Third chapter is here, so hope you enjoy. I'm going to be really mean, and say that I won't post up another chapter until we get to say...let's say five reviews. Yup, five or more, then you guys get the next part. Aren't I horrible? Mwahahaha!
Feeling rather downbeat I stopped by a small pool to rest my feet as they were beginning to ache. "You know Pidgey, I think we'll be just fine on our own. This isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Nice weather, friendly neighbours, good food and company…well. Sort of." I looked down to the Pokéball which held Charmander then groaned. "Why does he hate me?"
"Pidgey…pidgey!" A soft face nuzzled my face and I smiled.
"I know. It'll be okay." I tickled her under her beak and Pidgey chirped happily. "How about you take a break from flying? You look tired." I suggested, picking up the Pokéball I had caught Pidgey with. "Sound good?" Pidgey nodded her head then flew to the ground, allowing me to transfer her back into the Pokéball. "Sleep well." I whispered softly then sighed, laying back in the sun to enjoy the warmth of summer.
After I had rested for a while I took out my map and double checked to make sure that I was going the right way before setting off again. I hummed a tune to myself, happily strolling through the pretty trail which would lead to the next town. I would rest there for a night, heal my Pokémon if need be then continue on to Pewter City so that I can earn my first badge.
I was super excited, I couldn't wait for a proper battle! My thoughts were disturbed by a rustling in the bushes so I stopped and peered closely into the grass. A shape shifted then a nose poked out, sporting several sweet whiskers. "Ah cute! A Rattata." Giggling I pulled out Dexter and let him register the Pokémon.
"A Forest Pokémon, Rattata. It likes cheese, nuts, fruits, and berries. It also comes out into open fields to steal food from stupid travellers." I blinked at it.
"Well that's not very nice." I said to the screen of a purple rat Pokémon. "You shouldn't call people stupid, you know." Looking up I found the Pokémon was actually sitting right in front of me, blinking upwards whilst its nose twitched. "Aw! You're just so cute." I smiled, slowly kneeling down. "Hmm…should I capture you?"
In answer the rattata hissed and bared its fangs, eyes narrowing dangerously so I drew back. "Okay! Okay no, I won't. I can see you like being wild. Well, how about some food instead? I know I'm hungry." The Pokémon curiously tilted its head to the side and watched as I slowly drew my pack closer to me then pulled out some Pokémon food that mom had packed for me. "I don't know if it's any good so you'll have to tell me. Here you are." I took a cube and held it out to rattata who sniffed it curiously before sitting up on its haunches to take it. Sniffing it one more time it took a nibble then smiled brightly. "Rattata!" It wolfed the rest down then licked its lips, turning its large eyes back up to me.
"Haha, guess you like it huh?" I smiled then offered the Pokémon another which it took gratefully. "Well, I shan't keep you. Goodbye! Make sure you be careful of any other trainers, they might try and catch you no matter what you have to say about it."
"Ratta!" It called back then scurried into the grass again, disappearing from sight.
"Shame. It was adorable." I sighed then turned around. "Wow, I'll need to start upping my game. If I can't capture any wild Pokémon because they don't want to come with me then I'll only ever have the two Pokémon!" I looked down to my Pokéballs then smiled. "Not that I mind of course, I think you guys are great."
"Hah!" Something yelled and a dark object swept across my vision and I screamed aloud, leaping out my skin then gripped onto a low branch of a tree, gripping on with both arms and legs as I trembled. "Why are you up a tree?" A voice asked and I stiffened in place, then turned my head to look down, seeing a kid with a confused expression on his face, a walking stick in his hand.
"Oh! No reason. Just…getting my daily exercise." I babbled quickly, blushing as I let go and dropped to the ground again. "Hi! I'm Ruby." I introduced, holding out my hand to the kid who looked no older than me.
"I'm Toby and if you're a Pokémon trainer, then I challenge you to a battle!" The smile slipped from my face as he shook my hand.
"A battle?"
"Yeah!" He beamed then sprung back a few paces, drawing a Pokéball from his belt then took a stance, preparing to throw it. "What do you say?" A battle? A real battle? This could be interesting and loads of fun!
