Pokemon Fan-Fic

Title: Challenges of a trainer.

Part 3: Between a Rock and a Hard place.

The door opened causing Shan to look up. It wasn't the man she had talked to but she did know him. It was Seth; he was caring something in his arms. She watched as he rushed up to the front desk. Joy came out and looked at Shan and shook her head, Shan sighed and leaned back.

"You have to help my Bellsprout," Seth said handing over the small plant Pokemon." Joy took it and frowned. "We'll get it back to you soon but for now go into the lobby. I'll yell at you later." She said and took Bellsprout in the back. When Seth walked into the lobby he saw Shan and sat next to her.

"Hi Shan, How are your Pokemon," He said sarcastically. "I bet there dead or something."

"Nice to see you again Seth," Shan said looking around. She was looking for Charmander. She had let her out to walk around and now she was wondering were she was. "So you caught a Bell Sprout huh?" She said reaching behind the chair. "There you are," Shan picked up Charmander who smiled and hugged her.

"Oh so you still have that Charmander huh." Seth said looking at Charmander. Charmander growled at him and hugged Shan tighter.

"Yea, What Pokemon did you get at the lab?" Seth was still staring at Charmander.

"Oh you mean the one I got stuck with when you took the one I wanted." Shan hugged Charmander a little tighter.

"I got her fair and square."

"Yea well, I guess your right." Seth said and took out a pokeball. "Come out Cubone." A small Pokemon popped out. Shan took out her pokedex and pointed it at Seth's Pokemon.

"CUBONE: A GROUND TYPE POKEMON. THIS POKEMON USES A BONE AS A WEAPON AND WHERE'S A SKULL AS A HELMET."

Shan put her dex away. "That's a great type Seth." Shan said setting Charmander on the chair next to her. "Did you catch any?" Seth looked down.

"Only a Bellsprout," he looked at Cubone and tried to pick it up. Cubone hit his hand away. "Ow, She doesn't want to listen to me. I guess I'm not to good." Shan looked at Cubone; it was waving its bone at Seth. Shan walked over and picked Cubone up and dogged his swing.

"Stop that," she said smiling. "Your to cute to act that way," Cubone put down his club and hugged Shan who set him down. "Did you give it a name Seth?" Seth looked at Shan.

"Yea I named her Glinda."

"Seth, your Cubone is a male."

"What? A male."

"Yes and I bet that the name you gave him insulted it," Shan put her hand on her hip. "Who would like a name like Glinda any way."

"Hey Cubone how about I call you, um. Shan what's a good name."

"I know why don't you name it after one of your favorite Anime characters."

"Great Idea, your name is now Piccolo." Cubone ran over and hugged Seth's leg.

"I didn't know you liked Dragon Ball Z Seth." Seth picked up Piccolo and smiled.

"Yep," Shan sat down in her seat. Seth told her about his journey and she told him about hers, she left out the part about team rocket.

"That test was odd," Seth said out loud.

"What test?" Shan asked letting Rattata out of his ball.

"That psy test," Shan swallowed hard.

"Yea," Shan looked up. "It was odd. What was your, um score." Shan asked. Rattata and Charmander were playing.

"I didn't even register. How about you?" Piccolo walked over to Rattata and Charmander and began to play with them.

"The machine had a malfunction. And it sort of exploded."

"That was you!" Seth said loudly. The other trainers in the pokecenter turned and looked at her and Seth.

"Quiet," Said Joy walking into the Lobby holding a happy Bell sprout. It leapt out of her arms and ran to Seth.

"Nurse Joy, Is the Eevee ok? And how did you get hear so fast from Viridian?" Joy looked at Shan with a puzzled look.

"Oh you mean my sisters best friends wife. We look a lot alike. The Eevee has died unfortunately, but we saved her cubs. Did you call the owner?" Seth recalled his Bell Sprout and set back. Shan looked down.

"Yes I did, He said he would be right over but." Just then the door swung open and the Eevees' owner walked in with a woman and two kids.

"Joy," he said running up to her. "How's Eevee?" He said.

"Brock, that's your Eevee?" Joy said staring at him.

"BROCK!" Shan and Seth said in surprised unison.

"Yes," he said looking at them. "Oh its you. You're the one who found Tulip." Brock said looking at Shan.

"Yes, I found her on the side of the road." The two kids began to cry. The woman led them over to some seats and began to talk to them. They seemed to calm them a bit.

"Oh, we have been looking for her for so long. When just found out that she was going to have cubs. So how is she?" Shan looked down. Nurse Joy stepped up to Brock and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Brock, I'm sorry. She didn't make it. Her cubs are still alive though." Joys normally happy face looked sad. Shan looked away and wiped a way a tear. Charmander and the Rattata looked up at their crying owner and ran to her. She picked them up and hugged them.

"Suzie." Brock said turning to the woman. "Come hear pleases." Susie walked over and Brock told her what had happened. She quickly looked over the two kids who were playing with Seth's Pokemon. Seth was staring at them with a worried look.

"No," she said and hugged him. "Oh Brock, what will we tell your brother and sister. They loved Tulip so much. And she was so. . "

"I know dear, I'll tell them. You go get the Cubs." Brock kissed her on the cheek and walked over to the kids. Seth saw Susie coming and recalled Cubone and Bell Sprout. He walked over to Shan.

"Let's go," Shan said recalling Rattata. They left the Pokemon center. Seth walked next to Shan whose head was low. Charmander toddled near her.

