"That cheeky little shit" Charlie seethed, Tavi looked again at the message he had woken up to from Clair.

Toll LOL classic.

Second day as trainers and they had been scammed. He was sure Clair would not let him live this down. Tavi had spoken to a few trainers in the center and they had snickered as they confirmed there was no toll.

"You can pay me the Viridian forest toll kid" one scruffy older teenage trainer joked, all the while he and his Mankey laughed at Tavi. Turning red at the older boys taunting Tavi and Charlie stormed out the center.

After cooling off they decided to focus on the next part of their journey. Viridian forest.

Tavi emerged from the pokemart having picked up some supplies. His rucksack was manageable if a bit uncomfortable on his shoulders. He had seen the storage inserts that used pokeball tech to turn your bag into a near endless storage unit in the shop for $10,000. It was way out of his price range and as he adjusted his pack again though he would be looking into getting one as soon as he could. He had picked up some potions and antidotes as well as more trail ration. Charlie had been about to blow all of his money on an ultra ball, which he totally did not need. After Tavi had convinced him to not waste his money he gave some cash to Tavi and told him to get what he thought they would need. The shopkeeper had recommended ready to eat food packs as sometimes the forest was too damp to get a fire going.

He and Charlie had registered for the Pokémon league at the center that morning and had been informed that they would need to go to Pewter to get their first badges as the local gym leader Giovani would not accept any challenges unless you had at least five. That suited Tavi, after the warning of Pokemon thieves he was keen to move on from Viridian. It would be a long trek through the forest to get to Pewter and would be the first true test for them.

Stretching out for miles until the base of Mount Moon the dense Viridian forest was a haven for wild Pokémon. Due to the damp and humid microclimate there are an amazing array of bug types that called the forest also resulted in a large number of flying types who saw the gloomy forest as an all you can eat buffet. As you got closer to the base of mount moon there were more ground and rock types that descended from the mountain.

The forest was mostly safe, if you stuck to the ranger patrolled routes. But there were always tales of new trainers that strayed from the path never to be seen again. Tavi hoped that they would be able to slip through the forest unnoticed but he currently stood watching Charlie yell at his Murkrow who had stolen his hat and was sitting on a street sign taunting him and thought their chances were unlikely.

Like Tavi, charlie had talked with his newly caught Pokémon last night and it had decided to stay with him. He had named it Dusk which Tavi thought was just as bad as Shadow.

Satisfied that it had taunted its trainer enough, Charlie's Murkrow swooped down, dropping his hat at his feet and landed on his shoulder. Grumbling to himself Charlie snatched up his hat causing the bird to caw in alarm on his shoulder. After taking his supplies from Tavi and throwing them in his bag he nodded towards the route into the forest.

"Looks gloomy" he said to Tavi who nodded in did an inventory in his head one more time.

"I think we have everything we need, it should take us just over a week to get through to Pewter, according to the guy in the shop" he said.

"Well standing here is not going to get us there any quicker! Last one there is a pile of Tauros crap" Charlie yelled as he ran into the forest. Dusk shrieking as he clung onto Charlie's shoulder. Sighing, Tavi hesitated for a moment before he released Clash and they both plunged into the gloom.

XX

The first few hours in the forest were miserable, it was clammy and humid. Tavi squelched with every step, he had misjudged a puddle on the floor and ended up soaked to the knee.

They had been attacked by a few small bug types mainly Weedle which for the most part skittered off once they realised they had bitten off more than they could chew. Charlie had been using the bugs as easy prey for his murkrow and the corvid was listened to him most of the time. His Deino Shadow walked diligently at his side attempting to nibble his bag every now and then. Tavi had Clash trying to focus on the dragon energy he summoned with dragon tail. If he could figure out how to channel it to other parts of his body it would make learning new dragon moves ten times easier. Every now and then his tail would swish as he tried to focus on the turquoise energy.

