Author's Notes:

Thank you for the reviews I got so far. As long as at least one person likes this story and I still find it interesting, I'll keep going. I'm not exactly sure how often I'll be updating, but it shouldn't take me more than a week. Anyways, here is chapter nine…

Taking a Beating

"What do you mean the Gym is closed?"

Jet was standing in front of what used to be the Viridian City Pokémon Gym. The man he was talking to was a contractor who was apparently clearing out the Gym to be sold at auction.

"Yeah well, the old Gym Leader who used to run this place went into retirement. Shut down the Gym just last week. A lot of local trainers like yourself are really upset about it."

Jet sighed; There goes the whole purpose of me heading to Viridian in the first place. The contractor continued, "If you wanna train your Pokémon why not head over to the Trainer's school? Or you could fight wild Pokémon round Indigo Road, like a lot of other trainers do."

Indigo Road, that was just off of Route 22. If you followed that road out, you would end up at the gates of the Kanto/Johto Pokémon League. The Regionals were still going on as far as Jet knew, so why not go catch a bit of them? Knowing Brian, that's probably where he went.

Jet thanked the man at the Gym and decided to find a bus to take him to Indigo road. His Pidgey and his Charmander were both healed, so they would be good to battle any wild Pokémon he may see along the way. At the very least, Jet wanted to get Sora's level up to about level ten. Thorn was actually pushing thirteen; and he was only a few months old!

It took him about two hours to finally get to Indigo Road. On either side of the road were woods similar to those found on Route 1. Jet decided that this time, he would still follow the road from the wood line. He didn't want to get lost again, and he was on a bit of a time crunch.

And so he set off, with thoughts of finally seeing the regionals live. Jet and Brian had always talked about going together one day. Pokémon battles at the League level were insane. Most of the trainers there used 4-5 star Pokémon, and all with powerful attacks. Often the field the Pokémon were fighting on would end up destroyed. It was also not that uncommon to see a Pokémon die at those battles, (and sometimes even a human!).

Throughout the years, many government factions have tried to make Pokémon battles illegal, along with Pokémon training. However, they were closer to ending the war on drugs than they were from stopping Pokémon battles.

Back in ancient times, before humans started training Pokémon, humans almost went extinct. They would hunt Pokémon to survive, but Pokémon were a lot more intelligent and powerful than common animals like buffalo and dear. Pokémon would fight back, and often war with early civilizations. Even those that attempted to distance themselves from Pokémon because of their power were eventually hunted down and killed.

It was in each Pokémon's nature to battle in order to become more powerful. They didn't discriminate on exactly who they battled with either. They nearly killed off the human race before the humans discovered the bond between the two races. If a human was to catch a Pokémon, then it somehow created a bond between that human and that Pokémon. The Pokémon would defend the human to the death in order to protect them.

They would also obey the human's commands; as long as the human was found worthy. The human had to have the right leadership qualities to raise or train the Pokémon it captured. They had to provide for the Pokémon, make decisions on how the Pokémon should battle, and show the Pokémon love and compassion in order to maintain the bond.

When humans learned of this, they tried to catch Pokémon in order to domesticate them and use them for defense. It was difficult, but it became easier when the Pokémon they captured could fight for them and assist with the capture of other Pokémon.

It was thus that the first trainers were born. In modern times, most households had at least one Pokémon in the family. Some use them for pets, others just for battles. It is necessary, also, to have those who study Pokémon as a profession.

Through years of research, humans have invented the capsule like pokeballs that made catching Pokémon so easy even a child could do it. It is also through this research that medicines have been created to not only heal Pokémon, but humans as well.

Both humans and Pokémon had a lot to learn from each other, and they both use each other for support every day. And those who opposed the integration of Pokémon into modern society can do nothing to stop it, for it is the only way Pokémon can coexist.

There was a country in the fifties called Brinesa that once went to war with the Pokémon in their country. Years before this war, their government had forbidden Pokémon training. They called it barbaric and dangerous, and tried to segregate humans and Pokémon all together. With no Pokémon to defend them, the humans were attacked constantly. The Pokémon had no outlet for all of their aggression, and no means of population control without trainers.

Brinesa faced constant deaths on both sides because of this segregation. Rather than do what the rest of the world did and allow human/Pokémon relations, they decided that they would exterminate the Pokémon in their country instead.

The rest of the world warned them not to go through with it; and even threatened to go to war with them if they did. Brinesa, however, was determined that there was only one way to solve their problem, and extermination was the answer.

No one had a chance to go to war to disestablish Brinesa's foolish government; the Pokémon saw to that. No amount of weapons, no amount of soldiers, and no amount of vehicles protected Brinesa from the onslaught. They had banned pokeballs, so they couldn't even capture the Pokémon who destroyed their people.

