All Four One:

Beyond Johto

CHAPTER ONE

Lunging forward, with it’s mouth open and large, sharp front teeth exposed, a four-foot rat-like monster attacked its prey. Its victim, a two-foot tall, grey creature, could not avoid it. Disturbingly child like in appearance the grey creature yelped as the rat monsters jaws snapped shut around the bicep of its disproportionately large arm. The crowd that had gathered in the street around the two monsters cheered.

“Raticate, don’t let go” yelled a middle aged, bearded man standing close by.

“Machop, use your free hand. Seismic toss” came the frantic cry of a much younger black man on the opposite side.

The grey monster, using its large left arm grabbed the brown fur, around the thick neck of the rat and lifted it high in the air. It’s short limbs flailed, the Raticate could do nothing to save itself. Viciously Machop threw it to the ground.

The crowd roared in approval.

The Machop rubbed its right arm, the Raticate slowly laboured to its feet. Dazed and confused Raticate was in trouble.

The young black man, slim and a little above average in height for his young age shouted instructions for his Machop to make the final blow, “Machop, it has nothing left” he began. “Low kick its feet from under it.”

Obeying its master, the muscular pokemon kicked the hind legs of the standing raticate. With no resistance it fell flat on its stomach. Staring up, the raticate looked directly into the eyes of the teenager commanding its opponent.

Without pity for the defeated beast the black teenager continued to shout instructions to Machop.

“ Machop…” He paused thinking. “ Mega kick!” He shouted with satisfaction.

Machop, with powerful legs kicked the fallen Raticate in the stomach, lifting it almost three feet in the air. Landing unconscious a meter away its trainer had no choice but to declare defeat and rescue the limp body of raticate. Using a red and white ball, a little bigger in size than a tennis ball, the bearded trainer collected Raticate with the use of a button in the center. Engulfing raticate in a red light, it was dematerialized and absorbed into the pokeball. After a second both the light and the pokemon were gone.

The onlookers showed appreciation for the spectacular events by clapping and cheering for the winning Machop and its trainer. As the crowd dispersed the teenager checked on his pokemon. Although naturally strong and muscular, this particular machop was incredible. The height of a child with long arms, grey skin, big eyes, a short, flat tail and three fin-like bone structures on its hairless head, it commanded physical strength beyond even that of a full grown man.

The crowd was gone, except for one man, tall and slender, wearing navy blue pants and a black shirt with a collar, who approached the victorious trainer.

“What’s your name young man?”

The slender, black teen, who had short, shaved hair and a small, silver eyebrow ring, didn’t take his eyes away form his pokemon. “Lucas… but everyone calls me Luke.”

“Congratulations on your win”

Now he looked up. Luke wondered why the man, who was fairly young, maybe in his twenties, was wearing dark clothes on such a warm day. He was curious about the little red ‘R’ that was sewn onto the top left shirt pocket. “Thanks. It wasn’t that tough though.”

“Right, right” the stranger in said as if in agreement. “I heard some people talking about you, saying how good you were actually”

Luke didn’t seem surprised.

“Yeah, they were saying that you’re only sixteen but you’re undefeated. That you battle for money and that you will face any trainer who passes through. They were talking about some of the tough wins you and your Machop have had.”

“ Are you trying to tell me you want to battle?”

“No, no. I’m here about something else. Luke have you heard about Team Rocket?”

“I’ve heard a few things.” He lied. It was hard not to hear about Team Rocket. The criminal organization was all the newspapers seemed to write about. A group who believe pokemon exist to make money for man, that they were good for battling and little else. Team Rocket were known for their profit motivated crimes, like stealing trainers pokemon and the mass capture of rare or valuable wild pokemon .

“Do you work for Team Rocket?” as he asked Luke readied Machop’s pokeball to be able to withdraw him and run if the situation called for it.

Seeing his nervousness the stranger tried to reassure Luke. “Yeah I do, but it’s okay. I don’t think I could take your pokemon from you if I tried. I’m here to see if you’d like to join Team Rocket.”

“I don’t think so, thanks anyway. I better get going now.”

As Luke turned to walk away the stranger grabbed his arm. “Hey, not so fast. At least hear me out.”

Machop, seeing someone handle his trainer let out a small growl. Luke was not afraid of the man. He wasn’t that much smaller than him and if he tried anything Machop would be there to defend him. He was however cautious and agreed to at least listen to what this Rocket grunt had to tell him.

“I don’t know what you’ve heard about Team Rocket and I don’t care. From what I’ve heard about you, you could rise up in the organisations ranks in no time. Our boss, Giovani his name is, rewards talented trainers he employs. You could make a lot of money and earn a lot of power.”

The man in black told Luke about the benefits of working for Giovani’s organization. Luke listened carefully to what he could tell about high wages, medical insurance and bonuses.

“Just to show there’s no pressure you don’t have to make your decision right now. Go home tonight and think about it. If you decide you want to join Team Rocket then meet me here this time tomorrow.”

***

Shouts could be heard coming from within the white, two-story farmhouse on the Harrison property. A man and a woman were arguing. This was not an unusual occurrence. The yelling climaxed as a beautiful, although visibly distressed, brown haired teenager burst through the screen door at the back of the house, slamming it hard behind her. Holding back tears the young woman broke into a run, heading through corn crops towards a wooden fence separating her property and the neighbouring farm. About sixteen or seventeen in appearance, with a toned body and green eyes she possessed remarkable beauty. Slipping through a gap in the fence she continued her run until she reached a small river in which a young man was fishing. Fair hair, blue eyes, toned, almost muscular body and a light tan, the young fisherman also possessed an unmistakable attractiveness.

When the fisherman saw her coming he greeted her with a smile and wave, but noticing her distress his smile faded. Standing immediately the young man embraced her and kissed her on the forehead.

“Did you have another argument with your father?”

