*Updated December 2021*
Chapter 3
Friends and Foes
"No! Rattata!" cried a young lad, clad in a sky-blue shirt and khaki shorts. His eyes, which matched the colour of his shirt, were watering heavily. He pulled out a small red and white orb, and sent out a small red beam towards the fallen creature. The purple and white figure disappeared in a flash of white light.
Across from the young boy, stood a young lady that looked to be roughly fifteen years of age. Her emerald eyes followed the young trainer closely, as he turned tail and ran towards a large white building with a ruby tinted roof. Pathetic, she thought as she flicked a strand of her pale lilac hair out of her eyesight. Is there anyone in this goddamn town that is even remotely a challenge?
Christopher Davis released a heavy sigh. He had been walking this path ever since he left camp this morning. His skinny black jeans clung tightly to his walking figure, and his red shirt shined, as he trudged along the frosty path. The snow has thinned out considerably over night. I wouldn`t be the least bit surprised if Auburn Town didn`t even have a spec, he moaned mentally. When he was alone, he preferred not to speak aloud. It's already crazy enough that I can understand Pokémon, I don't need anyone noticing that I may actually be insane too.
His thoughts drifted to his two companions, who upon given the option, chose to sleep in. I wish I could tuck myself into a ball and have a nice nap while somebody else did my movement for m- Chris` thought abruptly stopped, as he noticed a much welcomed sight on the horizon.
Finally! Auburn Town! he thought triumphantly. As Chris descended down a gentle incline towards the small town, he looked for a building that might possibly be a Pokémon Center. Chris eyes were drawn to a large white building, with a red roof glimmering in the morning sun.
"Excuse me? Is that the Pokémon Center?" Chris asked a passing man, clad in an orange shirt and blue jeans. The man looked at him as if he was an idiot.
"Of course it is! That's what the sign is for," he pointed out, and walked away. Chris swore he heard the man mutter the word idiot under his breath. Chris turned to give him a piece of his mind, but a large sign on the white building caught his eye. Oh great... he moaned, reading the carefully labelled Pokémon Center sign. Shaking off his embarrassment, he walked in the direction of the building.
"...And then this stupid kid passed by me asking where the Pokémon Center was," muttered the very same orange clad man from earlier. He was standing outside of an off white building, with a turquoise roof. His green eyes glimmered with amusement as he told his comrades the story.
"Wow, what an idiot! I'd bet anything he's a newbie," one of his friends, clad in a green turtleneck sweater, with tight black jeans. The other man, wearing a blue t-shirt and shorts, nodded in agreement. They were so busy that they did not notice a young girl walk up to them.
"You three! I challenge you all to a match!" she declared, her emerald eyes betraying her anticipation. The three men let out a hearty laugh. "What, you scared?" she chided them. The orange shirted man stopped laughing, and gave her a serious look.
"Look kid, you're no match for us. If you want a match that you should definitely win though, go find this idiot who couldn't even find the Pokémon Center. He is wearing a red shirt and tight black jeans. You should probably have no difficulty beating him," he snickered.
"Fine! I will!" she bellowed, and stormed off. This red shirt idiot is going down!
"Here you are, Sir. Your Charmander and Snorunt are fully healed," chimed a delicate feminine voice.
"T-t-thank you, Nurse..." Chris started.
"Joy," the woman finished. She had long pink hair, which was done up in little loops at the back. Her blue eyes glimmered affectionately, and her smile could brighten up an entire room. She wore a cute little pink and white nurse's outfit. If Chris weren't a teenager, he would have sworn he was in love.
"T-t-that's a pretty name," he stammered, blushing profusely.
"Why thank you," she smiled sweetly. This action only caused Chris to blush even more.
"My n-n-name is Chris," he stuttered. I must be making myself look like an idiot. I need to get myself out of this mess. As if the gods had answered his prayers, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"So your name is Chris?" asked an unfamiliar, feminine voice. Chris turned around, and found a young girl staring at him. She looked to be about his age, with semi long lilac hair and emerald eyes. She wore a blue hooded sweater and a long blue skirt. Her intense gaze unnerved Chris, but he would not show it to this girl.
