The capsule opened and a jolt of white energy dropped at the ground. Forming quickly, two spiny ears twitched softly while a small, sharp horn stood in anticipation. The violet body of this Pokémon had several darker shaded spots covering it, accompanied with a row of large spines along its back. Raising her head to the sky, the Pokémon let out a confident cry.
Nido!
Nidoran watched as Paige dug through her backpack in search of something. The Pokémon was confused at what the human was looking for but he was perplexed at what the girl gained by shielding her from the attacking Marowak and putting herself at risk from the stones. Nidoran was still young and didn't know too much about humans or trainers. He had communicated with other Pokémon about the human species and it was a mixed reaction. Some Pokémon didn't care for humans at all and preferred to be with their own kind. Some Pokémon seek out humans to become companions with. There were even Pokémon who were jealous of trained Pokémon and the bond that the human shared with them.
The Charmander that Nidoran spoke to earlier seemed to have a very high opinion about this human and how she had been so gentle with him as well as quite amusing to watch her interaction with others. There came a point where the girl had the option of going back to her normal life and yet she was willing to take him on a journey to help him get stronger, even though he could feel she was nervous about the whole ordeal. The Charmander did admit he was still very young himself but felt like he was safe with this girl and was very happy he had her as a trainer. He was certain they could grow strong together. Strength was something Nidoran aspired to. His father had been trained by a human in his early years and was fully capable of protecting his mother and siblings from other Pokémon and even some trainers. If he traveled with this trainer . . . could he become strong just like his father too?
Nidoran noticed the human had tossed a few pokeballs to the side while she searched in the bag. Nidoran had seen these devices in action and he had come to a decision. Walking over to one of them slowly he began to poke and prod at it with his horn before attempting to position his paws on top of the sphere. He had the idea that if he would stand on the ball and wait, maybe this human would understand he wanted to join her. Unfortunately, the ball slid slightly under his weight and made it difficult to remain in position. The wobbling caused Nidoran to loose balance and just as he fell, the ball had turned on its side to point the trigger button right underneath Nidoran.
It suddenly got dark. The initial panic wore off quickly as he felt confined and yet as the same time he was comfortable. He felt his body had been tucked forward in a fetal position. His frame felt a genuine weightlessness to it. Even in this state, he had control of his own actions and shifted from side to side a few times. Suddenly a warm echo carried out through that dark.
"Here we are Nidoran! You can have the whole pack if you want"
It was the human from before. Nidoran halted his movements and listened. He could hear the girl's voice and feel her footsteps near. The genuine feeling of ease and comfort around him grew stronger, up to the point that Nidoran grew to accept it and relaxed in the hold it was in. Nidoran heard the footsteps run by him but then a sudden chime and clicking noise reverberated. The confinement was gone and now a view of his surrounding slowly was exposed. Nidoran looked up as he could see clouds above his and blades of grass around him. He was looking outside a transparent sphere to the area around him. Nidoran began to piece things together just as soon as Paige walked up and looked down to the ball then reached for it. Nidoran called out happily but it appeared that Paige could not hear him and just stuffed the pokeball back into her pocket.
Paige recovered back to her feet behind the Nidoran while looking at Bret. The two remaining Pokémon stared each other down with an increasing intensity. Patrick had returned back to his brother's side, seeing that the battle was not over but was equally confused as his sibling. If Paige had another Pokémon, why was she acting like this fight was over? Bret brushed it off, figuring it was some weak tactic she was trying to pull off. Directing Murkrow forward, Bret shouted out to his Pokémon.
"No prob Murkrow! Make quick work of this rat with a Wing Attack!" The Murkrow ran forward with his wings stretched out, primed to strike. Nidoran stood his ground, body hunched forward and primed to make a move. Paige recalled watching a female Nidoran in battle once.
The move set shouldn't be too far off from the female of the species. Nidoran still looks injured from Isaac but Bret's Murkrow isn't doing so hot either. I need to wrap this up quick before that bird takes flight again. Gotta watch out for the night shade attack too.
"Nidoran! Dodge and use Poison Sting!"
The Murkrow had closed the distance between him and the Nidoran. Swinging his wing across to strike, Nidoran leaped up over the swift motion and spun back around behind his opponent. His horn primed with poison, he kicked off his back feet and attempted to make contact with the bird. Murkrow felt the jab and squealed, running forward from the poisonous point. Bret winced, almost as if he felt the sting as well.