Wiping away her tears, she said embarrassed, “I know shouldn’t let him get to me. He just makes me mad.”

The young man lightly touched her cheeks and moved her wavy hair from her face studying it for marks or bruises.

“It’s alright Max, he didn’t.”

Staring straight ahead, not quite sure what to say, Max thought it best to change the topic away from the touchy and familiar subject. Sitting back down he said “Did you bring Squirtle?”.

“Oh yes, I did”

Sarah took a pokeball from her hip, held it forward, pressed the little white button in the center and released the pokemon inside. The ball released a red glow that faded leaving a small, blue turtle pocket monster in its place. The turtle, a squirtle, stood on its hind legs about two feet from the ground. It had a brown shell covering its entire back, a light brown ‘belly’ portion of shell, a smooth round head, long bushy tail and big brown eyes. Upon seeing its master it let out an almost childlike squeal of joy and ran to her. Sarah hugged the irristably cute pokemon and released it to head towards the water. Diving in the river it glided under the water to the other side, turned, splashed, dived and came to rest on a dry rock near the bank. Now happy and healthy, this squirtle was not always so lucky. Working the night shifts at a pokemon center one night a passing traveller brought a baby squirtle to Sarah for help. The traveller had found her in a forest, far from water, huddled dehydrated and with a large crack down the lower side of her shell. Treated badly and left abandoned the baby pokemon received immediate treatment for malnutrition and infection. Her shell was set. Despite Sarah’s fast work the tiny creature was so badly abused that it fell unconscious and Sarah feared she would not survive the night.

Doing all she could for her, Sarah never left the baby turtles side. Come morning her exhausted self was relieved to see the creature wake. Despite her traumatic ordeal Squirtle recovered over the coming months. Sluggish and weak at first it regained its strength and with Sarah’s gentle presence and loving manner regained its shattered trust in people. Too young to be given to a trainer Sarah chose to adopt Squirtle. She felt a bond with the beautiful creature, both of them were treated badly by those that were supposed to love them.

Squirtle layed down to sun herself on the rock in the river. Now much older, Squirtle was ready to start training. For the past few weeks Sarah had been using Squirtle to battle magikarp and caterpie, weak water and bug pokemon, as neither puts up much of a fight. Sarah turned to face Max.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you Max. Besides Squirtle you’re all I have.”

In three days Max would turn seventeen. Considered an adult in the eyes of the law, Max would receive the legal right to leave home and leave the Harvest Plains, the farming community where he grew up, to pursue a career as a pokemon trainer, a right Max would eagerly accept.

“I’m sorry to leave you and Squirtle, but I can’t stay here Sarah. Day in and day out it’s always the same thing – tend the fields, water the crops, take care of the animals. Get up at six, go to bed at six. I can’t take it Sarah. I’m living my father’s life and I hate it. But as a pokemon trainer every day will be different. I want to compete. I know I can be a success, but I’ll miss you too.”

***

On the other side of the Triangle Archipelago a man lay dying in his bed. He was not old, perhaps only in his mid-forties, but he was so frail and sickly that he looked like he was ninety. He was asleep now, breathing heavily and occasionally with trouble, his blankets tight around him even though it was a very warm spring day outside.

A young man sat across the room watching him. He looked how the man in the bed should look if he were healthy; tall and muscular, dark hair worn in thick spikes and brown eyes. He was only nineteen, but looked a lot older. His strong masculine arms were folded over his wide chest. His face showed concern for the man in the bed.

Coughing violently the sick man awoke.

“Zac…” he cried out.

Zac, the young man sitting across the room, got up and went to his father and kneeled next to the bed. Zac’s father lay staring blankly at the roof. Inoperable tumors developing in his brain for months had destroyed his senses. Occasionally he was there with Zac, but mostly he stared blankly and other times he shouted delirious nonsense. Doctors could do nothing. During one of his comprehensive moments he asked to be taken home, to be in the house where he raised his family and to be away from the expensive hospital care that Zac, an apprentice carpenter and pokemon gym trainee, could not afford to give him.

Kneeling on the left of the dying man was his son and on the right, on a bedside table, was a pokeball. In it was the only thing the sick man loved almost as much as his son.

“Zac…” he cried again.

CHAPTER TWO

One at a time the members of Max’s family hugged him goodbye gave him a gift. From of his two youngest sisters Max received an empty pokeball to help him on his journey. The eldest of his three younger sisters gave him a black magnetic belt, to hold his pokeballs on when traveling. His mother, with tears and sobs, gave him a pokemon first aid kit. Rick, Max’s father, stood behind them holding a gift-wrapped box.

“I’ll be sorry to lose your help on the farm” began Rick. “I know you didn’t think I approved of you becoming a trainer. Actually I understand why you’d want to leave. My father pushed me to stay on this farm too and I resented him for it. I want you to do whatever you think will make you happy. I mean I could always hire a farm hand.”

His mother let out a sob.

“To prove that I support your decision I got you a present.”

Rick handed Max a box wrapped in shiny red paper with a yellow ribbon around it.

“Thanks dad” said Max a little surprised by the gesture, assuming he would get little more than a handshake for abandoning the farm.

Removing the paper and opening the box delicately Max was even more surprised to find a pokeball inside. The ball was only the size of marble. Holding it in his palm and pressing the center button once the ball expanded to its usual tennis ball size. A very small light on the top of the ball glowed red, indicating that something had been caught in this pokeball. Holding it out ahead and pressing the button once more the ball released a red light, that once faded revealed Max’s first ever pokemon.

***

Luke, wearing navy blue pants and a black shirt with a small ‘R’ embroided on the breast pocket, watched the second story window of the Goldberg house. Zacaharia Goldberg, a former pokeleague champion and the owner of this house, lay sick and dying in his bed. Luke went to school with Zachariah’s only child, Isaac Goldberg, or as he preferred to be known, ‘Zac’. That is how he knew about the powerful pokemon in a pokeball next to Zachariah’s bed. As a child Zac was only happy to share everything he knew about the amazing fire dragon his father commanded.

