Pokemon EDventures: Johto Journeys

by Gusto God of Story

If you were given a chance to go to another world, would you do it? Given the chance by a young trainer from Kanto, the kids of the Cul-De-Sac embark into the world of Pokemon. The Eds have been fans and know their way around battling... or so they think. So much has changed, and so much is unknown to them. But they must deal with the changes, even if it changes them as well...

5. Sprouting Ideas

Let it be known that my New Years Resolution is to be more consistent with my uploads.

I've been trying to get this chapter done for about a month and a half now, and it has eluded me for a myriad of reasons. But I'll spare you guys the sob-story about how much my life is a living hell, because frankly, we have things to be happy about.

Like the fact that this story has gotten over 500 views and 10 followers. You guys are amazing, I hope you know that.

And I wanna make sure I show you guys appreciation for the continued support. So as stated, I wanna try to get more consistent on things, since this is gonna be a pretty BIG project. My ultimate goal is to be able to write at least 2 chapters a month, if not more, and that's definitely something I'll be working on.

Anyway, all the gushing aside, we've got some reviews I want to to comment on.

Pksmashbros: Gen 4 Evolutions are absolutely fair game. In fact, I've got a couple ideas floating around in this head of mine. But that's a problem for future Gusto.

Engineer1869: Glad to have you back, and hope you're in for the long haul.

Insane Dominator: So since you brought up a lot of points in your review, I'll focus on one point in particular, that being the pacing. I definitely will be trying to get things moving a little more, since these first couple chapters have been a large amount of backtracking. I'm trying to do at least one city and/or area and/or game plot point per chapter, since I think that's a good pacing for myself, so hopefully these next few chapters deliver.

Also update, this chapter has been cleaned up and refined a little, after giving it a once-over with my personal fine-toothed comb. Hope that helps. As always read, review, all that good stuff, and I'll see you once I've finished the next one in line.

Anyway, enough rambling. Enjoy!

---

The grind up through Route 30 up to Route 31 was certainly an interesting experience for the party, as it was their first taste of trainer battles outside of each other. It all started with a boy named Goro, who'd been quick to challenge someone from their party.

Kevin made good use of that match, allowing the others to continue forward, only to be challenged immediately by another youngster opening with a Pidgey, which was promptly taken down by Rolf's Geodude.

While the surrounding area was lacking in interesting captures, this was somewhat fine with most of the group, who had already been subjected to enough battles with these same beasts. It wasn't until they actually got up to the interconnecting Route 31 that things got interesting, when a horde of wild Bellsprout jumped several party members, forcing a halt in their progress.

But while the others wasted their time with those, two or three went ahead, and began to experience what the new area had to offer.

"Alright, Spearow! Peck!"

Among those was Eddy, taking the opportunity to rack up some much needed experience on his new bird Pokemon. A young bug catcher named Kōichi was his opponent, and he had numbers on his side, to be sure.

The bird Pokemon landed another beak strike against the third Caterpie in a row, having dealt enough damage to the larva to knock it out. Kōichi looked on in annoyance, which only gave Eddy all the more satisfaction.

"Anything else, little man?" he called out. "I'd like to reach Level 5 already."

"Pretty big talk," Kōichi countered, "But the fight ain't over yet! Go Weedle!"

Out of the fourth Poke Ball came another familiar face, which somewhat bummed Eddy out. Did this region really not have that much new to offer?

"What? Nothing unique?"

The kid tilted his head. "Uh... no? Is that a bad thing?"

"Well-... ya know what, nevermind. Spearow, you know what to do!"

The bird nodded, as she looked at the new face before her. "(I hope you'll put up more of a fight than the others,)" she joked. "(The three before you were barely morsels.)"

"(I wouldn't try to eat me,)" Weedle warned. "(I'm quite poisonous.)"

"(Figuratively,)" she declared. "(I was hoping you'd be more fun to mess with.)"

"(I'm not here to banter. I'm here to battle.)"

With its intent made clear, Spearow decided that her trainer was right. She did know what to do, and as such, turned her beak toward the new opponent. One simple peck to its soft body nearly knocked the Weedle down. But unfortunately, it withstood her attack just enough to stand back up, defiance clear on it's visage.

"Weedle, use Poison Sting."

Rushing in, the larval hornet jabbed Eddy's bird with it's conical horn. It did not deal severe damage in any way, but the act caused Spearow to jump back. She waited patiently for the next command to be issued, until a sudden stinging pain came from her wound, leaving her feeling... drained.

Eddy watched from the sidelines, as Spearow's breathing became a bit more ragged. It didn't take a genius to realize what just happened. And apparently Kōichi had figured it out too, given the grin he had.

"Sweet, your Spearow got poisoned! There's still hope!"

"Dream on, kid!" Eddy countered. "A little poison ain't gonna slow us down, right Spearow?"

The Flying Type nodded, and looked to Weedle with nothing more than amusement. "(Not bad,)" she taunted through the pain, "(But not good enough, meal.)"

Eddy made the call once more, ordering Spearow to once again use Peck. This time, however, she decided to make it interesting, as she saw Weedle trying to back itself up. Flapping her wings to get a bit of air, she rushed over, and slammed into the Bug Type's side, not dealing damage, but knocking it over.

Kōichi was distraught by this development, and could only watch as Eddy's Pokemon jabbed its hooked beak into Weedle's soft underbelly. Not a killing blow, but certainly painful for the little guy, and more than enough to end the fight right then and there.

"Weedle, return!" Kōichi called, bringing his final team member into its Poke Ball. "You did all ya could, guys. I guess we were just outmatched, huh?"

"You got that right, Ko... whatever your name was." Eddy told him, as he was handed the prize money, looking at the few coins in his hands like he had just won the lottery.

"Kōichi, by the way. Your name sounds like a Unovan name, so I take it you're a tourist here?"

"Somethin' like that."

"Well, you were one tough opponent," Kōichi told him, breaking his focus. "I'd love to fight you again one of these days before you head back."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! Here, lemme give you my Pokegear number?"

Eddy was confused. "Pokegear? The heck is that?"

"You don't know what a Pokegear is!?" Kōichi asked incredulously. "They're so useful! You can use 'em as a phone, as a radio, as a map! They're great!"

"I mean, my Pokedex can do all that. Will that work?"

"Yes, yes it will."

And with that decided, Eddy quickly pulled out his Pokedex, and the two boys exchanged numbers. Kōichi made a promise to give him a call for a rematch some time soon, and they both walked away, Eddy back to his group, and Kōichi in the opposite direction.

Once he'd returned, he was greeted by the sight of Ryuji and Ed, both holding a Bellsprout in their hands, while others scanned the plant Pokemon with their dexes. And while it might have been good to see this classic Grass Type, something about it made that nagging feeling return with a vengeance.

"Are we gonna start seeing more new stuff any time soon?" Eddy asked without thinking, grabbing the attention of his fellow Eds and Ryuji.

