Meager Beginnings
Daisyrock
Alexis wiped sweat from her forehead. This road seemed to go on forever, and the sun was shining down rather harshly. Mickey was strutting along beside her, looking rather proud of himself after his first victory. She rolled her eyes. Suddenly the small Zigzagoon began making noises and jumping up and down excitedly.
"Mickey... what is it?" Alexis stopped, breathing hard. She was secretly glad for an excuse to stop for a minute.
Something round and green hopped out of a patch of tall grass. It looked rather squishy, and had a yellow feather-shaped extension from the back of its head as well as a black diamond shape on its back. "...Gul?"
"What is that?" Alexis blinked.
The Pokèmon blinked back. "Gul, gulpin?"
Mickey walked over to the Pokèmon- a Gulpin- and sniffed it. The Gulpin sat perfectly still. Mickey wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue in disgust. Alexis giggled a little. "Doesn't smell very good, does it?"
Mickey turned and looked at her. The Gulpin seemed to be examining the Zigzagoon, then suddenly... THWAM! It stretched out its tiny hands and pounded him from behind. "Ziiiiiiiigg..." The Gulpin started giggling in a strange way. "Guhuhu, geehuhu, gul, huhuhu..."
Alexis had what would be perfectly described as a sweatdrop expression.
Mickey looked somewhat perturbed as he turned around, glaring at the mischevious green blob. Suddenly he tickled it with his tail. It started laughing harder. "GuhuhuHEHEHEHEE! Guhee! Guhee! GUL-" a couple of coughs followed. The Gulpin smiled cheerfully after recovering.
Alexis scratched her head. "Um... okay..." She suddenly got an idea. She walked closer to the strange Pokèmon, smiling, and kneeled. "So, um, Gulpin... do you want to be my friend? We'll have lots of fun!"
"Guuuuuul? Gulpin, gulpin, pin?"
Alexis didn't have an idea what the Pokèmon said, but she took an accurate guess by the ticked off expression on Mickey's face and the sudden fit of laughter that the prankster was struck with.
"Um... I'll take that as a yes. I guess," she stated unsurely, raising an eyebrow at the Gulpin. She shot a sidelong glance at Mickey, then looked back at the Gulpin. "Well, um, I technically need to catch you before you'll really be my Pokèmon."
As Alexis took out a Pokèball and tossed it at the laughing Pokèmon, it responded little, if at all, by laughing harder. It glowed brightly for a moment, then the shape was sucked into the Pokèball, which didn't shake. Alexis walked over to pick it up, but the Gulpin popped out suddenly, giggling.
Alexis sighed, having second thoughts.
*****
Alexis was glad to finally arrive in Daisyrock Town. After their first meeting, Mickey and her Gulpin, whom she had named Tubby, were getting along. Tubby had ridden most of the way on Mickey's back after refusing to go into his Pokèball. The town was on the edge of Daisy Mountain, named for the odd, hardy white flowers that sprang up no matter how rocky the soil was. It was a quiet town, but larger than Sunfield- the people went about their business with a passive expression, few even glancing at her, but those that did seemed friendly. She tried to find a Pokèmon Center. After a while she found the large red roof- it was hard to miss- and entered.
The woman at the counter smiled cheerfully as she took Alexis's two Pokèmon. As she put them on the machine, she made casual conversation. "Just starting out?"
"Yeah..." Alexis replied.
"You should go check out Jason's gym then. You should know, though... he's not a pushover."
Alexis nodded, although the woman's back was turned. "I don't think he is. I don't really know anything about him."
She finished and put the duo on the counter. Mickey jumped onto Alexis's shoulder, and Tubby looked down at the floor. He looked like he was about to jump, but chickened out. Rolling her eyes, Alexis picked him up and put him on her head. He was almost like river-bottom mud in feel, very soft and squishy.
Alexis found a Pokèmon restaurant and ordered a couple of cheeseburgers. Between themselves, Mickey and Tubby devoured the first in seconds and watched Alexis pathetically as she ate hers. "Y'know, I don't think you two would ever stop eating if you had the choice..." Alexis said, noticing their expressions.
At last ready, Alexis and her two companions set out trying to find Jason's gym. It, like the Pokèmon Center, was not difficult to spot. A large, looming building compared to others nearby, it was boldly labelled, "GYM."
"Well, this must be it..." Alexis muttered, and slowly entered.
As she walked in, she gave a start. The gym was mostly dark but lights illuminated the center, where a trainer and the gym leader- apparently Jason- were staging a battle. She was even more surprised to see the trainer was Ricky, the one she had battled earlier. He was using a blue bird Pokèmon that looked like it had cotton balls for wings, and the other was a small, muscular human-like Pokèmon.
"Machop, karate chop!" the gym leader shouted.
The latter Pokèmon leapt towards the hovering bird, but fell short as it fluttered sideways as if blown by a breeze.
"Swablu, peck!"
The bird suddenly went into a steep dive, striking the Machop with its beak. The Machop let out a loud cry and fell, trying weakly to get up, but failing.
