AJ and Pokémon Tech School
"Come on out, everybody!" Elaine said as she sent out her Pokémon.
"Eevee," Eevee appeared.
"Charmander," A female Charmander with a bow on its head appeared.
"Bellsprout," Bellsprout appeared.
"Bee!" A light yellow bee-like Pokémon with stinger-like hands appeared.
"Oh, so you're the one who chose Charmander," Ash said, pulling out her Rotom Phone
Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. A Fire Type. Charmander's health can be gauged by the fire on the tip of its tail, which burns intensely when it's in good health.
Beedrill, the Poison Bee Pokémon & the final evolved form of Weedle. A Bug & Poison Type. Stay far away from a Beedrill nest. These territorial Pokémon will swarm any intruder in a furious attack.
"Guys, this is Ash, Pikachu and Brock," Elaine said.
"Vee/Char/Sprout/Bee," Elaine's Pokémon greeted.
"Pikachu," Pikachu greeted.
With that introduction out of the way, Elaine returned her Pokémon.
Continuing down the path, Ash ended up battling 9 Trainers, who challenged her to a battle & now she is on her 10th battle.
"Nidoran Double Kick," Ash ordered.
Nidoran kicked Rattata twice, knocking it out.
"Oh no, Rattata!" the opposing trainer said.
"Alright, nice one Nidoran," Ash said as she petted Nidoran's head.
"Nido," Nidoran smiled.
"Wow, you're strong. You should battle A.J," the trainer said as he recalled Rattata.
"A.J? Who's A.J?" Ash asked.
"A.J is a savage trainer who owns his own gym," the trainer explained.
"I see. Thanks," Ash said.
"Good luck," the trainer left.
"What do you think?" Ash turned to her friends.
"Sounds interesting," Brock said.
"Why not?" Elaine agreed.
The trio arrived in front of a building with tall wood walls and the bold sign that read 'A.J's Gym.' Right next to it was a scoreboard which read '99 wins and 1 loss.'
"99 wins? That's impressive," Ash whistled.
"It's a nice gym too," Elaine added.
"Who goes there?" A voice said from behind them.
Turning around they saw a boy with green spiky hair, wearing a black and red shirt, blue shorts & red shoes.
"Are you A.J?" Ash asked.
"Yep, that's me," A.J answered. "Are you here to challenge me?"
"Yes, I'm Ashley," Ash said.
"Great, this will be my 100th win," A.J grinned as he pointed to his sign that the gang saw before. "Follow me."
A.J brought Ash to the battlefield.
"This will be a 1-on-1 match," A.J said as he released his Pokémon. "Go Sandshrew!"
"Sandshrew!" Sandshrew appeared.
"Eevee, I choose you!" Ash sent out her Eevee.
"Eevee," Eevee appeared.
A.J's eyes widen in surprised, "Wow... Some Eevee you have."
"Thanks," Ash smiled.
"Sandshrew Poison Sting," A.J started.
Sandshrew fired purple darts from its mouth.
"Dodge it," Ash said as Eevee dodged.
"Sandshrew Swift," A.J said.
Sandshrew's tail glowed yellow & fired multiple yellow stars from it.
"You do the same Eevee." Eevee's tail glowed yellow & fired multiple yellow stars which collided with Sandshrew's Swift. "Now Iron Tail."
Eevee's tail glowed a metallic color & hit Sandshrew.
"Sandshrew Rollout." Sandshrew glowed yellow & rolled towards Eevee.
"Shadow Ball."
"Eevee!" Eevee fired a black & purple ball of shadow energy from her mouth at the incoming Sandshrew, knocking it out.
"Sandshrew is unable to battle, Eevee wins," Brock said.
"Atta girl," Ash smiled as she picked up Eevee.
"Vee," Eevee nuzzles her face.
"Are you okay, Sandshrew?" A.J picked up his fallen Pokémon.
"Shrew," Sandshrew nodded.
