Chapter VIII

"I don't understand what you're problem is!" I growled for what seemed like the thirtieth time that day. After recieving the gym badge from Forrest, we went back to Brock's house to gather our stuff and head over to Crestfallen town where Nathan would have his first contest. Ever since Ean had been mentioned however, Nathan had been in a sour mood, keeping up his arrogant and cool attitude I had been hoping would be gone for some time.

I wasn't so lucky.

"If you don't understand it, then you should quit bugging me about it, because if I told you, it would confuse you more. So shut it." Nathan growled, flicking his brown bangs out of his face and pointedly looking in the other direction of the house.

"But maybe I would understand! I have to deal with you don't I? Maybe you feel the same frustration towards Ean that I feel for you sometimes! Now would be a great example!" I snapped in annoyance, and Growlithe yipped on my shoulder pleadingly. He hated when we fought.

Nathan's eyes were filled with fire. "Don't talk to me about that stuck up, no good, glasses wearing know it all ever again!" He snapped with such a rage that I recoiled slightly.

Feeling rage wash through me, I leaned towards him, my vision going red. I had never been this mad at Nathan before, not even when we were nine and he pushed me out of my treehouse and I broke my arm. I could feel the anger pulse through me, and I think Nathan could as well because he instantly looked sorry and scared as I leaned towards him pushing him against Brock's wall.

"Never talk to me like that again!" I spat furiously, raising my hand to punch the arrogant boy upside the head when I head a cry from beside me.

"Water gun Marshtomp!"

I was instantly doused with water from head to toe, and Growlithe cried out in shock and pain as the attack hit him head on. The three of us were thrown backwards and we collided with the wall with a loud thump.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Bryce standing over us, glaring daggers at Nathan and I, and an equally crossed looking Marshtomp next to him.

"Umm... hey cuz." Nathan's smile instantly wavered under the cross look.

"You idiots! You were going to kill each other!" Bryce snarled, waving off Brock's Marshtomp who nodded to Growlithe in apology before leaving the room.

"You mean SHE was going to kill ME!" Nathan scoffed and I crossed my arms, the anger not yet faded completely. "Shut it Contest Boy."

Bryce just shook his head before smiling mischievously. "I'm not going to have to deal with that for the rest of the journey am I?"

Nathan' mouth dropped open in shock but I didn't catch on as quickly so I shrugged. "probably, seeing as we can't stand each other-wait... the rest of the journey?" I gasped. Bryce nodded, and I squealed, leaping forward to wrap my arms around his chest. "Bryce is coming with us!" I laughed turning to Nathan who was looking at me in disbelief, before flicking hair out of his eyes.

"You're such a child Scarlet."

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"Yes I completely agree, Bryce will probably need the experience, and besides you learned and grew so much on you're journey Brock, it would be astonishing if Bryce didn't want to go on a journey as well! As long as he has Larvitar and Rhyhorn, he will be just fine." Forrest nodded while he polished one of his pokeballs. Uncle Brock had just told Forrest about how he wanted Bryce to come with us on our journey, and Forrest had immediately nodded, saying how most breeders went on a journey when they were young.

"Really Dad? Awesome!" Bryce beamed, lifting a black and white hikers backpack onto his shoulders and attaching his grey pokeball belt around his waist. Nathan and I stood on either side of him, grinning, and Growlithe wagged his tail in excitement.

Forrest gave Bryce a wistful smile. "You're growing up son, and that makes me proud, now give me a hug and be on your way." Bryce nodded and gave his Dad a tight hug, before signalling for Nathan and I to follow as he headed in the direction of Crestfallen town, where we could see Mt. Moon in the distance.

"I'll tell you're parents you guys left, and remember to call us when you get to Crestfallen town! We would love to watch you're contest Nathan!" Brock beamed, ruffling Nathan's hair over his bandanna and giving me a warm hug.

Nathan looked disgruntled, but smiled after fixing his unruly hair. "Sure, no problem."

Forrest locked eyes with me and smiled. "Good luck with you're next badge as well Scarlet!"

"Thanks! That was an awesome battle yesterday!" I beamed, giving Forrest a hug as well.

Waving good-byes to Brock and Forrest, we followed Bryce hastily into the trees.

We ended up just walking for the next hour, completely absorbed in conversation.

"So Scarlet, one badge huh? Not bad, are you going to challenge you're Mom when we eventually get to Cerulean City?" Bryce questioned, perking his eyebrow while shooting me an interested look.

