ch 2. Ceasar
The small group made their way through route 201 with Cynthia and Canyon leading the way to make sure no pokemon jumped out at them. Alex and Adora followed behind, both enjoying the pleasant scenery around them. Occasionally a small bidoof or starly would cross their path, but were quickly scared away when they spotted Canyon's enormous figure.
"So" Adora started, interrupting the silence. "What made you want to go on a journey?" she asked Alex turning her head slightly.
"I figured someone had to give my sister a much needed ego check" He said with a smirk, loud enough for Cynthia to overhear.
Cynthia whispered something to Canyon and his next step caused the ground underneath Alex's feet to quake slightly.
"Hey!" Alex called out trying to regain his balance. Cynthia just laughed and carried on without looking back.
"Does that mean you want to become the champion then?" Adora pressed.
Alex hadn't really thought much about being the champion. He just knew that he wanted to beat his sister. Bit what if she wasn't the champion anymore by the time he was strong enough to face her? Would he still want to challenge the league? "Yeah, I guess..." Alex answered vaguely. This was something he knew he would have to think more about.
"And why are you on a journey Adora?" Cynthia asked, looking back.
"I just love pokemon and I want to meet as many of them as I can!" she replied happily. "I'll probably end up doing the gym challenge as well as a few contests, but I'm not quite sure of my end goal yet"
"It usually takes trainers a little while to figure out what they like and what they want to do" Cynthia said. "Just keep an open mind and I'm sure you'll find what's right for you."
"Yeah, I hope so" Adora said. "what about you? did you always want to be champion? "
Cynthia thought for a moment then said, "yeah, pretty much. I did a contest or two as well but those were never really for me."
Alex remained mostly quiet while the two continued to talk. He was thinking about what Cynthia had said about finding what was right for him. He wondered what that would be and how he would know when he found it. He had always had the goal to beat his sister, but he hadn't ever thought about what would come after. His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Sandgem town in the distance and he started to grow more excited thinking about getting his first pokemon.
The group walked through the town and approached the professor's lab. It was the biggest building in the small town by far, and had a lot of land attached for pokemon of all different types to roam free. Alex had been here a few times before with either Cynthia or his grandmother, but he was still always impressed by it.
A gruff looking man who Alex knew to be professor Rowan stepped out of the building as they approached. "Good evening everyone" he said. "I'm glad to see you all made it here safely."
"Hello professor" said Cynthia, stepping forward to shake his hand. "I hope we haven't kept you waiting."
"Not at all" he replied, then turned to look at Alex and Adora. "Today is a big day for the two of you. are you both prepared for the responsibility that comes with caring for your own pokemon?"
"Yes sir" they both replied at the same time.
"Good, shall we make our way inside then?" He questioned.
They all agreed and went into the lab. on the inside there were many different types of complex looking machines, some being used by people in lab coats. they made their way to the back of the lab and into professor Rowan's office. His office was very neat and orderly with the only things on his desk being his computer and three pokeballs.
Professor Rowan turned to Alex and Adora and said, "I assume you've both read the descriptions of the pokemon I have available to choose. You can work out amongst yourselves which one of you will pick first.
"Actually" Adora started, then turned to Alex. "I think we've both already decided. Piplup right?"
"Uh yeah" he said. "And you wanted turtwig?"
"That's right!" she said with a smile.
"Well then" the professor said. He then grabbed two pokeballs from his desk and handed one to both Alex and Adora. "These are their pokeballs, why don't the two of you take them outside and get to know them. Cynthia and I have some things we need to discuss."
They both agreed and headed outside. They found a small patch of grass next to some trees close by the lab and released their pokemon. With a flash of light two small creatures stood before them. In from of Adora was a small green with a brown shell and a pair of leaves on his head. Beside Alex was a little blue penguin who stared up at him curiously.
Adora hugged her turtwig and started talking to it excitedly. As she was getting to know turtwig, Alex knelt down next to his piplup, hardly able to believe that he finally had his own pokemon. "Hey there buddy" he started. "My name's Alex, what should I call you?"
"I'm piplup!" the little penguin said proudly, puffing out his chest.
Alex let out a chuckle, "yeah I know that, what's your name though?"
Piplup tilted his head as if confused, "I don't think I have a name, the man with the white mustache has just called me piplup since I hatched."
"Hmm, that won't do" Alex said thoughtfully. "We had better think fo a name for you. Any suggestions?"
Piplup thought for a moment. "You could call me Alex!" he said triumphantly.
"Alex?" questioned Alex. "But that's my name. We can't both be called Alex."
Piplup shrugged. "Sorry, that's the only other name I know."
"Oh... right" said Alex. "What if I called you Ceasar? How does that sound?"
"Ceasar" Piplup said, as if feeling out the name. "I like it!"
"Great" said Alex, relieved. "Let's go introduce you to Adora and her new pokemon now."
The two walked over to Adora was getting to know her turtwig. As they approached Alex waved and said "Hey Adora, I'd like you to meet my new partner, Ceasar."
Adora turned to look at the little penguin. "Hi Ceasar!" She said happily "I'm Adora, and this is my new companion, Darwin." Adora then turned to Alex and let out an excited gasp. "We should have a battle now! let's see what these little guys can do!"
Alex smiled and turned to Ceasar. "What do you say buddy, should we take these two down?"
Ceasar nodded and took his battle stance. "Let's do it!"
"Are you ready Darwin?" Adora asked.
"Ready!" he said, taking his own battle stance opposite to Ceasar.
"Right, then let's go! start us off with a tackle!" she called out.
As Darwin rushed toward Ceasar Alex cried out "Sidestep, then use pound!"
Ceasar did what Alex said, but before he could land a hit on Darwin, Adora told him to use withdraw. Darwin retreated into his shell and Caesar's attack bounced off harmlessly, only causing the turtwig to slide back a few feet.
"Now's our chance, Darwin hurry and use tackle again!"
Darwin burst out of his shell and rushed toward Ceasar, slamming into him before either he or Alex had a chance to respond. The attack knocked the small penguin into a nearby tree doing quite a bit of damage.
"That's ok Ceasar, shake it off and use pound again!" Alex said.
Ceasar sprang forward, closing the distance between Darwin and himself. As he was about to strike, however, Darwin once again hid inside of his shell, causing the attack to be nullified. The turtle then pulled the same move of rushing to tackle Ceasar right after the hit. Ceasar tried to jump out of the way, but Darwin was too fast for him and Ceasar was hit by the attack. Ceasar fell to the ground, unconscious from the hit.
"Ceasar!" Alex cried out, running to his side. "You did good buddy, we'll get them next time." Alex then pulled out Caesar's pokeball and returned him.
"That was a great battle" Adora said, as she approached Alex. "Though I gotta say, I was expecting a bit more from the Champion's brother" she said smiling broadly.
That comment struck a chord with Alex, though he knew that she was just joking around so he pushed his anger aside. He knew that she wouldn't say anything to try to hurt him. "Yeah you did amazing! Both of you." He said with a slight smile.
Adora held out her hand to help Alex up "come on, let's go back to the lab and get Ceasar fixed up" she said.
Alex took let her help him up and they both started back towards the lab. He was a bit disappointed that he lost but he knew that moping around and feeling sorry himself wouldn't do him any good. Alex was never the type of person to give up easily. He may have lost to Adora this time, but he was willing to put in the work to beat her next time. He was glad that he met her and knew that this would just be the start of a great rivalry between the two of them. This was truly going to be the start of a great adventure.