Chapter 15:  Join the Club (Part A) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

We finally reached Vermilion City, it had taken us much longer than expected, 
the welcome sign was a sight to behold.  
We stared in awe before entering, Chad took the first steps in, and sparks of 
light emitting crackling sounds exploded around us.  
“Congratulations, you’re the lucky winner of the S.S Anne Boat Cruise!” yelled 
a moderately old man.  
My mouth dropped, I’d never won anything like this in my life.  
“Here you go sir.” he said handing the ticket to Chad.  
“This one of those exact number visitor things, ain’t it?”  
“Yup.” he replied as he passed the prize over.  
“And us?” I asked hopeful.  
“Sorry, that's the only one.”  
My head fell down in despair.  
“Damn...  If only I’d walked in first...”  
“Tough luck Tetsubo.” said Chad smugly.  
“So you’re going without us?...” I asked.  
“’Fraid so.  You knew that our trip together was temporary, the lady Emily is a 
fine trainer now, who can take care of herself, and she’s got you.”  
“Huh?”  
“Tetsubo, you’re a good trainer, I see that, and I thank you for all you’ve 
done to enlighten me.”  
“So when are you leaving Chad?” asked Emily.  
“Probably after I beat the Gym Leader.”  
“I’m sorry sirs.” said an old lady, “But Lieutenant Surge is on his annual 
leave.”  
“When will he be back? CHAD THE CHOSEN needs that Gym Badge.”  
“He’ll be back tomorrow, don’t worry, take a look around our town.”  
“Oh well, at least we get a break.”  
We dispersed, a little alone time helped friendships in the long run.  

Chad wandered around, “Why doesn’t anyone want a Pokémon Battle?”  
“I’ll battle.” said a teenager named Steve, he had spiky blonde hair and light 
blue clothes.  
“Cool, YOU SHALL YIELD TO CHAD THE CHOSEN’S POKÉMON.”  
“Huh?”  
“I’m gonna win.”  
“Oh.  We’ll see.  I choose you Dux!”  
“Let’s try again Spearow!”  

“Farfetch’d!”  
The brown duck Pokémon struck a pose and Spearow pecked on Chad’s head.  
“Ow ow ow, why are you attacking me?!”  
“Here boy.”  
Steve had some special Pokémon bird food in his hand and the Spearow flew over 
to him and became mellow and peaceful as it ate the food.  
“Hey, that’s a mean trick! Get over here and battle Spearow!”  
The Spearow flew off, pecked Chad hard, then went back to eating.  
The Farfetch’d wasn’t attempting to battle, it was practising heroic poses with 
the leak in place of a sword or staff.  

“Hey, your Pokémon’s not battling either.”  
“No, firstly, I’d say the match is cancelled, second, we both have difficult 
Pokémon.”  
“How come you’re so good with that Spearow?”  
“I used to live with them on a farm when I was younger, I’ve always wanted one, 
but the only Pokémon I own is this Farfetch’d who doesn’t seem interested in 
battles, only showing off.”  
Chad was thinking, something in his head was trying to tell him something, but 
like most times he blocked it out.  
“That Farfetch’d is cool though, I’d like to own one of those even if it can’t 
battle, its super rare and this one is super cool.”  
“Hey, why not trade? I can take care of this Spearow if you take my Farfetch’d 
and maybe teach him how to battle.” suggested Steve.  
“Let’s weigh those odds, super cool Pokémon who doesn’t know how to battle but 
looks good or a psycho bird who pecks my head and won’t battle for me anyway.  
I’d say we pretty much have a deal.” said Chad with some sarcasm.  
They recalled their Pokémon and traded them in the Pokémon Centre through a 
special machine.  

“The Spearow has no name so you can give it one.”  
“And my Farfetch’d is called Dux, but I’m sure you could arrange to have it 
changed.”  
“No, no.  Dux is fine.”  

I was at the Pokémon Centre arranging some trades.  
“Okay, Whirlwind, you take a well earned rest, I’ll recall you when I need a 
good Flying Pokémon...”  
“And here comes your Charmander.  Careful though, it has a high sense of pride 
so it probably won’t battle weak Pokémon.”  
“I know Blossom, I’ll keep him for emergencies.  See you soon.”  
“Goodbye Tetsubo.”  

