Pokémon - The Journey Begins

Chapter 8: Loss Number One



After a successful encounter at the Cerulian gym, which also happened to be the home of Matt's new traveling companion (as he continued to call her at the time) Lizzie, Matt decided that after picking up some more Pokéballs and specific medicines that the next gym at Vermillion City would be their next destination.

Walking down the dirt path of Route 5, Matt looked carefully at his map, wondering the correct routes to take getting to the next gym. After folding away the map and discussing it with Lizzie, they were now well on their way.

Slightly off of Route 5, Matt looked to his right and noticed a large sign which said, 'A.J.'s Gym! W 82, L 00'. There was a line-up to the entrance, as the large numbers beside the big 'W' continued to increase at a rapid pace..

"That's stupid. He's placing how many times he's won. I thought all gym leaders had at least some kind of modesty," Matt commented.

"But...there aren't any official Pokémon Gyms out here!" Lizzie said, looking at a brochure she collected in the lounge of the Cerulean gym. "Yeah, this must be a trainer gym, to pull in other trainers to train their Pokémon!"

"That makes sense. Well, I guess that I'll check it out once the line thins out a little bit," Matt replied, stretching his arms in the process.

Fifteen minutes later, a trainer with short-cut black hair along with a sportive red jacket walked out of the gym, looking frustrated. "This is embarrassing. I lost to some new trainer...." Nearby was a small rock, as the man kicked it. It struk Matt across the cheek.

"Ow!" Matt rubbed his cheek. "Jack-ass...."

"Hey! Watch what you're doing!" Lizzie sneered, holding up a fist.

The man caught the attention of the two trainers. One who was checking his face to see if there was blood, the other holding up her fist in a threatening manner.

"I...I'm sorry. It's just that the leader at that gym over there is just so highly skilled. I mean, I have a roster of some rather skilled Pokémon -- well, that's what I like to think anyway. And just suddenly, bam, bam, POW! All of them drop like flies...to the very same Pokémon!"

"Which ones did you use?" Matt asked.

"Let's see...Charizard, Paras, Voltorb, Vulpix, Nidoking and Poliwag," the trainer replied. "The fact that he knocked all of them out with one hit or two just puzzles me to no end."

The trainer clenched a fist. He then let out a heavy sigh and smiled. "Oh, my name is Jordan. I come from Mason Town. Well, I probably didn't have to introduce myself; I'm sure you've heard of me before," the trainer confidently said.

"Never heard of you," Matt replied.

"Sorry, me neither," Lizzie added.

"Well...isn't that just great? I've embarrassed myself," Jordan laughed nervously, while at the same time blushing.

Matt politely laughed, before turning his head to Lizzie. Lizzie also turned her head to the side, not knowing what to say or do. "Anyway. My name is Matt; I'm from Pallet."

"And I'm Lizzie. I live in Cerulean City! We're both new trainers...."

"New trainers, huh? Yeah, a lot of 'em have been popping up lately ever since that new rule came in place. You both have quite a journey ahead of you! It must be fun traveling together; I don't even remember the last time that I went out on a journey like this..." Jordan crossed his arms and sunk himself into deep thought.

"We actually met by chance, in Mount Moon," Matt said.

Matt once again turned his attention to the entrance of the Trainer Gym, watching several trainers walking out in disappointment. Some running away quickly with their Pokémon in hand down the uphill direction of Route 5, which lead into Cerulian City. He again looked at the sign and saw the numbers changing to 'W 95, L 00.'

"Well, at least I know this guy's tough. I think I'll give it a try; I could have a good chance."

"Kid, I wouldn't be too certain about that, I mean he has a very strong Sandshrew," Jordan said. "Trust me on this one, Matt, I've been a trainer for a long time, and that Sandshrew is one cut above the rest...."

"A Sandshrew? That's it?! I have three Pokémon who could mop the floor with that! I'll go for it," Matt stated, beginning to march past the fence which held up the large scoresheet, prepared to face the leader of the gym on the other side. Squirtle marched right behind him.

Jordan, dumbfounded, turned his head towards Lizzie. "Is he stupid?" he asked. "I mean, he just watched trainers walking in and out of that gym with their tails between their legs! Does he really think he has a chance?"