Luke had been a member of Team Rocket for not even a day and already he had was planning his first crime. After receiving his invitation to join Team Rocket Luke had went home. His immediate reaction was to refuse and not return to meet the Rocket grunt, after all this was a criminal organisation. Luke didn’t even support the groups ideals.

Luke grew up in Scarlet Ridge. The town was the last on the third island of the Triangle Archipelago, ending with cliffs that look over an endless expanse of ocean. The main tourist attraction of Scarlet Ridge was the lava bed flowing underneath the town. The liquid hot magma created geysers and natural hot spas as well as attracting many fire type pokemon. Luke however lived in the poorest part of Scarlet Ridge, in a tiny run-down apartment block, taking care of his three younger siblings. Their father had left when they were children to pursue a career as a pokemon trainer and lost contact with his family shortly after. Their mother had died of cancer two years ago. Luke supported the family by challenging passing trainers to battle for money with the Machop his father had left him. Luke became a great trainer, but money was still tight. That afternoon, as his family got home from school, Luke was taken aside by Emelia, the oldest of his two younger sisters.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do this week Lucas” she said quietly as to not worry their younger brother and sister. “The electric bill is due, but Tyler broke his school bag today and will need a new one, Daniella needs more asthma medicine and we haven’t even done the this weeks grocery shopping yet.”

“It’s okay Emelia.”

“What do you mean its okay?”

“I was offered a job taday and I think I will take it” said Luke.

“That’s great” said Emelia. “But where will you be working? I didn’t know anything local was hiring.”

“That’s the thing you see. It’s not local. I’ll be….er helping some people ship some things, but they work all over the place. The pay is really good and I can send money each week.”

“Luke, it’s hard enough around here even when I have your help.”

“I know, but Tyler and Emelia are both old enough to help around the house now. Without me around there will be once less mouth to feed and more money for everyone.”

Emelia and agreed and the next afternoon Luke returned to the quiet street where he’d won a battle earlier. Standing under the shade of a tree on the side of the road was the young Rocket grunt.

“Its good to see you again. I didn’t think you’d show” he said to Luke.

“You made me an offer I couldn’t refuse” Luke retorted.

The banter continued as the Rocket grunt took out a package wrapped in brown paper from a bag that he’d left under the tree.

“Don’t open it here” said the Rocket as he handed it to Luke. “It’s your uniform. I guessed your size. You’re pretty tall for a sixteen-year-old, but it should fit okay. All new recruits are sent Rocket Headquarters in Star City.”

The Rocket handed Luke a card with an address on it.

“That’s the address in Star City. Don’t tell anyone where it is” said the Rocket grunt seriously. “When you get there they will give you an assignment and your wages for the first month. I have to go get going now. Congratulations on joining Team Rocket Luke.”

The Rocket turned and started to leave.

“Wait” Luke shouted after him. “I have questions I want to ask.”

Without stopping the Rocket shouted behind him, “They’ll tell you everything that you want to know at Headquarters. I really have to go now. Oh but and if you’re really serious about progressing in Team Rocket I suggest you make a good first impression.”

So now, one day later, the newest member of Team Rocket stood against a large oak tree across the road of a pokeleague champions house. Luke had joined Team Rocket to make more money than someone who had left school to take care of his family could make. To make enough money so that his younger brother wouldn’t have to leave school to do the same. He joined to get to the top and there were few better first impressions you could make than to present your new employers with a champion pokemon the first time you meet them.

***

It was green. It stood on all fours. Its head was wide and its light green body was marked with widely spaced, large, dark green spots. On its back was a large, unopened, red flower bud.

“It’s a Bulbasaur” said Rick. “The descendant of my Ivysaur that I used to have for help on the farm, which is the descendant of my father’s Venusaur that he used for help.”

“Oh my god. Thank you dad. Wha…what type is it?”

“It’s a grass type. Bulbasaur are very loyal and determined. He is an excellent starter for your pokemon journey.”

The small green pokemon stood timidly, moving back behind a sofa chair so that its body was partially hidden, staring up at Max.

“We’ll let you two get acquainted” said Rick as he ushered the rest of the family out of the lounge room. His sisters were slow too leave, trying to get a good look at Max’s first ever pokemon.

Max crouched down so he was almost at eye level with the tiny, timid pokemon.

“Its okay. I won’t hurt you.”

The Bulbasaur didn’t move.

“I’m Max. I will be your trainer… You’re a cute little guy. Please come out of there.”

Bulbasaur looked at Max through big brown eyes. Very slowly he crept out from behind the chair. Just as slowly Max put his hand out towards Bulbasaur and moved it towards the little pokemon. Bulbasaur backed away a little as Max came close. Gently Max touched Bulbasaur on the cheek, then on top of his head and began to gently pet the green creature.

Max reached over to the black and blue backpack he was going to take with him for his pokemon journey. It was already packed with a clean change of underwear and clothes, a box packed by his mother containing food, a flashlight, map and other camping implements and a sealed tube of pokemon food. He took the pokemon food, ‘Pokechow’ as the label called it, unscrewed the lid and poured some of the brown pellets on his hand.

“Are you hungry?” Max asked softly.

Bulbasaur sniffed the food. He glanced at Max with his big, beautiful eyes, than looked back down at the pokechow. He tasted it with his tongue than ate the offering quickly, licking Max’s hand when it was all gone.

“Wow you must really like this”. Max turned the tube over and looked at the label. According to the packaging ‘Pokechow offers a great taste and soft texture, that all pokemon will enjoy’. Max read on ‘High in essential vitamins and minerals. Pokechow is best given in conjunction with fresh foods that a pokemon would receive in the wild.’

