Pokémon

Pokémon

The Journey – An Other Trainer story by BenRG

Legal Disclaimer

Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and all characters and institutions connected with them are the property of Nintendo Entertainment, Game Freak Software and 4Kids Entertainment. This is a non-profit work written for free distribution through the world-wide web. No infringement of any copyright or legal property intended.

Peter Croft is entirely my creation, as are all the other original characters in this story, for now.

Author's Notes

Some New Trainer stories are good, some are not so good and some are just dire. I've never tried this genre before, so I'm going to try it now. If this is bad, then say so for pity's sake and I'll stop!

Okay, usual warnings apply. I don't know the continuity or the moves very well, so I'll be faking it most of the time. That doesn't mean that I want all you smart-alecs out there who know everything to tell me where I go wrong. K? K. Otherwise reviews are welcome. If my grammar is wrong, my in-story continuity is tangled and mixed or if my story is useless, please let me know so I can improve my work.

I wish to give my thanks to the team at www.PokeMasters.com for their excellent R/B/Y walkthrough. It has been of inestimable help in letting me learn the details of the Pokémon world. If the direction some of the non-plot events of 'The Journey' take is familiar, it is because I have taken it directly from Pokémon Red/Blue's in-game story. Oh, I'm not going to exactly follow the in-game story, but I will be 'borrowing' quite a bit. Thanks Game Freak!

Text in Italics is thought or psychic communication.

Text in "Quotes and Italics" is speech from some kind of loudspeaker, phone, etc.

Text in [Squared Brackets] is translated Pokémon talk.

Censor: PG – Because Pokémon fight, and fights can be unpleasant things.

Continuity Note: This story starts six years after Ash Ketchum started his own Pokémon Journey.

The Journey

Chapter 5 – A Task Worthy…

"Okay, Lia, let's see whether all this experience is paying off. Go Shadow!" Peter pointed forwards and his Eevee charged to the centre of the Earth Gym's fighting Arena.

"I'll show you, Mister Ego!" Lia shot back. "Show him what you can do, Chikorita!" Lia's plant-type rushes forwards to face off against Shadow.

It was the day after that climatic battle against Team Rocket. Peter and Lia had both risen early, eaten quickly and had been at the Earth Gym when the Gym Leader's fiancée, Giselle Foster (a fine fighting-type trainer, by all accounts), opened the doors. She rolled her eyes when she saw the two novices in a way that seemed to indicate she was used to seeing eager fresh-faced youngsters standing and waiting for the chance to Train in the region's premiere Earth- and Normal-type Gym.

However, it was unlikely that the Gym had recently seen a training session quite like this. Lia and Peter were on adrenaline highs and their two Pokémon were so excited that they were rushing around, seemingly at random. Peter was keeping Shadow just out of reach of Chikorita's ace card, his Poison Powder attack, and Lia was keeping Chikorita moving so that Peter couldn't use his Eevee's wide range of Normal-type attacks to best effect.

"Maybe it would be easier if I had a Kakuna for you to fight?" Lia taunted.

"Hey, I don't see you scoring any big hits!" Peter responded. However, Lia's taunt gave him an idea. "Hold it, Shadow. Let him come to you…" he ordered.

Lia held her hand up and looked at Pete suspiciously. Responding to her gesture, Chikorita froze for a moment. "Okay…" Lia said. "Chikorita, close in and use Poison Powder!"

Chikorita charged, but Peter didn't seem to notice. He was watching with a secret smile. At the very last moment, just as Chikorita was almost close enough to touch Shadow, he made his move. "Okay, Shadow, Bite Toss!" Shadow grabbed Chikorita by the scruff of the neck just as the plant-type released his Poison Powder attack. Both Pokémon vanished in the grey cloud of toxic spores.

A split second later, Chikorita emerged from the cloud… airborne and upside-down! He hit the ground with a loud thump and a cry of "Ko!" [Ow!]

Shadow emerged from the cloud, visibly weaker, but not out of the fight yet. "Now use Pound!" Peter ordered. The Eevee loped forward towards his opponent, who was lying on his back and was struggling fitfully to roll over again

"No, don't!" Lia shouted. Peter was shocked by the fear in his companion's voice and reacted at once.

"Hold it, Shadow," Peter said, raising his hand.

Lia looked at Peter a bit resentfully. "There's no need, Peter," she said, sounding unhappy. "There's no way I can win from this position. I yield."

"Now, there's no reason to do that," a voice said. "You never know what might happen in a bout, kid. You might still win it!" Peter and Lia turned to face the newcomer. It was a teenaged boy, quite tall for his age, with scruffy brown hair, long at the back and combed forwards from the fringe. He was wearing a long, purple Hawaiian shirt, dark slacks and a Ying-Yang medallion was visible through the open neck of his shirt. An Arcanine stood at his side, glaring at the two combatants fearsomely.

"G… Gary Oak?" Peter asked in amazement.

