Disclaimer: Sorry, do not own Pokemon or any of its characters. If I did, Joe 
and Giselle would appear a lot more.



Summary: Joe and Giselle, the two Tech students from Episode Nine, “The School 
of Hard Knocks,” reunite as Joe battles Drake, the leader of the Orange Crew, 
Giselle graduates, and the two train for the next Pokemon League at Indigo 
Stadium. But along the way, their feelings for each other are revealed.



Chapter One – A Call from an Old Friend

Ages:
Joe – 13
Giselle – 15
Other Tech Students – Various ages



The sun set on a beautiful Friday evening in May. It shone on the building known 
as Pokemon Technical School. At this prestigious school, students learn all the 
basic teachings on how to become successful Pokemon trainers. The ranks are 
beginner, intermediate, and expert. Beginners have the strength of regular 
trainers that have up to three badges, intermediates up to six, and experts up 
to eight.



A beautiful brunette in a girls’ Tech uniform sat on a cement block beside the 
outdoor pool. She was reflecting on all she’s gone through during her past four 
years at Tech. Actually, just one memory came to her – the memory of her dear 
friend and former classmate Joe Johnson. He had left Tech almost three years 
before to start over as a trainer with his Weepinbell. But, more importantly, 
they had shared a sunset together on Joe’s last day at Tech. The girl, now 15, 
missed him deeply.



Her name was Giselle Avalon, and she was graduating soon from Tech to compete in 
the Pokemon League. She had learned much in her time here. Perhaps, even more 
than she’d expected to.         


Giselle: (wondering out loud) I wonder where Joe is right now.



She remembered the day before he left was when Ash Ketchum came to their school 
and taught her and Joe what it means to be a trainer. Joe became inspired to go 
on his own journey and left the next day. But for some strange reason, she 
hasn’t heard from him for a week. Last she knew he was on Troveta Island. She 
sighed sadly.

Mysterious voice: Giselle?



At the sound of her name, Giselle turned. She saw a slightly older girl that 
stood an inch taller than her, with shoulder-length black hair, green eyes, and 
also dressed in the girls’ Tech uniform. 



Giselle: Hi, Allison.



Allison: Thinking about him again?



Giselle: (nodding) It’s been almost three years since he left. I’ve gotten along 
well and excelled in all my classes. But, it feels like something’s been 
missing.



Allison: It’s obvious that you haven’t let it affect your work or battling.



Giselle: Yeah, but still…I can’t help thinking about him. He was such a sweet 
and kind person and I treated him like dirt. Then Ash Ketchum showed up and made 
me realize what I was doing. Joe and I became good friends, and then he left.


Allison: And you’ve been more helpful to other students since then. Of course, 
some tried to get more from you than just help with homework or battling, and 
you had to teach them a different kind of lesson.



Giselle: (chuckling slightly) The last time I did see Joe in person was last 
year at the Pokemon League when he placed in the top 16. He said that he wanted 
to travel the Orange Islands and participate in the Orange League. Last I knew, 
he’d gotten his third Orange League badge, the Spike Shell Badge.



Allison: Well, I need to tell you why I’m here. I have some good news for you, 
Giselle. And it’s about Joe.



Giselle: (surprised) Joe? Really?



Allison: He called about half an hour ago, looking for you. He’s at the Pummelo 
Island Pokemon Center. He had great news that he didn’t tell me about. I told 
him that I’d try to find you. I’ve been looking for you ever since.



Giselle: (smiling) Thanks, Allison. I really appreciate it.



With that, Giselle got up and hugged her friend.



Allison: No problem. Now get going or he’ll think you don’t want to hear from 
him anymore.



With that, Giselle took off for the Hall where she resided.



~



Giselle ran up the stairs to her room. She took her room key out of her breast 
pocket and put it into the keyhole. Once she was in her room, she ran for her 
videophone by the window. She looked up the number for the Pummelo Island 
Pokemon Center and dialed it.



She waited a few moments. Then, the smiling face of Nurse Joy came on-screen.



Nurse Joy: Hello. You’ve reached the Pummelo Island Pokemon Center. This is 
Nurse Joy speaking. How may I help you?



Giselle: Hello. My name is Giselle Avalon and I am calling for a Joe Johnson. Is 
he there?



Nurse Joy: Yes he is. One moment, please.



The screen temporarily went blank. Then, the face of her friend Joe came on-
screen. He broke into a smile as soon as he saw her. She was always surprised at 
how much he’d changed in the time they haven’t talked to each other in person. 
His hair was less curly and a bit shaggier, but it was still neatly brushed.



Joe: Hi, Giselle. Guess you got my message, huh?



Giselle: Yep. How have you been?



Joe: I’ve been fine. I just got here a couple hours ago from Kumquat Island 
where I battled Luana, the fourth member of the Orange Crew.