"Alright you're on!" I grinned, drawing out a Pokéball. "Pidgey, I choose you!" Flinging my Pokéball forwards then clenched my fists, preparing for the battle. The Pokémon who came out of the ball was not Pidgey, however.
"Char, Charmander!" My Charmander called then looked around curiously before running off to sniff at some flowers.
"Oops." I gave a guilty laugh and grin. "Guess I forgot to switch you guys around." Toby grinned then sent his own Pokémon forwards.
"Go Nidoran!" A male Nidoran left the Pokéball and I instantly pulled out Dexter to listen to what he had to say about it.
"Nidoran. Its horn is larger than the female's and its Horn Attack is quite powerful." I also knew that this little Pokémon had a Poison Sting which could hurt my Pokémon badly if it caught them. Perhaps I should withdraw Charmander…?
"Char!" Charmander leaped forwards, suddenly interested at this new adversary and clenched its fists tightly, preparing to battle and I stared in shock.
"Charmander? You want to battle?" Bursting into a grin, I punched the air. "Okay! Let's do this." Looking up at Toby he smirked.
"Your Charmander is only a baby whilst I have experience. This is going to be easy. Nidoran! Use Horn Attack!" With a gasp I watched as the Nidoran shot forwards faster than I could blink, lowering its head to aim its horn at Charmander.
"Quick, dodge it Charmander!" I yelled but Charmander ignored me. He lifted his little paw and swiped at Nidoran but the powerful attack thrust him backwards, flying over his head. "Charmander!" I yelped, my fists jumping to my mouth with worry as Charmander groaned softly.
"Char…char…" He rose back to his knees, pressing his hands into the ground.
"Quick Attack Nidoran, let's finish this before it's even begun!" Toby yelled encouragingly and I watched in horror as the Nidoran began to dart forwards again, head lowered for the Quick Attack.
"Charmander move! Use your Growl to put off the attack." Charmander lifted his head and looked at me, glaring slightly before turning to face Nidoran then let out a powerful Growl. Nidoran stumbled slightly when struck by the growl, its attack stats lowering but then it continued to dart forwards. "Now dodge it, leap up into the air!" I cried desperately, struggling to think of what to do next.
Charmander ignored me, however he did take my advice. He leaped to the side then took a swipe, landing a scratch to the Nidoran's side but Toby was already calling out again. "Nidoran, use Double Kick as fast as you can, don't let that Charmander get away!" Nidoran turned and prepared to buck its back legs so I thought quickly.
"Jump onto its back Chamander then deliver all the Scratches you can hit!" This time, Charmander decided to go along with my plan. He leaped forwards and landed on Nidoran's back just as it began to kick, missing the attack then gripped on with his legs to deliver two handed Scratches to the Nidoran, weaking it slowly bit by bit. "Alright! That's it Charmander!" I cheered happily, punching the air.
"Nidoran, use Double Kick again to get Charmander off your back!" Toby yelled so I thought quickly.
"Charmander, leap up into the air and use another Growl attack!" Calling out I bit my lip, hoping that Charmander would listen but instead he merely continued to scratch. The Nidoran kicked up his back legs and used Double Kick, easily flinging Charmander from his back.
"Ha! You have no control over your Pokémon. It doesn't even listen to you." Toby gloated as I slapped a hand to my face. "This is going to be easier than I first anticipated. Tackle!" Looking down to my belt I brushed my fingers over Pidgey's Pokéball, a plan formulating in my mind.
"Charmander!" I cried out as a tackle was landed on my Pokémon, throwing him off his feet and to the ground where he trembled, the flame on its tail dimming slightly. "Withdraw Charmander, that's enough!" I waved my hand then ran forwards, scooping him up into my arms. "Charmander? Are you okay?"
Blinking dazedly my Pokémon looked up at me, breathing heavily so that its tiny chest heaved up and down. Suddenly his tail swung out and smacked my face, making me yelp from the slight burn but no damage was done. "Okay, okay, I get it. You hate me." I sighed then stood up.
