Chapter Four

Marcus's Sandile and Dee's Slakoth stood across from one another, each Pokemon sizing the other up. As his friend scanned his Pokemon with his Pokedex, Marcus pulled out his own device, scanning the Sloth Pokemon that was about to be his first opponent in this battle.

"Slakoth, the Slacker Pokemon." The Pokedex rang out, continuing, "With its Truant ability, Slakoth lolls around for over twenty hours every day and its heart beats only once a minute. Because it moves so little, it only needs a daily meal consisting of three leaves. This Pokemon is a captured Normal-Type."

"Sandile, start off with Sand Attack," Marcus then shot, beginning the battle. On command, his Pokemon opened its snout, letting rip a blast of grainy sand towards Slakoth. Sand got into the Normal-type Pokemon's eye, slightly lowering its perception and sense of direction. "Then Thunder Fang!" He added.

Hearing Marcus's order and seeing Sandile moving towards his Pokemon with harmful intents, D'Angelo barked, "Dodge and try out your Yawn attack!"

Barely managing to move out of the way of its quicker opponent, Dee's Slakoth let off a loud yawn, releasing a stream of bubbles from its mouth. As they closed in on Sandile, just as the Desert Croc Pokemon could get its jaws onto its opponent a bubble from the yawn attack burst in its face. As electricity crackled throughout the air, both Pokemon dropped onto their backs, one knocked out from the sheer force of such an electrifying attack and the other knocked unconscious by Slakoth's strategic attack.

"Both Sandile and Slakoth are unable to battle, both Trainers will now send out their final Pokemon," Jacquii commented as both defeated Pokemon were returned to their Pokeballs.

"Sandile, good job on your first battle alongside us, get some rest." Marcus stated, bringing out Treecko's ball for battle. "Treecko, come on out,"

"Torchic, come burn this lizard to a crisp," D'Angelo growled through a smile, releasing his own Pokemon just as his friend's Treecko came out of its ball. "Sorry but it's like Rock-Paper-Scissors Mar, Fire always beats Grass,"

"We'll see about that," Marcus retaliated. As far as he knew, just like his Treecko didn't know a grass-type move, neither did his friend's Torchic know a fire-type as much as he was concerned. This would just be a battle of agility and physical prowess between two young Pokemon. "Start things off with Leer, Treecko"

"Use Growl," Burrow shot at his small chick Pokemon. "Then follow up with an Ember!" He added, startling Marcus and in turn the boy's Treecko.

Marcus looked at his friend in shock, it turned out that while he was out Torchic and D'Angelo had trained up even if just a bit. All he could do was watch as once both Pokemon had gotten their startling attacks out of the way, a burst of sparks shot at his Treecko, striking the Wood Gecko Pokemon hard and fast. Coming to his feet, Treecko showed greater resilience than anybody would have expected it to at this point in its training.

"That seems like it hurt Marcus's Treecko harder than anything it could deal out," Jacquii thought to herself. She was still a novice Pokemon Trainer and sometimes she got her type coverage confused but she remembered deep down that fire attacks like Ember were super effective against several types of Pokemon, definitely Grass-types like Treecko. "C'mon Treecko, you can't let those keep hitting you or it's over," She said, almost out loud.

"Marcus you're the better battler but sometimes type coverages are just too damn much to overcome," Dee laughed, ensuring that his victory was all but given to him. Looking at the blood in the water, he barked out another order at his Torchic. "Ember, hit him with another one and end this!"

Before Torchic could even move to conjure up another super effective ember attack, Marcus's Treecko had quickly pounced forward, closing the distance between itself and the fire-type at a speed that no one could comprehend. Striking with its tail, the Grass-type slammed into its opponent with its new attack. In the midst of battle it had learned a new move, Quick Attack.

"That was Quick Attack," Marcus informed, taking note of his Pokemon's new ability. While it wasn't a Grass-type move, the new attack did mean that both his Treecko and the bond between the both of them were already growing stronger. "Use it again then Treecko, then right after follow up with a Pound to pay 'em back for that Ember we took head on."

Doing as it was told, Marcus's Pokemon followed up its previous attack with another Quick Attack and then a Pound attack, battering Torchic with an onslaught of physical slaps and punches from each of its limbs. Hitting the ground, a dust cloud arose around both combatants. Once it cleared, Treecko let out a growl and Torchic a screech of its own as they stood across from one another, the Wood Gecko Pokemon glaring daggers at the Chick Pokemon. Seconds passed until with no warning, Torchic fell to its stomach, unable to continue on with the battle. Seeing this, Treecko fell to his knees -not out of commission but definitely hurt from its long battle.

"Torchic is unable to continue," Jacquii commented, the end of the battle coming after all. "Treecko and Marcus are the victors of this Pokemon Battle,"

"You okay Torchic?" Dee asked, going up to the fallen fire-type to make sure it was alright after a nasty beating it had taken. Giving a nod, the Chick Pokemon screeched at Treecko in a friendly "see you soon" sort of way before being returned to its Pokeball by its trainer. "Good battle Marcus! You better make sure that Treecko of yours figures out how to use grass attacks because next time that Quick Attack won't be enough on its own, I promise you that."

"I think it's time we get to Dallas and see what the Professor wants us to find there," Marcus stated, wanting to both move forward and get his Pokemon to a Pokemon Center as quickly as possible.

With two new friends between the three of their parties, the three young Trainers continued forward with their adventures, oblivious to just how big of a world they were entering into with each step they took further from Crowley.

Updates

Marcus Wilson- Treecko learned Quick Attack

D'Angelo Burrow- Torchic learned Ember