Chapter 4 - The Arrival in New Bark and the First Trainer Battle
Over the next couple days, we passed through Violet City, walked the long path to Cherrygrove, and passed through Cherrygrove, without incident. There were minimal distractions to keep us from getting to New Bark, except for the occasional wild Pokemon battle. I tried to get Eevee into some wild battles, as well. She got a little better about listening to me, but still couldn't pass a body of water without diving in for a swim, so I still kept her in her pokeball much of the time. Whenever we'd stop to rest, if we were near a pond or lake, I'd let her out to enjoy a swim, while the Vulpix brothers wrestled and played with each other. I've never seen an Eevee take to water like that - it was like she was a natural born Vaporeon. At night, my Vulpixes kept me warm while I slept, sleeping next to me or curled up on me. I slept contently with them at my side.
By evening of the second day, we finally reached our destination of New Bark Town! I was so excited as I ran to Professor Elm's lab, with my Vulpixes running to either side of me. I think they were as excited as I was. What I didn't know was that Professor Elm had a special visitor today. "Ah, you must be Joe. Just in time", Professor Elm said, not even looking up from his notes, as we entered his lab. "There's someone here who wants to see you." At that, out of the back room stepped out none other than Professor Oak! "Joseph Ehlle from Crimson Town. It's been a while" he said, as I looked in amazement. I couldn't believe he came all the way from Kanto just to see me again! "I was in town to visit my favorite student..." he said, looking towards Professor Elm, who was still wrapped up in his research, "...when he told me that you were coming to begin your Pokemon journey." I was speechless. He looked at my Vulpixes and said, "Well, I see you're off to a good start." He then continued, "This is a big day for you. I have some things to give you for your journey. Here is your Pokedex, Pokegear, your pokeballs, and your official trainer's license." As he handed each of them to me, my hands shook. This was it! The real thing! I was really starting my Pokemon journey! I looked at my new possessions and felt ten feet tall. "Congratulations", said Professor Elm, finally standing up from his work and walking over to Professor Oak. I looked over at my Vulpixes, who were sitting about a foot apart, like bookends. They smiled at me, and I could see in their eyes how proud they were of me, and how proud they were to be my Pokemon. Oak then continued, "Your teachers always said that you seem to have an innate knowledge of Pokemon and that you show great promise as a trainer." Then, he walked over to my Vulpixes, kelt down to pet them, and said, "Why, you didn't even have your trainer's license yet, and your Vulpixes already seem to have a great respect for you. You really do show great promise, my boy." MY face must have turned dark red as I sheepishly replied, "Thank you, Professor." Compliments from Professor Oak! It didn't get any better for a junior trainer. He then went on, "As a trainer, you may carry up to six Pokemon with you at a time. The rest will automatically be transferred to my Pokemon sanctuary in Pallet Town, via the transporter built into your Pokedex. If you ever want to switch around, you need only contact me from your Pokegear or any Pokemon center video phone." I was relieved to know that my Pokemon would be sent to his sanctuary, where they could roam freely, rather than be forced to stay in their pokeballs all the time. "Wow, thanks Professor", I replied. He said, "You're welcome. And you can come to Pallet anytime to visit your Pokemon. In fact, if you like, I can take one of your Vulpixes for you so you have room in your party for more types. I'm sure he'd get along great with the other Vulpixes at my sanctuary." Instantly, I replied, "Thanks for the thought, Professor, but Flamefox and Firestorm are never leaving my side. Besides, they're inseperable, and I think they'd miss each other too much." He replied, "Very well. That's another sign that you'll be a good trainer. You put your Pokemon's feelings first. That's very important!" I finally said, "Well, I think it's time we got under way." He then said, "Now that you finally have pokeballs, you might want to consider keeping your Vulpixes in a couple." I looked over at my two fox Pokemon friends, and said, "No, I like to let them walk with me. They can protect me better that way." To that, Professor Oak replied, "Well, you should at least designate a pokeball for each one, in case of an emergency, or if you need to recall them quickly from battle." I hadn't thought of that before. "That's a good idea, Professor. I will do that", I responded, as we headed for the door. "Good luck!", Professor Oak said. "I look forward to hearing from you occasionally, and recieving Pokemon from you." Professor Elm said, "Good luck, Joe! Feel free to call me or Professor Oak if you need anything." I excitedly replied, "I will! Thanks again, Professor Oak, Professor Elm, for everything!" My Vulpixes and I then left the building. It was now official. We were under way!