I walked outside, and a Squirtle ran by, followed by some cooks by the looks of 
their white uniforms.  
“Come back ‘ere! You thief!”  
Best not to get involved until I got the whole story.  

Meanwhile, Emily took a rest and released little Clefairy.  
“So, you’re just a baby, that’s the only reason you wouldn’t learn attacks.  
Well don’t worry, we’ll find you an owner who’s not into Pokémon for 
battling.”  
“Clef?”  
“Ahhhh! What a cute little Pokémon!”  
“Huh?”  
An old man with black specs, suit and a tall black hat had snuck up from 
behind, picked up Clefairy and started hugging it.  
“Um, should I get the police, or ask you nicely to let go of that Clefairy?”  
“Oh, no, sorry, I just looove Stage 1 Pokémon.  They’re so small and cute and 
huggable!”  
“Yeah...” said Emily bewildered.  
“Oh, I’m sorry, you must be new here, everyone in this town knows me.  I’m the 
Director of the Pokémon Fan Club.”  
“Fan Club?...” asked Emily nervously.  
“Yes, yes, please, why not take a look around?”  
“Well, I’ve got nothing else to do...”  

“There’s that green chick that hangs with the turquoise kid.” whispered Claus.  
“What about the guy in yellow?” asked Cassie.  
“Can’t see that klutz.” replied Claus.  
“But sir, if dat ‘klutz’ beat yer Pokémon, den what does dat make y’all?” 
pointed out Cletus.  
“Shuddup.  Anyway, she went into that place...  Pokémon Fan Club? I didn’t know 
such a place existed.” noted Claus.  
“But it probably has some lil’ ol’ rare Pokémon somewhere.  Let’s take a 
looksie...” finished Cletus.  

“Emily?...” I called, searching the town, where could she have gone? It worried 
me when we were away from each other for so long, I just wanted to know where 
she was.  
I heard a “CHAD THE CHOSEN...” being mentioned around the corner.  
Of course only one person could say that with a straight face, but I was 
curious as to what Chad was up to now.  
I saw the Squirtle from before.  
“Go on, beat eet up! Eet stole our food!” yelled spectating chefs with a 
typical French accent.  
“I’ll try, Go Dux!”  
“Chad has a new Pokémon, how?” I thought.  
“Far, har har Fetch’d!” it shouted adopting a pose, I had to record this:  

“Farfetch’d, the Wild Duck Pokémon.  This rare bird Pokémon always holds a leak 
and is known to use it as a weapon.”  

“DUX, USE YOUR... FURY ATTACK.”  
“Far!”  
It adopted a fierce pose instead.  
Chad didn’t seem to have much luck with new Pokémon.  
“Dux, come on, a pose is meaningless if you can’t prove your skill and 
strength.”  
“Far? Farfetch’d!” it screamed.  
Perhaps Chad knew what he was doing this time.  
“Okay Dux, we’ve reached an understanding, so USE YOUR SWORDS DANCE.”  
The Farfetch’d concentrated, improving its attack power, the Squirtle was 
frightened and didn’t move either way, there was no way to escape.  
"OKAY! FURY ATTACK!"  
"Far har har!" it laughed charging forward, raising its leak like a sword and 
bringing it down on the Squirtle’s head.  
“Squirt!”  

“Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon.  This Pokémon can shoot powerful sprays 
from its mouth, it withdraws into its shell when it is in danger.”  

It scowled and jumped forward ramming it with its head.  
Dux fell back bruised.  
“Hang in there, there’s always a little pain to start with, but believe me, 
we’ll get better.  NOW HIT IT WITH ALL YOU’VE GOT! SLASH ATTACK!”  
“FAR... FETCH’D!!!” it screamed as it swung the leak with such force, it became 
the equivalent of a staff hit.  
The Squirtle was defeated.  
“Now what chefs?”  
“We either run eet out of town or you can capture eet and take eet away.”  
“I choose Catch.”  
Before Chad could throw the ball, the Squirtle glared at him and leaped back on 
its feet.  
Though battered, it wasn’t willing to give up everything and serve him.  
Withdrawing into its shell, it suddenly bounced to the side, rebounded off a 
wall and rose so that it ricocheted off the walls of the narrow alleyway and 
onto the rooftops where it disappeared.  
“Yeah! And stay out!” shouted a chef.  

End of Chapter 15A  

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Chapter 15B
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