The next day, Zack woke up to find Palmer sitting outside his tent with a bottle of liquor in his hand.
"How many bottles did you bring" inquired Zack. "It seems like you have dozens of them in your bag."
Palmer looked up at Zack. Zack saw Palmer had a glazed look in his eye. He wasn't quite drunk yet but he was riding a very high buzz.
"Dozens? Man I got hundreds" Palmer responded. Zack wasn't quite sure if this was an exaggeration or if Palmer was really that much of a drunk.
The two of them sat down together. They didn't really talk but they did listen and look. They saw the Pidgeys flying around and heard the songs of the Kricketune. It was nice and peaceful in the forest. The sunrise was beautiful. The reds and oranges illuminated the dark forest.
Zack thought about the sun. It was a big ball of hot fire. Yet he wasn't afraid of it. Maybe it was because the sun gave life. The sun gave meaning to the world. The sun gave...
Zack felt extreme pain all of a sudden. It was an electrical shock coursing through his body. He started compulsing and to the untrained eye it looked like he was having a seizure. Zack looked over to Palmer who seemed to be going through a similar sensation. The two of them shook involuntarily while something appeared from the bushes.
Out came a yellow mouse. A Pokemon that Zack and Palmer were all too familiar with. It was a Pikachu.
The Pikachu scurried into the campsite at quick speeds. It started rustling in one of Palmer's bags. It pulled out a bag of Pokemon food. Then the mouse bit the bag and dragged it away from the campsite.
"Help, help" Zack tried to say but his mouth wasn't working the correct way. All he heard were sounds that almost resembled human speech.
Leaf came out of her tent but she was still in her pajamas. She looked very tired and exhausted. It was understandable as she had a long day yesterday. But when she saw Zack and Palmer shaking uncontrollably, her brain woke up. She went over to them but didn't know what to do to help them.
"My bag" Palmer whispered. "Red berries."
Zack was feeling extreme pain but didn't quite know what had happened. He tried to stand up but he couldn't feel his legs at all. Meanwhile, Leaf rummaged around in Palmer's bags. Finally she found two red berries. She put one in the mouth of Zack and the other in the mouth of Palmer.
Suddenly, Zack felt much better. He was able to chew the berry and soon afterward, was able to get on to his feet. Palmer was also able to start moving again. It took a couple of minutes but soon Zack felt completely fine.
"What happened" asked the concerned Leaf who was still trying to baby Zack and Palmer.
"I have no idea" said Zack who was still a little distraught.
"Paralysis" said Palmer.
"Excuse me" asked Leaf. "I thought paralysis meant people in wheelchairs. You guys can still clearly walk."
"No no" corrected Zack. "Paralysis is a Pokemon condition. It's when a Pokemon is unable to move."
"Yes, Zack's right" Palmer replied as Zack silently gloated towards an annoyed Leaf. "But he is wrong that it only affects Pokemon. People can go under paralysis as well. But while Pokemon are only unable to move, in humans, paralysis causes loss of movement and extreme pain. It is one of the best ways to torture a person."
When he said that last part Leaf felt a little uneasy. It was almost as if he knew what he was talking about first hand.
"What paralyzed you" she asked.
"A Pikachu" Zack responded. "Just like the one Dad used to have, eh Palmer."
Palmer remained silent. He was deep in thought.
"What's wrong" Leaf asked. She was concerned that something wasn't well in Palmer.
"I messed up" Palmer said, almost to himself.
"We all do" Zack said. "We are all fine now, so it's no big deal. Though I want to go after that Pikachu. It needs to be taught a lesson."
"It is a big deal" Palmer said. "I let an enemy sneak up on us and attack us."
"But it was just a Pikachu and we're fine now. I'm shaken up too, but it isn't a grave matter."
"Yes it is" Palmer yelled. "It was just a Pikachu this time but what if next time it's Team Rocket. How am I supposed to protect you two if I get killed? Do you want to meet your family this quickly, Zack."
The clearing got quiet. Zack glared at Palmer. Zack was full of anger. He brought them up when Zack wasn't even thinking of them. He reminded Zack of a pain much worse than paralysis.
"I'm going to go look for that Pikachu" Zack said with an angry bitter tone.
"No, you're not. You are going to stay here and help me pack up" the tense Palmer said.
"Have Leaf do it" Zack said as he ran toward the direction he saw the Pikachu go.
Palmer watched him run but decided chasing him down was not the best option.
"Are you going to go after him" asked Leaf.
"If the kid has a death wish, then who I am to stop him."
Leaf didn't quite know how to respond, so she started cleaning up the campsite while Palmer paced around angrily.
Meanwhile, Zack was following a trail. He found a stream of Pokemon food. But he was distracted. Palmer's words had hurt him. He didn't need those wounds reopened. That's when Zack stumbled across the devil Pikachu itself.
