Hope (Pikachu)
Spearow
Vivillon
Pidgeotto Erika's Pokemon:
Meadow (Leafeon)
Rafflesia (Gloom)
Ichigo (Lokix)
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text"Alright, lunchtime everyone!"
We find our heroines still deep within the Viridian Forest, on the route to Ashley's first gym battle in Pewter City.
Ashley's confidence, for her part, felt rock solid in her capabilities to win.
First things first though, they still had to get out of this forest. Even with the clear-cutting, this was still one of the biggest hurdles for first time trainers. It was genuinely advised to stick to the path when navigating this forest, which… well needless to say Ashley hadn't listened to that advice.
"Well, I'll say this, Ashley," Erika said, sitting down on a rock and fanning herself. "It's actually sort of impressive how long this little short-cut turned out to be. I can't actually tell what direction we're heading in."
"Hey, you said it yourself," Ashley said, placing out bowls and filling them with pokemon food. "You wanted me to catch more Pokemon, so here I am, out here in the forest catching more Pokemon."
Hope gave her a look, the electric mouse raising an eyebrow.
"Okay so I've only got you, Spearow, Pidgeotto and Vivillon. Quality over quantity, okay?" Ashley said in her defense before dodging a Peck attack from her Spearow. "Geez, okay, you'll get your food! You just have to be patient!"
The tiny bird hopped up on a rock and glared at her.
"Okay, are you still pissy I bit you and caught your whole flock?" Ashley said before rolling her eyes and sassing the bird. "That's just what happens, capiche? Trainers catch Pokemon and Pokemon obey their trainers! So I order you to sit and wait for your food."
"Proper ladies are polite to their Pokemon," Erika said. "If you treat them with kindness, they will show you the same respect that you show them."
"I'll show this Spearow respect when he earns it!" Ashley snapped. "All he's done is sit and glare at me!"
"You're not helping your case," Erika told her. "Yes, Spearow are bad tempered Pokemon, and they've earned that reputation with good reason but he'll warm up to you in time. But that's only if you don't shout at him and make him even madder at you."
"Ugh, fine…" Ashley sighed, managing a weak smile at her grumpy bird pokemon. "...still if I'd caught a Pidgey as I originally planned to do, it wouldn't be half as difficult to train as this jerk."
"Well, if you're the World's Greatest Trainer," Erika gently snarked. "You should have no trouble at all dealing with a simple Spearow. Who knows, maybe you'll be rewarded someday with a mighty Fearow. I heard even the great Fezandipiti was a Spearow once before being blessed and turned into the form it's known today as."
"This Spearow could be an Articuno in disguise for all I care, right about now," Ashley said, placing the bowl in front of the tiny bird. "It still has a terrible attitude."
Erika gave her traveling companion a Look. Ashley sighed.
"Right, sorry that was uncalled for," the dark-haired girl apologized to her Pokemon. "I don't know what I have to do to win your respect, Spearow but you and I will be buddies! You'll see!"
Ashley thumped her chest with a fist before extending her hand to the Spearow, trying a winning grin. The Spearow just pecked at her hand, leaving the young girl letting out a curse after yelping in pain.
"...Patience, huh?" Ashley said. "...let's hope I have a lot of that."
"Pika!" Hope said and glared at the Spearow, which probably amounted to 'don't make me shock you again!' in Pokespeak.
The Spearow rolled its remaining eye before letting out a sigh of 'Spear…'.
Ashley let out a sigh of her own, smoothing out her clothes. Then, she swallowed her pride. "Look, if this is going to work, we can't be trying to squabble with one another at every chance we get. You want to be strong?" she asked, gaining a nod. "You want to be the strongest Spearow in the world? You want to outfly even Articuno? Is that it?"
"SPEAR!" the Spearow squawked, which she took as probably a 'yes'.
"Well, stick with me and you'll be the strongest Spearow in the world! You'll be a shining example of… no you'll be the example of your species!"
Her Spearow still looked skeptical before giving another sigh. He then gave what was probably the equivalent of a shrug with his wings.
"See?" Erika said, nodding approvingly and clapping her hands together. "It isn't so hard to come to an arrangement is it?"