"Hey, you were expecting maybe Giovanni diRocketti to still be here?" Gary said easily. "Good moves with your Eevee kid. Take it from someone who knows: Don't be in a rush to evolve him." Peter nodded dumbly as the Earth Gym Leader strolled easily into the arena. His power and skill as a Trainer were evident from the way Arcanine stayed glued to his side, watching Shadow and Chikorita for the first hint of hostility they might show towards her Trainer.

"It… It's a great honour to meet you Gym Leader," Peter managed to stammer out. "You are one of my heroes."

"Yeah, of course I am," Gary said without a hint of modesty.

Peter nodded eagerly. "I've followed your career from the first moment I was aware of the League! You and Master Ash are my role models! I'm going to be the very best, just like you two!"

It might have been Peter's imagination, but he later would swear that Gary visibly winced when he heard Ash's name. Still, if he felt any discomfort at hearing the name of his greatest peer and rival, Gary recovered almost immediately. "Yeah, well, people always know when they see the best," he said easily. "So what are you two doing here?"

"We're just getting some training in before heading off to Pewter City, Gym Leader," Lia said, entering the conversation for the first time from where she was tending to the stunned Chikorita. Unlike Peter, she wasn't even remotely impressed with Gary. She had seen many so-called 'Great Trainers.' Until she saw one walk on water or something, she wasn't going to treat them any differently from any other Trainer she met.

Gary nodded. "Your Chikorita looks pretty strong already, considering you could only have got them from Grandpa maybe a few days ago," he said. "So does your friend's Eevee…" Gary paused, realising he had forgotten something. "What was your names again?"

"Peter Croft," Peter said. "This is Lia McAlester. We're both from Pallet Town." Gary nodded. "We're just doing some exercises to get all our Pokémon over Level 5 before moving onto Route 2."

Gary nodded again and grinned in a vague way that seemed to indicate that his mind was elsewhere. "That's a good idea," he said. "I went onto Route 2 with just Eevee and Pidgey and nearly had my head handed to me by a pair of Nidorans. You would not believe how tough those little poison-types can be!"

Peter could well imagine. After the fright that Pidgey gave him when he knocked out Buck, Peter wasn't ever going to underestimate a Pokémon again. "Anyway, we're sorry for bothering you, sir," Peter said.

"No bother," Gary said with a smile.

"Gym Leader, would you like to try me out?" Lia asked, her eyes innocent. Behind Gary, Peter began to wave his hands frantically and shake his head in warning. Lia just ignored him and looked at the Gym Leader, waiting for his response.

"Is that a challenge, girlie?" Gary asked with a slight sneer.

Lia shook her head. "I just want to see if you are equal to your reputation," Lia replied with a grin. "No Gym Badge on the line, just you and me, one-on-one for the sake of some practice!"

Gary nodded quietly. "Okay, your courage does you credit, Lia, even if it does seem to be giving your friend an ulcer." Gary turned to Peter (who was still frantically gesturing to Lia, trying to tell her to back off) and winked in a way that Peter chose to interpret as being reassuring. He felt that Gary was promising not to hurt or humiliate Lia, which was a good thing. Peter would hate to see her hurt. Gary turned back to Lia. "You first, Lia," he said, gesturing easily.

Lia pulled out a Pokéball and tossed it forwards. "Go Pidgey!" she shouted. Her Pidgey materialised in a hover right beside her. Peter had to give Lia credit: she was taking this seriously. Pidgey's experience level was already 6 when she caught him. Since then, battle and Training had taken it up to 10. "And you, Gym Leader?" she asked.

Gary looked at the hovering flying-type for a moment before pulling out a Pokéball. "Okay, it's up to you, Marowak. Don't let me down!" Gary kissed the ball and threw it forwards. The ball split open revealing the ground/fighting-type with exoskeletal skull armour. "Ladies first," he said, gesturing to Lia.

Lia growled. "Okay, use Razor Wing!" she shouted. Pidgey shot forward towards Marowak.

"Bone Club, now!" Gary countered. Marowak touched his arm and pulled a long bone from a skin pouch. He swung like a major league batter and connected with Pidgey, sending him tumbling across the arena, knocked silly. "Are you really sure you want to do this, Lia?" Gary asked. "Marowak is a level-41 and he has a type advantage. Your Pidgey doesn't really stand a chance against him."

"I'm not scared," Lia insisted. "Again, Pidgey, use an evasive approach this time!" Pidgey shot in and avoided the Bone Club. He slashed his wing across Marowak's face. "Now Peck!" Lia ordered. The flying-type responded as best as he could, but Marowak's head armour prevented the attack from causing too much damage.

At Lia's command, Pidgey shot around behind Marowak and tried another Razor Wing attack. This time, he slashed across Marowak's rump. The ground/fighting-type rolled forward, but Peter could tell it wasn't a sign that the hit had affected him much, he was simply moving clear. "Okay, now use Gust to knock him over!" Lia shouted as Marowak turned to face Pidgey again.

