Pokemon: You're the Monster

by robert.williamstn

What if we didn't train Pokemon to fight our battles for us but instead harvested that power to use in hand-to-hand combat between men? Here is the original storyline retold with that notion in mind and some twists as well. With protagonist Red form the video games, we see Kanto through his eyes and a cast of other folks. New chapters should be up every Tuesday!

3. Viridian City and Forest

3

After getting through the initial line of trees, I come to a break in the tree line and find a plain filled with tall grass. Off to my left stands the telltale sign reading "Route 1." I can remember traveling to Viridian City with my father when I was younger to buy goods at the Market. We used to come the same way. I remember being excited to get out of Pallet, but because of wild Pokémon it was dangerous for me to go alone. Seeing the items designed for Monster Trainers only intrigued my curiosity.

"This is a Potion," Dad said pointing to a small canister of spray medicine.

"When you get injured in battle, spraying this on the affected area will restore some of the damage. If you want to recover more health or treat some other status problem, you would have to look for different items. If you're badly injured or need to rest, the place to go is the Focus."

The Focus and Market are both services available to the public in larger cities. There were of course other places to stop and sleep or get wares, but these two hold the standard. Pallet Town has a diner and inn, but I've heard that there are food trucks and bed and breakfasts in faraway towns. More recently Daisy told me about a shopping center or Mall in Celadon City.

"I'm so jealous of Erica! She has all the finest clothes and things right under her nose. Of course she wears kimonos which are just wonderful, but you know they must have the most beautiful dresses there of every style!"

When I make it to Viridian City, the first thing I see is the town Focus. No fancy malls or dresses here. The town itself is about as big as Pallet Town but more people live here, roughly 28,000 or so. I want to maybe check out the town for a little while but not linger here too long and see new places. I can see a tall building in the north side of town, the local Gym, and head that way. I pass several houses and climb a small hill to the big building but something is wrong.

I get closer and closer noticing there are no lights on and no one around outside. When I get within a few feet of the door, I find a red letter sign that says "Temporarily closed! Sorry for the inconvenience. We will reopen soon."

I ball up a fist and hit the door.

"Now what!" I yell to myself or so I think.

"Stinks, huh?"

I turn around to see Blue behind me with his typical smirk.

"Hey man, what gives!? You just ran off and left us."

"Red, you know I'm my own man. I got to be the best without anyone helping me or I'll be weak. You feel the same way; you just won't admit it."

"Hey, I don't want to be weak or anything, but that doesn't mean I have to be a jerk wad to my friends!"

"Ah chill Red. You take everything the wrong way. Tell you what, I'll do something kind for you. Did you happen to bring any Pokecrystals?"

"Um…well, no. I hadn't thought about it to be honest."

"Ha…OK, look I won't say anything just take some OK," he says as he hands me a satchel with small crystals in it. They are roughly the size and shape of a baseball and all clear like glass.

"Peace offering. Hold one of those up to a Pokémon you want skills from and if you're successful your crystal will change into an Element Skill. I went ahead and caught one from a Pidgey," he says showing me his Skillfinder. I notice the blue dot, Blastoise line or in this case, the ES of a Squirtle. I also see a white dot for the Pidgey.

"Try to keep a balanced team. You may think that Fire is cool, but you kind of screwed yourself over for the next few gyms. Just saying. Well, I better head out. I was just about to head into the Viridian Forest. I think I can get my Pewter City Belt before dinner!"

"What!? Hey wait," I say as he turns to leave. "What are you saying about the gyms? Why is Fire not good?"

Blue just looks back with a mean smile and keeps walking. I officially need new friends.

"Hey Blue! Red!"

I turn and see Green running frantically up the hill towards me. In the time I last saw her, Green has changed into a stunning black dress and some heels which makes her ascent towards me all the more challenging. I've noticed that she isn't wearing her favorite hat and must have stuffed it in the backpack in her hands. She has put on some lipstick and makeup and some of perfume that smells quite nice but perhaps is a little overpowering.

"Where is he going now? This is the place right? CLOSED!" she booms noticing the sign. "Oh no, I came all this way for nothing."

"You dressed up so…nice. Um…why did you do that exactly? Also, how did you do that so fast?"

