"Viridian city." I murmured triumphantly as I looked over the city. "We are here at last."
After all the trouble I went through to get here, it is really good to finally reach my destination. Being attacked by a horde of angry Beedrills wasn't very fun. Even worse is to wake up in the house of a total stranger who apparently saved me from said horde. A tall, charming and very handsome stranger indeed… Wait, what am I saying? Focus!
True, he may have been handsome, but he was also very annoying. I mean, how dare he think that I can't take care of myself! I am sixteen. Maybe if you were more careful, you wouldn't have been attacked by those Beedrills and he wouldn't have made that assumption. A voice murmured in my head. True, but I have learned my mistake and I won't do something that foolish ever again. What's worse is that he actually offered to come with me in my journey. As if I need help from a creepy stranger to complete my journey.
So I have refused his offer and made my way to Viridian city, where the first gym waited for me. I have no idea what type does this gym use, but this is the first gym, how hard can it be? However, before going over to the gym and challenge it, I decided to have a training session with NightFlame, who was in great need of some training.
We spend the morning training in a small clearing beside the city. I used some materials I could find around the clearing, such as sticks and leaves to make some practice dummies for NightFlame. After spending some time training, NightFlame finally learned the fire move ember, which is exceptionally useful.
After our training session, we went to the local pokemon center to heal up and have lunch. Once we were done I made my way over to the Viridian city gym.
I let out an anxious sigh as I stood in front of the building. "All right, NightFlame." I spoke. "This is it. Let's see how well our training from earlier pays off."
NightFlame let out a confident chirp as we made our way towards the building. But instead of the doors opening automatically when I approached, it didn't open at all, and I end up slamming my face in the glass door. I back away from the door in confusion. I tried knocking on the door but nothing happened. I was starting to get frustrated.
"What the hell?" I exclaimed in confusion. "Let me in you stupid door!" I then began to hit the door with my bare fists.
"Incredible. I let you go for 3 hours only to find you raging at a door. This must be some kind of record or something." A smooth and familiar voice sounded from behind me.
I slowly turned around to find Alejandro standing a few feet away from where I stood, staring at me incredulously. At first I was shock to find him standing right behind me, but my surprise turned to anger as I realized he had followed me all the way over here.
"What are you doing here?" I snapped at him. "I thought I told you I didn't want your company in my journey!"
"Yes, I understood that." He went on smoothly, ignoring my rude tone. "However, I couldn't help but notice that you have no understanding on pokemon whatsoever."
I rolled my eyes at him. "I told you I can handle it myself, I don't need your help." I said confidently. "By the way, how were you able to follow me all the way over here without me spotting you?" I asked him curiously.
"I have my ways." He simply replied before whistling and raising his arm out. I was confused by the gesture at first, but suddenly a huge bird like pokemon came down from the sky and landed neatly on his outstretched arm.
I took out my pokedex to see what kind of pokemon is that. "Pidgeotto, the bird pokemon, and the evolved form of Pidgey. Pidgeotto claims a large area as its own territory. This Pokémon flies around, patrolling its living space. If its territory is violated, it shows no mercy in thoroughly punishing the foe with its sharp claws." Said the pokedex.
I was astonished at the Pokémon's description in the pokedex, but soon I started to put the pieces together, and I realized that Alejandro was using it to follow me. How dare he!
"You were following me around using your Pidgeotto?" I asked in rage already knowing the obvious answer.
Alejandro ignored my rage as he slowly took out a poke ball from his pocket and returned his Pidgeotto. "Ace, return." He commanded it as the poke ball opened and enveloped the Pidgeotto in a flash of red, absorbing it back to the poke ball. "Look, I know you aren't very happy in seeing me right now, especially knowing that I was following you." He started but I interrupted him.
"You're dam right I am not happy!" I snarled.
"But, you must understand my reasons." He went on. "Only yesterday I found you almost dying in the rain in the middle of the woods. Do you think I wouldn't worry about you after that? You are going to travel all around the region, facing all of the gym leaders. And yet, I can see you are completely unprepared for such challenges."
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Get to the point already! I don't have all day." I growled.
"All I am trying to say is that, unless you have proper training, you will never be able to defeat the gym leaders." He said. "Or worse, you will never be able to even reach the next cities."
I stared at him incredulously. "Oh, so you are offering me, training so I won't be in any danger?" I mockingly asked. "Oh how generous of you." I rolled my eyes.
"No, I am offering to accompany you along your journey." He correct me. "I have more experience than you, when it comes to things such as type advantages, moves and pokemon in general. Admit it Heather, you need me."
"No, I don't need you at all." I growled at him, my patience running thin. "I am absolutely fine without you. Just because of one little mistake you think I can't take care of myself? I don't even know you exactly! You are just some random stranger that saved me, nothing else." I explained my situation to him, hoping he would finally take the hint and leave me the hell alone.
"So you do have some understanding about your surroundings?" He asked while raising his eyebrow. "In that case, you probably already knew that the Viridian city gym has been closed down for a while now, correct?" He asked in mockingly.
