Chapter II

"A battle?" I asked bewildered. "With me? Right now?"

Ean smiled softly and nodded. "I'm training to become a pokemon master just like you. How about the battle for experience?"

"Hey!" Nathan snapped angrily. "How come nobody want's to battle me?"

Ean snapped around and huffed in annoyance. "I thought you were training to be a coordinator. That's hat you were bragging about fifteen minutes ago anyway."

Nathan glowered and turned away. "Fine. I'll go and change into my new clothes for the journey... and Scarlet?"

I raised my eyebrow. "Yeah?"

Nathan surprises everyone by grinning, flashing perfect white teeth. "Kick some butt for me."

Well that was a nice change. I blushed a bit and bit my lip and Ean glowered.

Before I could respond, Nathan ran off to the bathroom, grabbing a bag from beside his mother May.

Misty's eyes widened and she shared a look with May. "I know what's going on here!"

May nodded. "I can't believe we couldn't see it before."

"Well someone please explain it to me because I'm totally confused." Ash snapped throwing up his hands."

Drew and Gary shook their heads. "You're so dense Ash." Drew laughed.

Getting confused by their conversation, I turned to my new friend Ean. "Ready to go?"

Ean nodded, the anger fading from his face to be replaced by a look of determination. "Let's go out back. There's an open field we can use as an arena."

I nodded and turned to my puppy pokemon. "Ready buddy?"

"Growl!"

Once everyone was seated and Ean and I stood a good distance apart, Drew called the match to begin.

"Go Squirtle!" Ean called, throwing a pokeball so the turtle pokemon appeared.

Squirtle huh? No wonder he wanted to battle me. That's a water type.

I pulled out my new pokedex and scanned the pokemon.

Squirtle. This Tiny Turtle Pokémon draws its long neck into its shell to launch incredible water attacks with amazing range and accuracy. The blasts can be quite powerful.

"Daddy Scarlet's at a disadvantage isn't she." Austin mumbled from his seat beside Grace and Mikey.

Ash nodded, but his gaze softened upon his daughter reading her pokedex.

"Perhaps, but that Squirtle is young enough that it may not know any water attacks that could harm Growlithe."

"Ready Growlithe?" I asked in determination to my puppy pokemon. He nodded in excitement and I nodded. "Great. Go Growlithe!"

Growlithe howled and leaped onto the battle field, bristling in anticipation. I turned back to my pokedex checking what moves Growlithe knows.

Growlithe can use bite and roar.

Hmm. So Growlithe has a lot to learn as well. Alright. Let's go!

Ean smiled and waved his hand. "You can go first."

I nodded. "Growlithe use bite!"

Growlithe roared and sprinted towards the turtle pokemon. His teeth lit up and he leaned forwards, ready to grasp the turtle in his mouth.

"Dodge it Squirtle!" Ean shouted.

Just as Growlithe chomped down, the turtle pokemon dove out of the way, spinning on it's shell and landing back on it's feet.

Oh no. Now what. Roar is a move that sends out another pokemon, so if the trainer has no other pokemon... What happens? Let's just hope it's a big enough distraction.

"Squirtle use tackle!"

"Jump up Growlithe!"

The adults gasped at the command, but Growlithe didn't question it. The puppy pokemon leaped into the air above Squirtle, and waited for my next command.

"Use Roar!" I shouted.

Ean raised an eyebrow. "Roar only works when I have more than one pokemon!"

I smiled. "Watch."

Growlithe let out an earth shattering roar, making Squirtle cry out and tremble in fear, wrapping it's hands around it's head.

"Oh no! Squirtle use tackle now!" Ean shouted in desperation.

From the sidelines, Gary looked surprised. "Why isn't he using tail whip? It's a defensive move and may work better than tackle."

Misty shrugged. "I don't know."

I was in the zone. Growlithe landed on his feet and let out a yip of satisfaction. Squirtle looked confused, but ready as he turned to charge Growlithe with tackle.

I smiled. "Now Growlithe use bite!"

The two pokemon ran at each other, ready to attack. They hit each other at the same time, and I was blinded for a moment as they connected in a bright white light. The adults and younger children held their breath.

