Chapter 2 First Blood Nick woke early the next morning. He was eager to get out into the wilderness and finally catch his own Pokemon, seeming as he was still only borrowing Charmander. He looked over at his little companion. He wished it were his own Pokemon; he had grown rather attached to him. Charmander slept on. Nick had decided to keep him out of the Pokeball, he always seemed happy to escape it. ‘Give him a bit more sleep’ Nick thought fondly. The day was extremely young and there would be plenty of time yet. By time Nick had come back from the Pokemon centre showers. Charmander was up and rooting through Nicks bag. “I haven’t got any food.” Nick said, getting dressed, “we’ll get something in a second shall we?” Charmander nodded sulkily. Nick wasn’t sure how old Charmander was but he was willing to bet he was a new hatchling. Suitably fed and watered, Nick and Charmander headed for the rocky roads to Mt Moon. “We might as well get some notes written down I suppose.” Nick took out his pad and paper and began scribbling down every Pokemon he saw; he even guessed when he couldn’t see properly. After hours of searching, exhaustion and boredom finally got to Nick. He dropped to his knees by a small rock pool. Scrambling into a seated position, Nick sat back and sighed. Listing Pokemon species was harder that it looked. Every time nick thought he had finished his list a new Pokemon would whiz by before nick could get a proper look, forcing Nick and Charmander to spend hours tracking it. Nicks eyes closed contently, he could quite happily sleep here if it wasn’t so cold outside. Suddenly, Nick sat bolt upright. A clicking noise was coming from the rock pool behind him. Nick peered into the pool and saw a red body floating on the surface. It held out a weak arm and clicked again with its pincer. Nick held out his arms and lifted the Pokemon out of the water. “A Krabby,” a voice behind him said. Nick wheeled back round to face a tall, black haired boy. He bent down so he was on Nick and Krabbys level. “Looks like it’s taken quite a beating too,” he said softly running his hands over the injured Pokemon. “Erm excuse me but who are you?” Nick didn’t want to sound rude but he was not sure if he should be trusting this stranger. “And aren’t Krabbys found at the beach?” “This is a rock pool or river Krabby.” The stranger replied, “look,” he held out one of the Pokemons limp arms, “the pincers are larger on rock pool Krabbys to fend of tougher skinned opponents.” He looked up at Nick; those olive green eyes seemed to look deep inside him. His straight black hair hung around his shoulders. “You should get this Pokemon to the Pokemon centre quickly.” He said straightening up, “well? Quickly, run!” Nick nodded once and tore down the road back to the city, Charmander scurried behind him. Clutching the injured Pokemon tightly, Nick sprinted for ten minutes before he finally burst through the Pokemon centre doors. “Help!” He gasped, “this-this Krabbys been hurt.” A nurse jumped forwards and took the Pokemon from him. “Is this your Pokemon?” She asked soothingly “No. I just found it.” Nick wheezed heavily, his breath was slowly coming back to him. He felt Charmander slouch against his leg. “Ok we’ll look after it don’t worry.” The nurse soothed. She walked away talking softly to the Krabby. Nick and Charmander struggled to a set of chairs and collapsed into them. Nick closed his eyes and sighed deeply. When he opened them he was staring at a poster across the room. A hand was holding a Pokeball; around it was an array of Pokemon and badges. “The Pokemon league.” Nick sighed, “one day I’ll get there.” “There’s a gym in pewter city you know.” The nurse was back and checking Charmander over. “Carlson’s a tough trainer but you have to start somewhere.” She smiled again and walked off to see to another Pokemon. ‘A gym eh?’ “What do ya say Charmander? Do we go get this Carlson?” The small flame of ambition in Nick’s heart grew bigger when Charmander nodded vigorously. “Come on then,” Nick stood up, his eyes were twinkling with determination, “lets go get him!” With his newfound confidence and determination Nick and Charmander exited the Pokemon centre, ready to begin their challenge. Nick stood at the step of the gym. He was hesitating, should he really be doing this? What would his mother and Birch say? Was he ready for the gym challenge? His mind was finally set when Charmander ran ahead and stood at the door, waiting for Nick. ‘I guess that settles it,’ the thought revitalised Nicks fighting spirit. He walked forwards to meet Charmander and threw open the doors. Inside, what looked like a large warehouse, was a vast rocky field. Metal balconies lined each wall and a white rectangle was pained on the floor at either ends of the field. “Who goes there?” a deep booming voice came from the shadows. A man strode from the far end of the warehouse. He was tall and burly, he looked like a man used to hard labour. His spiky ginger hair made it look like his head was on fire. “I am Carlson Stone. Pewter city’s gym leader. Now answer me, who goes there.” “My-my name is Nick Palmer. I am a-a trainer from Viridian city” a small lie, but who was going to know. “So Nick Palmer. I assume you are here for this.” He held up a small round badge. Nick could only make out that it was grey. Carlson was too far away. Nick nodded, Charmander stood at his side. “Very well, we fight one on one. I choose