Fred and David's battle didn't start immediately.
Fred wanted some time to speak to Machop first and David released a bit belatedly that he should do the same with Pidgey. He hadn't even asked her if she wanted to fight. This led to them relocating to a wide dirt field out behind the league office.
David crouched down in front of Pidgey.
"Are you okay with fighting Machop?"
Pidgey simultaneously pecked forward and chirped. She hopped about and turned to face the other side of the field where Fred and Machop were talking.
"Woah!" David reached forward and picked Pidgey up and turned her back to face him. She was only this enthusiastic when picking which berry to eat. He buried his discomfort at the sheer interest his baby Pokemon had in fighting and started to plan.
"Right. You have to keep away from Machop. It's strong, you're frail."
Pidgey let out a low squawk and puffed up a bit. David ignored her.
"But you have no range so you'll have to get close." David tapped his arm and considered Pidgey and her limited capabilities.
"Here's what we're going to do."
David shifted nervously as he stood on a small wooden deck platform. Fred stood on a matching platform across the field from him. To call it a platform was a bit of a misnomer. The wooden deck was an inch above the ground and only served as a marked spot for trainers to stand.
Pidgey stood in front of David and stared across at Machop. Both Pokemon were limbering up and making final preparations.
"You ready?" Fred cupped his hands around his mouth and called across.
"Countdown from three and start on go." David shouted back to confirm.
"3." Their timing was a little off and David rushed to catch up.
"2."
"1." Their voices synced.
"GO!"
Machop broke into a wobbly run.
Pidgey hopped forward a step before stopping and waiting.
David and Fred had both given their Pokemon instructions to start them off.
"Don't let her get into the air!" Fred yelled excitedly from behind Machop.
David stayed silent.
Machop raised its arms as it got closer, ready to try to prevent Pidgey from escaping up. Pidgey made no move.
"Low kick!" Fred shouted out as it became clear Pidgey wasn't moving. He sounded less confident now.
Machop dropped its arms and lashed out with a leg as it got within range of Pidgey. Trying to adapt to the late orders threw it off balance and the kick was stunted. David unclenched his hands and got ready.
Machop's kick landed and the air in front of Pidgey popped.
Pidgey jolted as the feedback hit her and the remaining force of the kick slid her back an inch. Machop was in more trouble and it staggered back as its balance was further thrown.
"PECK!" David shouted and leaned forward. This was it.
Pidgey hopped forward at Machop holding her beak up high.
"Get out of there Machop!" Fred yelled in a panic.
Machop regained its balance just in time for Pidgey to hop-dive into it beak first. Machop opened its mouth and let out a pained bark as it was knocked back.
Instead of falling completely one arm flew back and held Machop off the ground. Pidgey wavered as she came down from her hop at an angle.
"Low Kick from there!" Fred roared. David's eyes widened.
"Abort Pidgey! Launch out of there!"
Pidgey raised her wings and with a large flap shot into the air. A large dust cloud was kicked up but David could make out the leg shooting through where she had been seconds before. The kick helped spread the cloud and Machop was engulfed in dirt.
Pidgey glided around the arena on a shaking path. David racked his brains thinking what to do next. Machop had stood up and the dust cloud was settling.
"Knock her down when she comes to land." Fred shouted.
David turned to him. 'Was that a move?' He remembered a Dark move called something similar. He turned back to Pidgey only to realise with horror she was coming in for a landing. In front of him and far too close to where the Machop stood.
"Tackle Pidgey!" David shouted. He'd lost track of the battle. He should have gotten Pidgey to land across the field by Fred to create time.
Machop charged forward and shoved the landing Pidgey. Pidgey fell to the side instead of coming down straight and rolled across the dirt.
David ran forward.
"Forfeit!" He shouted as he left the platform. Machop hadn't capitalised on the downed bird but she had landed with a shrill that cut out suddenly. David dropped to his knees beside Pidgey.
"Pidgey?"
Pidgey shook a little first. Then she squawked and heaved upright. She turned to David and Machop who had walked up to David's shoulder and fixed them with a look. Both David and Machop shied back. The feeling disappeared and Pidgey let out a loud squawk before plopping into a roosting position in the dirt.
David exhaled in relief and sat down in the dirt. Beside him Machop raised his arms high and struck a pose.
"MAAAA-Chop!"
"Machop! You said your name!" Fred burst onto the scene. Fred held out a hand and Machop grasped it. "Great battle buddy. And you said your name!"
David turned his attention back to Pidgey. She was kicking and scratching at the dirt around her and fluffing her feathers. He reached out a hand and smoothed down the crown of her head.
