A/N - Second Chapter has been posted! Please Read and Review. Expect a chapter in the next few days.
Disclaimer - I do not own Pokemon. I only own the laptop on which I'm writing this FanFic.
Chapter 2: The Forest and Pewter City!
Lance decided to spend 5 days in the clearing to train Charmander and Dratini. He helped Charmander make his ember more powerful. Dratini also helped Charmander learn Dragon Rage. Lance was happy with the progress he made in those 5 days.
He left the clearing on the fifth day. Due to their training, Charmander and Dratini had little to no problem in chasing off the few Spearows and Rattatas that tried to take their supplies. The reached Viridian City by evening.
Lance was surprised to see the big difference between Viridian and Pallet, though they were relatively close to each other. He wandered around the city, trying to find the Pokemon Center. After fifteen minute, he was going to give up and ask someone when he suddenly bumped into a man wearing a suit with a Persian beside him. Lance quickly apologized.
"I am deeply sorry sir. I hope you forgive me."
The man looked at him and smiled. "No worries, kid. Tell me, are you lost? I saw you wandering around for quite some time."
"Well, I'm trying to find the Pokemon Center. I haven't had any luck so far."
The man said kindly, "Come with me, I'll take you there."
As they started walking, Lance said, "Thank you, kind sir. My name is Lance, Lance Wataru."
The man perked up. "Wataru, you say? Does that mean you're a part of the Dragon Clan of Blackthorn City?"
Lance was surprised. "How do you know that? Not many people know about the name of the Clan."
"I have my ways, kid." He said mysteriously.
Soon, they arrived at the Pokemon Center. As they walk in, Nurse Joy looks at the man in surprise. "Mr. Giovanni, this is surprising. I hardly see you at the Pokemon Center."
The man, now known as Giovanni, smiles and says, "This young man got lost in the city, so I helped him find this place."
Meanwhile, the gears in Lance's head started whirring. Where had he heard that name before? Suddenly it clicked. Giovanni was the Gym Leader of Viridian City and was the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto! Lance exclaimed, "You're the Gym Leader, aren't you?"
Giovanni grinned. "Took you long enough. Anyway, I need to be heading back now, there may be a challenger waiting. One thing, kid. You have potential. Don't let it go to waste."
"But I want to battle you!"
"And you will, once you get the other 7 badges. See you later, Lance." Giovanni walked out of the Center.
Lance looked in the direction Giovanni went, and then walked up to Nurse Joy. "Please heal my Pokemon. I would also like a room."
"Sure! Here's the key to the room. Your room number is 221. Please enjoy your stay."
Lance gave her his PokeBalls and went to a videophone. He dialed Clair's number. Clair picked up almost immediately.
"Hi Lance! How's your journey so far? Have you caught any new Pokemon?"
Lance replied, "No, but Prof Oak gave me a Charmander. He's really strong. I've been training up both Dratini and him to take on the first Gym."
"You, training, by choice?" Clair snorted. "You always seemed to hate Ryu's training."
"Come on, even you know that Ryu's training is more torture than training."
Clair smirked. " It's not all that difficult."
"That's what you think. Wait till he starts on you. He's just playing around with you and Horsea. When he starts with the serious stuff, you'll wish that you were never born."
"You know, he said that he'll start training me and Horsea seriously from next month!"
"That's great! That means you'll start on your journey in a few years. In any case, I'll talk to you later. Bye!"
"Bye Lance!" With that, she hung up. Lance called his masters and told them of his progress. They complimented him and gave him some advice on how to train Charmander. He finished his call and collected his Pokemon from Nurse Joy. Soon he turned in for the night
Next day he set out to go through Viridian Forest. He let out Charmander. "Charmander, you'll get a lot of training and experience in Viridian Forest. It's full of bug types, so it'll be easier for you, with your firepower."
"Char!" he said happily.
As he passed through Viridian Forest, Lance battled numerous bug catchers, all of whom had Pokemon like Caterpie and Weedle, along with their evolutions, Charmander breezed through them pretty easily. Lance followed the map of the forest he had taken. The next day, he reached a small lake, which marked the halfway point through the forest. Lance decided to let out both his Pokemon there for a rest.
