Cherrygrove City

"Shouldn't we be going straight to the professor's lab?" Beck asks as Ethan makes for the PokéMart.

"Nope. I wanna see if I can't catch any Pokémon on the way there. So I'm buying Pokéballs."

"Oooh. I'll get some too!" Barry runs inside ahead of Ethan.

"Whatever's happening at the lab," Ethan says, "I don't think we'll actually be that much help. Elm's a bit jumpy anyway, so it's probably nothing."

"I'll wait at the town entrance while you guys shop then."

Beck approaches the town sign. V Y. It's written in bold, red letters. A pidgey sits atop the sign, so Beck pulls out her Pokédex.

Pidgey: Normal Flying Pokémon

It usually hides in tall grass. Because it dislikes fighting, it protects itself by kicking up sand.

She waves at the small bird, but it flies away, startled by something.

"You again." Beck whips around to see the red-haired boy from earlier that morning standing before her. "What's that thing in your hand?"

"None of your business, jerk." She shoves the Pokédex into her back pocket. Cyndaquil looks up at her curiously. "You want to know anything about me, you apologize for shoving me." Upon hearing this, the flames on Cyndaquil's burn hotter. It stands in front of her, protectively.

"... You got a Pokemon at the lab. What a waste. A wimp like you."

"What did you say?!"

"I said you're a wimp, and it's a waste that you of all people got a Pokemon. I bet Team Rocket will have your Pokemon in a week."

Beck begins to tremble but clenches her fists. "Just shut up and go away already," she barks.

"You scared? Hmph." The boy pulls out a Pokéballs. "I'll show you just how much of a weakling you are!" He tosses the Pokéball in the air and out comes a short, stocky blue crocodile. Beck recognizes the Pokemon immediately, and her mind flashes back to the professor's frantic phone call.

"You actually stole a Pokemon. I guess you mentioned Team Rocket because they're your heroes, huh?"

"Totodile! Use Scratch!" The baby-blue croc rushes towards Cyndaquil.

"Don't dodge!" When Totodile gets close, it raises its arm, leaving itself exposed. "Pound!" Cyndaquil lands a hit right in Totodile's neck. It falls over, coughing. A critical hit! "Keep going! Knock 'em out!"

"Move out of the way, Totodile!" Totodile manages to roll out of the way and clamor to its feet, stumbling. "Leer!" Cyndaquil's defense is lowered.

"Don't stop 'til you get a knockout!" Again, Cyndaquil goes for another attack, only one landing. Between misses, Totodile continues using Leer. Eventually, Cyndaquil manages one more hit, and Totodile faints.

"Hmph. Return." Totodile returns to its Pokéball.

"Not so smug now, are you, thief?"

"You're an idiot." The boy pulls out another Pokéball.

"Did you actually catch this one?"

"Use Pound," he shouts as Professor Elm's Treecko is summoned.

"Dodge it and return the favor!" But Cyndaquil is tired from its earlier barrage of attacks, and Treecko is fast. It doesn't manage to get out of the way, and because of Totodile's repeated use of Leer, the hit does a lot of damage. Cyndaquil struggles to stand. "Oh no..."

"If you had been paying attention, you'd have realized I was using Leer for a reason. I assume your Pokemon hasn't learned any fire type moves either."

"Use...use smokescreen."

"You can try and hide, but you're one hit away from going down. And since you were shaking just now, I'm gonna assume that's your only Pokémon."

"Hang in there, buddy. When he gets close, use Pound."

"Amazing strategy. Treecko, you can take it! Finish this!" Treecko disappears into the smoke. From the sounds that ensue, Treecko misses a few swipes and lets out a cry. Cyndaquil must have landed a hit. But, when the smoke clears, Cyndaquil has fainted.

"Cyndaquil!" Beck runs forward and cradles the fallen Pokémon.

"Humph. That was a waste of time. Weaklings like you just get Pokémon stolen or themselves killed. Or both." The boy returns Treecko to his Pokéball. "Listen up! My name's Silver, and I'm going to be the world's greatest Pokémon trainer. So stay out of my way, loser." He walks away, leaving Beck on her knees, cradling her Cyndaquil.