Well, that was easier than I expected. Don't get me wrong, rescuing that Nidoran in the first place is still considered, in my opinion, a life-risking situation. It's just that when I rescue Nidoran and tell him all those cheesy stuff about him getting stronger and etc. He became oddly obedient and stuff.
Not that it really bothers me much. Quite the opposite actually since Nidoran here manages to endure my beati- I mean... training! Yeah! I obviously meant to say training.
What? Pokemon abuse? Non non non, mon ami! This is le perfecto training method.
Ok, hear me out. Nidoran here is, no sugarcoating, pretty trash when it comes to battle. So we have to settle for something that won't try to kill him, in this case, me!
And before you say something along the line of this being barbaric and stuff, have you seen what a pokemon could do? They're literally capable of smashing a rock with their fist and lifting a boulder up with their arm.
...Perhaps I might've overexaggerated that part for a bit, but you get my point! If anything, I've gone pretty soft with his training so far. Considering this as me being merciful.
Speaking of his training, during our "session", I notice something a bit off about Nidoran here. Usually, when you try to hit something, you'd occasionally miss your target from time to time, right? Well, Nidoran is a weird case of occasionally hitting his target from time to time! See, I'm starting to suspect that Nidoran might actually be blind. How much of a problem is that? Quite a lot when you're plotting revenge against your bullies.
But the thing is, I can't exactly get him checks at the pokemon center perse.
There're a few things that you need to know when it comes to owning a pokemon. First, everyone has a right to own one. You can be a baby and still has a pokemon if your parent lets you. But when it comes to battling a pokemon? Oh hell no, you need a trainer card for that. And guess what? I don't have one. Heck, I don't even know how I could get one. I heard rumors about people selling it at the Underground Path but that place is beyond Mount Moon for me, so no.
Now, imagine if I walk in and ask the nurse to check on Nidoran in his beaten-up state with no trainer card? That's borderline aggravated assault my guy, and I'm not looking forward to sitting behind bars.
But then that begs the question. How would I go about Nidoran's issue? Well, lemme tell you something, amigo. The Pokemon center isn't the only place you can have your pokemon checked on. In fact, there's this guy I know who would be willing to do it for free! Isn't that neat?
His name is Professor Oak but I'm sure you all know of him. Everyone knows who Professor Oak is! Being the world's first Kanto Champion and a renowned Pokemon Researcher, he's bound to get some fame here and there. Although, I find it's criminally underrated that his Champion title is buried under all of his research. Quite a mystery, isn't it?
Regardless, Professor Oak has a working laboratory in Pallet Town, just the south of Viridian City. So I believe that if we travel there and ask him nicely, slowly explaining the situation to him, he should be able to help Nidoran here with his issue... I think.
With that in mind, let us take our non-existence bag, and bon voyage we go!
Remember how I said I don't mind bug pokemon? Well, it wasn't a lie when I say that. However, Bug is Bug and they are still nasty.
I'm talking specifically about Weedle here. Lil guy could give Zubat a run for his money. Both inflict status conditions. Both swarm the entire place. And finally, both are annoying as fuck. Heck! If it weren't for the fact that Nidoran here is a poison type, I would've never come here in the first place.
Where's here exactly? Well, where else but Viridian Forest! A place filled with many kinds of exotic bug pokemon. In fact, I think that youngster over there is actually a bug catcher- he's walking toward me.
Alright, let's pretend that I didn't see him. Just like that, and he'll be gone.
"Hey, Mister! Mind if we have a pokemon battle?"
Arceus damn it.,
"Huh? Oh, Heyy! Sorry, didn't see you there. How can I help ya?"
"Wow! I thought you look old, but you actually sound older than you look." Great! It's a rude one.
"Listen kiddo, you shouldn't say that to other people. Didn't your parent teach you not to make comments at people's age?"
"Well now just sound like my mom." Can this brat get any ruder!?
"Why don't you just go home? I'm sure your parent must worry sick about you."
"Don't worry Mister! I'm 13 and already have my trainer card!"
Thirtee- No. Fuck off. You're not- ...are you serious?
"Mister? Is there something wrong?"
"Um... yeah. First off, you're 13. Aren't you a little... too young for that?"
"Not really, I'm actually quite late compared to the other kid. Usually, we leave our home at 10 for our journe-"
"AT 10!? SINCE WHEN?!"
"Since... forever? Also jeez Mister, you don't have to yell at me. I'm standing right here." Oops, didn't mean to say that out loud.
"So... can we have a pokemon battle?" Right, he's still on my dick for that.
"Listen. You- um..."
"Jim"
"Yeah, Jim. I actually don't have a pokemon with me right now. So sorry kid, I can't battle you."
"Then what about that Nidoran over there? He's been following you for quite some time now."
"Oh, this? He's... not really my pokemon. We just tag along."
"So... you have a pokemon that follow you around but it's not... yours?"
"...Yes."
Now that I think about it, I just make this situation more complicated than it already was.
"...In that case, can I catch this Nidora-"
"No." I'm not just gonna hand him to you!
"So is he yours?"
"He's um... it's complicated."
"What's so complicated? Is he yours or is he isn't?"
"Well, he- ...ok fine. He's mine, but we can't have a battle. There's something wrong with my Nidoran and I'm going to have Professor Oak check on him.
"...why didn't you just start with that?"
"I- uh..." Yeah actually, why didn't I just start with that?
"Mister? You're staring off again."
