Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or any other people in my story.
Steve's day started as normal. He woke up, jumped out of bed, changed and was out the door in the flash of an eye. He immediately pounded on his friend's door and apologized to his parents for waking them up again. Bill looked at his friend and yawned.
"I thought I told you not to wake me up again!"
"I couldn't help it today. I need practice for the tournament in three days. Only the best will show up. I heard that Joseph the pokémon master will be there!"
"Why would he go to a small town tourney like this?"
"I don't know but it isn't looking good for my chances. No one has ever beaten more than three of his six in a tournament."
"Fine. I'll fight you again. But, don't expect a better fight than yesterday and this is the last time this week."
With that the friends went into the backyard and the battle began.
"Blastoise, I choose you!" cried Steve.
Bill tilted his pokéball and made a short comment, "I'll play you with my new pokémon. Go Raichu!"
Steve looked at the new opponent with displeasure. As the new pokémon appeared he thought to himself, (It can't be too strong since he caught it yesterday. When did he catch it, though? He didn't have time yesterday. Oh well, I guess I'll have to revise my first plan.)
Both pokémon appear on the field and look at each other. The raichu thinks the battle is already won and Steve's blastoise is looking at the raichu with distaste. Finally Steve's mom looked out the window and shouted, "Fight already!"
"Blastoise be careful! That raichu might be able to beat you. Be careful and use far away attacks like your water gun, hydro pump or, if worse goes to worse, your hyper beam."
"Raichu don't worry. Use your thunder punch and your thunderbolt to get an easy win."
As the two pokémon received their orders they leaped into action. The blastoise started by shooting water out of his two cannons while the Raichu aimed a thundershock at the blastoise. The lightening hit the water and came back at the raichu, however the raichu easily evaded the attack with agility. Blastoise decided on a better attack and started gathering a beam around his mouth.
Bill screamed, "Raichu dodge that hyper beam, speed up a bit!"
The raichu had started using agility and was disappearing from sight. The blastoise fired his beam at the raichu and connected. The raichu's joints immediately froze together.
Bill was dancing up and down on the side. "What the fuck just happened? What happened to my raichu, no hyper beam does that!"
Steve smiled at his friend, "You're right. No hyper beam does that, but an ice beam does."
Bill sat down in the grass. He took out a pokéball and returned his pokémon. "Everyone knows you're the best around this village. There isn't competition for miles. You're bound to do well in the tournament. I refuse to fight you and your pokémon until I'm forced to in the tourney."
Steve laid down on his back, "Fine, but don't expect any mercy in the tournament. That raichu will only get you so far."
"I'm going to sleep again. Ask someone else for a battle. See you in three days." Bill walked back into his house and didn't say another word. Steve couldn't help feeling sorry for his friend. A good friend but not such a good pokémon trainer. He sighed and decided to return home for lunch, "Come on blastoise. Return."
During the next three nights Steve had terrible visions and heard voices talking to him.
"Why do you want to be the pokémon champion?"
"I want to prove to myself that I can be the best at something."
"Do you think you will be fighting the best at the tournament?"
"Of course, Joseph will be there!"
"Joseph? That man couldn't win a battle to save his life, this isn't the end though. You'll meet me someday."
Steve covered his ears and started moving away from the voice. He couldn't get it out, though. It spoke straight into his mind. He started running as fast as he could to get away from the voice.
"Steve wake up!"
Steve quickly sat up, panting and sweating. He looked up at his mother, who was looking at him curiously. "What's wrong, mom?"
"You were screaming in your sleep, are you feeling okay?"
"Of course, just a bad dream."
"Okay, wake up. It's time for the tourney."
"Okay."