The gym leader gritted his teeth, then chose another Pokèball from his belt. "Go, Mankey!"
A round, fuzzy Pokèmon with angry eyes and a pig nose game out, jumping up and down. It never seemed to hold still even for a second, always leaping up and down or hopping back and forth.
"Swablu, try another peck!"
"Mankey, look out!"
The Swablu swooped again, but the Mankey jumped up not a moment too late before coming down as the bird passed under, unable to turn in time.
"SWABLU!"
The Swablu tried to get up, but the Mankey's strength and weight were greater. The angry looking Pokèmon slammed its fist down on the bird under its feet, who went limp, unconscious.
"R-return, Swablu!" Ricky held out the Pokèball and a light engulfed the Pokèmon, then drew it inwards. He chose another. "Go Surskit!"
The blue bug Pokèmon Alexis had battled emerged. It looked different in a way- stronger.
"I'm counting on you, Surskit! Now- quick attack!"
"Dodge it!"
The Surskit's attack was indeed quick, and it zipped forward, slamming the Mankey with surprising force for its size before the Pokèmon could move out of the way. The Mankey got up slowly, looking both battered and even more angry than before.
"Rage!" Jason shouted. He seemed determined to win this match.
The Mankey's eyes glowed bright red as it let out a shrill cry and ran forward blindly, attacking fiercely with fists and paws. Several blows struck and the Surskit flinched with each one.
"BUBBLEBEAM!"
A tremendous column of bubbles shot out so forcefully that both the Mankey and Surskit were knocked back. The Mankey got to its feet looking rather weak.
"No, Mankey! Don't give up! Karate chop!"
"Finish it off with another quick attack!"
The Mankey hesitated for a split second, trying to get its bearings and its thoughts in order after the hard blow, but that split second was enough. A blue streak slammed straight into it, knocking it off its feet for the final time of the match.
Jason held out a Pokèball. "Return, Mankey." His voice was softer now, but did not reveal his emotions. The two looked at each other for a while, the Jason smiled briefly, walking forward and outstretching a hand with a badge that looked like a fist with wings. "Here is the Swift Badge. It is well earned."
Ricky, grinning from ear to ear, only nodded, seemingly speechless. They stared at each other a bit longer, then Ricky headed towards the door. He didn't notice Alexis until he was nearly face-to-face.
"Oh!" Ricky said, surprised.
"Hi..." Alexis said shyly.
Ricky smiled. "Good luck with the match. It won't be easy!"
Alexis nodded, gulping.
The boy continued out the door, always a step ahead of her.
Daisyrock
Alexis wiped sweat from her forehead. This road seemed to go on forever, and the sun was shining down rather harshly. Mickey was strutting along beside her, looking rather proud of himself after his first victory. She rolled her eyes. Suddenly the small Zigzagoon began making noises and jumping up and down excitedly.
"Mickey... what is it?" Alexis stopped, breathing hard. She was secretly glad for an excuse to stop for a minute.
Something round and green hopped out of a patch of tall grass. It looked rather squishy, and had a yellow feather-shaped extension from the back of its head as well as a black diamond shape on its back. "...Gul?"
"What is that?" Alexis blinked.
The Pokèmon blinked back. "Gul, gulpin?"
Mickey walked over to the Pokèmon- a Gulpin- and sniffed it. The Gulpin sat perfectly still. Mickey wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue in disgust. Alexis giggled a little. "Doesn't smell very good, does it?"
Mickey turned and looked at her. The Gulpin seemed to be examining the Zigzagoon, then suddenly... THWAM! It stretched out its tiny hands and pounded him from behind. "Ziiiiiiiigg..." The Gulpin started giggling in a strange way. "Guhuhu, geehuhu, gul, huhuhu..."
Alexis had what would be perfectly described as a sweatdrop expression.
Mickey looked somewhat perturbed as he turned around, glaring at the mischevious green blob. Suddenly he tickled it with his tail. It started laughing harder. "GuhuhuHEHEHEHEE! Guhee! Guhee! GUL-" a couple of coughs followed. The Gulpin smiled cheerfully after recovering.
Alexis scratched her head. "Um... okay..." She suddenly got an idea. She walked closer to the strange Pokèmon, smiling, and kneeled. "So, um, Gulpin... do you want to be my friend? We'll have lots of fun!"
"Guuuuuul? Gulpin, gulpin, pin?"
Alexis didn't have an idea what the Pokèmon said, but she took an accurate guess by the ticked off expression on Mickey's face and the sudden fit of laughter that the prankster was struck with.
"Um... I'll take that as a yes. I guess," she stated unsurely, raising an eyebrow at the Gulpin. She shot a sidelong glance at Mickey, then looked back at the Gulpin. "Well, um, I technically need to catch you before you'll really be my Pokèmon."
As Alexis took out a Pokèball and tossed it at the laughing Pokèmon, it responded little, if at all, by laughing harder. It glowed brightly for a moment, then the shape was sucked into the Pokèball, which didn't shake. Alexis walked over to pick it up, but the Gulpin popped out suddenly, giggling.