"Ah, Red I'm a woman that's how! And what do you mean why? Do I not look good? OH MY GOSH! Is it my hair?" she asks as she touches it nervously. "Or my make up?" she adds as she pulls out a compact and checks her face.

"Oh no, I mean you look great! I mean like really, like a knockout," I insist.

Knockout? Uh, too much. Green gives me a big smile. She truly looks stunning in that dress. It covers her skin except for her arms and legs but hugs her frame in the right places.

"Oh…thank you Red!"

"I'm sorry, I meant that…you know it's a battle. You wouldn't want to wear those clothes to fight, right?"

"Oh, my gosh! You're right! I just was so excited. I mean this is probably the biggest thing I've ever done and wanted to dress for the occasion. Ugh, I feel so dumb!"

"Hey, it's cool. The gym was closed anyway. Tell you what, I haven't been here since my father took me when I was 10. Want to walk around?"

"Oh, OK. Yes, that would be fun. Wait! What about Blue?"

"Oh. I don't know what his deal is. He wants to do everything on his own all of a sudden. We could chase him, but I think he'll keep running off."

"You know what it is, Red. He's thinking about his parents."

"Maybe."

"No, I think that's what it is. You lost your father in the war but still have your mother, and both of my parents came back. Blue lost both of his, first a son one day and an orphan the next."

"I mean I don't disagree with you all. I can't imagine what that's like, but I mean just look at Daisy. She lost both parents, too, and she doesn't act like him at all."

"People grieve in different ways. I bet it was hard for Daisy, too. She always looks happy, sure, but she also runs around like a busy bee. I mean I see her always going out of town with friends and walking around a lot. You've been to the Oak home. Does she sit down?"

I think about that for a moment. Yes, I've seen Daisy sitting down, but to be honest, it's never for long. And though she does have a smile, she always seems to be moving in a speed range just above everyone else around her.

"I hadn't thought about it like that. Maybe you're right."

"Ha ha, I'm always right!" Green smiles and hits me on the shoulder.

"Ow! Hey," I yell as she takes off her heels and runs down the hill. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

"I'M GOING TO THE FOCUS TO CHANGE!"

"WAIT FOR ME!" I call out to her and rush to catch up.

We make our way back into town and find the Focus logo, a green sphere with a double helix in the middle, on a building in the east side of town. The doors to go inside are glass and open automatically. A pretty lady in a pink dress stands behind the front desk to check people in. We walk up to her, but before I can say a word Green notices a sign for "RESTROOMS" and bee lines it down the hall. The lady behind the desk simply smiles.

"Hey young man, do you need help with anything today?"

"No, ma'am, I'm just going to wait on my friend to change is all."

"OK! Have you by chance been here before?"

"Yes, actually, I think but not any time soon. I came here about 7-8 years ago with my Dad. He came in to get some treatment on his hands I think over there," I say pointing to a big machine. It looks like a metal bed with a glass bubble over the top and has many tubes and computer screens connected to it.

"Oh yes, the Recovery Pod! It's the leading piece of technology in restorative equipment and medicine. Every Focus in Kanto has several now. They use pure energy to rejuvenate lost stamina and heal illness in the body. Of course they can't do everything, but they get all the daily bumps and bruises under control. Most of the time, we use them for Monster Trainers on their journeys. Are you a Monster Trainer?"

"YES! Well actually I just started. I'm from Pallet Town."

"Pallet Town! Oh wow, we haven't seen any trainers from there since the war."

"Yes, my friends and I all lost someone in the war. My friend Blue, well his grandfather talked us out of becoming a Monster Trainer until now. I think because he didn't want us to get hurt."

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry to hear that. Who did you lose if you don't mind me asking?"

"My father, Satoshi Himura, Sr. was a Trainer, and one day he got drafted to fight in the war. He was part of the Red Unit and…well after he died…"

"You took Red for your name out of respect for his service."

"Sort of, I mean I don't really understand what happened in the war nor do I want to know. I just know my Dad was a great man. But right now I'm Red, not Satoshi."

"Wow, that's such a powerful story. You know, I've heard about the war from many veterans, but you're only the second one I've met to tell me about taking the color for a name."

"Oh you must mean Jack or now he goes by Blue. His father was Shigeru Mizushima, and he was in the Blue unit. My friend over there was Kyomi Hayashi. Her parents are still alive, but her father was severely injured in the war. He can't train ever again. She took the name Green because of his unit."