Ashley set out the final food bowl for her Vivillon who let out a happy squeak and flew down towards her. Her butterfly licked her with her proboscis and Ashley let out a disgusted groan.
"Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" the breathtakingly beautiful butterfly squealed, fluttering down to her bowl. The bowl, which was right next to Spearow's own.
"Spear, Spearow, Spear!" the rather annoyed bird said, pecking at the butterfly.
"Viiiiiiiiiiii!" the Vivillon said, tackling the bird away.
"Oh come on…" Ashley groaned, looking skywards in a silent plea of 'why me?'. She quickly broke the two apart, asking: "Now can't you two just get along? You're a part of the same team now! Don't make me put you back in your Pokeballs!"
"Spearow!" the tiny bird said, angrily at this threatened indignity. His talons clawed at the ground, kicking sand in both Ashley and Vivillon's faces.
Ashley just glared at the flying type, and to her credit the Spearow actually did back down.
Ashley slumped against a nearby tree. "...this is my life now, isn't it? Be a Pokemon trainer, everyone does it! Everyone makes it look so easy!"
Erika giggled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing," the gym leader said. "It's just… well, trainer and Pokemon are starting to look quite a lot alike now! They say people and Pokemon do rub off on one another!"
"Har dee har har," Ashley said, sarcastically. "I don't look anything like him!"
She said this, while making a very similar expression as her Spearow. Nearby, Hope and her Vivillon shared a look between them.
"So when are you actually going to start training your Pokemon, huh Ashy?"
Ashley felt a deep groan leave her when she heard that voice.
"Gary," she said, turning towards her former childhood friend. "What happened, did you double back to gloat? Well, you've done that, so run along. I think the forest has had enough of your voice for one day."
"Wow, I gotta say, and Pops did tell me about your recent change but frankly, I don't see much difference." the youngest Oak said.
"And what's that supposed to mean, huh?" Ashley asked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot. Erika began to rise up from her sitting place as well, just in case she needed to step in.
"I mean you're still the same old, same old whom I left behind back in Pallet."
"So what, do you not take me seriously as a girl or something?" Ashley said, her Pikachu hopping up on her shoulder. Hope's cheeks were sparking in warning. "Because I'm all woman!"
"Well, you're a little short to be called a woman," Gary said. "You haven't hit your growth spurt just yet, though then again maybe you never will!"
"Will you get to the point already?" Ashley said. "Maybe then you can, y'know, leave?"
"Girl or boy, you're still the same weakling I left behind. Just so you know, I didn't come back to gloat, Ashy. I don't get your whole deal Ashy but if you say you're a girl I'm not gonna disrespect that. You already got enough stuff I can make fun of. Like that stupid hat, that I will make fun of you for. It's so last year."
"...yeah? Sure feels like it. Sure feels like you're gloating."
"I just… I totally didn't get lost either," and Ashley didn't believe him for a second. "I heard the sound of your voice and I came in to check in on my least favorite trainer, that's all."
He observed the clearing, eying his rival's Pokemon.
"Wow, your Pokemon look just as weak as you are! You'd better get onto training them, assuming they'll even listen to your stupid voice!"
Gary laughed and Ashley sighed, she wished she could forget how annoying his laugh was.
"Here's a hint, Ashy. Check your Pokedex, maybe you've somehow gotten lucky and for once Arceus blessed you! Though it still won't help you beat me when we meet again! Smell ya later, Ashy!"
With that, Gary walked off into the forest, leaving Ashley steaming.
"Oooooooooooooh, that Gary!" she said, her cheeks red. "He just really burns a girl up!"
"He could have been politer about it, yes, but he did have a point. Your Pokedex should tell you everything about your Pokemon, including what moves they know," Erika said.
"...Gary, making a good point," Ashley said. "Gary, making an actually good point. I can't believe those words just came out of my mouth, ugh it makes me want to be sick just saying that."
"Well, rude as he is," Erika said, fanning herself from the heat of the Kanto sun. "He is the grandson of a Pokemon professor."
"True, but that doesn't mean I have to like it…" Ashley said, opening up her Pokedex and scanning each of her Pokemon.
