The cart's rolling ceased and I didn't. "Gawahh!" I shouted, the jostle forcing my eyes open. I clutched the top of my head to contain whatever bruise had formed against the cart. "Ssstt!" I hissed as I peeked my head out of the cart.

The scenery around me moved my hands to over my eyes. Everything about this cave was so bright and... light blue. From the rocks to the ceilings to the stalactites, everything emitted this obnoxious blue shine, save the body of water a little ahead of me, which just reflected the glare. The uneven edges of the rocks didn't look pleasant to jump onto.

I threw my backpack just over the edge. Once I heard it hit the ground, I pushed myself out of the cart with shaking arms. I got up to stomach level and made my body like a plank, and then spun in 180 degrees so that my feet were outside the cart. I pushed my body outward and landed, feet first, onto my backpack. I winced at the pain in my knees, even though it only lasted a second.

Out of the cart, I looked back at the trail it followed. It was only darkness. Any bright color seemed to end at the cart, while I could barely make out the silhouette of the uphill trail shrouded in black. Wherever I dropped my phone, it wasn't worth facing darkness or the costume man. The cart itself rested against its supposed stopper. I noted a lever on my side of the cart. I poked it, prodded it, and even tried pulling it, but even though I could move it, nothing happened.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out the pokeball. I pressed the center button, but no Pokemon came out. I inspected it closer, only to note the balled-up piece of paper again. I pulled it off the pokeball, ripping the tape. Inside, apart from the text, was a flashdrive. I gripped it in one hand while reading the paper in the other. Please use this pokeball to obtain the small green two-legged pokemon that approaches you. This USB drive contains basic information regarding pokemon combat.

I crumbled the paper in my hand. "Screw you!" I shouted to nobody. Someone put in all this effort but still wants me to struggle? I carefully placed the flashdrive inside a small empty pocket of my backpack and zipped it up.

"Cah," I coughed. I touched the front of my neck. Thirst quenching was my top priority. I reached into my bag and pulled out my Nalgene. Unfortunately, I forgot to fill it at the spigot. With pokeball in left hand and empty water source in right, I walked on unsteady feet towards the lake. Finally, the lake just inches away, I bent down, put my pokeball and Nalgene on the ground, and stuck my face into the water. I stored some of the water in my cheeks. 5 seconds later, I removed my head from the water, leaned back and swallowed.

"Pbbt." I involuntarily stuck out my tongue at the taste. But fresh or not fresh, water is water. So, nothing stopping me, I scooped my Nalgene in the lake and brought the container to my lips. Semi-fresh water poured down my throat while I clenched my eyes shut.

Now hydrated, my feet began a more confident stride. My eyes looked forward for the way out. "Gawaah!"

My foot got caught on something round, and I fell over. Used to this pattern, I took a quick step forward before my palms contacted the smooth spots on the ground I aimed for. I turned around, still on four legs and not damaged, and took a glance at what I tripped over. It appeared to be a small rock that was mostly face and extended arms. Its big eyes glared at me. I sprang up and ran to what I hoped was the cave's exit. Nothing's behind me, I kept telling myself while failing to drown out the rolling.

I ran into a bat. "Zuuu!" it croaked. The weird bat, called Zubat or something, turned around. All I could do was stare back into its nonexistent eyes. It, however, could fly straight at me. My survival instincts kicked in once I saw the teeth and I crouched down, barely missing its charge.

Sitting up, I stared back at the Zubat. It glanced left, then right, then…left again, and flew away. The momentary threat gone, I remembered how to breath and leaned forward, moving into a crouching position. I continued my prowess on hands and feet. If anything's gonna get me, I'll see it first. My hands formed a cat's paw in response to the surface.

My posture paid off. I noticed a cat-mouse hybrid with a lightning bolt tail, called Shinx by that nature documentary. My body tensed, ready to pounce or jump backwards. The Shinx walked towards me at a slow pace. Before I thought of moving, it stood a few inches away. It crouched down and started sniffing. Finally, it fell onto its back and started laughing.

"Aww," I let out. I stretched out one of my hands to pet it. Once my fingers approached its chin, the Shinx brought its head up and rubbed my hand. A shock coursed through my body. "Yah!" I shouted, jumping up. Don't trust anything, no matter how adorable! I ran once again. I located a corner of the cave and sat down, front facing the only way forward. No matter what came for me, I'd notice.

I pulled out my Nalgene for a much-needed drink. Gulping the water down, something felt caught in my throat. A warm liquid streamed down my face as I blinked. No, I'm a big girl. I can't break down from just a walk in a cave. Right? "Waaaaah!" I whimpered, hugging my Nalgene. At least that couldn't hurt me. Rocks with arms rolled past and Zubats flew by. I shut my eyes. Why are these monsters attacking me? What did I do to them?

A scratching sound jolted me up. A small greyish-green pokemon, with a horn on its head and two hoof-like legs, walked towards me. I looked to my left and right, but saw nothing. No place to run. This thing's rhombus-shaped eyes were directed on me, and I couldn't move. No, I didn't move while it closed the distance. Now, inches away, it stood at about my knee level. When it raised its arm, I knew size meant nothing. I shielded myself with the backpack.

The pokemon nodded. "Huh?" I responded. It pointed to its raised right arm. It lowered both hands and moved them around one another, yet never touching. Almost like it was molding dough into a sphere.

"Ah!" I shouted, remembering the note. This pokemon is green, sort of, and it approached me. I reached into my bag and pulled out the pokeball. I pointed at it, and the pokemon nodded while continuously moving its arms down. I lowered the pokeball as it instructed. Once at knee level, the green guy walked straight at the pokeball until the circle and its forehead made contact. It disappeared in a flash of red light.

