Chapter 3: Striaton City (Part 1)


Gym battles are the way trainers test their strength in the Pokemon World. Most of the time, the trainers with the strongest bond with their Pokemon will beat gyms with little effort. Gyms usually have a specialty in one specific type, such as Grass, Water or Fire. Once a trainer beats the gym's Leader, they earn a badge as a symbol of their victory.


"Fly Aura Fly!" Cried James.

James had just released Aura from her Pokeball to let her spread her wings. She squawked and flew around in circles above James. She flew down and into James' arm. Flora also joined James, but on his shoulder. James cuddled up with both of them. He began walking with both Flora and Aura still cuddling him. James noticed another trainer close by, possibly searching in the grass for a Pokemon. James approached them cautiously, clearly still shaken from the 'Lab' incident.

"Do you need any assistance?" Asked James boldly.

The person suddenly turned around, revealing his manly face. He was obviously a trainer. He stared into James' eyes, unblinking and fixed. It was like James was getting his soul ripped out by this man. James pulled a worried and confused face.

"You looked at me funny. Let's battle!" Cried the man.

Suddenly, the man was challenging James to a battle. Before James even had a chance to think, the man was shouting again:

"Go, Pidove!" Exclaimed the man.

A small grey bird emerged from his thrown Pokeball. To James, it was clear, he had to fight back. He looked at Flora and pointed her in the direction of the Pidove. Flora nodded at James and almost immediately charged at the Pidove.

"Quick Pidove! Dodge it!" The Pidove flew into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, whereas Flora crashed onto the floor underneath the Pidove.

"Flora are you alright?" Called James, getting an uncertain looking nod from Flora in return.

"Pidove use gust!"

"Look out Flora!" Cried James.

Flora turned and noticed the Pidove preparing to attack. She quickly charged up her razor leaf attack and fired it off before the Pidove could attack. The Pidove was struck by the attack, causing it to lose its balance and fall to the floor. Its trainer ran up to it and comforted it.

"C'mon Pidove you can do it."

He seamed distraught and worried, but determined nevertheless. He ordered the Pidove to attack once more, but James quickly countered with another razor leaf. This happened three more times before the Pidove was fainted by Flora.

"No!" The trainer was starting to tear up, "I won't be defeated so easily. Pidove return! Go, Lillipup!"

The next Pokeball thrown exploded into a fluffy ball. It seemed to resemble a small puppy.

"Darn it!" Exclaimed James, clearly frustrated, "I forgot to scan his Pokemon with my Pokedex. I might as well scan this Pokemon."

James pulled out his Pokedex and pointed it towards the Lillipup:

Lillipup, the Puppy Pokemon. It faces strong opponents with great courage. But, when at a disadvantage in a fight, this intelligent Pokemon flees.

James' face lit up, probably from the fact who got to scan the Pokemon to add to his Pokedex. James then had a sudden realization that he was in the middle of a battle.

"Flora, return!" Cried James. Flora ran back to James and perched herself on his shoulder. "Go, Aura!"

Aura darted from James' other shoulder and charged towards the Lillipup, flying through the air like a bullet. Aura smashed into the Lillipup with such force that it instantly fainted the Lillipup. However, Aura didn't come out unscathed. She had struck the Lillipup yes, but she had also smacked into the ground afterwards, causing her to become injured.

"Aura quick, return!"

The trainer looked down at his fainted Lillipup, collapsing to his knees in the process. Tears filled his eyes. He slowly leaned over his fainted Pokemon and hugged it tightly, tears were streaming down his face like two waterfalls. He lifted himself up from his Lillipup.

"Lillipup, return." He said with disappointment as he wiped the tears from his face.

"You alright?" Asked James, placing his hand on the trainer's shoulder.

"My first loss. But...I never lose." He began to twitch slightly, getting progressively more violent. He attempted to get up but began to sway from side to side. Suddenly, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

"What?! Um, urr, GAH!" Cried James, clearly confused and worried. He looked every which way, trying to find something, ANYTHING to help him. He attempted to pick up the trainer, but failed. His muscles tensing as he tried and tried to pick up the trainer, but failed over and over again. Flora was observing from a meter away, tending to Aura. She grabbed Aura and pointed towards James, implying that they should help him. Aura nodded and flew over to James, whilst Flora ran over. Flora buried her snout into the trainer's side, trying to get underneath him. Aura however, grabbed the trainer's shirt and began flying upwards, very slowly lifting him off the ground. Flora eventually got underneath the trainer. She began to lift him with Aura and they both, along with James, carried the trainer to the nearest Pokemon center.

