Meager Beginnings
The First Gym Challenge
Jason, a young man who was probably just barely into his twenties, yawned and stretched before Alexis caught his eye. He glanced at her. He had curly black hair and dark brown eyes. He smiled slightly. "Ah, another one already... this will have to be a one-on-one because I haven't had a chance to rest my Pokèmon yet, unless you want to wait."
Alexis walked closer slowly. "No, that's alright." In all honesty, she wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. If she lost, she lost. If she won, she won.
"Well then... let's get started."
Alexis fingered her two Pokèballs, although neither of her Pokèmon were in them. It wouldn't seem like much of a choice to veteran trainers with more Pokèmon than they know what to do with, but Alexis knew little about the world of Pokèmon. She was leaning more towards Mickey. She knew him better, had used him more often. Tubby was new to her, and she wasn't sure about his moves. Finally she decided on Mickey. If she lost she would practice and learn more about her other Pokèmon, but she felt too embarrassed to change her mind now.
"Go, Mickey!"
Mickey jumped off her shoulder, immediately assuming a fighting stance, eyes narrowed, alert. "Zigzag!"
"Ah... go, Makuhita!"
A chubby yellow Pokèmon with large black hands flashed out of the Pokèball he held out, waving a fist threateningly at Mickey. "Maku!"
"Mickey, sand-attack!"
"Makuhita, arm thrust, now!"
A blast of sand from the gym's floor, made conveniently of thin, shore-like soil, shot out from under Mickey's feet, striking Makuhita in the eyes as it rushed forward. It did not slow down despite its inability to see, and before the sand had a chance to settle the Makuhita had reached Mickey and smashed him twice with a powerful arm. The Zigzagoon cried out and managed to dodge the third blow, ducking and sidestepping quickly.
"Tackle attack!" Alexis shouted.
"Vital throw!" Jason's deep voice rang out.
The Makuhita stood still, seeming to focus on Mickey, who darted forward and slammed the Fighting-type. Makuhita was ready, and as soon as Mickey reached it the Pokèmon seized the Zigzagoon and threw him. Mickey hurtled surprisingly far through the air, landing roughly.
"ZIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!" Mickey shrieked.
"MICKEY!" Alexis had a strong urge to run out to the fallen Pokèmon, but controlled it. She had a decision to make. If she let Mickey stay in, he would most likely lose and get hurt. If she gave up now, that would be a blow to the little dignity and self-esteem she had. In the end, her stubbornness won out, though she vowed to reward Mickey greatly whether he won or lost.
"Mickey, maneuver around it and use another tackle attack!" Alexis said. As long as it didn't use vital throw again, moving might make it even less like to hit.
"No! Finish it off with another arm thrust!"
The Makuhita struck out instantly, but Mickey's quickness and size paid off. He was able to leap sideways, dash quickly behind the Makuhita, and thrust forward, charging the Makuhita while it was still stumbling from the miss. The heavy Pokèmon's weight played against it, sending it a few feet forward as it fell on its own face. "Maaakuuu..."
"MAKUHITA!" Jason's voice echoed loudly in the gym. "Get up and tackle it!"
"Mickey, quick! Tackle it first!"
The Makuhita's strength and determination allowed it to quickly gain its footing and charge, and Mickey was easily just as quick. The Makuhita stuck its arms out, using the classic hand-to-head trick. It worked, stopping Mickey from moving any farther. It was now a battle of wills. Both Pokèmon were rather battered, and both stubbornly determined to win.
"Mickey! You can do it! I believe in you!" Alexis called.
"C'mon Makuhita! You can beat this thing!"
Both Pokèmon tried harder to push each other over. Mickey dug his claws into the ground and shoved with all his might. The Makuhita's muscled tightened visibly, and it seemed to be- very slowly- pushing Mickey back. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Zigzagoon dashed sideways, making the Makuhita again stumble with its own weight, and whirled to face it, leaping. The Makuhita went down, raising a large cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, it was clear to see who was the winner. Mickey stood with forepaws on the weak body of Makuhita, a triumphant look on his face, though looking a bit injured himself.
"Well..." Jason looked visibly surprised. He lifted his Pokèball and Mickey stepped aside as Makuhita disappeared in a flash of red light. He glanced at Alexis. "That's two battles lost in less than an hour... I need to get more training in." He grinned. "Well, it's officially yours. The Quickfist Badge!"
He handed her a badge that looked like Ricky's. She smiled and gratefully took it. She had been lucky this time. Waving, she headed out.
Alexis had her first Pokèmon Badge!
