Author Notes: Just wanted to point out that some of the facts about pokemon (height and weight, for example) don't seem to really fit with what Ash and others have done with them on the TV series, so I altered minor facts about them to make it work. Carry on.
Recap of Chapter One:
"These are your Trainers Licenses," Professor Yew was saying when Jezebel finally decided to listen again. He handed a green card out to each of them. "Enter the ID number into your PokeDex and you're free to go. You may now see what pokemon you have chosen to accompany you on your quest."
The trainers didn't need to be told twice. They each took the pokeball they'd been given and pressed the center button. Four identical beams of red light filled the air, but Jezebel had eyes only for her own. She watched as the light started to take a definite shape, and then gasped.
"Oh! It's beautiful…"
Jezebel stared at the Ponyta that had materialized in front of her, silently thanking her brother for his wonderful gift. The horse-like pokemon snorted and tossed its head almost impatiently, the embers that made up its mane dancing as if by their own will. Her heart melted, and immediately Jezebel knew she'd keep the Ponyta.
At Jezebel's gasp the other four trainers had looked over, surprise registering on their faces at the sight of the fiery horse. The three boys Jezebel knew faintly from around town turned eagerly back to their own pokemon – a Cyndaquil, Bellsprout, and Poliwag – and settled the trading. Dagon, meanwhile, sidled up beside Jezebel and looked over the Ponyta.
"He looks like a decent sort of fellow," Dagon said after a moment. "Their hooves are stronger than diamond, did you know?" He approached the pokemon warily, avoiding the mane and tail.
"Yes, I know that," Jezebel replied evenly. "I know a lot about pokemon…I've been kind of obsessed with them since, well, forever." She smiled at Dagon when he turned around to look at her. "Careful of the fire – they burn anyone they don't trust. How'd you know it's a he?"
"Thanks, but I'm aware. And the PokeDex can tell you what gender each pokemon is. While you were ogling I was looking it up."
Jezebel started to retort, but saw that he was smiling. She kept her comment to herself.
"So who sent him to you?" Dagon asked of her, walking back over her side.
"My brother. He left two years ago and wanted to make it up to me for leaving without me. I asked him to wait, but he was eager to get started…" she trailed off. "D'you have any siblings on the road?"
"No. I have an older sister that started her journey, but she wasn't really into it. She has a few pokemon, but really she just travels around entering the beauty pageants. She's kind of, well, empty-headed." He laughed, but he wasn't mocking his sister. He was just telling it like it is. "Me? I want to become a Pokemon Master, beat the Elite Four and all that jazz. I don't need to catch 'em all, but if it helps." He shrugged.
"I want to take the Gym Leader Challenge," Jezebel informed him. "I've done a lot of research while waiting for my chance to leave and mapped out the easiest course to take. After that I want to head over to Jhoto and face the Jhoto League Championship. You do know you need to get all the gym badges to face the Elite Four, right?"
"Yeah," he said quickly, "I know. That's just my main goal, is all. Hey, look, I'm sorry about earlier. About yelling at you and all. I know I came across as kind of arrogant and hot-headed…I am, to be sure, but usually I'm not that bad. I just got excited, is all, and I couldn't find Nova and thought someone might have stolen him…"
"Don't worry about it," Jezebel assured him. "I would have probably done the same."
"Good, good…"
The two looked over to where the other trainers had been standing, noticing that they'd already left. They looked back at each other and grinned.
"Looks like we're already behind," Dagon said lightly.
"Yeah, best get going. I just point, right?"
"What?"
"The PokeBall. I've never used one before…I just point and hit that button?" She gestured towards the Ponyta.
"Oh, yeah. Usually you say something like 'Return,' or 'Come back,' so it's not so much of a shock to them…they tend to get annoyed."
"Alright, thanks. Return, Blaze!" Jezebel held the PokeBall in the general direction of the Ponyta, hitting the button as she did so. A red beam of light shot out from the center of the ball and absorbed the pokemon. After a moment the light was gone, and the Ponyta was safe insides its ball.
"Blaze?" Dagon asked.
"Yeah, Blaze," Jezebel said. "His name. You've got Nova, I've got Blaze." She grinned at him, but he didn't seem to get it. "Anyway…"
"Hey, Jezebel, you want to travel together? I mean, not forever or anything but we are going to the same place…Plus, we could always battle each other to get stronger. What do you say?"
"I say that sounds like a great plan. We should get started now, though. Dunno where we'll be by tonight."
Dagon readily agreed, and the two young trainers bid Professor Yew goodbye one last time before leaving the lab. Out in the open air the sun was shining brightly, a nice breeze stirring the air and keeping it from being too hot. Jezebel and Dagon had hardly stepped form the town's borders onto Route 0 when they were accosted by the three trainers that had gotten their pokemon at Yew's lab.
Of the three, one was big and burly, one small and wiry with large, circular glasses, and the last was slightly on the heavy side. Will, Tom, and Jack, respectively. It was Tom that stepped forward, planting an accusing finger on Dagon's chest.
"Why is it that you two got good pokemon while us three are stuck with wimps? I got a Bellsprout for crying out loud. A Bellsprout! Those are so common it's not even funny," he whined.
"Yeah," Will grunted.
"Why is that our fault?" Jezebel asked incredulously. "We didn't choose what pokemon you received."
"Prolly did," muttered Jack. "He's Yew's nephew. He probably told him to give us weaklings."
"I have no control over what pokemon Professor Yew gives out," Dagon interjected.
