A/N: I wasn't planning on writing any more for this story, but then I got some inspiration. Granted, this turned out nothing like how I thought it would, but I'm kinda excited how it went. I may write more, but only if I have free time(which doesn't happen that often with work and school).

Also, thank you for the reviews, they made me smile. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter, too.


Chapter 2: The Competition

After my first day with Growlithe, I was ready to ditch him. I didn't care how cute he was, or how powerful he could become. I wanted him gone. However, when I told my parents of how he seemed determined to protect me from everything, it only endeared him more in their hearts.

The one good thing that came out of constantly having Growlithe follow me (as he refused to return to his pokeball) was that my reflexes became a great deal faster and my peripheral vision a great deal better. It took a month for me to learn the tell tale signs I was about to be pounced on (either a quick inhale as Growlithe took in a new scent, or a thud as he jumped up). Then it took another month before I became fast enough to avoid my pokemon hurling himself at me.

Once he realized that he couldn't land on me anymore, he stopped trying. Instead he would jump between myself and whatever he deemed was harmful to me. I figured this would be the best I could hope for and tried to think positive thoughts. No one ever was going to be able to sneak up on me. I was even alerted to the presence of my parents with a quick bark from Growlithe when they returned home. It started to look like things would turn out fine, and we would actually make an excellent team.

Then the worst happened.

My parents, Growlithe, and I were out for an evening stroll. I stopped to look into a shop's window when a really cute guy started to talk to me. My mind was so clouded from talking with this cute guy that I didn't hear the tell tale signs of an attack coming. One moment I was laughing too hard to something the trainer said, and the next my face was pressed into the concrete. I would have killed Growlithe right there if the guy hadn't laughed and my parents weren't there. But it didn't stop me from yelling at my dad when I saw him feed Growlithe a treat while calling him a good pokemon and telling him to always protect me from, "the enemy." After that, no guy could get within ten feet of me without Growlithe intervening.

It was at this point I entertained the idea of trading him right then and there. But my parents would kill me once they found out and somehow find a way to get him back. That was why I decided to wait until I was eighteen (and perhaps on a different continent) before I tried the trade.

I actually became very depressed at this point. Gwen was gone on a small trip with her parents, my parents were at work all day, so I was stuck with Growlithe instead. This meant I couldn't go out to the store, as we had been kicked out when Growlithe had decided to tackle a person too close to me one day. We couldn't go to the arcade, as Growlithe was scared of all the flashing lights and had ended up setting one of the machines on fire. Even the park was too exhausting to go to because it meant I would have to yell at Growlithe about barking the entire time I was there.

Instead I was stuck at home. Every day. Watching TV.

Growlithe curled up on the couch next to me and closed his eyes. Since I had become depressed he had become even more obsessed with being with me every moment of every day. He knew that I was upset about something, but couldn't figure out what it was. So instead he became even more alert hoping to protect me from whatever was upsetting me.

This just made me even more depressed.

My mood was finally broken with the event leading to me obtaining my second pokemon.

It was an accident. I was up late, watching one of the shows I had recently become obsessed with, when I fell asleep half way through it. I woke up to the sounds of pokemon battles. At first I started to cuss at myself inside my head because I had fallen asleep before I found out if one of the characters was really a shape shifter or not. Then I noticed the show that was currently playing. It was a pokemon battle game show. Nothing that impressive or unique, but the battle that was occurring was very impressive. Only one pokemon per trainer, in a 1vs1 battle. Then after the battle, the trainer didn't heal his pokemon. This peaked my interest even more.

The show had three rounds, each with the same rules. One pokemon only, and after the battle the trainer can not heal his pokemon.

I felt the excitement of the challenge infect me. Then I looked over at Growlithe, who's head was still on the pillow but was looking at me with an open eye. Growlithe may be annoying, but he was a strong pokemon. From training the first couple months, he had grown a lot in strength and speed.

Then something else on the TV caught my attention. Whoa, wait a minute. Did they just give the trainer a Dratini for beating all three levels? That was a very rare pokemon in our part of the world.

I want one.

And then, it seemed the universe was finally smiling on me again. At the end of the show an announcement popped up, "Calling all trainers in the surrounding area. Do you think you have what it takes to beat our three level pyramid? If so, call the number you see on the screen! Must be sixteen years of age or older to enter."

I was calling the number as soon as he said sixteen.


Convincing my parents to let me compete was a lot simpler then I thought it would be. My only conclusion was that they had noticed my lack of enthusiasm for anything of late, and thought that if I was putting this much effort into something it meant I was back to my old self.

The people at the TV station also took less convincing than I thought. But then again, I had to give them my full name to compete. Once they checked out if I was really who I said I was, they immediately schedule me for the show. It had been awhile since either one of my parents had been on TV, and I guessed they decided I would be the next best thing. This caused a little resentment from me, but if it got me closer to a rare pokemon, I would suffer through it.

It was exactly two weeks after watching the show that I step up on the stage. Gwen had come to watch my compete and I could here her yelling from the front row. Beside me stood Growlithe, looking more dangerous then I had ever seen him. I knew the toughest part would be to get Growlithe inside the studio without trying to knock me over from everything and everyone. We had sat outside the door for half an hour talking before I would let him in.

"I promise, if you don't attack anyone, I will stay inside for a week without going outside," I tried to barter with Growlithe. He just tipped his head to one side in confusion.

"We can win this. But I can't have you trying to bark every time you see someone. If you do that, we won't even make it to the stage," I continued. His head just tipped to the other side with a, "Growl?".

I sighed, and tried to think of something else to do. Then an idea hit me.

"If you don't bark at a single person today, I'll give you steak even night for a week."