"Something got you upset?" Ryuji questioned.

"Don't get me wrong, this is still freaking cool and all, but when I hear 'new region', I'm hoping to see new stuff. So far this has pretty much all been Kanto 'Mons."

"Yeah, no duh." countered Ryuji, running a hand through his shaggy hair, "In case you've forgotten, we're right next door to Kanto. So close in fact that the two regions share their Pokemon League."

Embarrassment was not an emotion Eddy felt often, but this time, he definitely couldn't help but look away. But not before responding with a quick and snappy "Shut up!"

Double D suppressed a chuckle at this predictable reaction. "You'll have to forgive Eddy. He gets bored rather easily, even in the face of the awe-inspiring."

"Oh, like YOU don't wanna see a bunch of new Pokemon?"

This caused Ryuji to roll his eyes. "Well either way, we've only seen three nearby routes. We'll see things like Hoppip and Mareep before ya know it."

"You know, for someone who's a new trainer, you sure do know a lot of things," Eddy told him offhandedly.

"I uh, did some research before coming out here. Now c'mon, Violet City's not too far off."

---

Their steps were light on the cobblestone path as the village's old-fashioned architecture jumped out. A strange mix of ancient and modern graced their eyes, as everyone took in minor details every which way. From the glistening blue lake before the tower up north, to the kids outside watching the birds fly overhead, Violet City was as alive as it could get.

"Oh, I'm speechless!" Exclaimed Double D. "Utterly speechless. This city is even more wondrous than the last. A marvel of traditional Japanese architecture, mixing aspects of our current era in perfe-"

"I thought you said you were SPEECHLESS," Eddy chimed in, taking a step forward. "But you're right, even the Pokemon Center looks samurai as hell."

"Welcome to Violet City folks," Ryuji told them. "Home of the Sprout Tower and all that good stuff. Our first gym is here, and there should be a route down south for us to catch stuff while we're waiting. I'm gonna go into the Pokemon Center if you guys wanna join me."

"Oh yes!" Ed exclaimed. "Breathe power back into my mighty Bellsprout!"

"Bellsprout, you say?"

Ed turned around to see a young boy, about the age of the group's previous opponents. His hair was deep black and swept to the side, and his face was framed by a pair of glasses.

"Hi there!" Ed said happily. "Are you a Pokemon Trainer too?"

"Moreso a collector," the boy explained. "My name is Konta, and I've been wanting a Bellsprout. Would you like to trade for my Onix?"

The ginger haired boy's eyes lit up at the mention of Onix. "Yes, please! I can be like Brock, and use it as a staircase!"

"... Innovative." Konta pulled out a Poke Ball. "Well, let's get this underway, shall we?"

Ed nodded, pulling out his Poke Ball. Konta started the two off, chucking his Poke Ball into the air to reveal a creature of unparalleled size, with a shape analogous to a chain of boulders. The only thing distinguishing it as a Pokemon was its large head, possessing a large spine at the top of it, and a pair of beady black eyes, almost like those of a snake.

"Ooh! So cool!" Ed squealed at the sight of the Rock Type. "Okay, here's my trade!"

He threw his own Poke Ball into the air, revealing the small, pitcher plant-esque Pokemon, held off the ground by its spindly body.

"So, this is Rocky, my Onix." Konta explained, as he handed the Poke Ball to Ed. "And from now on, he's yours."

"Okay! And my Bellsprout is now yours!"

Both trainers seemed happy with the exchange, but from the sidelines, Rocky the Onix protested.

"(Really? You're going to give me to this guy!? He looks like he's as dumb as your Slowpoke!)"

"Take good care of Rocky, okay?"

"You bet your sweet bippy I will."

Ed looked up to the new Rock Type on his team, and his grin continued to get bigger. In all honesty, it was starting to soften up Rocky to see the boy was so excited to have him on the team.

"(Well uh, nice to meet you,)" Rocky said, sounding like a bellowing grunt to everyone else. "(I-)"

Before he could finish saying what he wanted to say, Rocky felt a pair of arms wrap as far as they could around one of the boulders that made up his body, and pick him up off the ground. Looking down, he saw Ed hugging him with all his might, and practically swinging him around. The others could see people running away, and this forced both Eddy and Double D into action.

"Ed, stop it!" Double D yelled out, "You're going to get us in trouble!"

These words didn't seem to get through to him, as he continued to hug his new Onix with intense vigor.

"Ed, if you don't stop, I'M TELLING MOM!"

Ed was stopped dead in his tracks as he heard Sarah yell from back with the group. Rocky fell out of his grip as he rushed over and got on his knees in front of his sister.

"Please Sarah!" he practically begged. "Don't tell mom! If you tell mom, then mom will tell dad, and dad will just complain about politics!"

Sarah rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide her grin. Even after all these years, that still worked on her brother.

"Don't worry," she told him. "You've stopped, so no need to tell mom. But don't do it again!"

Ed nodded, and went back to his friends, but not before returning Rocky to his Poke Ball. It was at this moment that Ryuji returned, Poke Balls on the side of his belt.

"So, what'd I miss?"

"Ed has gained the mighty snake of power stones!"

"Snake of...- Oh, I assume you mean Onix?"

"Oh yeah, and he won't shut up about it," Eddy grumbled.

"Eddy, be nice," said Double D. "You know Brock was always his favorite character behind Ash."

"Brock?" Ryuji asked.

"Another character from the games, who was the Pewter City Gym Leader, with an Onix as his ace. Does he have an equivalent here?"

"I'd assume. That lines up pretty well with Takeshi."

Double D took out his notepad at this, scribbling down another note; 'Characters we know from the show possess Japanese names here, as opposed to the English names we are used to.'

And once he was done, he put the pad away in his hat once again, and entered the Pokemon Center. His team had taken a beating, and they'd need to be in top strength if he wanted to take on the Gym.

Especially given that right now he wasn't exactly sure about the battle if this was a Flying Type Gym...

---

There was one fortunate part and two unfortunate parts for Double D within the next 30 minutes.

Fortunately, the Gym was nearby, so he got his answer.

Unfortunately, his research was up to date. The Violet Gym was a Flying Type Gym.

Doubly unfortunate was that they were told the Gym Leader was out at the moment. Something about a conflict in the immediate area that needed resolving. As such, they were told they'd either have to wait there or come back later.

Considering their group's composition, it was pretty obvious that they chose the latter. But what their resident genius had not been expecting was that anyone in the group was going to end up in front of the Sprout Tower. And yet here they were, standing before the lovely pagoda before them, at the request of their guide.

"Okay, so here's the thing," Ryuji told them. "I'm not gonna force any of you to come up here with me. If you wanna join me, speak now or forever hold your peace."

"I'm in!" Kevin declared before anyone else, shocking the likes of Eddy, Nazz, and especially Double D himself.

"Why Kevin, I hadn't been expecting that," commented Double D. "Do you have a fascination with traditional Japanese architecture?"

