Chapter 21:

The Path to the Johto League

As the three trainers were making their way north towards the national park they encountered several trainers. Nathan, being inspired by the double battle he witnessed with Kathy and Phillip, challenged every single person he encountered. Phillip and Kathy both were giving him pointers throughout every single battle. He listened to them and found himself winning most of his battles.

Once the park was within sight Nathan encountered what appeared to be a wild Dunsparce. He looked at Cyndaquil and shouted to him.

"Let's get him!"

They chased after him.

"Fire Spin attack!"

A powerful fire stream flew off Cyndaquil and barreled towards Dunsparce. Dunsparce shot backwards and drilled into the ground. The fire dissipated into the ground where Dunsparce once was. As Dunsparce was digging an underground trail Nathan followed it east. He continued to chase him down. Dunsparce crossed under a wooden fence and popped out of the ground. Cyndaquil fired an Ember attack that flew between the fence posts and nailed Dunsparce. Phillip and Kathy stopped at the fence. Nathan jumped over the fence. As he floated over the fence, he threw a Pokeball at Dunsparce. His foot got caught on the top post of the fence. The Pokeball struck Dunsparce, but bounced right off. As the Pokeball flew back at Nathan he fell face first into the ground. Kathy snickered. Phillip's mouth dropped open as he watched the Pokeball bounce off.

"I don't think that's a wild Pokemon."

As they looked up a young man with spiky hair, a blue headband and some black gym shorts yelled at them. He had a whip and cracked it right near Dunsparce.

"What are you doing on my property!?"

He shouted at Phillip and Kathy. Phillip looked up.

"We're so sorry! My friend here thought your Dunsparce was wild and tried to catch it."

Just over the young man's shoulder a large field could be seen with a scoreboard in the middle. The scoreboard read 98-0. Phillip asked the kid a question.

"Is this a gym?"

"No… this is my house. I'm preparing for the Johto League."

"What's the score?" Phillip asked.

"My name is TJ. I made a deal with my Dunsparce that when we reached 100 wins, we would start our journey in the Johto League. Let me show you around."

Nathan stood up rubbing his face. Phillip and Kathy went through the fence gate. When Kathy spoke up.

"You must be a really good trainer if you have won 98 times without losing one."

"If you were such a great trainer why did your Dunsparce run away?" Nathan asked, offended that he could not catch Dunsparce.

Phillip shot Nathan a dirty look that he didn't see.

As they walked through TJ's stadium backyard, they saw a Paras jumping through a wheel of fire, a Rhyhorn jumping in water, and a Psyduck grabbing onto and holding electrical wire. If the Paras got too scared to jump TJ would crack his whip and yell at it. If his Rhyhorn flailed around in the water TJ would crack his whip and yell at him. If his Psyduck released the electric wire after a few seconds TJ cracked his whip and yelled at him. With every crack of the whip Nathan felt himself growing more and more angry.

Dunsparce had a weight belt on and was racing backwards through an obstacle course. The finish line was right in front TJ. Before Dunsparce had a chance to catch his breath TJ yelled at him and ordered him to get in the pool with Rhyhorn. Dunsparce hesitated. TJ cracked his whip once again and yelled. Nathan couldn't take it anymore. He rushed at TJ and tackled him into the water.

"Stop bullying your Pokemon!" he yelled as he crashed into the water.

As they were floating in the water TJ yelled at Nathan.

"What's your problem!?"

"You are too hard on your Pokemon! They need to know you love them! That's why your Dunsparce ran away from you! You're a horrible trainer!"

"My Pokemon know I love them!"

The two of them got out of the pool when all of TJ's Pokemon gathered around him. Nathan crossed his arms and began speaking to TJ's Pokemon.

"I am a five-star trainer. I have two badges that I won all by myself and I have won countless battles." His voice began to grow in arrogance. "If any of you want to abandon this abuse and come with me I will gladly take you off TJ's hands and show you how a real trainer ought to treat their Pokemon."

The Pokemon stared at Nathan blankly not even flinching.

"Fine I will show how incredible I am."

Nathan turned to TJ.

"I will hand you your first loss and then you'll see that my way is best."

