"You don't think it's possible?" he asked, shocked like I was a five-year-old telling him I didn't believe in Santa Claus. - Bewitching the Werewolf by Caroline Hanson.
1)Pikachu - Male - Electric - Growl, Thundershock, Quick attack, Tail whip, Agility, Shockwave, Iron tail
2) Pidgeotto - Female - Flying, Normal - Tackle, Sand attack, Cross/wind cutter, Agility, Quick attack
3) Raticate - Female - Normal - Tackle, Tail whip, Quick attack, Hyper fang, Bite
4) Mankey - Male - Fighting - Focus blast, Leer, Low kick, Scratch, Fiery swipes
5) Oddish - Male - Grass, poison - Absorb, Endure, Tackle, Stun spore, Poison powder
6) Butterfree - Male -Bug - Poison powder, Gust, Sleep powder, Confusion
7) Rhyhorn - Female - Ground, Rock - Horn attack, Fury attack, Scary face, Stomp, Shockwave
8) Golbat - Female - Poison, Flying - Supersonic, Bite, Air Slash, Poison Fang
9) Poliwag - Female - Water - Water gun, Dig, Double slap, Bubble
10) Shiny Gyarados - Female - Water - Thrash, Hydro pump
11) Bulbasaur - Male - Grass, Poison - Vine whip, Growl, Tackle, Razor leaf
12) Charmeleon - Male - Fire - Scratch, Fire fang, Ember, Smokescreen
13) Squirtle - Male - Water - Tackle, Water gun, Withdraw
14) Seadra - Male - Water - Smokescreen, Leer, Bubble, Hydro pump
15) Bellsprout - Female - Grass, Poison - Vine whip, Wrap, Poison powder, Razor leaf
16) Gastly - Male - Ghost, Poison - Lick, Spite, Confuse ray, Stucker punch
17) Parasect - Male - Bug, Grass - Poison powder, Stun spore, Leech life, Fury cutter
18)Nidorina - Female - Poison - Poison sting, horn attack, double kick, Fury attack
19)Muk - Male - Poison - Poison gas, Mud-slap, Sludge
20) Magnemite - N/A - Electric, Steel - Thundershock, Sonic boom, Thunder wave, Magnet bomb
21) Dugtrio - Male - Ground - Dig, Sand attack, Tri attack
22) Ponyta - Female - Fire - Tackle, Flame wheel, Stomp, Fire spin
23) Espeon - Female - Psychic - Tackle, Quick attack, Swift, Confusion, Psybeam
24) Eevee - Male - Normal - Sand attack, Quick attack, Bite, Takedown
25) Eevee - Male - Normal
26) Eevee - Male
27) Brave Eevee - Male
28) Snorlax - Male - Normal - Belch, Chip away, Body slam, Rollout
29) Jigglypuff - Female - Normal, Fairy - Sing, Double slap, Roll
30) Venomoth - Male - Poison, Bug - Supersonic, Tackle, Silver wind, Psybeam
31) Togepi - Female - Fairy
32) Spearow - Flying, Normal
33) Clefairy - Female - Fairy - Moon blast, Metronome, Pound
34) Tangela - Male - Grass - Constrict, Sleep powder
35) Dratini - Male - Water, Dragon
Chapter 25
Louise sat in Professor Oaks lab watching as Eevee evolved into Umbreon. It was truly an amazing sight and she was so glad that he dad had let her come, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. He had a sleek black body with four slender legs and crimson eyes. There were two pairs of pointed teeth visible when its mouth is open, one in the upper jaw and one in the lower. Umbreon also has long pointed ears and a bushy tail, each with a yellow band around them.
The blonde haired girl then listened in as Ash scanned the dark Pokemon with his red Pokedex.
"Umbreon, the moonlight Pokemon. When agitated it protects itself by spraying sweat from its pores. This Umbreon is male and knows the moves tackle, pursuit and confuse ray."
"This is going to be great," Ash trembled with excitement.
The blonde haired soon-to-be trainer smiled at the boy. He looked so happy with his Pokemon. It was clear that as they grew stronger, Ash did so as well. Stretching, Louise handed Togepi back to Ash, who smiled and told her goodnight.
Ever since Ash had looked after Pichu, the girl had spent every day with the black haired boy. It was because of him that she had more confidence, at least when he was around anyway, and knew what starter she wanted.
After waving goodnight and returning home, the black haired girl waited impatiently for tomorrow. Tomorrow, when the Indigo League would start. The Ketchum's had invited the Dimare family to their house where they would watch the battle. Ash said that it was research, just in case the same trainer battled next year as well.
