Here's a new chapter at last! I seriously underestimated the process of moving and getting situated IRL. I do my best to write on a daily basis, even if it's just a page. Anyways, here's the first chapter of the second 'arc'!
Fires raged intensely throughout Cheron Forest. Many local pokemon were already displaced, and trainers were fleeing the unfolding disaster. The trainers present in the forest were ill equipped to combat the flames, doing everything they can to get to safety.
For one twelve year old trainer with blonde hair reaching down to her upper back, she found herself running from rapidly spreading flames as trees and bushes became incinerated one by one. She wore a yellow t-shirt and black jeans, disbanding her pink backpack in order to run faster. She had three pokeballs attached to her belt, and she wanted to do everything she could to keep the pokemon inside safe.
As she continued to run from the flames behind her, she noticed fires from a distance from her left and right. She felt as if the flames were boxing her in. The fires were producing an immense amount of smoke, and were sucking the oxygen away. The trainer found it harder to breathe, but she knew she had to make it out for her safety and that of her pokemon.
She was running out of air as she continued running. Then, she tripped over a root belonging to a massive tree.
"Agh!" she tumbled over twice. As she tried to get up, she quickly stumbled back down in pain. She figured she had twisted her ankle, and she could not have timed that any worse.
She faced the flames and used her arms to push herself backwards. She was amazed as to how quickly the flames were advancing. The sky was bright red, and the burning smell was too much to bare. It was, to her, as if the world was suddenly coming to an end.
"Really, I've been a trainer for three weeks and this happens!?" she yelled in frustration.
One of her pokemon projected itself from its pokeball.
"Totodile, no!" the trainer commanded. "Get back in!"
"Toto!" Totodile faced the towering flames, using Water Gun in efforts to combat it. But it had practically no effect.
"Totodile!" Totodile kept using Water Gun.
"Ugh," the trainer sighed. "It's no use!"
Suddenly, she could hear what she thought was some sort of motor in the sky, pulsating as if blades were slapping against the air.
"Is that a…helicopter?" she wondered.
The sound became louder. It was approaching her and Totodile.
"There better be a blastoise in that chopper!" the trainer hoped.
The helicopter approached her position and made a pass. It was quite large, bigger than the media helicopters or even the ranger patrol ones used in remote areas. Streams of water shot out from both sides of the chopper, aiming at the flames below. They were stalling the flames, at the very least.
"Oh thank goodness!" the trainer breathed a sigh of relief.
The chopper made a close pass. The trainer looked up and saw the sigil of Team Mystic towards the tail rotor. She caught glimpses of water pokemon, a vaporeon and a staryu, combating the flames.
She suddenly began coughing. The smoke became too much for her to handle. The helicopter then began to hover over her, water still shooting out from the sides. A single rope descended from the helicopter, as a man in blue protective gear and an oxygen mask safely dropped down towards her.
He landed on the ground, and glanced at Totodile. "Recall him, now!"
"Sure thing!" the trainer recalled Totodile. She faced the man, who had short blond hair nearly to a buzz.
The man handed her an oxygen mask. "Put it around your mouth and nose. Once I lift you up, grab onto me, and don't let go!"
"Don't have to say that twice!" the trainer did as she was told.
Once the man picked her up, she wrapped her arms around his torso. The helicopter ascended, with the rope being pulled back in. The trainer was happy to escape the flames, being saved by a mysterious man from Team Mystic. Once the rope pulled the two back into the helicopter, the trainer began to laugh, doing her best to not think about the pain in her foot.
"That was close!" she breathed another sigh of relief. "Thanks for saving me!"
"No problem, kid," the man replied, removing his mask. "Name's Bradley, Team Mystic ranger. And you probably know her."
Bradley looked towards Aria, who was also wearing blue protective gear.
"You're Aria!" the trainer knew who she was.
