pi, Pika chu!" The pikachu taunted, using his hands to beckon the pokemon over. He started running, gaining momentum and speeding up in a circle around Torchic. "Pika Pi" it said, watching Torchic try to track the multiple copies as they flew around him.

"Launch a Swift while spining in a circle!" Zane commanded. Torchic did as he was told, launching what appeared to be flaming blue embers towards the Electric Mouse. They hit, sending the Pikachu forward and into a tree. "Good, now hit him with Scratch!" Zane commanded. Torchic's Talons started to glow Blue, then it lept in the air, scratching furiously at the electric mouse Pokemon. Pikachu dropped to the ground and Zane threw a "Z" ball, nailing the fainted Pikachu in the back. The ball shook once, twice, then opened back up. Pikachu was weak and panting, but not about to give up the fight. With the same snarky grin, he motioned with his stubby paws to 'Bring it on' and he lept into action. He jumped in the air, then delivered a powerful Thundershock, knocing Torchic out. Zane called it back, snarling as Pikachu put on a Snarky grin. "Come on out, Nidoran!" Zane threw the ball, watching as a yellow gas seeped out of the ball. "Nidoran, use... uh... use..." He stumbled. He'd neglected to take his Pokedex and check his move sets, but Nidoran seemed to know what to do. It's eyes started to glow a vibrant yellow, focusing on Pikachu who also began to glow yellow. In a matter of seconds, Pikachu was bumbling around as if dazed.

"Pii... Ka... Chu..." It wimpered, launching a thundershock and somehow managing to hurt itself.

"Alright, This is it! Go, Pokeball!" Zane yelled, Lanching a "Z" Ball at the Pikachu. It shook once, then it shook a second time. Zane was half expecting it to pop back out, but it shook a third time. "Bing..." was heard through the forest, then a cry of delight as Zane presented his catch to a bewildered Renard.

"I so totally CALLED that one! Pikachu in the viridian forest!" Zane said, holding up his pokeball.

"Your Nidoran... just used Confusion... You're not... at all concerned?" Renard asked, staring at the little pink creature itching behind it's ear with it's hind leg.

"No. Your Turtwig used Giga Drain yesterday, So should I really be concerned?" Zane pressed the button on the center of the "Z" Ball, then threw it. The ball started crackling then, in a flash of red lightning, Pikachu came out. Renard walked over to the tree he'd been letting Turtwig and Pidgeotto play under, then reached in his bag and started to set up camp. It was evident they would be in this bug-infested forest for the night.

"I'm setting up camp. Where's your tent?" Renard asked.

"Don't have one..." Zane replied, rather casually. "Wait... Pikachu, did you just flip me off?"

"What do you mean you don't have one! You're not sharing with me!" Renard called out to the arguing duo.

"No, you have the balls to flip me off, you'd better have the balls to make a move!" Zane yelled at the Pikachu who was now charging a thundershock. Zane bairly had time to react before he was dropped flat on the ground by a charge of red lightning directly from the mouse's cheeks. Pikachu simply got on all fours, kicked some dirt on Zane, then walked to the campsite, scratching at the "Z" That had suddenly appeared on his belly. Renard looked at it, watching as it sat down next to where the fire would be started. He suddenly felt a shiver crawl up his spine -More like a Weedle. He turned around, watching the pokemon sniff up and down, taunting him with it's gross, hairy nose. Renard screamed an ear-shattering high note, then threw his shirt to the ground.

"PIDGEOTTO, USE PECK OR SOMETHING!" Renard called. Pidgeotto looked ar Renard, then cocked his head to the side. "USE GUST!!! USE SKY ATTACK! USE BRAVE BIRD!!! USE SOMETHING! KILL IT!!!" Renard screamed, watching his shirt wriggle around. Pidgeotto started flapping his wings, stiring up sand, debris, and other such things, successfully detatching the bug from the shirt, where it was captured by a beginning trainer. Renard sighed, then flopped back on the ground. He grabbed some bug repelent, effectively soaking his shirt in the stuff, then clothed himself.

"AND, I was greatful enough to capture you."

"Pi Kah" Pikachu argued, kicking Zane's shin. Zane sighed, then sat by the tree. He placed his headphones in, then instantly started blasting his metal. Pikachu's ears twitched. He looked over at Zane's blasting headphones, then decided to investigate. In a flash, there was Pikachu, holding Zane's MP3 player , his master completely oblivious of his presence. The heavy music was blaring loud enough for Renard to hear it clearly five yards away, but Pikachu decided to clamber up Zane's arm in attempt to hear better. Zane noticed the sudden thirteen pounds of rodent sitting on his shoulder and turned his head, only to find Pikachu headbanging furiously to the metal. Zane grinned, turned down the music, then handed it over to Pikachu, who scampered up the tree with the volume all the way up.

