Chapter Two: A Rivalry Begins
At noon, the pair stopped for a bit of lunch. They sat down on the soft, green grass next to the dust red road. The sky was slowly beginning to darken, a sure sign of rain. Kari pulled a small bowl and a bag of Pokepellets out of her bag for Aria. She then rummaged around to find the makings for a peanut butter sandwich.
As they happily munched, Kari saw the silhouette of someone coming down the road. It was hard to tell if it really was a person, as huge gray clouds had overtaken the sky. Soon enough, she realized it was the same boy who had shoved her aside at the lab. Her gray eyes grew stormier and stormier the closer he came.
Once he was about 70 yards away, Kari was able to tell the blob trotting beside him was a Pokemon. And not just any Pokemon, it was a Poochyena. The tiny gray dog bared its small white fangs at Kari and Aria.
"Hey!" the boy cried. "You're the chick who got in my was earlier today!"
"Got in your way!?" said an outraged Kari. "You were the one that shoved me aside!"
"Well my name's Derek, and I'm going to be the Pokemon Champion!" the boy said, running a pale hand through his mousy, brown hair.
"Says you!" cried Kari. "My name's Kari, and I'm going to be the Pokemon Champion!"
"Well then Kari," Derek said tauntingly. "I challenge you to a Pokemon Battle!"
"I accept!" Kari shouted. "Aria, GO!" she said as the Vulpix leapt forward.
"Poochyena, I choose you!" called Derek.
The two trainers looked each other up and down. Neither had ever battled before, and they weren't sure how to proceed.
Suddenly, instinct took over and Kari yelled "Aria, Tackle Attack!"
This snapped Derek out of his trance and he shouted "Poochyena, Tackle Attack back!"
The two Pokemon rushed at each other, launching themselves at each other. They were both thrown back by the impact.
Growling, Derek shouted "Bite Attack, now!"
Kari called out "Aria, use your Ember Attack, now!"
Poochyena leapt at Aria, it's mouth open, and it's tiny fangs bared. It was about to land and sink it's pointy teeth into Aria's flesh, when a stream of fire exploded out of Aria's mouth.
As a scorched Poochyena fell to the ground, Kari hugged her Vulpix in congratulations of its victory.
Derek glowered as he called Poochyena back in a flash of red light. He glared menacingly at Kari.
Recoiling slightly, Kari said "I fear we'll meet again, Derek."
"Oh, you can count on it!" Derek said, scowling.
Kari and Aria watched Derek's figure grow smaller and smaller as he walked into the slowly setting sun.
The pair walked another couple of miles before settling down for the might. Kari unrolled her sleeping bag (which contracted into a two inch cube) and allowed Aria to crawl in.
Sure is quiet in this forest. she thought, looking up at the starry sky. What will tomorrow bring? she wondered as she drifted off.
The stars merely twinkled their reply.