MY FORMATTING. It's GONE.

Darn it. keeps destroying my formatting. That's probably why the last chapter was a bit confusing.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

PS: If you're the kind of person to subscribe and not review, I HIGHLY encourage you to review as well. I'm more motivated to write when I see reviews in my inbox than when I see alerts.

XXX

"So, what's the plan now?" Mozart asked.

Sara scratched her head. "We've already stocked up on supplies, so I'm thinking of training in the Viridian Forest. There's a route directly before the forest itself, so we'l be able to add two new teammates."

"Great!" Conan exclaimed. "More teammates would be AWESOME!"

Mozart ruffled his wings. "Let's hurry up, then. The quicker the better."

Route 2 appeared before them as the trio walked on. Grass waved in the slight breeze and Pokemon could be occasionally seen darting among the tall grass.

"Here we are!" Conan grinned and dashed into the grass. "Let's go already!" Mozart sighed and followed at a more sedate pace.

Sara stepped into the grass after them, and almost squashed an unlucky Caterpie.

"Yo!" The Caterpie glared up at her with large black eyes. "You could've squished me. Watch where you're going—hey!" The last comment was directed at Mozart, who'd flown in and tackled the Caterpie, sending it sprawling backwards.

"What d'you think you're doing—argh!"

Sara threw a Poke Ball and the Caterpie was engulfed in red light. The Poke Ball wobbled once, then stopped.

"A Caterpie?" Mozart said critically. "That won't survive long…."

Sara shrugged. "You never know, and it's not like there was anything else…."

XxXxX

"So ya want me to join your team?" The Caterpie asked dubiously. "Sure. Whatever. Not like I have another option."

Sara smiled, ignoring his last comment. "That's great! So, do you have a name?"

He glared at her. "'Course I got a name! I'm Robbie."

(Robbie, lv 4. Impish nature)

"The Viridian Forest..." Sara mused. "What'll we find?"

"Probably a Weedle or something like that." Conan swished his tail absentmindedly, almost setting a patch of grass alight.

"Watch it!" Robbie snapped.

They were standing at the entrance of the forest. Dark shadows played across the ground and leaves rustled and swayed in the wind. Trees hovered over them ominously, reaching out with snagging branches.

"Looks kinda creepy….." Robbie muttered.

"I'll go in first!" Conan announced, and tromped into the dark forest. Mozart followed after him. Sara picked up Robbie (ignoring his protests) and followed after them.

Five minutes later, they were hopelessly lost.

"Great." Robbie muttered. "We're gonna have to live here forever, which I guess isn't that bad for me, but it kinda sucks for you guys. And put me down, I told you I can keep up…."

Mozart glared at him. "I advise you to be quiet, because I happen to be feeling a bit peckish right now."

Robbie mumbled something about 'stupid birds' but stopped talking.

Rustle, rustle.

"What was that?" Sara hissed. Conan narrowed his eyes. "Don't worry, I can take it!"

Rustle. The patch of grass nearest to them shook and waved.

"Get ready….." Mozart muttered. "You never know what nasty, mean things you can find in here."

The rustling stopped and a small Pikachu poked its head out of the grass.

"Hello!"

Sara, Conan, Mozart and Robbie all stared at the Pikachu.

"What are you waiting for?" Sara whispered to Conan. "It's a PIKACHU! CATCH IT!"

Conan leaped towards the startled Pikachu and breathed a jet of flame. The Pikachu reeled back, then regained its balance and narrowed its eyes.

"Take that, you bully!"

A bolt of electricity sparked and shot its way toward Conan, who just managed to avoid it. He sent another Ember towards the Pikachu, who fell back.

Just in time, Sara hurled the Poke Ball towards the stunned Pikachu, who disappeared in a burst of light.

Wobble, wobble. Ding.

"I can't believe it." Sara broke the following silence. "I caught a Pikachu."

"Uh, yeah, glad you finally noticed that," Robbie snarked.

(Sally, lv 3. Sassy nature)

"Attacking me without warning was mean," Sally huffed. "But I'll let it slide."

Sara was grinning crazily. "I still can't believe it! Now we'll be able to sweep the water-type gym!"

"How about we concentrate on getting out of this forest," Mozart suggested icily. "We're still lost, in case you hadn't noticed"

Sally blinked. "Oh, I can show you the way out! Just follow me!" Before Sara could say anything, Sally agilely bounded a few steps ahead, then stopped. "Well, c'mon!"

