The next day was eventful. Paige was woken early by Isaac who wanted to get on the road as soon as possible. Her reply to that was less than favorable. After a final discussion with Professor Oak, the two trainers took to the road and headed back to Viridian City. With Isaac's bike flying through the grass and Paige's shout about slowing down, the local Pokémon population steered clear. It wouldn't take long to reach home with the news.
Paige's father was a stoic man, despite always seeming to battle with a cold. He said he was happy that his little girl was spreading her wings to take on a Pokémon journey. Some adjustments and cutbacks would have to be made in the business until next season but he would assure Paige that the family would be fine without her aid. Paige's mother was less thrilled about the idea that she would be traveling with a young boy like Isaac, immediately marking him as some sort of thug when he skidded to a halt in the front of their home. Still, her husband assured her that Paige was a big girl and was more than capable of taking care of herself. Paige's little brother was excited and seemed a bit jealous that his big sister was going out on her very own Pokémon journey and pleaded with her to allow him to join. Paige declined, having her parents pry the little boy off of her arm.
Isaac informed Paige that she would need to pack light. The idea of being confined to one backpack of supplies was a new idea to her. There was a sense of excitement though in it. It took 3 attempts to get everything to fit snuggly into the backpack. The mid-morning was spent going through what she needed and what was not. After this task, Paige met up with Kali to say her goodbyes. Kali would remark how it was romantic that she was beginning her Pokémon journey with a new boyfriend. As soon as it was mentioned, Isaac spat out a mouthful of soda he was in the middle of drinking, demanding Paige to correct that statement. Paige happily did so, seeming more enraged than Isaac was.
The final stop would be at the local Pokemart. Paige's mother had been trimming her paychecks back just in case of this happening one day. While her intent was to buy cute articles of clothing like scarfs or ribbon bells for her Pokémon, Issac pointed out she would need supplies like potions, antidotes, empty pokeballs and other tools that even the most basic trainer always would carry. Reluctantly passing up a few of the cuter items, she did manage to purchase a few postcards to send to her family while on the road. With their provisions in tow, Isaac and Paige hit the road and traveled north.
On the western path of Route 2, Paige took her first lesson from Isaac. Sitting with legs crossed out in front of herself and notepad in hand, she was eager to see what wisdom and insight he had in store for her. Isaac appeared to be a skilled trainer but she knew little about him and his methods. Isaac stood in the middle of a clearing with arms crossed back over his chest while holding onto a branch he had snapped from a tree. Staring down at Paige, he wondered where he would begin. She was a young trainer and had a lot to learn.
"Maybe we should begin with what you know about Pokémon battle and move from there", Isaac stated, tapping the stripped branch up on his shoulder.
"Well . . I know that Pokémon battles and fights between trainers and their Pokémon to find out who is stronger, right?" The branch swung downwards and hit the top of Paige's head, still sore from the previous day as she covered the bump and stifled back a whimper.
"Amateur. A novice way of thinking. I can say I am not surprised. Pokémon battles are much more than that. They are tests of the trainer on how they have raised their Pokémon and how well they can control them." Putting the branch back up into his shoulder he reached down with his free hand to grab the great ball. Holding it out in front of her he continued. "Make no mistake; if you can't control your Pokémon in the heat of battle, you mind as well be ordering attacks on yourself. It matters not how strong a Pokémon is in a weak trainer's hands. It is all about domination through determination. Pokémon pick up on that. Pokémon crave a strong trainer and it is a disservice to them if you can't meet that expectation."
Paige listened but did not write down any notes. While her head still was sore from his discipline, her heart grew troubled. She had always been raised to believe Pokémon and humans were allies and teammates. Gale and she got along well enough but there were times that the Pokémon did not listen to her. She always adhered to the idea that as Pokémon grew to care for you, they would listen better. Was Isaac right about Pokémon in this way? His command of Marowak would suggest he knew what he spoke of.