"Who are you to ask for my name?" he challenged. He watched as a sly smirk appeared on her lips. Uh Oh! This can't be good, he mentally sighed.
"My name is Melanie Emerald, and I challenge you to a battle!"
"Agent One to Agent Three: Forest was a success."
"Agent Three to Agent One: Good. Do they know?"
"Agent One to Agent Three: No. They are clueless."
"Agent Three to Agent One: That is for the best. Is Agent Two ready?
"Agent One to Agent Three: He has taken up post in Auburn Valley.
"Agent Three to Agent One: Good. We must not disappoint our Lord."
"W-w-what?" Chris stammered. He had never battled another trainer before. My only battles so far have been the Mankeys and Lucario. I doubt I'd stand a chance, his thoughts dismayed. On the other hand, that Lucario seemed relatively strong, but I guess Free probably did the most damage to it.
"You heard me. I challenge you to a battle!" Melanie muttered. "Excuse me, Nurse. Do you think you could referee our match?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Emerald, but I cannot leave my post," she apologized, causing Melanie to scowl. Chris exhaled a long, relieved sigh. He did not want to fight this girl.
"Perhaps I could be of assistance," said a deep voice from behind them. In the doorway of the building, stood a man who looked to be in his early forties. His jet back hair was slicked back, and his silver eyes glimmered. He wore a black tuxedo, a similar colour to his hair, which made Chris believe he was going to a fancy party of some kind.
"And who are you exactly?" Melanie asked, clearly realizing that she should be wary of strangers.
"My apologies miss, my name is Steven Galiano," he said, giving a slight bow to the young woman. He turned to Chris and stared for a few seconds, and then gave him a curt nod. What was that about? Chris wondered.
"Why are you so interested in helping out with our match?" Melanie asked pointedly.
"I heard you ask the nurse to ref a battle for you, and I love watching new trainers battle," he replied. His silver eyes turned back to Chris, and began to look over him again. After looking over him head to toe, he glanced straight into his eyes. Does this guy want something from me? Suddenly, Chris remembered what Professor Hemlock had told him before he left.
Flashback...
"WAIT!" Chris turned sharply, to see the Professor running after him. When she finally caught up, she let a few hoarse breaths, before looking up and facing Chris. "Whatever you do, you cannot let other people know about your gift. If the wrong person finds out, they might try to use you for their means. Please be careful Chris." With the last statement, she turned and slowly walked back to her lab, leaving behind a stunned Christopher Davis.
End Flashback...
I better beware of this guy, he thought. He opened his mouth to speak, but stopped when he saw Melanie start. "Fine, let's fight outside the Pokémon Center." With a huff, she turned and walked outside the door. Steven gave one last glance at Chris, and then followed her out of the Center.
Looks like I'm stuck... he mentally moaned, and followed Melanie out of the Pokémon Center. My first battle is about to begin.
(Where is he?) asked an annoyed voice.
(I dunno, boss,) another replied.
(You idiot! Find him before he get the opportunity to leave this town! We will strike as soon as he leaves!)
(Yes boss!)
"This match will be two versus two. Substitutions are not allowed. Returning your Pokémon counts as a loss. Are we clear?" Steven asked, his voice booming. Melanie gave him a swift nod, and Chris gave him a more reluctant nod. "You may now release your Pokémon!"
I don't know who to send out first. Snorunt is probably more experienced, but Charmander is my starter. Almost every first battle I've ever seen, whether on television or in a game, the starter got the first battle. Although this is a two on two, so both will battle. It's also probably really cliché to use my starter first just because. Wait, she just sent hers out. Chris looked across the clearing to observe his opponents choice. It stood on its hind legs and its body was a yellowish brown with a white belly. Its black eyes looked at Chris expectantly, with its tail swaying slightly. Sandshrew, a ground type.
Well I guess my choice was just made for me, Chris thought. "Snorunt, you're up!" Out of his red and white ball, came an orange snow cone. It gave a little yawn, and turned his black body towards Chris.
