After receiving his Pokédex Professor Oak, Isaiah was happily making his way back to Viridian City, meeting up with his Pokémon friends. "Hey everyone!" he said before kneeling down. "I'm finally going on a journey of my own!" He looked around at the wild Pokémon. "And as much as I want to bring you with me, I don't think it's right for me to take you away from your home. So... I hope you all root for me! Because I fully intend on visiting!" he said before getting back up. "Alright. Full speed ahead!" he said before he started to take off, only for a voice to call out to him. "Hey Isaiah!" the voice said. He stopped and turned to look back at the town to see someone running towards him, stopping at the edge of the tall grass and waving him over. It was Anthony's younger sister. "Oh! Hey! What's up?!" he called out before going over to her. "I heard you're going on a journey. Is that right?" she asked. "Sure am! And I can't wait to see what's in store!" Isaiah responded. She chuckled. "Then you might need this." she said before handing him something.
Isaiah tilted his head. "What's this?" he asked. "It's a Town Map. You can use it to keep track of where you are and get an idea of where to go next." she said with a smile. Isaiah's eyes lit up. "Really?! Thanks so much! I promise I'll take good care of it!" he said. "I hope you do. Now get out there and have fun!" she said. Isaiah nodded and ran off towards Viridian City. Once he arrived, he took a deep breath and looked over his town map. "...Hm... Looking at this Town Map... There's a place called the Indigo Plateau to the west of this town. Alright!" he said before holding up Charmander's Pokéball and smiled. "Let's go there and see what's in store!" he said before taking off to Route 22. Once he was there, he noticed a building in the distance. "That must be it!" he said before going in that direction, only to step on something, causing it to scream and Isaiah to stop. "Whoops! Sorry!" he said as he turned to face whatever he injured.
There in the grass was what appeared to be a monkey, rubbing its tail and giving Isaiah a furious glare. "Are you okay?" Isaiah asked as he approached the Pokémon. Bad move. The Pokémon suddenly let out an angry screech and attacked him, but Isaiah quickly moved out of the way. "Woah! Hey, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!" he said, hoping to calm the Pokémon down to no avail. It charged at him again and Isaiah sighed. "...Looks like I don't have a choice." he said as he took out Charmander's Pokéball. "Charmander, game on!" he yelled as he released his partner. "Use Scratch!" he called out. Charmander quickly moved towards the wild Pokémon and scratched it in the face. The Pokémon cried out before getting even angrier and scratching Charmander back. "Charmander! You okay?!" Isaiah asked. Charmander nodded. "Char!" it said. Isaiah smiled. "Alright. Use Scratch again!" he said. Charmander obliged and hit the Pokémon again. Each hit only makes the Pokémon angrier as it glared at Charmander, causing it to shiver. "That's Leer! It lowered Charmander's Defense! Hmm... that might cause trouble... What should I...? Isaiah thought before getting an idea and looking at his Pokéballs. "That's it!" he said before grabbing one of them.
"Alright! Let's give this a try! Go! Pokéball!" he said as he threw it at the Pokémon, hitting it on the head as it opened and pulled the Pokémon inside. "Alright!" he said before noticing something and tilting his head. The Pokéball hit the ground and wobbled a few times before clicking shut. A sound came from his Pokédex and he checked it out. Suddenly, it opened up and talked in an electronic voice. "Mankey: The Pig Monkey Pokémon. It's light and agile on its feet but is ferocious in temperament. When angered, it flies into an uncontrollable frenzy." it said. "Cool! Okay. So, catching Pokémon is how I register data into my Pokédex. Good to know." Isaiah said before looking at his other Pokéballs. "But at the same time... I don't want to take Pokémon away from their homes. Hmm... Oh! I know! If I catch them, but release them right away, I can add data to my Pokédex without taking Pokémon away! Everyone wins!" he said to himself.
"Ha! Seriously?! You plan on releasing the Pokémon you catch?! That's so pathetic!" a familiar voice said. Isaiah sighed and looked over. "Anthony." he said. "You really don't stand a chance of being a Trainer, much less being worthy of continuing on the path to the Pokémon League if you plan on releasing all your Pokémon." Anthony said. "You don't know that!" Isaiah yelled in response. "Oooo Did I strike a nerve?" Anthony said before raising a Pokéball. "If you really think your belief is the right one, then why don't you prove it? Here and now." he said. Isaiah smiled and raised a Pokéball of his own. "Fine! Let's battle!" he said.
