Chapter 2

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~:~

As I chewed away happily on my Pecha berry, I offered another berry to Chimchar. She accepted it happily before eating it in two bites. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dawn pushing her bike along next to me. Even though I hadn't planned on travelling with someone else, I was still with her. We travelled through the forest along the path silently, giving me an awkward feeling. I should at least try to make conversation with her.

"So, where are you from, Dawn?" I asked and looked to her. She seemed surprised to hear me speak.

"I'm from Twinleaf Town. What about you?"

"Sandgem Town. I live there with my mom and little sister," I answered.

"Oh. I live with my mom," she went on with a hesitant smile. "So, where are we headed exactly?"

"Oreburgh City of course. It's the nearest city that has a Gym," I explained as if it were common knowledge. Chimchar jumped off my shoulder and into the trees then. She probably wanted to get some more berries.

"Gym?" Dawn questioned.

"Yeah. You do know what a Pokémon Gym is. Don't you?" I asked her with a sly smile.

She pouted angrily while folding her arms indignantly. "Of course I do! I just didn't know that you were going to challenge the Gyms," she explained.

"What else would I do?" I asked with a shrug.

"Well, you could enter Contests as a Coordinator," she suggested with a smile. I tilted my head to the side and raised an eyebrow at her Become a Coordinator? The thought hadn't even crossed my mind. It always felt that battling in Gyms was where I belonged. "That's what I'm going to do. My dream is to become a Top Coordinator."

"That's nice. I want to challenge Cynthia and become the new Champion," I informed her. "But, I guess I can try out a Contest or two, just to beat you though." I smiled at Dawn, but she only pushed her bike onward. "It's too bad you can't ride your bike."

"Huh? That's okay. I don't mind walking. You'd be too slow to catch up if I were to ride my bike anyways," she smiled with a teasing look.

I rolled my eyes before looking ahead. We had finally reached the edge of the forest. Dawn suddenly ran ahead of me and released her Piplup from its Pokéball. I watched as they relaxed on the grass and began cloud watching. I sat down as well before feeling a weight rest on my shoulders.

Turning my head slightly, I saw Chimchar's orange fur. "Hey, there. Thanks," I said to Chimchar as she gave me another Pecha berry before giving Dawn and Piplup one each. Chimchar and I sat quietly to eat the juicy, sweet fruits happily.

"You know what? I'm going to catch my first Pokémon," Dawn said suddenly. I raised an eyebrow in question as she looked at Piplup. I stopped eating momentarily. I have to see this. Watching Dawn battle would be a great way for me to learn as well.

Just then, a Buneary popped out of some nearby bushes. Dawn scrambled to check it on her Pokèdex while Chimchar and I watched and waited. "Alright. You have to weaken a Pokémon before you can capture it. Piplup, use Bubblebeam!" Dawn proclaimed.

I watched as she began to battle the brown, rabbit Pokémon with interest. This would be her first capture. And, Buneary was pretty cute. I watched how she battled, making mental notes for future reference. Once Buneary delivered a Dizzy Punch that knocked out Piplup, I smiled sadly at her. Chimchar, however, laughed loudly while clutching her small sides.

"Don't laugh. They're just starting out," I admonished her. She eventually stopped her laughter and I got onto my feet. "Dawn, why don't we keep moving?" I suggested. Maybe she would see another Pokémon on the road and she could try again…

"Alright," she agreed sadly. She took Piplup into her arms with a small sigh. I frowned slightly, but kept quiet. I wasn't sure how comforting my words would be to her. It wasn't as if I was a pro and new exactly what I was doing…

~:~

We continued along the path with Dawn riding slowly on her bike next to me while mapping out her plan to become a Coordinator. Piplup sat in the basket on the front, quiet. Chimchar and I walked slowly next her without interrupting her planning. She wanted to enter the Jubilife contest in Jubilife City. Jubilife City was on the way to Oreburgh so I guess it was okay.

"Look! Who's that Pokémon?" Dawn asked. I looked up to see a Pokémon her Pokèdex identified as Burmy hanging from a tree branch. I stood back to watch her battle the Pokémon quietly. I had no interest in the bug Pokémon. Dawn thought it looked cute, but the bug struck me as creepy.

Once again, Dawn failed to catch a Pokémon. She sunk down to the ground on her knees as depression rolled off her in waves. Piplup to comforted her softly and not even Chimchar could find this situation funny.

I felt kinda bad for her. But, there was another part of me that was afraid and slightly worried. Would I have problems like her? I hoped not. Not catching a Pokémon would poke a giant hole in my dream and future plans.

"Dawn, you're just starting out. It's not going to be easy right off the bat. But, once you get the hang of it, you'll be so good this will be like baby stuff," I said with an encouraging smile and a casual shrug. I hoped that my words would encourage her more than it did me.