I cocked my head to the left, thinking hard. My mom was tough, there was no question about it. She was so good she could have had a spot in the Elite Four, but didn't take it so she could raise us. That's how powerful she was. Besides, right now Growlithe is my strongest pokemon, and he is a fire type. What good will he do in a water pokemon battle? But I had to shake off my concern. I was a pokemon trainer! I could do anything!

"I'm going to give it my all, right Growlithe?" I asked my puppy with a smile.

"Growlithe!" The puppy barked, sticking out his tongue in agreement.

Nathan scoffed. "Yeah, give it your all while getting beaten to a pulp." He muttered, and I spun around in annoyance. "Say that again Contest Boy?"

Smirking, Nathan flicked hair out of his eyes. I was going to smack him upside the head if he does that again...

"All I'm going to say is you have two pokemon, a water type and a fire type. How great are they going to be against two or three powerful water type pokemon? You need to catch at least one more powerful pokemon that can do damage against a water type."

I crossed my arms and huffed in annoyance. "Don't you think I know that? We still have all the way through Mt. Moon to find more pokemon, so I'm not concerned."

Growlithe yipped in aggrement but Nathan just snickered. "So it will be perfectly raised within two days?"

"I'm going to kill you Contest Boy!" I shouted, finally snapping at the boys arrogance, and I leaped at him in fury, startled, Growlithe jumped off my shoulder and landed on the ground with an irritated huff.

"Enough!" Bryce gasped, grabbing our jacket collars and thrusting us apart. "Scarlet, relax. Nathan, quit being an arrogant jerk." He huffed, and let go of our collars. Growlithe leaped back onto my shoulder and licked my cheek and I sighed. "Alright I'm done. Let's keep walking."

Nathan nodded. "Agreed."

Bryce nodded in approval. "Ok, awesome. Now from what I can remember there is a river up ahead..."

Suddenly a robotic arm burst out of a nearby bush and snatched Growlithe off my shoulder and he cried out in alarm.

"Growlithe!" I gasped.

"Whats going on!" Nathan shouted, and we heard a very familiar maniacal laugh.

"Oh great." Bryce snarled. "Not these idiots again."

"Be respectful, and take off your hats!" Jackie cried from somewhere in the bushes.

"Were here to snatch pokemon, and that will be that!" Jace's muffled voice could be heard from the same direction.

"To protect the world from abomination!" A large Robotic Golet stomped out of the bushes, three shadowed figures inside and in one of the machines robotic arms and hands was Growlithe, who struggled and barked angrily.

"To unite all peoples with declaration!" The shadows cleared suddenly, and the familar trio could be seen, Jackie and Jace crossing their arms and Zorua holding a remote in his paws.

"Hope and Faith to always defy!" Jackie crackled.

"As fast as a bullet we are sure to fly!" Jace snickered

"Jackie!" The girl struck a pose, and snickered.

"Jace!" Jace did a similar pose, and reached for a pokeball in his belt.

"Team Rocket is here with unlimited power!" Jackie cried.

"Ready for action, standing tall as a tower!" Jace cooed evilly.

"Zorua! Now COWER!" The black fox snarled, leaping up and standing on the ledge where he was just an inch or two shorter than Jackie.

Nathan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms in annoyance. "You three again? When will you learn to give up?"

"Oooh, little punk isn't that happy to see us huh?" Jackie smirked.

"Well, too bad! We're already here and not just ready to give in! In fact, I'd say we won! We have Growlithe don't we?" Jace crackled.

"Not just yet you don't! Growlithe, use ember on the robot arm!" I shouted angrily. "Growlithe barked in response and shot his usual ball of flame at the arm. My smirk died on my face as I saw the arm was still as strong as ever.

"Flame-proof!" Zorua snickered. "Don't you think we learned from last time?"

I growled and reached for Buizel's pokeball. "No, I though you three were to stupid to think."

Jackie gasped in outrage. "How DARE that punk talk to us that way!" She reached for a pokeball and tossed it in our direction. "Houndour let's show that punk a thing or two!"

Jace nodded and threw his own pokeball. "You too Poochyena!"

The two puppy pokemon appeared, snarling in rage.

Nathan stood beside me, nodding. "We're in this together. Bryce be prepared to back us up."

Bryce nodded. "On it."

"Wurmple showtime!"

"Buizel let's roll!"

The two pokemon appeared, Buizel in his usual cocky arms crossed position and Wurmple looking ready to go.

Jackie snorted. "Let's get this over with. Houndoor! Use ember!"

"Poochyena use bite!" Jace called in a similar fashion.