"What about compassion and friendship with your Pokémon? Kali and her Raticate get along great and they are really strong." Isaac had an answer to her question.
"I suppose Kali and Raticate have won every match so far then? Never have they lost?" Paige looked down in defeat as Isaac nodded. "That's what I thought . . . ever wonder why Pokémon hunters are so strong? They recognize that Pokémon are to be used and commanded. Friendship with your Pokémon can make you soft and they in return will not listen to a soft owner."
Paige fumbled a bit with the spine of the notepad in thought while Isaac continued. Serious Pokémon training and battling sounded like it was going to be hard. Still, her thoughts traced back to those hunters who had attacked her. Skinner didn't think twice about using his Pokémon to threaten her. That couldn't be what Isaac meant by strength. There was more to it than that.
Isaac could see that she was a bit concerned about what he had said. This was something she would have to learn sooner or later and it was better she knew the truth now. Isaac turned his head off to the side as he heard rustling in the thick grass to their left. A demonstration might be for the best in this case. Isaac dropped the branch and tossed the great ball from hand to hand and approached the grass while Paige watched him. "Let me show you what I mean about command and control. Marowak!"
Isaac threw the ball forward past the rustling overhead. The blast of white light that emitted from the split ball forced a wild male Nidoran out into the opening. The small rodent-like Pokémon had dropped a piece of bark it had been gnawing on and now looked backwards at where Marowak had landed. Isaac smirked; aware this would be fairly quick as long as the pokemon stood still. Taking a quick glance back at Paige to make sure she was paying attention, he issued the first command with cold and direct words.
"Marowak. Bonemerang."
Marowak remained in the tall grass as the projectile came spinning out. Nidoran only had a moment to spare as his body flattened onto the ground to dodge the incoming aerial assault. The bone flew by the top of the Pokémon and continued to travel through the air, past Isaac's face. The weapon had begun to curve around and return to its owner as Paige stood up to get a better view as what was going on. Isaac was slightly surprised the Nidoran had avoided the attack but the next one would not be as easy.
"Now Marowak", Isaac shouted out, "use Double-Edge then follow it up with a Stone Edge!" Marowak erupted from the grass with a tail of yellow energy following. Marowak clipped Nidoran with its skull but was enough an impact to send the small light violet Pokémon barreling head over paws, coming to a halt a few yards from Paige. Paige quickly looked down at the injured Pokémon as its little body shuddered.
This is all wrong Paige thought to herself with feeling her heart begin to race. The Marowak had begun his final attack. Slamming his bone club into the soil brought up chucks of earth that circled around Marowak's body. Marowak's eyes began to glow white as rings of soil hardened into dense gray stones. The stone wielder cried out and swung its arm downwards to send the edged attack to Nidoran.
Midway through the air, Paige relived vivid flashbacks of her first match and how she stood there doing nothing. Her body seemed react without her mind's aid. Leaping forward on top of the injured Nidoran she covered the small Pokémon with her body as she yelled out with eyes closed tightly.
"Stop it Isaac! It can't fight back!" Isaac let out an audible gasp as she had jumped into the way of the attack.
"Marowak! Divert!"
The stones had arced up at the last moment with a few grazing along Paige's back and tearing away at her plaid top while scratching over her flesh. The stones continued upwards until Marowak clenched its paw to force the attack to slam hard down into the ground next to Paige. Isaac was at lost for words.
Paige felt the Pokémon's horn on its head poking into her skin gently. A sense of dizziness had begun to form in her balance after she released the Pokémon and sat up. Nidoran struggled up to its feet and made a mad dash away from her and back into the tall grass around them. Isaac walked over to Paige as she attempted to focus her eyes at the blur that stood over her. Sounds were muffled a bit as she heard the blob rummaging around then a cold stinging wetness began to ripple over her. Isaac knelt down beside her and continued to spray the scratched areas with a recovered bottle of antidote until Paige's pupils readjusted and focused on Isaac. Before she could speak, Isaac had dropped the spray bottle and gripped onto her shoulders with a firm shake.