They had passed by two trainers battling, one kid with a Wurmple, the other with a Joltic. The boys had stopped to watch the battle but Tavi moved them on quickly when he noticed that the yelling of the trainers was attracting attention from the surrounding wildlife.

The meandering path through the forest ran alongside a small stream for a while so Tavi released Hebo to get some exercise. The little Horsea bubbled a greeting at them before diving into the water splashing in and out of the stream. His hyper antics brought a smile to Tavi's face. As they walked Tavi made a game of quickly pointing at trees and having the Horsea shoot a jet of water at them as fast as he could. Hebo had good reactions and it was a good exercise on getting him to respond quickly. This game stopped pretty quickly when they hit a tree that was home to a beedrill nest. Hebo squeaked in alarm and dove for his pokeball, returning himself at the sight of the angry swarm and the boys had to sprint for a solid ten minutes before they lost the angry bug types. Cautiously and a lot more quietly they followed the path for the rest of the morning.

Bug types are ambush predators, and after their run in with the beedrill he did not want to get caught out again. While the main path was patrolled by rangers there was always stories of unsuspecting trainers getting caught in a trap.

After a long morning the boys stopped for lunch. Tavi was writing notes on his dex with plans for Clash and Hebos training. He was going to keep up with the reaction training as well as see what new moves they could learn. The Pokédex was a treasure trove on how to that topic. He and Charlie were just outright shocked at how much information the devices held. Brushing off the crumbs of his lunch from his shirt Tavi stood up and stretched.

"Guess we should get moving again. I think we should go for a few more hours and try to find somewhere to sleep". Nodding Charlie shouldered his pack and the boys moved off down the trail.

It was late into the afternoon the next day, other than Charlie waking up to a caterpie sound asleep on his head it was a relatively uneventful night. They were trudging down the trail when Clash started sniffing the air intently. Both boys paused as the dragon's tail curled up in alert. They watched as the Jangmo-o's head swayed back and forth following a scent off the path and into a bush 50 or so yards from the route. He rustled around until he tugged out a backpack that was hidden in the undergrowth. Tavi headed over and picked up the bag, it appeared to have been there for a few weeks as it was quite weather worn. It had also been left open so most of the contents was ruined. Looking in he could see three active pokeballs.

"Whoever this belonged to did not manage to release their Pokémon." He said as he ruffled through the rest of the bag. There were two antidotes, a potion and a repel which were all still in date, shrugging at Charlie he added them to the ones he had picked up in Viridian.

"What do you think happened to them?" Charlie asked,Tavi looked around them.

"Can't imagine they got far without their Pokémon" nodding at the balls in the bag "we should take these to the center in Pewter. They would know how to deal with this kind of thing. And they could probably use the Pokémon to identify the missing trainer." he said as he placed the pokeballs in his bag. It was a bit of a grim thought but that was the world they lived in, you trained Pokémon to keep wild ones at bay. It was a dangerous lifestyle but was necessary to keep everyone safe.

As Tavi straightened up he heard a faint noise in the trees above him. He would have written it off as just the wind but he felt Clash tense up next to him.

"Tavi down!" Charlie yelled, Tavi dropped immediately to the floor. He felt something skim his head and thud into the forest floor next to him. "Peck!" Charlie yelled as his Murkrow released a shriek and dove off his shoulder. Tavi turned just as the bird made contact with a spindly green and yellow spider Pokémon. The bug type was launched into a tree with a crunch and it curled up unconscious, he recognised it as a Spinarak.

Clash let loose a guttural growl outraged that something would attack his trainer, his he shook his scales in challenge to the canopy above them. Tavi followed his gaze and froze. There were at least ten more of the bug types, their small green horns secreting clear venom as they looked down at them with greedy little eyes. Acting on instinct Tavi dove backwards putting space between him and the spiders.

Clash was still growling, "Get Dusk to knock them out of the tree" he yelled to Charlie as he scrambled back releasing Hebo.

