Author's Note: Okay, so much for less Author's Notes... (Maybe I'll just make them shorter Author's Notes instead of less Author's Notes) The very beginning of this chapter kind of reminds me of that scene in Legend of Korra where Mako first meets Asami. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
It wasn't a really that big, but Striaton City still looked kind of cool. Curious to see what the inside of the Gym looked like, I rushed up to the front entrance. Before I could even touch one of the door handles, I was knocked down the steps by a strange guy with wavy blue hair.
"Oh my, are you okay, Miss?" he asked.
"Yeah," I said rubbing my head, "I'm alright."
However when I looked at him, his eyes looked slightly widened, and his face was starting to turn bright red.
"Um, are you alright?" I asked.
"Y-Yes," he stuttered, "I'm fine."
"Okay..." I said, a little confused, "My name is Hynden!"
"My n-name is Cress," he responded, trying to compose himself, "I am one of the Gym Leaders at the Striaton Gym. Are you a new Trainer in the city?"
"Yeah, I live in Nuvema Town, but I lived in Olivine City until I was fourteen."
"Wow, someone from Johto," Cress said, smiling. "I-I hope to see you challenging the Striaton Gym sometime."
"Sounds great!" I exclaimed, shaking his hand, "But I think I'm going to check out the rest of the city first!"
"Well, I l-look forward to seeing you again, Hynden," Cress said, blushing even harder. "You look like a very lovely Trainer."
"Thanks, and bye!" I yelled as I ran off towards a place called the Dreamyard after leaving a florid and smiling Cress behind.
I trained Chiro and Piko in the Dreamyard for about an hour and a half. After we were done, we decided to go look at the rest of the city. Suddenly, we were ambushed another new Pokémon. I checked my Pokédex to see its name: Patrat. Without hesitation, I had Chiro use Bite on it, and I threw a Pokéball at it to catch it. After it stopped shaking, I let out the new recruit.
"Hey," it said, "What's the big idea, trappin' me like that?!"
"S-Sorry little guy," I apologized.
"Guy?! I'm a girl, numbskull!"
"Oops. And could you tone it down with the insults?!"
"Fine, Fine. If I'm gonna stay with ya, then you better be worth being my Trainer!"
"Well, you're rude. Anyway, I'm Hynden, and this is Piko and Chiro."
"Toothie's the name! Not very creative, I know. You seem alright, kid. You've got spunk, and I like that!"
"Welcome aboard, Toothie! We could always use a girl on the team, right boys?"
"Yeah..." Piko and Chiro said sounding displeased.
As we started walking again, Chiro and Piko suddenly tapped my ankle a few times before I finally looked at them.
"You know, Hynden," Chiro said, "I think that Cress guy has a crush on you."
"What?!" I exclaimed surprised, "That's ridiculous! Sure he seemed a bit weird, but how could you even tell whether or not he liked me that way?"
"It's pretty obvious, Hynden," Piko explained, "He had a lot of the signs: Dilated pupils..."
"Blushing hard..." Chiro added.
"Messing with his hair a little bit."
"And let's not forget a flushed appearance. Face it, Hynden. It was love at first sight."
"Aww, come on. I've only known him for a little bit, so that can't be possible!" I retorted, blushing a little bit.
"Whatever floats your boat, girl," Chiro said.
Before we could leave the Dreamyard, a young woman ran up to us holding a basket with a green monkey-like Pokémon in it.
"Excuse me, Miss," the woman asked, "Would you like a Pansage? I noticed you have a Tepig, and I thought this Pansage would come in handy for your Gym Battle since Cress uses a Water-type called Panpour."
"Gee, thanks!" I said.
"No problem!" the woman responded.
"You can call me Charlie, Miss," the Pansage said.
"Alright, nice to meet you Charlie. I'm Hynden."
"Nice to meet you, Hynden!"
When we reached Striaton City again, I instantly went into the Gym. The inside truly amazed me, because it looked restaurant themed. Hearing my stomach growl, I decided to order a quick meal. After I ate, I felt recharged and ready to fight. I walked up to the front of the Gym, and to my surprise, I saw Cress standing with two other boys, one with fiery red hair, and the other with spiky green hair.
"Well, I didn't expect three Gym Leaders..." I thought.
"Hynden," Cress said, appearing happy to see me, "Glad you could finally challenge us! These are my younger triplet brothers, Chili and Cilan."
"It's very nice to meet you, Miss Hynden," Cilan said calmly.