"What the hell is your problem?! Do you have a suicidal wish or something?! Those stones could have torn you apart, not to mention a Nidoran's horn is toxic! You really are an idiot with no clue how this all works!" Isaac had a general concern in his tone mixed with the anger. He never was one to travel with company and the notion that a person would be this stupid was new to him. Paige dropped her hand down on the soil for a moment beside her before swinging it up to strike Isaac in his face. Isaac was a very skilled trainer but when an attack is unexpected, there is little you can do. He felt the sting of the swift moving palm striking his cheek and jerking it off to the side.
"You're wrong."
Isaac turned back to look at her, dropping hands down to his sides as Paige pulled away to sit back down onto the ground. "You are . . wrong." Reaching back up to his face he put his hand against his cheek and felt the sting as Paige continued. "That had nothing to do with command or control. You are just bullying on a weaker Pokémon! That had nothing to do with strength!"
Paige breathed heavy in her anger while Isaac's face stared back at her and grew cold once more. He would remain silent for a moment until he stood up and turned away to walk past his Marowak to recover its ball. Paige stared down into the soil with her jaw clenched, clothing stained in the purple shaded antidote while Isaac had taken the time to recover Marowak and start up his motorcycle. Paige didn't look up as he revved his engine a few times before Isaac's bike jolted forward and took off north back onto the path.
Paige sat quietly, alone with her own thoughts. Maybe her reaction was out of line. Even if she didn't agree with him, there was no reason to hit him. Her father always told her to never strike anyone unless she was expecting to be hit back. Instead, she let her anger get the best of her when all Isaac was trying to do was help. It might have been wrong in her eyes but she knew nothing about battling or even capturing Pokémon. Still staring down at the soil she slid her hands over the dirt and closed her eyes while trying to hold back the anger and frustration she had growing inside of her.
Paige was unsure just how long she sat there before she felt a soft nudge at her wrist. Her eyelids parted to look down at the small purple Pokémon staring back up at her. The Nidoran placed its paw back onto her wrist and leaned into it with a light ticking of its teeth together. Paige smiled softly and reached up to rub her eyes with her other arm and let out a heavy sigh.
"I'm fine Nidoran. Just being stupid is all." Paige paused, staring back down at the Pokémon. "I admit I don't know what I am doing but I am trying my best. I just don't want anyone to get hurt at all. Is it right to have others fight with risk of getting hurt when you just shout out commands?" Crossing her legs over one another and readjusting, the Nidoran darted away as she shifted her weight but after she had settled it crept closer again. "I don't care what Isaac says. Pokémon shouldn't be commanded to hurt one another. Maybe . . . I made the wrong choice agreeing to this journey?" Paige wasn't really talking to Nidoran as much as she was just venting to herself. The Pokémon though seemed interested enough in her to encroach closer as she spoke up to putting its paws onto her leggings and gazing up at her with occasional wiggles if its nose at her scent.
Paige was ready to reach out a pet the Pokémon but stopped herself and remembered what Isaac had said about the horn. Instead she only would continue to talk with Nidoran as it just would click its teeth together in light ticking sounds as if it was responding. "Charmander is happy now but how long will that last? I can't fight without freezing up like before. If I freeze while Gale or Charmander are in battle, they could get seriously hurt."
Paige recalled her first practice match and how it went awry. She was still very young and had no real experience. Matched up against a senior student, she could barely stammer out an attack and before she knew it, the Rattata she was using was defeated. Paige still could remember the taste of dry cotton in her throat, making it hard to swallow and her hands shaking. Just thinking about it made her sick once more. She was so engrossed in her thoughts, she did not hear the pokeball at her side erupt open.
Char Charrrrr!
Paige glanced up at Charmander, looking quickly at her belt loop at his pokeball then back at him.