Lizzie shrugged. "I've watched him battle, and I have to say that he looks to be in pretty good shape. I really like his Squirtle," Lizzie said. "I think he'll be fine."

Jordon released a perplexed sigh before looking at Lizzie again. "You really don't have a clue who I am at all, do you?!"

In the battlefield at A.J.'s gym, Matt climbed up a small set of stairs to the challenger's platform. He checked his surroundings, as he did for every battlefield. He noticed that he was the only challenger left at the moment. He then looked towards the entrance, watching a very doubtful Lizzie and Jordan walking through.

"Geez, another victim," A.J. muttered. "Okay, pal, this isn't your ordinary trainer battle, you know that, right?"

"Well, of course I do. This is a gym," Matt said.

"Yes, it is a gym, but I'll have to ask you before I go humiliating you; are you absolutely certain you want to go through with this?" A.J. asked, with some sincerity in his tone of voice, however sounding somewhat sarcastic.

"Buddy, I didn't come here to be mocked, I came here for a battle. What should we wager?" Matt asked.

"Why don't you decide; you're the one who's going to get creamed. I'll be the richest trainer by the end of the day," A.J. said.

"Fifty," Matt offered.

"Fifty?! What the hell do you think this is, some sort of sissy battle that goes on between ten-year-olds?!"

Matt crossed his arms. "Regardless whether you like it or not, fifty is my offer," he stated. "If you wish to battle me, take the offer. If you don't like the wager, then the battle's off. I personally don't care if I get to challenge you or not."

"He's asking for it," Jordan muttered.

"Shush," Lizzie replied.

"Fine then, fifty. I've got more important things to do today anyway," A.J. muttered, rubbing off sweat from his forehead. Pointing into the battlefield, he shouts, "Sandshrew, go!"

From behind him, a small yellow Pokémon with big, black eyes, sharp claws and scales surrounding its body crawled up from behind A.J. and crawled into the battlefield.

"The speed of that Sandshrew looks a little sluggish," Matt commented while throwing an enlarged Pokéball containing Spearow inside out into the battlefield.

Spearow's form took shape after the ball sprang open, squawking and looking for its opponent.

"Ha! If you think speed will be a disadvantage for me in this match, you are dead wrong! Use Fury Swipes!" A.J. commanded.

"Fury Swipes?!" Matt exclaimed. "Damn, that thing IS strong!"

"Haven't you learned by watching the scoresheet outside of the gym?!" A.J. exclaimed. "Watching trainers coming in and out, in and out; Sandshrew dealed with them: every single one of them! So don't think this is going to be an easy match!"

Spearow, remaining in its position in the air, watched slowly at the Sandshrew below. Quickly, its eyes met the ground Pokémon's, as quickly, Sandshrew repelled itself off of the solid battleground. Matt, amazed at the speed quickly shot its head up towards Spearow, watching the Sandshrew's claws swinging across his Spearow at a rapid pace. In only a few matters, Sandshrew was back on the ground, with Spearow falling, unconscious.

"Only one hit, just like I said..." Jordan commented.

"Wow, that was incredible," Lizzie commented, her eyes bloodshot. "However, I still think he could take it out with Squirtle. His Water Gun is pretty good."

"Come back Spearow!" Matt said, absorbing the Spearow back inside of its Pokéball. From his Pokémon belt, Matt enlarged another Pokéball and hurled it into the battlefield. "Sand Attack, Pidgey!"

Upon taking form after being released from its Pokéball, Pidgey took sight of its opponent and consistently and rapidly flapped its wings, causing sand to cloud the area.

"Sandshrew, Scratch Attack!" A.J. yelled.

Through the thick cloud of smoke, Matt watched as Pidgey's wing was grazed with Sandshrew's left claw. Pidgey's balance was slightly hindered, however regained, as it flew above the large, yet dissipating, cloud of smoke it had created only moments ago.

"Wing Attack, Pidgey!" Matt yelled, coughing from the cloud of sand.

From its position in the sky, Pidgey locked into its target and swooped down immediately, striking Sandshrew from point blank on the back with its attack. Sandshrew quickly pulled itself onto its feet and countered by taking a large swipe at Pidgey. The force of the attack knocked Pidgey out of the battle, and was violently sent crashing and rolling onto nearby grass.