"I must say, Ashley, you are a great Trainer," A.J complimented.
"Thank you. Sorry that this didn't become your 100th win," Ash apologized.
"Ah, don't worry about it," A.J brushed it off.
"Can we see your other Pokémon?" Elaine asked.
"Sure, I don't mind," A.J said. "Follow me."
He led the gang into his big tent. Inside the tent were some Pokémon & what looked to be some sort of training gear. Sandshrew climbed up a ladder & dived into the pool.
"This is where I train my Pokémon," A.J explained before he saw Sandshrew got out of the pool. He whacked a whip onto the floor. "Get back in the water."
They saw three Rattata jumping through three hoops of fire & a Butterfree & a Beedrill carrying some gear.
"Wow, you train your Pokémon well," Brock complimented.
"Thank you," A.J said. "Although I thought you were going to say that my training is harsh. Most trainers do."
"I understand this sort of training," Ash said. "You're bringing out the best in your Pokémon. Not all trainers have the same battle style, everyone's different. Your training is tough as mine."
"But is the whip really necessary?" Elaine asked.
"I know. Strict discipline so they don't slack off during training," A.J assured.
"Is there a reason why Sandshrew's training different from the other Pokémon?" Brock asked, curious.
"Sandshrew is my first Pokémon. We promised to do whatever it took to become the greatest Pokémon Trainer of all time & nothing would stop us from reachin' our dream. No matter how hard the path. We've endured storms & winds. We sacrificed everything to achieve our dream & it was worth it," A.J declared.
"I see," the gang understood.
The gang & A.J talk some before the gang decided to head off. A.J decided to stay until he got one more win before he begins his journey.
"I'm going to get my last win before you know it & I hope we battle again Ash," A.J said as he held out a hand.
"I can't wait for that," Ash said as the two shook hands.
"By the way, who did you lose to?" Brock asked.
"It was some kid with a Wartortle," A.J answered.
"That must've been Gary," Ash said.
"Yeah, he was a bit of a showoff," Brock agreed.
The gang bid farewell to A.J as they continued their journey.
Our heroes were still on their way to Vermilion City, but they were having trouble with the mist that surrounded the area. Suddenly, they saw a light. When they got a closer look, they saw a bunch of kids asking another boy on a treadmill some questions.
"What Pokémon is this?" a red-haired kid asked as he held up a Pokémon Card.
"Uh... Zubat?" the boy on the treadmill guessed.
"Just because it's foggy out here doesn't mean your brain has to fog over," the red-haired kid said. "And it's a Pidgey."
The other kids turned up the treadmill, making it go faster & faster. The boy couldn't keep up and fell on the ground.
*SMACK*
The red-haired kid fell to the ground, holding his red face in pain as our heroine looked down at him.
"What's your problem? What did he do to deserve to be bullied by you?" Ash said angrily with her hands on her hips.
"W-W-We weren't bullying him we were just helping him. I swear!" Another kid said as he & the others helped the red-haired kid up.
"Oh, you call that helping?" Ash said sarcastically, realizing that they were from a school seeing they were wearing matching uniforms. "So, what school do you go to?"
The kids tried to convince Ash that they weren't from a school, but Ash wasn't having it, so they confessed that they were from a school called Pokémon Tech.
"Well, that school is a disappointment if it's full of jerks like you," Elaine said. "Leave him alone or you'll have to deal with us."
"Hey, we don't fight. Fighting is for cavemen. Besides, wasting our time having a fight with you would make Pokémon Tech look bad," the purple-haired kid said.
"Ha, coward," Elaine snorted.
"Oh yeah?! Machop, go!" the purple-haired kid said as he sent out a short gray humanoid-like Pokémon.
"Machop," the Pokémon appeared as Elaine scanned it
Machop, the Superpower Pokémon. A Fighting Type. Machop's muscles are special-they never got sore no matter how much they are used in exercise. This Pokémon has sufficient power to hurl a hundred adult humans.
