"Charmander! Flame thrower now!" Roared Nate, his eyes set on the Bidoof in front of him.
Charmander opened its mouth and churned out a plume of flames, which swallowed Bidoof, with a squeal. From the sidelines Kaori, Mac and Griff cheered excitedly, predicting an imminent catch.
"Go poke ball!" Cried Nate, hurling the poke ball straight towards Bidoof. At the last moment an explosion of electricity burst from between the trees, throwing the poke ball away from Bidoof. Giggling happily, a Pachirisu darted away from the scene of its crime, Bidoof in tow.
"Damn that squirrel!" Cursed Nate, grabbing his poke ball from the floor. Nate had reason to curse after all he had grown to know this particular electric squirrel extremely well. For the past few days the exceedingly mischievous Pachirisu had turned up everywhere; to make sure that they didn't catch any pokemon or get much sleep for that matter. Every five minutes it would appear, shock them all and then scurry off back into the forest.
But despite this they will all in a pretty good mood. At first it had seemed strange to travel without Zoe but Griff was chatty enough to easily fill the void and even Kaori had become more talkative as she got to know Mac and Nate. At the same time Beautifly and Hoppip had become inseparable buddies, whilst Charmander, Cyndaquil and Totodile seemed to be becoming more like rivals.
Bulbasaur mainly kept to itself but even it could hardly resist an action packed game of Pokemon Tag. Taillow and Corphish spent most of their time hunting avidly, always looking for a battle with any bigger pokemon and Skitty, a pokemon whom Griff had gathered the moonstones for, spent most of its time singing quietly beneath the shade of nearby trees. In fact, the only pokemon who wasn't fitting in was strapped firmly in its poke ball around Kaori's waist.
"Are you ever going to let Machoke out?" Asked Mac.
"What?" asked Kaori, confused. Then she remembered her recent catch and rested her hand tentatively on its poke ball. "I think," she began, "I think I'm going to keep it in its poke ball for now, after all it wont listen to me."
"It will never listen to you if you don't train it," replied Griff, stroking his Skitty absent-mindedly.
"To be honest with you Griff, I'm a little scared of Machoke…" she mumbled, tugging her sleeves over her hands.
Kaori had tried. She really had. She had let it out and tried talking to it and making friends, but it only ignored her. Machoke didn't get along with the other pokemon, refused to return to its poke ball when asked and wouldn't even eat the food that they gave it. In fact the only person who Machoke had some sort of vague respect for was Nate. It liked to sit and watch as Nate had battles with passing trainers or wild pokemon and as it watched its eyes grew wide with excitement.
Nate had been battling a lot recently. After winning the Cerulean tournament and beating Nara, he was very confident. Despite his somewhat reluctant Beautifly he had managed to fight and defeat a number of rookie trainers along the route and nothing could dampen his spirits, not even an escaped Bidoof.
Mac, on the other hand, had stayed away from battles since Cerulean Gym. All he could think about was the upcoming Vermillion Contest and his failure at the Pewter Contest. He didn't know what it was, but something attracted him to the contests, the buzz of spectators and the glorious battles. He loved the way that the battles didn't just rely on brute strength, but also good timing and beautiful attacks.
He was sure that he knew about battling since the Cerulean tournament, but all the same he was worried about the Vermillion Contest. He wasn't sure if he could win it with Corphish and Bulbasaur alone and because of this he had been searching for strong pokemon to add to his collection. So far, however, he had not been successful.
Mac was thrown from his train of thought by a loud squealing from up ahead. They all ran along the path to discover Buizel lying flat on the floor, its fur badly singed.
"Go poke ball!" cried a voice, a poke ball whizzing out from between the trees. The ball opened and enveloped Buizel in white light. But then a flicker of energy threw the poke ball back into the air. Straight back into the gloved hand of an angry trainer.
"This Buizel yours?" Sneered the trainer, flicking his long dark hair out of his eyes.
"Yeh, why'd you attack it?" demanded Nate, checking Buizel to make sure it was alright.
"It was so weak, I just assumed it was wild," laughed the trainer giving Nate a pitying look.
Nate gritted his teeth and looked this rude trainer up and down. He was tall and quite muscular with long dark hair over his eyes. A gold stud shone in his ear and a medallion adorned his neck. He was wearing an black and white shirt adorned with crazy patterns and swirls and on his legs he wore dark blue jeans. As he smiled he flashed a set of yellow gnarled teeth. But the thing Nate was most interested in were the set of poke balls around his waist.
