Chapter 2

It's been a few weeks since Hilda Black received her first Pokemon, her female Snivy. As the beginning days passed with her and her Pokemon, she had decided to name it Vic, short for Victory (or Victoria, if she wanted it to have an actual human name). All Hilda knew was that one day, she'd be victorious over Hilbert, no matter what it took.

The day after she had first gotten her Pokemon, a Pokedex, a gym badge case, and an official trainer's bag, her Pokemon trainer outfit came in in the mail, and it had fit her perfectly. With a short farewell with her mother, she had set off that day. Little did she know, Mrs. White had called Mrs. Black not so long after Hilda left Nuvema Town, and discussed Hilda's farewell, and suggested Hilbert to hurry up and tag along.

Hilda had ventured all the way to Striaton City in the time that she had without Hilbert, but days before today, the two finally met up under pure coincidence. The two, as competitive as ever, raced to challenge the gym- and win, of course- before the other could.

So, that brings us to this very point in time. Hilda was exiting the Striaton Pokemon gym, with Vic walking proudly at her side. Hilda was just sticking her first gym badge into her badge case when Hilbert had appeared out of nowhere. "I see that you made it out alive," Hilbert narrowed his eyes at Hilda. "What attack got you to win, huh?"

Hilda simply rolled her eyes as she slipped her badge case back into her bag. She looked up, smiling slightly. "You want to find out my secrets, huh? Because you aren't a great trainer, and you need advice, huh?"

"No way!" Hilbert blushed. "I had won, too. I just want to know how you pulled it off, considering you are such a horrible trainer."

Hilda's face reddened at the mention of another insult, but she brushed the comment to the side and straightened her posture. "I'll have you know, you don't need powerful moves to win a battle, even against a type specialist that masters Pokemon more powerful that yours. All you need is a great bond and a strong defensive strategy, and sure enough, you'll overcome, and-"

"Hold it right there," Hilbert rudely interrupted. "I don't care for your silly lectures. You just got out of a fire type gym, am I right? Well, how about another fire type challenge, right here and now? Against Tri!" At the mention of his Tepig's nickname, Tri (shortened word for Triumph, that little Vic-copier) came running out of a nearby bush to join his trainer. The two glared down Hilda and Vic, trying to imitate them.

"Fine." Hilda agreed. "Just prepare yourself, you're both going to be crying your way back to the Pokemon Center." She backed up a few steps from Hilbert to make space for a battling field, right in the middle of the street outside the Striaton City Pokemon Gym.

"You really need to stop talking about yourself, Hilda." Hilbert stated, which made Hilda even more furious.

"Apologize!" Hilda hissed. "APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW, YOU ANNOYING HUMAN BEING!"

"No." Hilbert crossed his arms. "Stop wasting your time, Hilda! You're trying to stall for the Pokemon battle you are going to lose!" He changed the subject. "Well, too late for you; I already saw through your plans. Tri, get into action right now, and start off with Ember!"

"Dodge, Vic, and use Leer!" Hilda deployed.

"Leer?" Hilbert repeated with a laugh. "Leer? You're seriously choosing to use Leer, of all moves out there?" He watched, amused, as Tri shot a mouthful of flames from his snout that soared slowly through the air, narrowly missing Vic as she sidestepped the attack, countering with a fearsome glare that was imitating Tri for sure. At the sight of beads of sweat forming upon Tri's tiny forehead, Hilda grinned. Her plan was working: the Tepig's defense was getting lowered.

"Tri, use Ember, again! Don't miss this time!" Hilbert ordered.

"Put in your all, and dodge again!" Hilda countered. "Then, come on in with another Leer attack!" Round two of their small battle had begun, and despite Hilbert's persistent efforts to let his flaming attacks hit- and perhaps if even just one of them could land onto Vic, the battle would be all his-, Tri's Ember attack has missed yet again, and the small pig was left with an awkward stare glaring at him again. More defense was lowering inside of him. Hopefully, Hilda could command Vic to actually attack soon; her Pokemon was getting tiresome of all the dodging.

"You can't dodge forever, you know!" Hilbert reminded. "Ember, again! Don't stop until it hits!" His Tepig launched into action, spitting flames out every which way, until eventually, a few attacks managed to hit Vic. The poor Snivy was knocked out upon being attacked with the super effective moves.

"No! Vic!" Hilda dashed across the road to pick up her unconscious Pokemon in her arms, and she immediately began to walk to the Pokemon Center, which stood only a few buildings down the street. She stopped when she heard Hilbert calling her name.

"Hilda!"

"What?" Hilda demanded, turning around.

"You lost, so give me my prize money!" Hilbert ordered, selfishly sticking out his hands. Hilda stuffed her fist into her pocket and pulled out a few Pokedollars before chucking them at Hilbert, missing his open palm that was waiting for the money. Hilbert collected the bills on the ground, and glared up at Hilda. "See, you're the one that's going to be crying all the way to the Pokemon Center! I told you to stop talking about yourself! You sore loser!"

Hilda felt her entire body tensing up. "What did you say?" She demanded, feeling her entire body starting to shake with anger. Her fists were clenching up, and she felt it becoming harder and harder to hold her Pokemon in her arms.

"You're a sore loser." Hilbert repeated simply. "How hard was that to hear? You're as deaf as a Zubat."

"Zubat have incredible hearing." Hilda said back.

"Well, does it look like I give a shit about what a dork like you says to me?!" Hilbert demanded, pointlessly losing his temper and letting out the first cuss that Hilda ever heard her neighbor say.

"That's it, Hilbert!" She shouted. "I give you one last chance to apologize, before I will go out of my way to show you that I am better!"

"No way, Hilda. You are just a girl, and girls don't deserve the title of Pokemon Champion. Girls are too weak!" Hilbert said, a smug smile growing on his face. Hilda felt herself about to lose it, and she began storming away, heading in the direction of the Pokemon Center. Hopefully, she could leave Striaton City soon, and get as far away from the bully of a neighbor she had to put up with her entire life as possible.

"I'll show him," she muttered coldly to herself. "I'll show him how wrong he is."