Ambition Part 2 I do not own Pokemon. Pokemon is a registered trademark of Creatures Inc. and Nintendo Inc. * * * * The foliage outside of Petalburg City’s limits shone a brilliant green in the early morning rays of the sun. Dew glistened on the tip of every leaf, and the sounds of wild Pokemon foraging for a meal made Dan explode with excitement. For the first time in his entire life, he would now get to fulfill his dream if he could make it through the tiny forest that separated Petalburg and Oldale. After that, he was home free. Besides, everyone knew that the Pokemon between Birch’s town and Oldale were weaker than the ones on the way to Petalburg. “It’s you and me,” Dan said triumphantly as he held Treecko’s Pokeball in his hand. It glistened with a magnificent light as the sunlight glided along its surface. “Together, we’ll be the best in the entire world.” Dan continued up the path, unaware of anything in his midst. There seemed to be no action in his neck of the woods, so Dan proceeded carefully. He watched every nook and cranny of the forest as he began to hear strange noises coming from a nearby tree. He approached carefully; Treecko’s Pokeball was held firmly in his right hand. “Pine-Pineco!” Dan whirled around to see what appeared to be a green pinecone on the path. He quickly identified the rough green body as a Pineco. It had two large, white eyes with red pupils that made Dan shiver. He looked firmly at the wild Pokemon, and began to pull his Pokeball back into his stance. He was about to launch Treecko’s encasement into the air when a thought suddenly hit him. “Wait a second, if I battle every wild Pokemon that crosses my path, I’ll do nothing but wear Treecko out. I’ve got to play it smart; I can’t waste my energy.” Dan eased up, and stood firmly, “I’m sorry, Pineco, but I can’t give you a battle now. I have to make it to Oldale without a scratch and I can’t have you hurt my Pokemon.” With that comment, Dan proceeded down the worn dirt path that led to Oldale town. Even though he had seen many wild Pokemon, Dan was troubled by the fact that the same Pineco he had confronted in the first few minutes of his test seemed to be following him. It bounced on its green foot along the path about twenty yards behind Dan. He kind of felt sorry; he wanted to catch it. However, he had no Pokeballs because he wasn’t a trainer. Dan just ignored the Pokemon. “Besides,” he thought, “If it follows me all the way to Littleroot, I can catch it if I pass my test.” Dan continued along the dirt path. He stopped at a freshwater spring to take a drink. He looked up from the cool water, and noticed a certain Pineco sipping from the same spring across from him. It made little slurping noises as it drank, and that reminded Dan. “Geez, my Treecko hasn’t even come out of its Pokeball since I got it. Better give it a drink.” Dan stood up, and let Treecko’s Pokeball plummet to the ground. With a brilliant flash of light, a small grass Pokemon was now sitting by the edge of the stream. Treecko had the build of a lizard that stood on two feet, and a long tail that looked like a thick blade of grass. Its large, yellow eyes gave it the appearance of a Halloween costume. Its red underbelly that stretched to its rounded nose shone brightly in the sunlight. “Tree-Treecko!” It shouted, happy to be out of its Pokeball. Pineco stood on its little stub in awe as Treecko took a drink. Dan watched proudly as the Pokemon, his Pokemon, drank using its hand as a little cup. Pineco resumed drinking its fill, and when it was done, stood staring at Dan and Treecko. When they were finished, Dan acknowledged both zpokemon. “I think its time we moved on; Oldale isn’t too far now.” “Pineco!” “Treecko!” “Treecko,” Dan said to his pokemon companion, “I think you should stay out in the open for a little bit; you’ve been in that Pokeball forever.” Treecko jumped up, shouted its name, and hurled itself down to the ground in a joyous expression. It was ecstatic at the chance for a little freedom. “Great! And you Pineco?” “Pineco!!!” “Alright then, let’s hit the road,” Dan cheered. Dan eventually made it out of the woods and into Oldale without a scratch. Treecko and Pineco were in tip-top shape, and everything seemed fine. Oldale was a beautiful