"Leer," Gary said, his face deadly serious. Marowak stared at Pidgey and grinned maliciously. Pidgey froze for a moment, and a moment was all the Gym Leader needed. "Now use Focus Energy!" There was a smell of ozone and the end of Marowak's club began to glow red-gold with Earth-type energy. There was no fast movement this time, rather Marowak simply touched the club to Pidgey and discharged the attack, blowing the flying-type across the arena again.

"Oh no, Pidgey!" Lia gasped as the bird tumbled to the ground. "A… Are you all right?" The flying-type didn't respond, as he was unconscious. When Lia realised that he was out of the fight, she recalled him to his ball. She turned to Gary and managed a single stiff bow. "Your Battle, sir," she grated out. Then she turned and fled the arena.

Peter ran after her and found her sitting on the stairs beside the entrance pillars, crying her eyes out. "Oh, Peter, I feel like a failure!" she wept.

Peter felt helpless in the face of her heartbreak. "It was just one Battle, Lia," he said lamely. "And against one of the very best. You've only just started out. You'll get better quickly enough!"

Lia turned her tear-streaked face to Peter. "But… but if I can't beat Gym Leaders, then I can't win Gym Badges! I won't achieve anything!"

Peter sighed, sat down beside Lia and tried to comfort her. "Lia, you will win some badges, but you've got to train first and prepare. Gary specialises in Normal- Earth- and Ground-type Pokémon. Neither of us is ready to face a top Trainer in those types yet. We've got to prepare first."

Lia sighed and sniffled a little. "I… I thought it would be easy," she said quietly. "After what has happened over the last couple of days… I thought… that I could take on the world!"

"I guess after beating Team Rocket, we've both been a bit cocky," Peter admitted. He put an arm across Lia's shoulders and hugged her in reassurance. "Maybe we needed this little wake-up call." Lia felt good that Peter included himself in his comments. She managed a slight smile and disentangled herself from Peter's hug. "Wait until we reach Pewter," Peter said. "By then, nothing will be able to stop us!"

"I guess," Lia replied. She wiped her face and stood up. "Look, Peter, I've got to take Chikorita and Pidgey to Nurse Joy," she said.

Peter nodded. "I'm going to stay here and talk to Gary a bit more," he said. Lia nodded and walked off.

"Is your friend going to be okay?" Gary asked. His Arcanine seemed to be in the middle of a deep conversation with Shadow and the two Pokémon were ignoring their Trainers.

"She's suffering from a little dose of reality," Peter said. "So am I, for that. I suddenly realised how far we have to go before we're ready to enter the League."

"Don't worry about it," Gary said easily. "We all have to start somewhere. Hell, when Ash started out, he barely could even figure out how to train his Pikachu. I wiped the floor with him out on Route 22." Gary grinned at what was clearly a sweet memory. Then he frowned slightly. "Of course, that was also the last time it was so easy. Ash improved very quickly." Gary shook his head and looked directly at Peter. "And if he can, so can you. So don't fret kid."

Gary turned to leave, but Peter suddenly felt the need to say something. "Gary, have you got any advice that might help?" Peter asked.

Gary turned back and grinned. "I hoped that you were going to ask that," he replied. I've got quite a bit as it turns out." Peter stepped forward to listen to the Gym Leader, forgetting for a moment that he was only seven years older than he was.

Gary drew in a deep breath before starting. "The first thing is to remember that your Pokémon are more than just tools. That was my biggest mistake. I crashed out of the Indigo League in my first year because I'd spent so long becoming a skilled Trainer, I had forgotten to be a caring Trainer. Half my Pokémon only did what I asked grudgingly." Gary shook his head as he recalled his youthful arrogance and his many mistakes. "The oath doesn't even begin to explain what is involved in this, Peter. They aren't just your friends, they are your comrades in battle and your lifelong brothers and sisters," Gary said, suddenly sounding very serious. "Accord them all the love and respect that they deserve as your closest and dearest friends. They are willing to fight for you and die for you, so you have to be willing to fight for them and die for them."

That shocked Peter, but before he could say anything, the Earth Gym Leader continued. "My second pearl of wisdom is this: Don't worry about 'catching 'em all.'" Gary grinned. "I reached my first League season with examples of all 146 Pokémon that a Trainer could hope to have at the time. The problem was that I hadn't had the chance to train them properly, as I felt the need to keep swapping 'em around. Ash has the right idea, as amazing as it is to say. He has a core group of… oh, I'd say no more than fifteen Pokémon who he has Trained to the point where they can beat almost any opponent. On top of that that he has about another fifty different Pokémon of all kinds, but which he rarely uses for Battle unless the situation specifically demands it. Some accuse him of neglecting those other fifty, Lance especially, but in truth, they are all cared for. He just doesn't use them all that much."