"What's the big idea attacking my Buizel? Who are you?"
"Me?" Questioned the trainer, "Names Moby, and I," he smirked at them all, "am going to be the world's greatest pokemon master! Who are you pipsqueak?"
"My name is Nate, not PIPSQUEAK!" Seethed Nate stepping angrily towards Moby, "and if you want to be a "Pokemon master" then you have to beat me!"
Moby burst out with laughter, before realising that Nate was serious. "Really? You? Pipsqueak? Well if you want to get beaten, be my guest." He smiled, "Three on three, no substitutions, are you ready?" he questioned condescendingly.
"I'm ready," said Nate determinedly, his eyes locked on Moby.
"Kick his ass Nate!" cheered Griff from the sidelines. Kaori threw out a poke ball and the shape of Machoke appeared.
"Ok Machoke, I know you like to watch, so just be good and…" Kaori trailed off as Machoke began to walk away from her, settling itself between the shades of a nearby tree.
Kaori sighed, sitting down herself next to Hoppip and Beautifly, Mac seemed to have disappeared.
"Alright, then let's go!" Roared Moby, throwing out a poke ball. "Bayleef!"
The yellow dinosaur roared like its trainer, pawing the ground with its foot.
"Ok then, Charmander, go for it!" The orange lizard darted forwards in front of Nate.
"Ok, Moby, prepare to be destroyed! Fire always beats grass! Charmander, Flame thrower!" Charmander belched out a plume of flames directly at Bayleef.
"Bayleef, dodge it and use Magical Leaf!" Bayleef leaped out of the way just in time and spun its head throwing out a multicoloured leaf, which spiralled towards Charmander.
Charmander leaped into the air in an attempt to dodge it, but the leaf changed its course as well slamming into Charmander's stomach and throwing it higher into the air.
"Bayleef, Leaf Storm now!" Yelled Moby. Bayleef pounded over until it was underneath the falling Charmander and then unleashed a tornado of leaves and grass. The tornado crashed into Charmander with awesome force, throwing the little lizard to and fro.
Charmander landed with a crash, completely unconscious. Nate stood with his mouth wide open, he couldn't believe that Charmander had lost to a grass pokemon, even worse that it hadn't even landed an attack.
Moby was chuckling to himself, "why don't you just give up," he giggled, watching as Nate grudgingly returned his Charmander.
"Beautifly you're up next!" Cried Nate. But it was met with stony silence as Beautifly remained stubbornly with Hoppip.
"Beautifly, come on! You've gotta battle one day!" Whined Nate, but to no avail, Beautifly fluttered away from him, its wings gleaming in the midday sun. Nate sighed with embarrassment as Moby hooted with laughter.
"Even your own pokemon realise they're about to lose," Moby snorted, his Bayleef joining in with the laughter.
"Grrr…. Taillow, wipe the smile from his face!" roared Nate, releasing an eager Taillow.
Mac wandered through the forest, Bulbasaur and Corphish by his side, scanning the surroundings for any signs of pokemon. He had decided that now, with the others caught up in their battle, he had the perfect chance to go and advance his team. If he could find any pokemon that is. It seemed as though the previously teeming with life forest had suddenly fallen still and silent as through every pokemon was striving to avoid Mac and his empty poke balls.
Hearing a crunch from the surrounding bushes, he burst into a run, Corphish and Bulbasaur hot on his tail.
"Bayleef, finish it with tackle!" Shouted Moby, as Bayleef thundered towards a weakened Taillow.
"Taillow, get back in the air!" Taillow tried desperately to lift itself back into the air but it just didn't have the strength. With no way of retreat, Taillow clamped its eyes shut and bore the brunt of the tackle.
"Taillow!" Gasped Nate, he ran towards Taillow's limp body, cradling it in his arms. Moby hooted with laughter, "I haven't even broken a sweat!" He giggled.
"Take a long rest Taillow," whispered Nate, returning Taillow to its poke ball. "Moby it's over…" he said sadly, "I don't have any pokemon left."
Moby laughed even louder, holding his sides, his medallion bobbing jauntily. Nate turned away, a tear in his eye. Griff and Kaori watched him silently, wishing they could do something to help.
Then a roar echoed around the clearing, a defiant roar. Nate turned to see Machoke standing in front of Bayleef, flexing its muscles as though preparing to battle.