Max tipped more onto his hand and watched as Bulbasaur ate every last crumb. Bulbasaur looked up after he finished the food, now more comfortable with Max he placed one ‘paw’ on Max’s folded legs.

“I’ll be honest Bulbasaur, I don’t know that much about pokemon training. I will learn though. I’ll learn everything I can and I’ll be great. You and me Bulbasaur, we’ll be great.”

As if in agreement the little pokemon nodded.

Waiting for Max by his front gate, wearing tight jeans and a close fitting black shirt, stood Sarah Harrison. As soon as he stepped out of his house, dressed in black cargo pants, a cobalt blue button up shirt and holding his black and blue backpack, Sarah excitedly jumped and waved as if it were a huge surprise that his best friend would be waiting there to say goodbye. She had a light blue backpack hanging over one shoulder, which Max hoped would contain a farewell present for him.

“Hey birthday boy” she said excitedly.

“Hey Sarah” he said as he hugged her. “Did you come to say bye?”

“Actually I’m here to give you some good news.”

“What’s that” Max asked puzzled.

“That you won’t have to travel alone. Because…I’m gonna come with you!”

“That’s….” Max got cut off before he could finish the sentence.

“ Now I know what you’re gonna say; that this is something that you want to do alone, that it might be dangerous for me and I will just slow you down. But I’ve worked for the last year at a pokecentre, so I know a lot about all different types of pokemon and I’m good at taking care of them too, so I will help you in that way. And I’ve saved up some money, so I won’t be a drain on you. In fact I’ll help out with expenses and stuff. And I won’t just tag along. Squirtle is ready to begin more intense training and so I will compete too. Please let me come Max. You have too. I can’t stay here any more and…

Finally Max had to cut her off.

“I wasn’t going to say any of that actually. What I was going to say is that it is a great idea that you come with me. And you’re right. You’ve got a lot of experience with pokemon. Besides I would rather you were with me where I could keep you safe.”

As Max mentioned Sarah’s safety she glanced at her house further up the road.

“ Does he know that you’re leaving?” asked Max looking in the same direction.

“ I left him a note. Not that he will be sober enough to read it any time soon.”

“What about your job?”

“I rang them last night and told them I was leaving. They took it well, I mean, they were a little unhappy about the short notice, but they wished me well and told me that I was welcome to come back if I ever wanted.”

“ Hey” Sarah’s attention turned to the pokeball attached to Max’s belt. “What’s that you’ve got there?”

“Sarah I’d like to introduce you to someone.”

Max took the marble sized ball from his waist, pressed the button once to expand it to normal size and pressed it once more to emit the familiar red light and release his new pokemon.

“This is Bulbasaur” Max said after the light faded.

Sarah let out an excited shriek and hugged Bulbasaur.

“He’s beautiful. Where did you get him?”

“He was a present from dad.”

Sarah took Squirtle’s pokeball off her belt and released him too. The two pokemon, one a water type, the other a grass type, were about the same height (if you included the bud on Bulbasaur’s back) and both had large, beautiful eyes, but otherwise bore no similarity. The two greeted each other and started speaking in grunts and growls, a language people would never understand.

“Oh they want to be friends!” Sarah cried.

As the two pokemon talked Sarah asked, “So where do we begin Max?”

“By battling of course. The first trainers we see we will challenge them.”

“Are you sure that’s wise. Maybe we should try battling a wild pokemon first? To get our pokemon used to competition.”

Max had already started walking towards Harvest Village. “Come on Bulbasaur. Let’s go Sarah.” Either he didn’t hear Sarah or ignored her advice.

“Come on Sarah” he shouted behind him. “There’s bound to be some trainers in the village.”

“But Max…” she shouted after him, he was too excited to listen. Sarah and Squirtle chased after Max Bulbasaur who were rushing towards town.

***

Zac was in his kitchen making grilled fish for dinner and playing music on the stereo that was in the family room next door. He flipped the fish over but then stopped, straining to hear what he thought was yelling coming from upstairs. Passing through the family room, he rushed up the staircase leading to the second-floor bedrooms. As he got closer to his father’s room the yelling became louder and clearer. His first thought was that his father was having another delusional episode. This was not uncommon and always involved screaming at people that only Zacharia could see. When he reached the darkened hallway that ended with Zacharia’s bedroom Zac could make out what his father was yelling.

“No! No! Get away from him” came the frantic cries of the sick man. Then there was a crash. Usually an episode involved screaming, and no movement, but something had been broken. Zac came to his father’s door and tried to open it. Something was wrong. It was locked. Zac became worried. His father could barely move enough to turn himself over in bed, let alone get up and lock the door.

“Dad! Dad!” he screamed.

The yelling on the other side of the door continued, “Put it down! No!”

Zac took a step backward, then lunged forward kicking the door violently and knocking it off the hinges. Zac stepped into the dark room. A silhouette stood in front of the large, open bedroom window. Zacharia was in his bed reaching up to the darkened figure still screaming at it to give something back. Zac moved forward, ready to dive at the stranger, but a third person in the room pushed him down. Zac landed heavily against the wall closest to the door and slid to the ground. The third person dove on him and held him down. Zac struggled, but couldn’t move. Zac was both big and strong, but this mystery person had no trouble pinning him down. The figure moved away from the window, allowing moon light to flood in. Zac could see that whatever was holding him was not human. It’s skin was grey and it wasn’t very tall. Unable to get up Zac reached into his pocket, taking out a small marble sized ball. The ball expanded when he tapped a button in the center of it. He tapped the button again and red light filled the room. Once the light from the ball faded the room still remained brightly lit. Zac could see clearly what was holding him down. About two feet tall and muscular, it was a Machop. Suddenly it released its grip and was thrown across the room thanks to the creature released from Zac’s pokeball. Standing where the machop just was, was an orange lizard. It stood slightly above two feet, had orange skin, a hairless, round head and a long tail that ended in an open flame which was giving off the light that brightened the whole room. It had pulled the Machop off its master with its two clawed hands. The orange lizard turned and hissed at the figure in black that still stood on the other side of the room. Zac’s attention turned towards the intruder.

