A Pokemon Tale Part I: The Journey Begins

Chapter 18

Chapter 18:

Red vs. Green III:

Fight for the Golden Nugget

Somewhere Underground-

The Boss was furious. He had just learned his plans Mt. Moon had been thwarted. Not only that, but his men and his Captain were defeated by a couple of teenagers. Why did I even hire those buffoons… he thought. It didn't matter to him that Lance showed up. He had expected the Elite Four to become involved eventually as Team Rocket's activity increased. He had to find out who these kids were. They interested him.

He turned towards his computer. He had obtained some blueprints that one of his trusted underlings had given to him. His prized experiment had escaped, but now he believed he had found just the tool to get it back.

 

The East edge of the Nugget Bridge-

"How many Pokémon do you have, Red?" asked Green.

"Now I have three," said Red. Green laughed.

"Only three? I've caught four, and counting Charmander, five. But I guess I'll use three so that when I beat you, you can say that it was fair. Whoever's Pokémon win two battles wins the gold nugget. Go, Spearow!" The wicked-looking brown bird appeared from Green's Poke-ball. Red remembered how it had defeated his own Pidgey. Like Pidgey, it was a flying-type, and according to the Pokedex, flying was weak against electric-types.

"I've come prepared for Spearow this time!" he said. He released Pikachu, sparks showed at its red cheeks.

"I'd have to say I'm impressed to find that you've captured such a rare Pokémon," said Green. "Now go Spearow, use Quick-Attack!" Spearow flew like a blur towards Pikachu. To counter, Red ordered a Thunder-Wave. The blue sparks hit dead on Spearow's wings and it fell towards the ground, its wings spread like it was still flying.

"Now finish it with Thunder-shock!" commanded Red. Pikachu shot the electricity and fried Spearow. Red always had the mentality that he would win, but he was surprised at how lopsided this victory was. Even more shocked was that it was Green, his rival, who also had a Boulder Badge.

"You don't disappoint," said Green. "I always use Spearow first to test strong opponents. Now we get serious! Go Abra!" The little yellow psychic-type Pokémon appeared. Red recalled Pikachu and sent out Pidgey. He would save Squirtle for Charmander, or whoever came last.

"Pidgey, use Quick Attack!" Pidgey flew at Abra, but Green ordered a "Teleport" and Abra disappeared and reappeared somewhere else, leaving Pidgey as dumbfounded as the Mankey on the bridge.

"Red, you're not going to be able to hit it, it'll keep teleporting!" yelled Blue, trying to coach Red.

"Alright then, let's try Gust!" Pidgey batted its wings furiously and the wind blew at Abra. Suddenly, Abra stood up and it started glowing. Green ordered a Confusion attack, and Pidgey stopped beating its wings. Instead, Pidgey started flying in circles rapidly, now vertically, now spinning like a screw through the air. When Abra stopped glowing, Pidgey fell from the sky disoriented. Red recalled it.

"That makes the score one-to-one," said Green. "I know you have Squirtle left, so I think I'll keep my little Fire Friend inside his Poke-ball… Let's see how you like my own Water-Pokémon! I've been waiting to test it, and I decided it'll make its debut against you! Go, Magikarp!"

Out of Green's Poke-ball came a red fish with yellow fins and yellow whiskers. It flopped around on the grass like a fish out of water. Even fish-like Pokémon could breathe on land and in water, but this Magikarp Pokémon was pitiful looking. Blue didn't need an attack from Abra to wear a confused look on her face.

Green knew his mistake. "I paid good money for you at that Pokémon Center!"

Red laughed. "Come on out Squirtle! Time to play!" Squirtle came out of its ball and laughed at the flopping fish. It needed no instruction from Red. It picked up Magikarp and threw it in the river running under the Nugget Bridge. Then it jumped in after. Red and Blue couldn't contain their laughter as Squirtle kept playing in the water with Magikarp, ramming it and pulling its tail. Magikarp wasn't even more coordinated in the water as it was on land. Green's face was red with rage.

"Fine! You win! I probably should've used Charmander anyway… I might've been better off." The beam of light from his Poke-ball sucked Magikarp back into its ball. Squirtle came running out of the river and jumped into Red's arms. He gave Red a high-five and then he got a funny look on his face. Red put him down and was just about to ask "What's wrong" when Squirtle started to change.

The first thing that they noticed was that Squirtle's skin began to darken. It went from a light blue to a navy. He was growing noticeably, finally reaching a new height of about three feet tall. Its canine teeth also grew longer and stuck out of its mouth, even when it was closed. Its tail grew a thick white curly hair, while it grew pointy ears covered in the same fluff. Squirtle had evolved, it was plain to see.

Red pulled out his Pokedex. Under the 'My Pokémon' screen, Squirtle's name was replaced as well as its icon. The new name read, "Wartortle."

Though angry Green was at his folly, he congratulated Red at this achievement. "Good job, man." Red looked up at him surprised. "When a Pokémon like that evolves, grandpa says it's because they share a special bond. I guess I can't take you for granted anymore. I'm going to the next Gym, in Cerulean City." As he left he said "Boy I'd hate to have to battle that nasty little turtle."

"His tail is so soft," said Blue. Wartortle looked at her as if to say 'Thanks.' Red and Blue released their Pokémon, to re-introduce the turtle. Pikachu recognized it instantly and hugged him. Pidgey pecked at its fuzzy tail and its shell. As for Blue's Pokémon, Bulbasaur looked in awe, hoping one day it could evolve into something more powerful. Wartortle flexed and showed off its muscles for Nidoran who batted her little eyes in return. Metapod, being basically a cocoon, wore a blank facial expression.

"He always looks like that," said Blue. "But I'm sure he's excited on the inside!" she picked up Metapod.

"It looks like we both have a Pokémon who's evolved," said Red. "People had better start watching out for us!"

"Yeah," said Blue as they walked away, all their Pokémon following hurriedly alongside. "You know, I wonder if all our Pokémon could evolve."

Red smiled at the thought of a team of fully evolved Pokémon standing at his side as he lifted the Pokémon League trophy. He realized he was holding up the little round gold nugget while he was daydreaming.

"That'd be pretty cool." Blue laughed, as Red still held the glinting shard of gold.