"We're in Rancher Forest, now," I said. "This place is supposed to be filled with great bug Pokemon. I want to see if I can catch a Weedle or a Scyther."
     "Hey, oh, look it's a cute little Caterpie," Lizzie said smiling. "This one is mine. Marill, it's time for you to make a new friend. Use your Water Gun."
     Marill shot a blast of water at Caterpie. Caterpie dodged out of the way and used Tackle. Marill held its stomach n pain and then used a Bubblebeam. this time it hit Caterpie dead-on. Caterpie fell to its side. "Pokeball, go!" Lizzie yelled. She threw a pokeball at Caterpie. It bounced off of him, opened, and Caterpie was sucked in. It shook Once, twice, three times, four times, PING!
     Marill picked up the Pokeball and handed it to Lizzie. Lizzie picked it up and smiled at Marill. "Now we have more friends, more Pokemon, and more protection from muggers, killers, and people like that."
     So far, our group of Pokemon was Pikachu, Marill, Noctowl, and Caterpie. "Well, I'm getting hungry," I said to Lizzie.
     "But we've eaten all of our food supply," Lizzie said.
     "No, when we stopped at the Poke `mart yesterday, I got some snacks. I opened the snack compartment of my backpack. Two small bags of BBQ chips, two soda bottles, and two containers filled with macaroni & cheese. "We just need to start a fire to heat up these containers. And my portable TV gets 300 channels. We can sit here, in the middle of the woods, have a picnic, and watch TV."
     As I said that, it started to rain. I took a small silver box from my pocket and threw it into the air. It turned into a tent. "I got this, too."
     "Woody, how much did all of this stuff cost?!" Lizzie demanded.
     "I got the portable TV and SuperTent in a pack for $1,000," I replied.
     "WOODY!" Lizzie yelled.
     "Hey, we still have over $70,000 dollars," I said to my friend. "Don't be so cheap. We're orphans and we have more money than most normal kids. You should be happy about that."
     Lizzie though about and then nodded. We got into the tent. It was big enough to fit at least ten kids.

We had taken a nap and then woke up. It had stopped raining. "Okay, Lizzie' it's time to go to Rancher Village," I said. I sat up and rubbed my eyes. Pikachu and Noctowl awoke next to me.
     "Get it off me," Lizzie squeaked.
     I yawned. "What are you talking about?"
     "Get it OFF!" she screamed. I turned around and saw a Scyther holding a scythe at her throat. It held it up and prepared to cut her, but Pikachu tackled Scyther. Scyther fell out of the door of the tent. We all ran outside -- only to realize that we were surrounded by bug Pokemon. Two Pinsirs, a Beedrill, a Ledyba, three Heracross, and another Scyther. The Scyther in our tent snickered.                  
     "We can take them on," Lizzie said. "Marill, Caterpie, I choose you!"
     "Pikachu, Noctowl, help them," I ordered.
     Our Pokemon fought back, but it was no use. All of our Pokemon were small and there were nine of them -- only six of us.
     "Pikachu, Thunderbolt!" I yelled. Pikachu shot a charge of electricity at all of the Pokemon. The bug Pokemon were barely hurt. Noctowl then used Confusion. The bug Pokemon were still unaffected.
     One of the Scyther's came up from behind and slashed Lizzie in the kidneys -- hard. Lizzie screamed and fell down. Something inside of me just snapped. Lizzie lied on the ground, in pain, blood coming from her back. I glared at the Scyther. I no longer wanted to fight to save myself. It was also for Lizzie. Lizzie was an innocent little girl, just along with me to catch some Pokemon. For no reason, these Pokemon attacked us.
     I punched the Scyther right in the face! Scyther fell to the ground. I started to fight the Pokemon by myself. I kicked the Heracross, headbutted the Pinsir, elbowed the Beedrill, and slapped the Ledyba. "Pikachu, Thunderbolt, Noctowl, Psybeam, Caterpie, use String Shot, and Marill, Water Gun." The attacks all hit the group of Pokemon together, at the same time. The bug Pokemon all ran away, of course screaming. Except for the Scyther. I walked over to it and dropped my Pokeball onto it. The ball didn't even shake. PING!
     I picked the ball up, shrunk it, and put it into my pocket. "Caterpie, get into your Pokeball," I said. Caterpie got into its Pokeball. I picked up Lizzie. She was motionless. You couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Noctowl, fly up and see if there's a hospital, or a Pokemon Center anywhere. Take Marill with you."
     Marill climbed onto Noctowl's back. They flew off. Pikachu and I just sat there. I hoped that Lizzie would be okay. About three minutes later Noctowl and Marill returned. I picked up Lizzie. Pikachu jumped onto my shoulder. Noctowl and Marill lead the way as we ran through the woods. I had gather up the tent and the food while Noctowl and Marill were gone. We ran and ran.
     "Pikachu, Pikachu, Pii," Pikachu said. (Look. There's something on the ground.) On the ground was a Water Stone. I didn't care. I just picked it up if it would entertain Pikachu. I handed it to him.
     Pikachu sat down on my shoulder. I saw him reach down and drop it into my backpack. We came out of the woods onto a street. I saw an Emergency Room about a block down the street. We entered. "SOMEBODY HELP ME!" I yelled.

