The man had his back facing us, but I knew I had seen this man before. Had I seen him as a kid? Suddenly, the man's Ursaring was returned and he turned around.
"What do you want?" he asked coldly.
I stared at the man and realized where I knew him from. He was my dad's most hated rival, Paul. Paul's purple hair fell to his shoulders his bangs in his onyx eyes which were looking at us coldly, waiting for us to say something. He wore black jeans, a gray jacket, and black and gray sneakers.
His eyes stayed looking at me for a while and he smirked. "So you're the pathetic excuse of a Pokemon Master's son..." he muttered.
I flinched and I was going to become angry very soon. "What are you doing here, Paul? You don't travel anymore." I asked bitterly.
"Oh, so you do know me. I'm here because Ash is dead. I heard about the League's offer of the title of Pokemon Master being given to another trainer, and I intend to get it. He's pathetic, worthless, and stupid. Someone like him doesn't deserve to be the Pokemon Master. He never won against me, except for once in the Sinnoh League, but that was just pure luck and he paid for it against Tobias. I bet you're just like him, a pathetic excuse for a trainer." Paul said, looking at me coldly and with an amused smirk.
Something snapped inside me and I lost it. "I challenge you to a battle!" I cried, enraged. Sure, I was getting use to being called "pathetic" and "weak", since Trevor usually called me that. But with Paul insulting my dad...that was a whole different story. Plus, he doesn't even know me and what I can do, and he's calling me weak, too?
Paul looked amused now. "Fine. Be prepared to lose, just like your father." Paul said.
"Three on three!" I cried.
"I'll be the ref." Jason said, running to the middle of the field.
"Bulbasaur, let's show 'em!" I cried, tossing my Pokeball.
"Honchkrow, stand by for battle." Paul said, tossing his Pokeball.
"Bulba!" Bulbasaur cried, landing.
"Honchkrow!" Honchkrow cried, flying in the air.
"Begin!" Jason cried.
"Honchkrow, use Wing Attack."
"Dodge!" I cried.
Honchkrow came towards Bulbasaur and Bulbasaur managed to dodge in time. What I didn't realize was that Honchkrow was coming back from behind, going for another pass, and it hit Bulbasaur.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur cried out in pain. Bulbasaur weakly stood up, covered in bruises and breathing heavily from just one attack. Paul sure had some high level Pokemon!
"Finish this with Night Slash." Paul commanded.
"Bulbasaur!" I cried.
Bulbasaur was hit and was sent flying backwards. "Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur lay on the ground, fainted.
Jason was at a loss for words and couldn't say anything. Michelle looked shocked and scared at what had happened.
"Take a well deserved rest." I said, returning my partner.
Paul silently returned his Honchkrow even though it had taken no damage.
"Magmortar, stand by for battle." Paul said, tossing his Pokeball.
"Mag...mortar!" Magmortar cried.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried, his cheeks sparking with electricity. I remembered my dad telling me that Pikachu was defeated by Magmortar once after they had trained so hard to win, and it still wasn't enough. Paul was so ruthless, that Pikachu was tossed into the lake. Pikachu was the strongest Pokemon in my group, so I knew I had to give it everything.
"Pikachu, let's show 'em." I said as Pikachu jumped from my shoulder.
"Pika!"
"Oh, you even have his Pikachu. Not going to help you any." Paul said.
"Pikachu, use Volt Tackle!" I cried.
"Magmortar, use Rock Tomb." Paul said.
"Agility while still using Volt Tackle!" I cried. Volt Tackle on its own was kinda slow, but by combining it with a speed attack, it would be a lot stronger! Pikachu easily avoided the rocks and slammed into Magmortar.
"Fire Punch." Pikachu was hit by Magmortar and flew backwards. Pikachu shook himself off and was still staying strong.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried as a flame covered his body.
"What?!" I cried. Pikachu was burned!
"What are the odds? Same thing happened the last time when these two faced against each other at Lake Acuity." Paul said. My dad had told me that story a few times.
"Adam, that's Flame Body, Magmortar's special ability." Jason said.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt."
"Flamethrower."
The two moves fought for dominance before canceling each other out.
"Fire Spin."
"Counter!"
Pikachu went to jump, but was stopped by the burn.
"No! Pikachu!" I cried. Pikachu was hit by the Fire Spin. Pikachu stood up covered in burn marks and breathing unevenly.
"Finish this, Magmortar. Use Rock-" Paul started to say.
Pikachu cried out as the burn took affect. When it stopped, Pikachu looked at me sadly.
"Chu..." It almost seemed like Pikachu was saying, "I'm sorry...I can't go on...I tried." Pikachu fell to the ground fainted. I walked onto the field and picked up Pikachu.
"Chu..."
"It's okay, you did good. Rest now." I said, handing Pikachu to Michelle, since she had some potions.
I sighed and removed Charmander's Pokeball. "Charmander, let's show 'em!" I cried, tossing my Pokeball.
