Chapter Seven
"Boulder Battle Tactics."
"I didn't mean to say all that stuff to you yesterday. I was simply expressing my frustration. I want to be a good pokemon trainer but catching and raising pokemon isn't as easy as it looks," Hoshi said to Andrew.
"Don't worry about it. I know you didn't mean it. You're not the snippy type," Andrew said.
"I guess I was just having a bad day," Hoshi said.
"I regret saying that you stunk as a trainer and that your pokemon would be better off with somebody else. I lost my temper and said things out of anger that I should not have said. I'm sorry I was so mean to you," Andrew told Hoshi.
"Don't worry about. You made me realize that I am a lousy trainer. I do need more practice at this. The main thing is that we are still friends," Hoshi said.
"You got that right," Andrew replied.
Hoshi took out her PokeDex and started playing with it.
"What are you doing?" Andrew asked.
"Nothing, really," a bored Hoshi replied, pointing her PokeDex at the pokemon in front of her.
"Rattata: Rat - 1' - Bites anything when it attacks. Small and very quick, it is a common sight in many places," the PokeDex said.
"Why are you doing that? You already know what pokemon they are!" Andrew exclaimed.
Hoshi pointed her PokeDex at Penny.
"Meowth: Scratch Cat - 1' 4" 9lb - Adores circular objects. Wanders the streets on a nightly basis to look for dropped loose change," the PokeDex said.
"You're going to wear your PokeDex out if you keep playing with it like that!" Andrew told Hoshi.
Hoshi pointed the PokeDex at another pokemon.
"Bulbasaur: Seed - 2' 4" 15lb - A strange seed was planted on it's back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this pokemon," the PokeDex informed Hoshi.
"If I hear that PokeDex just one more time, I'll....," Andrew said, looking annoyed.
"You'll what?" Hoshi asked mischieviously as she pointed the PokeDex at a pokemon again.
"Spearow: Tiny Bird - 1' 4" 4lb - Eats bugs in grassy areas. It can fly around very fast to protect its territory. Also tends to have a temper," the PokeDex said.
"Grr....!" Andrew replied.
Hoshi kind of laughed to see Andrew getting annoyed and pointed her PokeDex at Pidgey.
"Pidgey: Tiny Bird - 1' 4" 4lb - A common sight in forests and woods. It flaps it's wings at ground level to kick up blinding sand," the PokeDex said.
"Give me that thing!" Andrew exclaimed as he grabbed the PokeDex out of the hands of a surprised Hoshi and took off running.
"Hey! Come back here with my PokeDex!" Hoshi exclaimed, chasing after him.
"Oh, yeah?" Andrew replied, grinning as he ran from Hoshi.
"I need that PokeDex! How am I supposed to keep stats on all of the pokemon that I've seen and caught if I don't have my PokeDex!" Hoshi exclaimed.
"Serves you right for trying to annoy me!" Andrew told her.
"You just wait until I catch up with you and get my PokeDex back!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Andrew laughed in reponse to Hoshi's comment.
Eventually, Hoshi caught up to Andrew and cornered him. "Now, are you going to give me back my PokeDex or not?" she asked him.
"Maybe," Andrew replied.
"What would you do with a PokeDex, anyway?" Hoshi asked Andrew.
"At least you wouldn't be able to use it to annoy me anymore," Andrew said.
Hoshi gave Andrew a funny look.
Kitt came around the corner just as Hoshi yanked her PokeDex out of Andrew's hands.
"What is going on here? What was Andrew doing with your PokeDex?" Kitt asked.
"Andrew took my PokeDex and I was trying to get it back," Hoshi replied.
I only took it so that you would quit annoying me with it by pointing at pokemon. Pokemon which you already knew what they were!" Andrew exclaimed.
Kitt laughed when she heard the answer to her questions. "Enough goofing around. It's time to start training. Are you ready?" she asked Hoshi.
"Yes I am," Hoshi replied.
"Good. Let's get started," Kitt said.
The pokemon battles started out easy but soon grew harder as Hoshi sought to level up her pokemon so they would be stronger for the battle against Barrett. Kitt and her pokemon helped Hoshi train her pokemon. Hoshi also struggled to avoid from becoming frustrated as the battles got harder.