“Lucas?” Zac asked in disbelief.

Luke, Zac’s old school friend, looked back at him dressed in dark clothes, with a familiar ‘R’ on his shirt pocket. In each of his hands he held a pokeball. Zac looked at his father’s bedside table. The pokeball that normally rested in that spot was gone. That is what Zacharia had been shouting at him to return.

“Charmander” shouted Zac. “Get those pokeballs away from him” he yelled pointing at Luke.

The fire lizard pokemon ran at Luke, but was pulled down from behind by Machop. Charmander spun around a scratched Machop’s face, but the fighter pokemon didn’t let go. Zac moved towards Luke himself, but Luke had struck first hitting him with one of the metal pokeballs he was holding. Zac fell, grabbing his father’s bed to keep himself up. When Zac looked up Luke was gone. He had withdrawn Machop and left via a ladder outside the window that he used to get in.

“No….no….” Zacharia said gasping for air, still looking out of the window.

Zac went to his father.

“Z….Zac-c….”

“I’m here dad” he said as he lifted his father into sitting positon.

“Get…Ch-Charizard… b-back” Zachariah’s breathing troubles were so bad he could barely speak.

“Dad don’t try to talk. Focus on breathing. I have to call an ambulance for you.”

As Zac went to get up and go to the phone Zacharia grabbed his shirt.

“P-p-please….g-get my pokemon b-b-back” he struggled to get out.

“I’ll get him back dad. I promise. But I have to call an ambulance for you.”

Zac laid his father down and ran to the phone downstairs. He called for the ambulance, told them the address and that the door would be unlocked so paramedics could come straight in when Zac heard Charmander crying out. He raced upstairs to find Zacharia unconscious.

“Dad wake up.”

Zacharia didn’t stir.

“Dad…” Zac lightly shook his father but got no response. “Dad!” he shouted. Zac checked his fathers pulse. There wasn’t one. “Oh my God” he cried in terror.

Zac climbed onto his father’s bed, laid him flat and began to perform CPR. Zacharia didn’t stir. Charmander, who knew something was wrong when he called out for Zac, rolled himself into a ball in the corner of the room, looking up to see tears streaming down his masters face as he tried to revive his father .

Zac didn’t know how much time had passed. He didn’t dare to stop trying to resuscitate Zacharia. Outside a siren could be heard getting louder and then stopping outside the Goldberg household.

“Hello” came a male voice from downstairs. “Paramedics” another one shouted.

“We’re upstairs” yelled Zac. “The room at the end of the hallway.”

Quickly the two paramedics made their way through the darkened house to Zacharia’s bedroom.

***

“Max I really think that it’s too early for you to use Bulbasaur in a trainer battle” pleaded Sarah.

“Look over there” he said excitedly. “That guy and girl outside the coffee shop. They’re trainers. Let’s challenge them.”

Sarah sighed and Max raced over to the teenage couple.

“Hey you guys. You’re both trainers and so are we. Let’s battle.”

The two teens, about eighteen or nineteen, dressed casually in three-quarter pants and t-shirts, were local trainers. Finished with their breakfast they agreed to battle.

“You and me first” said the girl trainer to Sarah.

All four teenage trainers walked out into the public square in front of the coffee shop and the two girls took their places opposite each other.

“Pick the pokemon you will use, one each, and get ready” shouted the boy trainer. Both girls took a pokeball off their belt.

“Ready…Go”

Both girls pressed the button on the pokeball and through it towards the center of the square releasing their pokemon in red flashes.

“Go Squirtle”, shouted Sarah as Squirtle appeared out of the light.

“Go Butterfree”, shouted the teen as her giant butterfly pokemon materialized out of the red light. Large colourful wings flapped to keep the beautiful pokemon afloat. It’s body looked like a large dark blue caterpillar with antannae and big red bug eyes.

The girl trainer took the aggressive early. “Butterfree”, she yelled “Stun spore”.

Sarah reacted as best she could, “Squirtle use bubble attack.”

Butterfree flapped its large delicate wings spreading a yellow dust cloud out ahead of it. Squirtle forcefully blew large bubbles from its mouth towards Butterfree. The bubbles went through the yellow cloud dissipating most of the dust and hit Butterfree knocking it back, but still it remained in the air. The remainder of the yellow cloud reached Squirtle and she froze.

“What’s wrong with Squirtle?” Max called out.

“She’s paralysed because of the stun spore attack. She might not be able to move.”

“Butterfree tackle it” commanded the girl trainer.

Swooping in fast Butterfree charged at Squirtle knocking her down with its feet. Squirtle got up, able to move again. Knowing the effects of stun spore would paralyse her pokemon again Sarah acted quickly. Because Butterfree was now quite close to Squirtle she ordered her to use her bite attack. Squirtle bit hard on Butterfree’s lower body using sharp teeth that Max didn’t even know it had. Butterfree let out a painful whine, like a high-pitched horse whinny.

“Butterfree you’re too close, fly high and then tackle” ordered the girl trainer.

Butterfree flapped its wings and began to fly upwards.

“Squirtle tackle it before it gets too high” yelled Sarah.

As Squirtle tried to attack it froze, once again suffering from the stun spore attack. Sarah expected defeat as Butterfree dove to the ground to tackle Squirtle. At the last moment, right before Butterfree made contact with Squirtle she rolled out of the way, once again resisting paralysis. Butterfree hopelessly tried to stop, flapping its wings frantically, but inevitably it hit the ground hard. Dazed and grounded Sarah ordered Squirtle to attack with tackle. Squirtle charged and hit Butterfree hard.