"And you're pretty lucky," Aria smiled. "Vaporeon and Staryu managed to hold the flames pretty well, but it's going to take us a while to muster a line of pokemon to kill these flames."
"Get all your water pokemon and the flames won't stand a chance!" Don, who was piloting the helicopter, yelled from the cockpit.
"Yeah, but we need to save trainers first!" Aria replied. "Not to mention the wild pokemon."
"Take a moment to relax, kid," Bradley suggested to the trainer. "What's your name?"
"Skyler," the trainer responded.
"Same name as my cousin," Aria remarked.
"So where did the fire pokemon come from?" Skyler asked.
"From the west most likely," Bradley explained. "There's an area known as the Cinders, where fire pokemon inhabited for decades, until recently. We don't know why a lot of them ended up here."
"What are we going to do about them?"
"As long as they remain here, they're going to be a problem to the ecosystem," Aria replied. "And if they stay here for too long, Cheron Forest will tend up like the Cinders. Only thousands of pokemon would be killed or displaced."
Bradley grew a smirk, holding an empty pokeball. "Once we gain back ground in the forest, we go all out capture-and-release. It's open season on them!"
Dawn rose over Richland Port. It was a new day, with the sun shining over a cloudless sky. For Jason and Kristine, it was a new day of exploration, and a new chapter in their journeys as pokemon trainers.
They both got ready for the day, changing in separate rooms within their suite inside the Richland Port Pokemon Center. They put on the gear they recently purchased following their triumph in the Power Duo. Jason had put on a black shirt with a blue outline on each side, a cap of the same pattern, and white cargo shorts. Kristine had a green shirt with black stripes on each side, black shorts, and a visor to compliment her overall look.
Keeping most of their equipment inside their suite, they both only armed themselves with their pokeballs and bottles of water. They recently declared an 'indefinite vacation' inside Richland Port, and would move on once they feel refreshed and ready.
"Ready to go, sis?" Jason asked once he entered the living area of the suite.
"You know it!" Kristine replied with enthusiasm.
The two walked out of their suite in their new trainer gear. They walked downstairs towards the main lobby of the pokemon center. Their cheerful morning would soon have an unexpected sour note, however.
The big screen television in the lobby was tuned to something very important at first glance. The twins could make out the big text "Breaking News" below what appeared to be a massive wildfire. They approached closer to the television and four trainers who surrounded it.
They all happened to be Julian, Amanda, Liz, and Bran. Initially, it appeared to be one big coincidence that all of the twins' rivals, with the exception of Alex, were glued to the television screen. Once they realized what was going on, they noticed it wasn't entirely coincidental.
"Cheron Forest…" Amanda leaned forward on her seat, her eyes glassy.
"Where did all the fire pokemon come from?" Liz asked, standing up with her arms crossed.
"There's a place out west called The Cinders," Bran mentioned. "But it would have taken days, if not weeks to make it to the Forest."
"Didn't that place used to be a forest of its own like fifty years ago?" Julian asked. "Do the fire pokemon just want a bigger home or something?"
The twins approached the gang, shocked by what was going on.
"Oh my gosh!" Kristine gasped. "Cheron Forest!"
"We were there," Jason added. "We were all there."
Amanda briefly looked around. "Seems why we appear to be the only ones who care. That place was beautiful, and close to home!"
"Not to mention most of us, if not all of us, caught pokemon there," Kristine said.
Bran gave a nod. "It's their homes burning, too."
"But Team Mystic is there in force!" Julian watched on.
"And Team Tranquility," Liz added. "Most Teams have offered assistance."
"So the fires will be out in no time, right?" Amanda tried to remain optimistic.
"Then what?" Liz speculated.
"It'll take a while for the Forest to recover," Bran predicted.
"They'll get it done," Jason was sure of it. "Aria's tough. They'll fight the fires and relocate all the fire pokemon."
"I just hope they'd be safe," Kristine looked on.