"I know I've never seen him without his Raichu and Bayleef," Peter said.

Gary nodded. "Those two are the closest to him by a long way," he confirmed. "If there is any Pokémon he can't defeat with them, I haven't heard of it." Gary thought for a moment. "His fighting line-up also always includes at least two of the following: a Blastoise, a Venusaur, a Charizard, a Quilava, a Croconaw, a Butterfree, a Heracross, an Alakazam, a Gyarados and a Joerilla. They are his best-trained Pokémon and they would literally walk through Hell itself for him."

Gary shook his head and continued. "Next: Don't ever, ever force your Pokémon to evolve. I made that mistake with my first Eevee. I tried to evolve him into a Vaporeon, specifically to use against Ash's Pikachu. He actually ran away. Eevee and I were so close, but I nearly lost him because I ignored what he wanted." Gary shook his head. "I made that mistake a few other times. One of the reasons my Starmie never listened to me was because I evolved him without asking and he never really forgave me. Why should he?" Peter was in shock at these revelations.

"Finally, my biggest bit of advice is this." Gary paused and knelt beside Peter to look into his eyes. "Have a cause, Peter. Have something to make you want to attain to this goal. When Ash and I started our journeys, all we wanted was to become a Pokémon Master so we could rub the other's face in that fact. We wanted the fame that came with the title and didn't think about anything else. It was such an insipid ambition that it never really motivated us enough to put effort into our calling. That is why we were both so poor Trainers at first. It wasn't until Ash found a cause to follow that he really started to do real damage. He wanted to be a Master to improve the standards that Pokémon Trainers everywhere lived by. Given the number of cowboys and abusive Trainers like that idiot Damien that he met, I can't blame him. I didn't really start to improve until I first became the leader of this Gym. I had a name to defend and a cause to uphold."

"So, what are you saying?" Peter asked quietly. He remembered what Ann Starr said to him yesterday in the Pokémon Centre.

Gary sighed. "It isn't enough to just want to be the very best," Gary said. "You have to have a reason to drive you to that goal and beyond, or you will never be really motivated to realise it. Who would want to become a Pokémon Master and then have nothing else to do with their lives?" Gary laughed. "Look at Ash. He's decided to be a teacher." Peter's face must have revealed his shock. "Yes, you heard me right," Gary said. "He's going to build his own gym in Pallet that he and Misty are going to run together. It is going to be the first all-types Gym. What he really wants to do, though, is to teach Trainers how to learn how to be a brother and partner to their Pokémon and how to develop integrated skills that will serve them in their post-journey lives." Gary continued. He laughed and shook his head ruefully. "He's actually going to try to change the whole concept of Pokémon training, making less a sport and more a culture, a different way of life. That will probably take him the rest of his life, but he doesn't care. It is something that is important to him." Gary smiled and seemed to look inward. "To think he was such a loser when we started out," he said quietly.

Peter was stunned. He really didn't know what to think. "It will be years before you have to make these decisions," Gary said, "but it is never too early to start thinking about it. Ask yourself this: What will Pokémon Master Peter Croft do with the power and fame that comes with the name? Only when you've answered that will you really be able to start on the path to being a Master, because only then will you really want the title."

When Peter left the Gym, he found that Lia wasn't in the Pokémon Centre's atrium waiting for Joy to finish healing her Pokémon. Nor was she anywhere else in the Pokémon Centre complex. Concerned, but not really worried, Peter decided to take the opportunity to use the Centre's laundry. He also spent some time giving his Pokémon a thorough grooming and cleaning.

Peter walked out into the atrium again wearing a clean set of clothes and with Shadow's fur gleaming with health. He was planning to ask Joy whether Lia had returned, but she was talking to a young black-haired girl with a narrow oriental face that he didn't recognise. The girl turned around after she had taken her two Pokéballs and grinned when she saw Peter. Whoever she was, she clearly recognised him. "Hey, Peter!" she said, pirouetting around. "What do you think of the new look?"

Peter's jaw dropped open when he suddenly realised who this stranger was. "Lia?" he asked stupidly.

Lia laughed and nodded. "Yep, it's me!" She had, as they had discussed yesterday, cut her hair to shoulder length and had tied it back in a tight braid. She was also wearing clothing that looked much tougher than her previous 'designer label' look. "I went out shopping to try and clear my head, and while I was out there, I suddenly figured it all out! I realised that being a Trainer isn't easy and that I would have to start thinking the right way," she said. "Getting rid of the 'rich girl' look was the first step."

Peter looked at the radically changed girl and grinned. "It's a start," he said.

"That it is," Lia said with a firm nod. "After Shadow beating Chikorita and Gary's Marowak beating Pidgey so easily, I realised that I had to take this more seriously. There'll be no more whining from me, I can promise you that!" The girl grinned. "Are you ready to take the heat from the new, improved me?" she asked.