"Let's go, Eevee!" Elaine sent out her Eevee.
"Eevee!" Eevee appeared.
"Hahahaha," the purple-haired kid laughed. "Normal Types are weak to Fighting Types. Your grave. Machop use Karate Chop & let's get this over with."
Machop's arm glowed white & charged at Eevee.
"Eevee Agility," Elaine said.
Eevee ran circles around Machop at fast speed.
"Ma-Machop?" Machop said, trying to keep up with Eevee.
"Machop don't just stand there, attack." Machop tries to hit Eevee but to no avail as she was too fast.
"Alright, Double Kick." Eevee appeared in front of Machop & kick Machop twice in the face. "Now Shadow Ball!"
Eevee fired a black & purple ball of shadow energy from her mouth that hits Machop, knocking it out.
"What?! But I had the Type Advantage," the purple-haired kid said.
"Simple, Strategy," Elaine said.
"That was a fluke. You were lucky," the purple-haired kid scoffed as he recalled his Pokémon.
"You alright?" Brock asked as he helped the fallen boy up.
"It's okay, this happens to me all the time. I'm Joe," Joe said.
The other kids quickly left, grumbling.
"So what is Pokémon Tech?" Ash asked.
"Pokémon Tech is short for Pokémon Technical Institute, a school for Pokémon Trainers," Brock answered as he pulled out a flier. "It's a boarding school for those who don't want to go around to collect Gym Badges. Once they graduate from Pokémon Tech, they automatically qualify for the Pokémon League."
"Don't tell us. It's one of those snobby private schools only millionaire kids go to," Elaine said.
"Yep," Brock nodded.
"Oh, please. Where is this place anyway?" Ash asked.
"Right here," Joe said.
The fog cleared up and they saw a big schoolhouse.
"Today's special class, fog battle techniques, has now ended. Tomorrow's lessons will be snow competition secrets," a woman announced through the speakers.
"Guess tomorrow they will make me a snowman again," Joe sighed.
"Do they always treat you like this?" Ash asked.
"My friends are just trying to help me," Joe said.
"Dude you call them friends?!" Elaine said, shocked.
"With friends like that who needs enemies?" Brock scoffed.
"But they help me learn about Pidgey and its evolved forms," Joe said.
"If you know everything about Pidgey, why didn't you answer them before?" Ash asked.
"Sometimes I act like I don't know the answers because if I do, they make the questions much harder," Joe answered.
"That's mean," Elaine frowned.
"Putting that aside, will you show us the school?" Brock asked.
"Sure," Joe smiled.
Joe took them inside the school & led them to a room with countless computers.
"The lessons are difficult & some students are held back for many years," Joe explained. "At the Tech, it's your skill as a Pokémon Trainer that counts more than winning a battle. Even though you have two badges Ashley, I'm pretty sure I'm stronger than you."
"Oh yeah, how about we have a battle?" Ash asked.
"Sure," Joe said as he & Ash headed to the battlefield.
"Eevee, let's do this," Ash said.
"Eevee," Eevee said as she ran on the battlefield.
"You have one too? And it's a Shiny? Anyway, I choose Weepinbell," Joe sent out a yellow venus flytrap-like Pokémon.
"Bell," the Pokémon as Ash pulled out her Rotom Phone
Weepinbell, the Flycatcher Pokémon and the evolved form of Bellsprout. A Grass and Poison Type. The hook stem behind its head lets Weepinbell hang from a tree branch to sleep. Sometimes it falls to the ground during the night.
"Weepinbell use Razor Leaf," Joe ordered.
Weepinbell fired multiple razor sharp green leaves from its leaves.
"Eevee Quick Attack," Ash countered.
Eevee became surrounded by a light blue aura, dodged the attack & tackled Weepinbell at quick speed.
"Now Swift." Eevee's tail glowed yellow & fires multiple yellow stars from it which hits Weepinbeell & causes it to faint.
"No!" Joe exclaimed.
"Atta girl," Ash smiled.