"Oh dear, that is fascinating and all, but I could have sworn this young man's name was Yellow."

"Yellow? I don't know anyone named Yellow."

"Pretty sure. Oh, and did you say Hayashi? She isn't related to a man that is physically abusive is she? I heard rumors that a man was hitting his wife in Pallet Town by that name."

"HE DOESN'T HIT ANYONE!" yells an outraged Green across the building.

Some people stare with mouths open and eyes wide.

"Miss, I apologize. I didn't…"

"Let's go, Red!"

I give the attendant a sympathetic look as Green grabs my arm and drags me outside. I notice she has changed into a blue shirt and red skirt and sneakers and put her hat back on this time.

"UGH! The nerve of that woman!"

I try not to say anything. I don't Green very well, but I know from seeing her in class she doesn't talk much until you mention her family. I saw her pick a boy up and throw him out a window once. Luckily for him it was a first story room and he didn't fall very far. The teacher had raised her hand to say something, but Green left the room and sat in the principal's office without saying a word. In fact, I don't think she opened her mouth to breathe the rest of the week. This is the woman I'm traveling with right now. I should definitely find new friends! Well maybe I can make the best of it.

"Hey Green, I know don't want people disrespecting your family. And I don't want to make the same mistake, but..."

"What happened?" she says before I can.

"Yeah!"

"All right I'll tell you, but I don't want you to start spreading rumors after I do or I'll never forgive you."

"Geez, I won't! I mean really, did someone actually do that?"

"YOU HEARD THAT LADY!"

"Yeah, what is that about?"

"I told some friends of mine...one friend of mine something, and they used it against me. My Dad came back from the war with an injury, irreparable damage to his spinal cord. He can walk but barely and definitely can't work or train. He didn't want to go into the war but got drafted. My Dad was a fisherman for crying out loud! Anyway, he came back and couldn't do anything so Mom had to start working full time. He got depressed and started drinking, and every now and then we have to go and pick him up at the Focus or look for him around town."

"Sometimes people say cruel words about things they don't understand. I don't know why, but once I told my friend about Dad, or ex-friend I should say, everyone started talking about him. Drunkard and wife-beater and pedophile even. I can't believe the things they said about him, still say about him. My Dad has a drinking problem. I won't deny it, but picking on him and calling him names won't help us. Now people come up and ask me if I need a place to stay or if I have any bruises? Do you know how insulting that is?"

I shake my head "No" and see her eyes get watery. At that moment, I remember some kids at school saying a jingle about "Old man Stan, hugging the can" but I decide to keep this to myself. I pull on my hand causing her to stop walking and turn her towards me. She looks at the ground as she wipes her face with her other hand.

"I'm really sorry, Green, I didn't know. People can be so mean and not know it, but you know the truth about your family and now so do I. Hold onto that and it will set you free no matter what. Why don't we get out of this town, I think we've been here long enough, and besides I don't want Blue thinking he's got an advantage over us."

She looks me in the eyes and forces a smile.

"You really want to leave? Where do we go now?"

"We go to the next town over, Pewter City. We'll have to pass through the Viridian Forest to get there. There's lots of bugs in there, but we won't be in there for too long."

"What's wrong with bugs? I happen to like bugs I'll have you know!"

"OK, bugs it is!" I say before both of our stomachs growl.

"Ah man, I forgot to eat!"

"Me, too!"

"Do you care if we stop for lunch first? My treat!"

"Sure, I'm game. Where to?"

I notice a building with a Magikarp figure on a pole above it, the emblem for a Market. I point and she sees it, too. We walk down the street and are there in no time. We order some Goldeeners, a grilled fish wrap and staple to Kanto. I've heard in other countries to people lots of pork, beef, or chicken, but here it's all about fish.

4

We head across town and make our way for the forest. At the edge of town is some tall grass that leads into the woods and a sign reading "Route 2." Another behind it reads "Viridian City" and a third reads "To Pewter City." We cross through the tall grass and pass some trainers along the way. Each of them looks about 10-12 years old and very run down as if they haven't slept in days. They slowly creep towards town without much more than the occasional groan. At the entrance to the first stands a boy of the same age with a net in hand and a finger pointed in our direction.

"You there! Are you Monster Trainers?"