On the other hand, Ash fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow. Not even bothering to change into his bedclothes. It was there that his mum found him about an hour later, smiling as she removed his shoes, socks and cap.
The group of four plus Pichu, Pikachu and Mr Mime all watched the television with fascination. The opening ceremony started with the releasing of Pidgey as the competitors walked into the stadium. The central touch was lit causing excitement to spread across the crowd.
"... Right now the trainers are about to find out who they will be battling," a female announcer said. "And then their battleground will be randomly selected between four different types: water, ice, ground and grass."
Battles were spread out across the day. The first battle was on the ground field where Gary won using his Nidoking. Ash watched as the TV reporter questioned the grandson of Professor Oak about his victory.
"Well, naturally, winning your first battle is always important," Gary said smugly. "Of course, in every Pokemon match there has to be a winner and a loser and the trainers I know are real losers."
Ash gritted his teeth as he heard this. Wasn't it Gary who almost lost to him when they last battled. Honestly, with a personality like that , Ash had to wonder how the brown-haired boy had any friends or fans.
Louise shook her head at the TV screen. She had seen him parade around Pallet Town thinking he was better than anyone else. If he wins the Indigo League then she knew she would never be able to hear the end of it.
The next battle was on the water field. The green trainer was battling with a Squirtle and the red trainer was battling with an Eggegutor. If Eggegutor looses then the green trainer will win the match.
A short while later, Ash and the others watched as Eggegutor was unable to battle allowing the green trainer, Mike Dobes to proceed to the next stage. Mandy, the red trainer was sent packing.
"Lunch time," Delia Ketchum said as she brought in a tray of sandwiches.
Ash, Louise and Mr Dimare (who had now insisted that everyone call him Sam) carefully selected their food and sat back on the sofas to watch the next battle.
"Who do you think will win?" Ash asked Louise.
"The trainer on the red platform," the blonde haired girl responded in a whisper blushing when Ash's mother turned her way. While she had grown comfortable with the black haired boy, strangers still made her feel nervous and uneasy.
"Me too," Ash nodded in agreement and turned back to the battle on the ground field. The pair didn't even notice the look their parents gave each other as if they were saying, 'See I knew they would like each other'.
Each of the trainers only had one Pokemon left: the red trainer had a Nidorino, whilst the green trainer had a Squirtle. The battle ended with Squirtle being defeated and the green trainer going home.
On the ice field, the green and red trainers had two Pokemon each, with Krabby and Cloyster in battle. The Cloyster won after hitting Krabby with a tackle attack, causing its trainer a return it and bring a replacement onto the field. The replacement came in the form of Slowpoke. This Pokemon, however, was defeated quickly. Probably due to the fact that it did not have much battling experience to start with.
Gary, unfortunately, lost in his fourth battle in the grass field. His Nidoking getting knocked out by the green trainers Golem. Secretly, Ash and Louise sighed in relief knowing that the brown haired boy would have nothing to brag about when he returned. After all, the boy did not even get to the semi-finals, nor the quatre finals.
"Right, time for bed," Ash's mum announced clapping her hands together.
"But mum," Ashe whined. "There are only three more battled left!"
"Yes, but you, young man, promised to meet Professor Oak in the morning so that you can train Dratini."
"Oh yeah, Ash said glumly. In truth, he wasn't looking forward to meeting the blue dragon Pokemon. He didn't want to get attached to it if it decided to leave.
In Professor Oak's lab, the was a small medical room, where ill Pokemon are treated. The walls were painted ghost white with Maya blue curtains covering the windows. Stainless steel furniture was scattered around. With shiny steel drawers, which contained medical supplies, and a steel table with Pokemon food sitting on top. The last steel furniture piece was pushed against the far wall. A bed.
On the bed lay the blue and white serpent-like Pokemon that Ash had captured on Cinnabar Island. It was staring blankly at the window, breathing slowly as if mesmerised by the sunlight trying to break through the curtains. The poor Pokemon looked like it hand given up on life.
"Hey, Dratini," Ash said quietly, "Are you feeling better?"
The Dratini flicked its eyes before turning them back to the window. It didn't care for the black haired boy now in front of it. Humans were untrustworthy and the cause of its pain at this moment, both physical and emotional.
"Look," Ash sighed. "I know I caught you unfairly. You probably wanted to stay free in the wild, right?"
Dratini still ignored the boy, sighing at his words before rolling over to face the wall. Yes, it wanted to be free. Away from all humans.