Matt's face grew grim. He pointed a Pokéball towards the unconscious Pidgey. "Pidgey return!" A red light emitting from the center of the Pokéball absorbed Pidgey back inside. Matt minimized the Pokéball and placed it back onto his Pokémon belt. "I give up. You win."

"Is that all you have? Two Pokémon? Ha!" A.J. shouted, with a large grin on his face.

"Hey, watch your mouth. I'm not about to sacrifice the health of my Pokémon for something so trivial," Matt snapped, then turning his head towards Jordan.

"Hey, don't look at me!" Jordan shouted.

"Trivial?! You'd better watch YOUR mouth, boy! Did you not watch what my Sandshrew had just accomplished?!" A.J.'s smirk suddenly became an angry frown and clenched a fist. "He just single-handedly took down both of your Pokémon in only a matter of seconds!"

"Good for you, you actually have some boasting rights," Matt said, throwing some coins and bills onto the field. "There, take your money. You could put it into some other strategy instead of using the same Pokémon to do all the work. I'm surprised it hasn't passed out from fatigue yet."

"WHAT?!" A.J. asked, with widened, angry eyes staring deeply into Matt's. "Don't spout some ridiculous B.S. just because you lost! Sandshrew and I have worked extremely hard since the first day we've been together! I don't go about questioning YOUR strategy of throwing out two pathetic birds out on the field to challenge, so don't question mine!"

"I don't know why you're getting so upset," Matt said. "Perhaps you'll realize it one day. But you're right; it's your strategy, it's your Pokémon, and it's your future. I don't want to be around the day your Sandshrew pulls itself to its feet and says, 'no more'."

A.J. just stood still, his face turning completely red.

"Come on, Matt. You fought the battle, you've paid your fee, let's go." Lizzie turns around and began to walk away, with Jordan following.

"Let's go, Squirtle," Matt said. Matt began to walk past the entrance gates, with Squirtle walking right up behind him at the same pace.

A.J. continued to stand in his position, looking both back at Sandshrew, then back towards the entrance, his face still completely red.

"If you ever show up at the Indigo League within the next few months, you'll wish you'd never been born!" A.J. shouted at the top of his lungs.

After exiting through the entrance gates at the gym, Matt looked back up towards the scoresheet. The number had once again increased.

"It's bound to happen," Matt said. "While he does have a good Sandshrew - and I'm crediting him for that, I really am - it's still not going to work out in the long run, right? I mean, the trainers he's faced today will probably be the only ones he'll face all day. What about in the Pokémon League, where he'll be fighting other trainers, stronger trainers?"

"Let him worry about that, Matt," Lizzie replied harshly. "You went a little too far about his strategy. While it isn't a very good one, let him worry about it. If what you said happens, then it'll be his fault. You should be worrying about how you'll be doing, not how he'll be doing."

"Yeah, you're right," Matt said. "I still hate that damn scoresheet."

"Well, at any rate, you didn't listen to me at all," Jordan replied. "I told you the Pokémon I had, I told you I was an experienced trainer, and I even told you it only took one hit or two to take down my Pokémon."

"So what? Who are you, anyway?" Matt asked. "So you're an experienced trainer; I'm a new trainer. What does that have to do with anything?"

"You really don't have a clue who I am, do you? Neither of you."

"Right..." Matt replied, then turned his attention towards Lizzie. "It's still a lousy way to lose my first match, but I guess it was bound to happen eventually."

Matt looked at his watch, then looked down the length of Route 5.

"The detour towards Route 6 should show up some time today," Matt stated, looking at his watch. "Then when we reach Route 6, we'll walk straight down it, and that'll lead towards Vermillion City. In other words, my next badge."

"All righty then, let's go!" Jordan said.

Matt looked back at Jordan.

"You're coming with us?"

"What, you don't want me to?"

"It's not that, it's just I was rather surprised. It's actually a good idea, because some old guy back at Viridian City told me to find a traveling companion. I guess two wouldn't hurt," Matt said.

"Yeah, then you could explain to us why we should know who you are!" Lizzie added.



TO BE CONTINUED.