"We are! I mean we just started."

"Then I insist on a battle!"

"I…uh," but before I can get a word in the kid rushes me.

He runs into me knocking me down. I feel a little shaken but mostly ticked by this kid. What's his deal? Without thinking much at all, I raise my hand and Scratch him across the face. He doubles back then rushes me again. This time I Scratch him a few times before he makes a hit and he falls down for good. I feel a little bad for the guy who looks very nauseous all of sudden.

"You are the victor," he says and offers me some money.

"What is this?"

"Your reward! Winning matches earns money. It's yours."

I try to walk by him, but he keeps trying to slap the money on me. I take it and say, "Thanks" before motioning for Green to follow me.

"You had your first Monster Match, how exciting!"

"Sure, I guess. I always wanted to face Blue first." She doesn't answer me.

"What's that!?" she says and runs ahead of me.

I see her turn around a corner and notice a yellow trail on the ground. A yellow dye has been put in a dirt path leading travelers through the forest towards Pewter City. I get on the trail and turn right. A head of me I see Green looking at something in a tree.

"Darn, I lost it!"

"Lost what?" I ask.

I feel something rustling in the tree above me and look up. A Caterpie falls and lands on my shoulder. I try to swat it off but its sticky feet keep it from coming off. I look up just in time to see a crystal fly at my face.

BAM!

My arms flail out and grab Green as I fall to the ground. Landing hard on a root, I curl up and grab for my back.

"OW! What the heck!?"

"Red, you let him get away? Ow…hey, you cut my leg!" I sit up and see her cradling her right knee. A red line of blood trickles down her leg. I take off my bag and dig to the bottom then open the compartments on the front until I find a Potion.

"Here!" I say.

"Whoa! What's that?" she says pushing my hand back.

"It's OK! This is a Potion."

She drops her hands and looks away. I shake the can and spray on her cut. I hear her groan for a second then look back. The cut stops bleeding and I hold my hand over it to help it seal.

"Ow! Thanks! Sorry, I wanted to catch that Caterpie. He looked so cute. I bet he would make a great pet."

"Green, were Trainers not collectors. Are you going to try and catch'em all or something?"

"Of course not! I only want to get more Element Skills and I might as well get some from the cuter Pokémon!"

I nod and let go of her knee. The cut has sealed. I pull out some out sanitizer and wipe my hands and then share it with her. After another deep breath, I offer my hand and we both stand back up.

"OK, don't hate me, but I see another," she says pointing at a Caterpie crawling up a tree.

We walk towards it and hear some rustling above just like before; however, when we look up we see dozens of Caterpie. Before we can move out of the way, the horde fall on top of us. I try to run and Scratch them off but there is so many of them it takes several minutes. Eventually they all start to crawl away into the trees and I look back at Green. She pants and forces a smile then holds up her crystal, now a greenish brown.

"You did it!"

Without a word, she takes off her hat and cracks the ES on her head. I see her eyes glow a bright yellow for a second just like a Caterpie then go back to normal. She has transitioned from one skill to the next.

"OK! That feels awesome. Tell you what, can you fight me? I want to know if I'm any good at this Monster Training stuff."

"Are you sure?"

"YES! Come get me!" she says and starts to walk backwards.

I decide to humor her and walk forward. She points at my left and makes a strand appear which she connects to two trees. I try to walk forward, but the strand holds me back like a rope. I run up to the strand and push and make through but only with much effort. Green starts running and I realize she is getting too far away.

"Come on! Are you scared? You're too slow." she says giving me a smile.

I smile back and decide to play along. I run forward trying to Scratch her, but she quickly uses Stringshot forming another barrier. I Scratch it out of the way but not before she uses the move three more times. I Scratch those bands back but she has used the move multiple times now forming a sort of wall I can barely see through. I try to look around the wall only to see her rushing toward me from my left. I turn to stop her, but she Tackles me to the ground. My claws extend as I reach for her, but she has me pinned.

I want to push her off me but can't and instead let out a Growl. It's just enough to surprise Green so I can Scratch her across the face. She falls back, and I hear a crack. Her Caterpie Element Skill broke. I see her take a deep breath and her eyes flicker a deep green as before. The transition must be happening again. It looks like it leaves you vulnerable for a moment but not for long.

"Why are you holding back!?"

