I was woken up by the sounds of the forest coming to life. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, removing the sleep from them.
I glanced at Pikachu who was still sleeping peacefully, Jason was also still asleep.
I'll let them sleep. I'll wake them in an hour. I thought as I carefully climbed out of my sleeping bag and being careful not to wake or bump Pikachu, who would shock anything when surprised.
I don't feel like being shocked every morning like dad was.
I dug through my bag quietly and found what I was looking for. I quickly scribbled a note to Jason and got up from the ground.
I walked into the forest, while they slept I was going to explore the forest a little more; after all we might be getting out of it today.
I walked through the forest stepping on small twigs which made young Pokemon flee.
"We aren't much farther from Pewter City. I think we need to practice first, besides Jason still needs his third Pokemon." I said, thinking out loud.
I walked a little further before turning around and heading back the way I had come.
As I walked back to where the camp was, I saw Jason awake.
"Well, you're up. I was gonna wake you in an hour." I said as I walked over to where Pikachu was.
Jason jumped, startled, since he hadn't heard me approach.
"I don't need to sleep. See any Pokemon while you were walking?" Jason asked as he popped a berry into his mouth.
"No, the forest is still coming alive. Many Pokemon were running off when I got near."
"Looks like they are scared of you." Jason said smirking.
"Shut up, Jason." I muttered, placing a few berries in my mouth.
Jason stood up and tossed a Pokeball.
"Char!" Charmander cried happily.
"Hey Charmander, want to practice?" Jason asked.
"Char...Charmander!"
"Alright!"
Jason walked a little ways from the campsite so he wouldn't damage the camp supplies. I stayed sitting on the grass, planning to watch the practice unless challenged me to a battle.
"Okay! Charmander, maybe today - and if not today, then it'll be soon - but we are going to be challenging the Pewter City gym." Jason explained to the Fire-type Pokemon.
Jason continued to talk and soon he stood back up.
"Charmander use scratch on that big rock!"
I watched as Charmander ran at the rock and scratched it.
"Char!" Charmander cried holding its right paw.
"Aw Charmander, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." Jason said apologizing to his partner.
Jason sat down for a long time.
He needs to teach Charmander Metal Claw. He needs a good attack since he only has Charmander and Spearow right now. Unless he gets a Water or Grass Pokemon. He'll figure it out...I hope. I thought.
Jason rose from the ground.
"I know what you need to learn! Charmander we've gotta get Metal Claw working!" Jason cried.
"Way to go." I muttered, already thinking ahead of him.
"Hey, Adam! How about a battle? You know, get us ready for the gym battle?" Jason asked, smirking.
"You're on!" I cried standing up and running over to where he was.
Pikachu ran behind me and I stopped at the opposite side of where Jason was.
"Charmander, you're first." Jason said to his partner.
Jason's Charmander took the field and I thought for a few minutes.
Hmm...If I use Charmander, then that'll be working on the challenge we made. If I use Bulbasaur, I could get Bulbasaur stronger but I wouldn't have the type advantage. If I used Pidgey I would have an advantage in the air. Hmm he's going to learn metal claw by this battle, I know that's what he wants to accomplish with this. Wh-I thought, but was jarred back to the real world when Jason called my name.
"What?" I asked, looking at him.
"You okay? You just zoned out and stared at the trees." Jason explained.
"Yeah I was just thinking about who to use." I answered.
I glanced at my Pokeballs and grabbed one, and tossed it into the air.
"Bulbasaur, go!" I cried, even though Bulbasaur's Pokeball was in the air already.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur cried.
"Hmm...kinda thought you would use Charmander. You have a type disadvantage." Jason said with a questioning look in his eyes.
"Hey, I take risks. Besides, my dad never let a type disadvantage stop him! Who's first?" I asked.
"You, since I challenged you."
"Bulbasaur, use Tackle!" I commanded.
Bulbasaur started running towards Charmander.
"Stop Bulbasaur in its tracks with Ember!" Jason commanded.
I watched as Bulbasaur was stopped and hurt by Ember.
"Bulbasaur, Leech Seed!"
"Dodge it quick!"
Charmander almost got seeded, but dodged the move successfully.
"Tackle!"
"Scratch!"
Both Pokemon ran at one another and the moves collided and both Pokemon got hurt.
I was thinking up an attack when I heard Bulbasaur say its name quickly. I glanced up and saw Charmander's paw glowing.
"Jason, that's Metal Claw!" I cried, shocked.
"Alright, Charmander! Do it!" Jason cried.
"Dodge it!"
Bulbasaur wasn't able to dodge in time and got hit full on.
"Bulbasaur!" I cried.
Dust had been stirred up and when it cleared, Charmander was still standing but Bulbasaur lay on the ground, fainted.
"Oh, Bulbasaur." I muttered.
I removed Bulbasaur's Pokeball and returned it.
"You did good, now take a rest." I said and placed it back on my belt.
"I'm glad that your Charmander learned the move, but it still needs perfection." I said as I removed another Pokeball from my belt. "So let's keep fighting! Charmander, go!" I shouted, tossing the Pokeball.
"Char! Char!" Charmander cried happily.
"Alright, time for Charmander and Charmander, Round 2!" Jason cried.
"First move, Jason." I said, since he was waiting for me.
"Oh yeah, right. Charmander, use Scratch!"
"Smokescreen."
"Don't fall for that again! Use Ember at that flame!"
I nodded, knowing that Jason had figured out the Smokescreen strategy.