"You did great Pidgey. Fantastic Peck."
Pidgey stopped her scratching as his hand touched her head. She turned her head towards him. David withdrew his hand and they looked at each other.
"David! What a battle." Fred said and patted him on the back. David turned away from Pidgey to look up at the teen.
Fred and Machop had finished their congratulations and were looking at the two of them.
"It was great. Congratulations." David smiled at the duo. He turned back to Pidgey who had gone back to kicking up dirt into her feathers. "Pidgey enjoyed it too."
And she had. David hadn't seen her so excited or motivated before. She had performed a full Peck too. On her first try. With no prep time.
"I should hope so. What was that first move? And then that combo with the Sand Attack! I didn't expect it at all. How did you figure that out in two days!"
David scratched his chin.
"That was one of the training stages of Tackle. Just Pidgey building and holding Normal type energy around her. What do you mean by combo move?" David replied. Both Machop and Fred looked surprised by this.
"No way! Tackle? So it would have been more effective if Machop hadn't used Low Kick?"
David froze. He hadn't considered how Normal and Fighting type energies would interact. There was still so much to learn. He shrugged.
"I guess it's like Protect then." Fred continued upon seeing David's non answer. "And the Launch move. I guess it's not a proper combo yet but if you work a full Gust into it you'll have a great combo."
David could only nod and smile. He needed to get back to the library.
"What move did you use to hit Pidgey out of the sky? Knock something?" He asked.
"Oh, that wasn't a move." Fred rubbed his hands together. "Machop and I have been working on Karate Chop but we're not close to using it yet. He was just going to hit her down."
David blinked. Of course. Pokemon had no reason not to use their strength in real life. They didn't need to use moves or type energy.
"Chop." Machop said. Its voice was huffy and half a growl.
"And you can say your name Machop! Oh man you've grown so much." Fred and Machop shared a high five.
"But David, do you have a second?" Fred indicated off to the side as he had earlier.
David pushed himself off the dirt and followed Fred.
"I'm sorry. I should have forfeited when Machop fell down from the Peck." Fred said. His cheer from a few seconds before gone. "I got too into it and I messed up. I would have said so earlier but Machop said his name for the first time and I don't want to spoil that. So again, I'm sorry."
Fred looked at David with such a serious expression that David felt bad for not noticing. He had been caught up in the battle too.
"It's alright. No harm right?" David replied, taken back by the change from Fred's energetic demeanour.
"No it's not." Fred answered and ground his fist into his palm. "I'm going to be a fair trainer. No underhand moves or dishonesty. So I want to make it up to you."
Fred dug into his pocket and pulled out some short paper stubs.
"These are for the tournament match tomorrow. Want to come with me?"
"Fred, you don't have to do that. It was a short training battle." David said and held his palms up and backed off.
"I do." Fred stepped forward and pushed a stub into David's hand. "It's important for me. I need to act as I wish to be."
David tried to back away again but Fred followed. He closed his hand around the stub.
"Fine - but I'd rather you give me some tips on how you get Machop to train with you."
Fred smiled and put the other ticket back in his pocket.
"Oh that's easy. Machop is a fighting type. We train together."
"Wait every exercise?" David asked as they began walking back.
"Yup. I can't gather energy but I meditate or do the motions with him." Fred said then laughed. "I'm not sure that will work for you though."
David laughed with him as he imagined flapping his arms around as Pidgey practised flying.
"No, probably not. But it might help with some exercises."
"Plus, it helps with the ladies." Fred grinned and flexed his arms.
David raised an eyebrow at the teen.
"Uh huh. Is that why you have a spare ticket to the match tomorrow?" He asked.
Fred went red and began spluttering denials. David burst out laughing and both Pidgey and Machop turned to them.
David took pity on Fred and changed the subject.
"Want to do some more training or are you done for the day?"
"We can do some more." Fred said back, his face still red.
Pidgey and Machop trained for another hour before they left. It was funny watching Pidgey try some of Machop's fitness exercises and Machop try some of hers. David joined in on a few of Machop's exercises which Pidgey was fascinated by.
They searched the south side of the path for berries on their way to the clearing.
Endnote:
First battle!
I hope ye like the pacing. Battles won't be strictly by the game. I'll be using game numbers to calculate later moves but there will be fudging for new moves and real Pokemon life.
Also over 100 favourites! Welcome everyone.
frankieu - Thanks for reading :) I hope it was worth the wait.
Guest - Well when you're in a world with all powerful monsters.. Whatever tool works. There will be more on this.
