-The Legal Stuff:-

1) I am not affiliated at all to Game Freak nor to Nintendo, nor any other companies that write/produce Pokémon.

2) I do not own any part of Pokémon.

-A Waiver:-

1) I am not following any storyline already created, not a game, not the television show, my storyline is completely original as far as most characters go and as far as what is going on with the plot.

2) The only thing I borrowed from the game (I just started playing Crystal Version again) is the Gym Leader's names and their Pokémon, the city names, route names, and a couple of Team Rocket situations. I think I also mention well known people like Professor Elm and Professor Oak.

Basically…storyline and main characters are of my creation, the other stuff I borrowed from Crystal Version.

-And finally, the story. (: Enjoy!-

Part Two:

Kanto.

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

Breathe Electric.

"Aren't you going to go in?" Doug asked as we stood outside Lieutenant Surge's Vermillion Pokémon Gymnasium doors.

I slowly nodded as I wrung my hands. "I guess so."

Doug started to laugh and I shot him a look. "Are ya scared Rowan? Of getting a small shock?"

I turned and with all the pent up nervousness I had, slugged Doug as hard as I could on his arm. "I didn't say that," I spat.

"I think a Metapod just hit me," Doug remarked, absentmindedly rubbing the spot I'd slugged.

"You know it hurt," I hissed.

"Quit stalling," he shot back.

I narrowed my eyes at him before turning and pushing the gym doors in with as much fervor as I possibly could. I'd show him scared!

"Well hello there, sweet little lady," the older, blonde man crooned as I stepped into the gym.

I jumped slightly at the sudden voice. I guess I had just proved Doug's point. "Oh, hello," I replied as I took my spot in the trainer's square across the arena from the man. The gym leader's eyebrow arched as he watched me take my position to battle him.

"You're challenging me?" His booming laughter shook the room. "A little girl like yourself?"

'You were just a little lady,' Espeon commented. 'Now you're a little girl?'

I shrugged as I looked down at her. "He seems like an strange man," I whispered.

'Maybe it's a Kanto thing,' Espeon said as she looked back over at Vermillion's Gym Leader.

I nodded in agreement as I looked back up at Lieutenant Surge. "Regardless of what you think of me sir," I said, deciding to ignore his quips. "I am here to battle it out with you and emerge victorious."

"Looks like I'll have to zap some sense into you," a toothy smile formed across Lt. Surge's face.

I swallowed hard as a thought crossed my mind. "Espeon," I whispered. "I don't have any type advantages of electric Pokémon."

'Then it comes done to a battle of skill, doesn't it?' Espeon replied. 'Johto was for beginners Rowan, you're in the big leagues now.'

I took a deep breath. "What are your rules Surge?"

"Three on three," he shouted at me. "No substitutes for me. If it comes out a tie, you win the badge."

I nodded. "Pretty standard," I muttered.

"Magneton," Lt. Surge grabbed a pokéball and hurled it out onto the floor. "Go."

'You're in luck Rowan,' Espeon chuckled, glancing over her shoulder up at me. 'Electric and steel. It's weak to fire attacks.'

I smiled to myself as I selected Typhlosion's pokéball from the belt around my waist. "Typhlosion, let's do this!"

My Pokémon appeared on the gymnasium floor with a triumphant roar. As he silenced, he crouched and glared at Lt. Surge's Pokémon across the field from him. I stared at Surge for a moment before I decided I wasn't going to wait. I was going to tackle this one head on. "Typhlosion," I shouted. "Flamethrower!"

Typhlosion straightened up onto two legs and released a barrage of flames in the direction of Magneton. The attack landed and I cheered to myself. Once the smoke cleared however, I was shocked to find the Pokémon still hovering in the air. It looked perfectly healthy except for the small burn across one of the faces of the Pokémon.

Lt. Surge released a hearty laugh. "It's going to take more than a little flame to take down my Pokémon! Magneton, use Zap Cannon!"

