The Palto Adventures

Part 2: A New Friend and A New Foe

Kazuki woke to the sound of children laughing. Outside, at least one 
hundred kids ran through the streets, giddy about getting their new 
pokemon. Kazuki leapt out of bed and tripped over a pot of soil next 
to the door in his room. He rubbed his aching head and looked at the 
dirt that had spread all over his bedroom. 

" Why do I have this pot of dirt anyway? " 
" I remember planting a bulb, but nothing ever bloomed. "

A tiny seed was in the middle of the mess, and it had a strange green 
aura around it. 

< Miracle Seed! > A monotone voice yelled. 

Kazuki's mother entered the room with a cell phone shaped object. 

" It's a pokegear. " She said enthusiastically. 
" The man at the pokemon mart said that this was a must for all new 
trainers. It has a cell phone, digital clock, map function, and radio all 
combined! " 

Kazuki attached it to his arm and set the time. He gave his mom a 
huge hug and before leaving, asked the pokegear what the seed was 
again. 

< Miracle Seed. > It said again. 
< This item increases the power of grass type attacks. >

Kazuki figured that would come in handy when he captured a grass 
type in the forest, so he swept it up into his pocket and ran outside to 
the Sage Town gym. Kazuki ran as fast as he could, and was 
thoroughly winded when he reached the top of the gym, but 
nonetheless, was first! He spotted Sage Lei in the corner of the room, 
next to four pokeballs, containing the starter pokemon! He liked the 
idea of getting the first pick, it made this day that much more special! 

" Ah, It looks like you're first. " He said. 

Kazuki stepped forward confidently as possible, but his knees were 
knocking together as he walked. 

" Which pokemon would you like? " Lei asked. 
" There is Hoot-Hoot, a flying type pokemon, Chikorita, a grass type 
pokemon, Caterpie, a bug type pokemon, and Poliwag, a water type 
pokemon. "

Kazuki thought long and hard. It's not as if he knew nothing about 
pokemon, type match-ups were especially important when starting 
out, because there is little skill involved in battles when starting out. 
Hoot-Hoot would make the most sense, seeing as grass types ran 
rampant through the woods. Poliwag was out of the question. 
Caterpie would work as well, but it is terribly weak starting out, and 
Chikorita would have a fair advantage. Which one to pick…

" Chikorita! " Kazuki announced. 

Sage Lei bowed in response and handed him the pokeball. 

" I hope you and your pokemon partner come back to the gym later in 
your journey to battle me. He said. "*

*(Trainers usually wait to battle their hometown gymleaders until the 
end of their journey, after collecting several badges)

As Kazuki left, Sage Lei handed him two extra pokeballs, a potion, an 
antidote, and a pokedex. 

" There are plenty of powerful trainers in the woods, so use the potion 
and antidote if your in a pinch, and the pokedex will tell you anything 
you need to know about pokemon. " Said Sage Lei. 

With that Kazuki ran outside and into the woods, picking up his pup 
tent at his home before leaving. He couldn't wait to capture a 
pokemon, but because he was new to it, decided to inquire with his 
brand new pokedex. 

< To capture a pokemon, the pokedex said; use your own pokemon 
to battle. Your pokemon partner will have a few techniques at first, 
but in time will learn new techniques, or attacks, to battle with. >

Kazuki thought it sounded a little too simple and then realized he 
hadn't even released his pokemon Chikorita yet! 

" Come on out, Chikorita! " He yelled. 

The pokeball was thrown high into the air and it opened, releasing a 
white light that rocketed to the ground. The pokeball returned to 
Kazuki's hand, and when the light faded, Chikorita gave a tired yawn. 

" Chikaaaaaaaaaa! " It said. 

" Oh my, aren't you a cute little pokemon. "
" Let's check your attacks, Chikorita. "

With that, he lifted the pokedex to face Chikorita and it instantly 
revealed all of its stats! 

< Chikorita's attacks are as follows, it said; Razor Leaf, Sweet Scent, 
and Tackle. Chikorita will steadily learn more attacks as it grows and 
evolves. >

" Well, that sounds good to start off with. "

Kazuki sat down next to Chikorita, who was sunbathing on a nearby 
rock. 

" Who knows, maybe we'll make it to the pokemon league someday. "

Chikorita nodded in response. 

" Not Likely! " A voice yelled. 

Kazuki and Chikorita looked up to see a trainer step out from behind 
the bushes. He had jet-black hair, a green T-shirt on and, despite the 
heat, long, gray cargo pants. 

" What do you mean not likely? " Kazuki questioned. 

" I mean that a wimp like you will never make it to Palto Pokemon 
League, especially with a weak pokemon like that. "

Chikorita was now standing up, battle ready. 

" Did you know that in all the years that the Palto Pokemon League 
has taken place, no one from the Ancient Forest has won? " The 
trainer said. 

Kazuki's jaw dropped. 

" I will bring honor to the people of Sage Town and secure my place 
in the Pokemon League Hall of Fame. "

" I don't think so! " Kazuki jested. 
" Lets battle! "

With that, the other trainer leapt back and plucked a pokeball from his 
belt. 

" Go, Chikorita! " Kazuki yelled. 