town with small, cozy cottages, a Pokemart, and a state-of-the-art Pokemon Center. The grass seemed to grow greener in this small town. Dan could understand why there was such beauty and carefree spirit in this town; there was no gym for serious trainers to flock to. “Do you guys need the Pokemon Center?” Dan asked his two companions. “Treecko!” “Pineco!” “Didn’t think so,” Dan said easily, “We haven’t had a spot of action. Oh well…” With that, the trio made their way down the road to Littleroot town. They walked on the path for a good half-hour, when they were stopped by a strange figure. “Halt!” “Who are you?!” Dan yelled. He had no time for anyone butting into his affairs. The boy revealed himself. He had white hair and was dressed in black. He had a tan, one- strap backpack, and wore red running shoes. “I am Brendan Birch, son of pokemon expert Prof. Birch. You must be Dan. I challenge you to a two-on-two battle!” “What?!” Dan was baffled, “Why?!” It seems you’ve taken the easy way out of this test and avoided battle in the forest. The whole purpose of this exercise is to utilize endurance, and from the looks of it, you’ve been on vacation,” Brendan accused. “Alright,” Dan said, and then backed down. “What’s the matter? Are you afraid to fight? It figures; you greenhorns are all alike-” “It’s not that!!!” Dan yelled, “I can’t fight a two-on-two battle; I’ve only got Treecko.” Brendan stared at Dan for a good long moment. It made Dan fell as if he had a third eye in his forehead. Then Brendan spoke up, “What about that Pineco over there?” Dan looked in awe at the dark green figure standing next to Treecko. “Thank my lucky stars,” he thought. “Uh…Yeah! Pineco’s ready to go. A two-on-two battle, no sweat. Let’s do this thingy!” “Uh…‘Let’s do this thingy’?” Brendan made Dan feel like a complete idiot. “Yeah, the battle,” Dan said in a voice that had “liar” written all over it. “Okay!!!” Brendan yelled, “Let’s go!!!” He pulled two Pokeballs out of his pack. “Torchic! Mudkip! GO!!!!!” Twin blasts of light engulfed the small patch of foliage as two Pokemon entered the world from their Pokeballs. One was a small, bird-like monster with an orange body and a cute face. The other was blue with a large fin behind it and another on its head. They looked at Pineco and Treecko in menacing expressions. “Let the battle commence!!!” Brendan yelled. “Alright,” thought Dan, “This is my chance. If I lose this, I’ll never realize my dream.” “Torchic, use your Ember to rip those two a new one!” Torchic puffed up like a balloon, and shot out multiple smoldering balls of flame. “Treecko, get behind Pineco!” Dan yelled. “Self-sacrifice, eh Dan? I’d expect more from someone my father held so highly,” Brendan taunted. “Not quite! Pineco, use Protect!” With the little grass type crouched behind him, Pineco formed a protective sphere around him and his ally. The embers bounced off of the shield like light on a mirror. When the assault was finished, the sphere gave out. “Excellent! Mudkip use Water Gun!” Mudkip shot a jet of water from its mouth and Pineco was engulfed. It flew up into the air and landed hard on the ground. “PINECO!!!” Dan yelled. “P-Pi-Pineco!” the bug type screamed as it stumbled back onto its stub. “Heh, it’s gonna take more than that to stop us, Brendan! Treecko, use Absorb on Mudkip!” Treecko lit up like a giant green candle, and shot out a tiny sphere at Mudkip. Before it could dodge, Treecko had caught it and began to suck out its energy. “That’s good, Treecko! Now let’s finish this. Use Pound attack!!!” Treecko jumped into the air and sent its tail crashing down hard into Mudkip’s cranium. It wobbled around a little, then fell flat on its face. “Torchic, use Ember on Treecko!” “No,” Dan thought, “Treecko’s caught out in the open; I can’t help him.” “Treecko!!!” the Pokemon yelled as it was engulfed in a smoldering assault. It fell, burned in various places, to the ground. “Treecko, return,” Dan used his Pokeball to recapture Treecko. Brendan did the same with Mudkip. It was now a one-on-one match, just Pineco and Torchic. “Alright, Torchic, use Ember!” Torchic opened its tiny beak and spat out numerous flames. Dan knew he had to save Protect, fore its chances of working faded each time used