The nearest center was in the next town: Striaton City. Flora, Aura and James lugged the trainer trough the automatic doors, dropped the trainer in front of the counter and collapsed with exhaustion. The nurse came round from behind the counter and knelt beside the unconscious trainer.

"What happened?" Asked the Nurse, looking rather worried.

"He was *pant* battling me and he started losing *pant* and when I beat him he just collapsed *pant*." Panted James, trying to keep his breath.

"I've seen this before," the Nurse claimed, "I'll take it from here. You get some rest." The Nurse beckoned James, Flora and Aura towards a room behind the counter. Inside was a bed, a Pokemon healing station and a sofa. James flew himself at the bed with Flora and Aura. James cuddled up with his Pokemon, snuggling up to each other for warmth. James looked down at his two, now sleeping, Pokemon and sighed. It was a sigh of relief at the fact that they had won him his first battle and that they were okay. With that, James drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

14 Hours Later

James was woken up to the sound of the Nurse telling him the news about the trainer. As James woke up he jumped up very suddenly, causing Flora to also wake up. She lept out of her spot and onto the floor like a cat. Aura meanwhile was still sound asleep. She appeared to be dreaming.

"James?" Asked the Nurse, "James Opie?"

"Yeah." Replied James.

"That trainer that you brought in, he's made a full recovery." James' jaw dropped almost to the floor, "What is it James?"

"How long have I been sleeping?!" Exploded James, clearly awestruck by the rapid recovery time of the trainer he brought in earlier.

"'Bout 14 hours." Replied the Nurse.

James shuddered. He didn't realize he'd been asleep for so long. He thought maybe 5 hours but 14 HOURS. He jumped out of bed, waking up Aura in the process. James fell out of the bed and onto the floor, face first. Aura meanwhile had began flying above James, somehow knowing that he was going to trip and fall. Flora ran from her spot on the floor to the Nurse, jumping onto her shoulder. James tipped his head up from the floor and looked up at the Nurse. The Nurse extended her hand out to James. He extended his hand also and the Nurse pulled him up.

"Thanks." Said James, before darting towards the door. He was stopped however by the Nurse grabbing his arm.

"By the way James, the name's Joy. Nurse Joy." She told James whilst smiling cutely at him.

James smiled back. He beckoned for Flora and Aura to come to him. Flora lept from Joys shoulder onto James' and Aura flew onto his unoccupied shoulder. He turned back to Nurse Joy.

"Where is he?"

"He's just down the hall on the left."

"Thanks Joy." James smiled.

He ran out of the room and down the hallway. Nurse Joy blushed a deep red when James had left. He ran towards the room that Joy had described to him. He peered in through the window of the room, watching the trainers chest raise and lower. James released a sigh of relief. Safe in the knowledge that the trainer was breathing and indeed alive. The trainer beckoned James into the room. Reluctantly, James entered, slowly closing the door behind himself. He walked over to the trainer, his footsteps ever silent.

"J...James is it?" Coughed out the trainer, "Thank y...you for carrying me here. I could've *cough* died without your help please except this gift as a token of my gratitude."

He handed James a small box. It was a deep blue colour, lined with velvet. He popped the lid to it open, only to find a chain. It was a platinum chain with a small Pokeball charm on it.

"Take it." Said the trainer, "You've earned it."

James looked at the chain, then back at the trainer, then back at the chain again. He picked up the chain from its box and put it round his neck. He looked down at it and smirked. He nodded at the trainer, as a sign of saying thank you. James began to leave but quickly turned back around.

"By the way I neve-" James was interrupted by the trainer.

"Chris...*cough*" Exclaimed the trainer, "My name is Chris."

"Thanks..." Replied James, a bit perplexed at how Chris knew what he was going to ask.

James smiled at Chris and Chris smiled back. They had become friends thanks to James' perseverance and ability to help others. James left the room quietly. He looked at Flora on his right shoulder and Aura on his left. He grabbed them both and hugged them tightly, before returning them back to their perches on his shoulders. He walked out the Pokemon Center and breathed in the fresh, spring air. However a lone figure stood in a bush close by, watching James closely. He watched as James headed towards the Gym in the city. The figure then retreated back into the growth, hoping not to be seen.


AS: Thanks to the few people that actually read my silly story so far. It's coming out in two parts because it would be a very long chapter on its own otherwise. Also in the next few chapters there's going to be more character development for Flora and Aura because they will become integral parts of the story later. If you're actually reading my story why not give it a review and a favourite. I love the support and if I get enough reviews and faves, I'll make this story my main priority and get chapters out to you people much quicker.