"As if," he responded immediately. "But there might be some trainers inside, so I'm hoping to get a good battle in."

"Well alright, anyone else?"

Double D stepped forward without a word, and Ryuji was left scanning the rest of the party. He could see the disinterest on a couple of their faces, as well as Eddy and Ed already booking it in the opposite direction. This elicited a shrug, as he surmised the group's answers from that.

"Alright you two, let's go. I'm sure the monks will give you a good workout."

And with that, the three of them entered into the building, and were immediately greeted with a somewhat decrepit interior, lined with statues of the Pokemon Bellsprout.

"Pretty choice place," Kevin commented, "Wonder what it was for."

"What it IS for."

Kevin looked forward to see who had corrected him, and was greeted by the sight of a man in traditional robes, with a shaved head and a set of prayer beads around his neck.

"This tower is a sacred place, where we practice battle in hopes of further understanding our Pokemon," he explained. "If you should be so inclined, you may even challenge our Elder to test the bonds formed with your own Pokemon already."

"Sounds awesome," Kevin told him. "Where is this Elder dude?"

"You shall meet him in the highest room of this tower," the monk answered, "But you will face many opponents on the way there. If you seek a challenge, then climb this ladder and begin."

And with that explained, Kevin wasted no time climbing up said ladder, and judging from the pitter patter heard on the ceiling, going over to an opponent on that second floor.

"So, looks like he's eager," commented Ryuji, as he stepped near the ladder himself. "You wanna follow him and see where this goes?"

Double D did not respond, and simply stood there for a moment, staring at Ryuji.

"Uh... Double D?"

Hearing his name helped to pull the brainiac away from his thoughts, as he responded quickly, with a simple "Oh yes. Sorry."

"Are you okay, man? I didn't think you were the kind to freeze up."

"Oh, it's nothing, don't worry."

"If you say so..."

With nothing left to say, Double D approached the latter and waited for Ryuji to finish climbing it. Once Double D was alone, he pulled out his Pokedex. He wanted to be prepared for if they were to run into Pokemon, but there was a second reason as well. An unanswered question that he desired some closure to.

And what better time than while the others were battling?

---

Eddy and Ed got back within twenty-five minutes of their little excursion, and were met by the other members of the group sitting around by the pond. Rolf and Jimmy were talking, while Nazz and Sarah both dipped their feet into the waters.

"Well, we searched high and low, but he ain't nowhere to be found," Eddy told the others, "He must have already gotten the badge and booked it to get the next one."

"Who the heck are you talking about?" Sarah asked.

"Jonny! Don't ya remember? He said we'd all meet up here, but he's nowhere to be found!"

"So? You're worried about Jonny of all people?"

"Of course! I don't trust him!"

Things were silent for a couple of seconds, before Sarah burst out laughing. This caused others in the group to begin giggling, and Ed to break out into his own full blown laughing fit. Though Eddy at least took solace in knowing that last one was Ed just being Ed.

"Come on! You're scared of the melon dweeb? That's the lamest thing I've ever heard."

"Oh, can it, shrimp."

"Yeah, you got bigger things to worry about..."

Eddy tensed upon hearing that all-too-familiar voice, sending a chill so far up his spine he was worried he'd get a brain freeze. Hearing that line in that sickly sweet tone confirmed his worst fear had been realized. He didn't even need to turn around, because he knew who it was without question.

"Beat it, Kanker!" exclaimed Eddy, pulling out one of his Poke Balls. "We don't want you here!"

"Aw, how rude." Lee taunted, clearly not hurt by his words. "Is that any way to talk to your girlfriend?"

"And look, he even brought us the other chumps," Marie added in. "Now we can get our revenge, girls. All we need is for you to tell us where that red-eyed jerk is."

"Not on your life!" Eddy retaliated. "We've gotten some Pokemon of our own, and you ain't gonna get the jump on us twice!"

Taking that as a challenge, the three girls threw their Poke Balls into the air in unison. Eddy had been expecting to see the same Pokemon from before, the bug, the seed, and the iron thing. But unfortunately, those hopes were dashed as he was greeted by two he did not recognize, and one that seemed familiar, yet completely alien at the same time.

From Lee's Poke Ball came a small arachnid Pokemon, black and yellowish green in color, standing on three legs like a tripod, while the other three were propped up, presumably to hold the bubble of water surrounding the creature's head.

From Marie's Poke Ball came a black and red reptilian Pokemon, skittering around on all fours, and staring Eddy down with its beady purple eyes. The lizard stood up for a moment, and let out a hiss in an attempt to intimidate.

And from May's Poke Ball came for a slimy creature, which Eddy could immediately distinguish from the three. It had to be a Grimer, but it was unlike any Grimer he had ever seen. It was green, with a yellow bottom lip, and... teeth?

"What the heck happened to that Grimer!?" he asked, pulling out his Pokedex. "What have ya been feeding that thing? It looks like a piece of modern art!"

"We didn't make it like that, it came that way." Lee told him confidently. "The guy we took it from said it was from some dump called 'Aloha' or somethin'."

"Well if it's anything like the Grimer I'm used to, then this ain't good... But I sure as heck ain't gonna let you hurt my bud! Go Krabby!"

The Water Type entered the field, before seeing two more bursts of light right beside him. To his left, he saw Rowlet, and to his right, Horsea.

"You two joining this fight?" Eddy asked as both Sarah and Jimmy approached, their Poke Balls raised just the same as him.

"Three against one ain't a fair fight," Sarah said. "And plus, I need my Rowlet to get stronger anyway."

"And what about you, fluffy? Think you can handle that big a bug?"

Jimmy looked forward to see the strange spider-esque creature, and shuddered. But nevertheless he stood right next to Eddy. An act which sent a twinge of pride through the older boy.

"I... I'll fight," he said, voice shaky, yet dripping with conviction. "If bugs this big are everywhere, then I have to start getting used to them. Otherwise I'm never gonna be able to leave my room again!"

"Aw, well ain't that cute," Lee continued to taunt away. "Little Dutch is trying to act like he's a big man. We'll take him down first, girls."

Both May and Marie nodded, and the battle commenced. Eddy was about to make the first move, but was cut short when Sarah called for her Rowlet to Tackle the spider thing. Eddy watched as her Pokemon rushed in to pierce its defenses with his beak.

But, as he expected, he heard Marie call for her Pokemon to use Ember.

"(Eat this, you stupid bird!)" the lizard hissed, sending a stream of little sparks in the direction of Rowlet.

"Ah crap! Krabby, get in the way!"

On command, the crustacean scuttled over as quickly as it could, trying to intercept the attack. Unfortunately, he couldn't move fast enough, and the blaze caught Rowlet right on his wings. The owl Pokemon let out a pained caw in response.

"Rowlet, get in the game! It's just little sparks!" she called out, eliciting a groan from Eddy.