As he rested there, Dratini went into the water and started swimming around. Charmander basked in the sun for some time. Suddenly, Lance heard a loud buzzing sound. He saw that a Beedrill swarm was heading their way. Lance jumped into the bushes, telling Dratini to dive and recalling Charmander.
Lance waited in bated breath for the swarm to pass, praying to Arceus that the Beedrill wouldn't spot him. Thankfully, the Beedrill swarm passed without noticing Lance. After they passed, he quickly recalled Dratini and made his way towards Pewter City. Battling through numerous bug catchers and youngster, he approached the exit of the forest two days after the encounter with the Beedrill swarm.
As he approached the exit, a man suddenly jumped out from a bush and landed in front of him, making Lance jump. The man wore a warrior's armor. He said, "Greetings, traveler. I shall be your last opponent before you exit the forest. My name is Warrior, and I challenge you!"
Lance thought, 'this will be interesting', aloud he said, "I accept your challenge!"
"It will be 3 on 3, do you accept?"
"I have only 2 Pokemon, but I'll still battle 3 on 2!"
"Very well, let us begin. Go, Butterfree!" A large Butterfree appeared. Sending out Charmander, Lance said, "Show your power, Charmander!"
"Butterfree, use Stun Spore"
The butterfly flapped her wings, sending yellow spores towards Charmander.
"Charmander, use Ember on the spores to burn them and then use Smokescreen!"
Charmander burnt the spores and then released black smoke, making it impossible for Butterfree to see anything.
"Great! Now use Ember on Butterfree until it faints!"
The super effective move hit Butterfree so many times that she was knocked out before she could make a move. Warrior called her back. "You fought like a warrior, Butterfree. Great job. Now, show yourself, Beedrill!"
The Pokemon appeared, looking slightly menacing.
"We'll take it down as well! Charmander, use Growl, then Ember"
"Beedrill use Fury Attack" As Charmander growled, Beedrill flew towards Charmander with its needles bared. Before Charmander could use Ember, Beedrill jabbed him multiple times. Charmander screamed in pain. Lance shouted, "Hang in there, Charmander!"
Warrior shouted, "Good job, now use Poison Sting on it!"
Just as Beedrill stung Charmander, Charmander released a powerful ember that weakened Beedrill considerably. Then Charmander released another ember that made Beedrill faint.
"Good job Charmander!" Lance said happily. Suddenly he noticed that Charmander was poisoned. Worried, he called Charmander back. "Good job Charmander, take a nice rest"
Warrior called Beedrill back. "You fought well, like a true warrior"
Lance said, tossing a his second PokeBall, "Go Dratini, show your power!"
Warrior was surprised, but he smiled. "That's a rare Pokemon you got there, but can it beat Pinsir?" He said, tossing a PokeBall, from which emerged a beetle like Pokemon.
Lance said, "Let me do the honors. Dratini, use Thunder Wave!" Dratini released a small charge that hit Pinsir.
"No! Pinsir, use Vicegrip!"
Pinsir approached Dratini menacingly.
"Dratini, use ExtremeSpeed, then Twister!"
Before Pinsir reached him, Dratini disappeared and reappeared behind Pinsir, hitting it and then using Twister. The Dragon move was too overwhelming and Pinsir fainted.
Warrior recalled Pinsir. "You tried your hardest." He turned to Lance, who was petting Dratini. "With that kind of power, I'm pretty sure you'll do well against Flint, the Pewter City Gym Leader." Saying this, Warrior ran away into the Forest.
"He sure is weird, isn't he?" "Tini!" Dratini said, agreeing with Lance.
When Lance walked into the Pewter City Pokemon Center, it was late evening. He went to Nurse Joy. "Nurse Joy, please help my Charmander, he got poisoned by a Beedrill."
Of Course I'll help. Chansey, get a stretcher quickly!" A Chansey came running with a stretcher, put Charmander on it, and rushed away with Nurse Joy behind her. A few minutes later, Nurse Joy came back and told Lance, "He'll be fine. Let him rest, and he'll be fine by morning."
