This is CHAD THE CHOSEN! Master Pokémon Trainer and the greatest hero that ever lived. Its only natural that you’d want to hear about my adventures, what with me being so popular. Well how could I refuse? --- CHAD THE CHOSEN’S Victory in Grey Town Gym (by Michael Keens/ Exodus) --- I had just left my village to the South of Kanto, I had left behind my twin brother and younger sister. My folks passed away some time ago so we all stuck together until now. The path I knew I had to follow was the one of a Pokémon Trainer. I arrived in Grey Town by boat with my buddy Bert Walters, he was smart and good looking, but of course, not more than CHAD THE CHOSEN. His Pokémon were a Pikachu, and a Charmander. All okay Pokémon, but mine surpassed his by far. I don’t know how he kept on beating me, he must have been cheating or something. In my squad of soon to be masters, I had three Pokémon: First there’s Chewtoy, a Rattata with real ‘bite’, once it evolved, he would be unstoppable! Next is Ragecage, the kick-butt Mankey who never gives up. Finally is a new recruit, Entwine, given to me by my sis’ Kaeli. She said I’d need it, I think I could have gotten on fine without it but she insisted that I take it. Well, under my tutoring, any Pokémon could become a master so I took it under my wing. “Hey Chad.” said Bert before I entered the Gym, “I’ll make a bet with you, say for 100 credits?” “Go on.” “I bet you’ll lose against this Gym Leader at least once.” “And why do you doubt me? Me, CHAD THE CHOSEN!” “Well, that for a start, you have no idea about Pokémon type differences and you’re probably not experienced enough to take on a Gym Leader.” “What are you talking about, my Pokémon can beat any type of Pokémon.” “That’s where you’re wrong. Pokémon types can greatly affect a battle. Either for you or against you. You have to study more!” “But I don’t need to, I have strength on my side. I accept your bet.” “I’ll meet you afterwards and we’ll talk before I battle this Gym Leader.” “Okay, Bert...” I walked in confidently. I thought Pokémon Gyms were supposed to look fun and brightly coloured, this was as grey as ever. The doors returned to being closed and a few lights went on. “So. You want a Gym Battle.” said a snide English voice. It was a man, he was around my age and had naturally white hair in a curtain style, he wore glasses and a light blue shirt with blue jeans and brown boots. “I am Smith, the Gym Leader of Grey Town. Do you know what sort of Pokémon I go with?” he asked. How was I supposed to know, but I didn’t care. “What difference does it make, I’m still gonna win.” “You’re not at all worried about type difference?” “Type difference?...” “You really don’t know anything! Let’s get this over with so I can be rid of you. Two-on-two Pokémon battle. Bring out your Pokémon.” “Huuuooorrrgghh!!!” “Rattata!” I was up against the Wild Bull Pokémon Tauros. I knew that trainers would usually use a Pokédex to record Pokémon to learn more about them, I didn’t see the point, I knew enough about my Pokémon and what they could do. All I shared with normal trainers was a sponsor that would raise my Pokémon when I had more than six: Prof’ Acorn, back at home, in Powder Town. “Tauros! Use your Tail Whip attack!” “LEAP UP AND BITE HIS TAIL!” I always shouted like that in battle, so that the Pokémon would understand totally, and so that my emotions wouldn’t be clear to the opponent and basically because I was a hero and heroes should be heard. Chewtoy magnificently jumped up as the three tails swung past and bit into them, the Tauros started shaking around, and Chewtoy hit the floor once before biting his way up to higher territory. “You’re just lucky!” said Smith, “No one can win the Pokémon League without learning about type differences! Tauros! Ram that rat into the wall!” “CHEWTOY! LEAP OFF THAT TAIL AND PREPARE FOR QUICK ATTACK!” I shouted. As the tails were crushed between the wall and Tauros’s side, Chewtoy landed on the floor and charged forward dealing a good hit. “Tauros! Stomp it down!” “CHEWTOY! JUMP UP AND USE HYPER FANG!” As the feet of the rampaging bull came down on the floor, Chewtoy was already in the air. “Tauros, Rage...” muttered Smith. Chewtoy came down and bit the neck area of Tauros. “DON’T STOP THERE, KEEP BITING!” He bit its chest, then its back. “Huuuuooargh!!!” it screamed and