We left New Bark Town and began following the route that would lead us back to Cherrygrove City again. It would be necessary to pass through Cherrygrove to get to Violet City for our first gym battle. Cherrygrove, like Crimson, did not have a gym yet. As long as we were in the woods, I thought it was time I put my Pokemon's skills to the test and see if we could capture a Pokemon or two. I looked to my Vulpixes and asked, "So what do you say? Shall we catch some Pokemon?" They each nodded a ready to battle "Vull!" We looked around in the woods as we walked. There were plenty of common Pokemon around - Pidgeys, Rattatta, Spearows, Caterpie - but nothing that looked like much of a challenge. Then I saw it! Perched high in a tree, sleeping, was a magnificent Fearow! I looked up at him, as did my Vulpixes. "Okay, guys, this is it! You ready?" They nodded in agreement. "Flamefox, start things off with an ember attack!" His eyes glowed white as the fire attack went up the tree, hitting the Fearow and making him jump awake. Now he was mad! He flew down at Flamefox. "Flamefox, look out!" I shouted, but he didn't move in time and was hit by the fearow's fly attack, and was knocked to the ground, but stood right back up. Firestorm, angered by the Fearow attacking his brother, let out a flamethrower at the Fearow, but Fearow dodged it and came at Firestorm with a drill peck, which in turn knocked Firestorm to the ground. Fearow then flew up high, preparing for another fly attack. I commanded, "Flamefox, Firestorm, use your flamethrower simultaneously!" As the Fearow flew down, their eyes glowed bright white as they each did a flamethrower, aimed at Fearow. Unable to dodge two attacks at once, the Fearow was directly hit, and fell to the ground. "Good job, guys! Pokeball, go!", I shouted, tossing one of my new pokeballs at the downed Fearow. He was engulfed by the white light into the pokeball. My Vulpixes and I ran over to the ball, and I picked it up. We caught our first Pokemon! "Not bad", I heard a voice say, coming from behind us. We looked over to see another junior trainer, a boy, not much older than me. "Thanks!", I said. He then said, "My name's Billy. You seem to be a good trainer. How about a Pokemon battle?" I confidently replied, "I'm Joe, from Crimson Town. You're on!" Since my Vulpixes had done all that work to help me catch Fearow, I decided to give them a break and use Eevee for this battle. Had I known about the pond just beyond a patch of trees ahead, I would have definitely reconsidered. "Go, Eevee!", I shouted, releasing her from her pokeball. "An Eevee, huh? Well, Totodile, I choose you!" my challenger shouted, throwing his pokeball which released the crocodile Pokemon. Now I was glad I hadn't sent a Vulpix into this battle. Totodile was a water type, which would put a Vulpix at a severe disadvantage. "Eevee, start with a sand attack!" I commanded. Instead, Eevee looked around, smiling. Then she ran off! The surprised Totodile watched her in confusion. I shouted, "Eevee, get back here!" "Ha!" Billy laughed, "Your Pokemon just ran off! Some trainer you are!" I was furious with Eevee for running away - this obsession with water was getting out of hand! "Firestorm, you go get Eevee. Flamefox, you're up!" I reluctantly commanded. Billy laughed even harder, then said, "You're putting your fire type in a battle against my water type? What kind of a stupid trainer are you?" This kid was really getting on my nerves, making me all the more determined to beat him, but I knew he was right. My only hope was that his Totodile was at a lower level than my Vulpix. I had to think strategy. "Totodile, water gun attack!" Billy commanded. Flamefox got hit by the water gun, but not hard. "Flamefox, use your quick attack!" I commanded back. He did as I said, and hit the Totodile head on, knocking him to the ground. "Totodile, you're not going to let a fire type beat you, are you? Get up and use water gun one more time!" yelled Billy. "Flamefox, use your agility!" I shouted. Flamefox dodged the water gun. I knew it was a long shot, but it was my best hope - here's where I really hoped his Totodile was at a lower level - I commanded, "Flamefox, use flamethrower!" Billy shouted, "Counter it with your water gun, Totodile!" The flames and water met midway, creating tremendous steam in the center. But soon, the fflamethrower grew longer that the water gun, until it completely evaporated the water gun attack and Totodile was directly engulfed in flames! Totodile fell to the ground. "I don't believe it!" shouted Billy, in disgust over losing. "Great job, Flamefox!" I excitedly shouted, running over to my Vulpix to give him a big hug. "Well, I guess you learned that type advantage isn't the only way to win" I gloated. Billy recalled his fainted Totodile, then said, "Yeah, well you better train your Eevee better. If this had been a one on one gym battle, you'd have been disqualified!" As I watched him walk away, I thought about what he said, knowing that he was right. Firestorm returned, pulling Eevee by the ear. "Eevee, return" I said, and she was engulfed by the white light of her pokeball. Eevee was being a real problem Pokemon. I could see why someone might abandon her. But I wasn't willing to give up on her so easily. I knew she was champion material, like my Vulpixes. However, I also knew we were going to have to begin some serious training if we were going to take on Falkner, the Violet City Gym leader. His Pokemon were all flying types - I'd be relying heavily on my Vulpixes for that battle. But if it took two of them to knock out a wild Fearow, then Falkner's birds were going to be very difficult for them to defeat. I was a little bit worried, but my worry turned into confidence that we could do it if we trained hard enough. Now it was time to move on, continue training, and try catching more Pokemon.