"Yep. Not like we can do much about it being a thousand miles away," Liz began to depart.
"Hey, what are you guys' plans?" Kristine asked.
Liz stopped and turned around. "Exploring the city for a bit, of course!"
"That's what we plan on doing too," Jason replied.
"I think we all need a break from the action," Julian said.
Bran got up. "Yeah, and I need to get the Power Badge, too."
"You don't have the Power Badge, Bran?" Amanda asked.
"Haven't attempted it yet," Bran shrugged.
"He'll get to it when he's ready," Liz added.
"Yeah," Bran chuckled. "I have two new additions to my team. I want to figure out the best strategy before I challenge Meeks."
"Honestly? Type advantage," Liz explained. "Phanpy took care of Raichu with no problem."
"I don't have a ground type," Bran responded.
"I want to find a way to train my pokemon effectively here," Jason mentioned.
"Well," Amanda got up. "I've heard of a facility here where many people go to compete."
"Is that the one where you train pokemon moves they don't otherwise learn on their own?" Julian asked.
Amanda nodded. "It's called In Your Element."
"Come on now, they're not known for being competitively serious," Liz shook her head.
"Well it's also critically acclaimed for teaching useful and situational moves, as well as 'coverage' moves to throw off your opponent." Amanda argued.
"I see your point. Still, I'll have to think about it before I decide to go there. Anyways, I'm gonna go chill in the park and see what I can find."
"See ya!" Kristine waved goodbye.
"Later," Jason added.
"Anyways," Amanda continued. "It's worth checking it out. Anyone wanna come with?"
"Why not?" Julian accepted without hesitation.
Kristine noticed the cute smile Amanda gave following Julian's response.
"I'm in," Bran said.
"Well," Kristine faced Jason. "What do you think?"
"I guess there's pros and cons to everything," Jason replied. "I see Liz's point."
"For someone with a deceptive approach to battling, I guarantee you she'll come around," Kristine noted.
"Yeah," Jason gave a nod. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."
"I'm not saying you should teach Riolu Flamethrower or anything like that."
Jason pondered the thought, which Kristine took notice.
"Oh dear," Kristine rolled her eyes. She then turned towards Amanda. "We're in, I think."
"Good!" Amanda acknowledged.
"Definitely can use this as a way to take my mind off of Cheron Forest," Julian said.
"Don't have to say that twice," Bran agreed.
A short while later, the five trainers walked towards the entertainment district of the city.
"So," Amanda looked at Jason and Kristine, walking backwards and ahead of the gang. "What's it like having your faces on Inventum TV?"
"It's different," Kristine replied. "I mean, really cool, though."
"It feels weird seeing yourself on television, I think," Jason added.
"Yeah? Must be awesome winning a tournament the way you did."
"Honestly? Meeks should have just given you those badges right then and there," Julian said.
Jason chuckled. "Yeah. About that."
"Wait, he really did do that, did he?" Julian seemed surprised nonetheless.
"Dang. Not every day a Gym Leader does something like that," Amanda said. "Not that I don't disagree. But may I ask, why is this somewhat on the down low?"
"It's not like we lied about it," Jason shrugged.
"Well, think about it from a PR standpoint," Amanda suggested. "What if news gets out weeks, even months from now, that you were handed those badges?"
"It's not like we were given them without putting in effort," Kristine defended.
"I understand that," Amanda smiled. "But think about it from other people's perspectives. They're not going to correlate winning the Power Duo with getting the Power Badge. Well, some will, but some will not. And some will feel cheated, especially since this was never clarified."
"What should they do about it?" Bran asked.
"Damage control, I guess," Amanda shrugged. "Meeks should have made a statement about it, to be honest. But he distrusts the media and doesn't see it as a purposeful resource."
"I don't expect someone as old as he is to understand modern media," Julian chimed in.
"I see someone like Yenela, who interviewed us, as opportunistic," Kristine said. "Also, she knows we were given the Power Badge."
