Chapter 2
Chase walked trough the lush Route 1, approaching Viridian City. He thought to himself about collecting Badges to compete in the Indigo League. That was what he had always wanted to do.
The new Trainer walked to an old wooden bench with plants growing up around it. He sat down and took out the Pokédex Professor Oak had given him. Opening the red-colored device, he pressed the power button and turned it on. The Pokédex had a long list of information on many Pokémon, but Chase chose the entry on Charmander. A blue light flashed on the top right corner of the machine and it started to speak in a computerized voice, "CHARMANDER, THE LIZARD POKéMON. FROM THE TIME IT IS BORN, A FLAME BURNS AT THE TIP OF ITS TAIL. ITS LIFE WOULD END IF THE FLAME WERE TO GO OUT."
The handheld did contain further information, such as the Fire-type's height, weight, and footprint. But the best way to learn was from experience, so he turned his attention to his Pokémon. Chase put the Pokédex back into his pocket and grabbed Charmander's Poké Ball. Chase pressed the middle button and the sphere opened, releasing a burst of white energy that took form as Charmander.
"Hey, Charmander!" Chase said to his new companion. Charmander looked up at him with a smile. "So, have you had any battle experience?" Charmander shook its head. "Well, how about we start training? Maybe we could even catch a Pokémon!" Charmander jumped in the air for joy. It was definitely excited to go on a journey.
Chase stood up and walked towards the tall grass as Charmander followed. He walked into the large patch, hoping for a Pokémon to appear. Charmander looked apprehensive.
"What's wrong?" Chase asked. Charmander pointed to its tail.
"It's all right. Just keep your tail above the grass and everything will be fine," he assured the Fire-type Pokémon. Charmander raised its tail like Chase had instructed and walked into the grass.
A rustling came from a bush nearby. Chase and Charmander readied themselves. It shook more and more, and then a Pidgey jumped out.
"Cool! A Pidgey!" Chase exclaimed. He quickly took out his Pokédex and pointed it at the Pokémon. It switched on and started to speak again.
"PIDGEY, THE TINY BIRD POKéMON. IT IS DOCILE AND PREFERS TO AVOID CONFLICT. IF DISTURBED, HOWEVER, IT CAN FEROCIOUSLY STRIKE BACK."
Chase tucked the Pokédex back into his pocket and commanded, "Charmander! Use Scratch!"
Chase's small Pokémon ran up to Pidgey and scratched it. The Normal-, Flying-type reeled back, but retaliated by using a Tackle attack. Charmander dodged, then tried to use another Scratch, but missed.
"Use Scratch again!" Chase called. Charmander started to run towards the bird Pokémon, but stopped. The Pidgey was flying up for another Tackle. Chase's Pokémon positioned itself, and then hit the Pidgey head on with its Scratch. Pidgey fell to the ground, knocked out. "Awesome job, Charmander!" Chase cheered. "Now, here I go!"
Chase grabbed a Poké Ball and tossed it. It hit the Pidgey, dissolving it into red light. The Poké Ball fell to the ground and started to wiggle back and forth with the button flashing red. After a few moments of waiting, the sphere made a deep chiming noise, signaling Pidgey had been caught.
"Yes!" Chase exclaimed. He ran over to the Poké Ball and picked it up. "Now all we need to do is get to Viridian."
Just then, a strong wind started to blow. "Whoa," the Trainer muttered. Then, a powerful shockwave catapulted Chase and Charmander into the air; they fell back into the tall grass without injury. "That's what happened back at Professor Oak's lab! What is that?"
Chase noticed smoke rising from behind Charmander, who was sitting down. "Charmander? Why is there smoke behind you?" the Fire-type stood up and walked away from the spot. There was a small flame lit on the grass. "Oh no! We set the grass on fire!" Chase blurted as he dove for the small flame. He started blowing on it while Charmander ran back and forth saying its name frantically.
"Charmander? Will you help me with the fire, please?" Chase yelled at the exaggerating Pokémon. Charmander calmed down and looked at Chase, nodding. Its Trainer started blowing on the fire again when a large stick fell on it, making the flame bigger.
Chase looked up and saw Charmander putting sticks on the fire, one by one. "No! That's not what I meant! I wanted you to help me put out the fire!" Charmander looked at Chase in confusion, but realized it misunderstood. The Pokémon walked up to the fire and sat on it, covering the flame.
"That did it!" Chase proclaimed. Charmander smiled, but that smile turned into a frown as the Pokémon leaped off of the fire and ran to a puddle. It plopped itself down in the water, making sure not to drench its tail, sighing in relief.
"Are you okay?" the Trainer asked as he watched the flames spread. Charmander stood up and walked back to the burning grass, bearing in mind to never sit on a fire again. "What should we do?" The Lizard Pokémon only shrugged in response.