"Thanks, Nurse Joy."
Lance booked a room and relaxed for the remainder of the day
The next day, Lance picked up Charmander and decided to challenge the Gym before anything else. He found his way to the Gym, but when he got to the door, it said,
'Gym Leader is out. He will be back in the afternoon. Sorry for the inconvenience.'
Lance sighed. He decided to come back in the afternoon, and visit the Museum now. When he walked into the Museum, he saw a few men wearing weird clothes with the letter 'R' printed on them. He didn't think much about them. As he walked down the aisles looking at the exhibits, he suddenly heard voices. He went towards the voices and saw the 2 men with the weird clothes surrounding a scientist.
"Give us the fossil. It is futile to fight against Team Rocket." said a man
"I refuse! You will use it for wrong purposes. I won't give it up!" said the Scientist.
"Then we'll have to take it from you!" Another man said, pulling out a PokeBall. "Help me, Ekans. Use Bind!"
Lance quickly summoned Dratini. "Dratini use Thunder Wave on Ekans and then use Dragon Rage!"
Dratini paralyzed Ekans a split second before it reached the scientist and then finished it off with Dragon Rage.
The 2 men turned to face him. "Who're you, runt? What are you doing here? Run along now, before I make you!"
"I believe you are wrong. I will make you run away."
"You have guts, don't you, runt? Well, you forced my hand. Go, Drowzee"
The other grunt sent out a Koffing.
Lance released Charmander.
"Charmander, use Ember on Koffing. Dratini, Dragon Rage on Drowzee."
"Koffing, use Smog!" "Drowzee, use Pound!"
Charmander's Ember got to Koffing before it released the poisonous gas. Suddenly, Charmander's claws became shiny and metallic, and he slashed at Koffing, making it faint.
'Yes! Charmander learnt Metal Claw.' thought Lance happily.
Dratini was too strong for Drowzee, and it fainted in one hit.
"Grrrr, I got beaten by a kid. This is not the end! You have made Team Rocket an enemy! We will take revenge!" Saying this, the 2 grunts returned their Pokemon and ran from the Museum.
The scientist walked up to Lance. "Thanks a ton, lad. You really saved my skin back there."
Lance smiled. "I only did what was right."
"Nonsense, you did much more than that. Most people wouldn't have done anything. So, as a token of my appreciation, I'll give you a fossil."
Lance was shocked. "I don't think I've done all that much to deserve this."
"But you have, boy. Go on, take it. It contains the DNA of an Aerodactyl, an old Pokemon. If you want to resurrect it, go to Cinnabar Island. However, you need to have the Volcano Badge to get the lab there to do it."
Lance carefully took the Fossil and put it in his pack. He turned to the man. "Thank you so much, sir. I will take good care of it."
"I know you will. Also, don't tell anybody about the fossil. Best to keep it a secret, don't you think?"
Lance went back to the Pokemon Center. He told Nurse Joy, "Just give them quick check-up, I'm sure they're fine. But to be safe."
After confirming their health condition, Lance walks to the Gym. The sign had been taken down.
'This is it. My first gym battle!" Lance opens the door and walks in.
And cut!
A/N - Hope you liked it. I know it's a bit longer than the previous one, but if I divided it into two, it would be too small. In accordance with the previous chapter's A/N,
Lance's Pokemon-
Charmander (M) - Scratch, Growl, Ember, Dragon Rage, Metal Claw.
Dratini (M) - Thunder Wave, Leer, Slam, Dragon Rage, Twister, ExtremeSpeed.
Aerodactyl (Fossil) - ? - ? , ? , ? , ?.
If you have not read the previous chapter's A/N, I have decided to drop the level system as it is too difficult to manage if Lance goes to more than 2 regions. He is not like Ash, whose Pokemon magically weaken in a new region.
Also, before anyone asks, each Pokemon can learn 6 moves. Having only 4 moves is too less for people who like to set up conditions before going on the offensive.
BannerMan3375, Over and Out.