(Mornin', Pardner. Are we battling?) Snorunt asked Chris. Chris nodded quickly, showing signs of his nerves, which the snow hat Pokémon picked up on. (Don't worry Chris. I do declare that Charmie and I can take care of this.)
He's right. I have to believe in my Pokémon, Chris thought. Even if I don't believe in myself, I can still believe in them. Chris tense demeanour lessened slightly, enough to release a smile.
"Are you even going to start?" asked a rather impatient Melanie.
"I was waiting for you. After all, Ladies first," Chris teased.
"It's your funeral I suppose. Sandshrew, scratch!" Upon command, the shrew like Pokémon charged towards Snorunt, its claw outstretched. Fast little guy, he's almost at Snorunt.
"Snorunt, powder snow!" Chris called desperately. With a slightly inhale, Snorunt began blowing little white snowflakes from his mouth, causing Sandshrew to slow down. "Now tackle!"
(Yee haw!) Snorunt cried, crashing his pointed top into the Sandshrew's soft belly. Sandshrew let out a long groan, as it flew backwards a few feet, landing in a heap in front of its trainer.
"Get up, Sandshrew! We can't lose!" Melanie cried. Slowly, the mouse Pokémon pulled itself to its feet. Chris could see the determination in the creature's eyes.
"Be ready, Snorunt!" he called. Although Snorunt hadn't really taken a hit yet, Chris did not want to chance it.
"Sandshrew, sand attack!" The little mouse dug its claw into the lightly frosted earth, and threw a pile of dirt at Snorunt. The snow hat Pokémon had no time to react before the dirt hit it straight in the face.
(I reckon that's a dirty tactic, Pardner!) Snorunt cursed.
(Sand enough for ya?) Sandshrew teased him.
(I do declare that you'll pay for that!) Snorunt cried.
"Sandshrew, use dig!" On command, the little mouse leapt into the earth. Not dig! That's the trick Mankey used on Charmander. I don't know how we can counteract that. As a ground type, Sandshrew must have some idea of where Snorunt is. If only there was enough frost left on the ground to make burrowing back to the surface just a little bit harder.
"That's it! Snorunt, use icy wind on the ground around us." Chris cried.
(Got it, Pardner!) Snorunt cried. He let in a long inhale, and began to exhale a chilly wind from his mouth. The earth around the clearing began to cover in a semi thick layer of frozen water.
"Sandshrew! Try to break through!" Melanie yelled. Chris could see the small form of Sandshrew crashing against the ice.
"Snorunt, wait for it," he said calmly. Snorunt looked at Chris carefully. I reckon that he is finally getting comfortable with this, Snorunt thought.
Suddenly, the yellowish form of Sandshrew broke through the ice. "Now Snorunt! Icy Wind!" Chris commanded. Snorunt was already ahead of him. By the time Chris finished his command, Snorunt had already exhaled a frozen breath at the exhausted mouse. Sandshrew collapsed instantly.
"Sandshrew is unable to battle. Snorunt is the winner!" Steven called. Chris has thoroughly impressed me. There is no doubt he is one of them, Steven thought.
"You're pretty good at this. Is this really your first match?" Melanie asked Chris sceptically.
"Yep. This is my first official trainer battle." He replied, giving a light shrug in the process.
"But you're so good," she murmured.
"Natural skill maybe?" he teased.
"Now now, no need to be cocky. You haven't even fought my toughest Pokémon," she smirked. "Go! Tangela!
"Isn't that Galiano over there?" a deep, masculine voice asked. He and his partner had been sent to this town looking for weak trainers to steal from.
"It certainly looks like it," agreed the other one, which was higher pitched, but not quite feminine.
"Should we attack?" the masculine voice asked.
"No. We will wait till after the match he is reffing is over."
"But why?"
"Look at his belt. See any balls? If we wait for these kids to weaken each other's Pokémon, we can catch Galiano ourselves."
"Makes sense, I guess."