"Thanks Gabrielle," she replied and stood.

"Call me Gabi," I corrected her.

Just then, we heard some rustling in some nearby bushes. Slowly, an exhausted looking Pikachu stumbled out of the bushes before collapsing. Dawn checked her Pokèdex whiles Piplup fires a Bubblebeam. Piplup and the Pikachu began having an impromptu battle then. The PIkchu made quick work of Piplup before destroying Dawn's nearby bike by accident. I hold back my snickers with one hand over my mouth while muffling Chimchar's with my other hand. Dawn furiously threw a Pokéball at the Pikachu only for it to be rejected and sent back to her.

"You must already have a trainer," Dawn realized. If this Pikachu had a Trainer, where were they? And why did they let their Pokémon walk around looking in such a terrible shape? Talk about irresponsible…

Pikachu started to run away, but some Pokémon cut it off. The gang of Pokémon blocked its path just before a talking Meowth walked up to Pikachu. Have I lost it? I looked to Chimchar to see if she could hear the Meowth talk as well. She shot me a weirded-out expression. At least I wasn't the only one.

When Pikachu shocked the man and woman who joined them, I knew that they were enemies. This Pikachu must have been escaping the people. No wonder it was so exhausted. "Chimchar, use Ember to help Pikachu!" I commanded.

"Piplup, you help too. Bubblebeam!" Dawn yelled. Just then, the lavender-haired man and violet-haired woman began to recite some weird verse. They injured and weakened this Pikachu and they still had the nerve to spout nonsense at us? I didn't have the patience for it.

"Ember!" I yelled, cutting them off. Chimchar released her fire while Piplup released its bubbles and Pikachu used a Thunderbolt. The combined attacks caused a small explosion that made the group blast away from us. I could hear them complaining about not finishing their "motto" as they flew away.

I watched them leave before looking down at Pikachu. My eyes widened as the terrible state Pikachu was in. "Dawn! We've got to get Pikachu top the Pokémon Center now," I told her. She stopped cheering with Piplup and nodded at me. I looked down to the unconscious Pokémon in my arms with a nod.

We had to do something for this Pikachu. The person who owned this Pikachu was probably worried after those creeps attacked their Pokémon. Now that they were gone, the least we could do was get Pikachu some help.

~:~

I let Dawn explain to Nurse Joy what happened to the injured Pikachu while I looked around the Jubilife Pokémon Center. I saw the phones lined up along the wall. I should call home.

"Mom?" I asked and stared at my mother's tan face. She smiled warmly at me in return.

"Hey, sweetie. I didn't expect you to call so quickly," she replied.

"I just got to Jubilife City so I thought I should call home," I said. "Mom, this is Chimchar, my new partner."

"So, you chose a fire type? What a good choice for a partner," Mom said with a smile and wave to Chimchar. Chimchar waved back with a smile of her own. I was sure that Mom would have supported any Pokémon I chose. She wasn't picky and lacked a preference.

"Mom, something terrible happened," I started. My mom's face became serious as she listened to my story. Afterward, she gave me a pensive look.

"Have you called Professor Rowan? Maybe he can help."

"Alright. I'll go do that," I told her.

"Go now before you forget. I'm sure someone out there is missing their Pikachu," my mom said.

I sighed and nod my head. "Yes, Mom," I said. She hung up at once with a final, stern look. Once the call was ended, I got ready to place a call to the Professor's lab.

"Nurse Joy said Pikachu will be fine," I heard Dawn said from behind me. I turned in the chair to face her.

"That's great. I just called my mom. She said that we should call Professor Rowan. Maybe he could help," I told her.

"Great. I'll do it right now," Dawn said and sat at the phone next to me. Since she was already doing it, I got up from my seat and went over to the region map that was posted on the wall. Chimchar looked at the map with me. Although, I wasn't sure what exactly she was looking at.

"I'm going to catch at least another Pokémon before we get to Oreburgh City. I wanna get there as soon as possible to get my badge. We need to start training. We're gonna need to leave Jubilife as soon as possible," I planned. Chimchar eeped from my shoulder in what I guessed was agreement.

"Hey, Professor Rowan said that he'll keep an eye for Pikachu's trainer," Dawn informed me once she finished with her call and approached me.

"That's great. I hate to said it, but we'll need to stay here until we find Pikachu's trainer," I said to her.

"The Jubilife Contest is in a few days. I'm sure we'll find the trainer before then," Dawn reassured me, but I had the strangest feeling that the reassurance was more for her. I looked back at the map then.

"I've got some catching to do. I need to catch a Pokémon before I get to Oreburgh City so I can begin training. I'll be back later," I said.

"Alright. I'll stay here. Nurse Joy is looking at Piplup too," she said. I nodded before leaving the Pokémon Center. I stepped out into the warm sun and headed back towards the forest.

