Let's Get Going! (Pokémon)

Chapter 6: Status

I got my first good look at the Rock-type gym leader Brock. He had tan skin and spiky brown hair. His clothes were grey, orange, and dark green. He smiled confidently when he saw me.

"So, you're here," he said. "I'm Brock, Pewter City's gym leader."

"I'm here to challenge you for the Boulder Badge," I said. "That is, if you're up for it."

"You can see just by looking at my Pokémon how rock hard my willpower is," Brock replied. "My Pokémon are all hard as rock and true-grit determination!"

"Please stop saying everything is rock hard," I pleaded. Brock ignored my request.

"That's right! All my Pokémon are Rock-types!" Brock said. "Fwahaha! You're going to challenge me even knowing that you'll lose?"

"Yes, but I'm not going to lose to you!" I shouted.

"That's what a trainer's honor demands!" Brock yelled back. "So be it! Show me your best!" He crossed his arms over his chest and the battle began. He sent out a useless Geodude. I laughed.

"Thanks to that stupid rule about matchups, this will be easy! Bellsprout, I choose you!" I sent out my Bellsprout that I caught on Route 1. "Bellsprout, use Vine Whip!"

Vines shot out of my Pokémon and smacked Geodude's rock body, somehow doing an incredible job. Geodude could barely levitate anymore. Brock looked angry.

"Use Tackle!" Geodude slammed into Bellsprout, but Bellsprout had enough time to brace for the impact.

"Bellsprout, finish off Geodude with another Vine Whip!" I commanded. Bellsprout hit Geodude, who was now too close to dodge, with more vines. Geodude fainted and was unable to battle. Brock returned it and sent out his next Pokémon.

"Onix, go!" Onix roared, but I wasn't afraid. "Use Rock Throw!" Onix launched a rock at Bellsprout, unfortunately hitting the target.

"Ugh, Bellsprout use Vine Whip on it until it faints!" I shouted. Bellsprout started its barrage on Onix.

"Onix, use Rock Throw again!" Brock yelled desperately. He was really getting into the battle, but so was I. Onix launched another rock at Bellsprout, but Bellsprout hit it away with its vines and got in another attack on Onix. Onix cried out in pain before collapsing. Brock returned Onix, looked across the battle field at me and smiled.

"Looks like I underestimated you," he said. "As proof of your victory, take an official Pokémon League badge- a Boulder Badge!"

"Yesss!" I shouted. Eevee jumped up at me from the ground in celebration. I was one step closer to being champion and changing the world.

"I have something else to give you, too," Brock said before pulling out what looked like a CD. "It's TM01 Headbutt. You can use this to teach any Pokémon this move."

"Thank you, Brock." I said. "It was a good battle." I walked out of the gym. Once again, I couldn't go anywhere without someone trying to talk to me.

~~~~

"Hey, you there! Newbie!" A man was yelling at me to get my attention. He had spiky brown hair and a confidant look about him. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place him.

"Don't tell me... You've gotta be Elaine, right?" He asked.

"Who wants to know?" I asked snarkily. "Fine, I'm Elaine."

"Ha, I knew it! I'm always right." I realized that he was none other than Blue Oak, Professor Oak's favorite grandson and Viridian City gym leader. He used to be always competing for the champion's seat before giving up to remain a gym leader. I liked him more than Champion Red because Blue would've let foreign Pokémon in because he used to study abroad.

"I'm Blue!" He reached out his hand for me to shake. I took it, feeling somewhat star struck. "I heard from my gramps that three new kids set out from Pallet Town to become trainers, just like I did once. So I came to check you out!"

"And do you like what you see?" I asked, throwing my arms out in a wide gesture. He didn't answer me, probably because he hadn't seen me battle yet.

"I was thinking you might want some advice on how to beat the gym from a gym leader like me, but it looks like I showed up too late, huh?" He asked. I nodded and showed him my Boulder Badge.

"Seems you aren't too shabby yourself..." Blue admitted. "So I guess you've earned a reward, newbie!" The gym leader handed me some Great Balls, which I put in my bag.

"Those'll be even better for catching Pokémon than plain old Pokéballs," Blue explained. I already knew that, but I listened to be nice. "And hey, that thing you've got there... That a Pokédex, right? Gramps made me fill one up too!"

"Ha, I told my friends these things were old!" I exclaimed.

"Haha, even so, you'd better do a good job helping him out!" Blue said. "He may be Professor Oak to you, and sure, he's an old coot, but he's still my gramps!"

"Don't worry, I have many plans and disappointing the professor isn't one of them," I said. "I am however, planing on challenging you, so be ready!"

"I'll be away from Viridian City for a while longer, but when I get back you're toast," Blue replied. "I'm looking forward to our battle. Smell ya later, newbie!" He saluted good-bye and walked off. I watched him go, wishing that he would try and beat Red again.

A trip to the Pokémon Center was long overdue, so I went there to drop my Pokémon off to heal them. While I waited, I bought some Pewter Crunchies a new kind of snack from Pewter. It was taking a little longer to heal my Pokémon than normal, and I couldn't even find a PC to mess around on. After what seemed like an eternity, the nurse behind the counter came back with my Pokémon. She had a weird expression.

"It's about your Eevee..." she trailed off. I ran up to the counter.

"What about my Eevee?!" I shouted, ready to punch the nurse in the face. She backed away.

"Your Eevee is unique, and different from other Pokémon of its species," the nurse started.

"That's what being unique means, yes," I said, trying to get her to the point. She nervously adjusted her hat, probably unsure of what my reaction would be.

"Your Eevee is lacking the genetic mutation that all Eevees are supposed to in order to evolve," she said solemnly. "Your Eevee can't evolve."

I backed away with widened eyes. "No, no, no..." I muttered. If Eevee couldn't evolve, what could it do? An Eevee's success relies on what it evolves into. I couldn't handle it and sat down on one of the cushy chairs in the Center. Eevee was let out and tried to get my attention, but I couldn't even look at him. My stupid first Pokémon is a freak. I realized that I was very tired. I would stay at the Pokémon Center for the night and go to Mt Moon tomorrow.

~~~~

That night, Eevee tried to get close to me, but I still couldn't bare looking at him.

"Why am I here, Eevee?" I asked as I stared at the wall opposite him. "Why do I have you? I wanted to evolve you into an Espeon or something else rebellious, but no." It sounded like Eevee was crying, too. I felt a twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry, Eevee. I wish things could be different."

I rolled over to finally look at Eevee. He looked pathetic, a tiny Pokémon in a world of monsters. I was definitely not the right trainer for this Pokémon, and yet he picked me. I fell asleep not long after, and when I woke up, Eevee was sleeping in my arms.