Chapter 2: The challenge of Professor Oak!

"Rattata!! Go!!" Eric yelled. The poke'ball opened up and released Rattata, a small purple rat. "Raaaaaaatata!!" It screamed out. Rattata were known for their bark being worse than their bite, but Eric's Rattata was well trained and obedient. "Heh, take that rat down. Ekans!! Get your dinner!!!" Jessie ordered. "Koffing, it's grime time." James said. "Ekanssssssssssssssss" Ekans hissed. It lunged at Rattata. "Rattata, Focus Energy!" Eric ordered. Rattata remained still and closed it eyes. A bluish glow enveloped it. When it opened it eyes, it seemed more muscular and powerful looking than before. Then, Rattata jumped out of the way to avoid ekans' Bite attack.

"Koffing, Tackle!" James yelled. Koffing flew towards Rattata, slamming into its side and forcing it into the dirt. Eric could hear Rattata yelp in pain. Even though Eric was a good Poke'mon trainer, he was still fighting one-on-one. Koffing floated over the mini-crater it made with Rattata's face. "Kooofing!!" it bellowed. Rattata struggled to its legs, only to be slapped down by Ekans tail. Rattata struggled to get up again, this time it was being aimed up by Koffing from behind. "Koffing, Smog attack now!!" James shouted.

Koffing's eyes rolled up to the top of its head, as it sucked in air. When in exhaled, a cloud of poisonous gas rushed toward Rattata. Eric, however, saw this coming. "Rattata, Tail Whip!!" he yelled. Rattata shook its tail violently and blew the smoke away. But right after it stopped Koffing's attack, Ekans immediately coiled up around it, in a Wrap attack. Eric realized the battle was over, as there was nothing he could do to save Rattata.

Just as Rattata seemed to faint, a blazing fireball hit Ekans in the face, forcing it to release the grip on Rattata. "Ekanssssssssssss" it hissed, staring at its intruder. A Vulpix stood at it from the front, growling. Eric already knew who the trainer was. "Katrina!!" Katrina smiled. She had long brown hair, and a red jacket, over a blue top. She also was wearing a red skirt.

"Hey, Eric, I did some research on these guys. They're called the "Rocket Force". There are hundreds of Rocket Force-related incidents, ranging from theft, and property damage, to unapproved and illegal experimenting with Poke'mon."

"Oh yeah, I think I heard of you guys." Eric said. Koffing and Ekans moved back by their masters, not wanting to incur the wrath of an angry Vulpix. "Rattata, return!" Eric said. A single ray of red light hit Rattata, dematerializing it into energy. The energy was sucked in the Poke'ball, and the ball closed.

Wind, picked up and soon dust and leaves were blowing everywhere. A large Rocket helicopter was looming overhead, with a couple of soldiers. The helicopter was fashioned to look like a Meowth, in a sense. While Jessie and James could have easily beaten the kids, the police would be here any minute and they had to make off with whatever loot they had gotten.

The chopper flew off, and the townspeople sighed. They hoped that was the last they'd see of the Rocket Force.

Eric entered the Poke'mon Center, a building where trainers go to heal their injured or sick Poke'mon. Eric placed all 3 of his Poke'mon on a tray, and went in the main lobby to wait for them to be healed. Katrina was waiting for Eric.

"Man, what a day," Eric said, "I'm telling you, things just get weirder and weirder everyday around here." Katrina, however wasn't listening. She was looking at a poster on the wall. "H-Hey!!" Eric shouted, "aren't ya listening to me?!" "Yeah I'm listening," Katrina replied, "But check out this poster." Eric leaned over to take a look. It read:

International Indigo Poke'mon League Tournament!
Enter your Poke'mon in the ultimate tournament!
Are you the ultimate trainer?! Find out!!!

      Requirements for entering the tournament:
Must have 3 or more Poke'mon
Must have 8 or more official Poke'mon Gym Badges

Questions? Comments?
Contact the Indigo Plateau
at: 1-547-POKEMON

"Wow. Indigo Plateau…hey that's not too far from here! You we should enter?" Eric asked. "Yeah right," Katrina replied, "You've seen those tournies on TV. Their Poke'mon would wipe the floor with ours. 'Sides, we need 8 gym badges."

Eric thought about it. His dad was a great Poke'mon trainer. He'd left home. Eric was getting tired of Pallet City anyway. He wondered if Katrina felt the same way. Eric's little sister, Elizabeth, wanted to become a trainer, too. It would give her something to look up to.

"Hmm…I see you guys are interested in the Poke'mon League Tournament!" a voice said, startling Eric and Katrina. They both turned around, to see a man in his late-fifties with a lab coat. The kids recognized him instantly. "Professor Oak!!"

Professor Oak was the world's most leading expert on Poke'mon. With slicked gray hair that grew forward, a large lab coat, and slippers, he didn't exactly look like a genius, but he did invent the basic Poke'Dex, a Poke'mon encyclopedia programmed to relay information on the specific Poke'mon. Of course, the Poke'Dex won't work on all Poke'mon, since many haven't even been discovered yet.

"Yes, it is I Professor Oak. I've been searching for good Poke'mon trainers to represent Pallet City in the Poke'mon League." he said. "Of course, you'll have to leave the town to gather badges but-" "Of course we will!!!" Eric interrupted. "Eric, you still have to ask your mom." Katrina said. "Yeah, I hope she says yes!" Eric exclaimed.

"OF COURSE NOT!! DO YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU'RE ASKING OF ME?!" Eric's mom screamed. Eric had went home and asked her over dinner. "Mom, I just want to miss some school on Poke'mon Trainer's Leave, and make it up in the summer. Remember, Professor Oak asked ME to represent Pallet City! He must of saw me take out the Rocket Force!" Eric said. "You were involved with the Rocket Force?! Oh, I can't even leave you alone for one second."

Eric went upstairs, defeated. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't he go on a Poke'mon journey, like his father had? He wasn't going to get any better staying in a no name town like Pallet.

There was a knock at Eric's door. "Come in." Eric said. Eric's mom came in, sitting on his bed. "Listen Eric, I've thought it over, and decided to let you go on your journey." Eric smiled. "But," his mom continued, "You have to make sure you make up all your schoolwork in the summer." "Of course I will, Ma!!" Eric exclaimed. He couldn't believe it. He was finally going to leave on a Poke'mon journey!

The next day, Eric, Katrina, Jin, and 3 other kids went up to Professor Oak's lab. Eric knew Jin very well, and he recognized 2 of the other kids, Mike and Kelly. But who was the other guy? Eric had never seen him before. He didn't appear to be psyched about the journey like the others were. "Oh well," Eric thought. "I won't let him ruin my plans!!

To be continued…

Next Chapter: Eric's Poke'mon Journey!!