I woke late next day still feeling a little weary from the ordeal from yesterday. I walked in the brisk, cold air towards Kaizer's house. When I knocked no one answered. I assumed that she had already ventured to the PokeCenter to check on growlithe. I decided I would check on her before I went home to prepare it for my parents coming home.

I went in to the PokeCenter to find Kaiz exactly where I expected, sitting next to growltihe, who was well-bandaged, barely doing anything though it was "talking" to Kaiz "Grow-Lithe" it said reassuringly to my best friend as she pet him fondly. It took no time at all but they had already bonded.

Seeing she was in good hands, I slipped out unnoticed and went to clean my house. After a very monotonous task (I hate cleaning), I went out front to wait on my parents. I saw my father's Pidgeot over the Horizon with a bag dangling from its talons and my mother and father on its back. As soon as it landed my father dismounted and recalled it to its pokeball.

"Quite useful for getting around, isn't it?" he asked with a smile. He saw the look in my eyes and could tell how eager I was for my first pokemon.

"I promise, I'll take you out to catch your own pokemon as soon as you turn 10 son." He always said that when we were around pokemon but I knew my mom wasn't going to let him. She hated the idea of me leaving with a pokemon. She thought it too dangerous. I grabbed some of the items they had bought and went to put them away.

After finishing putting away all the groceries, my father turned to me with a beaming smile. "Since I know you love to watch pokemon battles, I thought you'd like to come see the challenger who is to battle me tommorow." I snatched up the offer greedily. I couldn't wait for the next day. I loved watching my dad battle. He was amazing and rarely beaten. His star pokemon, a huge Golem, stomped out most competitors before they could make a move.

I then told him of what had happened the previous day. "Did you tell your mom about this?" he inquired.

"No, why?" I was scared I was in trouble.

"Don't. You know she fears you going into the grass. With that said I'm proud of you for taking care of Kaiz and that growlithe. I'm glad to see you truly care for all pokemon." I beamed at him. His pride in me was flooding me with joy. I told him I was gonna check on Kaiz and the growlithe at the PokeCenter. He let me go and I walked to the center.

When I walked in, Kaiz was rubbing the growlithes leg, "Ace, I love you so much. I'm so sorry this had to happen to you. I'll take good care of you until your better. I'll play with you after your leg is better until your ready to go back to you family. Ace whimpered joyfully to Kaiz. I got Kaiz's attention and the growlithe looked at me with happy eyes.

I told her about the battle that I was gonna get to go see. We had always gone to the Pokemon League Challenges to watch the tournaments that went down. The battles were always fantastic, which made me and Kaiz want to be trainers.

She looked at me and said "Have fun Nin, I'll probably just swing back by here tomorrow. I promised Ace I'd stay here until he got better." I smiled at her knowing this pokemon had her worried beyond comprehension. I left Kaiz and her new friend to their peace.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll catch a growlithe for your first pokemon." I said jokingly, almost positive that her mom would make her release that growlithe as soon as possible. I went back to my house and went to bed, anticipation mounting in my dreams.

The next day I rushed out to see my dad preparing his team for the coming battle. He cared so much for his pokemon. Once he caught sight of me he pulled me in by the shoulder.

"Ready to go?"

"Of course, I'm always ready to watch you battle dad."

"Then lets get a move on."

He recalled his team and led me out to the gym. He stepped onto the conveyor belt that took him to his side of the field. I followed making sure to take the side step that led me to the viewing platform. I looked down on the amazing gym floor, the golden-brown dirt floor favored his rock-ground preference.

The challenger stepped out from under the platform and I examined him quickly. He was a boy of about 15, wearing solid green, jeans and a tee with a red and blue pokeball on his shirt. He threw his first pokeball and a Kadabra stepped forward. My dad laughed jokingly. "Good choice" he said as he casually tossed his first pokemon of the flash of light stepped the all too familiar Pidgeot.

"Psychic" The trainer yelled and the kadabra snapped into action. The pidgeot shook off the blow like normally did and jumped into the air. Kadabra scanned the ceiling for the hiding pokemon. "Kadabra look behind you!" It was too late. Pidgeot hit the now flying pokemon square in the back.

Once it landed the Kadabra rose to his feet and turned to face the Pidgeot. "Use Psywave". The psychic pokemon produced several multicolored waves of light that pushed the bird into the wall. Pidgeot not one to be out done immediately snapped into a gust lifting Kadabra high in the air. The trainer shouted a few more commands to no avail as Pidgeot had the Kadabra pinned.

My father issued his first command simply stating " Finish him off, Pidgeot use Wing Attack." Pidgeot soared high into air and came down on Kadabra just as the gust wore off. Catching him hard in the chest with its bulky wings it thrust the helpless pokemon into the ground.

"Kadabra is unable to battle, Pidgeot is victorious." The judge was always so quick to finish. Kadabra was returned to his pokeball, then the trainer threw out his second pokemon. A Raichu looked right at the Pidgeot, knowing it had the advantage.

"Raichu use Thunder-Bolt." As soon as the command was issued, Raichu blasted a bolt directly at the bird. Pidgeot fell to the ground in a pile. My father smiled at his opponent, casually stating

"Well played." I knew that Raichu was doomed because my father used ground and rock type regularly. Not to disappoint me, My father chucked a ball into the air. Out burst one of his favorite pokemon, Marowak.

"Raichu bash it with another Thunder-Bolt" the trainer exclaimed. The attempt was feeble as Marowak stuck the bone it carried out and the thunder-bolt was grounded. Marowak followed Pidgeot's lead working without command immedialetly burrowed underground. Raichu looked frightened as it foe disappered from view.

"Use Double Team." The attempt was foolish as Marowak was seasoned to this ability and could feel Raichu's weight on the ground. Out of the ground, Marowak jumped into the sky coming down with a thud of his club on Raichu's head. Raichu buckled under the blow.

"Raichu return!" The trainer looked worried, he hit his last pokemon allowed for the battle. Tossing the last ball forward, it rolled a foot on the ground before bursting into a beautiful Dewgong. "Dewgong use Aurora Beam". Marowak was ready and nimbly dodged the attack and responded by thrusting his club at his oppinents chest.

Dewgong slid back a bit and then responded with another Aurora Beam. This one caught Marowak square in the chest. Frozen to the spot in seconds, Marowak became incapacitated. My dad recalled the Poke-Cicle and tossed out his last pokemon.

Golem stepped out into the field and flexed. "Gol-Em". The pokemon immediately stomped hard on the ground. The ground shook hard. A small fissure opened in the ground tracing a path towards the Dewgong. The trainer yelled for Dewgong to move but it was too late. Dewgong fell into the pit, and then was immediately recalled to its pokeball.

The ground resealed and the trainer bowed out in defeat, rushing to go heal his battered pokemon. I jumped down from the platform to go congratulate my father on his victory. He was beaming as I rushed up to him.

"You were fantastic, Dad!"

"Thanks son, some day I hope to battle you in this very Gym."

"Count on it!"

I followed him out of the gym to our house. He went to bed, wiped after our long day. Those battles last forever! I went to my room and dreamed about the day I would battle my father. I dozed off dreaming about pokemon battles.