"Spearow, the Tiny Bird Pokemon. Its short wings make it inept at flying. It moves about hurriedly and pecks at Bug-type Pokémon in the tall grass. Farmers whose fields are troubled by bug Pokémon appreciate Spearow for its vigorous appetite and look after it. Its reckless nature leads it to stand up to others—even large Pokémon—if it has to protect its territory. This Spearow is male and knows the moves Peck, Sand Attack, Leer, Fury Attack and Feint Attack."
Next, her Vivillon.
"Vivillon, the Scale Pokémon. Vivillon with many different patterns are found all over the world. These patterns are affected by the climate of their habitat and often scatter colorful but toxic scales mid-flight and in battle. This form is from lands with distinct seasons. This Vivillon is female and knows the moves Tackle, String Shot, Psybeam, Light Screen, Poison Powder, Gust, and Sleep Powder.
Next, Pidgeotto:
"Pidgeotto, the Bird Pokémon. Pidgeotto claims a large area as its own territory. This Pokémon flies around, patrolling its living space. If its territory is violated, it shows no mercy in thoroughly punishing the foe with its sharp claws. The claws on its feet are well developed and with them it can carry prey such as an Exeggcute to its nest over 60 miles away. This Pidgeotto is female and knows the moves Gust, Sand Attack, Quick Attack, Mimic, Steel Wing and Defog."
And finally, Hope.
"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokemon. It stores electricity in the electric sacs on its cheeks. When it releases pent-up energy in a burst, the electric power is equal to a lightning bolt. Whenever Pikachu comes across something new, it blasts it with a jolt of electricity. If you come across a blackened berry, it's evidence that this Pokémon mistook the intensity of its charge. This Pikachu is female, and knows the moves Thunder Shock, Thunder Wave, and Quick Attack. It also potentially knows the egg move Volt Tackle from one of its parents."
"Ooooh, Gary was right. You did get lucky, Volt Tackle is not a common move for Pikachu to know, it's only in about 5% of Pikachu," Erika said.
"Hear that? You're awesome little buddy!" Ashley said, high-fiving her Pikachu. Hope rubbed the back of her head with a paw, actually blushing.
"That being said, egg moves require training just like any other move. It likely won't be a while till Hope can actually use it. I'd recommend starting with Quick Attack, and building up from there," Erika advised. "Getting Pikachu's speed up is crucial, and then you can have Hope start adding a coating of electricity to herself."
"You hear that Pikachu?" Ashley said, with a grin and adjusting her hat. "We just gotta work on your speed! You'll be the fastest Pokemon around, Hope!"
"Pi-Pikachu, Pika!" said the little mouse, which probably meant 'Yeah, that's the stuff! Taste the sheer speed, bitch! Flying types, beware!'
Spearow took a few nervous steps away from Hope, and squawked, possibly worriedly.
"Hope, now that you're all full, take a quick run around the clearing and start building up your speed! Gotta burn off those calories anyways!"
"Pika?" said Hope, which translated to: 'Are you saying I'm fat?'
"Gary will be eating his words!"
"PIKA!" Hope said, excitedly. Her cheeks sparked with the little mouse looking determined and all charged up for action.
Erika smiled in spite of herself, and stroked Meadow's fur as she ate. Maybe Ashley had potential after all, she was certainly very enthusiastic at any rate. And a rivalry would certainly be healthy to Ashley and her pokemon's mutual development. Though, she hoped this wouldn't grow out of control.
The way they talked, Ashley and Gary had a long, ugly relationship and she worried things could get out of control.
She wished that Professor Oak had taught Gary to not let his status go to his head. But then again, he was a teenage boy and all of them were little snots like that.
Such was life.
Line break
The two continued their walk through the forest, and several days had passed since they'd entered it.
"...we gotta be nearing Pewter City soon…" Ashley said, reading the map she'd picked up in Viridian. "...at least we're back on the path, though it feels like the trees are getting closer and closer. Like they're, I dunno, closin' in or something like that."
She laughed, slightly nervously.
"Hehe, I remember my mom telling me stories of the really old forests. Where trees walked on their roots all by themselves and had minds of their own. But that's impossible… right?"
"Pika… Pikachu…" Hope said, nervously trodding alongside her with her ears flattened against her head. She was probably saying: 'I hope so…'
"We should be in the last stretch of this forest, though I'd be careful all the same," Erika warned. "Even if the trees don't walk, this forest is infested with Beedrill nests. I'd keep your eyes peeled, angry beedrill aren't really something I'd care to deal with."