A doctor came out of the room that had Lizzie in it about an hour later. I gazed up at her. "She okay?" I asked quietly.
     "She's be fine," she said.
     "That's good," I said, relieved.
     Pikachu tapped on my knee. I looked down. "Pikachu, Pika, Pika, Pika, Pikachu, ka," he said. (Hey, didn't you realize we're in Rancher Village? You can compete for your badge.)
     "You're right," I said. "I can fight Smith for the Farm Badge. It's a good think that I brought that laptop." I looked for research on Laine. According to his website, he owned a Tauros, a Miltank, and a Ponyta.
     "Those are some pretty tough Pokemon," I said. "But you and Noctowl can handle them, right?"
     "Pikachu," Pikachu muttered. (And Scyther.)
     "Oh, yeah," I muttered. "Scyther, too." I sat back down. "I don't think I like Scyther very much. I mean, it attacked Lizzie for no reason. What if it turns on me in the middle of the match?"
     Pikachu looked confused. "Pikachu, Pika, Pi, chu, Pika." (You don't trust Scyther? He only attacked us because he was a wild Pokemon, and we were on its territory.)
     "Maybe, but that is public property. We'll just have to watch Scyther."
     "Hey, you," a boy said to me. I looked up. He was Chinese with spiked up red hair and freckles. He had on a yellow Zapdos jersey and yellow pants. "I heard that your friend is in the emergency room." He smiled softly. "So is mine. But, do you want to battle?"
     "Sure," I said smiling. "It'll get my mind off of Lizzie in the hospital."