"You think that's safe?" Renard asked, spreading out his sleeping bag and crawling into the tent.

"Who cares. It's something we agree on." Zane said, spreading out his sleeping bag under the tree. "Besides, if it dies, I can always have Pikachu recharge the battery. I bet he would in a second." Zane said, placeing his arms under his head.

"Dude, what if it rains? You're basically stuck out there without protection." Renard said, throwing his tarp over the tent.

"No, you don't say that, now it's going to start to..." Zane began, being interupted by a cold wind, then a cold, wet drop on the nose. Renard smirked, then crawled inside the tent. "Rain..." Zane stood there, getting pelted by raindrops, watching Pikachu scramble for the tent. Defeated, Zane crawled into the tent, making sure to put out the fire and keep his coat dry.


Renard awoke with a yawn and a ray of sunlight through the little vinyl window and beaming directly into his face. He walked outside, marveling at the sky set ablaze by the sunrise.

"Wakey wakey," He called inside the tent. Zane, who was sprawled across the tent just moments ago, was wide awake and sitting up. In almost a flash, Zane was throwing on his trenchcoat and looping his belt that housed his pokeballs. He ran outside the tent, fully energized and ready to face the day.

"Alright! I think I see Pewter City in the distance! If we get a move on, we should be able to get there by Noon and take on that pompous Gym Leader!" Zane said, taking a breath of fresh air.

"How about we eat something first?" Renard said, pulling out his Lunchbox. "It's Egg Salad~ You know you like it!~" Renard said in a sing-song voice. Zane scoffed, then sat down on a partially dry log. The duo ate in silence, allowing their pokemon to chow on some Pokefood, then they were off. Zane naturally took the lead, walking at a fast pace along with his Torchic, Nidoran, and Pikachu, who were all listening to his MP3 Player, and Renard following shortly behind, carrying his Turtwig and allowing his Pidgeotto to fly beside him along with his Caterpie...

"Renard, you caught a Caterpie?" Zane asked, noticing Pidgeotto's hitchiker. Renard's face went blank as he looked back.

"Pidgeotto, don't panic, but there's a Caterpie on your back... Just quickly turn around and use gust..." Renard said in a shaky voice. Pidgeotto let out a sad coo as it let Caterpie off of it's back. They said their farewells and Pidgeotto caught up with the rest of the group. "Aww, don't look at me like that, they're disgusting creatures..." Renard said, trying to avoid Pidgeotto's sad eyes. Renard looked over, then tried to avoid Pidgeotto's tearfilled gaze. "Alright... I'll catch the stupid thing. But don't expect him to stay with us forever..." Renard said, pulling out a Pokeball. He threw it, hitting the Caterpie in the back. It was then that he noticed Pidgeotto shaking it's head vigorously, then smacking it with a feathered wing. The red light enveloped Caterpie, then turned blue as the pokeball bounced away.

"Hey, I bet he belongs to someone. And I bet the trainer would be relieved to have him back." Zane said, scooping up the bug pokemon. "Besides, the little fella's pretty cute..." Zane's sentence trailed off. He handed Caterpie over to Renard, who freaked out for a moment, and walked further along the path while running a hand through his hair.

"Gah! Where are you going!" Renard asked, Holding the bug as far away from him as possible. Zane walked up to the person he'd spotted, then kneeled before her.

"Do you remember when you were a little kid and you wanted a toy really bad when you went to the store, but your mom wouldn't let you get it, no matter how much you begged? Well that's how I feel about you." Zane said in the smoothest voice he could muster.

"Okay, first off creeper, I have a boyfriend. Second, I wouldn't glance at you a second time, even if you were the last creep on the planet and the only hope for humanity. Third, I'm a girl, hence, I exclusively date guys." She said, crossing her arms and leaving a dejected Zane on the ground.

"Damn... That was cold..." Renard said, poking Zane who had fallen into a fetal position. "Let's find Caterpie's trainer and get to Pewter already.

"Wait, you have Precious?" The lady asked. "Come on out, Noble!" She called, letting a Weedle pop out of the pokeball. Just then, Renard pulled out his Pokedex and rolled Zane out of the way.

