NEV

"B-but I didn't want t-to battle you!" I protested.

"Shame," May said with a grin. "You're lucky your first battle's against a friend. Out in the world, the rule is that any time two trainers lock eyes for the first time, they must battle. No forfeits, no running away. You could even say I'm going easy on you. Ready, Ernie?"

"Tor-chic!" Ernie exclaimed.

I turned to Kelli. "Is there any ch-chance of getting out of this?"

Kelli shook her head. "You could forfeit," she whispered. "But then May would just consider you unworthy of her time, then leave without letting us talk to her. Really, you have to win."

I swallowed. "Okay. Victoria, y-you ready?"

"Mud," Victoria confirmed.

Ernie and Victoria both stepped toward each other. Kelli looked at both combatants and said, "Let the battle begin."

"Ernie, use Growl!" May commanded effortlessly.

"Victoria, T-Tackle!"

Ernie ran forward and formed a high pitched sound from his beak. Victoria shuddered a little but still landed a hit on Ernie.

"That d-didn't do as much as i-it did on the Zigzagoon," I noticed.

"Ernie is tougher than a Route 101 wild Pokémon," Kelli explained. "His defenses are naturally stronger. Also, the move he just used, Growl, is one that weakens an opponent's physical attacks."

"And made Ernie the strongest attacker on the field," May said. "That's why Growl works best as the first move of the battle. It lets Ernie get more full-power hits in while you're still weakened. So now, use Scratch!"

Ernie raised his claws, which started to glow white, and brought them down on Victoria. She went down instantly. Victoria lay on the ground, struggling just to look up at Ernie.

"Victoria's in trouble," Kelli told me. "It looks like on the way here May battled a lot of wild Pokémon and made Ernie much more powerful."

"It's n-not over," I said. "Ernie's not the o-only one with Growl. Victoria, use G-Growl!"

Victoria unleashed a Growl attack identical to the one Ernie had given. Ernie hit Victoria with another Scratch.

"Your Growl did just save Victoria there, I'll give you that much," May said. "But it was too little too late. She won't be able to stand up to a third one."

"Victoria," I said, already aware that I was out of options. "Use Tackle ag-again."

Despite the damage, Victoria got up and charged at Ernie before striking him with another Tackle. This one struck with a flash that knocked Ernie over.

"A critical hit," Kelli whispered. "Getting lucky enough to hit a weak spot, doing twice as much damage and completely unaffected by Growl." By this point, Ping-Pong was looking at the battle with intrigue.

"So we st-still do have a chance," I said. "Victoria, one more T-Tackle!"

"Ernie, Scratch!"

Ernie's talons collided with Victoria before she could hit him. Victoria collapsed to the ground, too tired to continue battling.

"V-Victoria!" I ran over and picked the little Mudkip up. "Are you okay?"

"Mud Mudkip," she said.

"Looks like I win," May declared. "So now to…"

"I challenge you," Kelli interrupted quietly.

"I just beat Nev and was about to go heal Ernie at the Pokémon Center," May pointed out.

"We've never battled before and I just locked eyes with you," Kelli said. "You beat Nev, but you didn't beat me."

Ping-Pong stepped forward and looked at Ernie. "Tree."

"Guess you're right," May admitted. "But I've been training Ernie like a champ. You won't win that easily."

"Ping-Pong, use Pound." Ping-Pong leaped at an unprepared Ernie and struck him with his forearm. Ernie collapsed to the ground. "Ernie's unable to battle. Ping-Pong wins."

"What?" I sputtered. "But Ernie was so p-powerful against Victoria…"

Kelli nodded. "But Victoria's Growls and Tackles did their damage. Ernie was tough enough to take on Victoria, but not Victoria and Ping-Pong."

"Guess you win," May said reluctantly. "Let's get Ernie and Victoria to the Oldale Pokémon Center to heal them up."

Kelli and I nodded in agreement. "While we're there, there's s-something we need to talk to y-you about."

May and I recalled Ernie and Victoria back into their Pokéballs. Then the four of us walked to Oldale's Pokémon Center.

"Hello," a woman said from inside. "Welcome to the Pokémon Center. I'm Nurse Joy. Do you have any Pokémon who are in need of healing?"

"My Torchic and his Mudkip," May told her. We handed our Pokéballs to Nurse Joy, who took them in back.

"So, what did you need to talk about?" May asked.

"You l-left Professor Birch's lab in a h-hurry," I told her.

"He was supposed to give you Pokéballs and a Pokédex but you left before he could," Kelli added. "He sent us to come get you so you could go back and pick them up."

May laughed at herself. "Whoops. My bad. Once Ernie and Victoria are ready to go, we can head back to the lab. Sorry."

On that note, we remained seated and waited.

Author's Note

Sorry it's been so long since I've posted. My computer is not the best and it has a tendency to shut down mid-chapter. I'll try to write more often and get them in faster. Until then, reviews!