"Dodge with Quick Attack," I quickly said.

Typhlosion dropped down onto all fours and dashed across the field. As he stopped, the electric attack slammed into him and he tumbled backwards. The attack took a high toll on Typhlosion's health and successfully paralyzed him. I couldn't help but think about my battle with Jasmine's Steelix. The only difference was that my Pokémon would not be evolving, which had been critical in my previous victory.

I shook my head. This couldn't get to me. "Typhlosion. We can still do this. Use Smokescreen."

Typhlosion shakily stood as smoke erupted from his mouth and nostrils. In moments, the place Typhlosion was standing was shrouded heavily in smoke. "Now Flamethrower!"

"Sonicboom," Lt. Surge shouted.

His Pokémon instantly reacted, sending the attack into the smog. I smiled, I had not only remembered my battle against Jasmine, but my battle against Faulkner too. Typhlosion's fire attack slammed into Magneton from behind, sending it down into the dirt.

I quickly got my smile in check to ensure I wouldn't get too confident. "Flame Wheel," I said to my Pokémon.

Typhlosion dropped to the ground as fire started to circle his body. He leapt forward and plowed into Magneton, who was still laying in the dirt. Surge's Pokémon rolled several feet towards him as Typhlosion reappeared in front of me, his breathing heavy.

"Magneton, you're not done yet! Get back in there," the Lieutenant barked. As the words left his lips, the Magneton flew back up into the air, rearing for more.

My jaw dropped. How had it been nearly unconscious one moment and ready to fight off an army of angry fire Pokémon the next? 'It's an illusion,' Espeon answered for me. 'Magneton is exhausted, but it's an intimidation technique. Don't let it get to you.'

I nodded before pointing at the hovering Pokémon. "This is almost done Typhlosion, use Flamethrower!"

"Dodge," Lt. Surge spat and his Pokémon zoomed out of the harm's way. "Thundershock!"

Typhlosion froze and winced in pain as electricity flowed through his body. He dropped to all fours as the attack ceased, panting heavily. "Those are some weak Pokémon have there, Girl," the blonde man chuckled.

I felt my lower lip drop in a pout and I had to fight the urge to whimper. "They are not," I whispered.

"This is no place for a little girl," the man continued haughtily. "Especially for one that has no skills! You even have the type advantage!"

"Typhlosion," I hissed, pushing the Lieutentant's voice from my head. "Let's parallel our battle with Faulkner. Smokescreen again!"

Lt. Surge laughed. "Faulkner must have been an idiot to fall for the same trick twice. Shoot a Zap Cannon behind you Magneton."

"Faulkner wasn't an idiot, but you are," I replied. "Typhlosion, Flame Wheel!"

Typhlosion came ripping out of the smoke, his body ablaze. He slammed into Magneton's back, who had sent a ineffective electric attack behind it. The Pokémon fell to the ground as Lt. Surge's lower jaw dropped. "Flamethrower!"

Typhlosion stood tall over Magneton and blasted the Pokémon at close range with its powerful fire attack. The strength of the attack sent Magneton several inches into the dirt. As the attack ceased, a red light formed around the fallen electrical Pokémon as Lt. Surge recalled it. "Good show little lady," he muttered.

'You're a little lady again,' Espeon laughed.

"Don't worry," I said as I recalled Typhlosion. "Faulkner fell for that too."

"That doesn't make me feel better," Lt. Surge spat at me. "I'm better than any Johto trainer, gym leader or otherwise."

"I won't argue that with you," I said and a smug smile came over the man's features, "yet."

The smile fell off the man's face as he glared at me. "Electrode. Go!"

'I think he's beginning to feel a little intimidated by you,' Espeon laughed.

"He should be," I winked at her before selecting another pokéball from my belt. "First gym battle for you," I said to the ball. "You handled yourself well in training, how will you do here. Furret! Come on out!"