"Poison isn't going to stop us now! Murkrow! Mud-Slap!"
Murkrow stopped and turned his head to look back at Nidoran. With yellow talons, Murkrow began to kick up clumps of dirt at the opponent. The mix of dirt and grass flew through the air and struck Nidoran in his face. The dirt hindered his ability to see, forcing him to halt his action and begin to scrape away at the soil. As he finished up enough to regain his sight, the Murkrow had taken this opportunity to position himself boldly in front of him with outstretched wings and beak wide open. Paige and Nidoran could see the upcoming attack would be Night Shade as the outline of the bird's body began to glow. Nidoran was prepared for an attack and used one of his mother's tricks. His eyes widened as he made a cute face at his foe, quickly hopping up to snuggle with the Murkrow in an apologetic way. The Murkrow froze as a pale hue grew under the black feathers on his face, the Charm attack being quite successful. Bret shouted out to his Murkrow aggressively but Paige would be the one to take advantage here.
"Now that his guard is down, use Double Kick", Paige called out. The Murkrow broke away from Nidoran's charm right in time to see the Pokémon flip backwards and kick his hind legs out. The kicks landed directly into the Murkrow's beak, slamming it shut and sending the bird falling backward into the ground. Nidoran looked at the Murkrow as the bird struggled to stand but failed at the act. The Murkrow let out an angry caw before passing out and leaving Bret stunned at the loss. Bret's followers had the same shocked expression to their faces while they watched him recall the Murkrow back into the dusk ball.
Paige blinked, looking in disbelief. The intensity of her first battle made her legs weak, the adrenaline wearing off and forcing her to drop down once more to the forest floor. Nidoran turned back around to Paige and hopped up into her lap. Paige caught Nidoran, still in disbelief that the battle had been won as well as Nidoran had somehow found its way into one of her pokeballs. A sudden spark of realization hit Paige. Varem helped her collect her pokeballs after she had dropped them earlier in the forest. At first it appeared Varem just selected a random ball to begin with but she recalled how he sniffed out a particular one and seemed very happy in recovering it for Paige. Did Varem know all along?
"That was awesome Paige! You did it!" Paige looked up at Patrick and Alex who had ran over to her. Patrick held Shroomish in his arms, the Pokémon grunting cheerfully out as if it was thanking Paige. Alex grinned widely while Patrick turned around and shouted out to Bret, "Looks like we won an apology as well as some cash money!"
Bret had taken their time of celebration to withdraw a pair of leather gloves with studded pads along the knuckles. His buddies looked on as they saw Bret had lowered his head and now intended to deal with things in a much more violent way. Walking forward to Paige and the boys, his hand in one of the gloves formed into a fist while he maintained his cold expression. Patrick swallowed hard and began to back away again while Alex ran behind Paige and hunched down. Paige watched as Bret approached. Nidoran gave an audible growl out, seeing the trainer's stance had grown quite aggressive.
"You won nothing kid. This girl is a fluke. That match didn't count for anything. If you know what is good for you, you will hand over your money and backpacks and get the hell out of here." Paige glared up at Bret while he looked down at her, seeming to have quite the ire for the new trainer. Pulling Nidoran closer to her chest, she was ready to roll to the side and act if forced to. She was not going to be a pushover here. The Nidoran growled louder, refusing to let this human hurt his new trainer.
"Are 'trainers' really resorting to physical violence after they have lost these days? You're no better off than the Rockets." The voice startled everyone, each set of eyes turning to see another teen walking out from behind a tree. Paige felt her heart jump up a bit, seeing Isaac walking forward to Bret. How long had he been watching all of this?
"I can handle this Isaac", Paige muttered while standing up, the uncertainty in her voice as clear as day. Isaac didn't even look to Paige, only smirking at her words while closing the gap between him and Bret.
"Now then . . I want you to leave this forest and these kids alone. The girl has some form of dumb luck it seems or you just suck as a trainer so don't get your feathers in a bunch. If you want some money, then feel free to search my pockets." Bret felt his face burn as Isaac patted his own pocket. Who was this guy and how dare he call him out right in front of everyone like this. Bret quickly stepped forward and swung his arm, raising his fist up and sending a punch directly into Isaac's face. Paige gave an audible sound of warning to Isaac but it seemed to be of little help to him. Instead, Isaac rose his hand up and let the punch be deflected by his forearm right before he would grip Bret by the extended wrist and send the arm twisting backward with a forceful shove. The way Bret threw the punch was accurate but his footing was off and Isaac took full advantage of this. Swinging his boot heel behind the bird keeper's leg, Isaac followed Bret to the forest floor and pinned his arm twisted back behind him. Bret felt Isaac's knee sink forcefully into his stomach with a hard thud and knocking the wind clear out of him.