"Weedle, the Hairy Bug Pokemon. Beware of the sharp stinger on its head. It hides in grass and bushes where it eats leaves. It is often found in forests and grasslands. It has a sharp, toxic barb of around two inches on top of its head." it rang out. He pointed it toward Precious, the Caterpie. "Caterpie, the Worm Pokemon. It is covered with a green skin. When it grows, it sheds the skin, covers itself with silk, and becomes a cocoon. Its voracious appetite compels it to devour leaves bigger than itself without hesitation. It releases a terribly strong odor from its antennae, as well"

"Hmm... How about a battle? I want to evolve Precious into a Butterfree." She said, pointing to Renard. "I guess the loser over there can referee" she said, pointing to Zane, who let out a slew of protests.

"Uh, no thanks. I'm not too big on bug-types." Renard said, petting Pidgeotto. "If you had any others, I'd like to battle."

"Oh, come on. I'm not letting you pass until you battle me!"

"Well, in that case, I'll gladly take this fight" Zane said, pulling out his "Z" ball. "Come on out, Nidoran!" he called, realeasing Nidoran from his ball.

"Oh, I think I can take you. Come on, Precious, Use Bug Bite!" She called. Caterpie charged toward Nidoran, biting it on one of it's ears. However, halfway through the attack, Caterpie recoiled in pain, then dropped from Nidoran.

"Nidoran, use Peck" Zane said. Nidoran looked down at Caterpie with a menacing grin, then jabbed it with it's horn. Caterpie squealed, then backed away. Nidoran charged it, ramming it once again with it's horn. "Alright, now use Confusion." Nidoran's eyes flashed a vibrant yellow, and soon that yellow energy surrounded the Worm Pokemon. Caterpie didn't appear to be taking any damage, however.

"Caterpie, use String Shot, followed by tackle." the lady commanded. However, Caterpie didn't move. It suddenly colapsed, clearly unconsious. She squealed, then called it back into the Pokeball. "Alright, Fine. Come on out, Noble" She yelled, realeasing her Weedle.

Zane didn't have to issue an order. Nidoran's eyes started to flash Yellow, and soon, Weedle was encased within a yellow aura. Weedle tried to resist the attack, but failed and was sent flying to the ground. Nidoran charged the bug and nailed it with a Peck to the face. Weedle was knocked unconsious immediately. She called the bug pokemon to it's ball, then turned to them.

"Alright. Just... Go on..." she said, glaring at Zane as he pulled Nidoran into it's ball. Renard and Zane walked past the Bug Catcher, making a quick dash through the tall grass. After a mile or two and not a pokemon in sight, they approached a building. Finally, they had made it to Pewter!


Okay, time for my famous "Talk with Jerry" time. May contain Spoilers. Don't like, read no further. But remember to review. Please, I beg you!

You may or may not be wondering about that fellow, Claus. Well, he belongs to 1950's TV Family, AKA Hakkyou. One of my friends. Don't worry, he isn't just some random emotionless loser who just got a shiny he's a legit character. You'll see more of him in the future. Don't worry, you'll love the silly man :o

Renard. Yes, he has a mortal fear of bugs. But if you've been to my page and have looked over the spoilers I presented there, then you'll see... a contradiction X3

Pidgeotto. Yes, first evolution in the fic. You remember how easy it was to evolve the bird. This was basically my reaction to my first evolution. I was like 5, and I literally started crying, thinking I'd lost my pidgey forever. It was cute.

Confusion? With a Nidoran? Huh? Yes! Aparently, as of HG/SS, Confusion is an egg move of the Nidoran family! YAY!

Wait, I thought that Nidoran was the result of a trade, What happens when it stops obeying him? Well, I thought of that. That's why I had him realease the nidoran, then recapture him. Problem solved. Oh, don't look at me like that. It's more realistic (Realistic? In a pokemon FANFIC? Contradictions!) that way

Metalhead Pikachu? Yes. Will he like Ketchup? INTERNET MEMES!!!

Egg Salad? Renard's favorite food. In the cartoon, there are actual animals coexisting alongside Pokemon. Who's to say there aren't any chickens? So, yes. Egg salad. Yum.

Oooh, that's gotta hurt. As a running gag, Zane get's rejected in the most horrifying of ways. Trust me, there... MIGHT be some good ones... that MIGHT just be the beginning. That MIGHT just be tame compaired to the torture he will endure.

Precious and Noble? I designed the final bug catcher, the only required fight in Viridian Forrest, to be a girl with both a Caterpie and Weedle. Sue me.

Pidgeotto and his Caterpie? You will soon learn that Pidgeotto is a compassionate and caring pokemon. Especially when it comes to Bug, Ghost, and Poison types. The three type Renard abhors! Le GASP!

PKRS. Nuff said right there.