The two stared each other down like it was a western movie. On one side an emotional ten year old boy. On the other, an adorable yellow mouse who wields electricity. It was truly a fight for the ages.
Zack decided this Pikachu was going to be his. Leaf had two Pokemon so Zack needed two Pokemon. Plus he needed to teach it a lesson. But while Zack was staring down the rodent, it unleashed a bunch of electrical bolts. Zack jumped out of the way because he would really not appreciate becoming an epileptic for the second time that day. Finally Zack threw Charmander out of its Poke-Ball.
"Charmander, use Scratch" Zack demanded. He was determined.
Charmander rushed the Pikachu and its claws started glowing a bright white. The Pikachu was quick though and avoided the attack and responded with a bolt of electricity into the fire lizard. Charmander flew back a couple feet but by all accounts was good.
Zack needed to think of more multi-layered strategies instead of his use Scratch repeatedly tactic. He formed a quick plan and he put it into action.
"Charmander, use two Scratch attacks" Zack yelled. "Genius, Zack, Genius" he thought to himself.
Both of Charmander's claws glowed white. He approached the Pikachu but it attacked first. In what must have been a quick attack, the rodent hit Charmander square in the chest. But Charmander swiped at him with his right claw and knocked the rodent to the side. Charmander went for an uppercut with its left claw and the Pikachu flew in the air before crashing down. It got up and released a barrage of electrical impulses. Some of them hit Charmander but he didn't seem to take any damage at all.
Zack was feeling risky to he ordered Charmander to use an Ember attack and then follow up with, yet again, a Scratch attack.
Charmander tried to open its mouth to let loose a bunch of small specks of fire, but he could not move. Pikachu responded with a Thundershock to the poor lizard. That's when Zack realized that those electrical impulses must have paralyzed Charmander.
Zack needed to think of a solution and think of it fast. Unfortunately, he had no berries or Paralyz Heals on him. So hopefully Charmander could muscle through it.
"Two more Scratch attacks" Zack ordered.
But it seemed Charmander was still under paralysis because it did not do anything. Pikachu smiled a mischievous smile and responded with a Quick Attack. It moved extremely fast and left a white trail behind it as it ran forward. It made impact and sent Charmander tumbling to the ground. Thankfully the fiery reptile was able to get to its feet, despite a fair amount of pain. Then Charmander started glowing a very bright and brilliant red.
Zack was attracted to the glow. It looked like Fire but it wasn't. There was something different to this. It looked powerful and dangerous but Zack wasn't scared. At this point Zack wasn't scared of anything.
"Flamethrower, Charmander" demanded Zack. He knew it seemed crazy but something in the back of his head said that it had to be done. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was the time that he gets over his fear.
Zack was quickly proven wrong. Charmander must have brought out some untold power because the Flamethrower was absolutely massive. It was at least double the size of all the Flamethrowers he saw come from Charmander's mouth. The pyre completely engulfed the Pikachu and Zack was in awe of its power. But he was also very terrified as his legs gave out on him and he fell to the ground. Once it was over, the Pikachu that had given Zack so much trouble was knocked unconscious. Zack got up. He couldn't believe it. He won.
He fumbled around in his pants and bag to find a Poke-Ball. Finally he grabbed an empty one. A red light covered the Pikachu and he was transported into the ball. Zack watched as the ball struggled, moving back and forth, back and forth. Then finally, after what felts like days of suspense the ball stopped shaking. Zack heard a ping sound and he realized he did it. He had caught his first Pokemon.
Zack walked over to the campsite, which was now packed up, with the biggest grin on his face. He strutted into the clearing and sent out his Pikachu. Palmer and Leaf were at first surprised then overcome with joy. They demanded to know every detail. So, Zack gave them a play by play on his battle right up to the red glow and the giant Flamethrower.
"That was Charmander's ability Blaze" Palmer said. "It works just like Overgrow and Swarm, but it works on Fire-type Pokemon and moves."
"Wow Zack. That is actually very impressive" Leaf said.
"Why do you guys sound so surprised" Zack asked with a winning smile.
"Well I'm your coach, and since I'm very bad at this, I didn't think you were going to catch a Pokemon until Vermillion City."
"Speaking of coaching" Zack said. "You really haven't taught me much."
"Oh really. I think I did a fair amount" Palmer scoffed.
"Well you could do more. And...I want you to do more. I want you to coach me, for real. Actually help me become a stronger Trainer" Zack said.
Palmer smiled. "OK kid. But my training methods are harsh. But I promise you, that you will be an amazing Trainer. Maybe even a Master."
"I would like to join in on this" Leaf butted in.
"Good the more, the merrier. You all start tomorrow."