Chapter 4: Of Papers and Pidgeys

Shane reached Viridian City without other incidents taking place. That was good, as Shane didn't think he could take more Rocket Members anytime soon. He'd just have to be more careful from now on.

Still, that didn't make much sense. Why would an experienced Rocket Member want to go after some beginner with only an Electrike? Wouldn't they go after targets that could sell for more, like, say, a Dragonite or Venusaur. Shane would think so, but he would never bother finding out how a Rocket's brain worked, unless this was an exception.

Either way, Shane fingered through his pack, and grabbed the map of Kanto. He flipped it over to the back where brief descriptions of each city were listed. He searched for Viridian and read the description.

Viridian City Viridian contains a gym. Despite its location, the gym leader there only accepts challenges if you have the other seven league badges. Viridian's main trainer attraction is the Trainer House, where trainers can both hang out, and battle some of the tougher trainers.

Shane sighed. It was probably a good thing this was the last gym, as Shane could easily see Electrike getting Koed. Shane saw it odd that the description didn't mention the gym type. The absence of the leader's name was understandable as those were always omitted, so the leaders could have some privacy. Either it was an error, or another thing he wasn't aware of, so he let it slide. Besides, it was getting late, and he better get a room at the Center soon.

The next day, Shane got up again, and purchased another issue of The Kanto Post, which was skimmed. Nothing of interest in there. He was just about to put it in his backpack compartment, the one teeming with issues, when a brown bird pokémon grabbed the issue in its talons and hovered about a yard off the ground, as if taunting them.

Shane cursed. That bird took his paper! He grabbed Electrike's ball, and threw it to the ground. "Trike! Electrike!" Electrike was wagging his tail, and actually noticed the Pidgey right away this time. He then focused on the paper in its grasp.

"That's right, boy. We want to battle that Pidgey to take revenge on it for taking my paper. Tackle it," commanded Shane. Electrike nodded, not too sure how to tell Shane that it was just a paper, and he could always put more shiny things in the machine to get another one. Electrike nodded, jumped, and crashed into the Pidgey's back. Bird and canine both crashed to the ground, the paper rolling out of the Pidgey's talons. Pidgey, apparently used to battles, pecked the Electrike, but a spark coming from Electrike went up the Pidgey's beak, and made him immobile.

"What just happened?" asked Shane to nobody, looking at the paralyzed Pidgey. He wasn't expecting an answer, but a girl with pigtails turned up and answered his question anyway. Shane recognized her as being in his classes. She was one of those know-it-all students.

"That would be Static, Electrike's ability," she replied. Shane still looked confused, so she continued. "Every pokémon has an ability, and they work differently. Yours has Static which means that when a pokémon directly attacks Electrike in combat, they have a chance of getting paralyzed, like Pidgey there." The girl, finished with her explanation, left the battle.

Oh. An ability. Shane vaguely remembered the teacher mentioning them, but he usually didn't pay too much attention. Maybe that would of been a good idea after all.

"Ok, Electrike. Hit again, and show it that it can't mess with our papers. Electrike, still worn from the crash-and-tackle, nodded. All he managed to do though was headbutt it, but it was something.

"Ok, then. I guess you can't do much more, but my revenge will now be complete," replied Shane. He grabbed an empty ball from his belt, and threw it at the Pidgey. A beam of red light came out from the ball, and engulfed Pidgey, sucking it in. It closed, and began wobbling. Finally, the ball stopped, and Shane had a Pidgey.

"Electrike, our revenge is complete. Let's head to base." Shane returned Electrike, and rushed them both to the Center. That ability of Electrike's was cool, though. Did Pidgey have an ability too? Shane didn't know, but he might find out. He arrived at the Center, and handed his balls over to the nurse.

"Shane!" said a voice. "How's it going?" Shane turned around and saw Terra. Terra was at least awake more in class then he was. Maybe she had better luck with Skitty's first match, then Electrikes.

"Hi Terra. Actually, it's going pretty bad. The only good thing that happened is that I caught a Pidgey. the bad news is that it took my paper, and its now all muddy. I have to buy a new one. She owes me fifty cents!" Shane replied to Terra.

"Let me get this straight. You're doing bad just because a Pidgey stole your paper? You really need to get a life. Besides, how do you expect a Pidgey to owe you money anyway? It's a pokémon, not a person!" replied Terra, upset at the way he was acting.

"Terra, that's not the main reason why I'm in a bad mood. That is, however, hindering recovery. I got attacked by a mad Rocket member and his Sceptile," replied Shane back at Terra, his bad mood showing.

"Wow! Are you okay from that? Why would a Rocket Member attack a beginner though? Did your paper tell you that?" she curiously asked. Shane sighed.

"Nope, it didn't. However, it could just be one insane Rocket or something. We don't know," replied Shane. "Anyway, are you doing better then me?"

"Yeah. No Rockets for me. I caught a pokémon too, though. It's a Spearow. I still want to find someone who's willing to watch any inactive ones. My parents said they couldn't do it. They wouldn't be able to handle it," said Terra.

"Inactive Pokémon? What are you talking about?" asked a confused Shane.

"Shane, were you sleeping or drawing during that lesson? The inactive ones are those that aren't currently with you. You can only have six with you at a time. As a result, you need someone to take care of the rest of them if you want to capture more then six. Professor Oak used to do it, but he's beem doing it for so many trainers that his place is now too crowded, and we have to fend for ourselves," replied Terra. How could he of forgotten that one article where he declared that he couldn't take anymore trainers?

"I suppose I was, Terra. Well, bye then. See you around, and be sure to call me," said Shane. "You have my cell phone number right?" Terra nodded, and she then took off.

Shane picked up Electrike and Pidgey and sent them out. The Pidgey looked around for a bit and faced Shane. "Pidgey, you owe me fifty cents since I had another paper today. I don't care how you acquire it, but you're going to get some? Do you understand?" asked Shane. Pidgey nodded in response, not wanting to annoy her new trainer.

"Hey, Shane. Do you want a battle?" questioned a voice. Shane turned around and came face-to-face with Jake. He never battled a trainer before., but there was a first for everything. Besides, he wasn't going to refuse a match, especially from Jake of all people.

"You're on, Jake. Send out first, as you're the challenger," stated Shane calmly. Jake scowled, hoping he would forget about that rule.

"Fine then, Shane. This will be a simple one-on-one," said Jake, stating their rules.