Ch. 2 A hit too hard

Felix and Oak continued their travels to find Brendan who, according to Felix's map, was just beyond the next town. Oak seemed to enjoy being out of his pokeball, as he beat every Pokémon he came across. Felix enjoyed watching him fight and for the most part let him decide what moves to use. She really didn't want to be a trainer anyway, Oak was just there to help see her through to route 103.

Oldale town was just as small as Littleroot, but defiantly was not as sleepy. While Birch's lab functioned as an emergency pokecenter Oldale town had their own. Felix made sure to stop by and have the nurse give Oak a once over, as she had read that for Pokémon traveling it was good to stop and let them get medical care, since there are many things in the wild that can cause problems for trainers Pokémon. "He looks perfectly healthy," the nurse told Felix. "It's not every day we see a Treeko in here. You must be from Littleroot town right?"

"Well I just moved there," Felix told her. "Why do you ask?"

"Treeko's are rare, and have been assigned as starter Pokémon," the nurse told her as she handed Oak back to her, "But the only people giving them out have been Pokémon professors. Birch gave this one to you right?"

"Well, yeah, but only because Oak saved us from a rabid Poochyena," Felix said. "I wasn't really looking to be a trainer."

"Well he certainly seems to like you. Take good care of him." The nurse told her as she turned to the next trainer at the counter.

"Come on Oak, we need to find Brendan." Oak grinned and ran out in front of her, anxious to get back on the road. "Oak! Come back! You can't go running off like that!"

The treeko paid no heed to his trainers call as he ran towards the north end of town. He in the end was caught by a man holding an apron, "Whoah lil'feller where do think you're going?" the man picked oak up and looked over towards Felix who was trying to catch her breath.

"Sorry, he got away from me. He's just full of energy," Felix told the man.

"That's all right," he said handing Oak over to Felix. "You're a trainer right?"

"Well, not really. Oak is my only Pokémon. I'm really just wanting to be a researcher, but he and I just clicked."

"Really? Well here take this with you then. You never know when they will come in handy," he said as he handed her a purple spray bottle. "It's a potion. They're nice when pokecenters aren't nearby to heal up bumps and scrapes."

"Thanks," Felix told him as she took the bottle. "I've got to go now, I'm supposed to be running an errand for Prof. Birch. Nice meeting you," she called as she ran off, carrying oak.

"Pleasure was all mine," he called as she trotted off toward route 103.

The route was filled with Pokémon, who once again Oak took down. He was looking stronger than when he'd taken down the poochyena on route 101, and had learned absorb in the small time that he had been in Felix's possession. Felix now began to see why people trained with their Pokémon. It was rewarding in the short term, and imagine how rewarding it would be long term.

She finally spotted Brendan at the northern edge of a small stretch of water, sketching a zigzagoon, a torchic standing next to him. "Hey, Brendon," she said in a low voice, causing it to carry over to him without scaring the Zigzagoon.

"Hey," he said, "Turning toward her. My dad loan him to you?" he asked gesturing towards Oak.

"Actually he gave Oak to me," she told him as the zigzagoon turned and left, becoming nervous around so many humans.

"You know my offer to still show you how to catch Pokémon stands," he told her as he stood up.

"No that's fine really. Oak is plenty for me now. Really I just-"

"Then how 'bout a battle? Technically we've locked eyes, so under league rules we have to answer to a challenge," he said with a wink.

"What? N-no, I'm," her protests stopped when she heard Oak growl. "What is it Oak? You want to battle?"

"TREE!" He replied with a nod of his head.

"Are you sure?" she asked nervously. Fighting off wild Pokémon was one thing, he could handle himself and protect her, but in a battle she'd need to call out commands.

"TREE-KO!" he yelled stamping on the ground.

"TOR-chic," Brendan's torchic twilled eager to start battling.

"Well I guess it's okay, since they want to," Felix told Brendan.

"Great!" Brendan told her. "I'll let you make the first move, after all ladies first."

"Alright," 'Torchic is a fire type, so absorb wouldn't be a good idea.' "Oak use pound attack!"

"Brasier use scratch!"

Oak ran at Brasier the torchic and spun on a dime smacking Brasier with his tail. Brasier fell over but quickly turned over and kicked out scratching Oak along his side. "TOR!" Brasier yelled as he struck Oak.

"Oak don't give him an opening! Use pound but use your arms this time!" 'Perhaps if he doesn't use his tail he can keep some distance between himself and Brasier's claws,' Felix thought as she watched the torchic's movements.

"Braiser don't let him get away, scratch him again!" Brendan called out.

"TREE!" Oak called as he jumped to the side slamming his paw into his opponent. Braiser brought his leg up and kicked Oaks arm, drawing blood with another scratch attack.

Oak jumped away towards Felix letting out a small growl. Felix bit her lip as Brendan's torchic stood up.

"We have them on the ropes now Braiser! Scratch Now!" Brendan yelled.

"Oak wait for it to get closer and hit it with another pound with your arm. Make sure you stay away from its claws," Felix called nervous for to Oak.

Oak nodded as Braiser raced towards him. He jumped as he reached out with his claws. Treeko batted him aside with his paw, only being forced to jump back as Braiser caught him with his hind foot.

"Let's finish this Braiser! Peck attack!" Brenden called as Braiser jumped up for one final peck.

Felix opened her mouth to try and give Oak an order but it stuck in her throat. Oak took over and spun around meeting Braiser's side with his tail in a desperate pound attack. The force swept Braiser off his feet and sent him hurling into a tree with a sickening CRACK!

"Tree…ko…tree…ko," Oak panted looking over towards his opponent. Braiser didn't stir and Brendan walked over to his Pokémon.

"Is he okay?" Felix asked as Brendan as she knelt next to Oak potion in hand.

"He's dead," Brenden said in a dry voice.

"What?" Felix looked away toward Brendan, "He-"

Brendan rounded on Felix, tears in his eyes. "Your treeko killed him!" He yelled, the broken body in his arms. Brasier's head was cocked at an odd angle, his eyes open but unseeing.

Felix and Oak sat in shock as Brendan dashed away, tears rushing down his face.

Yes I live. School has been kicking my ass I'll get back to working on the other stories in a bit (soon! hopefully by the end of this week). Yes I killed Brendan/Brenden 's pokemon. There is a reason. Happy Nuzlocking.