Ike Ketchum: A New Journey Begins

Part 4

It had been almost two days since Ike left Oak's lab. He was making good progress, and he figured that he would be in Viridian City within a few hours. It had been rainy after he left, and he was afraid that Sasha would be unwilling to go forward with him in bad weather, but she seemed to be raring to go. Ike had completed little training, but he had managed to teach Spearow to use Pursuit.

"Well, Sasha, we're getting close," Ike said. "Are you pumped up and ready?"

"Pikachu!" Sasha growled.

"That's right, of course you are! We both are." Ike agreed. He didn't know what Pokémon Amelia used, so he didn't know exactly how to plan a real strategy. He figured Amelia would use Pokémon a girl would like. In Ike's mind, this would include Pokémon like Jigglypuff and Meowth. She'd probably be a pushover. It made him angry to think he was being forced to battle someone weak to earn an official badge. What would that prove?

Sasha's ear twitched. "Pika?"

"What is it, Sasha?" Ike said, coming out of his reverie. Sasha didn't answer. Instead, she jumped down from Ike's shoulder and ran into some bushes. Ike remembered what happened the last time he sent his Pokémon into some bushes, and he got worried. "Sasha, you get out of there this minute!"

Sasha did, and there was a little purple Pokémon behind her. It had large ears, a spiky back, and a horn on its head. It also had mean little buck teeth. "Nii-nii!" it complained.

"Sasha, what are you doing?" Ike demanded. Ike knew this Pokémon. It was a Nidoran male. He knew it was a poison type, and that kids who tried to pet it got stung. "Come here," he ordered Sasha. When she obeyed, he held out his Pokedex to find out more about this little poison Pokémon.

In a robotic voice, the Pokedex said:

Nidoran Male. The Poison Pin Pokémon. Its large ears sense danger. It extends its toxic spikes when angry. The size of its body thorns indicates its toxicity. –End entry-

Ike looked up at the feisty looking Pokémon. Its body thorns were definitely extended. "Sasha," he said, "this is your doing. You have to help me catch him now."

Sasha nodded agreement, and readied herself for battle. "Sasha, use quick attack!" he ordered.

"Pikachu!," she agreed, and she immediately went dove into a quick attack. The Nidoran cried out, and it countered by shooting poisonous needles toward Sasha. Sasha was too fast for Nidoran; she dodged and Ike ordered her to use a Thundershock attack. Sasha obliged, and the jolt landed. Nidoran looked stunned, and it didn't move.

"Good Sasha, I think we've paralyzed it!" Ike said. "I think maybe I can catch it." Saying this, he pulled a Pokeball from his belt. "Alright you, you're going to be mine!" Ike tossed the Pokeball, and with a red flare, Nidoran entered. Ike watched as the Pokeball wiggled. Then the movement slowed, and Ike thought it was over. Then , the ball popped open and Nidoran was standing before Ike and Sasha again.

"He escaped?" Ike said, surprised. "Sasha, use thundershock again!"

Sasha did, but this time, Nidoran dodged it and rammed its horn into Sasha's belly before she had time to react. Out of surprise, Sasha let out another electric shock, and Nidoran screamed. "That's what you get, you little brat!" Ike said, throwing another Pokeball. This time, Nidoran failed to escape. He was now Ike's newest Pokémon.

"Are you okay, Sasha? I think that it only Pecked you. You shouldn't be poisoned."

"Pika…" Sasha answered. She looked okay; maybe a little tired.

"Come on, you can ride on my shoulder again," Ike said. Looking relieved, Sasha climbed up, and they once again set off for Viridian City.

The party reached Viridian that night. Ike left his three Pokémon, excluding Sasha, in the hands of Nurse Joy. He decided to call his mother, because he hadn't contacted her since he left. When she picked up the phone, she looked very annoyed.

"So finally you call me," she said.

"What, no hello?" Ike replied.

"I was afraid you were dead somewhere," Ima complained. "What have you been doing anyway?"

"Haven't you talked to Professor Oak?" Ike wondered.

"No. You know how forgetful that man is these days," Ima reminded Ike.

"These days? I don't remember a time when he wasn't!"

"Even so, you need to call your mother from time to time. Just because you're a big trainer now, it doesn't mean that you don't need your mom!"

Ike stretched his eyes. "Since when are you so sentimental, mother? It's embarrassing!"

Ima scowled. "I don't care. You better call me every time you reach a town or city. If you don't I'll have the entire police force out searching for you. Do you hear me?"

Ike heard. "Yeah, yeah. Aren't you going to ask me about what I've done so far?"

"Gary called me this morning and told me all about it. You better be more careful, mister. I don't like what you've gotten yourself into one bit," Ima replied angrily.

"I'm sorry mother, okay? Sheesh! I'm going to bed. I'll call you when I get to Pewter, okay?" Ike did not want to be on the computer phone anymore now.

"Goodnight, Ike. And you better!" The picture then went away, and a female computer voice said, "Call over."

"Sweet dreams, Ike," Ike said to himself sarcastically.

The next morning, Ike marched over to Gary's gym, eager for his match. He had decided to treat this match like a real gym battle, rather than complain that it wasn't fair. If Gary was going to play games, Ike could play games too. Amelia had to be weak; she was only a girl, after all. If Gary wanted to give away a gym badge, then as far as Ike was concerned, he'd just take it from him. Now it was full steam ahead, and Ike wasn't wasting any more time.

When Ike entered the gym though, he was confused. Inside, it didn't look like a gym at all. It was full of people in lab coats…and it looked like…well, it looked very similar to Professor Oak's lab!

"Can I help you?," one of the men asked Ike.

"Yes, I came for a gym battle?" Ike said it like a question.

"Oh, I see. You have to go to the back for gym battles. We don't get many trainers here," the man said, pointing Ike in the right direction.

Befuddled, Ike headed in the direction that the man was pointing, and he came to a door with a sign that read, "Gym Battles". With a shrug, Ike pushed open the door, and saw a very basic room designed for regular battles. The wood flooring had a plain white Pokeball shaped arena painted on it, and there were windows all around to let sunlight in. On the walls, there were lines of bleachers. They were empty.

"Hello? Is there anybody in here?" Ike called. Ike jumped as the door he just entered opened behind him. He whirled around, and there he saw Gary and Amelia. Smiling at his surprise, Amelia said, "I knew you were scared of me!"

"Whatever you say. Quit trying to freak me out. I'm ready for our battle. Right now." Ike grumbled.

"Right to the point, are we?" Gary said. "Alright then. I'll be your referee today. It's going to be a three-on-three battle. The challenged, that would be Amelia, will send out the first Pokémon. Both trainers are allowed to switch Pokémon at any time. Do you understand, Ike?"

"Sure do," Ike said, getting into his position on the arena. "Let's go."

Amelia went to her place eagerly. "I think you're going to have a lot of fun today, Ike!"

"Hmph. Let's just go," Ike said impatiently.

"Okay, then. My first Pokémon," Amelia said, reaching for a Pokeball, "is one you've met before." With that, she threw her Pokeball, and out came one of the pink Rattata that Ike had knocked out back in Viridian field.

Why would she use such a weak Pokémon? This is exactly as I expected, Ike thought. He was feeling pretty good about himself. I could use any Pokémon I want to for this match, and I would easily win, he told himself. But I guess I'll be safe, and use Mankey.

"Go, Mankey!" he shouted as hi s Pokémon was released onto the field.

"An obvious choice," Amelia commented. Then she commanded her Ratatta. "Quick Attack!"