About a week later.
"I can see that Hoshi is improving on being a better trainer. Her pokemon are also slowly becoming stronger. We'd be wise to let her proceed at her own speed and not push this. I think she'll let us know when she's ready to face Barret," Kitt said to Andrew as they watched from a distance while Hoshi cared for her pokemon.
"I've noticed that, too!" Andrew exclaimed.
Two weeks had passed since Hoshi and Andrew had first arrived in Pewter City.
"I can see that you've really improved from the inexperienced trainer that you used to be," Andrew said.
"I have been trying to improve," Hoshi replied.
"And it shows, too," Andrew said.
"Always do your best but don't push yourself or your pokemon too hard," Kitt told Hoshi.
"I won't. I want my pokemon to be happy," Hoshi said.
"Happy pokemon do their best in battle because they know that their owners care about them," Kitt replied.
"Hey Kitt, you want to have another pokemon battle later on today? I may have lost yesterday's battle but I have a feeling that I'm going to win this battle," Hoshi asked.
"You're on! I almost never turn down a pokemon battle! Just name the time and I will be ready for another match!" Kitt exclaimed, grinning.
Later that day.
"Let's go, Sandshrew!" Kitt exclaimed, throwing out her pokeball.
Sandshrew appeared ready to battle.
"I choose you, Penny!" Hoshi said as she threw out a pokeball.
Penny shot out of the pokeball ready for another battle.
"Scratch Attack, Sandshrew!" Kitt exclaimed.
Sandshrew took a swipe at Penny.
"Show them your Scratch Attack, Penny!" Hoshi called out.
Penny clawed at the Sandshrew.
"Sand Attack, Sandshrew!" Kitt exclaimed.
Sandshrew took a deep breath, and then blew a cloud of sand at Penny.
Penny blinked as the sand blew in her face.
"Scratch Attack, Penny!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Penny tried to scratch Sandshrew but missed.
"Scratch Attack!" Kitt told her Sandshrew.
Sandshrew scratched at Penny again.
"Growl Attack, Penny!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Penny growled at the Sandshrew.
Sandshrew backed off from the battle a little.
"Scratch Attack, Sandshrew!" Kitt exclaimed.
Sandshrew scratched at Penny.
"Sandshrew looks tired! Use a Scratch Attack!" Hoshi called out.
Penny clawed at Sandshrew again.
The Sandshrew fell to the ground, exhausted.
"Return Sandshrew!" Kitt exclaimed, holding out a pokeball.
Sandshrew was recalled.
"It's your turn, Eevee!" Kitt exclaimed, throwing out another pokeball.
Eevee appeared and leapt into the battle.
"Return Penny!" Hoshi exclaimed as she held up a pokeball.
Penny was recalled.
"Let's go Rattata!" Hoshi exclaimed, tossing out a pokeball.
Rattata appeared ready for battle.
"Tackle Attack, Eevee!" Kitt exclaimed.
Eevee ran at the Rattata and tackled it.
Rattata was knocked off of its feet.
"Use your Tail Whip, Rattata!" Hoshi called out.
Rattata turned around and smacked Eevee with its tail.
The attack caught Eevee by surprise.
"Sand Attack, Eevee!" Kitt exclaimed.
Eevee blew a cloud of sand at Rattata.
Rattata was partly blinded by the sand cloud.
"Tackle Attack, Rattata!" Hoshi called out.
Rattata tried to tackle the Eevee but missed.
"Sand Attack, Eevee!" Kitt exclaimed.
Eevee blew a cloud of sand toward Rattata.
Rattata evaded the Sand Attack.
"Use your Quick Attack, Rattata and Tackle the Eevee!" Hoshi called out.
Rattata quickly moved to tackle Eevee and bowled Eevee over.
Tackle Attack now, Eevee!" Kitt called out.
Eevee dashed toward Rattata and tackled it.
"Tackle Attack, Rattata!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Rattata tackled the Eevee.
"Sand Attack, Eevee!" Kitt exclaimed.
Eevee blew a cloud of sand toward Rattata.