I stood frozen. So that's why the gym doors wouldn't open, because it was closed down and I was too stupid to know about it. But I can't let Alejandro have the satisfaction of catching me off guard, so I acted natural.
"Of course I knew it." I scoffed at him.
"Really now?" He asked with a smirk. "Then you also know what type of gym this is, right?"
Shit. I don't know what type of pokemon this gym specializes on it. My only chance is to guess it, but I don't know all the types and I have a big risk of getting it wrong.
"It's bug type?" I tried guessing.
"Ground type." Alejandro corrected me smugly.
"Ground type. Of course, how could I have gotten that mistaken? Silly me." I tried to make an excuse for my last mistake.
"So, now that this gym is closed, where will go next?" He questioned.
"I just travel over to the nest city and challenge the local gym leader." I answered confidently, knowing that is exactly what I will do.
"Which is?" He asked.
I took a moment to answer, trying to recall the names of all the cities in the region, but my mind was foggy and I couldn't remember. What's worse is that I can't even pull out my town map to check, or else he will think that I need his help.
"Cerulean city." I answered some-what confidently.
"Impressive." He murmured. I placed both of my hands in my hips and raised my chin high with pride, thinking I was right after all. "But you know, if I was in your position, which I used to be, I would rather go to Pewter city instead. It is far closer than Cerulean." He teased with a smirk.
I growled at him in frustration. "All right, so may not know a whole lot about Pokemon or my journey for that matter." I shamefully admitted. "But that is no excuse. I am not just going to accept your help, which I don't need by the way, for my journey."
"Wow, chica I didn't know you were so stubborn to the point of not seeing the obvious." He stated.
"I am the one being stubborn?" I snapped. "Look who is talking! The stranger that just won't take no for an answer. Understand that I don't need you nor do I want you to come with me!"
He paused and narrowed his eyes, almost as if he was deep in thought. "Then why don't we make a deal?" He suggested. That pricked my interest. I just can't resist the offer of deals, which I guess is a weakness of mine considering that it was this same interest that got me here in this stupid journey in the first place.
"I'm listening." I told him.
"How about we settle this matter with a little pokemon battle?" He proposed. "After all, if you are so confident about yourself in this journey you won't have any problem defeating me."
"What's the catch?" I asked.
"Considering you only have NightFlame as your pokemon, it will be a one a one battle." He explained. "If you manage to defeat me, I will leave you alone and you may continue your journey."
"And if you win?" I asked with one raised eyebrow.
"Then you will allow me to accompany you on your journey without complaint." He said.
I thought over the deal. If I accept it, there is a big chance that I could lose and I will have to travel with this jerk. But on the other hand, I could get rid of him once and for all. Besides, even if I don't accept the deal, I am sure he will find a way to follow me in my journey weather I like it or not.
He must have noticed that I was thinking over the deal, because he then said. "How about I sweeten the deal?" He proposed. "If I win, we will travel together. But when the time comes for you to challenge the first gym, you will have the opportunity to get rid of me again. If you manage to defeat the gym leader I will return home, but if you lose I remain with you."
"Wait, so let me get this straight." I went. "Not only you are offering me the chance to get rid of you, but you are also giving me a second chance later on to prove you wrong?"
"Pretty much." He answered casually.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. All I would have to do is defeat him now and he will be out of my hair forever. And if I lose, which I won't, I will have another chance later on.
"We have a deal." I smirk confidently and shook his hand.
We moved to s secluded clearing in the outskirts of the city, much like the one I used to train NightFlame earlier, for our battle. We stood in front of each other with a few meters separating us.
"Go NightFlame!" I pointed forward and commanded him.
"Char!" NightFlame chirped in excitement and confidence, as he walked to step in front of me.
Alejandro got a Poke ball from his pocket and tossed it in the air.
"Come out, Sol!" He called as the Poke ball opened, and In a bright flash of light, his Charmeleon, otherwise known as Sol, appeared onto the battlefield.
"Char!" It roared loudly in anticipation.
"Do you need a reminder of basic battle rules?" Alejandro asked with a smirk and I glared at him. I may not know much about Pokemon, but I am not stupid. So instead of answering with a witty remark, I commanded NightFlame to attack.
"NightFlame use Ember!" I shout. NightFlame opened his mouth to let out a wind of fire and roared at his opponent, engulfing Sol in the flames. I know that Sol is a fire type, and so fire moves won't make much of an effect on her, but neither can she affect NightFlame with her fire moves.
Alejandro shook his head. "Really Heather? You are going to play dirty now?" He questioned with a monotone voice but with a hint of amusement.
"Oh shut it!" I shout at him. "You are just jealous that I was smart enough to make the first move!"
"So be it then." He spoke. When NightFlame was done, the flames ceased and Sol appeared from the whirlwind of fire. I gasped in shock as I stared at the opposing Pokemon, the ember attack didn't even slightly bruise her, and she just stood still and patiently waited for the move to cease. "You didn't really think that, a fire attack delivered by such a low level Pokemon, could possibly harm Sol, did you?" He asked with a smirk. "Sol, is at a much higher level than your NightFlame, and thus your moves won't make much of an effect on her. For Sol however, she can easily hurt or damage your pokemon without any problem."