"Do you forfeit the battle?" Toby demanded to know but I turned a heated gaze onto him.
"No! I still have one more Pokémon left to fight. Go Pidgey, it's all up to you now!" I called and flung the Pokéball forwards, letting my Pidgey fly out. "Alright, let's show them how a real fight goes. Pidgey, use Sand-Attack!" I called and Pidgey swooped down with a cry.
"Pidgey! Piiiiidgey!" With its wings grazing over the ground Pidgey swept up a sandstorm, covering Nidoran in dust so that it couldn't see a thing. "Alright! Now use Quick Attack, before your cover disappears!"
"Nidoran, use Horn Attack!" Nidoran gave a confused call, searching around for Pidgey at his trainer's command. Pidgey gave a loud call as it dove down, tucking in its wings before slamming into Nidoran, throwing it off the ground.
"Now hit it with the strongest Gust you can muster, go!" I commanded, still cradling Charmander in my arms. He watched me in slight awe as I gave out my orders to keep Pidgey from getting hit. Pidgey flew back up then began to beat the air, summoning a strong gale force wind and I shielded Charmander from the blast.
Nidoran was lifted off the ground, with a cry of alarm, was slammed into a tree where it dropped down in a faint, no longer able to battle. "No! Nidoran!" Toby withdrew his Pokémon then looked at me in shock. "Wow, that's one powerful Pidgey. I've never see a Gust as strong as that before." I smiled happily then looked to Pidgey.
"You did great! I'm so proud of you Pidgey."
"Pidgey! Pi-pi-Pidgey!" My Pokémon chirped proudly then swept a circle around me, its small form shooting through the air as I chuckled then summoned her back into the ball.
"Thanks for a great battle, I'm sorry I doubted your skill as a trainer!" Toby said to me as he approached, looking to my Charmander. "Is it going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I have some Potion in my pack to fix him up." I assured him as I gently set my Charmander on the ground. "Now you just stay there and don't move, it's going to be okay."
"You know, you should really train him up a little more. Although your directions were good, he hardly listened to you." Toby said to me and I sighed.
"I know. I just don't get it. I got him only this morning but he's so stubborn and seems to hate me." Taking out the Potion I sprayed it on Charmander, letting it soak in so that he was revitalised. "How about your Nidoran? Will he be okay?"
"Yeah, I'm heading back down Route One searching for new Pokémon but I made sure to bring plenty of supplies with me. I'll revive him with Revive then he'll be right as rain." Toby assured me with a grin. "Well, good luck with your Charmander."
"Thanks, you too." I nodded to him with a smile. Toby waved then walked off, hands in his pockets so I turned to Charmander who was beginning to stand up. "Hey, are you okay?" He looked at me then growled under his breath, turning his face away and folded his arms. "What is your problem?" I demanded. "Don't you like me?"
"Char!" In answer he smacked his hot tail across my face.
"Wargh! Hot! Hot!" I yelped, quickly leaping back then rubbed my face. "That was not very nice!" I scowled at the Pokémon but I got no response. "Why won't you listen to me? Is it because you think I'm weak?" In answer the Charmander nodded his head.
"Char."
"Well I'm not! You saw how Pidgey and I battled that Toby, that was not weakness!" I practically yelled, tearing out my hair in the progress. "So why won't you listen to me?"
"Char, Cha-Charmander!" Slapping a hand to my face I groaned.
"Great. I can't understand a word you're saying and I have a mutiny on my hands. Well, perhaps you can help me Pidgey. Come on back out!" I let Pidgey out then pointed to Charmander. "Talk some sense into him. I'm sick of his bad attitude." Turning my back on Charmander I lifted my chin, closed my eyes then crossed my arms grumpily across my chest. Only then did I realise that I had struck the exact same pose of my Charmander.
"Pidgey! Pi-pi…Pidgey, Pidgey!" Pidgey began to talk with Charmander who snorted before answering.
"Charmander." With a flutter of wings Pidgey flew around to face me then began to coo.