"Your Pokemon's weak to fire, idiot!" he told her in annoyance. "But... I guess now we know that thing's a Fire Type, at least."

"(Excellent choice, madam,)" Rowlet squawked, trying to shake the remaining burns out of his wings. "(Now your allies know they have an advantage against Salandit.)"

"Jimmy, we gotta both use Bubble!" Eddy called out. "Krabby! Do it!"

Jimmy nodded, and uttered the same command from his fellow Water Type. Two streams of bubbles came from them, spreading out to hit two different targets from each side, and overwhelming Salandit in the middle. The lizard had a harder time standing up after that, and both Krabby and Horsea were more than a little proud of their combined damage.

"(Now that is what I like to see!)" Krabby chittered. "(Cheers, mate!)"

"Alright, if we can keep it up, that lizard has no chance!" exclaimed Eddy.

"Laugh while ya can, Casanova." Lee countered. "My turn now. Dewpider! Use Infestation!"

"Grimer, use Pound!"

The large bug, which they now knew was called 'Dewpider', sent a hail of energy from underground, catching Krabby with an attack. It didn't look to do a lot, but the secondary effect was what caught Eddy's attention. Once the attack was done, Krabby was covered with what looked like glowing bugs, which continued to try and bite his Water Type the whole time.

"Okay that's a new on-"

"Rowlet, Tackle!"

Once again, Sarah's Pokemon came in to try and attack the Bug Type, this time having his attack land. However, to get the damage off, Rowlet was forced to take Grimer's Pound attack, bringing him dangerously close to being knocked out right then and there. The only benefit of this was that Dewpider was forced to back off for a bit.

"Alright! That's what I like to see, Rowlet!"

"Be careful, will ya!?" Eddy told her. "You only got one Pokemon, ya know?"

"Hey, I don't insult the way YOU battle!" Sarah spat back. "Don't insult the way I battle!"

"I'm not! I'm trying to keep this from being a three on two here!"

"Too late for that!" the two heard Marie call out in the midst of their bickering. "Salandit, use Ember on that stupid bird!"

"Krabby, take the shot!"

This time around, Eddy's Pokemon was able to close the distance in time, thanks to the attack being commanded once Rowlet had flown back near their side of this battlefield. Using his naturally high speed (by his species' standards' at least), Krabby blocked the attack. But even though he resisted it, Salandit's attack left quite the impact, dealing heavy damage.

And from the sidelines, Eddy could practically feel Sarah's grin.

"Now who needs to be careful?"

To this, Eddy rolled his eyes.

"This is gonna be a LONG fight, I can already tell."

---

"Wow, that was a quick fight."

Kevin recalled his Treecko, having defeated the monk Eisō with all the relative difficulty of swatting a fly. This was his first battle since he'd arrived, with Ryuji taking the challenge of an opponent named Chinnen, and Double D winning against one known as Mokunen.

From what he could gather, all the Monks in this tower were all going to use Bellsprout, but that was honestly fine with him. It meant his Treecko would be in good shape, if he understood this whole 'Type Advantage' thing Double D kept going on about.

And plus, they were now at the ladder of floor two.

"So, everyone else ready?" Kevin asked, eager to see if there was anyone on the final floor.

"As good as I can be." Ryuji told him with confidence.

"Oh, certainly," Double D replied, his face in his Pokedex and his starter on his head.

This sight made Kevin have to hold back a chuckle. "You sure you're okay with that thing on your head?"

"Oh it's fine," the brainiac replied. "She's not particularly heavy, and the scent emanating from her leaf helps to soothe any potential nerves."

"Sounds like you two are a match made in heaven."

"Indeed..."

While they were approaching the ladder, Double D continued to be engrossed in his search. Finally it had bore fruit, as he found exactly what he'd been hoping to find. An image, to put his suspicions to rest. And as he zoomed in upon it, a cursory glance gave him all the info he needed.

Eyes widened and breath caught in his throat, Double D nearly dropped his Pokedex in sheer shock. An act that did not go unnoticed by his travelling companions, as they looked back in worry.

"What's wrong?" Ryuji asked, especially worried when he realized Double D was avoiding eye contact.

"N-nothing... I merely felt a strange chill run up my spine."

"A chill? Maybe there's a ghost Pokemon around or somethin'."

And as if right on cue, a sickly sweet scent assaulted the three boys' noses, and both Ryuji and Kevin immediately knew something was up. Looking to their left, the answer was gotten, as the two boys looked to see a dark purple creature, almost entirely gaseous in form. The only solid matter appearing on the monster was a pair of eyes and a mouth, both appearing disembodied from the main form. And from the look in its eyes, the Pokemon was not happy.

"(Can't a restless spirit sleep in this accursed tower?)" the Ghost Type grumbled. "(It's not even noon yet, and yet you are going off and battling?)"

"Whoa! What the hell is that thing?" Kevin asked, pulling out his Pokedex to get an entry on what this new Pokemon was. The explanation was swift, and this is what he was given:

'Gastly, the Gas Pokemon

Ghost Type

With a body composed almost entirely of gas, it can sneak into any place it desires. However, when exposed to strong winds, a Gastly's body quickly dwindles away.'

"Alright, choice!" declared Kevin as he pulled out his Poke Ball. "I call dibs! Now let's knock that thing into the ground, Treecko!"

Second verse, same as the first, Treecko entered the battlefield, and the fight began. Ryuji was watching from the sidelines, very excited to see if this new Mon would be joining his friend's team.

As for Double D, he took this moment to sneak off behind the ladder, Chikorita in tow, and take a much needed deep breath.

"Well, that certainly was convenient," he whispered, intent on avoiding detection from his friends.

Chikorita nodded. "(That grumpy old Gastly has really good timing! Reminds me of a certain Water Type I know.)"

While the words of his starter were completely alien to him, Double D was glad she was there all the same. He was going to need someone to vent this to. Taking out his Pokedex once again, he continued to stare at the screen, still not over what he saw upon it. It seemed unreal, yet undeniably plausible at the same time. So what was he to do or say here?

"Okay, calm down, Eddward," he mumbled. "If it IS him... he would most likely have said something about it. But then again, there could be a personal reason why he would withhold such an important piece of information as well. Attempts to avoid detection, perhaps. So maybe..."

"Hey! Double Dweeb!"

Pulled from his trance, the boy turned around and saw Kevin looking at him. From what he could gather, Treecko was trying to punch Gastly, but as was to be expected, the Grass Type merely phased through, receiving a nasty Lick as retaliation.

"Why ain't my attack going through, man?" Kevin asked, to which Double D couldn't help but grin. Seems Kevin didn't have his type matchups down just yet.

"You're attempting to use Pound, a Normal Type move, on a Ghost Type, which are completely immune to Normal Type Attacks," Double D explained. "You're going to have to try a different attack if you want to make any headway against our incorporeal friend there."

"Gotcha. Alright, Treecko, you heard him! Use Absorb!"