I shook my head in disbelief. I won't give up, I will beat him and show him that I am capable on my own. He is just saying this to intimidate me.
"NightFlame, use Scratch!" I ordered him. NightFlame then rushed towards Sol and started scratching and clawing her. She didn't even try to move as NightFlame attacked her. NightFlame continued to attack her until he exhausted himself and began to gasp and rasp for breath. But even then, after all that, Sol continued to remain strong and unaffected by the others attacks.
"That was a good shot there Heather." Alejandro teased with a smirk. "But now is my turn. Sol, use Metal claw!"
Suddenly, Sol's claws became longer and sharper. I didn't have time to react as she slammed her claws down NightFlame's sides and he let out a cry of pain as he landed a few feet away.
"Come on NightFlame!" I urged him to not give up. "Get up, you can still fight!"
NightFlame slowly staggered back to his feet. It just took one move from these sharp claws to severely harm NightFlame. While he already used two moves and it didn't even damage her.
"Sol, use Ember!" Alejandro called.
Sol opened her mouths and let out a wind of flames towards NightFlame, but I was prepared this time.
"Counter it with Ember as well!" I commanded him.
NightFlame opened his mouth to let the flames flow out of it. The stream of flames encountered each other half way and it exploded in a cloud of smoke and ash. I coughed and closed my eyes to protect them from the smoke. Once it cleared away, both Pokemon stood in front of each other, growling and panting.
"Clever move." Alejandro said. "But can you keep it up? Sol use Scratch!"
Sol dashed towards NightFlame with raised claws, ready to swipe them down at him.
"Dodge it!" I ordered him. NightFlame swiftly managed to dodge Sol's swipes but just barely. Mostly because Sol was much faster then him. "Now use Ember again!"
NightFlame opened his mouth and spat out a stream of fire when Sol was close enough to him. He then jumped away from her once he finished. Sol was still intact, not a single scratch visible on her skin. Worse of all, I don't think NightFlame can take much more of this. Sol is obviously too advanced for him and he is already heavily wounded, while she is intact.
"Time to end this." Alejandro said. "Sol, finish it off with Metal claw!"
Once again, Sol's claws lengthened and became sharper as she rushed towards NightFlame, who was clearly too tired to move.
"NightFlame get out of there!" I shout but it was too late. Sol swiped at him, and he cried out in pain as he slammed into the ground with a heavy thud before falling unconscious. I quickly rushed over to him, hoping it was alright.
Although he was heavily wounded, I could see him faintly breathing as his sides moved with each breath. I carefully picked him up.
"Come on, let's take him to the pokemon center." Alejandro said as he approached me.
After the battle, we quickly hurried over to the nearest pokemon center around. While NightFlame was being treated, I sat in the waiting room with Alejandro.
I know what he is about to say, and I am dreading to hear it.
"Well, I guess I won the battle after all." He stated but there was no mocking tone on his voice. He sounded genially serious and concerned.
"Yeah, thanks for the reminder." I sourly answered back.
"I know you aren't happy with the way things turned out." He trailed off as I interrupted him.
"Of course I am not happy!" I snapped at him. "Not only I was humiliated in battle, but my only pokemon was seriously injured and now I will have to travel with a complete stranger that I literally met just yesterday!"
"Yes, I understand your anger." He went on. "But we made a deal, and you knew the consequences of the battle. Losing is just another part of being a trainer."
"That doesn't make it any less painful to my pride." I muttered under my breath.
"Experience will come to you as time goes on." He explained. "You celebrate your victories, and learn from your defeats. That's what improvement is. And if it makes you feel any better, you lasted longer than I thought."
That pricked my interest. "Really?" I asked.
"Yeah, for such a low level Pokemon that went up against Sol. NightFlame lasted rather well." He admitted. "With a little more training, I am sure NightFlame will be able to defeat her."
The pokemon center bell rang out and I went to the counter to pick up NightFlame, who was looking much better than before. I pat his head slightly before setting him back down on the ground.
"You are ready to go?" Asked Alejandro.
I took a deep breath and swallowed my pride. "Yes I am." I said at last. "Where are we heading next then?" I asked him.
"We are heading to Pewter city." He replied. "But we will have to pass through Viridian forest first."
I nodded and we began to head off from Viridian city and towards the next route. Alejandro might have won the battle, but I will defeat the gym leader and prove him wrong. Next stop, Viridian forest.
Hey what is up guys? This is Flower1815 here, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I am sorry if I take too long to update it. It's just that I have recently acquired the rare disease known as righters block, and thus I am having a bit of trouble coming up with ideas for my stories. But I still work hard on them. I know the story up to this point hasn't been all that exciting, but I assure you that next chapter, things will start to move on at last. Just one last thing, could you guys post nickname suggestions down below on the review? I have already planned which pokemon they will have along the journey, but I admit I am having quite a bit of trouble coming up for nicknames, so leave your suggestions below. Anyway, I appreciate your support and I will see you guys later! ;)