"Gust!" Charlie yelled to the Murkrow who let loose a piercing shriek and pumped his wings sending forth a large gale of wind that buffeted the bugs. The Spinarak issued chittering hisses as the flying type move buffeted them, making five of the bugs fall from the tree. Clash instantly charged them down, a dragon tail already powered up and glowing stronger than usual in his rage. The jangmo-o's flung himself around, impacting one of the bugs and smashing it to the ground.

Clash let forth a deep growl, his eyes flashing red, the spiders on the ground froze in place at the sight of the raging dragon. That was a strong reaction to leer, Tavi thought. Without a moment's hesitation Clash was amongst the Spinaraks causing havoc; he was a whirlwind of teeth and claws fully lost to his rage.

Quickly releasing Hebo he pointed at the bug types in the trees.

"Hebo take shots at the ones up there" Tavi quickly yelled out hoping to keep them on the back foot.

Hebo gurgled affirmatively and quickly let loose jets of water into the treetops. His water gun impacted three in quick succession causing the bugs to hiss in pain. Charlie ordered Dusk to help Hebo and the Murkrow was darting in and out of the tree canopy, using its quick flying maneuvers to dodge the multiple string shots and stopping the remaining bugs joining the fight.

Looking back at Clash, Tavi winced. Although he managed to take down two more he did so without any thought to his own safety and took multiple stingers. While Spinaraks were not known for their strong poison the number of stings he had taken was taking its toll.

Charlie released Shadow, his normally placid Deino issued a hissing growl and flung itself at the first Spinarak it could find, pinning it down with a heavy foot and releasing a dragon breath directly onto the squealing bug.

They must have been relatively young pokemon, a bug types exoskeleton did not fully harden till about a year into life. It explained why they were hunting in a pack, normally Spinarak were solitary hunters, setting up elaborate webs to trap their prey. The last Spinarak on the ground gathered its nerve and lunged at Clash. Tavi yelled out a warning but it was too late the bug type's horn delivered a full dose of poison causing Clash to convulse before falling to the ground unconscious.

Tavi returned him with a wince, chiding himself on letting Clash get to a full rage. Shadow saw her companion fall and managed to comp down on the bug type letting loose another brutal close range dragon breath. Seeing the bugs in the ground get quickly mopped up and under the constant barrage of attacks from Hebo and Dusk the remaining Spinarak soon lost their nerve and scattered into the treetops. Leaving Hebo gurgling in victory and Charlie's Pokémon drooping in exhaustion.

The adrenaline of the attack suddenly left Tavi leaving his knees weak and making his hands shake. He quickly fumbled for an antidote from his bag and released Clash into the floor. Spraying the jangmo-o with the medicine he also sprayed out a dose of potion onto him and Tavi watched as the purple veins of poison slowly disappeared from his body. Clash slowly blinked open his eyes and let loose a sigh of frustration at being knocked out. Tavi tutted at his Pokémon.

"None of that" Tavi admonished him, "you were amazing, you took down three on your own" Tavi said while he checked over the Jangmo-o. "We just need to work on staying focused, and making sure you don't take as many hits." Clash still was upset despite what Tavi said. "I'm going to return you to rest, bud. But thank you for protecting us". Clashes' eyes softened ever so slightly before he was returned to his ball.

Just as clash disappeared there was a loud crash from the treetops.

"Umm Tavi.." Charlie's voice hitched in panic. "Something big is coming" there was the sound of something loud rushing through the treetops towards their position. The snap of branches cut through the gloom of the forest and trees shook as something came at them with speed. Tavi caught a glimpse of red and his blood went cold. He looked at one of the unconscious Spinarak on the floor and it fell into place. If these were freshly hatched then their mother was….