"Furthermore, your pokemon are not weak," Jezebel pointed out.
"How's that?" Tom demanded.
"Well, for starter Bellsprout is common, yes, but you don't see many of its evolved form. Weepinbell is tough, and Victreebel is even more so. I'd go so far as to say that Victreebel is one of the most powerful grass pokemon, and most of them have poison powers that will knock anyone out. No one is resistant to poison. Poliwag may be small now, but Poliwrath is extremely powerful. Fighting and water is a great combination, and many Poliwraths win those fighting tournaments. Politoed, if you go that way, is a pretty rare pokemon that could earn you prizes in pokemon contests, and both are good at battling. And Cyndaquil – don't even get me started! Everyone knows that Charizard and Typhlosion are the two strongest fire pokemon out there. So, really, I don't know why you guys are–"
"Shut up, Walters. No one cares about what you've got to say."
"Don't talk to her like that!" Dagon snapped.
"What're you gonna do about it?" Tom taunted. "Beat me up? Will here could knock you flat."
"No. I'm going to battle you."
"What, with type advantage? I don't think so. Do you think I'm stupid?"
"Why, yes," Dagon said coldly.
"That's it!" Tom roared. "Two on two! Me and Will vs. you and Walters!"
"Fine," Jezebel answered for them. She turned to Dagon, keeping her voice low. "We can beat them easy. Take out Bellsprout with one fire move and then it'll be us against Cyndaquil."
"All right. Just don't try any fire moves against Cyndaquil – they're not as effective."
"You two gonna battle or talk all day?" Tom hollered.
"We're battling!" Dagon shouted back. He released his Growlithe, and Jezebel followed suit with her Ponyta. Tom and Will each released their pokemon, shouting attacks.
"Vine whip!" Tom ordered.
"Ember!" Will shouted.
Their pokemon complied, but Blaze and Nova easily avoided the vine whip. Nova skittered to the side of the ember attack, but Blaze seemed to jump into it. His tail and mane grew brighter.
"What's he doing?" Dagon asked of Jezebel.
"Ponyta and Rapidash's attack grows stronger with each fire attack used against them," Jezebel replied. And then, to Blaze, "Use ember on Bellsprout!"
"Nova, take down that Cyndaquil!"
The fire hit the Bellsprout at the same moment Nova knocked Cyndaquil to the ground. Bellsprout was knocked out immediately, but Cyndaquil still had a bit of fight left in it. It growled at Nova, sending out another wave of ember. At this early stage, ember seemed to be the only move it knew.
"Bite it, Nova!"
The Growlithe was happy to oblige, sinking its sharp canines into the Cyndaquil's flank. The Cyndaquil flinched when Growlithe repeated the action, and a final scratch had it knocked out cold.
Dagon and Jezebel had just turned to congratulate each other when a sharp bark from Nova turned them both around. Tom and Will had returned their pokemon, but in their place stood Jack's Poliwag.
"Water Gun!" Jack shouted.
"Hey! We said two on two!"
"Yeah, well, we cheated.
"Get out of the way, Blaze!"
"Move, Nova!"
"Follow them, Poliwag! Keep using water gun! Don't let them get away from you!"
"Blaze, Nova, try to get around behind the Poliwag! Keep it from spraying you!"
The Ponyta and Growlithe, eager to please their new masters, did as requested and leapt over the stream of water coming from the Poliwag. They worked together in perfect harmony, one drawing fire from the water pokemon while the other took the opportunity to stomp or bite or scratch it. It was really a sight to behold, and Dagon and Jezebel found themselves at a loss for words. They didn't even attempt to direct their pokemon, instead letting them do what they could to win the battle.
And win they did. Before long the Poliwag took enough damage to knock it out, hit simultaneously by hoof and claw. Blaze and Nova pranced happily around the fallen pokemon until it was called back, then returned to their owner's sides.
"Good going, Blaze!" Jezebel enthused, stroking the Ponyta's muzzle.
"Great job, Nova!" Dagon grinned, reaching down to pet his Growlithe.
The two trainers looked over towards where the losers stood glaring at them, all of their pokemon recalled and safe on their belt.
"You got lucky," Tom shouted over.
"Yeah!" Will said.
"We'll beat you next time," Jack warned.
"Looking forward to it," Jezebel called nonchalantly.
"Yeah, but you might want to train a little bit before you seek us out again!" Dagon laughed as the three started to walk away, mumbling amongst themselves.
"Hey, wait!" Jezebel called after them. She jogged to catch up, spinning Tom around when she tapped him on the shoulders. "I meant what I said about the pokemon. They really can be great. And, here, this is for Bellsprout. I don't want it suffering any burns because of the fire…I'd use this now, so there's no permanent damage." She shoved a burn potion into his hand, one of the items she'd put in her pack after receiving her letter from Jeffery. "There should be a Pokemon Center in the next town you pass through. Go see Nurse Joy – she heals pokemon for free. And good luck. I really do hope you run into us again so we can have a rematch." She smiled at Tom, but he just glared. Shrugging, she turned away, twin braids flying as she bounded back towards her pokemon and Dagon.
Tom watched her go, feeling a wrenching in his gut. He should have said thanks. His glare lessened, becoming less severe, until at last he was almost smiling as he watched her rejoin her Ponyta. Though he wouldn't admit it, Tom started to develop a little crush on Jezebel that very moment.
"Come on, guys," he finally said. The three started off, leaving Dagon and Jezebel alone with their pokemon.