Let's Get Going! (Pokémon)

Chapter 4: Trace

Chase stayed behind to ask Professor Oak about Clefairy, but I was ready to continue my journey uninterrupted. Unfortunately, Trace had other ideas.

"Wait up! Come on, Elaine! I didn't forget about your challenge after we got our Pokémon!" He said excitedly.

"You didn't, huh?" I said. "That's a surprise for someone like you."

"It's battle time!" Trace cried. He sent out his Pikachu, while I launched Eevee off of my arm. We stood opposite each other, watching the other's every move to try and determine what they would do next.

"Eevee, use Quick Attack!" I commanded. He launched himself at an incredibly high speed towards Pikachu, thankfully landing a hit.

"Pikachu, Thunder Shock!" Trace cried. Electricity courses through Pikachu's body, emerging from its cheeks. Eevee was electrocuted, but still standing. I had him use another Quick Attack, while Trace had Pikachu hit Eevee with another Thunder Shock. This time, Eevee was paralyzed.

"Oh, come on!" I yelled. "Eevee, land another Quick Attack or I'll kill you!"

My threat must've worked, because Eevee delivered a finishing blow on Pikachu. Pikachu fainted and Trace returned him to his Pokéball. Since Trace was out of useable Pokémon, and I still had all of mine, he lost the battle.

"What?!" He shouted. My rival was actually sweating. "Did I lose? Aw, jeez... There I went mouthing off like I knew everything, and then I lost! How embarrassing!"

"Know your place, loser!" I smirked.

"Next time I'll have to train my Pokémon up a bit before a battle like that, huh?" Trace frowned for a fraction of a second before grinning again. "Let's battle again sometime!" My friendly rival ran off, presumably to go train. Chase and Professor Oak were done talking, and had probably watched the battle.

"Did you enjoy your first taste of battle, young Elaine?" Professor Oak enquired.

"Of course, it was really a thrill," I said. "Someday, I'm going to be the champion." Of course, I only wanted to be the champion to change the laws about foreign Pokémon. I could never tell Professor Oak something like that, though.

"Your partner Eevee seemed to like it! You two are a great pair," the professor frowned after that. "Although not many successful trainers yell mean things at their Pokémon like you did."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." I turned to Chase. "You ready to go, too?"

"I think I'll be a while. I will see you again soon though," Chase said. I waved goodbye to him and the professor and headed out the door. On the way out of town I ran into Trace's older sister.

"Hey, Elaine!" She'd know me ever since I was little. I could never get a good read on what she thought of me since I was pretty mean to her little brother. Right now, she seemed friendly.

"Oh, just look at Eevee!" She gushed. "You two are already looking like great partners. I happened to be making some Pokémon clothes based off of this one Sinnoh Pokémon fashion magazine..."

I was staring at her like she had just started speaking Kalosian. She must've noticed my disinterest because she got to the point. "Anyway, I think they'll fit Eevee and they kind of match your outfit. Here you go!"

She handed me a neat bundle of Eevee-sized sportswear. I put them in my bag and thanked her before continuing on my way. Of course, on this forsaken trip, I couldn't walk five feet without something happening. Eevee wanted my attention so he jumped on my arm. He yipped cheerfully at me.

"I want you to evolve. The way to do that is battling. Can you be successful at battling, Eevee?" I asked him. He blinked and looked at me puzzled.