TJ accepted his challenge. Kathy began growing red with rage. She was about to yell at Nathan when she felt Phillip's hand lightly touch the small of her back. She looked at him. Phillip shook his head and whispered to her.

"Let him learn the hard way."

Kathy clutched her egg all the tighter and glared at Nathan. She walked next to Phillip as the four trainers made their way to the battleground. TJ stood up straight and announced the rules of the battle.

"This will be a one-on-one match. The first Pokemon to faint or quit will be the loser. For my Pokemon I choose Dunsparce."

Nathan leaned in as TJ removed the weight vest from Dunsparce.

"Good enough for me. I choose you Cyndaquil."

The battle began and TJ started it off.

"Screech attack Dunsparce!"

A shrill sound fired towards Cyndaquil. Cyndaquil absorbed the attack.

"Quick attack Cyndaquil!"

Cyndaquil sped towards Dunsparce. In a lightning quick motion Dunsparce moved backwards out of the way.

"Screech attack Dunsparce!"

Another shrill sound nailed Cyndaquil in the back. Cyndaquil turned around, breathing heavily.

"Ember attack!"

The fire flew at Dunsparce.

"Mudslap Dunsparce!"

Dunsparce rolled backwards firing mud up in the air. The mud weakened the fire. The fire smashed into Dunsparce, knocking him down. Dunsparce got up quickly.

"Flame wheel attack Cyndaquil!"

"Roll backwards Dunsparce!"

Dunsparce rolled backward into a rollout as the fire barreled towards him. As Dunsparce was rolling backwards the fire blasted past him. Dunsparce rolled towards Cyndaquil.

"Drill run attack Dunsparce!"

Dunsparce popped out of his balled-up position and flew towards Cyndaquil tail first. Cyndaquil slammed into the ground. Cyndaquil was unable to get up. Nathan recalled Cyndaquil as the scoreboard ran up to 99-0. Nathan dropped to his knees with his head down when he heard a familiar rhyme being recited from the air.

Suddenly a Spinarak and a Zubat flew through the air. Spinarak and Zubat both were firing a Poison Sting attack at Dunsparce. Dunsparce dropped. Brett dove at Dunsparce and put him in a sack. Rhyhorn and Psyduck took the center of the battlefield on opposite ends of Spinarak and Zubat. Betty fixed her hair and laughed at TJ.

"You can't beat me you brat!"

Brett stood behind Betty holding the sack with Dunsparce in it in the air like a trophy. They yelled together.

"Quickly! Poison Sting attack!"

Both Zubat and Spinarak attacked.

"Psyduck do a Confuse Ray attack!"

A psychic wave flew from the mind of Psyduck. It created a defense wall that broke up the many Poison Sting's coming at the two of them. As the wave flew through the stings it surrounded Spinarak and Zubat causing them to flail uncontrollably.

"Horn attack Rhyhorn!"

Rhyhorn charged at Zubat and Spinarak. The two Pokemon flew back into Brett and Betty. Brett dropped the bag and Dunsparce fell out.

"Drill run attack Dunsparce!"

Dunsparce jumped off the ground as soon as he landed. His tail stabbing Brett and Betty and sending them high into the air. As they flew away they could be heard shouting.

"TEAM ROCKET IS BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"

The scoreboard went up to 100-0 and began blinking. TJ ran to Dunsparce and gave him a huge hug.

"I'm so glad you're safe! I thought I lost you!"

Nathan saw the tears streaming down TJ's face as he began to regret everything, he ever said to him. TJ did love his Pokemon, he just trained them tough so that they would be great. Nathan walked over to TJ with Phillip and Kathy behind him.

"I'm really sorry TJ. I was completely wrong about you. You are a great trainer."

Kathy spoke up.

"And now you have your 100 wins."

TJ looked at the scoreboard and laughed.

"I guess I do."

Phillip stepped towards him and stuck his hand out.

"I look forward to seeing you in the tournament."

TJ looked him up and down. There was a silent confidence about him that TJ loved and respected. TJ stuck his hand out and grabbed Phillip's.

"I believe that will be a matchup to remember."

To be continued…