"I'll give it my best," Peter said, tipping his head slightly in acknowledgement. "I was just heading out to the Pokémart to stock up on some supplies. Do you…?" That was as far as he got. Lia grabbed Peter by the arm and dragged him out of the Pokémon Centre in the direction of the Pokémart as fast as they could go.

Joy watched them go with a broad smile. Yes, they were adapting to their new circumstances already.

Peter looked around the Pokémart and shook his head a little in disbelief. It wasn't that there was nothing here he wanted. The shop sold a great deal of equipment, some of which he already had, and some he didn't. The problem was budgeting himself so that he didn't run out of money. He had about K$1,000.00 in his account. Although he imagined that Lia had much more money, he had enough pride not to want to beg from his friends… There's that word again! he thought in irritation.

Peter looked at where Lia was looking thoughtfully at a gold-and-white Ultra-type Pokéball that she was holding and wondered how he could know someone for only three days and think of them as a friend. It wasn't as if he and Lia were remotely likely to have become friends under normal circumstances. Hell, they seemed to be arguing most of the time. Nonetheless… Nonetheless she was quickly becoming a part of his life, and he was sure he would miss her if she decided to go her own way.

Peter shook his head and looked at the Pokéball rack in front of him. He had already used up three of the five Pokéballs that Professor Oak had issued to him on the first day of his Journey. His first priority had to be to top up on this most vital of resources for a Trainer. He had put five of the red-and-white standard-types in his shopping basked and a single of the blue-and-white Aqua-type Pokéballs, optimised for catching water- and ice-types.

"Hey, Peter, look at this," Lia suddenly announced. Peter went over to join Lia and looked at the device she was holding. It looked a bit like a fishing rod, except that it didn't have a hook on the end of the line, but a blue-and-red Pokéball. "It's a Lure Rod," she said. "You use this and the Lure-type Pokéball to catch water-types."

"Well, it's going to be some time before that comes up," Peter said. "We're pretty far inland."

"We'll be in Cerulean City before you know it," Lia insisted. Peter could tell that it was only a token protest for her pride's sake. Well, maybe he's right, Lia allowed silently. She put the Lure Rod back on its' rack and walked off to the medical department without a single glance back.

The medical stuff was important. It took weeks to travel in between the towns and cities with Pokémon Centres. On that way, both youngsters aimed to do a lot of Battling, both against wild Pokémon and against other Trainers. It was important to hone their own skills and that of their friends before they reached the first Gym City on the standard Indigo circuit: Pewter City.

The League had issued Peter and Lia a basic medical kit before they set off. Two bottles, each of ten doses of Standard Potion (capable of restoring a Pokémon's health by twenty Standard Health Index points). They also received a single bottle of General Antidote and tubes of Burn, Paralyse and Ice Heal creams. However, now that they were preparing to begin their Journey in earnest, that small amount of medical equipment was not enough.

Peter and Lia both bought a single bottle of Standard Potion and a single bottle of Antidote. Making use of the special offer the guy on Route 1 had told them about, they also bought two tubes of Burn and Paralyse Heal creams. Lia thought that such extravagant spending was a bit excessive and said so. "Lia," Peter said, "who knows what we'll come up against before we reach the Pokémon Centre in Pewter City? We should be ready for anything." More with the 'we' stuff, Peter added silently. This is starting to get worrying!

They also stocked up on Pokémeals (buying some different flavour selections). Peter also bought a 1-litre bottle of fruit juice as a change from the water in his canteen. At the end of all this, both youngsters' credit accounts were pretty badly depleted, but they felt it was worth it. "Thank you for shopping at Viridian City Pokémart," the pretty blonde lady clerk said as she handed Peter his purchases in a plastic bag. "Please come again."

"Not for a long time, Miss," Peter said. "I've got a lot of Gyms to visit before I come back this way."

"That's what they all say," the clerk said, rolling her eyes. "I'll be impressed when I see all twelve badges on your coat." Lia was ready to explode at the condescension in the woman's voice. Peter trod on Lia's foot to shut her up before she could shout at the woman.

"You will see it," Peter said.

"Yeah, and you'd better be impressed then, too," Lia added snootily. As the two of them left the Pokémart, Lia continued in a snide tone of voice. "Peasant! She should learn a little respect!"

Peter debated replying, but he didn't really feel like an argument right now. He contented himself with just directing his steps towards the west and Route 22. It was late afternoon, and Peter had decided not to try to make it onto Route 2 tonight. However, both of them wanted to see the site of their first major battle, against Team Rocket perhaps, but still their first, once again.

Peter and Lia were standing by the Victory Gate looking down Victory Road once more. "You know," Peter said, breaking the thoughtful silence, "it doesn't really seem so long, does it?"

Lia wasn't listening to her companion's thoughts on the symbolic length of the Victory Road. Something had caught her attention, something in the bushes behind her. She swallowed her nerves and turned to look at the bush carefully. I'm not going to be caught out twice, she promised herself. "Go Chikorita," she ordered, releasing her first Pokémon.