"Growlithe!" I yelled panic in my voice evident.

"Squirtle!" Ean yelled in a similar fashion.

When the light cleared, the two pokemon were still standing, panting heavily. I felt Growlithe's pain, but I knew Squirtle was still weak from the roar.

The two pokemon held their gaze for a few more seconds, and then Squirtle let out a sigh and collapsed on the ground.

"Squirtle is unable to battle! The winner is Scarlet and Growlithe!" Drew announced.

"Alright Growlithe! Way to go!" I cheered, and my puppy pokemon, and Growlithe barked in happiness, and jumped into my arms, licking my face.

Ean ran over to Squirtle and smiled at him. "Great job Squirtle, I am so proud of you. Take a long rest."

When Squirtle vanished into his pokeball, I walked over to Ean, extending my hand.

"That was a great battle. You are going to be a worthy trainer you know." I smiled when he shook my hand, and after a moment or two, he smiled back.

"Growl!" Growlithe jumped out of my arms and backed up, his mouth opening and forming a bright red ball in the center. With a loud howl of "lithe!" the ball shot forward, small flames emitting from it.

"Woah!" I gasped. "What was that?"

Ash grinned. "That was Growlithe's ember attack! Looks like during the battle he gained enough experience to learn a new move!"

I beamed. "Awesome! I am so proud of you Growlithe!"

"Growl!" My puppy pokemon tilted it's head an gave me a toothy smile, and I laughed.

Ean pulled his sweater down for a moment and then turned to his father and great grandfather. "I think I'm going to be on my way then. I need a head start if I'm going to have any chance what so ever against you Scarlet!"

I felt my face heat up again, but I nodded. "You could always come with us you know. We could use a valuable trainer and friend like you."

Ean looked at something behind me, and I turned to see Nathan returning from changing.

"I don't think I would be welcome by you're boyfriend." Ean smirked, and I flushed.

"He isn't my boyfriend!" I snapped, and everyone laughed. I flushed a deep Scarlet, earning my name, and I just waved my hand. "Fine. Whatever you say. I hope we meet up soon though."

With that, Ean nodded to his father and took off, slinging a backpack over his shoulder and heading into the Viridian Forest.

"Ready to go Scarlet?" Nathan asked from behind me. I turned to see that Nathan changed out of his t-shirt and jeans into something more journey-like. He was wearing a scarlet collared jacket with white sleeves over a black t-shirt tucked into blue jeans with his red pokeball belt. He wore red and white sneakers and a red bandanna.

"Hey May, is that you're bandanna?" Ash asked with interest.

"Yep! That bandanna to me was like your cap to you. Figured I should pass on the joys."

Nathan smiled for the second time today. "I love it Mom."

"We should go." I smiled, turning to my parents and little brother.

Austin whimpered, and Ash sighed, picking up his son and putting him on his shoulders.

Nathan turned to say a private good-bye to his parents and I did the same.

My mom looked like she was about to cry. "Please be safe dear. Call me as soon as you get to Pewter City. Then you need to go straight to Brock's house. He misses you."

I nodded. "I promise mom. Besides, I have a journey partner now. I wont be alone!"

My mom sighed, and ruffled my hair. "If you don't kill Nathan first."

I turned to my Dad and gave him a hug. "Be safe Princess. I don't want you getting hurt. Cut Nathan some slack too, his father was the same way when he was a kid."

I looked up in disbelief. "Seriously? But Drew's so nice!"

Ash laughed and pulled me in for another hug. "Bye Princess."

I turned to Austin. "Be good okay Austin? And cheer up, before you know it you'll be coming along on your journey with me! I'll be home soon with a Pewter Badge alright?"

Austin whimpered and hugged me tightly. "Alright."

I nodded to my family once more before turning to Nathan. "Ready to go?"

He nodded. "Yep. I'll see you to later okay?" He smiled for the third time today at his sister and brother who nodded.

"Let's go." Nathan grinned for the fourth time, and I nodded beaming.

Together we ran off into the Viridian Forest after Ean.