Butterfree was knocked on its back and could not get back up. It was fainted and therefore had lost. The girl trainer withdrew her defeated pokemon. Sarah was happy with her win. She hugged Squirtle and let her stay out of her pokeball to watch Max and the boy trainer battle.

Max and the boy trainer swapped places with the girls.

“Good luck Max” shouted Sarah.

“Same rules for us. One pokemon choose it now” said the young man.

Both trainers took their pokeballs from their belts.

“Alright…go” yelled the defeated girl trainer.

Mimicking Sarah, Max threw his pokeball into the square and shouted “Go Bulbasaur”. The boy trainer threw and yelled “Go Beedrill”.

Out of red lights stood Max’s small, green Bulbasaur and the boy trainer’s giant bee pokemon.

Yellow and black stripes ran down the pointed body of the huge bug and thin, translucent wings kept it afloat. Its most daunting features however was the stinger at the bottom of the oval shaped abdomen and the two huge, pointed forearms on its upper body.

“Max be careful. Beedrill is a fully evolved pokemon and it’s both a bug and a poison type. Bulbasaur is weak against bug and poison attacks.”

Sarah’s warning did not bother Max who saw the exciting battle that she had just won and assumed that he could do the same against this boy trainer.

Like his friend before him, the boy trainer tried to get off to a quick start, “Beedrill use string shot”.

Beedrill pointed its abdomen towards Bulbasaur and sprayed white goo onto the ground around him.

“Sarah what attacks does Bulbasaur know?” shouted Max.

“He hasn’t battled before. The only command he will understand is tackle. Watch out for the…”

“Then Bulbasaur I want you to tackle” yelled Max excitedly

As Bulbasaur began to charge ahead he stepped on the white goo which surrounded him. It was sticky and he stopped, having trouble lifting his legs.

“Beedrill use fury attack” commanded the boy trainer.

Flapping its thin, membranous wings Beedrill surged ahead, its two huge, pointed forearms aimed at Bulbasaur. At the same time Bulbasaur escaped the goo and charged at Beedrill. Meeting in the center of the square the two collided. Bulbasaur’s tackle was effective and the force of the attack stunned Beedrill. Obeying its master’s command the dazed Beedrill wildly struck with its sharp forearms. Bulbasaur could do little to save himself from the oncoming assault other than try to dodge Beedrill. His attempts were in vain. Beedrill connected with almost every strike it threw. Bulbasaur was left in a sorry state, bruised and battered, barely able to stand.

Worried Max cried, “Bulbasaur tackle. Please try to tackle”.

“Beedrill” began the boy trainer confidently “Poison sting.”

“Max” yelled Sarah, sounding desperate “Withdraw Bulbasaur.”

Max fumbled for Bulbasaur’s pokeball that he had returned to his belt. With excellent control Beedrill flew backwards a little way, lifted its abdomen forward and into the air and exposed the sharp, two-inch stinger. Max had Bulbasaur’s pokeball in his hand but it was too late. Beedrill thrust its stinger forward striking Bulbasaur on top of the head. Bulbasaur dropped to the ground, and did not move.

“Your pokemon is fainted. I win.” said the Beedrill trainer as he withdrew the victorious pokemon.

The point on Bulbasaur’s head where he was hit with poison sting had become red and swollen. Sarah and Max ran to him.

“Max, I think Bulbasaur is poisoned” said Sarah as she touched the area around the swelling on the fallen pokemon. “The pokemon center can fix him, but it’s on the other side of the village. Bulbasaur could suffer permanent damage if we take that long to help him.”

“So what do we do?” asked Max, his concern showing in his voice and on his worried face.

“We need a first aid kit or an antidote. The pokemart is just around the corner and it sells both.”

“No I have a first aid kit” Max said as he took from his backpack the green box his mother had given him.

Sarah grabbed the box and threw open the lid. She took out a tube filled with white liquid, which had a little syringe and cover at one end and an extended plunger at the other. With speed and efficiency Sarah removed the cover on the syringe and inserted the point of the needle into the unconscious pokemons wound. She pressed the plunger and the tube went from white to clear as antidote was injected into Bulbasaur.

“This will cure him of poison” she said a little calmer. “But we still have to heal him at the pokecenter.”

Max withdrew the tiny monster into its pokeball and two trainers began the walk to the pokemon hospital, stopping briefly at the pokemart to replace the antidote used on Bulbasaur and to buy Sarah a first aid kit of her own.

***

Zacharia Goldberg died last night. The doctors told Zac that he was dead before he got to the hospital. He died of a stress induced brain hemorrhage.

Rosalyn Payne, Zacharia’s sister, was taking care of the funeral arrangements. The funeral would be tomorrow morning. The fast arrangements were Zac’s request. Zac was determined to fulfill his father’s last wish; Get back his champion pokemon. It was a Charizard, a fire dragon and the last evolution of a Charmander. Zac’s own Charmander was the son of Zachariah’s Charizard.

Zac recognised the ‘R’ that Luke wore on his shirt. It meant that he had joined Team Rocket. Zac was determined to make Luke, or any member of Team Rocket that got in his way, pay for the pain that they had caused him.

***

“Sarah how did that Beedrill’s attack poison Bulbasaur” asked Max as they rounded a street corner not far from the pokecentre.

“Because poison sting has the potential to be a stat changer” she explained as they walked.

“What’s a stat changer?” asked Max, more confused by her answer.

“Lots of attacks, especially poison types, are capable of causing adverse effects in a pokemon. These are called status changers. There are others besides poisoning, like when that Butterfree paralysed my Squirtle. Other attacks can cause sleep, freezing or painful burns.”

“Does antidote heal all of them?”