" Go Bulbasaur! " The other trainer yelled. 

The pokemon faced each other, waiting for orders. Kazuki's first 
battle was about to begin…

" Chikorita, Razor Leaf! "

Chikorita leapt up into the air, and threw several leaves. 

" Bulbasaur, counter with your Vine Whip! " The other trainer ordered. 

Bulbasaur knocked most of the leaves back, but one or two slipped 
past and hit him right between the eyes. He fell back on to his hind 
legs, dazed. 

" Get up, you weakling! " The trainer screamed. 
" I would have never chose you as a starting pokemon if I knew what 
a quitter you were! "

Bulbasaur struggled to get back up but wobbled even when he'd 
regained his footing. Kazuki felt sorry for Bulbasaur. 

" That Razor Leaf attack was pretty powerful, and Bulbasaur was 
exerting a lot of strength trying to defend against it, which made the 
impact that much more unexpected and painful. "

" Bulbasaur, use the Leech Seed attack! "

The Bulbasaur fired a tiny seed from the top of its bulb, which landed 
on Chikorita's head. 

" No! " Kazuki cried. 

Chikorita's health was slowly being sapped back to Bulbasaur. 

" Chikorita, try your Tackle attack! " Kazuki ordered. 

Chikorita rocketed forward and knocked Bulbasaur back to his 
trainer's feet, but surprisingly he stood right back up! 

" Oh, the energy that the Leech Seed is sapping must have helped 
him regain health even when he was being damaged! "

" Bulbasaur, finish it off with a Tackle attack! " The trainer ordered. 

Bulbasaur leapt forward and straight toward Chikorita, who sat there, 
helpless! 

" Chikorita, No! " Kazuki looked away; too afraid to see what 
happened, but when he opened his eyes again, Bulbasaur was 
stopped just in front of Chikorita, suspended in air! 

The pokedex suddenly came to life. 

< Reflect; this defensive technique can send an opponents attack 
back at them. >

" Alright! " Kazuki yelled. 
" Use that Reflect! " 

Chikorita smiled devilishly just before throwing the frightened 
Bulbasaur back in to it's trainers stomach. He fell back, and after 
realizing that Bulbasaur was K.O.ed, recalled him. 

" I can't believe it. I lost. "

The trainer looked down at the ground, pained by his loss. He had 
just started to walk away when Kazuki yelled to him. 

" Hey, I don't even know your name. "

The trainer lifted his head just enough to meet Kazuki's eyes, and 
spoke in a deep tone. 

" You'll call me your rival, that is my name to you… "

After Kazuki healed at the pokemon center, his Pokegear began to 
ring. He activated the phone function and answered. 

" Hello? "

" Hello Kazuki, this is Lei. "

" Oh, Hi Lei. " Kazuki responded. 

" I called to ask if you've seen any suspicious trainers in the area 
since you left with your pokemon, Chikorita? "

" Well, he said, I did battle this really angry guy with a Bulbasaur. " 

" That must be him. " Lei responded. 

" Who are you talking about? " Kazuki asked. 

" I'm afraid that a theft occurred a short while ago. A trainer snuck in 
to the storage room after you left. He stole a Bulbasaur that was 
supposed to be deprogrammed after being trained by Neo Team 
Rocket. " 

" Neo Team Rocket? " Kazuki asked.

" Yes, they're a team of pokemon thieves that plunder trainers 
pokemon and commit horrible crimes with them. They made their 
main base of operations in Kanto six years ago, then disbanded. 
Three years later they resurrected the group in Johto, but once again, 
disbanded the group. Now you'd think that they would learn a lesson, 
but the new team rocket, known as Neo Team Rocket, has arisen in 
Palto, and they are causing trouble all over the country. "
" That Bulbasaur of his is probabley weak right now, but in a while, 
he'll be at full strength and thirsty for battle. I want you to be careful, 
and call if you see him again. 

" I will. " And with that he hung up and left the center. 

As the sun began to set on his first day of training, Kazuki decided to 
spend the night in the forest. Chikorita leaped out of its pokeball and 
stood next to Kazuki. 

" I hope we can capture a pokemon tonight, Chikorita. "

" Chika! " It said. 

They walked in to the forest and found a good spot to set up camp. 
They stayed awake waiting for a nocturnal pokemon like Spinarak or 
Hoot-Hoot, but fell asleep waiting. That night, Kazuki woke up to a 
strange noise in the night. 

" Gosh, How many times am I gonna get woken up? I haven't slept 
through one whole night in the last two days with out waking up. "

Outside, a strange bell could be heard ringing in the distance. Kazuki 
unzipped the tent and looked to see what was out there. A strange, 
green creature hovered a few feat away, it turned to look at Kazuki 
then started to soar in to the sky. Kazuki whipped out his pokedex as 
quickly as possible and faced it towards the being. 

< No available data. > the pokedex informed. 

The creature traveled as quickly as possible, reaching what seemed 
like the top of the sky, before disappearing in a flash of light. Kazuki 
was so confused, he couldn't move. Chikorita stepped out of the tent 
and yawned, totally unaware of what his master had just witnessed. 
He recalled the pokemon and snuggled into his sleeping bag. This 
was going to be an incredible journey…