"Just be glad neither of us are afraid of bugs," Ashley snorted and chuckled. "Can you imagine what a pain this would be if we were traveling with someone afraid of bugs?"
"I've never seen what's to be afraid of, bug-types are beautiful and often wonderfully poisonous," Erika said gushingly, earning her a strange look from Ashley. "They pollinate our gardens and help the beautiful flowers bloom."
"Yeah, as long as their stingers stay away from me," Ashley said. "Pokemon are beautiful when they're not trying to attack you."
"Well, as long as you don't, hmmm, I dunno throw a rock at any of them you should be fine," Erika said serenely.
"I wouldn't do that!" Ashley said. "Have a little faith in me, I'm not that dumb!"
Hope gave her trainer another one of those Looks.
Then, a sword swung out of nowhere at them.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Ashley shouted, grabbing her Pikachu and leaping backwards. A kid, about her age dressed in samurai armor and holding an actual katana stepped out of the grass. "What's your fucking problem, man? You could have killed me!"
"A trainer must always be aware of his surroundings," said the Samurai, in a distinctly Unovan accent. Ashley groaned, so he was a weeaboo.
"I'm a GIRL you asshat!"
"Funny, you don't look developed enough to be-"
Pidgeotto actually popped out of her Pokeball and began rapidfire pecking the Samurai.
"I see you haven't learned to control your Pokemon either, stupid!"
"I'm not stupid, you're the stupid one, Stupid!" Ashley said. "And maybe you should keep your smart mouth to yourself, asshole! I just started transitioning so thanks for the self-image issues, jerkface!"
Erika stepped up. "While normally I would be lecturing Ashley on the proper decorum for a lady, she's quite right. She hasn't transitioned completely so you'd do well to show her the proper respect. Samurai, last I heard, were supposed to be honorable and noble and respectful. You are none of those things!"
"Yeah, what she said!" Ashley said, her Pikachu and her Spearow nodding along with her. "What's with that getup anyways? The re-enactments and medieval fairs are in Ecruteak City!"
"I honor the way of the ancie-"
"Yeah yeah, I don't care," Ashley said, sassily. She walked by the 'Samurai' waving him off dismissively "Sorry for living, goodbye!"
"I have challenged all three of the trainers from Pallet who passed this way so far and-"
"Did you get your ass beat by all of them?" Ashley snarked.
"Yes, but it has only toughened me up! I have become stronger with every loss!"
"Yeah, so why haven't you won yet then?" Ashley said, dryly.
"We must do battle!" the samurai wannabe said. "I cannot let you pass without a battle! Our eyes locked, so that means we must do battle!"
"Ugh, fine. Prepare to get your ass beat for a fourth time!" Ashley said, with Hope hopping off her shoulder. Her cheeks sparked and a fanged grin spread across the mouse's face.
"I really wish I could have been around to see Gary destroy you. Frankly as much as I hate him I hate you even more! I didn't think it was possible, but I found someone even more annoying than him which is quite a feat so congratulations!" she said, dialing up the sarcasm to 11. "Give yourself a big ole pat on the back!"
"PINSER, I choose you!" the 'Samurai' said, and a massive beetle-like Pokemon appeared in a white flash.
"Well, you know what they say…" Ashley cracked her knuckles. She tossed her straw hat up in the air leaving Erika to catch it. "The bigger they are… the harder they fall!"
"That little rat is going to take down my Pinser?" the 'Samurai' scoffed. "Its armor is tougher than mine!"
"Hardly something to be worth bragging about," Ashley deadpanned. "Your armor looks like it's part of a bad cospl… oh wait, it is. Hope, start this off with a Thunder Shock!"
"Pinser, grab it and send it flying with a Seismic Toss!" the 'Samurai' said and the massive bug-type lurched forwards. "I pity you if you're going to take on the Pewter Gym with a little mouse like that! Brock's tough, hard as rocks!"
"Yeah, I'm thinking I'll file your opinions somewhere between 'screw this' and 'screw that', okay?" Ashley said, still snarking. "Hope, dodge and shock him with how powerful you are!"