We walked across the street to the park. "Three on three," he said. "By the name, my name is JT"
     "I choose you, Noctowl!" I said. I threw Noctowl's pokeball high into the air.
     "Nrrrr, Towwwww!" it cried.
     "Spearow, go!" JT called. He tossed a great ball in the air. Spearow popped out and nearly knocked Noctowl out of the sky with a Quick Attack.
     "Noctowl, Psybeam!" I yelled. Noctowl's brow glowed purple and a purple beam of energy shot out and hit Spearow. Spearow flew back a couple of inches.
     "Come back with a Whirlwind," JT said. JT's Spearow flapped its wings and a blast of wind flew at Noctowl. Noctowl flew down and barely dodged the window, and then used a Whirlwind of its own. Spearow got caught in the Whirlwind and spun around. He had rolled out of it.
     "Spearow, Peck attack." Spearow pecked Noctowl's head about three times.
     "Wing attack, Noctowl!" My Noctowl slapped Spearow out of the sky with a glowing white wing. "Now, finish it off with Confusion." Noctowl used confusion. Spearow slowly rose into the air, surrounded by red light. He cried out in pain. JT didn't want to call Spearow back but after about fifteen seconds of his Pokemon yelling in pain he recalled it to its Pokeball.
     He looked at his other two Pokeballs. He held one in front of him and put the other on his belt. "Go, Sandshrew!"
     None of my Pokemon were strong against ground-types. "Noctowl, end it quickly with Confusion," I said. Noctowl tried to use Confusion, but Sandshrew dug under the ground. Noctowl looked around and flew lower. Sandshrew shot out of the ground from under Noctowl and came up with a Scratch attack. Noctowl flipped in the air and landed hard on its back. When he got up Sandshrew charged at him with a Tackle. Noctowl flew over him.
     "Sand Attack!" JT and I cried at the same time.
     Both Pokemon used Sand Attack. It seemed that they were both blinded, but my Noctowl used Psybeam and his Sandshrew used Slash.
     Both Pokemon were hurt really badly. They both stood with their backs turned to each other. Noctowl fell down first. I recalled him. "Pikachu, go and use Quick Attack."
     Pikachu charged into Sandshrew. Sandshrew was knocked out instantly because of how Noctowl had beaten him.
     JT took out his last Pokeball and threw it. Staryu popped out and stared down Pikachu.
     "Hey, don't you know that Staryu is a water Pokemon? Water Pokemon are weak against electric Pokemon like Pikachu," I said.
     JT smiled. He had a plan. "Pikachu, Pika, Pii!" Pikachu said excitedly. (I can win. This won't be very hard.)
     "Okay, use Spark," I said. Pikachu shot small bits of electricity and static at Staryu. Staryu just absorbed it in his crystal orb.
     "Whaoh. Use a full power Thunderbolt." Pikachu shot a huge bolt of lightning at Staryu. Staryu again absorbed it. Pikachu used Tackles, Thundershocks, and Bite Attacks, but Staryu was unaffected.
     "Okay, Staryu, Bide!" JT yelled. Staryu shot thousands of volts of electricity at Pikachu. Pikachu yelled in pain. When the shocking was over Pikachu stumbled around, dazed. Staryu then used a Water Gun. Pikachu collapsed on the ground. It was over.
     "You win," I said. I picked up Pikachu and then thought about it. "No, you don't."
     I took another ball from my pocket and threw it. Scyther popped out.
     JT looked surprised. "You caught a Scyther? Awesome. Staryu, Swift!"
     Scyther shot three big red stars from its orb. Scyther was hit, but it didn't hurt him much. 
     "Scythaaaa," Scyther said. He turned to me. I gulped. "Sl- sl- slash attack," I choked out, scared as hell.
     Scyther turned around and slashed Staryu. Staryu fell back, but turned around and used Bubblebeam. Scyther slashed all of the bubbles. They popped. I took a deep breath. Maybe I could trust Scyther.
     "Scyther, Cut." Scyther smashed one of his scythes at Staryu. Staryu dodged every one. Scyther looked tired. Staryu was about to use Water Gun, but Scyther used Mega Kick. Staryu's orb started to blink. It was losing power.
     "Staryu, Spinning Quick Attack." Staryu spun at Scyther. Scyther caught Staryu and slammed him down. Staryu's orb turned black. "Staryu, return."
     JT smiled. "I see you and your Scyther have a pretty strong bond." Scyther walked out to me and held out one of his scythes. I thought he was going to Slash me at first but then I realized he was offering to shake my hand. I grabbed his scythe and shook it. He patted me on the head. He then tapped on his Pokeball and returned into it.
    
Lizzie and I walked out of the Emergency Room. She hugged me. "I'd probably be killed by that Scyther if it weren't for you."
     "There's something that I need to show you," I said. I took Scyther's Pokeball out of my pocket. "Come on out -- Scyther."
     Scyther came out of the ball. Lizzie gasped and hid behind me. Scyther lowered his head. He looked sad. "Scyther was a wild Pokemon. We were in its territory and he was just trying to protect it. He didn't mean to hurt you."
     Scyther nodded.
     Lizzie gave me an uncertain look and than turned to Scyther. She walked up to him -- and hugged him. Scyther hugged her back.
     "You're friends already," I said.
     "But there is something else you have to do," Lizzie said. "The Pokemon gym is right down the street. It's time to face Smith for the Farm Badge. Are you ready?"
     I looked at Pikachu, Scyther, and Noctowl. "You bet," I said.


        

TO BE CONTINUED