The Grass Type nodded, and pushed it's hands outward as they were covered in a green energy. "(Hope ya like makin' me stronger, dude.)"

The Gastly let out a low groan as he felt a small bit of his own vitality leave him. While not exceptional, the effect was clear on his opponent, who was covered in a revitalizing glow for a second.

"(So, this will be the long game, then?)" Gastly asked, his eyes glowing blue. "(You're going to regret that, I hope you're aware.)"

"(I never regret choices I make.)" Treecko countered, closing his own eyes as he used another Absorb at the request of his trainer. "(It'll be you who regrets getting in our way. Or maybe you'll look back on it fondly. You never know.)"

Another small bit of energy removed from Gastly and into Treecko, as the former scoffed. "(Are you always so nonchalant during a confrontation?)"

"(Ever since I hatched.)"

Gastly remained silent, and simply Licked Treecko once more. This time, however an effect lingered afterward, leaving the gecko feeling like his muscles wouldn't listen.

"What the heck is going on!?" demanded Kevin. "Get in the game, little dude!"

"Looks like he's paralyzed..." Ryuji lamented. "There's a chance he might not be able to move when you call for an attack."

"I sure as heck ain't risking that."

Without a second thought, Kevin took out a Poke Ball, and before anyone could warn him against it, chucked the device right at the wild Gastly. The red energy surrounded the creature, as it was pulled into the ball much like Spinarak the previous time he had done this. As it landed on the ground, everyone watched with great anticipation as the ball shook once...

Twice...

Thrice...

And with a resounding *DING!* the capture was complete.

Kevin was grinning ear to ear as he approached his new Pokemon's ball. The sheer adrenaline of another successful catch was enough to make him want to dance. He wouldn't, but it certainly made him WANT to.

However, that adrenaline was then counterbalanced by the look on Ryuji's face. That judging look, that seemed to be scrutinizing his last move... as if he'd made a mistake. And he hated that.

"I wouldn't throw Poke Balls willy nilly like that," he simply said. "That's a waste of money."

"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" questioned Kevin. "I don't see the issue. I caught the Gastly."

"Yeah, because you got especially lucky. But luck is like a home-cooked meal. It can't last forever. Every Poke Ball you throw is a gamble, since none of them are perfect guarantees you'll catch a Pokemon. And going gung-ho like that can backfire pretty hard."

Kevin crossed his arms and sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, he understood what Ryuji was trying to tell him. He was very calm when he explained it, and it was very clear he was trying to help.

And considering they were flat broke, it was probably good advice to follow.

"Uh... look, I'm sorry," Ryuji eventually relented. "I didn't mean to take the wind outta your sails there. I j-"

"Nah, don't worry dude. I'm still pretty happy. And plus, I get what you're trying to say."

"Well, I'm glad. Now, you wanna head to the top floor?"

"Just a moment."

At this point, Double D was back to deliberating on his previous topic, and nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt Kevin tap him on the shoulder. But then, his focus returned to his ally, as he saw a Pokedex in his hand, and the entry on Gastly. It was there, that he got to see the stats of the popular Ghost Type.

HP: 30

Attack: 35

Defense: 30

Special Attack: 100

Special Defense: 35

Speed: 80

Curiosity was the blonde's initial response, but he was ultimately intrigued by why this page had been brought up.

"Alright dude, are these stats any good?" Kevin asked. "Like I see the 100 and the 80, but I don't know if that's gonna be a strong Pokemon or not."

"Well, I've not gotten a perfect point of reference at this point," Double D admitted, scratching the back of his head. "However, I have used a Gengar before, and I can tell you from experience that they are quite fast, and immaculate special attackers, with their main downside being poor physical bulk."

This brought a smirk to Kevin's face, as he spun the Poke Ball on his fingertip. "That's all I needed to hear. I think I'll keep it on my team then."

"Building a team based on heavy offensive presence, are we?"

"Coach always said the best defense is an overwhelming offense."

Double D couldn't help but roll his eyes. "In certain contexts, I suppose. Now then, shall we continue, gentlemen?"

"Sure. I bet the others are getting bored waiting on us."

---

"Dewpider! Attack the runt!"

Down in the middle of town, things were not going well for the group, as the Kankers' Pokemon were far stronger than they had expected. The group had barely had the ability to take down Salandit, it took the sacrifice of both Krabby and Horsea to knock that Grimer down. But thanks to Sarah's reckless behavior, Jimmy's Litten was forced to keep running interference. The combination of this and their attempts to hound Sarah specifically meant that now the boy was down to his last Poke Ball, and they'd managed to get through two Pokemon.

As if to make matters worse, they were up against two new opponents; a small brown crocodilian creature known as 'Sandile' from Marie, and a large metallic seed creature known as 'Ferroseed' from May.

And now, Lee's Dewpider was issued a command. Yet the arachnid hesitated, and everyone in the party could see it. It clearly didn't want to attack Jimmy, yet Lee's tolerance for its hesitance was clearly minimal.

"I SAID..." Lee enunciated, cracking her knuckles as if to emphasize her point. "Attack the runt!"

Seeing the threat, Dewpider knew he would be in for far more hurt if he didn't, and that left it upset.

"(Arceus forgive me for what I'm about to do...)" Dewpider mumbled.

And in an instant, it jumped right past Eddy's Spearow and Sarah's Rowlet. Right as Jimmy reached for his final Poke Ball, the attack landed, knocking Jimmy onto his back, and screeching out as the boy let out a scream of abject horror.

Eddy and Sarah both tried to jump into action, but were stopped dead in their tracks by the bright light that was the Poke Ball opening. From within came out Jimmy's newest teammate, barreling forward before piercing Dewpider's side with its own conical horn, and knocking the both of them off the poor boy.

Jimmy stood back up, heart still racing a mile a minute, as Lee let out an irritated groan, recalling the fellow Bug Type, leaving only Weedle. Honestly, he didn't know what to say. Weedle came to save him, and he had not been prepared to be saved by a giant bug today...

"Um... W-Weedle?"

"(Don't worry about it,)" the larval hornet assured with a confident chitter. "(I may not be very tough, but I'm not afraid of these guys at all!)"

The bug looked back at him, and while seeing its visage still gave Jimmy the worst heebie jeebies, he feared far worse what the Kankers would do if they won this fight. So, he worked against the hairs standing up on the back of his neck, and tried to keep this battle in mind. After all, they were down three teammates, and it was dangerously close to becoming a three-on-two at this point.

"Alright then, shrimp," Lee sneered. "You're gonna love this one. Yamask, go!"

From Lee's next Poke Ball burst out a small, shadowy creature, lithe and spindly in shape, with a pair of red eyes that were glaring at the trainers. Below its head rested a golden mask, eerily human in features, as if they were looking at a real human's face...

"Okay, this ain't good!" Eddy said. "We're gonna have to go hard if we want to win."