managed to turn around and charge into Chewtoy who fell over. “How’d he get that power?” I asked. “You really don’t know Pokémon. Rage enhances a Pokémon’s strength the more they’re hit. Its essential to learn about an opponents attacks as well as your own, that way you know how to avoid it and leave the opponent open for an attack.” explained Smith as if he were my teacher in a detention class. Still he had a point, I knew my Pokémon were strong, but it would help to avoid some attacks and counter them with my own. “Tauros, finish it. Stomp.” “CHEWTOY! RUN UNDER IT AND TACKLE!” Chewtoy ran underneath the front legs and leaped up. The Tauros groaned and collapsed immediately. If you can’t figure out where Chewtoy tackled it then perhaps you’re not mature enough to know these things. “I must say, you at least know how to battle on the field. Using a Pokémon’s natural weaknesses can play a big part, and a Pokémon’s natural shape can affect what you can teach it.” explained Smith. “Enough talk, thanks for your concern but I’m here for the badge!” This guy was annoying, always trying to teach me new things, pretty much like the rest of the world, but I was doing fine just the way I was. “I choose Jigglypuff!” “Jiggly!” “Rat?...” “CHEWTOY, FOCUS ENERGY! THEN WE’LL USE HYPER FANG TO FINISH THE GIRLY POKÉMON!” “Don’t judge her on gender. Your Rattata will have plenty of time to think about this mistake in the dreamworld. Jigglypuff, Sing!” “Let it sing, work on building your attack power... HUH?!” Chewtoy was on the floor as the Jigglypuff sung its melody. “WAKE UP, CHEWTOY!” It wouldn’t move, Smith was smiling at me. “If you’d known it would put your Rattata to sleep I’m sure you could have avoided it.” “I get the idea! I’ll study attack moves! Right after I beat you! RAGECAGE! GO!” “Mankey!” “I didn’t think someone like you could handle a Mankey.” said Smith rudely, “They’re hard to manage.” “Yeah, but Ragecage is like me, determined and strong. We make a great team. NOW GO GET ‘ER!” “MANKEY!!!” “Jigglypuff, Defense Curl!” “RAGECAGE! LOW KICK!” He did, and as she was rolled up, she bounced like a football and hit three walls before landing, she was pretty dizzy. “Sing, now!” “Don’t give her the chance, Ragecage. KARATE CHOP!” “Mankey!” He brought his fist down on her and she fell down looking rather deflated. Smith recalled her, “That was merciless. Of course you were using the type advantage.” “All’s fair in Love and War.” I replied cheerfully. I did go over the top sometimes but it was probably expected of me. Nice guys finished last if they didn’t toughen up. “Well, I can’t really say much now, except, look at yourself, you knew how to deal with Jigglypuff’s Sing because of experience. Study the attack moves and type differences and then I can see you going a long way.” “The badge, please.” I said holding out my hand. “Of course.” he said giving me a round grey badge with no design on it. “Its the Basic Badge. You can probably defeat a lot of other Pokémon by using Normal moves with ease. Just watch out when Pokémon of Rock or Ghost types are your opponent.” “Yeah yeah.” I said grabbing the badge, it was officially mine now. “CHAD THE CHOSEN HAS GOT A BASIC BADGE!!!” I shouted, disappointed that I had no audience. I left the Gym and Bert was waiting, he held out his hand as soon as he saw me. “100 credits please, I knew you couldn’t-” I showed him the badge. “What?! How?! Why?!” “He trains Normal Pokémon, it was easy.” “Of course, Normal Pokémon, they don’t have any particular advantages or disadvantages. But others will!” “Pay up, chum... ‘p!” I said grinning. Boy, he was miserable. “I saw a library up north, you should go there while I have my Gym Battle.” “Okay, fine, I’ll go.” I said in an annoyed tone. “That’s it, you’re actually gonna go, I don’t have to repeat myself?” he asked surprised. “Of course not, Smith’s a Gym Leader and he already told me to study, so of course I’ll take advice from someone of his calibre.” I said walking away. Bert sighed and entered the Gym. I spent the rest of the day at the library and studied up on the attack moves. Now I knew how to dodge certain attacks, I was about to read up on type differences but I got real sleepy and caught up on some Z’s. --- Scott's Second Gym Battle Chad's Second Gym Battle Back to the Side Stories Back to the Pokézone