Peter turned around wearing a surprised look on his face. "What's up Lia?" he asked.

"Let's find out," Lia said. She pulled a Pokéball out of her belt pouch and maximised it. She didn't set it to 'capture' mode; she just threw it into the bush. There was a rustle and a blue-purple blur shot out of the bush with a panicked squeak. "It's a Rattata!" Lia almost screamed. "Chikorita, use Tackle!" Chikorita shot right at the panicked rodent-like Normal-type and struck it head-on. The Rattata went sprawling onto its' back. Lia cheered loudly. "Well done! Now use Poison Powder!"

[You got it, Lia!] Chikorita chirped, running over to the Rattata. Peter watched as plant- and normal-type both disappeared in a grey cloud of spores. The wind was fairly strong today and the attack quickly dissipated. The Rattata was out cold. Lia pulled out another Pokéball and threw it at the Rattata. The ball sucked the creature in without a twitch of protest.

"Yeah!" Lia shouted. "I got it!" She turned to Peter with an excited expression, overjoyed by her victory.

Peter scowled at her slightly. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be scared by Rattatas?" he asked suspiciously.

Lia was about to explode when she realised she was being teased… again. "Oh… you!" she hissed. She picked up her capture and rescued her other Pokéball from the bush. "I told you that that first Rattata caught me by surprise!" she snapped.

"Hey, I believed you then, I believe you now," Peter said, letting his scowl turn into a smile. "That was a great capture!"

"Yeah, against a Rattata! The question is how well will she do against real opposition?" shouted another voice.

Peter turned from Lia with a suspicious look on his face. At his side, Shadow groaned. [Watch out, folks,] the Eevee groaned, [the Giant Ego is here!]

"Adam," Peter hissed. Adam Bryant, the worst bully in his elementary school, probably the nastiest person Peter had ever met, was leaning against a tree further down Route 22, grinning at Peter and Lia in an infuriating way.

"Hey, you survived long enough to get to Viridian City," Adam quipped easily. "Maybe there is a God!"

Peter rolled his eyes and tried to keep himself calm by counting the thousands of people who he would rather meet. Strangely enough, even Ned and Kelly were higher up his contact list than Adam was. "Yeah, I survived, Adam," Peter replied. "I prospered too. When did you get in?"

"Well, I've been taking my time picking up two of everything that scenic Route 1 has to offer," Adam replied. "However, I see that you've picked up a bit of baggage, Petey-boy." Adam sneered slightly. "A girl, now that's a surprise!" The bully walked forward with a self-confident swagger. He walked right past Peter and towards Lia, sticking out his hand for a shake. "Hi there, Miss," he said. "I'm Adam Bryant, the guy who is going to beat Ash Ketchum's record and be the youngest Pokémon Master ever."

Lia immediately earned points in Peter's book by bursting into gales of laughter. "Oh wow, you really do have an ego problem, don't you Bryant?" she giggled.

Adam scowled as he noted Peter's grin. "I'm sorry…?" he said dangerously. "What did you say?"

"I said you have as much of an ego problem as your nouveau riche father!" Lia said. "My Dad always says that if Eric Bryant had the level of breeding his wealth usually demands, he would still be vulgar!"

"Your…?" Adam had gone bright red. Suddenly he cocked his head and started in surprise. "Talia McAlester?" he asked in surprise. "What are you doing here with him?"

"We're travelling together, dumb-ass," Peter said. "What do you think we're doing?"

"Shut up, Wimp!" Adam shouted at Peter and turned back to Lia. "So how about it, McAlester? What's the story? Do you need him to carry your heavy gear? Is he useful in keeping the rest of the peasantry at bay? Or have you just decided that you want a bit of rough for variety's sake?"

Lia went bright red when she heard Adam's incredibly insulting remarks. "If you must know, Peter has agreed to help me get used to camping out!" she snapped. "He is a good Trainer and he is helping me a lot!"

"Peter Croft being useful?" Adam laughed derisively. "Now there's a contradiction in terms!" Adam grinned at Lia. "I'll just show you who is a good Trainer, then you can come with me on my Journey. Doesn't that sound nice?" Lia's jaw dropped open at Adam's daring and she was unable to reply as Adam turned around to his favourite victim. "Okay, Peter, no dodging this time," Adam announced. "It's you against me, one-on-one! Don't worry, I won't hurt your pitiful little fox too much."

Peter scowled at Adam and Shadow looked ready to take the other boy apart. Lia, however, saved Peter, the trouble of attacking. "How dare you?" she shouted. "Peter is a fine Trainer, Adam, and Shadow is the best Eevee I've ever seen in action!"

Adam turned back to Lia with a sneer. "Aw, how cute," he said with an insulting edge to his tone, "you've got yourself a pet!"

"Why you filthy… Say that to my face!" Peter shouted, suddenly more angry than he had ever been before.