"So keep doing what I've been doing, got it!" Sarah said. "Rowlet! Peck that ugly thing!"

"No wai-"

Before they could stop her, Sarah's Pokemon went in one more time, intent on attacking the Yamask. However, the Kankers had been ready in advance.

"(You ain't getting a hit in this time!)" Sandile snarled, bringing its jaws down upon one of Rowlet's wings. Eddy called for a Peck to try and help Rowlet get out of the croc's mouth, but unfortunately it was too late. Spearow could only watch as her ally was thrown back to Sarah.

"(Curses... after all that work I put in.)" Rowlet joked, trying to ignore the stinging pain of that Bite attack. "(I leave the rest to you, my comrades.)"

Both Spearow and Weedle nodded, accepting this outcome and preparing for a battle that required them to be outnumbered. But unfortunately, it seemed that Rowlet's own trainer was not ready to accept this.

"Get up, you lazy bum!" She called out to Rowlet. "Come on! We can't lose here!"

"Afraid your little rat with wings is out of steam," taunted Marie. "One down, two to go!"

"Shut up! Rowlet can still fight!"

"Oh really? Then Yamask, attack her bird with Astonish!"

"Spearow! Intercept and use Peck!"

This was what Lee was expecting, and why her smirk never left her face. Forcing these two to make up for the mistakes of their reckless little teammate was making everything far too easy. And now, her man was taking an attack, bringing him closer to defeat, and closer to her getting what she wanted...

Or at least that's what she thought, before her Yamask's tendril-like hands completely phased through Spearow, leaving the former shocked and the latter more confident. In an instant, the wind was taken out of her sails, further so as the bird's hooked beak pierced into Yamask's arm, dealing a good amount of damage.

"Ah, heck yeah! That's what I like to see!" exclaimed Eddy. "Now get outta here, will ya Sarah? We need a switch-in."

Sarah rolled her eyes, but couldn't deny it anymore. If they kept bickering, then they wouldn't be able to focus on the fight. So, with great reluctance, she recalled Rowlet, and stepped out of the scene. And as she did, another boy in a yellow shirt took her place quickly.

"Small fire monkey! Enter the fray!"

And on command, Chimchar was now on their battlefield, beating her chest as she met with their new opponents.

"(Arceus above, our opponents are ugly,)" she laughed. "(But no matter. They're going to get what's coming to them, right girls?)"

"(I'm with you there.)" Spearow agreed.

"(Well I'm not a girl, but I'll still fight.)" Weedle chittered, trying to stand upright in an attempt to look intimidating.

Eddy patted the farmboy on his shoulder when he was near the two of them, glad to have a new ally on the field. "Welcome aboard, Rolfy boy. Now, you ready to go?"

"All doubts have been erased from Rolf's mind," he assured. "This battle shall be won by our hands! Now then, shall we?"

"Let's go!"

---

"Let's go!"

Kevin pumped his fist in the air in celebration, very grateful to have taken down his second opponent today. The monk Kainen was a more interesting opponent that the previous one, partially thanks to adding some variety to his arsenal with a Hoothoot. A Hoothoot that made for a particularly nasty opponent with its super effective Pecks, but thankfully his Treecko was just barely able to eke out a victory.

And now, they had beaten almost every opponent this tower had to offer.

The only opponent remaining was standing before them, waiting patiently while they healed up their Pokemon. The Elder Kōsei, he was known as, and he certainly looked the part, with far more elegant robes than the others, large white mustache, and the wise and sagely expression of a kind old grandfather.

"You have done well to make it this far, children." Kōsei declared. "Sprout Tower is a place of training, to test the bonds between you and your Pokemon. And I am your final test."

"You're going to fight us, then?" Kevin asked. "Well alright, bring it!"

"I will indeed. However, I can only face one of you at the moment. And I do believe I know who I would like to face."

Those words definitely left them a bit exasperated, as they'd made this for only one of them to be able to battle. However, it was not the end of the world, and all they could do was wait for the older man to reveal his choice.

"You, in the green," he finally continued, after a sufficiently tense silence. "Tell me your name."

"Kevin Barr."

"A lovely name. Well then, Kevin Barr, you shall be my opponent. Do you accept?"

"No doubt about it, man! You're goin' down!"

From their peripheral vision, the other two boys noticed that the monks had stepped back, and were standing in reverence at the two trainers pointing Poke Balls at one another. Almost like this was a sacred ceremony of sorts, and they were about to witness a special event unlike any other.

And if the looks in both trainers' eyes was any indication, it likely would be.

"Bellsprout, I need your assistance!"

"Treecko, let's show some hustle!"

Both Pokemon entered the field in a magnificent display of light, and before either Ryuji or Double D could get the chance to comment, both Pokemon were given commands to attack. Treecko rushed in, delivering a heavy Pound attack right to the face of the flower Pokemon, but not without receiving a Vine Whip to the stomach. After this exchange, both Pokemon jumped back, and Treecko smiled.

"(You're pretty tough,)" he complimented. "(I like that in an opponent.)"

"(Likewise. It is clear your trainer has done well to increase your prowess.)"

"Pretty good, little buddy!" Kevin called out. "Now let's try somethin' else. Use Leer!"

Taking a page out of Eddy's book, Kevin's starter turned its piercing gaze toward Bellsprout, enveloping it in a bright blue aura for a few moments, signaling a Defense drop. However, the fellow Grass Type was relatively unfazed, and in fact seemed more confident by this exchange.

"Bellsprout, use Growth!"

Those three words made it evident why, as Bellsprout is covered in a bright orange aura, boosting its Attack and Special Attack up. And once again, the floor was Kevin's, and he had no intention of letting his opponent get another shot in.

"Pound! This time with oomph!"

"Vine Whip once more!"

Much to the Elder's surprise, Treecko did not attack immediately, instead waiting as his opponent rushed in to slam its vine-like leg into him. And when Bellsprout was winding up to make contact, was when a different attack was finally revealed.

In a flash, Treecko had vanished, and appeared once again beneath Bellsprout. Seizing this opportunity, he slammed his head right into it's face, sending Bellsprout flying backward. After such a shot, it had a much harder time getting back up.

"My word!" Double D exclaimed, amazed at the sight before him. "It seems Kevin's Treecko has gained Quick Attack as part of its arsenal!"

"And by the looks of it, got a pretty nasty critical hit..." Ryuji responded, getting just as into it as his companion. "I'd love to see the Elder's response to that one."

As his Pokemon finally got back to it's feet, the Elder Kōsei smiled.

"You have power, young one," he mused. "If you continue to give it form, then you will achieve great things."

"Well that's good to know, old timer." Kevin told him confidently. "Because I'm aiming to become the next champion. And I'm gonna make the strongest team I can to see that through!"

"I see... quite the ambitious goal. And we will see this as your first step."

"Then I'll make sure it's a good one. Give 'em hell, Treecko!"