"That's an issue," Amanda became concerned.
"Well, live and learn, I guess," Jason concluded.
"Hey," Kristine looked at Amanda. "When this is all said and done, maybe you should be in media relations!"
"I would love something like that," Amanda spoke with enthusiasm. "I want to start blogging my adventures through Inventum. Some trainers have done it."
The gang approached a wide, dark red four-story building. A digital sign hanging over the front entrance read "In Your Element". They headed inside, only to be greeted by three people behind the lobby counter.
"Fresh faces!" a bald man in his 20s greeted. "You here to help your pokemon reach their untapped potential?"
"Sure!" Amanda replied.
"Great," a woman with red hair in a ponytail acknowledged. "We have multiple training and battle facilities. We're best known for having pokemon learn moves they usually won't learn on their own. That doesn't mean they can learn literally any move, though. Just hence the untapped potential."
"Think of it as expanded strategy," the third person, a man with long hair extending to his shoulders, added. "More options to choose from. Not to mention, some pokemon have access to abilities your opponent would never expect."
"How does it work?" Kristine asked.
"Years ago, it would have been called technical machines," the first man replied. "It came in forms of floppy discs, CDs, projectors, even old ancient stuff. Now everything's digital. Pokemon are very visual creatures. They see something they can learn, chances are they'll learn it if you allow them to. Not to mention battles."
"Can I teach my magikarp any moves?" Jason asked.
"Magikarp is incapable of learning anything other than Tackle, Splash, and Flail, right?" Bran chimed in.
The woman shook her head. "Have you ever seen a magikarp bounce high into the air and KO a pokemon?"
"Let's make it happen!" Jason became excited at the very thought.
"All right," the second man chuckled. "So it's going to be $25. Each."
"Wait, what?" Amanda seemed surprised. "This costs money to enter?"
"Well, yeah, we're a private establishment and a LLC," the woman replied.
"What's that?" Jason asked.
"Oh, it's legal stuff," she chuckled as well. "You'll understand it when you get older."
"Well, everyone pay up," Julian said as he got his money ready.
As soon as everyone paid in full, they were allowed to walk past the lobby. They stood in awe before a multi-level complex, complete with different themed training and battle floors. They spanned from rocky terrain to giant pools for water pokemon. Other fields were enclosed, immersed in augmented reality. The twins believed that was where pokemon trained to learn new moves.
"What should we do first?" Kristine pondered.
"Well, I'll hit the training floor," Bran said. "I need to be prepared for Meeks."
"I like that rocky terrain," Julian said. He faced Amanda. "Wannna join me?"
"Sure!" Amanda happily accepted.
As the three others departed, Jason and Kristine looked above.
"Maybe we should learn new moves?" Jason asked.
"Doesn't hurt," Kristine replied.
The two headed upstairs using a nearby spiral staircase, passing the second floor and entering the third floor. There, they could see trainers immersed in augmented reality, their pokemon learning moves in a virtual environment.
"Wonder how this works," Kristine became curious.
Jason could also see trainers battling eachother. A female trainer's raticate used Thunderbolt to defeat her male opponent's poliwrath.
"Raticate using Thunderbolt?" Jason was intrigued.
"She used his poliwrath as a double edged sword," Kristine observed. "Raticate is weak to fighting types, but Thunderbolt was used as a ruse of sorts."
"Hmm," Jason tried to formulate ideas. He then spotted a training floor with a pool of water. "I can't leave Magikarp out of this."
"Alright, let's split up," Kristine suggested. "Maybe we can battle some of these trainers too."
"Sounds good," Jason gave a nod.
As Kristine departed, Jason entered the trainer's room with the pool at the center. Only one other trainer was inside, training with his nuzleaf. A digital display on the wall where they were training featured a machamp using brick break. The trainer's nuzleaf took mental notes, practicing and mastering the fighting type move.
