Cole looked over the merchandise at the Pokemon Center's trainer store. With Piplup and Espurr back in tip top condition, he was making last minute preparations to head back out.
"You'll want lots of potions and several pokeball," Tori said.
"Yeah, those are basic new trainer things." Cole nodded. "I think I'm gonna get great balls just in case."
He picked out and paid for the supplies, barely looking at the price as he swiped his credit card. Tori gave him a nervous look when she saw the receipt, but Cole shrugged. His father was on the board of directors for Silph Co. after all, he could've bought a hundred great balls if he wanted. Still, he wasn't going to say that out loud. That would be bragging.
Thankfully he was saved from giving an explanation by Espurr popping out of her Pokeball.
We should go find the strongest Pokemon battle against! By fighting strong Pokemon we get stronger too.
"I-I don't know about that," Cole said. "It's probably better to start against weaker or at least medium strength Pokemon. If we go against opponents that are too tough we'll get tired quickly and get less training. Let's warm up first."
"That's actually a pretty good idea," Tori said. "You're not nearly as dumb as I thought you were."
"Thank y- Hey!" Cole glared at Tori.
"Don't worry, mate, I'm just teasing yah." Tori giggled. "Now follow me, I know this great swamp nearby where they've got tons of Crogunk!"
Tori burst out the door with Cole following. At least he'd managed to stretch this time. Now he just had to reach this great swamp.
The swamp was great alright… a great pain in the neck. Cole stepped over an old tree root and right into a patch of muddy bog water. He shivered.
"Are you sure there are Pokemon out here?" Cole asked.
"Of course," Tori replied, "Just listen."
Cole closed his mouth and opened his ears. The gentle wind carried the melody of Crogunk croaking and even a harmony of other Pokemon cries as well.
"Wow!" Cole looked around in amazement.
"If you think this is awesome, you should see the rest of the region," Tori said.
Cole grinned and took a step forward, his hand ready to grab Piplup's Pokeball as soon as he saw something. Out of the corner of his eye, Cole caught a patch of purple and sent out Piplup.
"Get 'em before they notice us," Cole yelled. "Use bubble!"
Piplup blew out several bubbles which popped with explosive force. Yet, when the space was fully visible again there was no Pokemon in sight.
"Where'd it go?" Cole asked, desperately looking around for it.
A Skorupi jumped out from nearby and shot a pin missile at Piplup and Cole. Caught unaware, neither had time to dodge. Piplup was knocked back, small puncture wounds decorating its body. Cole didn't fare much better, crying out with pain at the stinging sensation.
"So strong!" Cole's eyes went wide.
"That's just a normal Skorupi around here," Tori said. "I'll give you some tips on how to beat it."
"Yes, please!" Cole looked at the Skorup as it prepared a poison fang. "Piplup get out of there."
"No, use peck," Tori said, "just keep away from its mouth."
Piplup turned around confused. It looked between its trainer and the more experienced crazy girl.
"I'm trusting you here," Cole said to Tori. "Piplup use peck, on the Skorupi's side."
Piplup maneuvered its body to stab its beak right into Skorupi's unprotected underside. The Skorupi cried out and while it still managed to bite Piplup's arm the poison fang didn't hurt as much.
"Good," Tori said. "Piplup's lighter and faster, keep that in mind."
Cole nodded. He imagined weaving in and out of obstacles, dashing and dodging, running away from-
"Jump back and use bubble," Cole yelled.
Piplup obeyed and blew a flurry of bubbles at Skorupi. While the bubbles themself didn't damage it much, they obscured it's view enough for-
"Hit them with a peck one more time," Cole said.
"Pip!" Piplup nodded and jumped through the cloud of bubbles to pop out at Skorupi and peck into it right at a weak spot in its exoskeleton.
When the smokescreen of bubbles, the bubblescreen, cleared Skorupi lay again the grass defeated.
"I won?" Coal asked. "Wow! We won Piplup."
Cole smiled wide and grabbed Piplup in a tight hug. It struggled against the sudden bone crushing excitement.
"Quick catch the Skorupi before it's gone!" Tori yelled.
"Oh right!" Cole let Piplup out of his death grip and fumbled for a great ball. "Okay, here we go!"
Cole turned to Skorupi, full of determination and pumped up from his battle. He was ready to catch-
It was gone.
"You took too long celebrating," Tori said, her tone scolding. "When you try to catch a Pokemon the battle isn't over until it's caught."
Cole hung his head. Tori was right. Being a Pokemon trainer was much harder than he thought and the Pokemon here were so strong. Maybe he wasn't cut out to be a trainer. Maybe he should just quit being a trainer and return home and give Piplup to someone more qualified and Espurr could stay the professor and-
"You picked up quickly in the battle though." Tori cut through Cole's inner thought spiral. "For a newbie you've got good instincts."
"Really?" Cole asked "I was just thinking of ways to run away. It's harder for them to hit you if they can't see you."
"Where'd you learn that?" Tori asked.
"I read it in a book written by Lieutenant Surge from the Kanto region," Cole grinned. "He wrote about his time in the war and all the different battle he was in-"
"Nerd knowledge got it," Tori said. Cole frowned. "Know anything else about battling?"
"Um, I know that caves have a lot of rock type pokemon as well as nocturnal pokemon such as zubat or nolibat."
"There are some caves nearby we can check," Tori said, "let's go there."
She took off running again. This time Cole was able to catch up to her.