Within a year, all of the citizens of Brines were either evacuated or dead. Today, the country is devoid of human habitation. The wild Pokémon there, however, are rumored to be very powerful. Only the strongest trainers travel to Brinesa; few of which ever return.

It is true that history show us our mistakes in order for us not to repeat them. Soon after the fall of Brinesa, international legislation was put into effect that protected every human's right to capture, raise, train, and battle Pokémon. It is essential for human survival, as well as Pokémon's wellbeing.

Pokémon had become so rooted in modern society, that a national study showed at least 25% of all people go on a journey to catch and train Pokémon at least once in their lives. Those who have domesticated Pokémon as pets, usually battle their Pokémon locally against wild Pokémon or other trainers to keep them happy.

When Jet and Brian were younger, they used to love to go to the local parks or beach to watch a Pokémon battle. They had been best friends ever since they saw their first battle together at the age of six. It was at a park, between two trainers passing through Pallet town. One had a Gengar; the other a Nidorino. It was rare to see such Pokémon in their little town of Pallet, which made the spectacle all the more memorable.

Jet and Brian cheered the Pokémon on, and soon became friends. They promised each other that day that one day they would face each other in the Pokémon league. Jet had changed his priorities throughout the years, but he had often imagined what life would be like if he worked to follow through with that promise. Now that he walked up Route 22 with his own Pokémon in tow, he thought to himself that maybe one day they may be able to actually make it to the Pokémon league, but not today. Today, they would once again be spectators.

Jet heard a rustle in the trees above. He looked up and saw a Mankey watching him from a branch. Just as Jet pulled out Sora's pokeball, the Mankey attacked. It dropped down on Jet and started smacking his head; hard. Jet yelled and threw the Mankey off, dropping the pokeball he was holding in the process.

He went to grab it but got tackled and flew back several feet. Jet got up and grunted, I am so sick and fucking tired of being tackled! He tried to regain his composure, but found himself on the ground again as the Mankey struck him in the face. Jet had been punched before, but never so hard that it dazed him like this.

Before he found his senses, he found himself repeatedly punched and smacked all over his body, each blow just as painful as the first. There was a pause where the wild Mankey pounded his chest in triumph, and Jet used it to kick said Mankey in the stomach as hard as he could.

It worked for a couple of seconds, and that was all Jet needed. He rolled to his feet, grabbed Sora's pokeball and summoned her to his aid. Mankey recovered from Jet's attack and attempted another tackle, but found himself being struck by Sora's excellent tackle attack instead.

Mankey fell back, and Sora flew around for another tackle before he could recover. The attack landed home, and Jet said, "Finish him off with Peck, Sora!"

Sore landed on Mankey's head, and repeatedly pecked Mankey until he was unconscious. Jet found this ironic as it was exactly how he was attacked. He threw an empty pokeball at Mankey and caught him.

"Thank you, Sora," Jet said reaching down to pet her, "you really saved my life just now."

Jet bent down and picked up the pokeball. He was surprised at just how much this movement had hurt him. At this rate, I'll be dead before I get my first badge!

Jet stood up and looked at the pokeball, "I'm going to call you Pugsly." And with that, he shrunk the Pokeball and put it back on his belt. Jet set off to find the main road. He was way too sore to attempt anymore Pokémon battles, and silently wondered how trainers did this kind of stuff day after day.

Jet walked along the side of the paved road for a while, occasionally spitting the blood from his mouth or wincing every time his head gave a painful throb. Ahead of him, he could see what he guessed was another trainer headed in the opposite direction. Jet paid no mind to them until they called his name and ran up to him.

Brian had a worried look on his face as he stopped in front of Jet and said, "Holy shit, what happened to you?"

Jet frowned, "Is it really that bad?"

Brian reached in his pocket and grabbed his phone. He handed it to Jet and said, "Look at your reflection."

Jet did as he was asked and saw two black eyes, a fat lip, and multiple head lumps staring back at him. Jet laughed, "Damn, that wild Mankey really did a number on me."

Brian took his phone back and laughed as well, "Are you battling wild Pokémon by yourself again? You really need to stop that, Jet."

Jet pulled out Pugsly's pokeball, "I caught the little fucker."

Brian lead Jet off the road and said, "I got some potions on me; let me heal your face."

Jet shook his head, "Save your potions for your Pokémon, I'll be fine."

But Brian wouldn't hear it. The boys set up a tent, and once inside they got to work on healing Jet's wounds. Jet used his own potions, insisting that he had bought extra anyway. When Brian sprayed Jet with the potion, it stung at first. Then his wounds healed instantly.

They did this for his face and his torso, which had a number of nasty bruises. Brian pulled out a jar of Oran berries and gave one to Jet. It tasted like blueberries mixed with plum, all with a medicine like after taste.

When Jet was finished healing himself, he healed Pugsly. Pugsly was an impatient Pokémon, and sat still only when ordered to do so. He ate two Oran berries and was recalled to his pokeball.