"Hmm," Jason still wondered how exactly it worked. He approached the pool.
"Alright, let's go, Magikarp," he released Magikarp from his pokeball.
Jason was expecting Magikarp to be ready to go, eager for training and possibly learning a new move. Instead, he got a glaring look as Magikarp splashed in frustration.
"Karp karp karp!" Magikarp snapped.
"Wha- what's the matter?" Jason asked.
"Karp karp karp!" Magikarp did not relent.
"Hey!" the trainer, a boy not too much older than Jason, took notice. He had dark skin, and wore a plain green t-shirt and black cargo shorts. "You're that Kyar twin! You're the one who registered that magikarp in the tournament, and still won. Not like you used him, but pretty sweet, anyways!"
"Yeah," Jason chuckled. "Thanks."
Then it quickly hit him. He realized why Magikarp was upset.
"Oh, you wanted to fight in the Power Duo, didn't you?" Jason asked.
"Karp!" Magikarp affirmed.
"Oh, man, I'm sorry," Jason sincerely apologized. "Look, it was wrong of me to not include you in the battles. But listen, I've heard you can learn a move called Bounce. And I would like to train you to learn that. Plus, I'll find a competition going on in this city, and we will compete together. Does that sound good?"
"Karp," Magikarp remained cautiously optimistic. It appeared to Jason that Magikarp would only believe him if he saw actual progress.
"Alright, let's train!" Jason continued.
"Scanning pokemon," an automated voice was heard overhead. Jason was slightly startled as he failed to find the origin of the female-like voice. It appeared to be an artificial intelligence imbedded within the training field.
"We have nothing like this back at home," Jason was amazed.
"Magikarp identified," the AI observed. "Magikarp is only able to learn the move Bounce. Would you like to learn this move?"
"Yes!" Jason responded.
"Bounce," the AI continued. "It's a predominant flying type move. The pokemon uses its strength to bounce high into the air, forcefully striking its target. It is known to sometimes leave the target with paralysis."
"Now how do we-" Jason began to wonder, but just then, the floor around him changed.
"Karp?" Magikarp became curious.
A digital projection appeared before Magikarp from thin air. The floor, walls, and ceiling shifted towards augmented reality, revealing a digital recreation of grassy terrain and a cloudy sky.
"Woah," Jason became mesmerized. "Definitely like nothing back at home."
The digital projection manifested, revealing another magikarp.
"Karp!" the magikarp used its might to propel itself out of the water and high into the air.
"Karp," Magikarp observed his digital counterpart.
The digital magikarp slammed back against the water before bouncing high into the air again.
"Magikarp!" Magikarp powered himself out of the water, but only bounced a quarter of the distance of the digital projection.
"You got this, Magikarp!" Jason cheered him on.
"Magi!" Magikarp maintained his focus. He used his strength to propel himself out of the water. This time, he made half the distance of the digital projection, falling backwards into the water.
"Karp!" Magikarp turned right side up, poised to go again.
"I believe in you!" Jason encouraged him. "Let's do it!"
"KARP!" Magikarp powered himself out, mustering more strength than before. He rocketed high into the air, even matching the digital projection's distance, to Jason's amazement.
"Go for the landing!" Jason yelled.
"Magikarp!" Magikarp took a noise dive towards the pool.
"On your side for maximum effect!" Jason instructed.
"Karp!" Magikarp made a forceful impact on his side against the water. The result was a major splash that ended up soaking Jason.
Jason stood there, laughing despite being drenched. "Good job, Magikarp!"
"Karp karp!" Magikarp cheered.
"You've taught Magikarp Bounce in a matter of minutes?" the boy on the other end of the training room asked, approaching Jason.
"I guess we did," Jason chuckled.
"Then I wonder what you can accomplish with your other pokemon," the boy added.
"Considering I have never used Magikarp in the Power Duo, I want him to feel involved in everything we do," Jason said.