---

"As it is said by hotshot Kevin-boy, 'give them hell', flaming monkey! Use Ember!"

"Cyndaquil, you use Tackle on that Sandile!"

"Weedle! Use String Shot on Sandile!"

Three commands were given, all in near unison. Tensions were high with two of the three trainers who were down to their last Pokemon, and they needed to make this round count. First was Chimchar, who unleashed a torrent of flames right at the Grass and Steel Type. Ferroseed buckled under the pressure, falling onto its back as it fainted.

As for Sandile, Cyndaquil's head slammed right into the Sandile's side, dealing a decent chunk of damage to the larger beast, who roared in response. He stepped back quickly, as his opponent stood back up from that strike.

"(Damn...)" it growled in irritation. "(I'm really starting to get careless if YOU can get a hit in. I mean look at you, you can't even use your fire yet!)"

As if on cue, and specifically to add insult to injury, Weedle's attack finally came in, covering not only Sandile, but the nearby Yamask in sticky string, hindering their movement as their speed lowered twofold. The team all looked at the battlefield and grinned, liking these odds much more than what they'd had before.

"Alright!" exclaimed Eddy. "Now we're cooking with gas. Keep on fighting, Cyndaquil!"

"Laugh while ya can, hot stuff," Lee taunted. "This fight is far from over, and you're lookin' a lot worse for wear than we are."

"Yuck it up all ya want. We ain't losing!"

"(Yeah...)" Weedle added. "(Especially if I do this!)"

Suddenly, a bright light enveloped Weedle, as all 6 competitors were pulled from their trash talking to focus on the miracle before them. The Bug Type's body solidified and stiffened in its silhouette, before bursting forward to reveal its new form. A new form which both amazed, and caused Jimmy to take a few steps back.

"W-what just happened?" he asked. "Why does my Weedle look like that?"

"It ain't a Weedle anymore, little man," Eddy explained. "That thing's called Kakuna. It's the evolved form of... Weedle... wait a minute!"

Before anyone else could interject, Eddy grabbed Jimmy by the shoulders. "You said you caught that Weedle at Level 3, right?"

"Y-yeah...?"

"And in order to become a Kakuna, it has to reach Level 7. And you haven't used that thing so far because you're a wimp when it comes to bugs-"

"It's the biggest wiggly bug I've ever seen, gimme a break!"

"So that would have to mean it got a lot of experience from just beating that Dewpider..."

Jimmy could practically see the numbers running across Eddy's face, as his expression suddenly went to one of abject shock. Practically everyone was ready to interject at this point, but never got the chance, as an ear-piercing yell was released from Eddy's mouth, letting out his current frustrations:

"HOW OVERLEVELED ARE THOSE ABOMINATIONS!?"

---

The battle between Kevin's Treecko and Kōsei's Bellsprout had been quite the sight, as both sides continued to assault the other with their strongest attacks. But it didn't end at one Bellsprout, as the second one demanded his attention to such a degree that he was forced to use a Potion before his final hit, leaving his opponent to face Spinarak instead.

And once again, it was left down to a few lucky strikes, and the Poison Stings landing well compared to Bellsprout's Vine Whips.

Now, well into the third round, Kevin recalled his Spinarak for Treecko once again, and immediately regretted it when it was revealed that his opponent was a Hoothoot. One Peck was all it took, and the Grass Type was left reeling.

"Crap... return!" Kevin commanded as he recalled his starter, and pulled out another Poke Ball. "Well, here's your chance to prove yourself. Go Gastly!"

The Ghost Type entered the fray, shaking himself in midair to wake itself. Once his vision was clear, so too was the objective.

"(Well, I never expected to be brought back into the art of war...)" Gastly sighed, but grinned all the same. "(Very well then, Hoothoot. I shall be your opponent.)"

"(It is an honor, oh deceased one,)" cawed Kōsei's Hoothoot. "(Let us continue!)"

"Alright Gastly, we got one shot at this! Use Hypnosis!"

"Counter with Peck, my friend!"

Hoothoot closed the distance before Gastly's attack could go off, and practically implanted it's sharp beak into the gaseous form of Kevin's newest teammate, dealing a rather hefty chunk of damage in a single strike. Gastly reeled back for a second in response, but did not seem fazed in the slightest.

"(Fatal mistake!)"

Unleashing a powerful Hypnotic gaze upon Kōsei's feathered friend, it looked as though everything was in order to win. Kevin grinned in anticipation to see the Flying Type fall to the effects of drowsiness, giving him the chance he needed to turn this whole thing around.

... It never came.

He waited, grin slowly fading with each passing second, as he realized that the Hypnosis attack had failed. Somehow, some way, Hoothoot was still awake.

"That ain't right!" Kevin said incredulously. "I know Hypnosis landed there. Your bird should be hitting the hay right now!"

"And normally it would, my boy," Kōsei retorted, amused in his own right. "But unfortunately for you, Hoothoot's Ability is Insomnia. Sleep moves will have no effect on it whatsoever."

"What? Aw man... I'm not sure I got anything that can get me out of this one."

"It is perfectly okay to surrender, young one," offered Kōsei. "There is no shame to be found in losing."

"Yeah, other than knowing I messed up."

Each and every monk on this floor looked as their Elder shook his head. He recalled his Hoothoot, and merely approached Kevin, his smile never faltering.

"Failure is a natural part of life," he explained soothingly. "It helps us to grow, like the sun helps a Bellsprout on its path to a mighty Victreebel. And if you can learn from this failure, you will be one step closer to becoming a Champion."

The room went silent for a bit, as Kōsei's words hung in the air, given time to perfectly crystalize and form within Kevin's mind.

'Man, this old geezer really knows his stuff,' he thought, looking to Gastly's Poke Ball. 'Ah heck, maybe he's right. I can take one loss on my record. I'll just have to work harder to make sure it's my ONLY loss.'

And with that, Kevin recalled his Pokemon, signaling the end of the battle, as the monks all bowed in respect to both trainers involved.

"You are always welcome for a rematch," Kōsei assured. "And I wish you the best of luck on your journey to the top. However, I would like to offer you a word of caution, if you shall listen."

"Lay it on me," Kevin answered without hesitation.

"Do not worry ENTIRELY about the power your Pokemon hold. Battles are not won simply by strength alone, and if you forget that, then you may end up forgetting the most important part of Pokemon training."

"Oh yeah?"

Kōsei nodded. "A boy about your age came to challenge me yesterday. Said his name was 'Silver'. And while he was certainly a powerful opponent, there was no denying how harsh he was to his Pokemon. It was as if he viewed them as nothing more than tools. Such an arrangement is very disheartening, and I should hope one day that he remembers the importance of having an understanding between trainer and Pokemon."

Hearing this made Kevin think for only a split second, as such a thought entered his mind. Was he treating his Pokemon right? He'd never had a pet beyond his goldfish, so how was he supposed to know all the proper care? Would he need to learn? And if so, how quick?

