Hello again, everyone! I've decided to post this anyway, even though I haven't gotten a single review yet, but hey, life goes on, eh? My E-mail's currently down, so E-mail all reviews to my friend, Mylifestories. Be sure to check out his fanfic The Nido king as well. Like him, I do not own Pokémon, but I own Jerry and all my other characters, as well as Totalo. Give me some time to work on Chapter 3, but until then, read, review, and enjoy!
Chapter 2: The First of Many
Jerry Thompson looked in shock at the Houndoom in front of him. He couldn't believe it was about to destroy the poor, weak Zigzagoon. Jerry nervously glanced through the raindrops into rest of the forest to see if anyone could help the poor Pokémon, but there was no one there. Jerry realized he was the only one who could save the vulnerable Zigzagoon, so he had to think fast. It was a shame, since quick thinking had never been one of his strong points.
The day had started simply enough. After a hearty breakfast, a morning of reading his Pokémon books, and a quick lunch, Jerry had gone into the woods outside his house to play. Normally, he wasn't allowed to go into the forest, but his father had allowed it after letting Jerry borrow an extremely powerful Heracross. An enormous blue stag beetle with four legs and an affection for tree sap, Heracross had the distinction of being the only Bug-type Pokémon that was also a Fighting-type. Jerry admired his father's Heracross, and desperately wanted a Pokémon of his own. It looked like the teenager was about to get his chance.
Jerry pulled one of two Pokéballs from his belt, clicking the button in the center and feeling the ball grow larger in his hand. His first intention was to try and capture the Zigzagoon, and if that failed, then challenge the Houndoom to a battle and hope he won. The red and white ball flew from his hand as Jerry let it go, soaring towards the Zigzagoon – until an angry Houndoom knocked the ball out of the way.
An extremely annoyed Heracross popped out, yelled something in Heracrossish at the Houndoom, and charged in with a Megahorn attack.
A simple Faint Attack from Houndoom caused Heracross' Megahorn to miss, doing the slightest bit of damage to Heracross. Heracross whirled around to face his opponent, focused himself, and landed a Brick Break on the Houndoom, kung-fu style.
The karate chop disoriented the Houndoom, doing quite a bit of damage to the poor dog. "Obviously," thought Jerry to himself. "Houndoom's a Dark-type, so Fighting-type attacks do extra damage. Factor in Brick Break's high base damage and Heracross' STAB, I'm surprised that Houndoom's still standing. Maybe I should give Heracross some direction. Heracross, use Tackle!"
Heracross made to taunt Jerry when it was hit by a Tackle from Houndoom. An extremely angry Heracross wheeled around and prepared to attack.
Jerry decided it was time to give some more direction. "Heracross, use Horn Drill!"
Ah, Horn Drill: one of the most vastly useful moves a Pokémon can know, albeit one of the most inaccurate. It automatically knocks out the opposing Pokémon. The only problem with this move is that it only makes contact with the foe 30 of the time. Technically, all you need for Horn Drill is a big horn, and a little bit of power behind it. Oh, and only certain Pokémon can use it. Heracross tried, he really did, but try as he might, he couldn't land a Horn Drill. This is because Heracross don't learn Horn Drill. Thus, Heracross tried stubbornly to use an attack it couldn't learn and was completely helpless when it was burned by a hyperactive Ember attack from Houndoom.
Jerry could notice the pain Heracross was in. Who couldn't? Even rain can't quell a third-degree burn; in fact, they make them worse. The only thing that could heal Heracross' burn right now was a Burn Heal, and Jerry didn't happen to have one on him – except for the one he kept in his Pokémon First-Aid Kit that he always brought with him in the woods (in case he spotter an injured Pokémon that needed assistance). After calling Heracross over and healing it of his burn, Jerry was under the assumption that Heracross trusted his trainer's son and would follow his advice.
Boy, was Jerry wrong!
"Heracross, use Endure, then Reversal!"
An ingenious combination from one so young, yet with so little experience. Considering the fact that Houndoom was about to use Flamethrower on Heracross, Endure would allow Heracross to emerge from the attack with enough health left to keep battling. This minimal amount of health would max-out the power of Reversal, a Fighting-type move that gets stronger as the user gets weaker. Considering the fact that Heracross would be down to minimal health after that Flamethrower and Houndoom was weak against Fighting-type moves, the dog would be down shortly after its final attack. In theory.
What Heracross chose to do instead was aim a Megahorn point-blank at the Houndoom and instantly K.O. it. Ignoring orders, the Heracross streamed through the Flamethrower attack, missed his target completely, and lost his last bit of health from the resulting crash.
However, the Megahorn did hit two of the Houndour, who fainted from its sheer power. The Houndoom and the rest of his pack decided to retreat to take care of their fellows, acknowledging their defeat and leaving the area with a final glare at Jerry.
Now, only one task remained. Picking up Heracross' Pokéball, Jerry shouted, "Heracross, return!" As a jet of red light sucked the tired Pokémon into its ball, Jerry muttered, "Great job, Heracross. You deserve a good rest. And now, for my final trick."
Jerry pulled the second Pokéball from his belt, clicked the button in the center, and felt the ball grow larger in his hand. He looked sorrowfully at the Zigzagoon, hoping his father could save it. With all his might, Jerry threw the ball towards the Zigzagoon, muttering, "C'mon, little fella! We only want to help you!"
A red beam of light erupted from the button on the ball and shot towards the injured Zigzagoon, engulfing it. The red light shaped like the small Pokémon slowly thinned out, retracting into the ball, which fell to the ground.
The ball swayed from side to side once, twice, three times…
And with a resounding click, stopped moving and settled down.
Well, whadaya think? Remember, E-mail all your reviews to my friend Mylifestories, because I won't receive them on my E-mail. I can't wait until Chapter 3, Laughter is the Best Medicine, because then that's when I announce the Totalo Pokémon Academy! See ya then!