"See, trainers don't do that with their magikarp, then they get confused when their gyarados refuse to obey them after they evolve," the boy snickered.
Jason smiled. "All part of a great vision."
"Well, you are new here, right?" the boy asked.
Jason nodded.
"There's a water pokemon tournament at the beach held weekly," the boy continued. "Many trainers compete to win there, but maybe you can surprise them with your magikarp."
"Karp!" Magikarp looked at Jason with determination.
"I think that's a good idea," Jason replied with confidence. He then faced Magikarp. "Let's do it, and win the whole thing!"
"Karp karp karp!" Magikarp splashed around.
"Name's Derrick, by the way," the boy extended his hand to Jason. "Raley City's my home. I have two badges so far."
"Nice to meet you," Jason shook Derrick's hand.
"Nuzleaf is my partner in crime," Derrick continued. "When I was younger, I saved him when he was a seedot in a middle of a storm. The professor let me use him as a starter. Here are the others that I've caught."
Derrick threw out three pokeballs, revealing his team.
"Slowpoke!" Slowpoke greeted before yawning.
"Inkay!" Inkay floated in the air.
"Voltorb!" Voltorb rolled its way before Jason.
"Spent a lot of time on the beaches," Derrick added. "That's how I got the first two. I caught Voltorb right here in this city, as a matter of fact. Just kind of rolled around."
"Awesome," Jason replied. "Here's my team."
He pulled out his four pokeballs and released them.
"Jolteon!" Jolteon barked.
"Swellow!" Swellow greeted.
"Kirlia!" Kirlia gave an elegant bow.
"Riolu!" Riolu crossed his arms with a smile.
"So that's the team that won the Power Duo," Derrick looked at Jason's pokemon.
"Half the team, anyways," Jason said. "Couldn't have done it without my sister and her pokemon."
"Hey," the boy began to suggest. "You should have your pokemon learn new moves!"
"That's the plan!" Jason gave a nod. He faced his pokemon. "You ready for some training?"
All pokemon shouted their names, eager to get started.
"Thatta girl, Espeon!" Kristine cheered, seeing Espeon successfully creating a colorful barrier in front of her.
"Espeon!" Espeon felt accomplished, having learned Reflect.
Pika!" Pikachu created a rainbow barrier in front of himself, learning Light Screen.
"Now I have excellent defenses for upcoming battles." Kristine smiled.
Kristine had all five of her pokemon out. Espeon, Pikachu, Flecthinder, Machop, and Snorunt were all training for new moves under the watchful eye of their trainer.
"Snorunt!" Snorunt projected a protective barrier in front of herself.
"Good job learning Protect!" Kristine cheered Snorunt on. "That'll stop some powerful attacks!"
"Fletch!" Fletchinder dove down, leaving a trail of flames in his wake.
"Flame Charge, all right!" Kristine looked on with excitement.
"Machop!" Machop's hand glowed white as he made what appeared to be a Karate Chop.
"And we have Brick Break!" Kristime seemed satisfied.
"Hey!" she heard a voice of a boy behind her. "You're the girl twin who won the Power Duo!"
"That would be me," Kristine turned around to face a boy with short, spiky blond hair who was wearing a yellow t-shirt and blue jeans.
"I want to face a trainer who is from far away," the boy continued. "Let's battle, 1v1!"
"Well," Kristine crossed her arms with a smirk. "I believe we're down to battle!"
All of Kristine's pokemon shouted their names in approval.
"Hehehe," the boy smirked. "I'm a regular here. I have a year-round pass!"
"They have those?" Kristine asked, intrigued. "Must be a popular place."
"Oh it is," the boy replied. "It's slow today."
"All right," Kristine tried to decide which pokemon should be chosen.
"Tell you what," the boy took some steps back. "Let's make it fair and easy for you because I know your entire team. I'm going to use Machop. And I'll let you make the first move!"
"Sounds good to me!" Kristine accepted.