"Charmander, jump and use Ember!" I cried as I saw the other Ember come through the Smokescreen
Charmander jumped just in time to avoid the Ember and used Ember on Jason's Charmander.
"Metal Claw, Charmander!"
"Charmander, Smokescreen!"
I saw Jason smirk before the smoke covered the area where the Pokemon battled.
I was shocked when Jason's Charmander emerged from the smoke and hit Charmander with Metal Claw.
"Char!" Charmander cried out in pain.
I saw my Charmander fall to the ground, fainted.
"You did good. Take a rest." I said returning Charmander.
"Alright, Charmander. You did it!" Jason cried praising his partner.
He returned Charmander and stood back up.
"Looks like we are tied now. One to one!" he cried.
...And this is where his ego, that he got from his dad, comes in. I thought.
"Charmander is getting better with Metal Claw." I said.
"Yeah, I know. He was awesome today!" Jason cried.
I shook my head at my best friend.
"So what kind of Pokemon are you going to catch?" I asked, bringing up an important question.
"Well, we're in the Viridian Forest. I think I might look for a bug-type..." Jason trailed uncertainly.
"Well, we don't have to get to Pewter City today. We still have to practice and find your third Pokemon."
"Yeah, still I'm slowing you down."
"No your not. Dude, you're my best friend. Do you not remember the promise we made when we were five?" I asked him seriously.
"Of course I remember."
"I'm keeping that promise."
Five years ago...
Jason and I were in the gardens that kept my dad's Pokemon. We sat under the biggest tree, just relaxing since we had just ran around the field for a while.
"You know what?" I said suddenly.
"What?" Jason asked.
"Let's make a promise."
"A promise?"
"Yeah. When we turn ten and get Pokemon, we'll be travelling partners all through Kanto! We'll never leave each other 'cause we we'll be friends forever!" I cried.
Jason shook his head.
"We won't be friends. We'll be bros. forever!" he cried.
"Fine."
"Bros. forever, right?" I asked laughing.
"Right!"
"If we don't get to Pewter City today, how will my Pokemon be healed?" I asked, realizing a problem.
"Don't worry, I've got tons of potions." Jason said removing two potions from his bag.
"Thanks, Jason."
I called out Bulbasaur and Charmander. Once they were out, I sprayed the potion on their wounds.
"Let's head into the forest and we can look for my new Pokemon." Jason said, enthused.
I nodded my head and returned Charmander and Bulbasaur. We packed up our campsite and headed into the forest.
We walked through the forest for quite a while until Jason stopped walking suddenly.
He removed his Pokedex and pointed it at the Butterfree that was resting on a tree branch.
"Butterfree, the Butterfly Pokémon. Butterfree is the evolved form of Metapod. The scales covering its wings help it to shed water." the mechanical voice said.
Jason removed Spearow's Pokeball from his belt and tossed it.
"Okay, Spearow. Let's do this." Jason said to his Pokemon.
Spearow looked at Jason and then saw Butterfree, the Pokemon it would be battling.
"Spearow use peck!" Jason commanded.
Spearow flew at Butterfree, who hadn't noticed us, and landed the hit.
"Oops...I thought it noticed us." Jason said, feeling sorry for the unexpected attack on it.
The Butterfree flew high in the sky and used Poison Powder.
"Dodge it! Don't get hit!" Jason cried.
Spearow dodged the attack and waited for the command.
"Use Peck and keep it going!"
Spearow started pecking Butterfree multiple times, but when Spearow came to strike again, Butterfree dodged and made a Stun Spore that hit Spearow.
"Spearow!" Jason cried as Spearow tried to stay in the air.
Spearow landed on the ground unable to fight until the Stun Spore wore off.
"Go, Pokeball!" Jason cried tossing a Pokeball after noticing Butterfree was beaten up.
The Pokeball engulfed Butterfree and moved back a forth a few seconds before stopping. Those super-effective Peck attacks must've really done a number on Butterfree.
"Alright! We did it, Spearow!" Jason cried as he picked up Butterfree's Pokeball.
Jason kneeled down next to Spearow and removed a stun heal and sprayed it on Spearow.
"Thank you, Spearow. You did great. Take a rest." Jason said, returning the bird Pokemon.
Jason attached the Pokeball back to his belt.
"Well, I have my third Pokemon. Should we head to Pewter City now or wait?" Jason asked, facing me.
"I guess we can head towards Pewter City. If we get there today we can rest in the Pokemon Center." I replied.
Pewter City is where Brock lives. He used to be the gym leader and his dad took over once Brock left to travel with dad. Who did dad say the gym leader was now? I wonder if I'll see Brock in Pewter City. I thought.
"Who's the gym leader in Pewter City again?" Jason asked suddenly.
"I don't remember. My dad told me, but I can't remember who it is." I answered, scratching the back of my head.
"I can't, either. Dad told me so many times since I asked about every gym leader." Jason said laughing.
"Isn't someone there a friend of our families?" Jason asked.
"Yes, it's Brock the Pokemon doctor. You have memory loss or something. You don't remember many people."
"Shut up. I know who he is."
I just shook my head at him and moved a low hanging brach out of the way.
"Will we make it to Pewter City by tonight?" Jason asked.
"I don't know...maybe." I replied.
Author's Note: Sorry for not updating in over a month, but the story wasn't doing very well, according to the lack of comments. But the story has been getting some new reviews recently, so we've decided to continue!
What awaits the boys in Pewter City? Who is the new Gym Leader? How will their first gym battles go?
Find out next time on Pokemon NG!