"Well, thanks for tellin' me, dude." Kevin said, shaking the Elder's hand. "I'll try to treat my Pokemon right and all that. Don't worry, I won't end up like that 'Silver' dork."

"I am glad to have helped. For now, we have nothing more we can offer, other than an escape rope to assist you in your exit."

"That's probably a good idea. My pals are probably bored out of their minds waiting on us."

It was at that moment in which everyone in the room heard a shrill, exasperated yell coming from outside. Even through the walls of the tower, they could hear it crystal clear:

"HOW OVERLEVELED ARE THOSE ABOMINATIONS!?"

Ryuji looked worried at this declaration. "Was that Eddy?"

"Certainly sounds like it," Double D commented. "No one else I know could rattle the timbers of buildings with their needlessly exaggerated shrieks."

"Well from the sounds of it, something's causing trouble out there. We'd better get a move on."

"I concur..."

Without a moment to spare, Ryuji grabbed the escape rope, and set it up through an opening in the back wall. Tying the knot and making sure it was secure, he beckoned his allies to join him as he started to make his way down. Kevin was not too far behind, but Double D hesitated more than a bit. He'd never been the athletic type, yet it seemed the fastest way down.

"I should hope I don't mess this up," he mumbled, grabbing onto the rope and holding on for dear life. He tried to take it nice and slow, but was hurried up when he heard the shocked and worried cries of Eddy and Jimmy down below. Nearly doubling his initial pace as he felt the adrenaline that came with worry for his friends, the brainiac was able to make it down at a reasonable pace, and joined Ryuji and Kevin at the ground floor.

"Wait a second, that's him, girls!"

At the worst time, evidently.

Finally having made it down, the first sight that Double D was greeted with made him wish he had looked away. The Kanker Sisters were here, and they were extremely disgruntled as they looked to the group's guide.

"You three," Ryuji said slowly, clenching one of his hands and standing a bit more upright than his usual laid-back posture. "What in the hell are you doing here?"

"We're looking for you," May Kanker explained, sending out her Seedot. "We want payback for that last fight."

"And it looks like you saved us the trouble of finding you," Marie added, returning Sandile and sending out Nincada. "This is gonna feel so damn good, beating you into the ground."

"And the best part is," Lee continued, switching Yamask for Aron. "After we're done beatin' you, we're takin' your Pokemon, and takin' our boyfriends back with us."

"Good luck with that," countered Ryuji. "I ain't no pushover. You oughta know that from our last fight."

"Things are different now. We're taking you out in one shot."

Without another word, Ryuji reached for his Poke Ball, and that was when the Kankers sprung into action. Their Pokemon practically jumped at Ryuji, clearly intent on harming him instead of whatever Mon he had the intention of sending out. The others sent their Pokemon to try and catch up, but the massive head start meant they couldn't reach in time. All three Pokemon were about to attack Ryuji directly.

And then... they heard a new voice enter the fray, his message loud and clear, and confident as any they'd ever had the pleasure of listening to:

"Pidgeot! Use Air Slash!"

---

PARTY DATA:

EDDY

Cyndaquil (Male)

- Level 9

- Ability: Blaze

- Quiet Nature, Alert to Sounds

- Moves: Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen

Krabby (Male)

- Level 8

- Ability: Hyper Cutter

- Jolly Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Vise Grip, Bubble, Mud Sport

Spearow (Female)

- Level 7

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Impish Nature, Scatters Things Often

- Moves: Growl, Peck, Leer

ED

Totodile (Male)

- Level 8

- Ability: Torrent

- Jolly Nature, Somewhat of a Clown

- Moves: Scratch, Leer, Water Gun, Rage

Rattata (Male)

- Level 7

- Ability: Guts

- Adamant Nature, A Little Quick Tempered

- Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip, Quick Attack, Focus Energy

Rocky (Onix, Male)

- Level 3

- Ability: Sturdy

- Hasty Nature, Sturdy Body

- Moves: Tackle, Harden, Bind, Mud Sport

DOUBLE D

Chikorita (Female)

- Level 7

- Ability: Overgrow

- Gentle Nature, Good Endurance

- Moves: Tackle, Growl, Razor Leaf

Pidgey (Male)

- Level 9

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Sassy Nature, Scatters things Often

- Moves: Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust

KEVIN

Treecko (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Overgrow

- Lax Nature, Thoroughly Cunning

- Moves: Pound, Leer, Absorb, Quick Attack

Spinarak (Female)

- Level 7

- Ability: Insomnia

- Naïve Nature, Alert to Sounds

- Moves: Constrict, Poison Sting, String Shot, Absorb

Gastly (Male)

- Level 6

- Ability: Levitate

- Serious Nature, Likes to Relax

- Moves: Hypnosis, Lick, Spite

ROLF

Chimchar (Female)

- Level 8

- Ability: Blaze

- Naughty Nature, Mischievous

- Moves: Scratch, Leer, Ember

Geodude (Male)

- Level 6

- Ability: Sturdy

- Careful Nature, Loves to Eat

- Moves: Tackle, Defense Curl, Mud Sport, Rock Polish

Poliwag (Male)

- Level 10

- Ability: Water Absorb

- Brave Nature, Good Endurance

- Moves: Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis

Hoothoot (Female)

- Level 5

- Ability: Keen Eye

- Gentle Nature, Often lost in Thought

- Moves: Foresight, Growl, Tackle, Hypnosis

NAZZ

Popplio (Female)

- Level 5

- Ability: Torrent

- Calm Nature, Often Lost in Thought

- Moves: Pound, Growl, Water Gun

Sentret (Male)

- Level 2

- Ability: Run Away

- Bashful Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Scratch, Foresight

Caterpie (Female)

- Level 4

- Ability: Shield Dust

- Calm Nature, Mischievous

- Moves: Tackle, String Shot

SARAH

Rowlet (Male)

- Level 8

- Ability: Overgrow

- Brave Nature, Likes to Relax

- Moves: Tackle, Growl, Leafage, Peck

JIMMY

Litten (Male)

- Level 7

- Ability: Blaze

- Hardy Nature, Quick Tempered

- Moves: Scratch, Growl, Ember

Horsea (Female)

- Level 8

- Ability: Swift Swim

- Docile Nature, Study Body

- Moves: Bubble, Smokescreen

Kakuna (Male)

- Level 7

- Ability: Shed Skin

- Lonely Nature, Likes to Fight

- Moves: Poison Sting, String Shot, Harden

RYUJI

Fennekin (Female)

- Level 11

- Ability: Blaze

- Mild Nature, Mischievous

- Moves: Scratch, Tail Whip, Ember, Howl

Poliwag (Female)

- Level 10

- Ability: Water Absorb

- Docile Nature, Sturdy Body

- Moves: Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis

Bellsprout (Male)

- Level 3

- Ability: Chlorophyll

- Hasty Nature, Loves to Eat

- Moves: Vine Whip