Rattata dodged the sand cloud.
Both pokemon were tired by now.
Hoshi looked at Kitt and then recalled Rattata.
"Why did you recall your pokemon? You could have won this battle," Kitt asked, puzzled by Hoshi's gesture.
"I was feeling nervous about facing Barett but I'm not nervous anymore. I needed some way to get over my restlessness," Hoshi said.
"So that's why you seemed restless. You just wanted a practice match before you faced Barrett as a way to calm yourself as well to see if you were ready," Kitt said.
"Yup!" Hoshi exclaimed.
"I can understand being nervous before a challenge," Kitt said.
"I think I'm finally starting to understand my parents. They wanted to be good parents and they did their best, but they made plenty of mistakes along the way. Just like I did on this journey. Sometimes you just have to learn things as you go along. A book would make things easier but then you would miss out on all of the challenges that await you. This journey has helped me see my parents in a whole new light. Now I can see things from their point of view," Hoshi said.
"Your insight is very interesting, Hoshi," Andrew remarked.
"I think I'm finally ready to face Barrett," Hoshi said.
"Are you sure, Hoshi?" Kitt asked her.
"Yes, I'm sure," Hoshi replied.
First, let's stop off at a Pokemon Center to heal our pokemon, then we will head down to the Gym," Kitt said.
After making a stop at the Pokemon Center to heal Hoshi and Kitt's pokemon, they headed toward the Gym and went inside. Inside, they saw a room with a teen-aged boy in it.
"This is it. Are you ready?" Andrew asked Hoshi.
"Yes I am," Hoshi replied as she went into the room.
The boy looked up as she entered the room.
"I'm here to challenge you for a badge," Hoshi said.
"So, you must be a pokemon trainer. I am Barrett, the Jr. Trainer of Pewter City Gym," the boy said.
"My name is Hoshi," she said.
"Well then, let the battle begin," Barrett said.
"Ok," Hoshi replied.
"Go Sandshrew!" Barrett exclaimed, tossing out a pokeball.
A Sandshrew appeared from the pokeball and stood in front of Barrett.
"Get ready to fight, Rattata!" Hoshi said as she threw out a pokeball.
Rattata appeared before Hoshi and prepared to battle.
"Tackle Attack, Rattata!" Hoshi called out.
Rattata ran at the Sandshrew and tackled it, bowling it over.
"Scratch Attack, Sandshrew!" Barrett exclaimed.
Sandshrew got up and jumped at Rattata, scratching it.
Rattata cringed from the pain.
"Use your Tail Whip, Rattata!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Rattata slapped at the Sandshrew with its tail.
The Sandshrew backed away nervously.
"Sand Attack, Sandshrew!" Barret called out.
The Sandshrew blew a cloud of sand at Rattata, partly blinding it.
"Tackle Attack, Rattata!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Rattata ran at the Sandshrew again but only grazed the side of the Sandshrew.
"Scratch Attack!" Barrett told his Sandshrew.
The Sandshrew leapt at Rattata and scratched it.
"The Sandshrew is getting tired. Use your Quick Attack, Rattata. Then use your Tackle Attack!" Hoshi exclaimed.
"Scratch Attack, Sandshrew!" Barrett called out.
The Sandshrew went to Scratch Rattata.
But the Rattata evaded the attack and came back with a Tackle Attack.
The Attack was too much for the Sandshrew and it fainted.
The Sandshrew was recalled.
"It's your turn, Geodude!" Barrett called out as he threw another pokeball.
A Geodude came out of the pokeball.
"What is that?" Hoshi asked, pulling out her PokeDex.
"Geodude. A rock pokemon found in fields and mountains. Mistaking them for boulders, people often step or trip on them," the PokeDex said.
"Hmm, I have a plan. Let's go, Pidgey!" Hoshi exclaimed as she threw out a pokeball.
A Pidgey appeared.
"A Pidgey? You think your Pidgey has any chance of beating my Geodude?" Barrett asked.
"Just wait and see," Hoshi replied.
"Tackle Attack, Geodude!" Barret exclaimed.
"Sand Attack, Pidgey!" Hoshi said.
