Day 9

Sunny

Current mood: content

Current location: Cerulean Pass, en route to Vermillion City

Dear Diary:

We're resting on Cerulean Pass this evening, our first stop on the way to Vermillion City and our third badge. I'm mainly proud of Ash, though--he showed a young trainer how to care for Pokemon.

When we arrived on the pass this morning, a trainer told us to take on a boy named AJ. Another trainer added that AJ was so good at battling, he even started his own Gym; even though he was not officially recognized by the League. Piqued by this information, we decided to seek out this "AJ" character for ourselves just to see if he was as good as the trainers on the pass said he was.

When we found the Gym a little further down the pass, it didn't appear to be occupied at first. I noticed the welcome sign out front--it proclaimed that AJ was supposedly undefeated with 98 wins and counting. AJ arrived not long after with some newly caught Pokemon. After leaving his new trainees under the care of a Butterfree, Ash challenged him to duel. AJ countered that he had vowed not to leave on his own adventure until he got 100 wins in a row. Ash got cocky at this, and showed both his badges to AJ. AJ just laughed and commented that the Gym Leaders he beat to get them were weak.

Misty was pretty steamed at this, and Brock snapped at AJ "Who are you calling weak?" He looked mad enough to unleash Onix and strangle AJ right there, but he calmed down after a few minutes, as opposed to Misty, who was still ranting about being called weak. Brock meanwhile, hung a whistle around his neck and stepped onto a platform to referee Ash's match against AJ: me vs. his Sandshrew.

"Red side ready?" AJ cheered in reponse. "Blue side ready?" Ash gave an affirmative nod. "And three, two, one..." No sooner did I hear the whistle blow to start the duel, did I feel an immense punch in my stomach! The attack was enough to send me flying clear out of the arena, only to bonk my head hard on the wall when I landed, leaving me very woozy and battered. Although the room was spinning and Pidgeys were going around my head, I still could hear Brock's whistle, followed by him saying "Game Set! Red wins!" No sooner had he said that, did the counter outside update to 99.

Ash was crushed by his defeat, so he started to complain that the duel was rigged. Misty, meanwhile, pried me out of the imprint in the wall I had made, and let me sip on a Potion to help me regain my strength.

Once I had come to a few minutes later, we decided to find out just what made AJ so strong. We searched around the area until we found a tent nearby the Gym, where we could hear the cracks of a whip and Pokemon crying for mercy.

We were shocked when we saw what was going on: AJ was beating a Pidgey for no apparent reason, while others were trapped in what looked like straitjackets. Ash begged Brock to step in and tell AJ to stop abusing the poor Pidgey, but Brock was too busy admiring the brand of PokeChow AJ used.

Angered by the scene, Ash tackled AJ, sending the two of them into a pool. Once the two of them and Sandshrew emerged from the water, I watched, amazed, as Sandshrew shook himself dry--the water had not harmed him at all! I noticed a so-called "strength intensifier" lying by me, but when I put it on, the power was too much for me, making me collapse in exhaustion. Misty freed me and gave me another Potion. The power inside the "strength intensifier" was so strong, I had curled myself into a ball to ease the pain, and was still in that position as I drank the Potion. Sandshrew found me like this, and decided to imitate me.

Just then, another larger ball rolled inside, and swiped Sandshrew. After some panicking (and AJ accusing Ash of taking Sandshrew, plus Ash taunting AJ), did Sandshrew come burrowing into the room--and he had Meowth with him!

AJ was elated to see Sandshrew, and gave Sandshrew a big hug--maybe AJ was a kind trainer after all. Just then, Team Rocket arrived; and AJ got his revenge (and his 100th win), by singlehandedly defeating Team Rocket. As AJ packed for his adventure, Ash offered him a chance to join our party, but AJ said he had other plans, and with that, we said goodbye and wished him luck on his journey.

I hope AJ fares well on his journey...I can't help but wonder where he is tonight...

Until tomorrow,

Pikachu