The long, brown and cream colored Pokémon appeared on the field. It looked at the electric Pokémon ahead of it before scurrying over to take a closer look. "Rollout," Surge ordered as Furret touched its nose to his Pokémon.

The Pokémon slammed itself Furret's face and Furret wailed before growling. With a flick of his head, Furret sent Electrode rolling away from him. "Furret," I said. "Fire Punch."

Furret scampered in Electrode's direction, one of his paws coming ablaze. He slammed his paw into Electrode, sending it flying away from him with a small burn mark. "Nice try," Lt. Surge said to me. "But fire won't help you this go round."

"Furret," I hissed. "Ice Punch!" I could adapt to different techniques.

Furret chased after the rolling Pokémon and yet again pounding his fist into the Pokémon. The ground around the electric Pokémon froze from the attack, but the Pokémon seemed able-bodied still.

"Electrode, Sonicboom," Lt. Surge hissed.

"Dodge."

Furret dashed away from the ball, the attack following after him. At the last moment, Furret performed a quick turn. The attack continued on before dissipating into the wall. Furret stopped and perched himself on his back legs, staring across the room at Surge's Pokémon.

"Furret," I said. "Slam."

Furret dropped to the ground and ran across the room towards Electrode. He stopped when he was close to the Pokémon and whipped his body around. My Pokémon's tail slammed into Electrode, sending him sailing through the air.

"Enough of this," Lt. Surge barked. "Electrode, Rollout into that pipsqueak."

Electrode landed with a thud and immediately started rolling back towards Furret. It slammed into Furret, sending my Pokémon over onto his back.

"Furret!" I shouted.

"Now use Self Destruct!" Surge ordered. His Pokémon began to glow white and I felt myself panic.

"Furret, Defense Curl!" I could see my Pokémon start to curl up into a ball just as a blinding light filled the gym and I had to close my eyes. I felt the shockwave from the explosion several seconds later, the power of it knocked me off of my feet.

As the smoke cleared, I found Surge across the room still standing on his feet. There was a smug smile across his face as he regarded the arena. I turned my concentration towards the Pokémon. Electrode, blackened and smoldering, was obviously unconscious. My Pokémon was rolled up in a tight ball still, unmoving.

"I believe that," Lt. Surge said, "is a tie."

I stood up and brushed the seat of my pants off, muttering to myself. I snatched Furret's pokéball from my waist and held in front of me just as my Pokémon unrolled. He shot to his feet and looked around, eyeing the charred remains of the electric Pokémon. He dropped to his feet and nudged the Pokémon with his nose.

"What!" Lt. Surge roared and my Pokémon ducked away from Electrode and over to me. He wrapped himself around my legs and cowered behind me. I heard Espeon hiss as Furret's tail knocked her off her feet.

"I believe that's another victory for me," I said. Being rude was beginning to come easier to me.

Lt. Surge's face purpled and reddened with rage as he recalled his Pokémon. I stroked Furret's head and gave him a friendly smile before returning him to his pokéball. "One more battle," I muttered.

"It's no matter," Lt. Surge spat as he glared at me. "I saved the best for last. Come on out, Raichu!"

"The best for last?" I echoed before glancing down at Espeon. She crouched as she noticed me looking at her, her tail flicked from side to side excitedly.

'Let me do it, let me do it, let me do it,' Espeon smiled up at me.

"He did say the best for last," I smiled at her, before pointing out at the field. "I choose you, Espeon!"

'Heck yes!' Espeon cheered as she leapt out in front of me and onto the field.

"He does more than just follow you around?" Lt. Surge laughed.

Espeon growled as she now directed her incensed gaze to the gym leader. "Oh yes," I smiled at him. "She inflicts some serious damage."

"I'll believe it when I see it," Lt. Surge crossed him arms over his chest and gave me a arrogant smile.

"As you wish," I curtsied before straightening out and pointing at the small, electric mouse. "Espeon! Psybeam!"