"What type of Pokémon should I catch?" I asked. Chimchar sat on my shoulder before tapping her chest proudly. I was guessing that she supported catching another Fire type like her. The Oreburgh Gym is a Rock type gym. A Water or Grass type would be a good match. But, I didn't have a rod. Grass it is then.

~:~

We must have walked around the forest for hours before deciding to take a break. I let out a deep breath and listened to the forest, completely at peace. I was sitting under a tree for shade with my hands resting under my head. Just then, I felt a tug at my arm. I looked over at Chimchar in question. She was pointing frantically to a bush. "What is it?" I asked her and moved onto my elbows. I moved closer to inspect the bush, only to see a small, bird Pokémon in the clearing behind the bush. I checked it on my Pokèdex.

Starly, the Starling Pokémon. It usually livse and travels in large flocks. Though small, they flap their wings with great power.

I smiled at Chimchar just as she grinned back. "Ember!" I yelled suddenly. Chimchar sprung out of the bushes while firing an Ember attack at the small bird. It was so startled that it remained in place and was hit dead on. "Scratch!" I commanded. Chimchar attacked the small bird, knocking it back. It got up before flying up at heading towards Chimchar. That's Quick Attack. "Dodge and use Ember!"

Being in my first battle left a thrill of happiness running through me. This was my first real battle. And I was winning! Would my first gym battle feel this great? What about my first battle against another Trainer?

"Now, Chimchar finish this up with Ember!" I yelled. Chimchar fired its attack before looking at me. "I'm way ahead of you." I enlarged my Pokéball before throwing it. I watched the unmoving Starly get taken into the ball before the ball fell to the ground. The ball flashed and wiggled for some time before it stopped moving and an audible click could be heard. A smile broke out on my face and I cheered. "I caught it! Thank you, Chimchar! I couldn't have done it without you," I said and looked down at the Pokéball. A mental image of my new Pokémon flashed in my mind. "You look like a Pepper. I guess that's what I'll call you," I said and smiled at the red and white ball.

I was worried about nothing. I had caught my first Pokémon on my first try. I didn't want to let it go to my head, but I was pretty good at being a Trainer. Probably sensing where my thoughts were headed, Chimchar rolled her eyes at me. I ignored her in favor of enjoying the aftermath of my recent capture.

~:~

I walked back into the Pokémon Center and looked around for Dawn. Not immediately seeing her, I went up to the front desk. "Can you please heal my Pokémon, Nurse Joy?" I asked.

"Of course. I'll take good care of it," Nurse Joy said with a smile and took my Pokéball that held my newly caught Starly. She walked away with the Pokéball and I watched her go before hearing someone call my name. I turned to see Dawn walking towards me.

"I was just about to come look for you," she said.

"Oh. I just got here. I just gave Nurse Joy my Pokémon," I explained.

"Huh? But, Chimchar's right there," she said and pointed to her.

"I know. I caught a Pokémon. It's a Starly," I went on with a smile. Dawn smiled as well before congratulating me on my first catch.

"I've got good news too. Professor Rowan said that Pikachu's Trainer is on his way here right now. He must really miss his Pokémon," Dawn said.

"I'd miss my Pokémon too if we were separated. Hey, Dawn? Would you like to have a battle with me?" I asked her suddenly. Something about catching my first Pokémon left me wanting more of the experience.

"Um, sure. Why not? Piplup's feeling much better now," Dawn said with a smile. I smiled back at her before we headed out to the battle field behind the Pokémon Center.

Once outside, we faced each other with ready looks. Chimchar left the box we were sharing to stand on my side of the field. Dawn then released Piplup from its Pokéball. "Don't think that since you have the type advantage that you'll win," I warned her.

"We'll just see about that," she said. "Piplup, use Bubblebeam!"

"Dodge it, Chimchar! Now use Scratch!" I yelled. Chimchar rolled to the side, missing the bubbles before moving in towards Piplup quickly. I watched as Chimchar went all out against Piplup's face and blue body with her nails.

"Piplup!" Dawn called out in worry.

"Ember!" I called out.

"Dodge it, Piplup. Now use Bubblebeam!"

"Ember!" I yelled. The two moves collided mid-way before destroying each other and releasing steam. Getting an idea, I smirked. "Into the steam, Chimchar!" I commanded Just as I had planned, Chimchar was completely hidden. I knew that it wouldn't stay that way for long though. "Now, use Scratch!"

Chimchar leaped up and out of the steam before she descended on Piplup. After Chimchar backed away, I looked to see Piplup laying the ground, unmoving. I smiled at Chimchar before going over to her. I embraced the small chimp before rubbing her head. "We won. Thank you so much Chimchar," I said to her.

Moi-Moi: There's chapter two! Review please!

Next Chapter: Enter Ash and Brock!

Revised: 2/18/14