"That's your secret weapon?" Chris asked incredulously. He looked over the blue ball of vines carefully. Besides the vines, it had big white eyes, with little black pupils, inside some sort of black facemask. It also had little red shoe looking things as feet.
"Don't underestimate her. She'll single-handedly take you to the cleaners!" Melanie declared.
"She doesn't even have hands," Chris teased.
"Shut up! Tangela, vine whip!" Tangela's vines shot out, hitting Snorunt square in the face.
(Dang Ma'am, that almost hurt,) Snorunt yelled at the vine Pokémon.
(Sorry, sweetums. I wish I didn't have to do this because you are soooo damn cute. We should get together sometime,) she said, a seductive tone making both Snorunt and Chris flinch.
(I do declare that to be beyond disturbing,) Snorunt muttered.
"I agree. That is pretty bad," Chris agreed.
"And just who are you talking to?" Oh crap! Melanie! What do I say, what do I say?
"Um... myself?" he offered, hoping he convinced her.
"HaHa, very funny. I'll grill you for it later," she yelled. "Now where were we?"
At least that buys me some time, Chris mused thankfully. He was snapped out of his thoughts as Snorunt was sent flying towards him.
"You okay, bud?" Chris asked him.
(I'm fine. I can keep going,) he confirmed. He gave Chris a nod, to make sure Melanie didn't catch on to Chris' abilities anymore.
"If you insist. Double team!" Suddenly, the snow hat Pokémon had multiplied into four separate Pokémon, each looking just as real as the original.
(You can't hide, sweetie. Now there are just more of you to love, and if you haven't noticed I've got more than enough vines for all of you,) the female Tangela cooed.
(Hey Pardner, you have any repel? Or mace? I do wish we Pokémon had them handcuff thingies y'all were talking bout,) he asked Chris hopefully. Chris simply shook his head. (Oh well, order an attack now, Pardner.)
"Use icy wind! Get as much as the landscape as you can, including Tangela!"
Snorunt opened its mouth and exhaled its icy wind attack. The fakes did it to, but Chris knew the ice they breathed wouldn't do anything. Wait a minute. If the ice the fakes breathe doesn't freeze, they will be able to figure out which one is the real one. I better order another attack.
"Snorunt, use bite!" Chris called.
"Snorunt has used more than four moves. It is here by disqualified, and the match goes to Tangela," Steven declared.
"What!" Chris asked, sounding rather shocked.
"In an official trainer battle, a Pokémon is only allowed to use four moves. If a fifth move is used, the Pokémon is disqualified. It's basically like if your Pokémon was actually fainted, you can't use it anymore for this match," Steven explained.
"Damn it!" What a stupid mistake. I didn't even know that. I just figured the four move max was implemented in the Pokémon games to keep some species from being broken, and I swear in the anime some Pokémon definitely used more than four moves… he thought to himself. "Oh well, great job, Snorunt!" he said, returning the tired out former sheriff. "Charmander, I need your assistance!" As the Pokéball burst open, his starter Pokémon, a flaming lizard appeared.
"Oh great. More grass killers. Do you hate grass types or something?" Melanie asked.
"No. I only have these two. I love all Pokémon," Chris replied. "Now let us finish the battle. Charmander, ember!"
"Tangela, dodge it quickly!" Melanie cried. Her vine ball rolled to its side, just narrowly being missed by the three small fireballs emitted by the lizard.
"Now, use vine whip!"
"Charmander! Dodge it!"
(I'm on it!) Charmander declared. She tried to move slightly, but slipped on a patch of ice.
"No! Charmander!" Chris cried desperately. The vines were heading towards his fallen Pokémon and there was nothing he could do. "Charmander!" With no way to defend herself, the vines smashed down on Charmander's back, causing the fire pokemon to grumble in pain.
"Foiled by your own icy tricks. Serves you right!" Melanie called out. "Again Tangela, whip it good with another vine whip!"
As Charmander tried to push herself back to her feet, her tail suddenly turned into a shimmering shade of silver. The vines connected with Charmander's silver tail, and bounced back towards Tangela. This momentary incident allowed Charmander to completely get back up to her feet, ready to begin a counter attack.
