Chapter 2: Early days
I rented a room in the pokemon centre that night. I was almost caught when a news report came on, however quickly hiding data saved me there.
I wasn't sure what to do next. I knew that Littleroot now had a gym, but I diddn't know if I would be able to get in with the incident being all over the media at the moment. I decided that I needed more training before a gym anyway, and that I would come back when the fuss had died down.
"So Data, You ready for some training?"
A couple of happy sounding beeps came from him, and I assumed that meant yes. We headed out back. Around the back of the pokemon centre was a group of training pitches, with a few trainers already up and training. I could see that none of these pokemon were that strong, none were higher than a first evoloution. I decided to challenge one of them.
"Excuse me. Would you like to train with me?" I asked a kid, about my age who was training with a zigzagoon, a king of hedgehog the size of a dog with many brown zigzag patterns along it's side.
"Yeah sure. One pokemon each?"
"That's all i've got."
We moved to each end of the field. I had a quick scan of Data.
The pokedex scanned, then in a mechanical sounding voice anounced: "Avalible moves-Tackle,Thundershock,Ember and growl."
"You know four moves already? Nice work Data."
We tossed a coin for the first attack, and the kid won.
"Zigzagoon, use tackle!"
It ran forward at a surprising pace towards Data.
"Errmm-counter with ember!"
Small flames burst from data's mouth, pepering the zigzagoon, but it kept going and crashed into Data, covering both in flame.
"Data, counter with Tackle!"
"Zigzagoon, use tackle as well!"
The two slammed eachother, held for a few seconds, and then Data was tossed aside, hitting the ground hard.
"C'mon data, get back up!"
He pushed onto his feet.
"Attaboy, now use thundershock!"
"Zigzagoon, counter with tail wag!"
The lightning shot towards the zigzagoon, but it waved it's tail and the lightning jumped to it, conducting down onto the earth.
"Wha?-How-Ahh forget it, Data, use growl!"
"Zigzagoon, tackle again!"
As it ran forward, Data gave a low,loud rumbling screeching electronic noise. The Zigzagoon locked shocked at the noise, and lost focus.
"Get it now, use ember then dodge!"
Data spat flame, then jumped. This time it worked, the zigzagoon was too distracted to dodge, and got a facefull. Yelping but unable to stop,
it smashed into the pokemon centre's wall. It stayed there.
"Alright zigzagoon, return. Hey kid, thanks for the fight. That looked like your first one, am I right?"
"Yeah. How did you do that thing with the tail?"
"I do a bit of contest co-ordinating. I'm trying to train this guy up for the apealls. You did really well, but need to focus more."
"Err, thanks. I guess I do need to work on it."
I shook hands, headed in to heal Data, and went to look at the map.
Rustboro is closest, but everyone starts there. So it will be busy...Hrmmm...Maybe petalburg gym. Ok, we will head there.
We set off along the road. Data had decided to sit on my head, which was nice, if a little painfull. We soon reached a small woods. "So Data, think we might find any trainers in here too?"
Beep-boop "My thoughts exactly. I guess. C'mon, lets go."
It wasn't easy to get through. The path was massively overgrown with plants, and sometimes disapeared from veiw for a while. It soon became clear we were lost. "Well, I give up. Which way do you think data?"
He jumped off my head, and ran a little way into a hedge. With a bark, and a shrill yelp he burst out, an angry Poochena growling from the bush. It looked pretty much normal, like a large black and grey wolf cub, but had three vaguely star shaped patches on it's side.
"Oh man, now you anoyed the locals!"
It let out a howl, and I could see a faint red glow that meant it's attack had increased.
"Quick Data, get it with tackle!"
Data ran forward, but at the same time the Poochena glowed a light gold, ad shot forward using Double edge. Data was easily tossed aside!
"Quick data, counter with ember!"
Data lept back up and spat a burst of small embers at the poochena, which stopped, yelping in surprise and pain. But it didn't stop long, it's jaw glowed white and it grabbed Data's leg, shaking him like a ragdoll!
"Data, shake it off with thundershock!"
With a familier bang, thundershock slammed the poochena off Data. It moved to use double edge again, but then yellow static coursed over it, causing it to freeze and it's hair to stand on end.
"Wait a second-You paralyzed it! Now's our chance!"
I grabbed a pokeball off my belt, and tapped the button on the front. The ball swelled to full size, and I threw it at the downed Poochena The ball hit, flew up and enveloped the poochena in red light, the light then sucked back into the ball bringing the hound with it! It fell to the ground.
Click,click,click, The ball wobbled on the floor.
Click,click-THUNK. "Hey, I got it! I just caught a pokemon! Wahoo!"
I felt extatic! I picked up the ball. It was dirty from the ground, but seemed to have worked fine.
Data trilled off a series of triumphant bleeps.
"You said it buddy. On to peatalburg city!"