"Well, I hope you want to have a mirror match!" the boy threw his first pokeball. "Let's go, Chopper!"
"Machop!" the boy's pokemon, as Kristine assumed was nicknamed Chopper, was summoned.
"Machop!" Kristine's companion pounded his chest, implicating he was ready to go.
I'd use Fletchinder or Espeon for the type advantage, she thought. But Machop looks like he wants to fight another machop.
Kristine looked at Machop and gave him a nod. "It's showtime, pal!"
"Machop!" Machop stepped forward.
"Battle detected," the AI stated. "Machop versus Machop."
"You go first!" the boy said.
"All right," Kristine faced Machop. "Use Foresight!"
"Machop!" Machop entered a battle stance, identifying his opponent's weakness.
"Hehehe," the boy began to smirk. "Watch this! Chopper, use Sunny Day!"
"Machop!" Chopper's eyes glew fiery red, raising his arms in the air as the battlefield became suddenly warmer.
"What? Your machop knows Sunny Day?" Kristine seemed puzzled.
"Look it up," the boy replied. "It's a list of things Machop can learn. Also this!"
He faced his pokemon. "Flamethrower!"
"Chop!" Chopper shot out a stream of flames from his mouth.
"Quick, slide underneath!" Kristine called out instinctively.
"Machop!" Machop ran forward and slid beneath the powerful flames.
"Wha?" the boy seemed startled. "No one really knows how to react to that!"
"Thinking on the fly is my middle name!" Kristine spoke with confidence. "Attack Chopper with Karate Chop!"
"Low Sweep!" the boy reacted.
"Chop!" Chopper spun around three hundred sixty degrees with his leg out, knocking Machop to the ground.
"Machop!" Kristine yelled.
"Can't avoid this!" the boy followed up. "Flamethrower!"
"Chop!" Chopper unleashed powerful flames at Machop.
Chopper is a dominant physical attacker, Kristine thought. In the grand scheme of things, Sunny Day is the only reason Flamethrower can be of any real threat.
"Fight through Flamethrower and use Vital Throw!" Kristine commanded.
"Machop!" Machop got up, bracing the full force of Flamethrower. Using his arm to shield his face from the flames, he charged at Chopper, grabbing onto him. He violently tossed Chopper across the field, causing him to crash and tumble right before his trainer.
"Chopper! Get up!" the boy encouraged.
"Machop!" Chopper got right up, ready to go.
"Machop!" Machop looked a little weary, suffering from Low Sweep and Flamethrower head on.
"Attack Chopper with Karate Chop!" Kristine yelled.
"Machop!" Machop charged at Chopper.
"Run forward and use Flamethrower!" the boy responded.
"Machop!" Chopper closed in on Machop, firing a stream of flames.
"Jump up!" Kristine followed up.
Machop jumped high into the air to avoid Flamethrower, descending down on Chopper with Karate Chop at the ready.
"Chop!" Machop struck Chopper head on. Chopper fell on one knee, suffering from a powerful Karate Chop.
"Low Sweep! Get him away!" the boy barked.
"Machop!" Chopper swung around with his other leg, forcing Machop to back away.
"We have him!" Kristine said. "Charge in with Brick Break!"
"Machop!" Machop charged Chopper once more, his hand glowing.
"Hehehe," the boy smirked. "Match it with Brick Break, Chopper!"
"Machop!" Chopper's hand also glowed bright white.
The two collided, both locked in a struggle of strength.
"Flamethrower!" the boy seemed sure victory was imminent.
"Chop!" Chopper used Flamethrower at point blank, engulfing the upper half of Machop's body.
"Ma…" Machop was charred as he fell over, unable to continue.
"Machop is unable to battle," the AI declared. "Machop wins."
"Machop!" Kristine ran over to her pokemon. "Are you okay?"
"Machop…" Machop slowly got up.