The First Gym Challenge
Jason, a young man who was probably just barely into his twenties, yawned and stretched before Alexis caught his eye. He glanced at her. He had curly black hair and dark brown eyes. He smiled slightly. "Ah, another one already... this will have to be a one-on-one because I haven't had a chance to rest my Pokèmon yet, unless you want to wait."
Alexis walked closer slowly. "No, that's alright." In all honesty, she wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. If she lost, she lost. If she won, she won.
"Well then... let's get started."
Alexis fingered her two Pokèballs, although neither of her Pokèmon were in them. It wouldn't seem like much of a choice to veteran trainers with more Pokèmon than they know what to do with, but Alexis knew little about the world of Pokèmon. She was leaning more towards Mickey. She knew him better, had used him more often. Tubby was new to her, and she wasn't sure about his moves. Finally she decided on Mickey. If she lost she would practice and learn more about her other Pokèmon, but she felt too embarrassed to change her mind now.
"Go, Mickey!"
Mickey jumped off her shoulder, immediately assuming a fighting stance, eyes narrowed, alert. "Zigzag!"
"Ah... go, Makuhita!"
A chubby yellow Pokèmon with large black hands flashed out of the Pokèball he held out, waving a fist threateningly at Mickey. "Maku!"
"Mickey, sand-attack!"
"Makuhita, arm thrust, now!"
A blast of sand from the gym's floor, made conveniently of thin, shore-like soil, shot out from under Mickey's feet, striking Makuhita in the eyes as it rushed forward. It did not slow down despite its inability to see, and before the sand had a chance to settle the Makuhita had reached Mickey and smashed him twice with a powerful arm. The Zigzagoon cried out and managed to dodge the third blow, ducking and sidestepping quickly.
"Tackle attack!" Alexis shouted.
"Vital throw!" Jason's deep voice rang out.
The Makuhita stood still, seeming to focus on Mickey, who darted forward and slammed the Fighting-type. Makuhita was ready, and as soon as Mickey reached it the Pokèmon seized the Zigzagoon and threw him. Mickey hurtled surprisingly far through the air, landing roughly.
"ZIGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!" Mickey shrieked.
"MICKEY!" Alexis had a strong urge to run out to the fallen Pokèmon, but controlled it. She had a decision to make. If she let Mickey stay in, he would most likely lose and get hurt. If she gave up now, that would be a blow to the little dignity and self-esteem she had. In the end, her stubbornness won out, though she vowed to reward Mickey greatly whether he won or lost.
"Mickey, maneuver around it and use another tackle attack!" Alexis said. As long as it didn't use vital throw again, moving might make it even less like to hit.
"No! Finish it off with another arm thrust!"
The Makuhita struck out instantly, but Mickey's quickness and size paid off. He was able to leap sideways, dash quickly behind the Makuhita, and thrust forward, charging the Makuhita while it was still stumbling from the miss. The heavy Pokèmon's weight played against it, sending it a few feet forward as it fell on its own face. "Maaakuuu..."
"MAKUHITA!" Jason's voice echoed loudly in the gym. "Get up and tackle it!"
"Mickey, quick! Tackle it first!"
The Makuhita's strength and determination allowed it to quickly gain its footing and charge, and Mickey was easily just as quick. The Makuhita stuck its arms out, using the classic hand-to-head trick. It worked, stopping Mickey from moving any farther. It was now a battle of wills. Both Pokèmon were rather battered, and both stubbornly determined to win.
"Mickey! You can do it! I believe in you!" Alexis called.
"C'mon Makuhita! You can beat this thing!"
Both Pokèmon tried harder to push each other over. Mickey dug his claws into the ground and shoved with all his might. The Makuhita's muscled tightened visibly, and it seemed to be- very slowly- pushing Mickey back. Then, in the blink of an eye, the Zigzagoon dashed sideways, making the Makuhita again stumble with its own weight, and whirled to face it, leaping. The Makuhita went down, raising a large cloud of dust.
When the dust settled, it was clear to see who was the winner. Mickey stood with forepaws on the weak body of Makuhita, a triumphant look on his face, though looking a bit injured himself.
"Well..." Jason looked visibly surprised. He lifted his Pokèball and Mickey stepped aside as Makuhita disappeared in a flash of red light. He glanced at Alexis. "That's two battles lost in less than an hour... I need to get more training in." He grinned. "Well, it's officially yours. The Quickfist Badge!"
He handed her a badge that looked like Ricky's. She smiled and gratefully took it. She had been lucky this time. Waving, she headed out.
Alexis had her first Pokèmon Badge!