"Eevee," Eevee smiled as she jumped on Ash's free shoulder.
"How could I lose to someone with two badges?" Joe questioned as he returned his Weepinbell.
"Because she has more experience than you," a female voice said.
Everyone turned to see a girl with long brown hair & magenta eyes, wearing a female school uniform.
"Giselle!" Joe exclaimed in surprise.
"You should've known that by now. Honestly, you're an embarrassment to the whole school," Giselle scowled.
Joe looked downhearted at her words.
"Some friend you are," Elaine said.
"I thought the top student was meant to be a role model, but you're no different from those boys who bullied earlier," Ash said. "That doesn't give you the right to belittle him."
"Please, he desered to get talked down for losing so badly," Giselle said.
"Oh yeah? Then about we battle Miss Top Student?" Ash said.
"Very well. Go Graveler!" Giselle sent out a bipedal, boulder-like Pokémon with four arms & two feet.
"Graveler," the Pokémon appeared as Ash looked up the Pokémon
Graveler, the Rock Pokémon and the evolved form of Geodude. A Rock and Ground Type. Gravler preferred rolling, specifically because it is a slow walker. It often rolls down mountain paths at high speeds, crushing objects in the way and stopping by running into huge rocks.
"Pikachu, let's go," Ash said.
"Pika," Pikachu said as entered the battlefield.
"You're using an Electric Type against a Rock and Ground Type? What an ametur," Giselle insulted.
"I'll be sure to shut that mouth of yours when this is over," Ash said.
"Battle Begin," Brock said.
"Graveler Rock Blast," Giselle ordered.
Graveler's hands glowed white & shoot rocks from them.
"Light Screen."
"Pika!" Pikachu summoned a pink curved force field & protected herself.
"Use Double Kick." Pikachu kicked Graveler twice.
"Use Mud Shot." Graveler fires multiple balls of mud from its mouth.
"Dodge and Iron Tail." Pikachu's tail glowed a metallic color, dodged the attack & slammed her tail into Graveler, causing it to faint.
"Graveler!" Giselle shouted.
"Graveler is unable to battle," Brock said.
"That's one for us," Ash said as Giselle returned Graveler.
"Go Cubone!" Giselle sent out a small, bipedal dinosaur-like Pokémon with a skull on its head.
"Cubone," the Pokémon appeared as Ash scanned it
Cubone, the Lonely Pokémon. A Ground Type. It wears its mother's skull as a helmet-for this reason, no one has ever seen its face. It sometimes sees its departed mother's face in the full moon, which causes it to grow sad and cry. The stains on the skull are tracks of its tears. When it cries, the skull shakes and emits a mournful sound.
"Cubone hit that mouse with Bone Club," Giselle said.
Cubone rushed towards Pikachu to hit her with its bone.
"Pikachu Agility." Pikachu dodged the attack & ran around Cubone at fast speed.
"Cu? Cu?" Cubone said as it tried to keep up with Pikachu.
"Now Iron Tail." Pikachu used Iron Tail & hit Cubone, causing it to faint.
"What?!" Giselle exclaimed.
"Cubone is unable to battle, Pikachu wins. So Ashley is the winner," Brock declared.
"That's how it's done," Ash said as Pikachu jumped back on her shoulder.
"How can this be?" Giselle said in shock.
"Because you underestimated me. Look at my Pikachu & Eevee; sure they're not best against Ground Types, but they can learn moves that could cover their disadvantages," Ash lectured.
"Thank you," Giselle bowed to Ash. "You taught me a valuable lesson and I apologize for what I said to you all. Especially you Joe."
Joe smiled. "You know, you were right. Having battled with you Ashley and watching that battle & Elaine's battle made me realize that I should start from scratch."
"You know what? Me too," Giselle said.
"That's the spirit. You'll never become a proper trainer here. This school isn't getting you anywhere," Brock said.
The gang bid farewell to Joe and Giselle to continue their journey.