A Trainer's Journey Begins-Part II

"Squirtle, come on out!"

"Show 'em what for, Chikorita!"

Don brought out his Squirtle from the Pokéball, and Taria brought out her Chikorita, one of her other Pokémon.

Don snickered. "A grass type? Oh, well. Squirtle, use Slam!"

Squirtle jumped high in the air, swinging his tail wildly.

Taria laughed. "Are you serious? Head-on? You're not going to get anywhere with a strategy like that. Chikorita, Reflect!"

Just before Squirtle slammed into Chikorita, she put up a transparent wall. When Squirtle's Slam hit, Chikorita barely budged.

Don raised his eyebrow. "What? Even with Reflect, Chikorita's supposed to take some damage!"

"I see you've been doing your homework, Blue. You're right. But I've trained Chikorita to put up a stronger Reflect than usual. I told you you weren't going to win this." Taria laughed.

Don became frustrated. "Shut the hell up! I know what the hell I'm doing! Reflect is useless against special attacks, isn't it?! Squirtle, use your Water Gun now!"

Squirtle launched a mediocre sized Water Gun. Chikorita braced herself.

"You really don't listen, do you? That temper's not going to get you anywhere. Now, use Light Screen!"

As Squirtle's Water Gun was about to hit, Chikorita put up a wall similar to Reflect, only this time it was sparkling. The water was reflected in many directions, and only small splashes of water hit Chikorita.

Don became angry. "I'm not going to lose! Squirtle, keep going! Chikorita's walls'll fade soon!"

Squirtle kept alternating between Water Gun and Slam. However, the attacks were useless. Chikorita started yawning of boredom.

"This is getting boring. Chikorita, use Magical Leaf!"

Chikorita's leaf started glowing, and leaves of many colors flew out of the leaf.

"Squirtle, keep on the offense. Blow those leaves away with Water Gun!"

Squirtle launched a slightly, but noticeably larger stream of water at the leaves. The leaves disappeared before the water hit and appeared behind him.

"Squirtle, watch out!"

Squirtle tried to dodge, but the leaves took a sharp turn and struck Squirtle, bringing him to the ground. He was struggling, but got up.

Taria laughed. "Give up now?"

Don chuckled. "No way, Taria. I'm just getting started!"

"Oh, well, your loss. Finish this with Razor Leaf, Chikorita!"

Chikorita launched green sharp leaves at Squirtle.

"Now, Withdraw!"

Squirtle withdrew himself into his shell. The leaves hit the shell, causing no damage.

"Oh, yeah! Let's see..." Don started looking through his Pokédex for moves, and then suddenly laughing maniacally. "...Yeah! That's it! It's over! Squirtle, use Hydro Cannon!"

Taria laughed. "Don't be stupid, Blue. Hydro Cannon is a move only Blastoise can learn."

"Oh, yeah? Look for yourself!"

Squirtle withdrew into his shell. Suddenly massive amounts of water were launched from the shell holes and were headed towards Chikorita. Both the Light Screen and Reflect walls faded just as Squirtle was about to hit her.

"Oh, no. Brace yourself, Chikorita! This is gonna be big!"

Just then, a green aura surrounded both Taria and Chikorita. Taria's eyes suddenly became green, and then, suddenly, Taria screamed out,

"FRENZY PLANT!!!"

Hundreds of roots emerged from Chikorita and into the ground, while thousands of razor leaves emerged from her leaf and many vines emerged from her neck. The roots instantly sucked up the water, and the leaves and vines enveloped Squirtle.

Don screamed. "What the hell?! Okay, okay, you win!! Squirtle, return!"

As Squirtle was returned to his Pokéball, the aura around both Taria and Chikorita disappeared. Taria fell to her knees, somewhat fatigued.

"Wha...what happened?" She saw Chikorita panting roughly and Don, stunned from what just happened.

Don came back to his senses, but still was a little stunned. "You beat my ass is what just happened. Damn, you weren't kidding. I got beat bad. Hey, Taria, how did you do that?"

Taria stood up and returned Chikorita to the Pokéball. "What are you talking about?"

Don imitated what just happened. "You know...with that glowing green and screaming out powerful attacks and all that."

Taria was dumbfounded with what she just heard. "I did that? It happened...again?"

Don put his Pokéball back on his belt. "Wow! You did that before?! Man, I'm gonna have a tough time trying to beat that!" He placed his backpack on his shoulder. "See you later, Taria! Next time we meet, we battle! And I WILL win!"

Taria came back to her right mind, hearing what she just heard. "Not gonna happen, Blue. We will battle next time we meet. But, I'll win!"