successfully. “Pineco, dodge those flames!” Pineco weaved through the tall grass, barely managing to avoid the burning attacks put forth by the fire Pokemon. He was able to keep dodging, but Torchic kept burning. If Dan didn’t act fast, the battle would be lost. He had to do something, but what? “That’s it!” he yelled, “Pineco, combine your Protect and Tackle attacks to form a Protected Tackle Assault!!!” Pineco put up its circle of defense and drove head on into Torchic’s Ember onslaught. The tiny flames bounced off of Pineco’s outer shell, and it smashed Torchic head on and sent it flying. It cried out as it smacked its head into a tree and slipped into unconsciousness. That was it, Dan had won. “Torchic, return!” Brendan called back Torchic and looked at Dan, “Well done, it seems what my father said was true. You are indeed worthy of a Pokemon Trainer’s License. Come with me.” Dan followed Brendan out of the small collection of trees and bushes and into an even smaller town than Oldale. It had two cottages in the front with an enormous complex near the oceanfront. It was beautiful to see the waves caress the banks of Littleroot and splash up onto the land. Brendan led Dan into the immense complex in the back of the town. It was a large laboratory. There were various Pokemon roaming the halls freely, and Dan could make out Prof. Birch’s shadowy figure in the back of the labyrinth. He was checking up on a Torchic when he noticed Dan and his son. “Hello, boys,” Birch said, “Brendan, how did it go?” “Aw man, Dad, it was amazing. Dan beat me in a two-on-tw-” “Two-on-two?!” Birch interrupted, “That’s preposterous! I only gave Dan one Pokemon with no extra Pokeballs. How could you have competed in a two-on-two match with only a Treecko in Dan’s Pokemon arsenal?” “Pineco!” “Oh, who’s this?” Birch asked, bending over to see the little bug pokemon that had walked into his lab, “Is this Dan’s second Pokemon?” “Yes,” Brendan said quickly, “That’s the Pineco that worked with Treecko to trample Mudkip and Torchic.” “Well I’ll be darned,” Birch looked at Dan in awe, “It seems you’re the most worthy candidate there is for a license.” “But sir,” Dan was about to confess, “Treecko fainted in the match. You said I had to make it here without Treecko fainting to get a Pokemon License.” “Yes, but this is something else. Dan, you have a gift. Did you know why Pokemon trainers were scarce in ancient times before Pokeballs?” “Because pokemon couldn’t be given artificial loyalty-” “Yes, however some people still trained them. Some lucky men and women had the gift of being able to tame wild pokemon. Dan, it was a gift, and you have it.” Dan was dumbfounded, “You mean me?” “Yes, you,” Prof. Birch said, “You have what it takes. Dan, you were destined to train Pokemon. If only you had started at the age of ten. You probably would be a master right now.” “Me?! A master?! That’s awesome!” Dan exclaimed. “Yes, and now it’s time.” “For what?” Dan asked. Birch handed both Dan and Brendan a red computer-like device. “These are your Pokedexes. They will help you identify wild Pokemon in your midst. Also, take these,” Birch handed them each a strange, copper device. “These are my latest inventions, they’re Pokegear2’s. They have all of the capabilities of Pokegears and Pokenavs. Use them well.” “And now, Dan, it’s time,” Birch said. “Time for what?” Dan was confused. “Although that Pineco listens to you, it cannot be recognized as an official league Pokemon unless battled and caught. Brendan already had two Pokemon, and you need a second official one. Take these.” Birch handed Dan five empty Pokeballs. “These will help you capture that Pineco. Now, let’s get outside and catch this Pokemon!” “Pineco!!!” Day was giving way into evening, and the sky was painted with a glorious orange. In the courtyard of the lab, Treecko and Pineco were staring each other down. Pineco held firm on its stub while Treecko was burying its green feet into the mud. “Are you ready, Treecko?!” “Treecko-Tree!” “Pineco!” Brendan stepped out into the courtyard and stood between the two Pokemon. “This will be a battle between Dan’s Treecko and the wild Pineco. If Dan is the victor, Pineco will be captured. Begin!” Pineco leaped into the air and barreled towards Treecko with