Brian packed up his tent and told Jet about his adventure so far. "I went to the Gym and found out it was closed, so I headed straight for the regionals. When I got there, all of the tickets were sold out, and they wouldn't let me go to Victory Road without any badges.

"So I stayed at the Pokémon Center at the gate, and went out every so often to catch wild Pokémon. I got six so far," Jet nodded and felt annoyed that he only had five, "but I only really focus on Squirtle and Sandshrew for my training. I just caught a Spearow who seems pretty tough though, I might focus on him too. It would be nice to have a Fearow to fly around on, you know?"

Jet nodded and Brian continued on with his story, "There are all types of trainers at the Pokémon center out there! There were battles every night! I lost most of mine, though, because these trainers weren't exactly new like I am. But I got to see this cool double battle; I can't wait to try it out!"

Then Brian's face lit up, "Let's me and you have a double battle! Then I can see if you've gotten any stronger! I know I have! Winner gets two hundred, do you accept?"

Jet thought about it and said, "I see no reason why not."

Brian smiled and sent out his Sandshrew and his Spearow. Jet stepped back a good distance so they would have room for their battle, and then sent out Sora and Pugsly. Jet then called, "Ok guys! We're going to fight man to man! Sora, you stay on Spearow's ass. Pugsly, you take Sandshrew, make sure you avoid his dig attack! You ready, Brian?"

Brian nodded and said, "I'll start the match. One, two, three; Spearow, use Tackle! Sandshrew, use Rollout!"

Double battles were a lot harder than they had seemed on the simulator. Jet simply couldn't keep track on what every Pokémon was doing at the exact same time. Often times, one side of the battle got neglected. Sora was a much better flyer than Brian's Spearow, so Jet tried to focus more on Pugsly, who was getting his ass handed to him.

"Pugsly, jump when he comes at you like tha- oh shit."

Sandshrew's Rollout had hit yet again. Pugsly was knocked several feet away, and was almost out for the count. Pugsly's problem was that he had no sense of defense. He simply went into the attack, guns blazing, and without any sense of self preservation.

"Pugsly, grab one of the branches above you!"

Pugsly jumped up just in time to grab a branch. Jet told him, "Keep on the move in the branches! Don't directly attack until I tell you!" Jet turned to Sora, who was being chased by the higher level Spearow. He shouted, "Sora, use the Wronski Feint!"

Sora flew up high, followed closely by Spearow. Jet had been a big fan of Harry Potter. In the fourth book, during the Quidditch World Cup, one of the players did a move called the Wronski Feint. The idea was that if a flyer was being chased, then they would dive at a high speed and pull up just before they hit the ground. If the opponent fell for it and wasn't as good a flyer, then they would crash into the ground.

Jet remembered this maneuver when he was helping his bird Pokémon with their diving techniques. He taught this move to Sora, because he was just good enough a flyer to pull it off. Jet was glad he did, too. No sooner than when Sora pulled up did Spearow plummet into the ground.

"Spearow, are you alright?" Brian asked, but with no answer.

"Spearow, return!" Brian recalled his Pokémon. Now it was two against one. Pugsly, no doubt gaining heart from Sora's daring display of skill, decided to attack Sandshrew head on yet again.

"Pugsly, no!" But it was too late. Pugsly got hit with Rollout and was instantly KO'd. Sora then dove at Sandshrew. "Sora, wait stop!" But Jet knew what was going to happen before it happened. Sora was hit by Rollout as well. As the attack had already gained a ridiculous amount of momentum and it was also type effective against Sora, it was yet another instant KO.

Jet recalled both of his Pokémon, disappointed at his loss. Brian, however, was happy as could be when he recalled his Pokémon. They shook hands after the battle and Jet said, "Good fight, Brian, you really did a great job with that Sandshrew."

Brian smiled and said, "Thanks, I took a leaf out of your book. I got him a binding brace like you use to use with Thorn. His attack and his speed are ridiculously high now!"

Jet wrote Brian a check for two hundred dollars. All traveling trainers were required to carry check books to pay off their losses in the field. If someone didn't pay, they would get their license suspended and lose all of their Pokémon.

Brian said, "Head back to Viridian with me. There is really nothing for you back there, and Viridian is closer anyway. Besides, we have to visit the trainer's school."

Jet nodded and together they headed back in the direction of Viridian. It was becoming obvious to Jet that he had fallen of his game ever since he left Pallet Town. True, he didn't have the resources he once did to help with his training. True, he was working with wild Pokémon now that needed to be broken in before they could be domesticated. One thing is for sure, Jet was determined that the rest of his journey was not going to end up like it had his first week. He would learn from his mistakes and he would adapt. Jethro was determined to keep his promise he made all those years ago; he was going to the Pokémon League.