The Pidgey rapidly flapped its wings, creating a large cloud of sand and sent it toward the Geodude.
The Geodude tried to tackle Pidgey, but its sight was obscured by the large cloud of sand and its attack missed.
"Use your Sand Attack again, Pidgey!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Pidgey sent another cloud of sand at Geodude.
"Tackle Attack, Geodude!" Barrett called out.
Geodude tried to tackle Pidgey but missed due to the sand that was still hanging in the air.
"Sand Attack, Pidgey!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Pidgey send another cloud of sand toward Geodude.
"Tackle the Pidgey, Geodude!" Barrett called out.
Geodude went to Tackle Pidgey and grazed it.
Pidgey fluttered to the floor.
"Return, Pidgey!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Pidgey was recalled.
"Now it's your turn, Bulbasaur!" Hoshi exclaimed, throwing out another pokeball.
Bulbasaur came out of the pokeball and stood in front of Hoshi.
"Tackle Attack, Geodude!" Barret exclaimed.
Geodude rolled toward Bulbasaur and tackled it.
The force of the attack almost knocked Bulbasaur off its feet.
"Use your Growl Attack!" Hoshi told Bulbasaur.
Bulbasaur Growled at Geodude.
The Geodude backed away in fear.
"Use your Leech Seed, Bulbasaur!" Hoshi exclaimed.
Bulbasaur shot a Leech Seed out of its bulb at Geodude. The seed landed on Geodude and within seconds, was rapidly sapping Geodude's energy.
Geodude tried to pull the vines off, but it was no use. Soon, it had fainted.
"Return, Geodude!" Barrett exclaimed.
Geodude was recalled.
Barrett walked over to Hoshi. "Not bad. Very clever of you using your Pidgey's Sand Attack to make it harder for my Geodude to see to attack and then pulling out a Bulbasaur to finish off Geodude. Not many people would have thought of doing that since normal type pokemon clearly have a disadvantage against rock pokemon," he said.
"Thanks," Hoshi replied.
"Here you go. It's the Boulder Badge. You've earned it," Barrett said, handing the Badge to Hoshi.
Hoshi walked out of the room where the pokemon battle had been held and went over to where Andrew and Kitt were waiting.
"Done with the pokemon battle already?" Kitt asked.
"I got a Boulder Badge!" Hoshi exclaimed, showing it to Kitt and Andrew.
"Hmm, a Boulder Badge. Very nice, Hoshi," Andrew said evenly as he half turned away from her.
Hoshi couldn't understand it. She thought that Andrew would be thrilled that she had just won her first badge. Why wasn't Andrew pleased at her success? She was confused by Andrew's reponse and had a look of surprise on her face.
Kitt was also puzzled at Andrew's lack of enthusiasm. She started to say something to Hoshi, but Andrew caught her eye and she realized what he was doing.
'I am happy that Hoshi won her first badge but I can't let her know that I'm pleased just yet. This is a whole new game and the rules are different. The enemies are going to be alot tougher now and Hoshi has to be ready for anything that they might throw her way.' Andrew thought to himself.
"That pokemon battle was ok but nothing specacular. In fact, I've seen better battles before," Kitt told Hoshi in a bored voice.
'So, Andrew doesn't think that I can do this. Well, I'll show him that I can do it,' Hoshi thought determinatedly to herself when she saw the look in Andrew's eyes.
'It's working, it's working!' Andrew excitedly thought to himself as he saw the fire of determination starting to burn in Hoshi's eyes. He kept his face emotionlessly so that Hoshi wouldn't guess what he was trying to accomplish. He also calmly refrained himself from jumping up and down in excitement at Hoshi's success in winning her first badge.
"Thanks for helping me raise my pokemon's levels. Not only have I learned alot from you but I've also learned alot about myself," Hoshi told Kitt.
"You're welcome," Kitt replied.
"It's time for us to be on our way," Andrew said to Hoshi.
"Good luck on your journey," Kitt told them.
"Let's get going, Andrew! I can't wait to continue on with this juorney!" Hoshi exclaimed as she quickly walked down the path.
"I agree. I feel the same way," Andrew said.
To Be Continued