A/N: YAY! I finished the 2nd chapter. First off, I'd like to thank Alphinia for being my first reviewer. I also hope I took all you constructive critisism to heart. I tried to make this chapter a little intense and hopefully longer than the last one. Dont be afraid to review! Without futher adu...
Disclaimer: I dont own Pokemon and the 2nd Hunger Games book where the setting of this chapter was inspired from.
Chapter 2: Life, Death, or Pokemon (Part 1)
"So now that I have your attention, I'd like to explain how you will choose your starter Pokemon. The jungle that once filled this lab has been split into six different segments: The Jungle, The Forest, The Island, The Volcano, The Plains, and The Tundra", the Prof. said pointing to each segment respectivly. "In each differ segment there are many different Pokemon. Each Pokemon here are part of a three tiered evolution family. You only get one Pokeball so use it wisely. You have all the Pokemon in any segment to choose from," he grinned. "Of course there is a catch".
"What do you mean catch", Louie blurted out before he could stop himself.
"Well if you gave him a chance to tell us, maybe we'd know", Raine retorted that earned a snicker or two from Nellie and Marshall and a less than intimidating glare from Louie.
"Ahmmm", Birch pretended to clear his throat to clear the tension. "As I was saying, there is a catch. Actually several. First, whoever reaches the center clearing, which is where we are now, last will not be able to become a trainer untill six months from now. Whoever that person may be will have to take this test another time when the come back in half a year".
"How is that fair!", Mark yelled out. Even though Marshall would hate to admit it, he agreed with him. "Why would we have to try again if we already completed it the first time!?"
"Because to be a great trainer or coordinator, speed is key to anything", Birch snapped. "Anywho, the second catch: The Pokemon here will not harm you if you dont have a Pokemon with you. So once you catch your starter the wild Pokemon will sense that and will not hesitate to attack you. This is where you starter comes in. You will need to use teamwork to get back to the clearing unharmed and not last. Also I will be giving you each a flare gun to use only if you're being attacked and your starter has fainted. In that case, either myself or one of my aides will come to your rescue. But if you have to be saved, you will be the one to lose their chance to be a trainer. So here you go", he said as he passed us each a flare gun and a single Pokeball. "Oh, and another little piece of advice: 'Try not to die'", he said with grin. "You may begin", and with those words, the five other hopefuls looked at each ther then shot off in different directions.
"Maybe I should try the Jungle. No thats stupid. I need to go somewhere open. That leaves Tundra or Plains. Not the Tundra...Might as well check the Plains", Marshall thought to himself as he checked to where the other teens went. Raine went to the Jungle, Nellie headed off to the lake surrounded Island, while Mark headed to the Volcano and Louie went to the Tundra. "Hmm that makes sense. Mark always was a hot head", Marshall laughed inwardly at what he just thought.
"Ok so I should check the bushes for Pokemon", he said to himself. He started rustling the bushes only to have have two or three Pichus to rush out.
"Those are so cliche." He countinued shaking the bushes with only revealed Nidorans and Igglybuffs. "Maybe I chose the wrong part to find a partner", he thought to himself.
He was about to turn on his heels, until he saw a light blue Pokemon with black colored hind legs with yellow eyes and an yellow star-like tail.
"SHIIIIINXX", the little Pokemon cried out. It stood there mesmerized at the raven haired teen.
"YES! I knew I'd find something in this meadow!", Marshall said excitedly as he got his Pokeball out. "Get that Shinx!", he exclaimed as he released capsule-like object towards the Electric type. As the ball was closing in, suddenly a pink blur raced out of the bushes.
Nellie raced her way towards the part of the lab that held The Island and its lake. "This should be easy. I mean how many dangerous water-types could there be", she said to herself as she made her way across the mud that surrounded the blue water. "Now if I remember, Mudkips like to make nests in the mud that surrounds clean water. But there's no nests anywhere", Nellie said as she recalled her Pokemon Habitats class. "Oooh, theres some tracks", she squealed as she started to follow the prints. "These are definitley amphibian or reptilian. Only way to find out". She continued to follow the tracks until almost halfway around the lake, there was a rippling in the water's surface. The creature made its way to the water's edge. When the head finally surface, Nellie realized it was a Totodile.
"Hi there little guy. How are you doing", she squatted down as the water-type made its way towards her. The Totodile stopped just three steps away from the 15 year old girl. The Big Jaw Pokemon looked her up and down before he gave a sniff out of total curiousity. Nellie saw this as a huge step. She started to baby talk it while reaching for the Pokeball that she kept in her pocket. When she grabbed the minuscule version she immediately brought it behind her back. She clicked the center button and the ball tripled in size.