"Ah- Sorry. Just lost in my thought. Anyway, I should hurry and get going. Nice talking to ya, Jim." And by nice, I mean completely dreadful.
"Um... Mister?"
Sigh. Just give me a break. "...what is it?"
"I think I might be able to help you with your pokemon."
Oh, goodie "How so?"
"Well, let me just grab something from my pocket real quick." Great. This should be the part where he would pull out his... wait... is that...?
"A Pokedex?"
"Yeah, every trainer receives one when they start out their journey."
"...what?"
"Oh, you don't know what a Pokedex is? Well, it's a device that-"
"No no, I know what a Pokedex is. I'm just lost when you said that everyone has a Pokedex."
"I mean... everyone I know has a Pokedex. You're the first person I met that didn't have one."
"Kid... I'm poor. Like- really really poor. Heck, Nidoran here doesn't even have his own Pokeball. That's how poor I am."
"Oh... sorry."
"It's fine. Look, can I just borrow your Pokedex for a sec?"
"Sure, Mister! But only if we have a battle first!" Of course...
"...alright. Let's get this over with."
"Nidoran! On your position!"
"NIDO!"
Alright, our first battle. Judging from the outfit that Jim's wearing, this must be his first time battling too. Should be easy enough.
"Go! Abra!"
Fuck.
Abra is a psychic type, which happens to be super effective against my Nidoran, a poison type. But if luck is on my side, then Abra here should only know Teleport.
"Nidoran, use- ...actually. Nidoran, what moves do you have?"
Hey! Don't give me that look. This is my first time battling so there's bound to be a mistake here and there. Besides, how am I supposed to know Nidoran's move set when I don't even have a Pokedex.
"Ugh, whatever! Use Poison Sting!"
"...Nido?"
"Oh, you don't have that. Then use Tackle!"
"...Nido?"
"Argh! Just use whatever! Hit that damn Abra!"
"NIDORAN!" Finally, got something to work with.
Just as I expect, Abra here only knows Teleport. So all he could do is dodge the attack. What I didn't expect, however, is that this battle would turn into a glorified version of Skitty and Rattata.
"So... are you gonna attack back or...?"
"In a minute."
Ok, I don't like where this is going. "Nidoran! Halt your attack!"
...Well ...now what.
"You're not gonna keep attacking?"
"Well you don't attack back, so why should I?"
"Good point. But in that case, Abra, use Confusion!"
Shit! "Get out of there Nidoran!"
I order a bit too late. So Nidoran gets hit with a full Confusion attack. But then Nidoran just jumps back on his feet and shrugs it off as if nothing happens.
"Nidoran, are you ok?"
All I get for the answer is Nidoran smugly smiling back at me. I wonder where he gets that attitude from.
"Alright, Nidoran. I think I have a plan on how to beat this Abra, but I'm gonna need you to stand completely still, got it?"
"Nidoran?"
"Just trust me on this one."
"...NIDORAN!"
"Ok, Abra! Our last attack might not hurt, but this time it will. Use Confusion again!"
Gotcha! "Now Nidoran! Tank that Confusion and charge toward that Abra!"
"Wait no! Abra, stop!"
Too late buddy. My Nidoran just manage to- oh my Arceus, I am glad that Nidoran doesn't have a super-effective move cuz he just decimated that Abra. Guess all that training really paid off, huh.
"You did well, Abra. You deserve a rest." Looks like someone here isn't happy about their defeat.
"And as per our agreement, my price is...?"
"Yeah yeah, I'll let you borrow my Pokedex."
"Thank you very much. Yoink!"
Right, now I just have to- ...I may have encountered a slight problem.
"...what's wrong, Mister? Why aren't you using my Pokedex."
"I... just realize that I don't know how to use this thing."
"Mister... you're hopeless."
"...I know."
"...and then you press this button to scan the pokemon, you got all of that?"
"Yeah, I think manage to get a gist of it, thanks kiddo."
Alright, let's see what we have here. First off, camera facing Nidoran, then press this button and-
"Nidoran: The Poison Pin Pokémon. A Poison type. Its large ears are flapped like wings when it is listening to distant sounds but stiffen its ears when sensing danger. It extends toxic barbs when angered. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom."
That's... interesting. But I'm more curious about my Nidoran here. Now let's see... Nature Rash... Ability... Hustle?
"Hustle: An ability that allows a pokemon to have a more likely chance of encountering a stronger wild pokemon. It also increases the power of physical moves but lowers the accuracy in exchange."
Well, that explains a lot of things. How Nidoran got ganged up by those 2 Nidorinoes and his constant missing attacks. "Alright kid, I'm done. Thanks for the Pokedex."
"You're welcome, Mister! See you around!"
"Yeah. Sure."
Finally, peace at last.
"One more thing, Mister!"
Please! All I ask is one minute!
"I never catch your name, so what should I call you, Mister?"
My name? Oh right, I never said anything about my name. To be honest, I don't really like my name, it reminds me too much of the past. Also, it's really lame. Might as well come up with a new one since nobody is going to recognize me anyway.
"Mister, you're doing that thing again."
"Right right, sorry. This is the last time, I promise."
"So what is your name, Mister?"
"Well... you can call me Gade if you want."
"Alright, Mister Gade! I'll see you around!"
"Yeah, you too." And just like that, the kid is gone.
...Why do I feel like I forget something?
...
"Wait- SHIT! I FORGOT TO CHECK NIDORAN MOVE SET. ARCEUS DAMN IT!"