Alexis sighed, having second thoughts.
*****
Alexis was glad to finally arrive in Daisyrock Town. After their first meeting, Mickey and her Gulpin, whom she had named Tubby, were getting along. Tubby had ridden most of the way on Mickey's back after refusing to go into his Pokèball. The town was on the edge of Daisy Mountain, named for the odd, hardy white flowers that sprang up no matter how rocky the soil was. It was a quiet town, but larger than Sunfield- the people went about their business with a passive expression, few even glancing at her, but those that did seemed friendly. She tried to find a Pokèmon Center. After a while she found the large red roof- it was hard to miss- and entered.
The woman at the counter smiled cheerfully as she took Alexis's two Pokèmon. As she put them on the machine, she made casual conversation. "Just starting out?"
"Yeah..." Alexis replied.
"You should go check out Jason's gym then. You should know, though... he's not a pushover."
Alexis nodded, although the woman's back was turned. "I don't think he is. I don't really know anything about him."
She finished and put the duo on the counter. Mickey jumped onto Alexis's shoulder, and Tubby looked down at the floor. He looked like he was about to jump, but chickened out. Rolling her eyes, Alexis picked him up and put him on her head. He was almost like river-bottom mud in feel, very soft and squishy.
Alexis found a Pokèmon restaurant and ordered a couple of cheeseburgers. Between themselves, Mickey and Tubby devoured the first in seconds and watched Alexis pathetically as she ate hers. "Y'know, I don't think you two would ever stop eating if you had the choice..." Alexis said, noticing their expressions.
At last ready, Alexis and her two companions set out trying to find Jason's gym. It, like the Pokèmon Center, was not difficult to spot. A large, looming building compared to others nearby, it was boldly labelled, "GYM."
"Well, this must be it..." Alexis muttered, and slowly entered.
As she walked in, she gave a start. The gym was mostly dark but lights illuminated the center, where a trainer and the gym leader- apparently Jason- were staging a battle. She was even more surprised to see the trainer was Ricky, the one she had battled earlier. He was using a blue bird Pokèmon that looked like it had cotton balls for wings, and the other was a small, muscular human-like Pokèmon.
"Machop, karate chop!" the gym leader shouted.
The latter Pokèmon leapt towards the hovering bird, but fell short as it fluttered sideways as if blown by a breeze.
"Swablu, peck!"
The bird suddenly went into a steep dive, striking the Machop with its beak. The Machop let out a loud cry and fell, trying weakly to get up, but failing.
The gym leader gritted his teeth, then chose another Pokèball from his belt. "Go, Mankey!"
A round, fuzzy Pokèmon with angry eyes and a pig nose game out, jumping up and down. It never seemed to hold still even for a second, always leaping up and down or hopping back and forth.
"Swablu, try another peck!"
"Mankey, look out!"
The Swablu swooped again, but the Mankey jumped up not a moment too late before coming down as the bird passed under, unable to turn in time.
"SWABLU!"
The Swablu tried to get up, but the Mankey's strength and weight were greater. The angry looking Pokèmon slammed its fist down on the bird under its feet, who went limp, unconscious.
"R-return, Swablu!" Ricky held out the Pokèball and a light engulfed the Pokèmon, then drew it inwards. He chose another. "Go Surskit!"
The blue bug Pokèmon Alexis had battled emerged. It looked different in a way- stronger.
"I'm counting on you, Surskit! Now- quick attack!"
"Dodge it!"
The Surskit's attack was indeed quick, and it zipped forward, slamming the Mankey with surprising force for its size before the Pokèmon could move out of the way. The Mankey got up slowly, looking both battered and even more angry than before.
"Rage!" Jason shouted. He seemed determined to win this match.
The Mankey's eyes glowed bright red as it let out a shrill cry and ran forward blindly, attacking fiercely with fists and paws. Several blows struck and the Surskit flinched with each one.
"BUBBLEBEAM!"
A tremendous column of bubbles shot out so forcefully that both the Mankey and Surskit were knocked back. The Mankey got to its feet looking rather weak.
"No, Mankey! Don't give up! Karate chop!"
"Finish it off with another quick attack!"
The Mankey hesitated for a split second, trying to get its bearings and its thoughts in order after the hard blow, but that split second was enough. A blue streak slammed straight into it, knocking it off its feet for the final time of the match.
Jason held out a Pokèball. "Return, Mankey." His voice was softer now, but did not reveal his emotions. The two looked at each other for a while, the Jason smiled briefly, walking forward and outstretching a hand with a badge that looked like a fist with wings. "Here is the Swift Badge. It is well earned."
Ricky, grinning from ear to ear, only nodded, seemingly speechless. They stared at each other a bit longer, then Ricky headed towards the door. He didn't notice Alexis until he was nearly face-to-face.
"Oh!" Ricky said, surprised.
"Hi..." Alexis said shyly.
Ricky smiled. "Good luck with the match. It won't be easy!"
Alexis nodded, gulping.
The boy continued out the door, always a step ahead of her.