"RUN" Tavi yelled returning Hebo he swung his pack on and took off running. Charlie not long behind him his Pokémon also quickly returned to their balls. There was a loud chittering hiss behind them Tavi turned to look and instantly wished he hadn't. A massive Ariados jumped from the treetops to the forest floor and scooped up its fallen young, it quickly secured them with silk to its carapace where the rest of the Spinarak had secured themselves already, the sight was horrifying to Tavi. Its eyes met Tavis' and he could see the hate radiating from them. It issued a screech of outrage and seemed to take a big breath in. Charlie saw the horror on Tavis' face and accelerated not wanting to know what he saw but motivated by Tavi's reaction. Both boys pelted as fast as they could. There was a loud pinging noise behind them and green pin missiles embedded in the trees around them. Tavi felt a few hit his back but luckily they were stopped by his rucksack.

Tavi heard a frustrated hiss behind them and the sound of scurrying. Both boys ran flat out not daring to look behind them and just focusing on the route in front. More pings rang out behind them and both boys ducked as more pin missiles embedded in the trees around them. It looked like they were pulling away as the accuracy of the attack was getting worse.

As long as they put distance between them and the Aridos, Tavi did not think it would follow them. It had all of its young secured to itself so could probably not keep up in a chase. They ran for what felt like hours and until both were gasping for breath. Tavi was clutching a stitch in his side and Charlie spewed up his lunch in a bush to the side of the path. Taking a deep drink from his canteen in-between trying to get a full breath in, Tavi gulped down his water and passed it to Charlie.

"I think we lost it" he got out between gasps. Charlie just nodded, not bothering to speak. Both boys collapsed on the floor not even taking off their bags. After a few minutes and despite not wanting to move, Tavi slowly got to his feet. "we should move on a bit and find somewhere to camp"

A mixture of emotions flitted across Charlie's face as he thought about getting up again. After a moment he settled on resignation and the boys set off down the trail.

Tavi was already sick of the forest. They had had too many close calls in the short time they had been here. Fortunately the rest of the day was uneventful and they made good progress on the trail. Tavi wanted to stop before night started to fall so kept an eye out for a suitable spot. He spied out a small open meadow just off the path. As they stepped into the clearing he looked around. The openness of it would expose any bugs to flying types so hopefully the clearing should be bug free. There were a few blackened patches of earth which showed other trainers had stopped here safely. Hebo, who had been out for the final stretch of the day flopped onto the ground next to where Tavi had placed his pack, tired after a day of zipping around looking for threats. Tavi bent down scratching the scales around his dorsal fin.

"Thanks for protecting us today buddy, you were amazing " Hebo gurgled in contentment. There was a small pond in the meadow so he went over to the water and settled down to rest. Clash was still in his pokeball Tavi had left him to rest while the antidote and potion did their work.

The boys set about putting up their camp. Tavi found a cache of dry firewood, it must have been placed there by rangers to give trainers a chance at a fire. Smoke would be a good way to ensure that any wandering bugs stayed away so Tavi released Clash and quickly got to setting a fire. As the light started to bleed out of the sky the flying types that had been flitting around above the treetops started to roost for the night. They did not talk too much both just sitting with their pokemon after the eventful day. Tavi took out his dex and pointed it at Clash, something had been bugging him since the fight with the Spinarak. Looking at the display his eyes lit up. Clash had learned Scary Face! The dex said that scary face made opponents more intimidated and their reaction speed was reduced as a result. This would be great to help Clash get a lock down on fast moving targets. After writing up his notes for the day and including a good bit on the fight and how Clash had learned a new move in battle Tavi placed his dex away in his bag and he touched a box unexpectedly. Pulling it out he saw the black box with a bow that Clair had given it to him before he left. With all of the excitement of his journey so far it had completely slipped his mind. Tavi opened the note secured to the lid.

Tavi,

This scale belonged to mum's Flygon. It brought me luck on my journey so I wanted you to have it for yours.

Get some strong Pokémon and come challenge me. I promise not to hold back on you squirt.

Love,

Clair

In the box was a gleaming green scale on a silver chain.

