Just starting off... (Pokèmon Fanfic)

Chapter Twelve

Flare falls to his knees. I walk over to him, bend down, and place my hand on his head. "You did a good job, Flare," I say. I bring him back to his pokeball and stand to face Brock.

"You don't know how to judge strength in an opponent," he says. "However, without that, you did well. You failed to win, but the friendship with your Charizard is strong and that's what pulled your victory against Steelix."

I stare at the ground, reflecting on the battle. If I would have played it differently, I could have won.

Brock looks at Axle and, then, at me. "You are the kid who got kidnapped that night in Pewter, aren't you?" He asks. I look up at him with a confused face. "Axle came to the gym the next day to win his gym badge and get my help."

I remembered the night I escaped. I was in Celadon Game Corner. Flare and I got out and met Leaf. "Yes, I am," I respond.

"Good to see you didn't join their ranks."

It irritates that anyone would think I would join them. I don't say anything so that I don't get into a fight. "I would never think of it," I say in a dark tone.

"Hey," he says. "I meant that as a compliment.  Not many people walk out alive from their base and get to tell the tale."

I thought of everything that had happened.  Team Rocket would have never made it that easy for me to get out.  It didn't take much for me.  The weakest person was sent for me, unless they wanted to lose.  Giovanni knows, as a business man, that a company is only as strong as it's weakest link.

He knew.  He knew the whole time.  He knew that I was sitting in that seat next to Leaf.  He knew I would use Horn Drill when I fought him at Silph Co.  He has been toying with me, and now he is getting bored.  He has been throwing cheap shots into my face, and I was blinded by my ignorance.

As I started off, Brock stops me.  "There's a reason Red chose to go to Mt. Silver," he says.  With that, Misty and Brock walk off toward Kanto.

I smile.  "Yo, Sean," Axle says.  "He's smilin' again."

"I think your right," Sean says.  "He does appear to be smiling."

"Hey guys," I say.  They look at me.  "It's time to find something."

"What?" Axle asks.

I turn to walk in the mountain. Raising my hand in the air, I announce, "I don't know!"

"Then how do you expect to find it?" Sean asks.

"I believe I'll know when I see it," I respond.

"Well, sorry, but this is an adventure you'll have to do on your own," Sean said, turning toward Kanto.

"Yeah, I'm goin' with him," Axle said.

"Hey!" I yell after them.  They turn to face me.  "Good luck on your travels."  I wave to them.  They wave to me.  We, then, go our separate ways.
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I head back into the Pokèmon Center and head to the computer in the corner.  I login to my boxes and deposit all my Pokèmon except Flare.  I transfer all my Pokèmon over to Professor Oak.  I exit the Pokèmon Center with Flare's pokeball in hand.

As I enter Mt. Silver, a chill go down my spine.  The strength of the Pokèmon in this cave is evident.  I decide to send out my partner so he can walk with me.  The Pokèmon in the cave didn't care to annoy me, possibly because they don't want any trouble with me.