"I have to go to the Police station Seth," Shan said. Seth looked at her.

"Why?" He asked. Shan took out Growliths ball and tossed it down.

"Growlith," she said.

"I have to take her to the station. I promised the Jenny in Viridian I would." Seth smiled at the Growlith.

"Wow, to bad you can't keep her."

"She's at a high level and won't listen to me."

"I can't believe that guy was Brock," Seth said putting his hand on his head.

"Yea," Shan said. "He's the Gym leader. I never thought he'd look like that." Seth looked at Shan. "Yea whatever Shan," Shan glared at Seth.

"I have to go Seth," Shan said disappearing into the police station. She was glad to be away from Seth. The officer behind the desk looked up.

"Can I help you?" He said sternly.

"My name is Shan I brought something for you guys." Shan waved to Growlith who leapt forward.

"Growlith," she said. The man smiled.

"So you're the one we've been waiting for." He smiled. Shan said good bye to Growlith and left the Station. Outside it was still light out but it was still getting late. Shan recalled Charmander and walked over to a bench that was in front of the station. Her thoughts were on Tulip.

"If only I had been at full power," she said hanging her head. "She would still be alive." She set back.

"Hi Brock." Shan said not turning around.

"How did you know?" Brock said sitting next to her.

"I just did."

"Look. I want to thank you, for trying to save Tulip." He said looking at her. She looked up at him.

"No problem. You don't have to thank me." Shan said.

"Look I want to thank you. Come with me."

"Were are we going?" She asked.

"Just follow me," Brock said and walked on. Shan stood up and walked after him. He was silent. It amazed her, he looked so hard like a rock, but inside she could sense that he was sad at the loss of his Pokemon. Soon they came upon a large building.

"This is my breeding center." Brock said. Shan looked surprised.

"But aren't you the Gym leader." Brock looked at her.

"I haven't been a Gym leader in a long time kid." He said and walked through the doors followed by Shan. Inside it was beautiful. The walls were decorated with Murals of Pokemon of so many types. In the corner Brocks' younger brother and sister were feeding the two tinny Eevee cubs with some baby bottles. When they saw her they smiled.

"You coming?" Brock said. Shan looked at him.

"Yea," She followed him into a room. Once inside a Vulpex ran up to him and yelped to be picked up. He picked it up and smiled.

"I became a Pokemon breeder about 15 years ago." He set the Vulpex down and it ran out of the room. "I met Susie when I was traveling and after I was done we got together and made this breeding center. We got married a few years later."

"Then who's the Gym leader?" Asked Shan.

"My Brother, Steel. He took over after he completed his training." Brock turned to a table and picked up a Pokeball. "What's your name?" he asked taking out a piece of paper.

"Shan," She said.

"Where were you born and were are you from."

"I don't know and Hidden." Brock looked up at her.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't have a family." Brock went back to writing.

"Hear," He said handing her a pokeball and a certificate. "This is Tulips cub. It came from her last liter. I think that she would be better off with you." Shan took the ball.

"I can't, I mean . . ."

"Take her," Brock said. "Susie and I don't have the time to train her and I think that you will be a good trainer for her." Shan tossed down the ball. A small Eevee popped out.

"Eevee," it said and looked up at Brock sadly.

"We were wanting to give her to a good trainer, through her mothers death we found one." How morbid, Shan thought and picked up Eevee. She licked Shans' face and jumped down. Shan recalled her.

"Brock, where's the Gym?" Shan asked. He leaned up against the wall.

"A few blocks down the road, but it's closed now. Steel went home for the night." He turned to her. "You think you can beat him?" Shan smiled.

"You bet. I know I can. That badge is as good as mine." Brock looked down.

"You talk like some one I used to know. He always said stuff like that." He stood up. "My wife and I would be honored if you would stay hear tonight. We have a guest room you can stay in and you can get some information on some of the Pokemon we have hear."

"Thanks," Shan said.

"You must be hungry," Brock said walking back into the main room followed by Shan. Shan was, she had been running around Viridian trying to get away form the Pokemon there, that she forgot that she was hungry.

"Yes a little," she said smiling. "Well you can eat with us if you want. You'll need to be ready tomorrow. Especially if you wan to go up against Steel."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that Steel is a ruthless gym leader. He's as tuff as his name." Brock looked down. "It wasn't always like this though. When he first took over he was more patient but since the league changed things, anyone who goes up against him usually has their hands full."

"Well I'll beat him with my Charmander and my. . ."

"You don't stand a chance."

"Hey," Shan said glaring at Brock "don't underestimate me. I have skill and I will win."

"You can try." Brock said. Shan frowned, Susie walked up behind Brock.

"Hi," she said. "Thank you for trying to help Tulip." She said and wiped her eyes. Brock turned to her.

"Shan this is my wife Susie." Shan smiled and Susie did the same. "Susie, Shan hear wants to challenge Steel." Susie gasped.

"Oh come on he can't be that Tuff," Shan said putting her hands on her hips.

"You never fought him said Brock."

"Brock, I'm going to show her to her room and get her something to eat." Susie said kissing him on the Cheek. Shan looked away. Susie, showed her to her room. It was nice, at least it wasn't a sleeping bag. She put her things in the room and let out her Pokemon. Charmander and Rattata greeted Eevee and they played together. Shan enjoyed a good dinner with Brock and his family. That night Shan fell asleep with the hope of beating Steel. She couldn't help but wonder why Brock seemed so distant when it came to his brother. She fell asleep with her Pokemon lying on the foot of her bed.