"If you want I will release you back into the wild? As soon as I go back to Cinnabar Island where I found you, I will release you," Ash told the Pokemon but no response came. No movement, no nothing.
"Professor Oak said you can go out with the other Pokemon. Your injuries are almost completely healed," Ash informed the blue Pokemon. "I will come by later."
The black haired boy then ran his hand through his hair in frustration. What was he going to do with this Pokemon?
Meanwhile, a man was lurking in the shadows with only his pale face and sunglasses to be seen as it reflected the sun.
He had been following the black haired boy for quite some time now, ever since he had witnessed him catch the rare Dratini Pokemon. The man in the shadows was cursing himself for losing the Pokemon, however, was lucky that the injury that it had sustained from battling with him had slowed its progress whilst escaping. Although, unlucky in the fact that a child found and Dratini before him.
This time, though, the dragon Pokemon was his.
Out in Professor Oaks water Pokemon enclosure, the Dratini refused to allow itself to feel comfortable. After all, it knew humans had a way of disturbing the peace, not matter where it was.
The water area that the snake-like Pokemon was in had trees scattered around a large lake that went about fifteen meters deep. The water was crystal blue, fresher and cleaner than any lake in the wild. Many Pokemon such as Goldeen and Horsea played, splashing in the water, while others bathed on slabs of rock or small mud Islands in the sun.
Dratini was one of the Pokemon that was enjoying the heat of the sun, and it was there that one of Ash's Pokemon recognised the water type that its owner had caught. Ponyta had not stopped talking about it.
Squirtle had been watching the skittish and uptight Pokemon cautiously glance through the area as if waiting for an attack at any moment. Taking pity on the Dratini, he decided to introduce himself to the new Pokemon.
The two Pokemon talked, Dratini reluctantly at first, about themselves and, more importantly, their past. Squirtle shared with the dragon Pokemon that he had once been abandoned by his trainer for being weak and not evolving fast enough. The tiny turtle Pokemon then told the blue serpent-like Pokemon of how he met Ash and why he decided to join the black haired boy and his Pikachu.
They story had been heard by many other Pokemon, including Ash's Charmeleon and Bulbasaur, who wondered freely between different areas of Professor Oak's lab. The fire type and grass type each told similar stories: stories of neglect and abandonment in which Ash had saved them. These three Pokemon felt that they were indebted to the black haired trainer. They cared for the boy.
It was then that more and more of Ash's Pokemon came forward: Ponyta, who was saved by Ash from being forcefully captured in the Safari Zone. Clefairy and Tangela who were left on the side if the road by their previous trainer and were brought back together by the boy. It seemed the black haired trainer had become a salvation for all of the neglected and abandoned Pokemon he came across.
Ash's Pokemon then left the Dratini to think. Like all of them the dragon Pokemon had to make its own decision about the black haired boy. It had to think about what was best for it. To stay or to be released. They just hoped that it released sooner rather than later that it was a privilege to have a trainer truly care and protect their Pokemon.
It was past lunch time when Ash returned to Professor Oak's lab alone. The boy had considered bringing Louise with him but decided against it. Dratini was already uncomfortable around humans and the boy did not think bringing another one with him was a good idea. Pikachu had not wanted to go, so the boy left his electric mouse Pokemon at home watching TV.
Ash walked across the grass area towards the water area, where Professor Oak had told the boy to go. It was there that he came across his Oddish who was skipping through the green land. The poison and grass type Pokemon soon recognised Ash and ran over to the boy who crouched to his knees.
"Hi, Oddish," the black haired boy greeted the weed Pokemon.
The purple Pokemon rubbed its face against Ash, happily greeting its owner in its own way.
"I am going to the water enclosure. Do you want to come?" Ash asked his Pokemon.
"Odd, Oddish," the Pokemon jumped up and down, then ran off to the water area.
"Hey, wait for me," Ash called.
They boy and the Pokemon raced toward the place where Dratini was deep in thought. Rolling with the idea of staying with Ash or leaving on its own.
"Dratini," Ash shouted waving st the blue serpent Pokemon as Oddish continued to run a little bit ahead of the boy.
Dratini signed and looked at the trainer heading towards it. What did he want now?
Suddenly, a thin metal wire shot down towards the dragon Pokemon wrapping tightly around it, digging into the Pokemon's skin. Dratini cried out in pain and fear, the hunter had found it.
"Dratini!" Ash exclaimed as he saw the thin metal vines grip onto the blue Pokemon, yanking it towards the fence boardering Professor Oak's lab. "No!"