“No. Antidote only cures poison, but other cures for ailments are in your first aid. Or you could heal them at the pokecenter. But either way, they must be cured otherwise they will still be effected next time you try to use them.”

“So Squirtle is still suffering paralysis?”

“Yep and both pokemon are weakened. After a pokemon is in a battle or is fainted you must heal them as well. If you’re far from a pokecentre then you can use a potion to help them recover strength, but the pokecentre will do a much more effective job. If you don’t heal them regularly after a battle then they will still be suffering the damage inflicted by the previous battles when you use them next.”

“What if you don’t have a potion and you’re far from a pokecentre? What can you do for them then?”

“Pokemon can heal themselves after a battle, but you have to give them lots of rest and feed them well. There are berries that heal pokemon as well. I can’t tell you much about them, but certain berries cure ailments or recover strength. Oh, this is the street the pokecentre is on. There’s the parking lot. It’s just a little further”

Up ahead was a large, white building. A flower garden surrounded stairs, stairs led to amber glass doors that were the main entrance and huge picture of a pokeball sat over the main entrance. The building was three stories high with a line of glass windows on each floor.

The two young trainers walked up the stairs leading to the entrance. Inside was air conditioned and looked like an ordinary hospital with white walls and green potted plants in the corners of the room. There were videophones along one wall and message board on another. Corridors along the back wall led further into the hospital. Before the corridors was a reception counter. At the desk stood a young nurse, about eighteen or nineteen, with long, straight red hair. She was handing a pokeball to a very young trainer.

“Is Bubbles okay” asked the boy.

“He’ll be fine” reassured the pretty red haired nurse.

The boy pointed the pokeball forward and released his pokemon. He released a small dark blue creature. It had no arms and stood on two short legs. It had a beak and a flat tale. On its belly was a black spiral. Upon being let out it greeted its trainer who hugged it tight.

“Oh I’m glad you’re all right Bubbles” he said to the little creature.

As the young trainer and his pokemon left Sarah and Max approached the reception counter.

“Good morning” said the nurse.

“Good morning. We’d like to have a pokemon healed please” said Sarah.

“Certainly. If you’d like to hand me your pokeballs.”

Max and Sarah handed over Bulbasaur and Squirtle’s pokeballs.

“My pokemon is poisoned” began Max. “And hers is paralysed.”

“That’s no problem sir. Give me a moment and both will be as good as new.”

The nurse placed the two pokeballs in two round grooves on a thick yellow metal tray that had silver handles on each side.

“I’ll be right back” she said as she took the tray and the balls down a hallway corridor.

***

Children rushed out of the gates of Scarlet Ridge High School, passing by a tall, muscular, young man waiting in the parking lot. Zac stood there watching them, hoping to see a pretty, fifteen-year-old black girl who went to this school at the same time he did. Through the sea of red and white school uniforms he saw her, hurrying along with two younger children.

“Hey!” Zac shouted to the schoolgirl. “Hey, wait.”

“Can I help you with something?” she asked.

“Hi Emily is it?” he asked her.

“Emelia” she corrected.

“Oh, right, sorry. I don’t know if you remember me. My name is Isaac Goldberg, I went to this school with your older brother Lucas.”

“Yeah, I think I remember you. You got called Zac and you studied pokemon training at the Scarlet Ridge Gym.” said Emelia. “What do you want?”

“I’m actually looking for Luke.”

“What do you want with him?” she asked cautiously.

“I just wanted to catch up. I haven’t seen him in a while and I couldn’t remember his address. You guys aren’t listed in the phone book.”

“That’s because we don’t have phone” she said bitterly. “But I’m sorry, Lucas left town to start a new job last night.”

“A new job huh? Did he say what he was doing or where he was going or how he was going to get there?”

“No” she said a little taken aback by his eagerness. “He told us that he is working in shipping. He’s meeting some people somewhere, but he couldn’t say where. He’s going to call us when he gets settled in a town.”

“Oh…If I gave you my mobile number do you think you could try to call me when you find out where he’s staying?”

“Er…Sure.”

Zac knew that she wouldn’t really call him and he assumed that she was honest in not knowing where exactly her brother had gone.

Zac gave Emelia his number, thanked for her help and left. He felt angry because Emelia was his only real lead to find Luke and it failed. Zac hurried through side streets to get home. Passing by an alley he noticed two young guys, dressed in faded jeans and leather jackets, talking as they leaned on motorcycles. If Team Rocket were recruiting in the area than these thugs would most likely have received an invitation to join.

“Excuse me” he called out as he approached the two of them. “I’m wondering if you can help me.”

The bikey closest to Zac, who had a short purple mohawk and a nose ring, turned and stood straight “Who the hell are you?” he growled.

“My name is Isaac and I just need to know anything you can tell me about where a new Team Rocket recruit would go.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” snapped the other thug as he came and stood on the other side of Zac. “Chais” he began as he turned towards the purple haired bikey. “I think he’s implying that we have something to do with Team Rocket.”

Pretending to be shocked Chais said, “Well I don’t know what to say. Perhaps we should teach you a lesson about judging people. Maybe we should take that pokeball on your belt.”

That comment made Zac mad. “I don’t care if you are part of Team Rocket or not. Threatening me and demanding my pokemon makes you just as bad as any Team Rocket grunt and I will treat you like one.”

Zac took Charmander’s pokeball from his belt and released his tiny fire lizard. The thugs reacted by releasing a dark purple pokemon that was covered in sludge and a small monkey like pokemon with a turned up, pig nose.

“Charmander, use ember attack” Zac shouted at his pokemon.

From his mouth Charmander shot several small fireballs directed at the two thugs’ pokemon. Its aim was spot on and the fire attack effected both pokemon, singeing the white fur of the pig-monkey.

“Mankey” cried the smaller bikey, “use scratch” and at the same time Chais shouted “Grimer use smog attack.”

