I woke up with that tingly sensation of sleeping on an arm funny, throughout my entire body. It was such a shock that I bolted upright and started wiggling my fingers in an attempt to get blood flowing, but I soon realized that it was not some strange destruction of circulation through my entire body, but simply me feeling Abby up next to me as I slept. I sighed in relief and looked up to bright summer sun, beating down on my face. I had slept in way past daybreak, which was not an abnormal occurrence for a kid in the summer, but I sure felt pretty lazy to know so.
I got up and walked out to the bridge and heard its planks creak under my weight. The structure was called Silence Bridge, but I could hardly see where it got its name, having made so much noise from nothing more than a child stepping onto it. I heard Abby step on to it behind me and smiled at the confusion it may bring anyone listening closely enough to tell the difference between my steps and the amount of creaking going on.
Sitting on the edge of the bridge was a fisherman, dangling his legs off and holding a fishing pole into the waters of the ocean while focusing fiercely on the string. I walked up to him and tapped him on the shoulder, just to receive a sharp hush. I waited patiently and watched the fishing line spin in small circles in the water. It was not resting in a whirlpool or anything of the sort, so it most likely meant that there was a fish playing with the bait, deep under the water.
He gave it a sharp tug and felt the tension in the line increase. He reeled in his catch for a few minutes and then stared at the Pokémon flopping helplessly about on the wooden planks of the bridge. He laughed before tossing a Pokéball at it and casually walking over to retrieve his catch.
"A fool's Pokémon," he said to me with a grin. "They call it Magikarp, as if it houses some sort of magical power. But what you saw it doing just now, flailing around uselessly, is about all I have ever had it do. So, do you want to have a Pokémon battle?" he asked, pointing to the Poké Ball in my hand. I hadn't been doing so based on instinct, but I was clutching the ball as if it were all that I had.
"Um... Yessir," I replied. He smiled at me.
"What Pokémon do you have there?"
"Umm..." I honestly had no idea what it was at the time, so I just bowed my head and mumbled the nickname I had given him. The fisherman cocked his head and looked at me funny.
"Have you ever had a Pokémon battle before?"
"No sir..." He chuckled and motioned for me to toss out my Pokémon, so I did and Brick appeared before us.
"Sandshrew. You have a Sandshrew. It is a ground type Pokémon. Most all Pokémon can scratch, tackle, or pound an enemy. Your Sandshrew has claws, so it most likely knows how to scratch. Why don't you have it attack my Magikarp now?"
"Wait, really?" I asked, quite astounded that he was willing to let me beat up his Pokémon.
"Look," he directed while opening a bag. I peered inside and saw it nearly overflowing with Poké Balls.
"I have got plenty of Magikarp. I think that I can spare a few to teach someone how to battle. Now, direct it to scratch my Magikarp." I did as he instructed and the silly fish floundered about in a very unthreatening manner.
"Aren't you going to have Magikarp tackle my Sandshrew in response?" I asked with a smile. The kind fisherman let out a roar of laughter in place of a response, before continuing his lesson. "Sandshrew is a ground type, as I said, and can dig underground to assault enemies from below."
"Yeah I noticed..." I remarked, remembering the tunneling attack that Abby had blocked for me. "Ok, Brick, dig attack on the Magikarp!"
"Wait!" he shouted out at me. "We aren't on the ground!" My Sandshrew, obliged to follow my directions, smashed through the boards of the bridge and nearly plummeted to into the ocean below, but he clasped the edge of the wood before he fell completely. "You must be careful when using ground types. You cannot hit most flying or levitating Pokémon with those moves, and some won't work when your terrain won't allow for it. Be aware of your surroundings and adapt your strategy or stick to grounds that you know. Go ahead and have another swing at the Magikarp." I nodded and had Sandshrew scratch the fish two more times.
"It sure is resilient for a flopping fish..."
"True, but all Pokémon are going to be able to take more than one or two hits. Very few moves are powerful enough to do so, and very few Pokémon are strong enough to use them. It takes a lot of training and dedication to acquire."
"Oh. What are those moves? How will I know when I can use them?" I asked.
"The normal type one hit knock out moves are guillotine and horn drill, the ice type is sheer cold, and the ground type is fissure. As far as when you can use them... Well, I hate to disappoint you, but if you ever get to be strong enough to do so, it will be a very long time away. But hey! Aspire to do as you want. That's part of what being a Trainer is all about! Order your Sandshrew to finish off this Magikarp; he looks eager for the final blow." The fisherman nodded and I told my Sandshrew to scratch it one more time. The fish quit flopping about and lay fairly still, but the gentle motion of breathing could still be seen in its silhouette. Why it was breathing when it had gills, I was unsure. But Pokemon all work in very mysterious ways.
I was a little taken aback at the sight and the man chuckled.
"Don't worry, it is just unconscious. Pokémon faint in battle all of the time. It is generally how the winner is decided. Take the Pokéballs with you injured Pokémon to the Poké Center and they will patch 'em up right quick, free of charge. They are just happy to help. Any who, I am off to try and catch some other Pokémon. Hopefully I will have more luck with a different spot."
"Have you thought about getting a better fishing rod?" I questioned, noticing the shotty shape his was in. He laughed loudly and patted me on the head.
"Don't be silly! The rod doesn't determine a good catch!" He walked away, sill laughing to himself, and I turned to stare down the long bridge ahead of me. I was lucky to have met such a friendly fellow early on. I may not have done very well without his guidance.