Articuno and the Bird Trio

By Doctor B.

Part 1

Years had passed, and Brian slowly began to gain the true wisdom of an expert Pokemon trainer. Sleepy has grown also, getting harder to handle and feed every year; while, at the same time, taking care of the rest of his Pokemon team. He was determined to persevere through it all, he just wasn't sure what yet. He didn't really have any goals he wanted to fulfill as a trainer. He was just the typical everyday type of trainer except with no particular goals.

But he did take his training seriously. He had some of the strongest Pokemon on his entire neighborhood. He also had a strong well balanced team of three trained Pokemon; Abra, Dragonite, and his best friend Sleepy. He did not like the idea of catching lots of Pokemon, no matter how unprofessional it was. He would do this his own way. Besides, he didn't just want any Pokemon, he wanted the best ones, the strong ones.

He took his time training and battling for badges and respect, all while getting the once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the world. One of his deepest passions was nature and fishing, like all the people from the Docks. A lot of people and fellow trainers made fun of him for his odd way of training, because he would spend hours on teaching Pokemon fighting skills and dodges. He didn't care. As most experienced (or at least smart trainers) knew that good training takes time and perfection, and more than just brute force.

He even spent months teaching his Pokemon how to talk, read, and write. You would never know when that would come in handy. Besides, you could understand your Pokemon better. Also, if he gets a new Pokemon, one of the others could teach it how to do the same things they can. It was all like one big happy family.

It was with this type of confidence that Bryan had to know that he was ready for anything. So one night, after preparing for God knows how long, he decided that it was finally time to move on and start his journey. Whatever it was. He just had to start.

"Today has finally started," Bryan said, "I can finally start my journey. And, with you guys, there shouldn't be too much of a problem." Bryan gave a wink to all of his Pokemon, who were sitting on a riverbank, fishing with him. "Yeah! I can't wait to kick butt on some other guy's Pokemon," Abra said, while he started to do some shadow boxing.1 "Where do we start?" asked Bryan's powerful Dragonite. "I know that Viridian Gym is the closest one from Lavender Town I can find. But that might not be enough of a challenge for me or you. It'd be too easy.. We do need the money, though. I guess we should go then."

The Pokemon all returned to their special PokeBalls and traveled down the forest near Viridian. Bryan had walked down the path, competing against those who confronted him. As expected, he easily defeated them with his Abra's psychic and psybeam abilities. This was the most embarrassing moment in the lives of Bryan's opponents. "Nothing like a little competition, eh Abra?" "Yup, fun," he answered. Bryan sort of apologized and continued on his way.

Bryan had just exited Viridian Forest when he saw the most beautiful bird in the world. It had a mystical glitter around it. It had a white belly and blue feathers along with three long blue talons on its head. Bryan stared in awe at it, it was the most beautiful thing he ever saw. He would have pulled out a PokeDex like most trainers, but he didn't have one. He didn't really trust them anyway.

He healed his Pokemon and marched into Viridian's Gym, the Earth Gym. He battled all of the leader's other trainers for some last minute preparing, then he confronted Giovanni the gym leader. He stared at Giovanni. He wore a well-cleaned cherry colored suit, with shiny black dress shoes. Bryan noticed Giovanni's features, he had black hair that was combed back, with blue eyes that fit perfectly into their sockets. His mouth was a very noticeable smirk, and his nose was pointed a little.

"I want to fight for your Earth Badge. Either you fight me or not. Yes or no?" asked Bryan, his anger rising in him for some strange reason. "Sure," answered Giovanni, "You can fight me with up to six Pokemon." Bryan secretly prepared his three.

The battle was fierce, but with Bryan's obedient, strong Pokemon he pulled it off with a bit of difficulty. The most intense moment was when Giovanni used his Rhydon. He tackled the Abra. Despite the quickness of him, Rhydon railed it into the wall. Signs showed that Abra was injured beyond a shadow of a doubt. Bruises were all over its body and it looked like his arm was broken. Bryan recalled Abra.

"Damn it! Now you made me mad!" he called as he threw out his Dragonite. The Dragonite gave a quick tackle to Rhydon, sat on him, and punched with all of the rage Dragonite could get. As Giovanni stood wide eyed, Bryan said, "One of the things I taught my Dragonite to do with the tackle ability. Give up yet?" Giovanni threw in the towel2, and gave Bryan the Earth Badge.

Bryan exited the Earth Gym and talked with Dragonite and Abra as he placed the Earth badge neatly in a box. "Great victory you guys. That battle was the best I've had. Dragonite, if it weren't for your quick thinking I don't know what would of happened." "I learned from the best," said Dragonite. Bryan had healed all of his Pokemon and left the Pokemon center.

Articuno swooped over Bryan's head. "What a awesome bird. I want that thing, and I'm gonna get it." Bryan followed it. While running he thought to himself, "But what's it doing here? All I saw were Pidgeys and Spearows, none of these birds were anywhere around here."

His determination was constantly rising. He wanted that bird, and by God he was going to get it.