Giselle: And…? What happened?



Joe: Just see for yourself.



Joe proudly held up the Jade Star Badge, which was a tiny gold star on a white 
seashell with a small green gem in the middle.



Giselle: (smiling in approval) Congratulations, Joe. I’m proud of you.



Joe: Knew you would be.



Giselle: Would you mind telling me about how you earned it?



Joe: Not at all, Giselle. I had to use two Pokemon in what was called a double 
Pokemon battle. It was thrilling…



After talking about his battle with Luana, Joe revealed even better news. 



Joe: Giselle, I’ll be facing Drake, the leader of the Orange Crew, in just a 
week!



Giselle: (excited) You are?



Joe: Yeah. I’m still deciding which Pokemon I should use for the battle because 
I’ve heard he has a very strong team. They scheduled my battle in a week because 
Drake is off on important business.



Giselle: This is such a coincidence, Joe. One of the professors is taking a 
group of 10 students to Pummelo Island over our weeklong break to watch the 
leader of the Orange Crew battle. And I’m one of them!



Joe: That’s great, Giselle! When are you arriving?



Giselle: We are leaving on Sunday afternoon for Vermilion City, where we will 
take a boat from the docks. It’ll take us a couple of days to reach Pummelo 
Island.



Joe: So, I’ll be able to see you and spend a little time with you.



Giselle: (blushing pink) I’d like that, Joe. Maybe I’ll help you train for your 
battle.



Joe: That’s just like you, Giselle – you’re always looking to help others.
 <!--[endif]-->
Giselle: (blushing harder) Thanks, Joe. You’re sweet.



Joe: So, where are you guys staying?



Giselle: At a hotel called Pummelo Paradise.



Joe: Another coincidence, Giselle. I’m staying there as well! The hotel is right 
next to a beach. It has a great view.



Giselle: (giggling slightly) How romantic. It’ll be great to be sharing the same 
hotel with you.



Joe: Yeah... I got to go now, Giselle. I need to figure out my strategy against 
Drake.



Giselle: Okay, Joe. I’ll see you in a few days.



Joe: Looking forward to it. Bye, Giselle.



Giselle: Bye, Joe.

With that, the transmission ended. Giselle sat back in her chair and sighed in 
content. At last, she would see Joe in person again for the first time since 
last year at the Pokemon League. She remembered the day he’d left Tech very 
clearly.



~Flashback~



Joe and Giselle stood outside Pokemon Tech at the entrance. Joe was dressed in a 
brown jacket, green t-shirt, blue jean shorts, and red sneakers. He had all his 
belongings in a large brown backpack



Giselle: You’re all set now?



Joe: Yeah. But I almost feel like I’m forgetting something.



Giselle: I can tell you what you’re forgetting. Let me show you.



With that statement, Giselle wrapped her arms around Joe and hugged him tightly. 
Joe was surprised at first, but slowly wrapped his arms around her waist. Then 
Joe got a real surprise when Giselle pecked him on the cheek. He blushed seven 
different shades of red. Almost reluctantly, Giselle pulled away blushing as 
well.



Joe: (blushing and chuckling slightly) Oh, yeah. That’s what I’m forgetting.



Giselle: Promise you’ll call me any chance you get?

Joe: I promise. And I’ll think of you everyday.

Giselle: You’d better. Now get going before I have to kick you out of here.

Joe: (smiling) All right, all right. I’m going.

Joe started walking away.

Giselle: Joe!

Joe turned and looked at her again. She blew him another kiss. He blushed 21 
different shades of red this time. He waved good-bye. She waved back and watched 
as he disappeared into the distance.

Giselle: Bye, Joe.

With that, she walked back towards her Hall.

~End Flashback~

Giselle remembered that day every time she thought about Joe, which was every 
day. Now she would see him in person again. Giselle walked over to her 
nightstand and pulled out a scrapbook. She’d never shown this to anyone. She 
opened it up and turned a few pages to the one she desired. It had many pictures 
of Joe that she’d taken when he wasn’t looking. But the two that stood out the 
most were of her and Joe by the pool at sunset, holding each other’s hand, and 
of them at last year’s Pokemon League competition, standing in front of another 
sunset while standing side by side while holding hands. Every time she looked at 
them, she was entranced by how romantic they looked.



She closed the book and sat there. They would be together again. This time, 
hopefully, they would never have to separate.



Giselle: Never again.



And with that, she started packing for the trip, all the while having images of 
her and Joe together going through her brilliant mind.



~~~~~~~~~~~~



That ends the first chapter. I hope you liked it. This is one of my favorite 
couples in Pokemon, second to Ash and Misty, despite them being only one-shot 
characters. I just thought I’d give my version of how they’d separated and 
finally reunited. More to come later. Bye!



Wildfire Wolf