Before I can respond she Tackles me again, much harder this time. I swing my hands and deliver a few good Scratches making her fall back. Green gets low and charges for another Tackle, but I feel some new power in me. Just at the critical moment before she hits me, I open my mouth and feel a concentrated blast of heat pour out. The Ember crashes into Green and she pauses. Her eyes roll in her head and Green collapses to the ground!

"Green? GREEN!"

I drop by her side just in time to hear another crack. Green's eyes close, and she lies perfectly still. Both of her Element Skills broke. I won the fight but is she OK? I put a hand to her cheek and she stirs.

"Red?"

"Yes, I'm here!"

"I don't feel very good. I...OW!"

She leans forward, and a Weedle emerges from behind her. It eyes me threateningly then scurries away as I lean close to Green. I notice a thin needle sticking out of her shirt just above the waist line.

"Green, you've been stung by a Weedle!"

"Poison...Sting..."

"Right! I need to remove the needle and use an Antidote. Let me look for one in my bag," I say as I search through it. Not a one. I double check as Green starts grabbing at her back.

"Green, I'll get it out for you. It's going to be OK. Do you know if you have an Antidote in your bag?"

She shakes her head "Yes" then quickly switches to "No" again before falling forward on her face.

"Green, hang on!"

I pull her up and notice purple veins stretching across her face. Not only did I break both of her Element Skills, Green has been poisoned. She is in no state to do anything and if I don't act fast, well I don't want to think about what could happen.

I lean Green towards me and reach for the Poison Sting in her back. Before I use my hands, I catch myself and pullout a multifunction tool from my pants and use the tweezers to pull the needle out nice and slow. I feel Green take in a deep breath, but then she is still once more. I lift up her shirt just slightly to see her back. A green bump stands where the needle entered her skin and spider web like purple lines extend in every direction from it.

Is this what happens after MTC goes off? Do people fall out and get rushed to the hospital? I thought Blue told me that Skillfinders keep you from dying. Maybe there are limits to how alive you can be following a match. Is this what we signed up for when we decided to become Monster Trainers?

I lay Green down on her side and start to search through the compartments of her bag. It's a little uncomfortable for me as I don't know her that well and imagine she wouldn't normally want a boy rummaging through her personal things. She has some clothes in her bag in the middle which I try to look blindly through, feeling with my fingers for something that feels like a bottle instead of cotton. I'm surprised at how little clothes there seem to be. Don't girls usually pack lots of makeup and pairs of shoes? From the looks of things, Green changed into her clothes from earlier this morning and brought only her dress and a couple other things which she crammed into her bag. She packed so light but why?

I start looking through the compartments on the outside of her backpack as Green gives a low moan.

I dig through each section finding various things including a wallet, some snacks and her cell phone. I notice that it has many notifications on the screen. 7 missed calls from "Mom." I put the phone aside and find a bag of tissues and some hygiene products. No Antidotes! I need to rush Green to the nearest Focus.

I return all the items in each of our bags to their respective homes and slide Green's backpack onto her back, sitting her up as I put the straps over each shoulder. She leans into me as I cradle her head with my right arm and her knees with my left arm.

"Red…"

Scooping her up off the ground, I stand and ready myself to walk out of this forest. Scanning the ground, I notice I'm far away from the trail that leads to Pewter City so I carefully make me way through the trees back to the path. I make a couple turns without any incident and without any noise other than the faint sound of hissing in the trees. I walk on for several minutes in near silence. Nothing bothers me but the slight pain in my feet from the walking. I'm starting to get bored, but perhaps its' better this way. Green looks very ill and feels warm in my hands. I have to keep going. If I'm lucky, I won't run into anymore bugs or trainers.

"HEY! Stop there!"

A group of girls emerge from an alcove to my right. They all have their fists raised like they want to fight. I don't stop and try to keep walking to ignore them. One of the girls points a finger and a Stringshot extends in front of me, blocking my path. I don't have time for this! Turning to my right, I spit out Embers at the girls making them jump back. I duck under the strand and continue moving. I hear the girls yell, but they don't follow me.

I keep pressing forward and pass more bug catchers. Some raise their hands and try to say something as I pass by, but I don't let me eyes cross theirs. My gaze is steady and unbroken. I see several Caterpie running around a bend in the road, but as I get closer they dive into some tall grass out of sight. I round the bend and see an opening in the trees. Just as I start to feel like I'll never get out of this place, my patience is rewarded.