"Char! Char!" Charmander cried.
Paul returned Magmortar and said, "Torterra, stand by for battle."
"Torterra!" Torterra cried.
He had deliberately chosen a Grass Pokemon against my Fire Pokemon? I knew Paul wasn't stupid, so he must've been very confident.
"Use Giga Drain."
"Dodge!"
Charmander managed to dodge.
"Flamethrower!" The flames shot towards Torterra and hit him in the face doing little, if any, damage.
"Hyper Beam."
As Torterra charged the attack, I thought of a counter move.
"Smokescreen!" Charmander quickly covered himself with smoke and the Hyper Beam was launched. I waited and I heard Charmander cry out. When the smoke cleared, Charmander was on the ground, struggling to get up. The Smokescreen hadn't helped to hide him at all. Paul still managed to know where he was.
"Char...Charmander!" Charmander cried.
Suddenly, his body began to glow white. Charmander's body changed and when the light vanished, Charmander no longer stood there, it was Charmeleon! He had evolved just in time. Maybe I could turn this around now!
"Charmeleon, use Flamethrower!" I didn't want to try any close range attacks since Torterra knew Crunch, as my dad had told me.
"Use Frenzy Plant to finish this." The Flamethrower had no affect on the thick vines as the Frenzy Plant came. Charmeleon was hit and fainted.
"Congrats on evolving, take a rest." I said, returning my Pokemon.
Paul returned his Torterra without a word. He walked halfway across the field we had used. "Adam, you're just as pathetic as your father was." he said as he turned and left.
I stared at his retreating form and my anger got the best of me. I was so angry and frustrated that tears started falling. Dad's reputation was on the line, and I couldn't do anything! He can't lose his title to...to the likes of him! He'd never make a good Pokemon Master! I so badly wished I had a sign of where my dad was. I needed to find him now...
"Adam..." Jason trailed uncertainly.
I couldn't look at my friends. I was crying way too much on my journey. I was frustrated with the loss, as well as angry.
"Adam, what he said wasn't true. You're an awesome trainer. I mean, you've beaten me, you beat those Gym Leaders, you're not pathetic. You're a great friend and rival and you're doing your dad proud. Don't listen to Paul, he's an idiot. Like your dad told us, 'You'll meet people when traveling...you'll learn who to trust and who to believe. Many will say things to discourage you, but never believe it. I learned that the hard way, but if you're with people who support you...the negativity will not get you down.' Do you remember that?" Jason asked.
I glanced up and nodded my head. "I remember that. I'll never forget that." My dad had told us that a week before he vanished, since our journey would soon be starting. I was becoming a little better, but what Paul said still echoed in my head.
I felt arms around me and I was brought back to reality. Michelle was hugging me and I immediately hugged her back. She always seemed to hug me whenever I was feeling sad...and I liked it. It was sweet of her and it always calmed me down.
"Don't let him get you down, Adam. You're the best and don't you forget it. He needs to have respect and kindness to be a good trainer, and he clearly lacks it. You don't lack those and neither does your dad." she said.
"Just ignore him. That guy is someone who pries on others' flaws and hides behind his own. He hides his flaws and makes himself feel better by putting down others. My mom told me that a lot of times when I was younger." Jason added. "Your dad will return. We're going to find him."
I nodded my head and wiped the tears from my face as I let Michelle go. "Thank you both. I don't know what I would do if you weren't here." I said, looking at them.
I looked up at the sky and thought, Dad, wherever you are, we really need you back soon.
Then I looked at Jason and Michelle and boldly said, "From now on, I swear you'll never see me cry again until the day we find my dad! Because on that day, I'll be crying tears of joy!" I was done with wasting my time with sadness and tears. Nothing would ever get me down again. I was ready to move on past what people were saying about my dad and I, and follow my heart!
Smiles spread across Jason and Michelle's faces as they heard my words, and they surrounded me as we hugged each other in a group hug.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear!" Jason exclaimed.
"Yeah, that's the Adam we know and love!" Michelle added happily.
But we were so caught up in the moment, that we didn't hear the sound of jet engines passing us overhead above the clouds, heading in the same direction we were...but we'd find out about it VERY soon.
Author's Note: So the kids meet Paul, who's still as mean as ever. Back on the road and training, he's hoping to become the new Pokemon Master in Ash's place. Fighting for the honor of his father, Adam battled Paul. His Charmander evolved, but it all came to nothing. Adam was completely outmatched and utterly destroyed in the battle.
It was the worst Adam had ever felt in his life, but as always, his friends were there to keep him going. And now, a stronger-minded and stronger-willed Adam Ketchum is ready to face ANY challenge in the future without any fear whatsoever! Nothing will ever break his spirit again!
But Adam's courage and determination will be put to its toughest test yet in next chapter! What will happen to him?
Find out next time on Pokemon NG!