"Oooo, a battle, eh?" someone said. The two trainers looked over to see an old man approaching. "It's been a long time since I've witnessed one. Would you two boys mind if I acted as referee?" the old man asked. Isaiah and Anthony looked at each other. Anthony shrugged and the two looked at the man. "Sure." Isaiah said. "Knock yourself out." Anthony said. "Very well." the old man said, a gleam in his eyes. "Then the battle between these two trainers will now begin! Both trainers will use two Pokémon! And the battle will be over when both of either trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle! In addition, neither trainer will be allowed to substitute Pokémon! Now, battle begin!" the man said. "This time, I won't lose! Pidgey, appear before me!" Anthony yelled as he called out his Pokémon. "He must've caught one of the ones on Route 1." Isaiah thought. "Alright, Charmander, game on!" he said as Charmander entered the battle.
"Let's start by hindering that mon as much as possible. Pidgey, use Sand Attack!" Anthony called. Pidgey flew up and used its wings to blow a stream of sand in Charmander's direction. Unable to dodge, Charmander was blinded. "Charmander!" Isaiah said, but Charmander looked back and nodded, not wanting him to worry. Isaiah looked at it for a moment before smiling and nodding. "Okay. I trust you." he said before refocusing on the battle. "Use Scratch!" he said and Charmander charged at Pidgey, jumping up to attack. Pidgey took the hit, but it looked like it barely did anything. "That all you got?!" Anthony said. "Not a chance! Charmander, use Scratch again!" Isaiah called out as Charmander struck Pidgey again. "Pidgey, use Tackle!" Anthony called out as Pidgey, struck Charmander head on, sending it flying. "Charmander!" Isaiah called out as Charmander collapsed, but slowly got back up, nodding. "Okay. Scratch!" Isaiah said and Charmander charged again. "Dodge it!" Anthony said and Pidgey flew up just before the attack could land. Charmander looked up, which gave Pidgey an opening. "Sand Attack!" Anthony called out as Pidgey attacked again, blinding Charmander further.
Isaiah growled a little. "This isn't good. If Charmander can't land a hit, I can't win... What now?" he thought before getting an idea. "Okay. We'll just have to hinder it in return!" "Charmander, use Growl!" he called out and Charmander nodded, using the attack, causing Pidgey to feel a little intimidated. "Copycat... Pidgey, use Tackle!" Anthony called and Pidgey ultimately complied, but the attack dealt less than the last one due to Growl. "Nice. Now back to attacking! Use-" Isaiah said before Anthony cut him off. "Don't let him attack! Tackle!" Anthony called out as Pidgey attacked again, causing Charmander to collapse. "Hey!" Isaiah said before looking at Charmander. "Are you okay?" he asked. Charmander slowly got up, nodding, but breathing heavily, looking pretty beat up. "Charmander's weak... but I can't heal it... What can I do?!" Isaiah thought, starting to panic a little. "Charman!" Charmander called out, causing Isaiah to snap out of it and look at it. The two locked eyes and Charmander nodded. Isaiah was hesitant but nodded as well. "...Okay. We'll keep fighting until the end! Use Scratch!" he called out and Charmander charged and managed to hit Pidgey again.
"Keep it up! Use Scratch again!" Isaiah said as Charmander once again managed to land an attack, but it was wide open. "Finish it! Tackle!" Anthony called out as Pidgey once again attacked, sending Charmander flying. It collapsed, and its eyes were now swirls. "Charmander is unable to battle! Pidgey wins!" Anthony smirked. "One down." he said as Isaiah hurried over to Charmander, picking it up. "...Thanks, Charmander. You deserve a good rest. Return." he said as he returned Charmander to its Pokéball. He sighed and stood back up. "Guess I lost..." he thought as he looked up at Pidgey, Anthony looking smug. "Like I said, you stand no chance if you just release your Pokémon." Anthony said before going to return Pidgey. Isaiah's eyes widened for a moment, and he looked at his Pokéballs. "Hold on! This battle isn't over yet!" Isaiah said. Anthony stopped and looked at him. "What?" he asked. "It's worth a shot..." Isaiah thought as he raised his other Pokéball. "I've still got another Pokémon to battle with! Mankey, game on!" he said as he released Mankey, who was still furious and ready to battle.
Anthony rolled his eyes and lowered his Pokéball. "Alright. I'll just humiliate you even more. Tackle!" he called as Pidgey resumed going on the attack. Mankey crossed its arms and took the attack head on as Isaiah opened his Pokédex, which thankfully informed him of Mankey's moves. "Okay. Let's go! Use Leer!" he called out. Mankey looked back at him before it glared at the Pidgey, causing it to back off a little. Anthony sighed. "You just don't know when you're beaten. Wrap this up, Pidgey! Use Tackle!" he called as Pidgey immediately went on the attack, sending Mankey flying into Isaiah's arms, unconscious. "Mankey!" Isaiah said. "Mankey is unable to battle! Pidgey wins, meaning the victory goes to Pidgey's trainer!" the old man said. "Pidgey, return." Anthony said as he called back Pidgey. "Ha! Am I great or what?!" he said. "Mankey, return." Isaiah said with a smile. Once Mankey was back in its ball, Isaiah sighed a little and stood up. "Thanks, Mankey. Sorry." he said.