"Was that iron tail?" Chris wondered out loud.
"Yes it was, Chris. Your Charmander's parents must have known it," Steven replied.
"That's cool, although for a beginning trainer, it seems kinda overpowered. Not much I can do about it though. Just means Charmander found a way to be even cooler!" he yelled. "Now we finish this."
"Your Charmander may have a nifty attack, but we will still win," Melanie declared. "Tangela, Sleep powder!"
"Charmander, leap to your right," Chris told her. She obeyed him immediately, this time hitting a spot without any ice to cause any more slips, causing the sleep powder to miss her by a nose. We need to block Tangela's vision somehow, but all we have around here is ice and I don't know if Charmander knows smokescreen, but this is not the time to check. I just need some water...
"Do you know smokescreen?" Chris asked Charmander quietly.
(I haven't perfected it yet. I'd been trying it before I met you at the lab, but it is not there yet,) she mumbled.
Oh well. I wish there was some wa- Hang on! That it! "Charmander, use ember on the ice!"
What is he getting at? Melanie wondered. Suddenly, her vision was blurred by steam. Damn it! she mentally screamed, realizing that she had just lost the battle.
"Now Charmander! Iron tail!"
"Can we make our move now? It would be easier with the steam still up," the masculine voice from earlier whined.
"Shut it! We need to make sure that Tangela is really fainted," replied the other voice.
"But even if it's not, it will be weak," the masculine voice muttered.
"Shut up! I make the plans nimrod!"
As the steam cleared, both trainers could clearly see Tangela lying facedown in a partially frozen puddle. Charmander was taking a knee nearby, but she was otherwise still standing.
"Tangela is unable to battle! Charmander and Chris are the winners." Steven declared. Melanie sighed, and returned Tangela to its ball. She walked over to the shocked Chris, and reached out her hand to him.
"You're good, and from up close you even look kinda cute," she teased.
"Thanks I guess. You are a pretty good battler yourself," he replied, choosing to ignore the cute comment. He couldn't tell if she was just playing with him or not.
"Congratulations, Chris," said Steven as he walked over to the former combatants. "May I spea-"
"Hold it, Galiano! You're coming with us!" shouted a masculine voice. Chris inspected the man, and realized his voice matched his outer appearance. He had long scruffy black hair, and blue eyes. He had a rather muscular build, and looked like he hadn't shaved in weeks.
"Hello Biff. Hello Morgan," Steven muttered. Chris guessed the buff guy must be Biff, and the other one was Morgan. He had long, purple hair and violet eyes to match. He wasn't overly tall, and had a slender figure.
"You heard him, Galiano! You're coming with us!" replied the one Chris guessed was Morgan.
"No I'm not, Morgan. Now leave or I shall make you," Steven responded coldly.
"How? You don't have any Pokéballs," Morgan laughed.
"Xatu, use Psychic on these morons," Steven muttered, apparently not seeing them as a threat. Suddenly, a green totem pole like bird appeared out of nowhere, and within seconds of its appearance, those two morons were long gone.
"Wow your Xatu didn't even attack, and they ran away. You must be some trainer," Melanie said.
"I suppose you could say that. Now as for you two, you have to watch out for those goons. They work for an organization called the Chaos. As long as you are a trainer, they may come after you. And with that, I take my leave," Steven replied.
"Why don't you come with us?" Melanie asked. Us? Chris pondered.
"I can't. I have other arrangements. I will see you both again,"
(He will see you especially, Chris,) Xatu said to Chris.
What does that mean? Ugh! This is all so confusing. I'll worry about it later. Now I should worry about some other things. He turned to Melanie. "What did you mean by us?"
"What? I'm coming with you. Whether you like it or not," she replied simply.
"Don't I get a say in this?" he whined. I suppose there is probably safety in numbers, and I've already proven I can beat her in a fair fight. I guess this wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
"Nope. Now go book us a room at the Pokémon Center. You owe me an explanation."
Chris groaned. I guess I'm stuck now. My journey just got more interesting I guess.