Espeon planted her feet and thrust her head up. The gem on her forehead flashed as her psychic power flew across the gym and pummeled into Raichu. The mouse fell backwards and laid there for a moment before hopping back onto his feet.

"Raichu, show that useless Pokémon the meaning of real power!" Lt. Surge barked. "Thunderbolt!"

"And dodge," I said with a smile.

Espeon gracefully leapt away from the electric attack crackling through the air towards her. "Again!" Surge shouted. As Raichu shot off another attack, Espeon bounded out of the way again.

Surge was beginning to look strangled as his face turned a deep shade of purple. "Raichu. Stop her cold with Thunder Wave!"

The weak electric attack zapped Espeon and she froze as paralysis took over her muscles. Her eyes flicked up and she through a look to Raichu. Her eyes flashed and Raichu suddenly dropped to the ground.

"Dammit!" Surge shouted. "I forgot about Synchronize!"

"Espeon, are you okay?" I asked my Pokémon.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts before looking at me over her shoulder. 'I'm fine Rowan,' she smiled.

"Psychic!" An aura formed around Raichu as the order left my lips. Espeon lifted him up into the air and slammed him into the ground at Surge's feet. Raichu moaned slightly before pushing itself back to its feet. Electricity danced across the sacs on Raichu's cheeks as it glared at Espeon.

"Thundershock," Surge ordered.

'Take the attack, then use Morning Sun,' I quickly thought before Espeon leapt away from it.

She took the brunt of the electrical attack, wincing slightly from pain. 'You're going to give him a complex Rowan,' she chuckled before sitting down and calling up towards the ceiling.

Surge swore again as light beams danced across Espeon's skin and she healed the damage just done to her. 'That's the point,' I laughed to myself. "Psychic!"

"Wait!" Lt. Surge shouted just as the light blue aura formed around his Pokémon. "I forfeit this battle, you win."

"What?" I arched my eyebrow at him.

"I know it may not seem like it, but I care very much about my Pokémon," Lt. Surge muttered. "Raichu is more stubborn than I, he won't give up until every bit of his energy it gone. So I forfeit."

I glanced to Espeon and nodded. She gently set the electric Pokémon back on the ground before padding over to me. She sat down in front of me and looked over at Lt. Surge as he recalled the electric Pokémon. 'Interesting turn of events,' she remarked.

"I wasn't expecting it to turn out this way," I agreed quietly.

Lt. Surge made his way over to me, stopping just in front of me. "Little lady from Johto," he said, "you proved to be a worthy adversary."

"Thank you?" I arched my eyebrow as I took the small badge he was holding out towards me.

"That's the Thunder Badge," he nodded. "Wear it with pride."

I smiled at him before heading towards the stands where Doug was sitting. As I neared, he stood up and waved to the seat he had just been sitting in. I looked at it, then arched my eyebrow. "What?" I asked.

"I'm going to battle him now," Doug muttered.

"You are?" I asked, arching my eyebrow again.

"I've never been to Kanto, remember?" Doug hissed as he walked down towards the arena.

"I hope you don't lose," I called after him. "That would be bad for your Champion title."

"You're the kid who won against Lance?" Lt. Surge sounded surprised as he asked.

"Yea," Doug muttered.

"Don't be too excited," I sighed to myself.

"You're not what I was expecting at all," Lt. Surge hissed. "I was expecting someone a little less," he paused a moment, "weird."

"Thanks," Doug replied.

"That wasn't a compliment," I rolled my eyes,

'I'm sure he knows that Rowan,' Espeon chuckled. 'Unlike you, he's not letting Surge get to him.'

"Thanks Espeon," I sighed as I rested my chin in the palm of my hand.

"You look like a pansy, Kid," Lt. Surge was saying as he produced a pokéball in his hand. "I hope you don't battle like one too!"

"So what happened to your friend?" Doug asked as I dropped onto one of the benches in the Pokémon Center and covered my eyes with my arm. I shrugged to indicate I didn't know, but that seemed not to be the right answer for him. "Rowan?"