"Christ, that was nothing more than a waste of my time. You're so weak." Anthony said. "Hey!" Isaiah yelled. "Don't get mad at me for stating the obvious, Isaiah. Just face it. You stand no chance against me or against the Pokémon League. It doesn't help that you don't even have any badges, so you wouldn't be able to challenge them anyway." Anthony said. Isaiah tilted his head. "Badges?" he asked. Anthony looked at him and laughed. "Seriously?! You planned on going to the Pokémon League without even knowing about the badge requirement?! So pathetic!" he said. "Well, if YOU'RE so smart, why don't YOU take on the Pokémon League?!" Isaiah said. "Ha! Please. Unlike you, I only came here to train and get stronger. And considering that I just managed to beat you, I'd say my work here is done." Anthony said before laughing and leaving.
Isaiah looked at Mankey's Pokéball before looking at the man and bowing. "Thank you for being the referee." he said before turning to head for the Pokémon Center. "Hold on, there, boy." the old man said. Isaiah stopped and turned to look at the man. "Would you mind terribly if I joined you for a moment? I'd like to talk to you." he said. Isaiah tilted his head. "Um... sure?" he said. With that, the two made their way to the Pokémon Center and Isaiah handed his Pokémon to the nurse to take care of them. He sat down and watched the counter, worried about Charmander and Mankey as the old man sat down beside him. "So... you're a trainer hoping to take on the Pokémon League, huh?" he asked. "Yeah... But that battle really showed me that I have a lot to learn about being a good Trainer. I don't want to take Pokémon away from their homes... but I have to catch them in order to fill up my Pokédex. And I don't want to battle and hurt wild Pokémon, but if I don't, my Pokémon won't get stronger, and I'll never be able to take on the Pokémon League. I'm stuck in a loop. And Charmander and Mankey paid the price." he said. The old man looked at him for a moment.
"...Hm. You've got yourself a good heart. That's sure to take you far on your journey." he said with a smile before getting up and looking at him. "You know... there are others that care about Pokémon. There are people that dedicate themselves to taking care of wild Pokémon. And that includes treating Pokémon that are injured. Not only that, but wild Pokémon typically jump out of you because they WANT to battle. And maybe... want to be your friend." he said. Isaiah's eyes widened and he looked at the man as he started to leave. "If you really want to challenge the Pokémon League, you'll need to earn eight gym badges. Head to the Pokémon Gym in Pewter City if you want to learn more." the man said as he left the Pokémon Center. Isaiah sat and thought for a moment before coming to a decision. "...Got it." he said before standing up. At the same time, the chime letting him know that his Pokémon were healed.
"Thank you so much for waiting! Your Pokémon are perfectly fighting fit! We hope to see you again!" The nurse said. "Thank you very much." Isaiah said as he took his Pokémon and left the Pokémon Center. After that, he looked at the Pokéballs in his hands and threw them into the air. "Charmander! Mankey! Come on out!" he said as his Pokémon appeared. And he was immediately met with Mankey scratching him in the face. "Ah!" Isaiah screamed as he held his face and Mankey threw a tantrum. Isaiah looked at Mankey, wincing. "I know... You must be angry after losing that battle against Anthony, huh?" he asked. "MANKEEEEEEY!" Mankey screamed, pretty much confirming Isaiah's suspicions. Isaiah knelt down. "I understand. And I'm sorry. You're right. I shouldn't have forced you to battle without making sure you were up for it. But I've learned from this loss. And I don't want to lose again. So... if you give me a chance, you have my word that I'll work harder and help the both of you get stronger." he said before chuckling. "And if you lose, you can scratch my face all you want." he joked as he offered Mankey a hand. "What do you say?" he said. Mankey glared at him for a moment before looking at his hand. Mankey sighed and placed its paw in his hand, and they shook. Isaiah smiled.
"Awesome! Welcome to the team, Mankey!" he said excitedly. "Then let's get to training! Return!" Isaiah said before returning his duo to their Pokéballs and hurried back to the route to train and level up before moving forward on their adventure, completely unaware of the person watching in the distance. "Then let's get to training! Return!" Isaiah said before returning his duo to their Pokéballs and hurried back to the route to train and level up before moving forward on their adventure, completely unaware of the person watching in the distance. "Hm... He seems to have potential... I may have to try joining up with him."
To be continued...