Tavi folded the letter a lump in his throat as he gently cradled the scale. He put the chain over his head, slipping the scale under his t-shirt. The smooth dragon scale pressed against his chest a comforting weight behind it. Clash padded over sensing the change in his trainer's mood. He sat next to Tavi, pressing his weight against him. Tavi gently pet Clashes scales as they sat watching the fire in silence.

The next few days passed quickly, the constant weight of having to be on guard was getting to them both. Tavi jumped at every noise and expected to see the Aridos around every tree. The normally talkative Charlie was even quiet, he had Dusk on constant scouting missions making sure that there were no pokemon waiting in ambush. Most of the time Tavi thought the Murcrow just went off to find a berry tree as he came back with sticky berry juice on his beak and talons had been a few more attacks from various bug types but nothing their pokemon could not handle.

Overall it was a nerve racking and unpleasant experience in the gloomy forest and when the trees started to thin Tavi let out a sigh of relief. They had just started to pick up the pace, all of them excited to be in a warm pokemon center bed as soon as possible when a boy in full samurai armour jumped out from behind a tree startling them both.

"I challenge thee trainer!" The boy yelled out pointing a sword at Tavi "draw thy pokeball and prepare to meet thy match!"

Tavi looked blankly at the boy, the armour was two sizes too big and hung off his skinny frame, he kept on having to push the oversized helmet out of his eyes as it fell down his head. He brandished a samurai sword holding it in both hands in front of his face.

"Why are you speaking like that?" Tavi asked

"Is that sword even legal?" Charlie chimed in.

The boy signed deeply, clearly annoyed by their questions.

"Yes it's a registered replica and is legal to own for reenactment purposes" he said in an exasperated tone clearly having been asked before. Snapping back to the bluff voice he had first used. "And I have no idea what thou are talking about! I speak just as thy does!" Tavi looked at Charlie who shrugged.

"So you want a battle?" He asked the boy slowly, still utterly confused at what was currently happening.

"Why yes! I accept thy challenge!" Sheathing the sword the boy pulled out a pokeball enlarged it. "And who is my current worthy opponent?" He asked Tavi.

"Uh my name is Tavi" Tavi said.

"Well my worthy opponent we shall do a two on two battle!" He lifted up his pokeball "I hope you have enjoyed thy time with thine pokemon for that shall now be at an end!" With a flourish he released a Caterpie that wiggled meninsingly in Tavi's direction. Taking steps back to make room for the battle Tavi looked at the little bug type and his hand settled on Hebo's ball, he had yet to use the horsea in a formal battle so wanted to give him a go.

"Monarch! It seems we have a worthy advisory after all!" The boy yelled after Hebo coalesced onto the field.

"Charge!" He commanded. The Caterpie sharted wiggling towards Hebo as fast as its stumpy legs would allow letting forth an utterly adorable battlecry. Hebo turned to Tavi, disbelief in his eyes.

"Just give him a water gun" Tavi gestured towards the bug, who by now had made half the distance. Hebo turned back to the Caterpie and shot off a relatively weak water gun. It hit the small bug type knocking it on its back, the Caterpie curled up in a ball instantly done with the flight.

The boy returned his Pokémon looking down at the pokeball shaking his head.

"You fought valiantly my brother!" Turning to Tavi he smiled "You have passed the first trial! But will you be able to best The Titan?" Tavi thought it was a rhetorical question but the boy stood there expecting a reply.

"I guess?" He said hesitantly, Charlie snorted behind him.

"Titan! You must avenge your brother!" He yelled as he pulled out his second pokeball and released a pokemon that was the same size as Tavi. The large bug type was covered in a brown carapace with two stout legs and two spindly arms which ended in wicked sharp claws. In the middle of its face it had a maw of a mouth with jagged razor teeth jutting horizontally across the opening. On its head were two impressively large pincers that clicked together. Two dull eyes looked around searching for prey, they narrowed as they focused in on Hebo. Tavi blanched at the slight of the strong bug type how had this guy had gotten a Pokémon that strong.