I dropped my arm away and glanced up at him. "I don't know," I said with another shrug. "She said she had ways to get here from Goldenrod and that maybe she would catch up with us some time," I explained. "I really wish you would call her by her name and not my friend."

"But she is your friend?"

"She is not," I muttered. "I merely tolerated her in high school."

"Why?" Doug asked.

"Because for awhile she was the only one that never asked for an Eevee from me," I answered. "Though just before I started to consider becoming a Pokémon Trainer, she changed. All of a sudden she wanted an Eevee so that she and I could travel together and become known as the Eevee Trainers.

"And?"

"And I didn't want to," I shrugged. "I had no interest in Pokémon, especially Eevees."

"Ironic," Doug muttered as he sat down next to me.

"Why?"

"Because you have three Eevees now," he said to me. "Two of them evolved, but three all the same."

"I know," I laughed as Espeon leapt onto the bench and settled herself half on my lap and half on the bench I was occupying. Umbreon touched his nose to hers before he sat down next to Doug's legs.

Doug and I sat quietly for a moment, watching as the end of the day slipped away. I furrowed my brow as I glanced over at Doug. He was staring across the building and looking out the window. "Doug?" I asked.

He looked over at me.

"You've known who I was ever since you ran into me in Cherrygrove," I said. Doug stared at me for a moment, then slowly nodded. "How?"

"Would you believe me if I said my dad called me and told me to look out for you?" Doug inquired as he looked away from me.

I laughed slightly. "I wouldn't believe that at all," I replied.

"I didn't think so, but I thought I'd give it a shot," Doug scoffed as he ran his hands up into his hair. "What if I said I can hack into my father's information on any computer and I noticed your name?"

"I would believe that a little more," I said.

"It's true," Doug said. "I log in now and again to see what he's been up to."

"You keep checks on him?" I laughed.

"Something like that," Doug nodded.

"Doug?"

"Yea?"

"What made you pick me over all the other names that were bound to be there?" I asked. "There were fifteen other students that he picked from my school."

"I checked after he had already picked the three that were going to leave New Bark," Doug answered. "He had pictures up for each name, but your name is what set me off more. I recognized Eden."

"Where your dad got your Eevee," I muttered.

Doug nodded. "I didn't know that the Edens had a daughter," he explained. "Let alone one that was old enough to have interest my dad's training program."

"I didn't have interest in it," I murmured. "Your dad more or less saw something in me, something worthwhile."

"Compassionate with Pokémon," Doug muttered.

"That's what your dad said."

"I know, that's what he had typed down underneath your name on his computer," Doug replied.

"That would explain why you said it to me when we were talking about my Eevee," I scratched behind Espeon's ear as she slept on my lap.

"Right," Doug agreed.

I furrowed my brow as another thought came to me. "That boy in Cherrygrove," I said, mostly to myself.

"What boy?" Doug asked.

"The one with the weak electrical Pokémon," I said as I remembered the night I spent in Cherrygrove. "Where one of his Pokémon was stolen."

"I stole it," Doug muttered. "Well technically, Umbreon did."

"Phantom," Umbreon muttered his name.

"How does that work?" I asked.

"Umbreon sneaks into the Critical Care Unit, takes the injured Pokémon, assuming they're healthy enough," Doug explained, "he brings the pokéball to me, I destroy the control the pokéball has over the Pokémon."

"Phantom," Umbreon corrected Doug.

"With that Team Rocket contraption," I added and he nodded.

"Then I release it," he said.

"Mareep was that boy's Pokémon, wasn't she?" I asked.

Doug stared at me for several moments before he finally nodded. "Yea," he agreed. "She was, and she was heavily abused."

"She scared me the night I got her," I muttered to myself as I reminisced. "I heard the grass rustling and almost cried in fear. Then it turned out to be her. I think there was another Pokémon out there though."

"Umbreon was," Doug muttered.

