Part I

Chapter 3: First Battle

One week later at 7:00 AM, Adam awoke from his sleep to the sound of his alarm clock which had been bought for him the night before by his mother. Today's the big day! The Academy awaits! He leapt out of bed and got dressed. He put his hat on over his messy hair and grabbed his backpack. He was ready. Today he would start his education to become the number one trainer in the world, he vowed, eve greater than Lance!

"Lance better enjoy being the top trainer while he can because someday I'm gonna mop the floor with him and his Dragonite!" Adam said to himself as he headed towards the door of his bedroom.

"Is that right?"

Adam jumped and spun around with a bewildered look on his face. His window was open and standing on his Dragonite's back right outside was Lance.

"Oh, uh, hey Lance…" he said putting his hand behind his head and grinning widely. Man, I'm in trouble. Lance heard me…

"So, you wanna be stronger than me someday, is that right?" he smiled.

"Well, er, that is… yeah, but it'll take years before I can reach that goal." Replied Adam. God, I hate brown-nosing… although, my statement was probably true… from what I saw yesterday Lance is one tough cookie.

"Years, eh? Hm, I don't know about that… Well, let's see what you've got before school."

Adam started. "What do you mean?"

"Lance tossed him a pokeball and said "hop on."

Adam looked at Lance, then down at the ball, then up at Lance again.

"What's wrong? Get on Dragonite and hurry. School starts in an hour."

Adam was shocked. All he could do was nod and then climb on Dragonite's back. Dragonite slowly descended to the ground and landed right in front of Adam's porch where his mother already awaited them.

Lance leapt off of Dragonite. "You ready, kid?"

"Ready for what?" Adam was so confused as He slowly and carefully dismounted Dragonite.

"Why, your first battle of course! You'll use the Pokémon in that pokeball to battle this Pokémon." Lance pulled out another pokeball and opened it. In a flash of light a Nidoking appeared.

Adam looked even more startled. "That's not a dragon type…"

"I haven't always been a dragon fanatic. That came three years into my Pokémon training; although, my first Pokémon was a Dratini which evolved into my loyal Dragonite. This Nidoking was the first Pokémon I ever caught back when it was just a Nidoran. Now go ahead and unleash that Pokemon in your hand. I think you'll be surprised."

"Adam looked down at the ball and excitement swept over him. My first ever battle! And it's against the legendary Lance Draco too! "Go Pokeball!" he shouted; launching the ball at the ground. The ball cracked open and, in a flash of light, a huge orange dragon with a roaring flame on it's tail appeared. Adam stared at it in awe. "A Charizard!" was all he could manage to say.

"Well, let's begin then." said Lance.

"Right!"

"Nidoking, use your Horn Attack!" Nidoking bounded towards Charizard at surprising speed with it's sharp horn aimed to pierce.

"Charizard, take to the sky!" Nidoking barely missed it's mark.

"Turn and use Poison Sting!" cried Lance. Nidoking stopped and, in one fluid movement, launched a barrage of needles from it's mouth at Charizard who was struck in the chest. "Good work, Nidoking!"

"Charizard, give it a Flamethrower!" Charizard flew in a circle and then dive-bombed at Nidoking unleashing a huge stream of fire.

"Nidoking, Dig." commanded Lance. Nidoking instantly dropped and dug a tunnel underground. The flames swept over the tunnel completely missing Nidoking.

What do I do now? Guess I'll have to wait until it resurfaces…AHA!

Another hole appeared, but instead of Nidoking appearing, a blast of energy tore out of the hole and struck Charizard square in the gut! The fire dragon was blasted higher into the air as it roared in pain.

"That's Nidoking's Hyper Beam attack." Lance said.

"Impressive. Charizard, fly to the ground and send a Flamethrower into the tunnel!" As Charizard plummeted to the ground, another beam erupted from the hole, but this one was blue. Charizard rolled to the blast just in time to be hit by an electric jolt.

"What the-" Adam then noticed Nidoking standing not too far away.

"The first attack was an Ice beam which you skillfully dodged, however… Thunderbolt was the one that hit and since Charizard is part flying type…"

"It was a critical hit." Adam completed Lance's sentence.

"Precisely."

"Greaat."

Charizard hit the ground and then stood up on all fours. "Charizard! FIRE BLAST!" Charizard launched itself forward and sent a ball of fire raging towards Nidoking who tried to evade, but the attack was too fast. The Fire Blast was surprisingly stopped when Nidoking unleashed a Fire Blast of it's own and the two attacks collided and ruptured into a fury of flames striking both Nidoking and Charizard. When the dust cleared Nidoking stood slumped over, charred and panting. Charizard was floating in the air in the same condition.

"Nidoking!"

"Charizard!"

"ICE BEAM!"

"FLAMETHROWER!"

"Fire and ice clashed. A blazing stream struck against a freezing beam and for a moment the two attacks stood suspended against each other locked in a heated struggle to gain ground over the other. And in the next moment… BANG! A small explosion as the attacks cancelled each other out.

"Wing Attack!" shouted Adam and Charizard shot forward and smashed Nidoking with it's giant, bat-like wing.

"Mega Punch!" shouted Lance. Nidoking's fist started to glow as it punched at Charizard's wing. The two competitors fell backwards to the ground. The match had ended in a draw.

"A tie?" said Adam astonished. "Wait… Nidoking is a ground and poison type, shouldn't Charizard have won?"

"Ah, and the million dollar question is asked at last." said Lance enigmatically. This was the lesson I was trying to teach you, Adam. Just because Charizard had a type advantage on Nidoking and the ability to fly does not mean in the slightest that it could defeat Nidoking."

"Why not?"

"Well, you see, for starters Nidoking is at a higher level. Also, as you saw, Nidoking has quite a range of different type attacks such as Thunderbolt, Ice Beam, and Fire Blast. I cured Nidoking's incapacity to defeat flying opponents long ago by teaching it a few technical machines."

"Technical machines?"

"Yes, or 'TM's' for short. TM's are special discs that infuse the Pokémon you use it on with an attack such as Fire Blast. Although TM's are only one-use things. Once you use it on a Pokémon the disc breaks."

"I see." Mused Adam. "So this was as much of a lesson as a test, huh?"

"Yes," said Lance. "And since I managed to teach you these things I'd say you pass with flying colors!" Lance smiled.

"Aw, ya mean it?" exclaimed Adam.

"I do."

"Thank you, Lance. I learned a lot and school hasn't even begun yet!"

"Yeah, and, speaking of which, you only have about ten minutes to get there."

Adam's jaw dropped. "Oh no! I have to run!"

Lance laughed. "Calm down, I'll give you a ride on Dragonite."

"Thanks a bunch!" Adam ran over to his mom ad gave her a hug.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetie. Good luck today." Mrs. Harper said.

"Thanks, Mom. I'll make you even more proud."

"I know you will."

"Alright," Adam said as he turned to Lance. "Let's go."

"Right." Said Lance.

"To the Pallet Town Pokémon Academy!"

As Dragonite took off in the direction of the Academy Diana Harper watched them disappear as the sun began to rise higher into the sky. "Go show them what a Harper can do, Adam. Become the best trainer you can be. I have faith in you, my child." Then she turned and went back into the house.