I exit the forest and step onto a leveled stone path and see a sign to my right that reads "Pewter City."

The Focus is dead ahead, so I speed walk into town passing people along the way. Some of them gasps and pause with wide eyes while others don't seem to notice. I think some of them try to say something to me, but I block them out. I pass through the automatic doors of the Focus, and a lady in pink runs up to me right away.

"What's happened?"

"We battled…and I broke the Element Skills…then Weedle…Poison Sting," I struggle to speak coherently.

"It's OK. Bring her back here," the nurse says as she motions for us to enter a room to the left. She points to a bed and helps me to sit Green down, take off her bag, and lay her down. The nurse then has me sit in a chair to the side while she pulls out a tablet from the wall and begins typing something. I see her hit a red button and a glass dome suddenly encompasses Green. Some lights on the bed come on kind of like the ones on an airplane, and mist enters the dome. Green begins to grimace and roll back and forth slowly before turning on her side and being still once more. I see parts of her skin start to glow as if light were traveling into her body instead of oxygen. Her face relaxes and she looks like she is just sleeping.

Some beeping starts, and the dome opens once more. Green opens her eyes slowly and looks around the room. As she starts to sit up, I come to her aid though she seems totally fine. The color in her face has returned to normal, and I as I touch her cheek with my hand, I can tell her temperature has gone back down.

"What happened?"

"Miss, your ES was completed empty. When that happens you are naturally weaker and more vulnerable to injury or illness. This young man…"

"Red," I tell her.

"Red, here said that you were poisoned by a Weedle. If he had not brought here as soon as he had, well if you waited much longer you could have died. Please make sure to get some Antidotes before you head back into the Forest next time! You can thank your hero. I'll put this down in your chart and be right back," she says before slipping out of the room.

I notice Green's face glow red and I feel a little embarrassed myself.

"I'm glad you're OK."

"Me, too," she says looking into my eyes with a smile. "Thank you!"

Bzzzt! Bzzzt!

We look around the room trying to determine what the noise is and discover Green's phone is vibrating.

She quickly grabs the phone and clicks a button to make the vibrating stop.

"Hey, is everything OK?"

"I'm fine! Why?"

"I noticed earlier that your Mom had tried to call you. Did you forget something at your house?"

"Probably…it's no big deal."

"Aren't you going to call her back?"

"WHY ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT IT!?" she barks then taking a deep breath she adds, "I'm sorry. I…don't mean to yell."

"Are your parents mad that you left? What did they think about you leaving to be a Monster Trainer today?"

"Ha," she laughs looking a little nervous. "They didn't think about it at all."

"You didn't tell them?"

"No, and please don't try to make me call them or tell anyone. I don't to want to deal with this right now. I just…"

"It's OK!" I say cutting her off. "You need a change of pace. I hear you. It's not my business anyway."

Green leans forward and smiles at me again.

"You're cool Red. I didn't mean to be snappy with you. You're only trying to help. I can't…how did I get here?"

"Uh…well I carried you."

"OH MY! It…wasn't a dream," she says and looks away as she covers her mouth. Green notices her bag again and pulls it in front of her. She begins looking through her things for something then pulls out a piece of gum.

"I hope nothing is out of place," I start. Green stops chewing and looks at me confused.

"Well you were poisoned so I looked through your bag for an Antidote, but I guess you didn't have one."

"Oh!" she says then squints her eyes. She looks intently at the bag then back at me.

"I tried not to look. Honest!"

"Ha ha! You saw my underwear in there didn't you!"

"NO! I mean, no."

"Did you take some of my money from my wallet?" she says pulling it out.

"I…no."

She doesn't look inside but simply flips it open and lets the contents fall on the bed, a few breath mints and a coupon for the diner in Pallet Town drop out.

Her face softens, and I can tell she's joking with me.

"I didn't think so, just giving you a hard time, Red. You know you're all right. Why didn't we talk more back home?"

"I don't know. I mean I know I live on east side and you what…."

"West side," she nods.

"Right well and then I was in different classes than you except maybe in elementary school. I think we had the same lunch, but I always spent time hanging out with Blue and Steve. We kind of did everything together in middle school. Steve moved away freshman year for Johto. I haven't seen him since, just the occasional email."