"How did you get a Pinsir?" He asked the boy in shock.

"You are right to be intimidated by Titans might. I conquered this mighty beast only this morning." The Pinsir gnashed its jaws at Hebo and charged at the water type.

"It's tame right?" Tavi said nervously as the bug type's eyes turned red. The claws on its hand reached forward as its headlong charge picked up speed. The boy did not answer, instead calling for a charge, which his Pokémon was already doing. "Water gun" Tavi yelled out. Hebo shot forth a powerful jet of water which glanced off the Pinsir, deflected by his hard shell. The bug type was a blur of motion as it dove for Hebo managing to grab him in its claws, it brought the Horsea towards its mouth intent on devouring the water type. Horror enveloped Tavi, this Pokémon was still feral.

"Aurora Beam" he yelled desperately. Just as the Pinsir was about to put Hebo in his jaws the Horsea spat out an azure beam directly into its mouth, frost radiated out and the pokemon dropped Hebo in panic as it clawed at its now frozen solid mouth desperately

"Smoke screen" Tavi commanded, Hebo gurgled as white smoke erupted from his mouth blanketing the clearing. There was a crunch as the Pinsir managed to crush the ice holding open its mouth with a chitter of rage as the feral pokemon searched for its prey.

"Return it" Tavi told the boy furious that he would let out a feral Pokémon to battle.

"Titan is a mighty foe but I won't make this easy for you. You must defeat him!"

"It's feral you idiot you have no control, return it before it tries to kill my Pokémon again" Tavi said through gritted teeth.

"Continue Titan! Defeat our foes and avenge your brother" Tavi could not believe what he was hearing. He was sure if he returned Hebo and tried to get away the Pinsir would come after him and he did not trust the idiot to return it in time. Looks like they would have to defeat it. An all out attack would not work, they would need to play this smart.

"Hebo, keep the smoke up and keep hitting it with water gun." He heard a gurgle from the smoke and the sound of water hitting off the pokemons shell. From the sounds of it Hebo was keeping distance and shooting jet after jet. The Pinsir chittered in anger, frustrated that its prey was keeping out of reach. Its feet thundered heavily into the floor as it rushed after Hebo. The smoke swirled with their movements, the big Pinsir thudded around trying to pinpoint the Horses. As well as he was doing, Hebo could not keep up the smoke forever and from the larger gaps between each water gun was already tiring out. Tavi would need to end this soon. Just as the smoke was starting to fade Tavi assessed the feral bug type. While an individual water gun did not do much damage Hebo had been pelting them over and over. Its carapace was scuffed and it had a slight limp.

"Aurora beam!" Tavi yelled into the haze there was a gurgle of affirmative and the azure beam shot forward cutting through the remaining smoke clearing the scene. Hebo had been right on the mark with his shot and due to the bug type being drenched from the water guns the Pinsirs body was temporarily frozen in a layer of ice immobilising the large bug. The bug type struggled against its restraints, hacking away at the ice with its sharp claws in desperation as it could now see its prey.

"Hebo use twister" Tavi yelled out, hoping the little water type could fire it off in time. Hebo drew back like it was drawing in a big breath. Turquoise draconic energy flitted in a miniature cyclone around his snout slowly growing larger. Tavi glanced at the Pinsir as a large chunk of ice broke away freeing one of its legs, the bug type chittered in excitement and started hacking at the ice around its second leg with renewed vigor.

Hebo was still building his attack, his eyes squinted shut in concentration. With a loud crack the ice gave way and shaking off the cold the Pinsir pounced at Hebo rage flickering in its dull eyes. Just as the feral pokemon was moments from landing on Hebo the Horsea jutted his head forward releasing the attack. The twister ripped the bug type away the draconic energies battering the Pokémon as it was launched into a tree with a crunch. Tavi watched the Pinsir intently but it did not get up. He felt a surge of exhilaration at overcoming such a strong pokemon.