"So, who'll you be battling?" Chili asked me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused, "I won't be battling all three of you?"
"Nope," Cilan said, "You'll be battling only one of us depending on your starter."
"The one of us you battle is the type your starter has a disadvantage to!" Chili explained.
"Well, that doesn't seem fair..." I thought. "I chose Tepig as a starter, so I guess I'll be battling..."
"Me," Cress said.
"Okay then, bring it on!" I exclaimed, ready to fight.
Cress sent out his first Pokémon, a Lillipup. I stopped to think for a minute, then I decided to send out Chiro. Lillipup kicked off the battle by using Work Up to make its Attack stronger.
"Chiro, use Bite!" I commanded.
Chiro sunk his teeth into Lillipup. It temporarily flinched in pain, but instantly got back up on its four feet.
"Lillipup, use Tackle!" Cress yelled.
Lillipup managed to knock Chiro on his back. Chiro got up wearily, so I sprayed him with a Potion, and he suddenly felt a bit more energized.
"Chiro, use Tackle too!" I exclaimed.
Chiro managed to hit Lillipup in the stomach, but Lillipup slowly got up. However, before Cress could give another command, Lillipup used Bite. However, it managed to unintentionally sink its teeth deep into the side of Chiro's body.
"Augh!" Chiro cried in agony.
Blood started to seep from his wound. I was mortified that what Mom said would come true. Chiro stood for a second, but finally collapsed to the ground. Panicking, I rushed to Chiro's side to see if he was alright.
"Chiro," I cried. "Are you okay?!"
"Sorry, Hynden," Chiro said faintly, "It looks like I'm not going to make it..."
"Don't say that!" I pleaded. "We'll just take you to the Pokémon Center, and you'll be fine!"
"No, Hynden. I've lost too much blood, and my lung is punctured. Don't worry... it wasn't your fault... I guess... it's just my time to go. You're the best Trainer I've ever had. So... I guess this is goodbye... and I'm gonna miss you..."
Tears started flowing from my eyes as I slowly put my ear to Chiro's tiny chest, trying to listen for a heartbeat. Unfortunately, I found nothing. I leaned over Chiro's body and burst out in tears.
"No No No!" I wailed, "Chiro, you can't be dead! You just can't be!"
"What... have I done?!" the other Lillipup gasped in horror. "I didn't mean to kill him!"
"Hynden," Cress said, sorrowfully, "I'm so sorry. I didn't think this would happen..."
"You don't have to apologize," I said, "It wasn't your fault Chiro died. It was mine."
"Hynden, don't say that!" Piko said, "It wasn't your fault."
"No, Piko," I said on the verge of tears, "I shouldn't have doubted what Mom said. If I didn't, I would have tried harder to save him, and Chiro'd still be alive."
"But..." Piko pleaded.
"Charlie, just finish the fight, and get it over with," I said.
"Alright," Charlie responded.
Charlie K.O.'d Lillipup right away. Cress reluctantly sent out his Panpour, but Charlie managed to make it faint with multiple Vine Whip attacks. The battle was over, but everyone in the room was silent. I shakily stood up to face the Striaton Trio.
"As a token of my apologies," Cress said somberly, "I present you with the Trio Badge."
"Thanks," I sniffed while wiping my eyes. "And don't be sorry, I'm not mad at you, just myself."
Once I claimed my first Gym Badge, I gathered up my Pokémon team, and slowly walked out of the Gym while carrying Chiro's lifeless body. In the Dreamyard, the Striaton Trio helped me arrange a small funeral and burial. On Chiro's gravestone, Piko singed the words "Here lies Chiro, the greatest Lillipup who ever lived". With a heavy heart and a huge feeling of regret, I thanked Cilan, Cress, and Chili for trying to help me, and left the Dreamyard with my team, not wanting to look back at Chiro's grave.
Pokémon obtained: Toothie the Patrat, Female, Naughty nature, Somewhat vain.
Charlie the Pansage, Male, Modest nature, Likes to relax.
Deaths: Chiro the Lillipup, Lvl. 6-11.
Author's Note: Yeah, I was pretty upset to lose Chiro on my first gym battle. He was so young! Anyways, in the beginning I changed it to bumping into Cress for a few reasons. I just think whichever Striaton Gym Leader you bump into should vary on the starter you choose, instead of just Cilan (don't get me wrong, I love Cilan). Next chapter will be the rest of the Striaton visit (meeting Fennel and facing Team Plasma for the first time).