Hope leaped out of the way of the Seismic Toss and rebounded off a tree.
"PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACHUUUUUUU!" she said, letting loose with the lightning.
There was a bright flash, forcing Ashley to cover her eyes. When the bright light finally faded, the Pinser slumped forwards into unconsciousness.
"Fine then, we'll see how you deal with-"
"Uh, no, we battled and you lost," Ashley said. "Did you get it out of your system? Good, because I've got places to be."
That's when she heard it.
The buzzing of an entire swarm.
"You stupid girl, you see what you've done?" the 'Samurai' said. "You've stirred up all of the Beedrill in this forest with your flashy attacks!"
"You're the one who challenged me!" Ashley was swift to point out.
"We must flee!" the 'Samurai' said, turning tail and running for the hills.
"I thought samurai were supposed to stand their ground and face any opponent!" Ashley said, leading Erika along by the hand. She didn't dare look back, because she knew what she'd see anyways.
"...well, this seems familiar doesn't it?" Ashley said to her Pikachu. "I hope this doesn't become a running thing with the three of us!"
"Well, look at it this way," Erika said, trying to see the bright sunny side of things. "You'll be getting plenty of exercise if so!"
"How do you even run in that kimono anyways?" Ashley asked.
"Plenty of, huff, practice!" her companion said, panting a little.
That's when Ashley felt herself trip on a rock, falling forwards. She fell into a tumble, rolling down the hill and into another little clearing in the woods.
"Ashley!" Erika shouted, walking down after her down the hillside.
"Oh boy…" Ashley said, seeing the swarm of Beedrill flying towards her almost rising up out of the tall grasses. "Getting some real feelings of Deja Vu here! Let's complete this flashback then! Hope, again with a Thunder Shock!"
"Pika!" Hope said with a nod, charging up before letting it fly. "PIIIIKKKKKKKKAAACHUUUU!"
Golden lightning bolts flew, striking down several of the Beedrill but plenty more rose up to take their place.
"I see this is going to be one of those days then…" Ashley muttered, even as the Beedrills continued to swarm around her.
"Beedrill!" several of them hissed, firing off Pin Missiles. Ashley leaped to the left to avoid the attacks and blew a raspberry. Okay, so it probably wasn't a smart move all things considered but she'd never claimed to be that smart either.
Pin missiles impaled themselves in a tree like spears and Ashley winced at how close they'd come. The spikes dripped poison and she really did not want that tree to be her next.
"Spearow!" Ashley said, tossing the bird's Pokeball. "Peck away!"
"SPEAAAAARRRROWWWWWWWWW!" the bird cried out and even a swarm of angry Beedrill flinched seeing an angry Spearow flying towards them. The bird's beak glowed and he swooped in striking one of the wasps before flying around for another pass.
"Alright Ashley, so you want to be a master of Pokemon?" she said to herself. "Well, think of this as another step on your road to greatness! Spearow, keep up that onslaught! Don't give them any room to catch their breath!"
"SPEAAARRROWWWW!" her Pokemon cried, striking another Beedrill with his Peck attack.
Another Beedrill came in, Twineedle at the ready. It flew towards Ashley and she let out a yelp of pain, grabbing at her leg. Her pants were torn, and her leg was bleeding slightly from the force of the attack.
Another Beedrill came in, and another. Ashley drew back her fist and punched the first one in the skull before crying out: "Hope, Thunder Wave!"
Hope let out a wave of electricity, paralyzing a few of the Beedrill in place.
"Now, Quick Attack!" she said.
"Pika!" Hope said, striking one Beedrill and then another and then another before they'd even had a chance to recover.
"Ulp!" Ashley swallowed as one of the swarm fired off a Pin Missle attack right at her. She ducked into the grass, diving into it for safety.
"Spearow, Spear!" said her bird, as it struck her attacker with another Peck. Spearow landed, kicking sand in the Beedrill's faces and stared them down. His Leer made quite a few of them wary, dropping their guards.
Just in time too, and Ashley smiled when she heard Erika's voice.
"Meadow, Razor Leaf!" the Gym Leader of Celadon City said and her Leafeon let the attack fly. The sharpened leaves cut right through the swarm like miniature scythes.
"That is quite enough," Erika said. "Sunny Day, now!"