Growlithe's eyes lit up from the fire inside of him. I allowed myself a small victory dance from winning this small argument.

True enough, Growlithe didn't bark at a single person walking to the stage. He did growl and look like he would murder anyone who got within five feet of me though. I was very glad for this though when we reached the stage. I hoped it made up for how nervous I was feeling.

The first trainer walked up to the other side, and sent out her first pokemon. Snivy. I smirked as all my nervousness left me, this match was already over.

I blocked out the sound of the audience, just waiting for the bell to chime to signal the beginning of the match.

There.

I could hear the trainer on the other side yell out, "Snivy, use Leech Seed!"

I responded with, "Growlithe, Quick Attack to dodge, then Fire Fang." A second before the seeds hit Growlithe, he was gone. Only to reappear next to the Snivy to use Fire Fang. The Snivy fainted and Growlithe came trotting back to sit in front of me and bark once in victory. Without realizing it, I reached over and patted him on the head.

I didn't let myself hear the audience still. I just waited for the next opponent. It was a Muckrow.

This battle lasted longer. The Muckrow kept flying around so that Growlithe couldn't get close enough to attack with any of his more powerful moves. Growlithe got hit with a wing attack and started to limp on one of his legs. I felt a stab of pain go through mine, as if I shared the same injury. But wait, after the attack, it left Muckrow open as he flew back up into the air. That was the opportunity.

Growlithe was growling as he stared at the flying bird pokemon. I could tell he wanted to attack again, but that would just be a waste. We would just have to bide our time until an opening came again.

Wing attack again. Perfect. "Growlithe! Turn around!" I yelled. I could see the confusion on the other trainers face, but Growlithe didn't hesitate and did exactly as I said. "Flamethrower!" I yelled again.

At this point the other trainer realized what was about to happen. But the Muckrow was going to fast and was too late to change course. The wing attack hit Growlithe again and I felt the pain going up his side. However, immediately after, the Muckrow flew into the long streaming path of the flame.

We had won the second battle.

I felt relief wash through me as I ran forward to hug Growlithe. I felt his tail wagging in excitement from the win, but I also felt the slight flinch from the pain from his side. I quickly released him, hoping I hadn't caused him too much more pain. He just looked at me while wagging his tail. I took that as a good sign.

I walked back to where I was supposed to stand, instead of the middle of the field. I tried to use this time to think about the situation. Growlithe was hurt. But he was also a fighter. As long as the next pokemon wasn't one of his weaknesses, I'm sure we could win the next battle.

The last trainer sauntered up with a smirk on his face. I instantly didn't like him. He seemed like he knew he would already win this battle. No one is allowed to have that look on their face except me. But then he sent out his pokemon, and I realized he had a valid reason to look like he had already won.

Corsola.

Damn it. A water and rock pokemon. None of Growlithe's fire moves would work on this pokemon. I felt myself start to fidget from nervousness. We were going to loose. That was when I heard the announcer's voice.

"This is the last battle. All Tori has to do is beat the Corsola and she has won herself our grand prize, a rare dragon pokemon!" My heart yearned for that pokemon. I wanted it, but Growlithe was hurt and probably couldn't win the battle.

"However," this caught my attention. This hadn't happened any of the other shows. "We are offering Tori a special offer because of her amazing battle skills today. If she wants, she may step down from this battle, admit defeat, but still win an amazing prize. She would receive whatever pokemon is inside this pokeball." At that, a person started to walk over to me with a pokeball in their hand. It was a light blue color with white swirls around it. I wondered if it would be a water of flying pokemon.

In the background the announcer went on, "The pokemon inside that ball could either be a very common pokemon, or it could be a super rare pokemon. It is a gamble, but this way she is assured a prize from this game. Otherwise, if she goes into the next battle and losses, she will have no prize at all. All you have to do Tori, is grab onto the pokeball and you get to keep it. Or have Growlithe attack the Corsola to initiate the battle!"

If I had been paying attention to the audience, I would have realized what was happening. Instead I was focused on the person walking up to me holding the very pretty pokeball. No, I wouldn't allow myself to become persuaded by the looks of the ball. It could be a very rare pokemon, or a common one. Would I really be okay ending up with a Patrat or the likes of it. But Growlithe probably wouldn't win, and then I wouldn't get any pokemon.

As I was thinking of the pros and cons of the situation, the attendant got closer and closer.

I could always trade whatever pokemon it was when the opportunity rises. It would also be nice to have another pokemon around to train with Growlithe. But I want that rare pokemon. Also, I wanted to prove to everyone that I am a great trainer, and not just because of my parents. I trained Growlithe with no help from them. And together we can beat that Corsola. I would prove to everyone that we can win.

It was only once I made my mind up that I heard the warning cry from the audience. In specific, it was Gwen yelling my name that caused my entire body to look for the danger that I was unaware of.

I spotted it.

No.

I couldn't believe it.

That stupid pokemon!

I was going to kill him.

"Growlithe! Don't do it!" I yelled knowing it was too late.

He was already flying through the air to tackle the attendant bringing me the pokeball. Apparently, he had been fine until someone was close to me. His protective instincts caused him to think I was in danger from the girl in the dress with the pokeball.

She was falling now. There was no way to stop herself as there was a large Growlithe on her back. She threw the pokeball into the air so that she could use her hands to help soften the fall.

I saw the ball fly through the air, and without thinking, reached up to grab it.

For a second it was silent except for Growlithe barking on top of the poor girl's back. Then the announcer spoke.

"Tori is holding the pokeball. She has chosen to back out of the competition."

I was looking at Growlithe, who looked up at me. And he had the audacity to wag his tail in happiness.