a furious speed. “It’s using Tackle, Treecko, counter with Pound!” Treecko charged Pineco and thrust its tail into the bug Pokemon’s face. Pineco was hit hard, and fell to the ground. “That’s the way, Treecko! Now, use Leer!” “Treecko!” Treecko stood firmly in front of Pineco and eye contact was established. Treecko’s eyes lit up with a grim yellow light. Pineco couldn’t move, and soon its hard body began to soften. “Dad, what’s happening?” Brendan asked Prof. Birch. “It’s simple, son. The Leer technique lowers the defense of another pokemon. Since Pineco’s defense comes from its tough outer shell, the Leer attack will soften it,” Birch explained. “Time to finish this, Treecko!” “Treecko!” “Use your Pound attack to bring Pineco to its knees!” Treecko dashed up a nearby tree trunk and catapulted in Pineco’s direction. The very second before Treecko’s tail would have dealt the finishing blow, Pineco put up a large, blue barrier. Treecko bounced right off, and Pineco was back up on its foot. “Dang, he used Protect. Treecko, we have to finish this now! Combine your Absorb and your Pound attacks to form a Draining Pound Assault!” “What’s this?!” yelled Birch. “Dad, this is just how Dan defeated me,” explained Brendan, “He combined that Pineco’s Protect and Tackle attacks to send Torchic flying. This could be it for Pineco!” “Treecko!!!” screamed the pokemon as it lit up with a brilliant green light. It soon focused all of its new power into its tail and prepared to bash Pineco. However, the little bug type put up its protective shield. Treecko’s bright green tail collided heavily with the barrier and shattered it into a million pieces. “This is it, Dad!” yelled Brendan, “Pineco’s Protect wasn’t successful!” Pineco cried out as Treecko’s powerful tail connected to its already softened shell. Treecko drained it of some of its health when it smashed into Pineco, which made it even weaker than it would’ve been. Pineco smashed into a tree and fell to the ground unconscious. Dan lifted up one of the tiny red and white Pokeballs Birch had given him, and pushed down on the center button. The little ball expanded to nearly triple its original size; Dan drew it back in its stance. “Pineco, you’re mine!!!” Dan yelled as he threw the Pokeball at the immobilized form of Pineco. It hit the Pokemon with a thud, and then shot up into the air. With a loud “BOOM” it opened and sent a brilliant white light straight at Pineco. It engulfed Pineco, and sent it into the depths of the little metal ball. The Pokeball stood wobbling on the ground; Pineco was trying to escape. After a few seconds, the red light in the middle of the ball turned off, and it stood very still. Dan stared in awe at the device that held his new Pokemon. He stepped lightly across the grass in the courtyard of Birch’s lab, and stood over his new companion. Dan bent over and picked up the Pokeball. “Alright!” he yelled in sheer excitement, “I caught Pineco!!!” “Excellent work, my boy,” Birch said. “Well done, Dan,” Brendan said, “I never doubted you.” “Well thanks, guys,” Dan said, a little embarrassed. It was surprising how such a little comment could throw Dan off at times. “Now,” Birch’s face turned serious, “You are an official Pokemon Trainer, Dan, and so are you, Brendan. I have a favor to ask of you.” “Yes, father?” “You are growing just fine as a trainer, but some Pokemon will never come anywhere near this town you’ve grown up in. It’d be a shame for you to try and become a master without experiencing all types of Pokemon on your quest. Brendan, I want you to go with Dan on his journey, if that’s okay with Dan of course,” Birch looked over to Dan, and he nodded. “That’s a great idea,” Dan said, “It’d be boring just traveling around by myself.” “Great!” yelled Brendan in total happiness, “Let’s get going.” The two new friends set out on their journey. They made it to Oldale after sunset, and the brilliant night sky seemed to have been painted by the greatest artist in the world. Dan lay in his bed in the Pokemon Center, staring up into the giant black abyss. “This is where my life begins…” * * * * So what’d you think? Please give me some feedback. Constructive criticism of praise, I look forward to any and all comments. Chapter three’s coming soon.