"Phantom," Umbreon again said.

"I had him lead Mareep to you and then make sure that you kept it," he explained. "When he was sure you had it, he came back to me and we continued to Violet City."

"Where I had my second run in with you," I laughed. "You confused and scared me at the same time."

"You asked me a question," he said.

"I did?" I arched my eyebrow at him.

Doug nodded. "Why the so many people had rushed out of Violet City suddenly."

"Oh yea," I tapped my index finger against my lips as I thought. "Because I was yanked to the ground-"

Doug interrupted me. "By me."

I looked over at him. "By you?"

He nodded. "Yea, I did it. So I was a little surprised when you started to ask me about being pulled out of the way. I didn't understand how you could have possibly seen me."

"Because you're so sneaky," I laughed.

"I am," Doug replied. "You didn't see me. I was just paranoid."

I shook my head before settling against the bench. "Well since I have you openly talking about your sketchy acts," I said and Doug shot me a perturbed glare. "In Goldenrod, when you bought a lunch date for us from that charity competition."

"Why would you have signed up for something like that?" Doug asked. "I would assume Ashley would do something like that, but you?"

"I didn't sign up for it! I tried to ask the man for directions and he pushed me out onto that stage," I hissed. "Back to our lunch date though."

"Don't call it a date," Doug sighed.

"About our lunch date," I over enunciated the word with a bright smile. "I asked if you were following me and you embarrassed the hell out of me."

Doug smiled. "Yea I did."

"You were lying," I muttered.

"Well yea," Doug shrugged. "I couldn't very well tell you I was following you. My appearance is peculiar enough as it is. Besides, I assumed you'd much rather have lunch with me than some other guy."

"Why would you assume that?" I sighed.

"Because of the looks you kept giving me whenever our paths crossed," he said. "You obviously find me attractive."

Color burst across my cheeks as I clapped my hands over my face. "Did, I did find you attractive."

"At least you admit it," Doug laughed. "Even if it's only half the truth."

"Doug," I muttered.

"Yea?"

"When we left Goldenrod," I said.

"The Team Rocket member," Doug finished for me. "Didn't I recognize him, right?"

"Right," I agreed.

"I didn't realize it was going to be as big of deal as it was," Doug shrugged. "And I didn't expect your stupid friend to get kidnapped."

"Fair enough, I suppose," I laughed.

"Any other nosey questions?" He asked me, glancing down at me.

I pursed my lips as I stared across the building. "Not at the moment, but if I have anymore I'll let you know."

"Yea, and we'll see if I'm feeling nice enough to answer," Doug hissed.

Author's Notes: Chapter Thirty-Seven: Hello guys! I'm back! And with me I bring the first of Rowan's and Doug's Kanto adventures! Yea, the chapter name has almost nothing to do with the chapter. Yea, the electric part reflects Lt. Surge's Pokémon I suppose, but the real reason I named it Breathe Electric is that electric was related close enough to Surge that I could get away with it. Breathe Electric is actually my most favorite band/artist man to listen to. He sings really, really great songs that I dance to.

Oh yes, I dance. I have great moves. Of course...my mom tends to laugh at me when I bust a move.

Anyways!

Hooray! I'm back with Kanto adventures and here is the first of many chapters. (I have written an outline and there are approximately twenty to twenty-one chapters left of this story!)

Anyhoo…

Thanks to all of you who have reviewed in my time away:

-Delu.

-Avasaya.

-AceTrainer277.

-I-Hate-Ash-Ketchum.

-psykokwak54.

And to all of you who have been inquiring about Kitty and being so kind to me. I really hate to say this. We had to put her to sleep on Saturday. I miss her something fierce. I can't even explain how bad it is. That's why I'm back posting earlier than I actually expected. It distracts me. Again, thank you for all your kind words, they made her passing a little bit easier. So thank you all so very very much.

Enough of the depressing talk…

More updates later! Review/comment and subscribe!