"Charmander?" Paige had no clue Pokémon could leave their pokeballs when they wanted. She always assumed they would remain within them until called on. Charmander however walked up to Paige and put its hands onto her knee and gave a joyful smile. The Nidoran looked at Charmander for a few seconds then back up to Paige with a confused look.
Could Charmander have heard me then? Are you trying to reassure me?
Paige felt the pressure on her chest and throat rise up, sliding her hand over Charmander's head and petting the Pokémon with a soft smile. Charmander nuzzled up happily to her touch, the Nidoran taking notice. Nidoran pushed up with its paws and climbed into Paige's lap and made connection with her other hand. The trainer looked down, a bit surprised at the reaction but felt as the Pokémon's small horn and back spines grazed her skin but had no reaction like before as they were at ease now.
Paige rummaged in the pocket of her skirt to withdraw the Pokedex, flipping it open and pointing it to the Nidoran. Chamander spoke to Nidoran happily while the Pokémon sat and listened to Paige's new partner. The Pokedex gave an audible beep as the screen displayed a picture along with reading out statistics about the Pokémon. The voice was automated and sounded a bit like Oak with a monotone to it.
*Bing* Nidoran, the poison pin Pokémon. The male of this species carries larger horns but weaker poisons that the female. Nidoran will only use this poison when it feels threatened as this Pokémon is usually quite docile unless attacked. One drop of this Pokémon's poison from its horn can be quite deadly. Its ears are always alert and remain stiff as it will attack if it senses any danger.
"Quite a deadly little guy aren't you? Guess it was good I didn't get a full dose", Paige remarked as she closed the Pokedex back up. Charmander at the Nidoran seemed to be getting along quite well. Looking back up on the road, it was clear that Isaac was not coming back for her. Still, she had the resolve to push on. "Come on Charmander. We need to get moving if we are going to make it to Pewter City before dark, right?" In truth she could only speculate. Charmander cheerful nodded and chimed up its voice. Nidoran sat and watched the young trainer pull the Charmander back into its pokeball before returning her attention. "Are you going to be ok Nidoran? I think I have some crackers or something in my backpack here . . . "
Paige walked back over to her large backpack and knelt down to dig through the pockets. Nidoran watched her doing so, intrigued at what the Charmander had said and remembering the trainer's selfless act. Paige tossed a few empty pokeballs to the side as she dug deeper into the pocket, knowing she had put a snack here intentionally. Finally, after removing a few postcards she was saving for the road, she held up a pack of crackers. "Here we are Nidoran! You can have the whole pack if you want."
Paige turned her head and looked around after not hearing the Pokémon's reaction. The Pokémon was nowhere to be found and the clearing was vacant. The sudden breeze that rolled over the hills caused the thick grass to rustle softly. Paige turned her head to the noise, pausing to listen but soon letting out a gentle sigh. She most likely left and Paige could not blame her after Isaac had assaulted her in such a way. Still, the teen felt a sense of sadness she could not say goodbye. Removing a few crackers from the wrapper and putting them on the ground, she flung her arms into straps of the bag and stood back up to continue on the road. It wasn't halfway to the road before she stopped and turned back, expecting to see the Nidoran there. Instead, her collection of empty pokeballs and postcards littered the area. Hurrying back over she scooped up the papers and orbs, stuffing them into her pockets for now. Her mind must have been elsewhere to almost forget the scattered supplies.
Paige now stood in the middle of the road, gazing up at the tree line before looking down at the posted sign.
VIRIDIAN FOREST
She remembered her father telling her stories about how people would get lost in this natural maze for days. Things would be so much better with someone that knew their way around the forest but it was too late for that. The trees would provide a lot of shade and cover for the Pokémon that lived here but might help Paige avoid other trainers. With only two Pokémon at her side and little experience in battles, she would have to keep her wits about her. Forcing down a hard swallow she marched forward past the trees and into the darkness of the forest.