If possible, the Kanto sun seemed to become even harsher and hotter.
"Now… Bullet Seed!" Erika ordered and her grassy fox spat out seeds like a machine gun. Advancing, her Leafeon cleared a path to safety through the swarm.
Erika grabbed Ashley by the hand and pulled her out of danger. Deeper into the forest they went, where the trees closed in even tighter around them.
The Beedrill were funneled into one direction, and couldn't come as many at once.
"Now Meadow, Energy Ball!" Erika said, pointing at the swarm with her closed hand fan. One Beedrill crashed to the ground in front of her, and Erika lobbed a Pokeball at it.
The Pokeball sucked the wasp-like Pokemon inside, and it shook for a few seconds. It quickly dinged, marking a successful capture.
"...this is going to become another running thing, isn't it?" Ashley said, as she pulled out a net ball and enlarged it. "Us, capturing entire flocks and swarms and donating them to other kids around the world?"
"If you want it to be, yes," Erika said, pulling out more Pokeballs. "Are you ready, Ashley?"
"Well, actually yeah I do like the idea of this becoming a 'thing'," Ashley said. "We solve two problems at once. Our immediate one, and the issue of kids never getting starters!"
"I dunno, it seemed to work out for you and Pikachu," Erika teased. "And better them, than Team Rocket!"
"Well, if they're all as stupid as those two back in Viridian, I don't think the world needs to worry much!" Ashley snarked before calling forth her butterfly with a: "Vivillon, knock 'em all out with your Sleep Powder!"
"Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~!" the butterfly said, flying in a circle and spreading an orange powder from her wings.
And the Beedrill tried to fight off their newfound drowsiness but ultimately failed. One by one, they kept crashing to the ground.
"Pokeballs… GO!"
Line break
Ashley felt hot, tired and dirty by the time she and Erika finally emerged from Viridian Forest.
"...Pewter City," Ashley said, seeing the city spread out beneath her down the hill. "First things first, I am going to take a shower!"
"I'll be right behind you. A proper lady never allows herself to stay this dirty," Erika said. "I can't believe that…"
Whatever she had to say next though….
"Ash Ketchum!"
"It's ASHLEY!" Ashley snapped, turning to face the 'Samurai'.
"My apologies, I did not know," for once, the teenager looked genuinely apologetic. "I only knew the nickname Gary called you by, Ashy. I just assumed that… Well, anyways I see you survived the Beedrill swarm! Now, we can resume our battle!"
Ashley growled and drew back her fist, punching the teenager.
"NO! And HELL NO!" she snapped, the volcano erupting. "I don't owe you anything, especially after you turned tail and ran like a coward leaving me and Erika to fend for ourselves!"
"Erika, as in…?" the 'Samurai' trailed off, nervously finally realizing.
"The very same, I have half a mind to refuse a gym battle with you assuming you even make it to my city," Erika said. "But if you do make it, it'll be a gym battle you'll get because I rather unfortunately have to accept any challengers. Rest assured however, it will not be easy for you! That's a promise! Now be gone with you, and get out of my sight!"
"...I hope everyone in Kanto isn't this weird…" Ashley grumbled.
"Oh, don't worry. They get weirder!" Erika teased and her friend could only sigh to herself.
Line break
Meanwhile, back at a certain Professor's place…
"Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon!" Oak's computer chimed.
"Oh, already? Well, she is in Viridian Forest…" Oak said as he sat up. "It might be a Caterpie, or oooh maybe even a Weedle! Good early Pokemon for a beginner."
He checked the new entry in Ashley's Pokemon.
"Oh, a Beedrill! That's a nice catch!"
Then, his computer chimed again.
"Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon!"
"Again? Well, she's on a roll today. Maybe it's a Butterfree!"
And it kept on chiming.
"Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon! Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon! Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon! Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokemon! Ashley Ketchum has caught a new Pokem-"
Oak could only sigh as it kept chiming. "...I see this is going to be a thing with her… Well, on the bright side, there will be plenty for the PFDT to choose from!"
Notes: Poor Professor Oak, he's going to have to get used to this because of how much of a trouble-magnet Deila's daughter is. Oh well, at the very least he'll never run out of new Pokemon to study. Next time... The First Gym!