"You slime!" Lia shouted. "Peter is my friend, Adam! He is a better person than you'll ever be!"

"F… friend?" Adam said, suddenly laughing so hard that he was nearly choking. "You, the ultimate baby aristocrat, are friends with Mr. Charity Scholarship? You really are pathetic, McAlester! I wonder what your daddy would say if he knew that his precious little girl was consorting with the peasantry?"

D… did she just call me her 'friend?' Peter was so shocked by Lia's words that he barely noticed Adam pulling a Pokéball off of his belt.

"Let me show you exactly what your 'friend' is worth," Adam sneered. "Go Charmander!"

Adam released his first Pokémon, who materialised in between his Trainer and Peter. "Chaarrrr!" it roared.

Peter scowled. What Adam had said days ago at the Trainer's Monolith in Pallet Town was true. He did owe Adam a lot of pain for years of bullying. Now he was insulting Lia too, someone who, despite their differences had just said she was his friend. However… "I will fight you, Adam," Peter announced, "but only on my terms."

"Your 'terms?'" Adam asked, his eyebrows rising in humorous disbelief. "Okay, Wimp, let's hear them."

"Simple," Peter said, "this is a battle between two Novices, pure and simple. We are fighting for the honour of our Pokémon and our own as Trainers. There is nothing in this about you and me and all the bad blood between us." Peter dragged in a deep breath before continuing. "Why? Because a good Trainer never involves his Pokémon in personal disputes."

Adam's jaw had dropped open in surprise. Lia was smiling in pride. He really is a good guy, she told herself. I never thought I would ever meet anyone who subscribed to that old code!

Adam took some time to gather himself. "Okay," he said quietly, "as you said, this has nothing to do with our history. It is you and me for the sake of finding out who is the best Trainer."

Peter nodded in agreement. Shadow loped forward until he was just two yards in front of Charmander. "You challenged me, Adam," Peter said, "you make the first move."

"Okay," Adam said, his lips curling cruelly in anticipation. "Charmander… Ember!" Charmander breathed in and spat out a single red-orange fireball. Shadow was already moving and dodged out to one side as the fireball hit the spot he was just a fraction of a second earlier. "Damn," Adam snapped. "Back off, Charmander, get some distance!" Charmander turned to face Shadow and took a few steps backwards. "Okay… and… Tackle!" Charmander charged.

"Tackle low!" Peter responded. Shadow went in low and struck the bipedal reptile against his legs, sending him tumbling across the ground. "Great job, Shadow!" Peter yelled.

"Use Tail Whip you stupid lizard!" Adam shouted. Charmander responded immediately. The dinosaur-like fire-type lashed out with its' muscular tail and struck Shadow hard against the muzzle sending him tumbling. "Okay, Ember again!" Adam shouted. Charmander fired off another fireball. This one struck Shadow hard against his left side, making him squeal in pain.

"Shadow!" Peter shouted. "Oh no!" Peter could see that his friend was hurt and he had to fight down the panic rising in his chest.

"Be careful, Peter!" Lia cried from one side.

"Okay, let's finish this," Adam said. "Close in and use Slash, Charmander," Adam said. The fire-type moved forward, intending to use the deadly sickle-shaped claws that extended from his fingers.

Peter suddenly had in inspiration. "Steady, Shadow," he called. "Face me… and…" Peter waited until Charmander was almost on top of Shadow before he gave his order. "Sand Attack, now!" Shadow immediately started kicking up dirt. The hail of dirt, sand, grit and small stones struck Charmander right in the face as it closed in for his final attack. Surprised, temporarily blinded and hurt, he reeled back, shaking his head violently.

"Damn, use Ember," Adam commanded. Peter just pointed to the right. Shadow easily avoided the still-blinded fire-type's untargeted attack.

"Tackle!" Peter ordered. Shadow slammed into the disoriented Charmander's legs again, once again sending him sprawling. "Okay, and now use Pound," Peter called, excitement filling his voice. Shadow leapt forward and stamped all four of his legs hard against Charmander's chest. The creature breathed out a long trail of flame as the attack knocked all the breath out of him. "Yeah! You're winning Shadow!"

[He's not down yet,] Shadow replied. His burns were aching and he could see that Charmander had finally cleared his eyes after the Sand Attack.

"Use Tail Whip!" Peter ordered. Shadow complied immediately, slapping his tail over the fire-type's muzzle several times. Charmander staggered back; he was now visibly weaker.

"Oh… no!" Adam shouted. "This isn't supposed to happen! Back off again, Charmander!"

"Tackle again!" Peter countered. As Charmander tried to get more room to manoeuvre, Shadow darted forward, zigzagging to avoid any sudden Ember attack, before slamming his weight into the fire-type's side, knocking him down again. Charmander rolled over from the force of the impact. He struggled for a moment and then his head sagged back against the ground. He had fainted.

