With Benny sitting on his shoulder, Andy was walking through Lilan Town. They've had their first practice on still targets and practiced both the string shot and the tackle, but the small Caterpie seemed eager to test his strength against a real opponent.
Andy stopped to watch a Pokémon battle that just had started, a Quilava and a Fearow were standing on the opposite sites, their determined trainers right behind them.
"Let's not challenge those trainers, Those Pokémon wouldn't stand a chance against you. Gotta give them a fair chance to win."
"Are you serious?" a small boy next to him asked when he heard the remark. "That Caterpie doesn't stand a chance against either of them."
"I'm shocked that you say that!" Andy took Benny from his shoulder and held it under the boys nose in a swift movement. "Just look at how muscular he is!"
"You really think that Caterpie would stand a chance against a Fearow or a Quilava?"
"Of course! About the same chance I have to catch an Articuno with a single Poké Ball!"
The boy looked at him very sceptically and Andy burst out in laughter as Benny crawled back to his shoulder. Of course Benny didn't stand a chance, he was both of a lower level and in a type disadvantage, but there was nothing wrong with some misplaced boasting. Andy shook his head as he walked away. Some people really didn't know sarcasm. They wouldn't recognize it if it would hit them in the face. And some were just to serious. But that didn't matter, it was all the more fun for him.
"Let's find an opponent of your level," Andy said to Benny. "Or I'll give Mike a call, he wouldn't mind training with us."
"Prie?"
"Even though his Nidoran is stronger then you, he wouldn't battle to win, so it would be a good practice. But first I want to see how we do against a real opponent."
Benny nodded in agreement and Andy nodded as well, also in agreement of his own remark. The walked on, well, Andy walked, Benny was sitting comfortably on his shoulder.
"So, look who we have here," a voice behind them said. "Young Andy with a Pokémon."
"I found him in the forest," Andy said, turning around. "And he wanted the come along."
The man behind him smiled, giving his face a friendly look. A Houndoom was silently standing next to him.
"Thomas, how have you been, old man?"
Thomas shook Andy's hand, smiling friendly. "You've sure grown a lot since I last saw you, it won't be long and you'll be taller then me."
"My goal in life," Andy said, grinning.
"You're keeping him out?" Thomas asked, pointing to the Caterpie on his shoulder.
Andy shrugged, resulting in Benny almost falling of his shoulder, but he managed to stay on.
"It depends, I keep him in his Poké Ball as well, but we're looking for an opponent today. Of course he has his say in the matter, it's going to be our first battle."
Thomas nodded as he looked at the Caterpie.
"If you want, you can visit me in the weekends. I can teach you a thing or two about Pokémon."
"Great! We'll come bug you next weekend then. Right now we have to epically win a battle, see you!" Andy turned around and waved to Thomas while walking away, keeping his other hand in the pocket of his trouser.