I lifted the pokeball and inspected it. The top was still red, leaving no space to see inside. On the other white side, a display of text had appeared. The display read Larvitar's name, along with its 'OK' status, its types of 'rock' and 'ground', and experience pointed needed to level up. I touched it, and the display changed. This time, it displayed a blank slot for 'Item' and two moves, 'scratch' and 'leer'. Another touch gave a menu with five attributes; attack, defense, special attack, special defense, and speed, all with an associated number. Another push revealed a fourth screen describing the position of the sun and location when I met Larvitar, along with other content I didn't understand. Another push brought me back to the screen with its type.

I looked at the pokeball in my hand. With a trembling finger attached to a shakier arm, I pushed the center button. Another bright red light made me shut my eyes. My swayed from the sudden additional weight. When I pushed my head back up, I felt skin, though it had a more rock-like texture than my own. I opened my eyes to see an upside-down Larvitar staring back at me. "Waah!" I shouted, but couldn't jump back. Larvitar leaned back and jumped off my head, the impact pushing me onto the cave's wall. He, according to the arrow next to his level on the pokeball's screen, flipped through the air in an arc-like pattern and landed on its feet with arms outstretched. He turned back to me and smirked.

I plastered a grin on my face. "Nice?" I stated with a thumbs-up.

"Tar." He smirked while twisting his head forward. I walked towards him. Does he want or not want praise, I wondered. I took another look at the pokeball's underbelly. The only message was a screen displaying its moves, 'pound' and 'leer'. I touched it, but nothing happened. I gave the center of the ball another push. Larvitar became red light and entered the ball.

I thought back to TV specials I'd seen a year or more ago with pokemon trainers battling. "I think I've got this," I told myself. Just do as they do and I'll be fine. I'll get out of this cave. No." I held the pokeball up high. "We'll get out of this cave!" With pokeball in hand, I walked forward with a confident gait.

A rolling sound came from behind me. I turned and saw another rock with arms, called a Geo-something, roll towards me. I held the pokeball towards it. "Go, Sir Larvitar!" I shouted while pushing the button with my finger. Larvitar emerged. He put both arms in front of himself and blocked the Geo, causing it to fall back. Larvitar looked to me, holding both arms out.

My eyes widen. "Oh. Me? No, I can't!" I hold my chest with both arms, but the shivering doesn't stop. Geo runs for another tackle, but Larvitar blocks it again.

Larvitar glanced at me. "Larrr!" he shouted.

"No!" I shouted. "I…I…" I gritted my teeth. It's been a year, Brenda. Don't whine like it's a viable option. "Ah-"

My mind left the scene and entered one year prior, the last time I saw that man. His face remained a blur with eyes and a mouth. He gave me that smile not matching his condescending gaze and extended his hand to me, like he always does. Until now, I'd never pieced together. "What's up, champ? You want another piggyback ride?"

"Uh-uh!" I shouted. "I saw you talking to Mom! She always looks hurt whenever you two have an argument! Are you hurting her?"

He laughed. "It's just, couple things, you know? Marriage is complicated. Mommy and Daddy are just working things out."

"Mom's always clutching some part of her body!" I shouted. "She always says it's fine! Do you also think it's fine that she's hurting? Are you hurting her?"

"That's…look, Brenda, we're just working things out." He wouldn't look me in the eyes.

I shook my head. "Answer the question! Are you hurting her?"

His eyes went stern. "Look, you can't talk to your father like this. Go to your room, and we can talk once you've calmed down."

"We're talking now." I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pokeball.

"W-what are you doing, kiddo?" he asked, panic inherent in his actions.

"Stop hurting Mommy." I touched the circle, and a large green pokemon with a diamond back and a spiked tail came out, towering over both of us. Its roar echoed through the house and shook two of the lights in this room. The large green scaled pokemon gritted its teeth while aiming its arms at that man.

"Ahaha." He slowly backed up. "You apologize and put him back, and we can pretend this never happened. Okay?"

I glared back at him. "Why should I?" I stepped backwards, holding my fist by my side and elbow parallel to it.

My mind returned to the cave. "Ahaha." I gleefully gripped the pokeball and stared at the…wait, that policeman had something similar, right? "Don't blame me, Graveler," I said. Our eyes met. It stopped. But only for a moment. Larvitar's counting on you, Brenda. Be brave on your 10th birthday.

Just like a year ago, I punched the air in front of me and repeated the words I said to that man: "You've left me no other choice. I don't need to apologize."

"Larvitar, leer!" I commanded. Larvitar glared at Graveler. Its charge noticeably slowed. "Now, scratch!" Larvitar struck the Graveler. "Scratch again!" I continued to shout it and Larvitar complied, over and over, until it stopped moving.

With a smile on his face, Larvitar ran over. He held both arms and, while his head kept moving, his eyes locked onto me. My eyes, though, drew to the bruises on his stomach and arms.

"I…I'm sorry." I averted my gaze. "I took so long to give a command. And you were counting on me." I handed him the pokeball. "You take it. I'll just slow you down."

Larvitar shook his head, and pushed the pokeball back. He pointed at me, then at him, then flexed. He jumped twice, then beckoned me forward.

I let out a laugh. "Geez. It's like you're the trainer, you little tyrant." Larvitar smiled again, scratching twiddling his arm. "It's amazing how well you understand me," I continued. I put my finger on the button, but before pushing it, a thought struck. "Hey, Larvitar." He lowered his arms and made a stern face. "How about I give you a nickname? Larvitar is kind of like your species, not you."

I held my finger out. "You're the little tyrant in charge, so how about…Sir Tyrant?"

Sir Tyrant grinned and leaned forward. His arms tried to form a circle.

"You're right. Let's go." I pushed the button and Larvitar disappeared. For the first time today, I ran forward.