"YES!" Peter shouted. He knelt on one knee and held out his arms to Shadow so the Eevee could leap into his arms. "You did it, Shadow! Your first Trainer Battle and you won! Fair and square!"

Adam's round face took on a positively violent aspect as he studied his fallen Pokémon. Without a single word, he recalled him to his Pokéball. He turned towards Peter and began to stalk forwards, his fists clenched. "You… little… cheat!" Adam snarled. "I am going to make you sorry that you ever became a Trainer and I am going to break your mangy mutt's neck!"

Peter stood up and Shadow turned to face the belligerent human, snarling fearsomely. Suddenly, Lia interposed herself in between Adam and Peter. "Hey! Cut it out!" she ordered. "He won fair and square! There's no reason for you to threaten him like that!"

"Give me a break," Adam replied angrily. "You should be on my side, not his! He is a little downtown nothing and we are part of the town's elite!"

"We are Pokémon Trainers," Lia snapped. "Beyond that the only division that matters is whether we are a good Trainer or a bad Trainer." She smiled at Adam in a way that conveyed no warmth whatsoever. "And you, Adam Bryant, are a bad Trainer."

Adam snarled and slapped Lia across the face, making her gasp in surprise. "Okay, if that's the way you want it," he said in a deadly monotone, "I'll deal with you after I've dealt with him!" Adam pushed Lia onto her backside and turned back to face Peter. Much to his surprise, the other boy was standing right in front of him.

"You leave my friend alone!" Peter shouted and drove his left fist into the unprepared bully's gut. Adam's eyes bugged out as the breath was driven from his body. Peter followed through with a right uppercut to the jaw. Adam went flying and hit the ground, his eyes glassy and unseeing. Peter turned his back on Adam and offered Lia his hand. "You okay?" he asked.

"Fine," Lia said, feeling warm as she thought of the way Peter had said 'friend.' She had many other friends, but oddly enough, she never felt that anyone had meant the word in quite the same way as he had. "Thanks for the rescue, Peter." She smiled slightly. "It would have been easier just to get Bugsy to use String Shot and tie him up."

"Maybe," Peter said. "However, I don't involve Pokémon in personal matters, like I said. When he threatened my friend, he made this very, very personal."

Lia smiled at Peter in a very warm fashion. "Now you've done it," she said. "You've said it twice. Now I guess we're going to be friends forever now! I'll never be able to get rid of you!"

"Friends forever," Peter said. "I like the sound of that!"

After that little run-in, Peter and Lia decided that it would be better if they were some way away from Viridian City when Adam finally got around to trying to look for him. Peter knew the bully well enough to know he would want revenge as a first priority.

Therefore, after getting their Pokémon healed, they hit the roads. By the time the sun began to set and they made camp, they were four miles onto Route 2 and Viridian City was lost to view.

"Well, the practice is over," Peter said as the watched the fire. "From now on, this is for real. I figure it will take us about a week to reach Pewter City and our first Gym Badge battle."

Lia nodded thoughtfully. "I guess," she said quietly. She smiled at Peter. "It is easier to have a friend around, though."

[Hey, what about us?] Chikorita wanted to know.

Lia laughed and hugged her first Pokémon. "I meant 'human' friends, Chikorita," she said. "You already know I'm your friend."

Peter grinned as he watched this and began to tickle Shadow between the ears. The Eevee leaned into his caress happily. "Yes, it is good to have friends," Peter said.

Shadow looked up at him. [Don't forget it,] he said.

"You know, I have been thinking about what Gary said to me today," Peter suddenly announced. Lia looked up from where she was tickling Chikorita on his belly. Peter had told her about this conversation and it had given her food for thought too. "After running into Adam, I think I have some idea about what I want to do in the long run." Lia looked at him and waited for him to continue. "I will be a Master and make sure that people become Trainers for the right reason. There will be no more glory-hounds, no more bullies wanting to increase their power and no more bad Trainers whose Pokémon become 'stupid' or 'useless' when they lose a single Battle. That is a task worthy of a Master, I think."

To be continued…

Afterword

Okay, folks, this is a fairly good spot to pause the action, so I'm going to leave it here for a while. I want to do some work on 'Avenger' and 'Team Rocket Neo' now, but 'The Journey' will continue in September at the very latest.

Don't forget to keep those characters coming in, folks! Peter and Lia are going to meet and fight lots of fellow Novices on the road, so I need lots of Lads and Lasses with low- or mid-level Pokémon teams! Click the hyperlink below to send your details to me. I need a character name, basic background, a physical description and the core six Pokémon on your team.

Yes! I want to be a Guest Trainer!

Terms of Acceptance –

No Legendary-types (like Lugia, Entei or Mewtwo);

No hybrids, canon Pokémon only (although you can use some from my 'Pokémon Purple/Orange if you like);

I will consider all entries, but I will be more likely to reject characters with really unusual backgrounds or special powers.