Isaac released the trainer and stood back up, watching as Bret struggled to stand and breathe right before his two cronies hurried over to assist him up to his feet. Bret glared at both Isaac and Paige with soft gasps, resting his arms on the shoulders of his followers.
"Enjoy it . . while you can . . . I'll be . . seeing you girly . . . "
With a stare, Isaac watched the two drag their comrade away without much of a word in his defeat. After such a display, neither wanted anything to do with the new stranger and would leave him to deal with the girl and kids. Isaac, Paige and the bug catchers watched the three leave the area down the beaten pathway to the south without a word.
"Isaac?" Isaac turned his head to look at Paige, her eyes gazing down and away from him. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to see just how hopeless you are without me dragging you along. You managed to get pranked by two kids, piss off a group of bird keepers and almost get beaten up. Still, not bad for your first real day as a trainer." Paige let out a soft sigh, feeling the backhanded compliment was the best she was going to get from Isaac. "I am a bit surprised you beat that guy though . . . and you even caught a Pokémon, though I did do all of the work. It's not much but it is progress in the right direction Paige." Paige looked up at Isaac, feeling a bit better but her guilt of hitting him earlier still had her down.
"Excuse me?" Patrick stepped forward. "You and Paige know each other?"
"You could say that", Paige answered the question for Isaac, pulling the Nidoran closer to her chest as it had a narrowed glare at Isaac.
"So he is your boyfriend", Alex chirped out. Paige's face bubbled hot in embarrassment and turned to the boy to correct him but Isaac had beaten her to it. His knuckles were now pressed to either side of his head as he twisted them in a punishment for the boy's assumption. Alex flailed his arms around and pled for Isaac to stop while Patrick watched on with a slight amusement, used to seeing his little brother's mouth getting them in trouble.
"Why would I be dating a flat chested twit like her? Just because a guy is traveling with a girl does not mean they are dating! Got it?" Paige chimed in right behind Isaac as he waited for Alex to answer.
"What kind of standards do you think I have Alex? I can do much better." Isaac blinked, releasing his hold on Alex and looked at Paige with an irritated expression over his flustered face.
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"If you can't figure that out then maybe you should polish up more on social skills than on Pokémon." The two locked eyes, firing glares that collided midair. Patrick looked back and forth at the two with a soft chuckle while Alex rubbed his head with a whimper and muttering to himself.
"You two fight like you are", Alex murmured out. Paige and Isaac turned their glares over at Alex after overhearing the comment. Alex swallowed hard, quickly running up behind Patrick to take cover from the storm. Patrick let out a heavy sigh before changing the topic.
"We should get back on the road and make some progress before stopping for the night. You coming with us . . . Isaac?" Isaac looked at Paige once more as she questioned his peculiar glance.
"I suppose I better. This girl is supposed to be my burden to deal with and I can't just push her off on someone else. My bike is up ahead anyway."
Recovering their backpacks along with the harvested fruit, the four continued back onto the traveled path. Paige carried the Nidoran in her arms, thinking of a good nickname for the hardy Pokémon. Nidoran would occasionally glance at Isaac with a soft growl but returned back to curling up into Paige's cradling arms. Patrick and Alex had seemed to take quick a liking to Paige. Their trickster ways were gone and now they had become generally interested in Paige and the battle that had taken place. Even with the two there, they requested to hear what was going through Paige's mind during the conflict with each attack. Isaac walked on the far side of the path and away from the main group, thinking quietly to himself. He had watched the whole battle, backtracking after cooling off just in time to see Paige make a fool of herself with the Kakuna shells. At the very start, Paige didn't appear to know what she was doing. It looked as if it was going to be a one sided battle. Her behavior changed though and she began to gain momentum. She had been fighting like it was not a matter of money but something else, much greater, was on the line. Isaac was also surprised to see that the Nidoran had been caught by her, assuming it would flee after he had left. Chalking all of this up to luck would be the easiest way to dismiss it but a nagging feeling had begun to grow about the newbie trainer. Time would tell if his hypothesis was accurate or he had misjudged everything.