"Chop!" Chopper, appearing very weary from the fight, bowed towards Machop.
"Machop," Machop bowed back, though Kristine knew he was going to be hard on himself from the defeat.
"You had me scared there!" the boy commended Kristine. "I see why you're a formidable trainer."
"You're pretty good yourself," Kristine gracefully replied. "It's not every day you come across a pokemon with an unorthodox move set."
"Whether or not the pros say it's viable, I couldn't care less," the boy smiled. "It's about having fun. And if you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong."
"Agreed, a thousand percent."
"Name's Perry," the boy introduced himself.
"Kristine. Nice to meet you," Kristine smiled. "Don't suppose I'll be seeing you more often?"
"As long as you're around the coast," the boy replied. "I don't think I'm ready for a big adventure across the mountains. Not from what I've heard in your interview. Doesn't sound like fun to me."
"Fair enough."
"But if there's tournaments that I can qualify for, why not? I'll be there."
"Then perhaps we will battle again someday," Kristine began to depart, recalling all of her pokemon. "You have a nice day, Perry!"
"Yeah, you too!" Perry waved goodbye.
It wasn't long after Kristine left the training floor when she bumped into Jason.
"Oh, hey bro," she said. "How'd it go?"
"Pretty good!" Jason spoke with optimism. "Got everyone to learn something new."
"Any good moves?"
"Yeah! Jolteon learned Wild Charge, Swellow learned Steel Wing, Kirlia learned Protect, and Magikarp even learned Bounce!"
"Nice! And Riolu?"
"Shadow Claw," Jason spoke without any positive emotion.
"You seem unsure about it."
"Yeah, because Shadow Claw is a ghost move. And it's a bit creepy when he uses it."
"Well, it'll catch opponents off guard, that's for sure!" Kristine smiled. "You must've thought it was really necessary for him to learn it."
"True. Anyways, how did your training go?"
"Pretty good! A lot of protective moves plus some extra firepower. I faced a boy with a machop of his own."
"And?"
"I used Machop, of course."
"And?"
"He knew Flamethrower. And Sunny Day."
"And? Did you win?"
"Not quite."
"You know Machop's gonna train himself extra harder."
"Yeah. We have to be ready for major curveballs."
Back at the pokemon center, the twins were planning out what to do next in their room.
"So there's a water pokemon tournament going on tomorrow," Jason browsed through the computer terminal. "I want to enter Magikarp in it. But I know you don't have a water type."
"Well," Kristine approached Jason. "It might be good for us to split up and do our own things."
"You sure about that?" Jason faced his sister.
"Why not?" Kristine smiled. "I'm sure you want to do your own things, and I have mine. Enter that water tournament! I'll go have fun at the beach."
"Okay," Jason smiled back. "I'll battle with Magikarp, and anyone who takes us lightly will be sadly mistaken!"
Jason's Pokemon:
Jolteon: Thunder Shock, Wild Charge, Pin Missile, Agility. Special Ability: Volt Absorb
Swellow: Supersonic, Steel Wing, Aerial Ace, Quick Attack. Special Ability: Guts
Kirlia: Future Sight, Protect, Heal Pulse, Confusion. Special Ability: Synchronize
Riolu: Brick Break, Endure, Reversal, Shadow Claw. Special Ability: Inner Focus
Magikarp: Splash, Tackle, Flail, Bounce. Special Ability: Swift Swim
Kristine's Pokemon:
Espeon: Psybeam, Calm Mind, Reflect, Swift. Special Ability: Magic Bounce
Fletchinder: Flame Charge, Razor Wind, Aerial Ace, Agility. Special Ability: Gale Wings
Pikachu: Spark, Light Screen, Electro Ball, Double Team. Special Ability: Static
Machop: Foresight, Karate Chop, Vital Throw, Brick Break. Special Ability: Guts
Snorunt: Protect, Double Team, Icy Wind, Bite. Special Ability: Ice Body