"Pidgey, Pidgey…Pidgey!" She told me so I let my arms drop to my side to watch her. She flew a circle around me then pointed her beak towards the mountains and the sky away from us.
"Huh?" I blinked then tilted my head to the side. "He misses home? Is that it? He wants to go home back in the wild?" Pidgey nodded her head then landed on my shoulder as I turned around. "Charmander…do you really miss home that much?"
"Char." With a firm nod of its head I sighed then knelt down.
"Okay. I understand how that feels. I'm missing home already and we're less than a day away from where I grew up, but you, you're really young. I bet you only hatched from your egg a few weeks ago. Is that right?" Again Charmander nodded his head. "Were you taken from your family?" He shook his head.
"Char, Charmander." I frowned, trying to think of another possible answer.
"Did you…get lost?" After a small pause he nodded his head once.
"Char." Sighing I sat down cross legged on the ground, reaching up to stroke Pidgey's feathers.
"You know Pidgey got lost from her family too." Charmander lifted his head a little then turned to face us.
"Char?" I smiled and nodded my head.
"Yeah, she was only a little chick when she was blown out of the sky from her flock in the middle of a storm. It was my dad who found her and brought her home. We tried to find her flock afterwards but we never found them, but Pidgey stayed with us and look at her now! She's really happy."
"Pidgey!" Pidgey agreed, spreading her wings and nuzzled my face, making me giggle.
"Okay, okay, I know, I love you too." Tickling her feathers I then turned back to Charmander. "I want you on my team, Charamdner, I think you and I could be really great together, but I won't force you to stay. If we are a team then I want us also to be friends so that we can work together, but that's not what you want and I can see that now." Lowering my head I exhaled softly. "So I won't ask you to battle anymore or order you around. I'll even take you home, if that's what you want."
"Char! Charmander!" Charmander nodded his head enthusiastically and I felt my head sink in my chest.
"Okay then. I'll help you get to Cinnabar Island, that's where you came from, isn't it?" Chamander nodded his head ardently, jumping from foot to foot. "But we'll have to work our way there for the time being, I don't have enough money to pay for a boat but by the time we reach the port, we should have enough." I explained to him. "We'll have to leave at Fuchsia City, which is a long walk but I'll get you home, I promise."
Charmander leaped up with a cry of joy. "Chaaaarmander!" Pidgey nuzzled my face softly, cooing as she understood my sadness. My first Pokémon wanted to leave me. How crushing is that? Still, he was only a baby and I could hardly ask to keep him when all he wanted was to go home.
"Okay, will you please get back into your Pokéball? Or would you rather walk for a while?"
"Char!" He began to strut away down the path, flame sparking brightly.
"Hey wait up!" I ran forwards and Pidgey flew up into the air, circling over our heads as the sun began to set. We raced on down the trail, however, jogging at a happy pace as Pidgey kept a look out for a safe space for us all to rest for the night.
She found a clearing where I gathered sticks and struggled to start a fire on my own before eventually giving up. "Hey Charmander, think you can help me out a little?" I asked him and he looked at me before snorting.
"Char." With a shake of his head he stuck out his tail and rested his flaming tip on the neat tent of sticks I had piled up, lighting them up almost instantly so I was bathed in warmth.
"Thanks buddy!" I grinned then began to cook myself some food and gave out the feed that had been packed for the Pokémon. Pidgey munched away happily but Charmander spat it out with dislike, growling at the horrible taste. "I'm sorry, I'll find you something that's more to your taste in the next city, okay?" I smiled at him warmly and he seemed to be surprised by my friendliness towards him.
I shared my food with Charmander, which he seemed to like more than the Pokémon food, then we all settled down for the night, Pidgey perched up in a tree and keeping watch as Charmander curled up close to the fire, me on the opposite side in my cosy sleeping bag.
However I lay awake for hours, staring up at the stars with a feeling of disappointment and hurt. Even though I had chosen Charmander, I guess I had forgotten to factor in the need for him to choose me as its trainer. It was a valuable lesson, though, one I will never forget.
To be a great trainer, your Pokémon have to choose you as well or they will never truly be one of your team.