one Pokemon, you choose one Pokemon. Do you understand?” “I understand!” Nicks voice was growing harder; he was getting his confidence back. “Then let us begin. Go Geodude!” Carlson threw his pokeball. It emitted the usual shock of light and left behind a boulder with arms. “OK Charmander, you’re up!” Charmander raced forwards and stood facing Geodude. “Geodude tackle” Carlson Geodude shot forwards “Charmander evade!” Charmander dived to his side as Geodude pelted by. “Now scratch!” Charmander threw his small claws at the passing Geodude but they appeared to calmly bounce off. “You can’t expect that to work surely!” Carlson taunted, “now Geodude rock throw!” Geodude tore a small boulder up from the field and hurled it at Charmander. Charmander made to evade it but wasn’t quick enough. The rock struck him in the face and he was bowled over. “Geodude finish with tackle!” Carlson’s Geodude was pelting towards Charmander again at full speed. Charmander was still down from the rock throw. He was open to the attack. THUD! Charmander was sent flying through the air and landed in a heap, the little Pokemon barely stirred. Nick raced forwards and gathered up his beaten companion. “Your battle is over.” Carlson seemed highly amused. “Come back once you’ve learned something. Geodude return.” Geodude disappeared in a beam of red light and Carlson turned his back on Nick. He walked back into the shadows and did not return. Nick was in shock; he looked mournfully down at his beaten Charmander. He was certainly in pain. He turned to leave the gym, Charmander in his arms, and saw somebody watching him. A girl about his height with long, flowing, ginger hair and large, hazel eyes. She too looked rather amused at Nicks defeat. He began to feel incredibly embarrassed and hastily left the gym. ‘I’m the worst trainer in the world’ he thought bitterly. The Pokemon centre seemed a different place in the waning sunlight. He was alone. Charmander was still recovering from possibly the world’s quickest gym battle. “Hey are you ok?” The kind nurse was back. “I'm fine, thank you.” Nick tried to look positive but he had never felt so useless. “That Krabby you came in with earlier has made a full recovery you know,” she seemed to be leading somewhere with this, “a miracle considering it has no trainer.” “Good, must have made it in time then.” Nicks voice was hollow. “You know some people find water Pokemon are effective against rock types.” Nick looked up to see the boy he had met earlier at the rock pool. “Really who?” Nick felt a small ray of hope inside him. “Not many people, just almost everyone.” The boy grinned. “I didn’t get chance to introduce myself earlier,” he held out his hand, “James Templar from Olivine city.” The name seemed somehow familiar to Nick, he tried to think where he had heard it before whilst shaking his hand; ‘this trainer might be able to help me.’ “Nick Palmer from Viridian.” “That Krabby might help you make your next gym battle last a bit longer.” James looked slightly amused by his joke. ‘Why is everybody laughing at me?’ Nick was beginning to get rather sick of people taking amusement in his embarrassment. “Does everyone know?” Nick asked despondently. “Word travels quickly when it concerns gym battles I’m afraid.” The nurse said in her soothing voice. “So you say I need a water type then?” Nick asked, trying desperately to get that positive feeling back. “Well that Krabby certainly looks like it wants a trainer.” The nurse pointed down as Nick felt something tug at his leg. He looked down to see Krabby tugging at his jeans. Nick took out a Pokeball. “You want to come with me?” Krabby clicked in reply and tugged his jeans again. “Well … Ok then.” Nick dropped the pokeball onto Krabbys head. It opened instantly and sucked the Pokemon inside. Unlike when he caught Pidgey, the ball didn’t struggle. It stayed perfectly still. “Congratulations.” James grinned at Nick. Nick grinned back; nobody was going to take this one away from him. “I’ll just go and check on your Charmander.” The nurse stood up and left the room leaving just Nick, James and the pokeball containing Krabby. “You know, that Krabby will need some training before you take on Carlson again.” James pointed at Nicks new Pokemon; “I’ll help you if you like. I’ve had my fair share of battles.” He smiled knowingly. “You’d help me train?” Nick was surprised that anybody would help someone like him. Someone who had crashed and burned in their first ever gym battle. “Of course I would, but maybe tomorrow eh? It’s getting late now and I’m pretty sure you need your rest.” James stood up and started towards the door. “I’ll come back tomorrow and we’ll start training then ok?” He waited for Nick to nod before leaving the room. Nick took advantage of the empty waiting room and stretched out on the chairs. ‘Five minutes sleep wont hurt I guess’ he thought sleepily. When Nick woke it was half past nine in the morning. The waiting room was starting to get busy. Nick sat up instantly, feeling rather foolish. Charmander was curled up at the foot of his chair; the pokeball containing Krabby was clutched in his small hands. ‘Looks like he’s found our new friend.’ Charmander must have sensed Nick moving because he also stirred and woke. “Hey buddy, how you feeling?” “Char!” he replied brightly. “Good ‘cos we’ve got a long day ahead of us.” Nick stood up and looked around for James. He was sat reading the paper at the other end of the waiting room. “We’re going to be taught by that guy over there.” He pointed James out to Charmander. “Come on. No time to waste.” They made their way over to James who put his paper down. “Ah, I thought you’d never wake.” He said cheerfully. “Right shall we?” He waved his hand in the direction of the exit and strode out ahead of them. Nick and Charmander hurried after him. James led them to an open area of the mountain road. “Now first things first. The main reason you lost was because your choice of Pokemon was all wrong.” Charmander made a disgruntled noise. James bent down and stroked his chin to apologise. “Don’t be like that Charmander,” he cooed, “one day you’ll be strong enough, but for now you’re just too young.” He stopped stroking Charmander and straightened up, Charmander looked a lot happier after the apology. “Were you watching my fight?” Nick asked, puzzled as to how James knew he’d used Charmander. “Carlson’s sister was laughing about it in the market after the match.” James replied. Nick cast his mind back to the girl on the balcony. That had to have been Carlson’s sister. He looked at the floor, dejected again. “Don’t take it to heart,” James reassured him, “she laughs at everyone who loses. She even laughs when Carlson loses.” This did make Nick feel a little better, but it was still more people laughing at him. “Now then back to business. Send out Krabby.” Nick obeyed and released Krabby from his ball. The crab Pokemon scuttled from side to side. “Now then. Go Sandshrew!” An oversized yellow shrew stood before Nick and Krabby. “Its not a rock type, but ground and rock types are sort of similar. Now lets have a small battle to see what you’re made of. “Alright!” Nick was determined not to lose this time. “Ok then lets begin! Sandshrew scratch!” Sandshrew bared its claws and charged “Krabby bubble!” small blue bubbles sprayed out of Krabbys mouth and hurtled towards Sandshrew. “Sandshrew evade!” Sandshrew strafed left and the bubbles flew harmlessly past. “Again Krabby!” more bubbles burst forth from Krabby. “Sandshrew evade and go in for scratch!” Sandshrew dived away from Krabbys attack and ran forwards again, Krabby took the hit and rolled backwards. It staggered back to its feet as sandshrew charged again. “Krabby, evade and bubble!” Krabby went to move but was too slow, sandshrew attack caught it again and the crab Pokemon staggered backwards. “Sandshrew sand attack!” James’ sandshrew kicked dust into the air, making it impossible for Krabby to see. “Krabby bubble again!” Nick hoped a stray water attack might catch the sandshrew off guard. “Sandshrew tackle!” Nick saw the Pokemon dart into the cloud of dust, straight for Krabby. “Nick! Don’t just use bubble; your Krabbys got powerful pincers. Use them!” Sandshrew was almost on Krabby. “Krabby vice-grip now!” Krabbys pincers closed around Sandshrew, stopping its charge. “You’ve got him now Krabby. Bubble!” Krabby shot more bubbles at the trapped Sandshrew. They hit perfectly. “Krabby let go and bubble!” Krabby released the dazed Sandshrew and sent it bowling across the ground with another bubble attack. “Now tackle!” Krabby charged forwards and collided with sandshrew. The yellow mouse flew through the air and landed hard on the ground. To Nicks amazement, it bounced back instantly.” “Enough Sandshrew!” The recovered Sandshrew scurried to its trainers side. “Excellent!” James cried once he had recalled his Pokemon. “Maybe you’re not as bad as I thought.” Nick wasn’t sure how to take that last comment but decided it was probably a complement. “Well done Krabby.” He said crouching down to pat his new Pokemon. Charmander was cheering on the sidelines. “Congratulations. With Krabby you should have no problem.” James said triumphantly. A new feeling of elation made Nick grin broadly. He had the perfect Pokemon to take Carlson on with. He was going to win this time. “Krabby, you should rest, return.” Krabby disappeared into his pokeball. “So you think I could beat Carlson with Krabby?” “Well not right now. We’ll give it some more battles before Carlson, just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.” James said absentmindedly. They sat at a rock ledge for while until Nicks Pokemon was ready to battle again. Several hours later Nick and Charmander slumped into the Pokemon centre after a hard day of training; James sauntered in as though he had merely been a spectator. After Krabby had got tired James had suggested training Charmander, the little orange lizard looked completely worn out. James’ Sandshrew and Chicorita had been a handful and had come back stronger every time Krabby and Charmander had beaten them. “I am knackered.” Nick moaned slumping into a chair. “Back again?” The kind looking nurse walked over to take Krabby and charmander, “my you both look tired.” It was clear she was talking to Nick and Charmander; James didn’t look remotely dazed as he handed over his Pokemon. “Maybe you should get some sleep.” He said, obviously trying not to laugh at Nicks lack of stamina. “You’ll get used to training like that eventually.” Nick agreed and slumped to the rooms at the back of the Pokemon centre. Trainers could stay free but Nick wasn’t a trainer so professor Birch had, rather reluctantly, managed to get him a room. The last three days seemed to catch up with Nick as he slumped to a bed, his head hit the pillow and in seconds he was lost to his own, sacred world.