Houndour launched the small flame attack at Wurmple, and Poochyena leaped at Buizel, growling as his teeth lit up a radiant white.

"Wurmple dodge and use string shot!"

"Buizel counter that with water gun!"

Nathan's Wurmple leaped to the left of the ember attack, and the tiny flames disintegrated. While Jackie let out an angry shout, the small bug pokemon leaped into the air, launching out the string shot. Houndour let out an angry cry before being completely tangled in the web.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Jackie shouted from inside the machine.

Nathan smirked and flicked hair out of his eyes. "Neither is stealing pokemon."

Meanwhile, Poochyena was still flying towards Buizel, and the weasel pokemon let out a familiar cocky snicker and launched his water gun attack straight at the dog pokemon. Poochyena was engulfed in the jet of water and thrown backwards into Jace, who cried out in shock.

I giggled and nodded. "Great job Buizel! Now quick, shoot another jet of water straight inside the machine!"

Buizel nodded and leaped high into the air, flipping once before letting out a ferocious cry.

"Bui! Buizel!"

He shot one more jet of water, this one hitting the interior of the machine, thoroughly soaking Jackie, Jace and Zorua.

"Hey!" Jace groaned, squeezing the water out of his shirt. "What did that even do!"

"Zorua! Take care of this!" Jacie screamed. "My beautiful hair is soaking wet!"

"It would be my pleasure." Zorua crackled, and turned to the remote for the machine. "Prepare to go flying punks!"

Nathan and Bryce gasped and I screwed my eyes shut, preparing for the worst, after a few moments however, I opened my eyes to see Zorua groaning, and the remote sparking.

"The little punks weasel caused this hunk of metal to short fuse!" Zorua snarled.

Bryce laughed loudly and Nathan snickered, nodding at me.

I beamed, now I can try and get Growlithe back! Nathan was one step ahead of me though.

"Wurmple use tackle on the robot arm!" He shouted, and the little bug pokemon leaped into the air, charging into the arm and knocking it loose, causing the arm to release Growlithe, who landed on the ground, snarling at Team Rocket.

I grinned and nodded at Nathan in thanks, who just flicked hair out of his eyes. Rolling my eyes I turned back to Team Rocket and smirked. "Alright Growlithe! Let's finish this!"

Barking in agreement, the puppy crouched waiting for my order.

"Growlithe use ember!"

The puppy pokemon yipped in response and shot the small flames directly at the machine, exploding loudly and sending it flying through the air.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" The trio shouted, before disappearing in the sky.

I beamed and turned to my puppy and weasel pokemon. "Great job you guys!" I held out Buizel's pokeball and the weasel disappeared in a flash of red light. I held out my arm and Growlithe leaped on, and I pat the puppy on the head.

"You okay buddy?" I asked in concern, and the small puppy just barked in response. I laughed and turned to Nathan with a grin.

"Hey you're Wurmple is getting strong." I exclaimed and crouched down beside the bug pokemon.

"I know." Nathan nodded, and just as he reached down to pat the pokemon on the head, it started glowing white and we fell back in shock.

"Wh-whats happening?" Nathan gasped, and Bryce's mouth dropped open.

"Wurmple is evolving!" He grinned, and Nathan beamed and turned back to the evolving pokemon, and seeing the white glow begin to fade his eyes sparkled.

"He's done evolving!" Nathan squealed.

The white glow was now faded completley, and in Wurmple's place was now a large white ball with bright purple eyes.

"Silcoon!" The white ball cried, jumping once.

My eyes widened and I gasped. "A Silcoon!"

Nathan's brow furrowed. "Silcoon huh? What does the pokedex have to say?"

Silcoon, the Cocoon Pokémon. Silcoon is the evolved form of Wurmple. Using its thread to attach itself to a tree branch, it waits to evolve to its next stage. When it grows thirsty, it drinks the dew that collects on its string.

"Oh wow cool!" Nathan beamed, leaning over to hug the white ball. "Congratulations Silcoon! Soon you will be a Beautifly and I can use you in all kinds of contests!"

I grinned at how excited Nathan looked. Most of the time he could be an arrogant jerk, but right now? I could see he's much different then the shell of jerk he had on the outside.

Bryce walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Looks like he's really excited! Not so arrogant now huh?"

I sighed and pushed off his hand. "I guess not Bryce."

Next chapter:

Scarlet and friends arrive in Crestfallen town! Nathan signs up to participate in the next contest, but will he crack under the pressure? Find out next!