"Machoke? You… you want to fight?" Nate asked quietly, Machoke nodded slowly.
"oh, another pokemon for me to beat, how nice of you Nate," mocked Moby.
"Ok Machoke, Let's show him how good you are," Roared Nate, "Now Machoke Focus Energy!" Machoke tensed its muscles and began to shine.
"Bayleef, razor leaf!" Yelled Moby.
"Ok Machoke, Take the hit!"
Machoke stood tall and allowed the leafs to slam into it.
"Ha, have you just given up?"
"Not quite," grinned Nate, "Machoke, revenge now!"
Machoke darted forwards and punched Bayleef hard across the face, throwing it backwards and making Moby gasp in surprise.
"So looks like you've finally managed a hit," hissed Moby through gritted teeth.
"Yes I have!" Yelled Nate, "Machoke, Seismic Toss, do it!" Machoke wrapped its arms around Bayleef before launching the both of them into the air. Spinning 180 degrees he shot back down into the ground headfirst, slamming Bayleef into the ground with a crunch. A shroud of dust shot across the battlefield slowly dispersing to show Bayleef, lying unconscious.
Moby wasn't laughing anymore. Returning Bayleef with a grimace he screamed, "beginners luck!"
Kaori and Griff whooped and cheered and Nate felt his confidence rise, unaffected by anything Moby could say. Without saying a word, Moby threw out a poke ball. Kaori, Nate and Mac watched the white light form slowly into…
Corphish let out a powerful bubble beam, alongside it Bulbasaur unleashed a mist of poison powder. Ahead of them, a Sandshrew squealed in fear. The attacks hit head on, throwing Sandshrew skidding across the dirt.
"Go poke ball!" Cried Mac, his eyes set on the still ground pokemon. The poke ball whizzed through the air, homing in perfectly on Sandshrew. But at the last moment, Sandshrew jumped out of the way and hurried off into the bushes.
Mac grunted angrily hurling poke ball after poke ball at the fleeing Sandshrew. But it was just too fast.
With a sigh he ordered Bulbasaur and Corphish to start gathering up the poke balls which were strewn across half the forest.
"I'll catch some pokemon next time…"
A black pokemon floated out of Moby's poke ball. It had a gold zip for a mouth and a star on its tail, its eyes were a deep purple.
"Is that a Banette?" Gasped Griff.
"It is indeed," smirked Moby, "A ghost type…"
"I don't care what type it is! Machoke, Vital Throw!" Nate watched Moby, expecting him to retaliate, but he did not, allowing Machoke to reach him, without saying a word.
"Looks like Banette's going down!" Laughed Nate as Machoke swung its hands together to grab Banette. The smile fell from Nate's face as Machoke's hands went straight through Banette.
"Don't you know that fighting attacks don't work on ghost pokemon?" sneered Moby, "Now, Banette, Night shade!" Banette bathed the field in purple, throwing Machoke to the floor.
"Banette, finish it with Will-o-wisp!" Banette let out a wave of blue flame, engulfing Machoke and dealing it considerable damage.
"Ok, Banette, I'm tired of toying with him, Shadow ball!" Banette brought its hands together and created a ball of purple swirling energy. Then he threw it out towards the already injured Machoke. With a yelp Machoke, fell to the floor, unconscious.
There was silence as Nate stared at the fallen Machoke and the dancing, laughing Banette.
"Dude, you suck," taunted Moby, "Hopefully I'll have the joy of beating you again some time." and with that Moby returned his Banette and wandered off down the path, leaving Nate reeling in his first defeat in a very long time.
Mac gathered up the poke balls and tried to chuck them all in his bag. But the balls overflowed from the cramped bag and clattered all over the floor.
One of the poke balls opened and let out a plume of white light. Mac was confused, had he in fact managed to catch that Sandshrew? The light formed into the shape of a familiar pokemon. He could tell it wasn't the Sandshrew, but he wasn't sure what pokemon it was exactly.
A sudden all too familiar jolt of electricity quickly informed him of the mystery pokemon.
"Pachirisu!" it squeaked, happily electrifying Mac, Bulbasaur and Corphish.
Hope you enjoyed!
Nate's got a rival and he's good!
And Mac's caught a mischievous new pokemon
Machoke is finally listening to someone
But Beautifly seems to only be interested in Hoppip
Keep on reading and reviewing!!!!