The rest had no choice but to follow her deeper into the woods.

XxXxX

"Now I have to carry you," Sara huffed as she hoisted the newly evolved Robbie into her arms.

"I can't move! This sucks," Robbie complained. "I hate being a Metapod!"

Mozart, meanwhile, had perfected Gust, and was eagerly blowing away any Weedle and Caterpie that they came across. Conan helped too, with bursts of flame that scorched the air.

With Sally's help, they soon reached Pewter City.

"This place is huge," Conan muttered. "Look at all the buildings!"

Sara frowned. "From what I can remember, Pewter's gym leader is Brock. He specializes in rock-type Pokemon."

Mozart spoke up. "How're we gonna beat all those rock types? We haven't got a type advantage."

"I'll take care of it," Conan muttered, rending the air with his newly learned Metal Claw. "Those stupid lumps of rock won't stand a chance!"

"You'll need backup, though." Mozart snapped. "You last long against an Onix."

Sara frowned. "I have an idea…..come on, we need to backtrack. There's a route we missed."

-Route 22

"What'd we come all the way back here for?" Conan asked.

Sara patted him on the head. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. There's something we can catch here that—OH shoot…."

"Hm?" Conan looked up. Sara pointed.

Hurrying towards them was a very familiar trainer.

"Gary." Sara growled. "Why does he keep….."

"Can I fry him?" Conan asked. "Please?"

"Yo! Sara!" Gary smirked as he approached. "Couldn't keep up with me, huh?" He jerked his thumb in the direction he came.

"There's no use going there. They won't let you through to the league without 8 badges!"

"Duh." Conan muttered.

"Hey, Sara!" Gary said all of a sudden. "Let's have a battle! I'm sure I'll win!"

"Not again." Sara muttered. "Alright. Guess I can't refuse."

XxXxX

"Go! Pidgey!" Gary's Pidgey appeared in a flash of light, ready to fight.

"Sally!" Sara called. Sally bounded out of her Poke Ball. "I'll fry you!" Her cheeks sparked with electricity as she directed a ThunderShock towards the flying Pidgey, striking it in midair.

The Pidgey tumbled to the ground, knocked out.

Conan jumped up and down in excitement. "Alright! A one-hit KO!"

"Argh!" Gary recalled his Pidgey. "You're up! Squirtle!"

Sally leaped forward again, sparking with electricity. Squirtle withdrew into his shell, but Sally shocked him anyways.

Squirtle's shell charred black with voltage.

"Again, Sally!" Sara exclaimed.

Sally let loose another ThunderShock. Squirtle slumped, beaten.

"No!" Gary snarled. He picked up his Squirtle. "It won't be like this next time!"

"Great job, Sally!" Conan grinned. He and Sally hi-fived.

Sara hugged Sally. "You were great. C'mon, let's go find a new teammate."

A breeze blew through the route, stirring the grass and trees. Sally rooted around in the grass, frowning. "Anyone home?" She called. "Oh, hey, look over there!"

In a small clearing in a patch of grass, a Mankey was curled up, asleep.

"A Mankey?" Conan asked skeptically. "What do we want a Mankey for?"

Sara grinned. "Rock-types are weak to fighting….."

"Awesome!" Conan leaped towards the dozing Mankey and breathed a bolt of flame. Red sparks shot from his mouth and scorched the sleeping Mankey's fur.

The Mankey woke up rather quickly. "AH! HOT!" It glared at Conan.

"Oh, I am SO gonna get you for that." The Mankey leaped and kicked Conan, knocking his legs out from under him.

"Hey!" Conan's claws hardened to the toughness of metal as he swiped at the Mankey, pummeling it mercilessly.

"Hey, don't beat it up too badly!" Sara called, fumbling in her bag. She found a Poke Ball and tossed it.

The Mankey disappeared. The Poke Ball wobbled three times, paused, and clicked.

(Haley, lv 3. Impish nature)

XXX

Second chapter done. How was it? What'd you think of it?

Reviews would be appreciated. The more reviews, the more I'm motivated to write.

Team:

Conan (Charmander)

Mozart (Pidgey)

Robbie (Metapod)

Sally (Pikachu)

Haley (Mankey)