Don, now a distance from Taria, said, "DON!"

Taria giggled, then looked at her Pokédex and used the clock feature. "Man, that was a battle. I should be getting home, it's late."

"It sure has been a busy day. I'm almost home!"

Taria ran to her huge house. Calling it a huge house would be putting it lightly; the mansion was one of the biggest in Pallet. It could be seen for miles if you were looking in the right places.

In the house, her parents were sitting at a table talking.

"It seemed like forever, but the day has come, Marcus. Taria's leaving tomorrow."

"Yes, Natasha, she has been planning for this day for a long time. I wonder something, though. Why did she wait six years to leave? Sandra and Rita left two years ago when they were ten, and Junior left nine years ago when he was eleven."

"She says she wanted a head start over other trainers by already having more than one well trained Pokémon. I'm not surprised; I waited until I was until I was 15 to become a Pokémon Trainer."

"I never became a Pokémon Trainer. I decided to go into business to become the powerful businessman I am today."

"Do you have to boast about your career every day?"

"I try my best!"

Natasha sweatdropped. "You really are something, Marcus."

Just then the doorbell rang.

"It's probably Taria. I'll go answer it."

Natasha opened the door. "Oh, hello, Taria."

Natasha and Taria could've looked like twins; they looked exactly the same. However, Natasha was 5'8'', had red hair, and darker brown skin than Taria.

"Hi, Mom." She walked into the house. "Hi, Daddy." She ran to her room. "I'll be in my room. I'm getting ready to pack up for tomorrow!"

Natasha walked back to the table. "That girl's always busy. She really needs to rest once in a while."

"Taria's got her daddy's genes, all right! With her skills, we could form one of the best businesses in the world!" Marcus brushed his black hair back and laughed maniacally. Natasha sweatdropped.

"All right, I'm going to need this...and I'm going to definitely need this!"

Taria was busy in her room packing her backpack. As she was packing, a young girl came into her room. She looked exactly like Taria, except she was a foot smaller than her.

"What are you doing, Taria?" The girl sat on Taria's bed.

Taria was finishing packing. "Just getting ready for tomorrow. I bet you can't wait until next year, Sharon."

"Yeah! I'm going to be a Pokémon Trainer when I graduate Pallet Town Pokémon Academy next year!" Sharon beamed.

"Well, when the time comes, we can battle, just for fun."

Sharon grinned even more. "You think so, sis?"

Taria zipped up her backpack and sat down next to Sharon. "I know so. You just might beat me."

Sharon started laughing. "It'll take me years to get that strong."

Taria laughed. She then noticed it was a bit early. "Hey, why aren't you at school anyway?" Taria looked at her clock. "It's only one."

"Since the fourth graders were the best class at the academy, we got to choose a day off this week. So we chose today, Friday."

"Oh yeah, I remember that. We used to get days out all the time." Taria sighed. "I can't believe it's been a year since I graduated tenth grade."

"Why did you wait until the tenth grade to graduate?"

"I felt that I didn't know enough to survive on my own while traveling around a dangerous world like this." Taria walked over to her window. "I also stayed so I could learn a lot more about Pokémon. Look where's it gotten me now! I know most of the attacks and how a Pokémon learns it. I've got more knowledge of Pokémon than most advanced trainers."

Sharon beamed. "You're so cool, Taria! You're beautiful, smart, and strong! I hope I'll be that way one day."

Taria blushed. "Well, I guess. But with a little studying and if you train your Pokémon right, you might just end up being trouble for me!"

Sharon laughed as she started to leave the room. "Thanks for the encouragement, Ri. I really needed that."

When Sharon left, Taria laid on her bed. "Well, I wanted adventure, and I'm gonna get it. It's gonna be just me and my Pokémon." Taria laid her Pokéballs next to her. "Yeah, just me and my Pokémon."

Sometime later, Taria sat out in front of her house. As she watched the cars drive by, she wondered about what happened this morning with Charmander and later this afternoon with Chikorita.

"It happened before..." Taria stood up. "I don't remember when, but it happened before. I just know it."

Just then, a school bus stopped in front of her house. Three kids got off the bus. One was a girl with red hair who looked like Natasha, but had light skin, like Marcus, and was tall for her age, like Taria. The other two children were young red haired boys who looked exactly the same. The only difference was that one wore glasses, and the other didn't.

Taria walked over to the children. "You're just now getting home? It must be earlier than I thought..."

The girl looked at her watch. "It's 4:00. You must've been gone all day, Taria."

"Yeah, Nita, I was out training."