Chase had an idea. He grabbed Pidgey's Poké Ball and tossed it into the air. It released the small bird Pokémon who had recovered slightly.
"Pidgey, I know you're probably still weak from the battle we just had, but I need you to fly to Viridian City and get help. I don't think I can make it in time," he explained while pointing to town. Pidgey nodded and quickly flew north.
Chase and Charmander turned their attention back to the fire. It had spread to a tree and more of the grass. It looked like it wasn't going to stop.
Chase looked at the puddle Charmander had plopped down in a few moments ago. He ran over to it and scooped up some water in his hands and ran back to the growing fire. The fire didn't react when he tossed the water onto it and engulfed a bush.
Chase ran back to the bench. "It looks like we can't do anything to stop it. Let's just hope Pidgey can get some help," he said, sitting down in defeat. Chase just watched the flames spread to more trees. Then, he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
It was Pidgey! Following behind were four firefighters and Officer Jenny. The firemen threw Poké Balls into the air, releasing four Blastoise.
"Hydro Pump!" called one of the firefighters. The giant, light blue turtles shot powerful jets of water out of the two cannons mounted in each of their shells. Soon, the fire was out; only the smell of burnt wood and the charred bushes, trees, and grass remained.
"Pidgey! You did it!" Chase praised his new flying friend. The small Pokémon happily cooed as it landed on its new Trainer's head. He laughed and held Pidgey's Poké Ball. "Return, Pidgey. You deserve some rest."
A red beam of light shot out and hit Pidgey, recalling it into the ball. Chase turned to Charmander and said crossly, "Why did you feed the fire like that?" Charmander frowned and hung its head.
Chase's expression changed to a more understanding one. "Hey now, I'm sorry. It's not your fault. I am the one who said it was all right for you to come in the grass, anyway. It'll be okay, Charmander." The little Pokémon brightened up and returned to its normal self.
"How did this happen?" Officer Jenny asked, looking at the damage.
Since Jenny probably wouldn't believe that a shockwave knocked them over, he answered, "After I had caught my Pidgey, a strong gust of wind started to blow. It knocked Charmander into the grass, and its tail caught it on fire. We tried to put it out, but there were some, uh, difficulties."
"Well, I suppose you're not in trouble for that," Jenny said as she wrote down some notes in a notebook. "What is your name?"
"Chase. And of course, this is my Charmander." Charmander nodded in agreement.
"Well, Chase, I expect you to be more careful from now on. And that was a smart move, telling Pidgey to go get help. I was out patrolling and it started flying around my head. Next thing I knew, I was looking at a pillar of smoke coming from Route 1." Chase thanked her. Jenny smiled, said good-bye, and left with the fireman.
Chase went to the Pokémon Center in Viridian and asked Nurse Joy to heal his Pidgey. When the pink-haired nurse handed Pidgey back to Chase, he thanked her and returned his Pokémon. Then he walked out of the Pokémon Center holding a map. "If I were a Gym, where would I be? I know one is in this city…" Then he took his two Poké Balls from his belt and opened them to release Charmander and Pidgey to help.
The threesome walked around town, following the map to the point where Chase didn't know where he was going. "Man! We've been going in circles!" Chase exclaimed as he saw a street sign for the third time. He collapsed on the ground in frustration. Charmander pulled on his shirt and pointed to the sky. Chase looked up and saw Pidgey searching for the Gym. Soon, it came back down.
"Did you find the Gym?" Chase asked excitedly. Pidgey chirped its name and flew down one of the streets. "I guess that's a yes!" Chase and Charmander followed the bird Pokémon to Viridian Gym.
"Finally!" the Trainer sighed in relief. Chase reached for the doorknob, but suddenly, it swung open and hit him square in the face. "Ouch!"
"Oh, are you okay? I'm so sorry," the man who stepped through the door said with a slight accent in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Chase said, rubbing his nose. "But, who are you?"
"My name is Giovanni. I am the Leader of this Gym." Giovanni was wearing a red suit, had tan skin, dark hair, and was carrying a briefcase.
"Great! My name is Chase, and I'm a new Trainer. Can I challenge you to a match?"
"I'm sorry, I am leaving on a business trip."
"Darn. First a shockwave, then a fire, now the Gym Leader can't battle me…"
"Wait, did you say a…shockwave?"
Oops, he let that one slip. "Um, yes. Why?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Now, you better run along. I've got to get going."
"Okay, goodbye."
Chase walked away. When he was out of earshot, Giovanni pulled out a portable radio and said into the receiver, "Hello? Do you copy?"
"Yes, sir," a voice replied.
"I need a transport back immediately. There's been a new development."