Hebo fell to the ground utterly exhausted from the battle. Tavi returned him, relief rushing through him as he cradled the pokeball. Looking up at the boy it quickly turned to anger. He rushed over to the boy who had returned the feral Pinsir and was reciting a poem to its pokeball.

"What are you playing at?" Tavi seethed "Sending out a feral Pokémon, you could have gotten my Horsea killed" the boy started to stammer a reply but Tavi cut him off

"How did you even catch that thing?" He demanded. The boy told a tale of a mighty quest where he and Monarch hunted the beast but it essentially boiled down to him finding the thing passed out in a clearing with a dead Venomoth in its jaws, it had pierced the sack that held its sleep powder and knocked itself out. Tavi seethed at the boy, not only had he sent out a feral Pokémon but it had not even been caught properly. "My winnings." He said flatly.

Sweating at Tavi tone the boy handed over some cash Tavi pocketed it storming away from the clearing and the idiot bug catcher.

He had seethed in silence as they made their way down the path. Charlie had tried to make a joke about it but seeing how angry Tavi was chosen to stay silent. They were a few miles down the road and Tavi was still stewing, he could not get out of his head how someone could be so stupid. Pokémon would only listen to you if they respected you. Catching that Pinsir without defeating it would mean it would never listen to the boy and sending it out in a battle was only ever going to end badly. Pokémon respected strength above all else and if you did not prove you were strong enough to defeat them you would never get their cooperation. Sighing he let it go, he would have a word with nurse Joy at the pokemon center in pewter and see if she could ask the rangers to look into it.

Xxx

The day wore on and unlike the other previous ones they did not get attacked once. Clash trotted along next to Tavi while Dusk perched on Charlie's shoulder. Tavi had him keep up with focusing dragon type energy as they walked. The last few fights showed that clash desperately needed a ranged move. If Tavi had sent him out against that Pinsir he would have been savaged very quickly. He was effective up close but if an opponent was out of his range he was a sitting duck. He had read on the dex the jangmo-o's could learn dragon pulse so was trying to get Clash to focus the energy in his mouth, since he already knew a move that used dragon type energy Tavi thought it would be easier to build on that. Dragon pulse was normally taught via TM so while not impossible for Clash to learn it without one, it would take some extra work from them.

They knew they must be close to pewter as they came across more trainers in the thinning forest and most of them had rock and ground types. A man with a geodude told them they were just a few miles out and the boys picked up their pace.

Soon they could see the tall grey stone walls of the city jutting from the woodland. Rangers and their pokemon patrolled the parapet keeping watch. Being located at the base of Mount Moon meant they were always at risk of wild pokemon descending from the mountains. Charlie pointed out a crack in the wall to Tavi.

"Think that was from the Tyranitar attack?" Tavi looked and shuddered, there was a story on the news last year. A Tyranitar, enraged at a trainer capturing its young Larvitar offspring, had besieged the city. It took multiple ace trainers and Brock's personal Steelix to stop its rampage.

It was a stark difference to viridian which had the luxury of being in a relatively safe area and also being close to the Indigo Plateau which offered extra protection.

Pewter was an old mining city, its buildings squat and sturdy. Most of the city was made from the same grey rock as the walls giving it an almost bland feel. There were a few modern buildings dotted amongst the grey offering a splash of colour.

"Let's get a room, I need a shower" Tavi said as he sniffed himself self-consciously.

"Yeah you do," Charlie agreed, holding his nose. Dusk cawed in agreement mimicking Charlie. Tavi laughed and turned around looking for a sign to the pokemon center.

Tavi thought about the upcoming gym battle; both of his pokemon had moves that were effective against rock types so he was not overly worried. Tavi was most looking forward to facing Brock, it was not everyday you get to fight your sister's douchebag ex boyfriend.

A/N I am so sorry for the huge delay in getting this out, for anyone still following this story I am still working on it. I had a solid case of life getting in the way (I got married).

Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review :)