The Surf Challenge Camp The Surf Challenge Camp is a camp for Pending Pokemon Trainers. There will be five challenges. For each challenge, you will receive one week to complete it. If interested, please sign up at the Gator City Gym. The first 15 people to sign up will be on the roster. You must sign up by 9/1/3008. The camp will begin on Ferly Lake on 11/17/3008. "Wow, this is going to be so cool. I wonder what the challenges will be!" Exclaimed Nolan. He couldn't wait for the camp to begin. Nolan and his best friend Chris were waiting for the camp to start. The Surf Challenge Camp happened once a year on Tyler, the city's Gym Leader's, birthday. The camp was for anyone who was going to be a trainer. If the camp were completed, that person would become a real Pokemon Trainer and would begin the Surf League. Nolan and Chris were going to be in the camp that year and were hoping to complete it and start their journey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Finally, November 17 had arrived. Everyone in the camp was waiting at Ferly Lake. Soon, Tyler arrived. "Hello, and welcome to The Surf Challenge Camp. Hopefully, all 15 of you will complete this camp and begin your journey. Those who don't may sign up again next year. The first challenge begins today. Before I explain it, here are the rules. First, at the end of each day, you will report to your sleeping quarters. The quarters are located behind my Gym. Yours will have your name on it. Second, any cheating will result of an immediate DQ. If disqualified, you may never participate in the camp again! And third, each challenge has a reason. No matter how stupid or hard. Now, the first challenge is listed on your enrollment papers in your SQ. Please go there immediately. Return here with the Challenge One Instructions and Tips sheet." Nolan and Chris raced to the back of the Gym. Fortunately, their SQ were next to each other. Both went in and picked up there papers. Nolan quickly looked over the challenge instructions sheet. He was in a hurry, but he saw the part about catching a Pokemon something. He picked up the paper and ran back to the lake. "OK everyone. Here's the first challenge. You must find a Pokemon in Feraligatr Lake or the area around it. You must return here with it. You may not capture it in any ball. You must show it that you are its friend and get it to come with you. If you are successful, you may catch it in a ball. You may now begin. If you have any questions, refer to your paper. I will not speak to you until next week. Good-bye." And the tall boy dove into the lake. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Nolan was worried. How would he get a Pokemon to come with him without catching it? "Well," he thought. "I might as well try." He knew what type he wanted. He wanted some sort of Grass type. His own house was like a small hut in a huge garden. His whole family had loved Grass types and plants. Plus, he was a kind and gentle boy. Grass types were known for their strength and gentleness. As he walked through the thick woods, he saw something move. He looked closer. It was a Chikorita. Its leaf on its head was burnt and it looked beaten. He picked up the small creature and carried it to the lake. He dipped it in and washed its cuts. He took it back to his SQ. Inside, he put it on his bed and got a Potion from the shelf. He applied it to the small Pokemon, reviving the Chikorita. With that, the Chikorita jumped up and shot out the door. When Nolan realized it was gone, he began to cry. He cried himself to sleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - When he awoke, he heard something at his door. He walked over to it and opened it. Standing in front of him was Tyler holding the same Chikorita he had helped the day before. "Here Nolan. This little guy was scratching at your door last night. I think it's fair to say that you've completed challenge 1. You are the first, but don't get too cocky. The others will catch up soon. Good day." And with that, Tyler left and disappeared. "Well Chikorita, I guess you're my new partner now. Come on, let's get some rest now." He said as both began to fall asleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Before anyone knew it, the week was over. Everyone had a Pokemon of their own now. Chris had gotten a Mareep, for his family owned a farm and he loved Electric types. Now, everyone was at the lake waiting for Challenge Two Instructions and Tips sheets to come. Tyler passed them out to everyone. Then he explained the challenge. "Here's how it works. Each of you will receive two Pokeballs. With these and your new Pokemon, you must catch two more Pokemon and teach your current one new move without any TM or HM. You may begin once you your balls from me." Nolan began looking for a new Pokemon immediately. As he walked through some dirt, he noticed something. It was a sleeping Phanpy. As he approached it, it awoke and prepared to attack. Nolan sent out Chikorita and told it to attack with a Tackle. But Chikorita didn't obey. Instead, it whipped its leaf around and shot out several sharp leaves greatly weakening the Phanpy. "Alright Chikorita! We already completed one part of the challenge. Now 2/3 to go!" He exclaimed as he threw a Pokeball. The Phanpy was absorbed and the ball shook. It dinged and Nolan shouted and danced with delight. He brought his new friend to his SQ to revive it. It was late so he returned his Chikorita and went to sleep. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The week again shot by faster than he thought. His Chikorita was now a Bayleef and he had added a Pidgey to his collection. It was the last day of the week, so he thought he would visit Chris. He found Chris training with his Flaafy. He was fighting a Cleffa and was ready to throw a ball at it. Nolan watched as Chris threw the ball and waited for the ding. He came over and hugged Nolan after he had caught it. Both friends sent out all three of their Pokemon. Nolan had a Bayleef, a Phanpy, and a Pidgey. Chris had a Flaafy, a Remoraid, and a Cleffa. "That's a nice lineup you have so far Chris." "Thank you Nolan, that's a nice one you have too." They said to each other. Before they knew it, it was bedtime. They returned to their SQ and slept. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - The next day, Tyler had no sheet. He only said, "This is the most unusual challenge in the camp, but it is difficult. From now on, everything in your SQ will be unavailable. The doors will be locked. You will have to survive this week in the woods with your Pokemon. You will be like this many times during your journey. This week will be extra hard. It will rain all week..."