Prologue - Chapter II
"Taylor's Pokemon Accessories." Erik remarked as he strolled past his place of work the past two years as he walked the streets of Saffron city with his mother.
Since losing to his father two years ago, he had cut all contact with him. He hated his father for destroying his dream.
Becoming a Pokemon trainer was no longer his goal, he had given up on that. The cheery enthusiasm he had as a child was also now completely diminished.
Erik worked as a shop assistant in the local accessory store, helping to sell all sorts of Pokemon products such as themed tables, cushions, dolls and other similar items. He hoped to one day become a doctor or a scientist. Just like his mother had always wanted him to.
"How was work today?" Erik's mother asked him in her usual softly spoken, sweet tone.
Before Erik could reply his mother continued "I'm so glad you're going for a proper career rather than trying to become a Pokemon trainer now. That path would only lead to more pain, your father always told me how much loss you experience as a fully fledged trainer." She was playing with her pearl necklace as she spoke, the one Norman bought for her before Erik had even been born.
"Norman ruined that path for me, don't even mention him." Erik felt anger rising at the thought of his father.
"I wish you would refer to him as your father." His mother sighed, before realising that was a fruitless request.
Suddenly, a blue and purple flying creature zoomed past, knocking her to the floor.
Erik spun around to see another Zubat heading straight for him. Diving out of the way he began moving towards his mother until a Rattata jumped up and bit him on the leg. With the Zubat he had previously dodged coming back around and knocking him to the floor.
"Help!" Came a cry in a softly spoken voice. But it was hopeless as Erik tried to free himself of the Rattata's grip on his leg. To no avail.
A man dressed all in black grabbed Erik's mother and ripped the necklace right off. Running away before recalling his Pokemon.
Erik sprinted after him, running through one of the dark, dank alleyways of Saffron city. He rounded a corner whereupon two Zubats flew at Erik, razor-sharp fangs bared.
"Growlithe, use ember!" A shout came from behind Erik.
Suddenly a bright orange flame roared past him, hitting one of the Zubats, causing the other to fly away. By the time Erik's eyes adjusted to the returning darkness of the alleyway, he could see no sign of the man that attacked and stole from his mother.
"Another victim of a Team Rocket attack, these incidents are getting more and more frequent." A policeman strolled up beside Erik, a Growlithe by his side. The small fire breathing Pokemon with black and orange striped skin. Erik bolted, running back to his mother as fast as he could to make sure she wasn't hurt.
Unable to see clearly through the tears clouding his vision, all he could feel was an immense shame.
It had been two years since he was last here, and in that time the test centre hadn't changed one bit.
As soon as he stepped through the small red front door of the test centre a familiar face greeted him.
"Erik! You're back!" Boomed Nigel. His chubby face lighting up at the sight of the young man taking the test that day.
"Hello Nigel, I hope there's no nasty surprises this time like my father making a reappearance?" Erik's toneless voice carried through the corridor.
"Not this time I'm afraid, your test was booked at such short notice he couldn't make it in time."
"Good." Erik said bluntly.
"This way then." Nigel instructed Erik ahead of leading him to the waiting room.
As Erik sat there he recalled what had happened the previous week, the night after he and his mother were attacked by a member of Team Rocket.
Erik was sat in his living room holding his provisional Pokemon licence, "I'm going to do it," he informed his mother. "I'm going to retake the test," he said with an unerring conviction.
"But Erik you…" His mother tried to say before Erik cut her off.
"I know mother, I know what happened last time. But you were attacked and I couldn't save you. I was on the floor useless and unable to help you."
"Okay, if it's the path you want to choose, then so be it." Came the response from his mother.
"Really? You've been trying to dissuade me from this path all your life and now you give in that easily?"
"You're old enough now to make your own decisions, and I know once your mind is made up on something then there's no changing it. If you've gone through all this and still want to be a trainer, then this truly is the path for you."
"Thanks mum." Erik smiled before giving his mother a hug, it meant so much that she was behind him in this.
"All ready!" Nigel's reverberating voice snapped Erik's attention back to the present.
The examiner led Erik back into the familiar test room, which was exactly the same as it was two years ago – down to the hole in the middle of the arena floor.
"You could've improved the lighting" Erik remarked.
Nigel ignored the comment and pointed to the podium. Erik ascended and eyed the two Pokeballs before him, wondering if they contained the same Pokemon as they did last time.
"First up, Pokemon knowledge quiz! Different questions this time around for you," Nigel's voice echoed around the room as it had done the previous time he was here.
"Question one: Which of the following Pokemon is a Poison type? – Caterpie, Zubat or Rattata."
Erik paused, the names of the latter two Pokemon raised memories of his mother being attacked as well as reminding him how rusty he was in regards to anything Pokemon related. "Well I was bitten by a Rattata and didn't get poisoned," he thought to himself, "and I'm quite sure Weedle is the poisonous bug, not Caterpie."
He decided upon his answer, "Zubat!" he shouted.
"Question two: How much does a Pokeball cost at any normal priced shop? – $100 Pokedollars, $150 Pokedollars, $200 Pokedollars?"
"Erik replied instantly "$100 Pokedollars!"
"Incorrect, it's actually $200!"
Erik was taken aback, "Of course they cost $200.. What is going on with me?"
"Question three!" Nigel continued, "Which of the following types are strong against normal typed Pokemon? – Fighting, fire or poison?"
Erik was again confounded. "I used to know everything about Pokemon, now I've forgotten even the simple things such as this." He was shocked with himself, two years cutting any thought of Pokemon out his life had caused him to forget everything he had learnt.
"Okay lets think, what would harm a Rattata most. Would it be a strong fighting attack? Shooting it with fire? Or poisoning it? – Wait, I've got it!" He thought before confidently announcing, "Poison!"
"Incorrect again, the answer was fighting, one more incorrect answer and you fail the test!" Nigel declared, "Are you feeling okay Erik? You aced this part of the test last time."
"Just get on with asking the questions!" Erik snapped, he was infuriated with himself.
"Okay, okay!" Nigel responded, clearly startled. "Question four: What type of Pokemon is a Mankey? – Normal, ground or fighting?"
"I remember this!" Erik exclaimed louder than he should have, "Fighting!"
"Correct, well done! Question five: Which of the following is a restriction of being a Pokemon gym leader? – You can only use one type of Pokemon, you cannot challenge trainers to battle outside your gym, or, you cannot capture new Pokemon."
Erik was stunned, he couldn't remember the answer. "I know gym leaders hold badges, if a trainer defeats them they obtain a badge off the leader. A trainer who defeats all eight leaders in a region, and therefore gets themselves all eight badges can then challenge the Elite Four of a region. But after that my mind had gone blank.."
"I'm going to have to rush you Erik." Nigel said, looking concerned.
"Can only challenge trainers to battle within own gym." Erik blurted out.
"Oh no Erik. I am sorry. The correct answer is that they can only use one type of Pokemon. I'm so sorry Erik you have failed the test."
Erik fell to his knees. Unable to comprehend the fact he had just failed again – what had happened? Before he would have easily have been able to answer those questions. A potential trainer was only allowed to fail the test three times before being banned from taking the test again. Erik had just failed for a second time. He would have to study and practise relentlessly until he became even better than he ever was. He also knew that next time, his father would be there waiting for him.