"Toto", the Totodile said as he started nudging the girl. Nellie decided this would be her best shot, but before she could even have ball out of her hands, the Water type chomped its teeth into her arm. It did hurt as much as she thought it would but she still gave yelp when it bite her and stayed attached to her arm. The bite wasnt necessarily painful. It didnt break the skin and she wasnt bleeding but it still hurt.
"Please let go", Nellie said sweetly trying to get the Pokemon to release its bite. The brown haired teen tried to shake the grip loose, but with each movement the bite tightened. Then, without warning, the Totodile broke out into a sprint towards the water."No! Stop", the brunette shrieked as she was dragged on her belly behind the Water type.
She felt the cool water spalsh in her face but then was brought under the surface by the the grip that still held on tight. She tried to wiggle out once more, but to know avail. She felt her lungs burning from the lack of air.
"This is it. This how I die", she thought to herself closing her eyes. She felt a sharp tug which made her open her eyes. The once sparkling blue water was now black and inky. The Totodile released its deathgrip and swam out trying to find an exit from the blinding ink. Nellie immediatley started to swim towards the surface, but was still confused by the darkness. She didnt know which way was up or down. She still kept swimming. Her lungs burned just as much as her eyes did. She needed air, but she knew she wasnt even close to the surface.
Then, everything went dark. Not like the darkness that filled the water. This was a much more saddening darkings. She felt cold and lonely. She was still aware she was still in the water but she couldnt move. She felt...dead.
"Seaaaa", cried a voice before she felt a tug. She was moving, bust still couldnt open her eyes. "Sea, Sea, Sea", the voice panted as it struggled to pull Nellie's weight. "Sea, sea, sea".
Raine stood in the middle of the clearing with his Pokeball in hand. He had already completed the test and was the only person here.
"Seedot, come on out", Raine said releasing the little acorn like Pokemon. "How about we take a little nap. This might take a while", he laid on his back while the Grass type took a seat next to its trainer. "Hope they're OK".
"Get back here you stupid Magby!", Mark yelled as he chased the baby fire type. "Fine! Have it your way!", the raven huffed as he picked up a rock and chucked it at the Live Coal Pokemon. It hit its mark which was the back of its head. The Magby rubbed its head, turned around to show the fire in its eyes that sent a shiver down Mark's spine. Seeing the effect it had on the human it puffed out a thick smoke and walked off".
"Pathetic", the teen said to himself as he turned a heel and headed of in seach of another Pokemon.
He reached the base of The Volcano, which very rocky and rough. "Hmm maybe theres some Rock types here", he said as he kicked a large rock. When the rock stopped rolling it immediatly sprang to life.
"Geo, Geodude", the menacing looking Pokemon yelled in a rage as he advanced towards the teen.
Without missing a beat, Mark threw the Pokeball at the Geodude, which got sucked into the capsule. It fell to the ground and started shaking slow. One. Two. Three. Ding. The shaking stopped and he picked up the Pokeball.
"Excell-",
"MAGBYYYYY", roared the same Magby from before shooting an Ember attack towards the teen.
"AHHHH!", the raven's shout rang through out the lab and even caused the Pidgey's and Starley's to fly away from their nests. He clutched his left leg that was left scorched from the fire attack. He was about to scream in agony again until the Magby walked towards him and spit a noxious smog that made him promptly pass out.
"Maaaagbbyyy", fire type chuckled as he dragged Mark by his collar up the Volcano to the summit. The Magby had some trouble dragging the boy through the rocky terrain. Somehow it managed to make the top of the active volcano. It stood at the edge of crater looking down into the boiling magma. The Fire type chuckled spitefully as he pushed the teen closer and closer to the edge.
Finally, due to the intense heat around him, Mark woke up. The Magby saw this and gave a hard push that sent the raven over the edge. Mark took a sharp intake of air as he clung for dear life to a chuck of rock on the side of the hole.
"HELPPPP", he yelled out in desperation. He knew no one would help. He was the only stupid one who chose the Volcano. "I should have chosen The Plains like that weakling Marshall", he thought to himself spitting out the name of his enemy. "Atleast he'll still be alive after this". He looked down in despair at the super heated magma, a tear rolling down his eye. "Help", he said quietly. "Help".