"What did you do with Blue and Steve?"

"OH! Well I mean we were in the Science Club. There were other people I mean, but I didn't hang out with them after school. And we also did Band."

"Band!?"

"Well actually Woodwinds."

"Wait, I remember. You played the flute, right?"

"Yeah."

"You're a music maestro! Whoa!"

"Didn't you do Choir?"

"Oh, yes. Don't remind me!"

"I thought you had a great voice if I remember correctly."

"Well thanks. My parents did as well, but we always did the most boring songs. I'm glad it's over. And by the way, no instruments or clubs. I had some friends named Emily and Claire. We were close and all but then the whole parent's thing. No one handled that after it got started."

"What started?"

"Well girls stick together you know, unless they don't. We were great actually until I told them about my crush. Then Claire got jealous and Emily made this stupid letter about me and my Dad getting into a fight. Before I knew it, people started saying he was a wife beater and did all these terrible things to people."

"All this over a crush? Who was it?"

"Blue," she says.

I feel my face go numb and sit down in the chair behind me.

"I mean not that it matters. He doesn't even know I exist. I think he would go out with Claire any day before me. He probably already has."

"I don't think so," I reply.

"Oh?"

"I mean he didn't mention her at least," I say. Neither of us truly had a girlfriend in high school, but Blue was definitely a flirt. Ever since middle school, Blue started using styling wax to on his hair and applied colognes before going to school. He had a sort of charm you could say, but I think he was too cool to be tied down. Usually we just talked about the hot girls in the Science Club, but I don't think he went out of with any of them.

"Did he ever mention me?"

"Uh…I don't think so," I say.

I suddenly remember the two of us sitting together at lunch watching girls pass by and trying to determine who was attractive and who wasn't. When Green passed by, I remember Blue whispering "nice legs" to which I nodded. She really does have nice legs I think as I look at them now. I look up and see her noticing my attention is off and stumble out of chair.

"WHOA!"

"Hey, are you OK?"

"Yeah," I shrug. "I was just remembering things from high school and slipped out of my chair. Ha ha!"

"What kind of thing did you remember?"

"OH! Right did I tell you we're in Pewter City?" I say trying to switch topics.

"You're avoiding the subject," she says quietly.

"We should try to hit up the gym."

The nurse walks back in and asks if we need anything else. We tell her "no" and head back outside.

"That's the Fossil Museum! We should go there sometime," Green says pointing to a large building to the north. I nod and point next to the museum.

"Look, it's the gym!"

We make it to the gym and peep through the glass windows. I can see inside where several trainers are sparring. As we open the door, I hear a familiar voice call out.

"Red! Green! Where have you two bee? You having a picnic in the park or something?"

Blue walks up to us and shows us a Grey Belt. A stylized stone on the belt flickers when he turns it much like any reflective clothing for runners or traffic guards. He has already beaten the first gym.

"Green, you should go ahead and get you a belt, too. It's in the bag."

"But Blue I just started training today, and I had to go to the Focus because I got poisoned…"

"Ah don't worry about it. You are a beginner so they pair you with a beginner to get your first belt. The only one that has to worry is Red here."

"Oh yeah, why's that!? I came here to get a belt, and I won't leave until I get one!"

"Did I hear you say that you're here to get a Boulder Belt?" says a man as he walks up to me.

"Yes," I say confidently.

"Are you ready to fight?"

I look to Green and Blue, and both motion for me to follow him. He leads us past some of the matches to a mat at the back of the studio. The man walks off without another word. Before I can speak, another younger man steps forward. He has on jeans and what looks like a thick coat made of coal. His eyes squint under his spiky hair, and he crosses his big arms as he puts his boots on the mat. I step onto the mat and notice it doesn't give like foam as I thought it would. Actually it feels solid like stone. This floor will be hard me to move on let alone fight.

"Hello there, you have no belts and come from Pallet Town like your friend here right?"

"Uh yes. I mean, YES!" Blue must have talked about me to this guy.

"My name is Brock. I will fight you. If you can defeat me, the Grey Belt is yours," he says and the man that walked off earlier returns holding the Grey Belt above his head like a trophy. The Boulder logo shimmers in the reflection of the gym's overhead lights.

"OK, Brock! Let's fight!"