The Mankey, a fighting type pokemon, didn’t seem to have a body, just a head with long arms and legs and a tail. It swiped violently at Charmander’s face with its clawed hands. Charmander didn’t have time to react before a poisonous gas cloud released by the purple blob descended on him. The toxic gas was choking him and he had trouble breathing.

“Charmander don’t use any fire attacks. You might ignite the cloud. Use your rage attack” commanded Zac.

Charmander’s eyes glowed red and with claws and teeth exposed he threw himself aggressively at both of his opponents.

The Mankey, the weaker of the two pokemon, took most of the damage and fell backwards heavily. The Grimer, who resembled a mound of purple slime with eyes and arms, seemed unaffected and obeying a command by Chais used both of its arms to pound Charmander.

Charmander’s eyes glowed red once more, his rage was building, and forcefully he slashed at Grimer. The Grimer moaned in pain.

With so much rage fueling Charmander’s attacks, both Grimer and Mankey were weakened. Simultaneously both bikeys took advantage of their pokemons weakened state and called for a thrash attack. Weakened and desperate Mankey and Grimer flailed wildly, barraging Charmander with kicks, scratches and slaps.

The strategy was a success and now all three pokemon staggered painfully. Zac didn’t need to call for another attack as once again Charmander’s eyes glowed red. He leapt into the air, landing on both opponents and stomping heavily on Mankey. Grimer stirred, slowly getting up but Mankey was unconscious. Its trainer withdrew to its pokeball as Grimer and Charmander faced off. Both trainers knew that neither could pokemon could stand many more attacks and each urged the their monster to strike first.

“Grimer get it with a body slam.”

“Come on Charmander. One more time.”

Charmander’s eyes glowed red and the two pokemon charged each other. Before Grimer made contact Charmander stepped to the left of it, with his right arm and clawed hand outstretched, and clotheslined the poison pokemon. Grimer was dragged backwards, its face was severely scratched and its head slammed hard on the concrete ground.

Chais didn’t bother to check his pokemon before withdrawing it, knowing straight away that Grimer would not be getting up.

Charmander, whose eyes still glowed red from rage, stood by his master’s side. Zac asked the thugs, “So…Now what can you tell me about Team Rocket?”

The defeated trainers glanced at each other and Chais said with reluctance. “New recruits are sent to Star City to be dispatched. Whoever your looking for will be going there.”

“Star City is a big place” said Zac. “Where are Rocket Headquarters.”

“No-one who isn’t a Rocket knows for sure” said the Mankey trainer. “Team Rocket are supposed to run a heap of casinos there, so it might be at one of them.”

Zac was content with the information these thugs had given him.

“Thank you for your help” he said sarcastically. “If either of you were considering joining Team Rocket than you better hope I don’t meet you again. If I see either of you in a Rocket uniform or if I catch either of you harassing anyone again I will beat your pokemon and take them myself.”

“I could’ve taken him” said Chais under his breath as Zac turned and left.

***

Sarah and Max sat down in the foyer of the Harvest Plains Pokemon Center while they waited.

“How come you didn’t know the nurse who helped us?”

“Because I did night shifts and she must work here during the day.”

“Of course” said Max. “How much does it cost to have our pokemon healed?”

“It’s a free service Max.”

“Oh, that’s good. Sarah…will Bulbasaur be okay?”

“Oh he’ll be fine. Right now the nurse is putting his pokeball in a huge machine. It’s really sophisticated technology. It scans the pokemon to find out anything wrong with it, like muscle fatigue, exhaustion, unconsciousness, poisoning and so on and it restores the pokemon based on the information it receives. The process is very quick.”

“That’s good to hear. You know I should have listened to you before, back at my house when you tried to warn me Bulbasaur wasn’t ready. I was just so excited and wanted to get off to a big start. Bulbasaur could have been seriously hurt because I acted like a stupid kid.”

“You aren’t stupid Max. You were just…over excited. And who could blame you?”

“Thank you Sarah... How did Squirtle know all those attacks like bubbles and bite?”

“Because I did some training with him before I used him in trainer battle. I battled weak magikarp and wild caterpie. Pokemon learn attacks naturally through battling. When they use a new attack its up to the trainer to teach them the command for it. Like when Squirtle first used bite against a caterpie I taught him that what he just used was called bite and that if I call for it in a battle that’s what he should do.’

“I understand. Well from now on I will listen to you. So what do you think I should do next?”

“Practice. I think we should go Kingsgrove Swamps. We will have to pass through it anyway to get to the Sandstone Valley and our first gym challenge, but we should stop and practice battling against some weak pokemon there.”

“A gym challenge? What’s that?”

“You want to be a great trainer right?” asked Sarah.

“Of course. I want to be best.”

“The you should take the Pokemon League Gym Challenge. You need to collect six badges to challenge the Triangle Archipelago Pokemon masters on Champion’s Isle. You earn each badge by beating Gym leaders in a pokemon battle.”

“Where do I find these Gyms?”

“Most large towns have a Gym. The closest one to us is in the Sandstone Valley.”

The pretty nurse returned with the yellow tray and returned the two pokeballs.

Max released Bulbasaur. The small, green grass pokemon materialised in front of him, looking much healthier than he did less than an hour ago.

“Hi Bulbasaur”, Max said timidly.

Bulbasaur walked up to his master and put his paw against his master’s leg.

“See” Sarah whispered to Max. “Bulbasaur doesn’t blame you either.”

Max crouched down in front of Bulbasaur.

“I know that I made a promise to you that we would be the best. We got off to a shaky start and that was my fault. I made a mistake by not listening and I’m sorry Bulbasaur. It won’t happen again. From now on I will put in all the work required so that you don’t get hurt like that again and I will listen to all the advice I’m given.”

Bulbasaur stood on his hind legs and licked Max’s face.

“Well I guess we’re off to the Kingsgrove Swamps.”