"Shouldn't you be resting? You're leaving tomorrow."

Taria nodded her head. "I should be, but I don't feel like it. I'm too fired up to rest!"

Nita ran towards the mansion. "All right, then. I have to study. I have to study hard if I want to be a lawyer!"

The two boys ran towards Taria. "We don't have any homework! Can we stay with you, Riri?" The two boys said in unison.

"Of course, you can sit out here with me. I don't mind the company."

Taria and the boys sat out by a tree in front of their mansion. It was mostly silent, other than the chirping of Pidgey and Taillow and a couple of Sentret and Zigzagoon running by.

The redheaded boy with glasses spoke softly. "When I graduate, I'm going to be a trainer just like you, Sandra, Rita, and Junior, Taria."

Taria spoke up. "Looks like I'm going to have a lot more competition, with you graduating in three years, James."

The other boy spoke up also. "I seriously doubt it. Taria's too strong for you, Jimmy."

"So, Randall? I can make it!"

"Yeah, whatever, Jimmy. I'm not interested in Pokémon anyway. I'm gonna become a doctor, like Mama." Randall stood up. "I'm gonna ask Mama how she became a doctor." Randall smiled as he left.

"For identical twins, you two sure are different." Taria closed her eyes.

James pulled up his glasses. "I know. He's an honor student, while I'm struggling just to reach borderline. I can't wait until I turn 10. Then I won't have to worry about school anymore!"

"I felt that way sometimes. But I decided to stay in school six extra years just so I can learn more about Pokémon. And look where's it gotten me."

"Well, you're right. But I still don't like school."

Just then, a car pulled up in front of their mansion. A boy of around twelve, wearing a suit, got out of the car. He had black hair, and was shorter than most of his family.

James stood up and yelled. "Yo, what up, Kenny!"

Taria said in a much smaller tone, "Hello, Kendrick. Why are you in a suit?"

Kendrick ran over to James and Taria. "Since I plan to become a successful businessman like Dad, I decided to start early. I've got my own business. I even have employees!"

Taria snickered. "I'm impressed. But just wait until Dad hears about what you've done. He's gonna be running around the house like's he's gone crazy!"

Kendrick laughed. "I believe he'll do more than that!" He left towards the house. "I'm going to tell Dad! Don't be surprised if you hear maniacal laughter!"

As Kendrick left, James remembered something.

"Oh yeah! I almost forgot!" James started to run back into the house.

Taria opened her eyes. "Where are you going, James?"

"I forgot to give a friend of mine something!" James pulled up his glasses again. "Tell Mom and Dad I'll be home sometime around eight!"

Taria looked up at the sky. It was a stunning orange with pink and purple streaks across the sky. As she gazed, she then saw streaks of blue and red.

"Wow! What's that? Is that..."

The streaks of blue and red were actually streaks being left by two Pokémon. As she saw the Pokémon fly by, she remembered the time Ash told her about seeing a legendary Pokémon when he first started his journey.

"This is just like what my cousin saw. I know I'll be a master one day. I just know it..."

She then yawned. "Oh man, I guess Nita was right. I do need some rest. Guess I'll go to bed, then.

The next day, Taria, all packed up, was about to leave.

"See you all later. Mom, Dad, Kendrick, Nita, Sharon, James, and Randall."

Nita walked up to Taria. "Hope you make it to the Pokémon League. We'll all be cheering for you."

Natasha also walked up to Taria. "You're the fourth of our children to leave. Be safe, and don't get yourself killed out there. Don't you have anything to say, Marcus?"

Marcus laughed. "Ditto. Do your best. I know you'll make it to the Pokémon League, the way you battle."

Taria giggled. "Thanks, Dad. I guess it's time for me to go, then." She waved as she left.

"Goodbye!"

Next Chapter: Assault on Denning Town! Team Rocket Returns?!?

Thanks White Card and yingyang88 for reviewing.

A/N: Well, after a three-chapter introduction, Taria's journey finally begins. This chapter might have seemed like a filler chapter, but it isn't. As you will see, nothing that happens in this story will be in vain.

Also, expect the story to be action packed, since I am a huge fan of action fics. Expect a battle or two every chapter or two. I'll also try to be more detailed with the battle scenes, if you think I need improvement.

Lastly, I also plan on updating anytime from 1 day to 2 weeks after I update a chapter, so you won't have to wait as long as you have been.

Well, that's all for now. If you feel like this story needs improvement, or if you just want to comment on any part of the story, then review. If you have a more detailed comment, e-mail me at flyman11589 on Yahoo! or Hotmail.

Until next time, R&R!