{STORY COMPETITION ENTRY} John's Journey in Johto

[Raddstealth316]

CH 5

As John let the door slam behind him, he noticed that inside was very dark and had a dingy look to it. Certainly no place to battle. He walked past dusty chairs and tables, getting more and more annoyed by the second.

“HELLO? IS ANYONE THERE?”

The only response to John’s calls was the echoing sounds of his own voice around the hall. He tried again

“I’M LOOKING FOR FALKNER. I WANT A GYM BATTLE!”

Suddenly he heard a door opening to his left. He turned and saw a figure step in.

“Did my ears deceive? You wish to challenge the great Falkner?”

He clapped twice and the lights in the hall came on.

John now was able to see the owner of the voice.

He had dark brown silky hair that covered his right eye. The other eye was a pronounced aqua. He was wearing a long blue shirt with no sleeves but brass buttons running a v-neck at the top. He was also wearing cotton blue trousers and brown shoes.

“Well?” he asked again.

“Yes. I challenge you!” said John finding his voice.

Falkner laughed. It was an understatement. His roar filled the hall echoing and enhancing his voice by ten times.

His eyes fell on Chikorita.

“Are you serious? I don’t take challenges from greenhorn trainers like you. Especially ones, which have such a bad taste in choosing starter Pokémon.”

“Watch your mouth! I challenge you. Or are you too scared?” said John angrily.

Falkner closed his eyes with a smirk on his face.

“Ha! Fine, I tried to warn you but if you insist…”

He turned around and closed the door he had come out from.

John caught a glimpse of what was in there. It was a battleground.

“Why aren’t we battling in there?” said John pointing at the door.

Falkner smirked. “Battle you in there? No chance. Only true trainers, who I consider worthy will battle me in there. You will battle me in here”

Falkner raised an eyebrow. “Or do you object?”

John clenched his fists. “No. What are your rules?”

“Since you only have one Pokémon, it shall be a 1 on 1. Challenger, send your Pokémon into battle”

“Alright. Go Chikorita!”

Chikorita stepped forward, ready for battle.

Falkner laughed and threw a grey Pokéball into the air. Out of it came a flying bird Pokémon.

< Pidgeooo! >

John pointed his Pokédex at it:

‘Pidgeotto: the evolved form of Pidgey. It has outstanding vision. However high it flies, it is able to distinguish the movements of its prey.’

Pidgeotto was waiting in the air for instruction.

“Pidgeotto gust attack to blow it away!”

“Chikorita use reflect”

Chikorita had barely set up it when the attack hit her. Pidgeotto had begun flapping its wings, getting faster and faster every second until its wings were a blur. It turned the air into a small typhoon, which it sent rocketing at Chikorita.

The force of gust had blown the feeble Reflect away and had blown Chikorita backwards. She fell and rolled over. She struggled to get up and managed it on shaky legs.

“Chikorita! Try Razor leaf!” John shouted, desperate.

Sharp leaves came out of Chikorita’s head but they didn’t even reach Pidgeotto and instead they fell to the floor.

Falkner laughed again. “Pidgeotto, finish it. Use wing attack!”

Chikorita was all out of ideas and attacks. Her vision was blurred from the previous gust attack. All it saw was Pidgeotto swooping quickly towards her at tremendous speed, Pidgeotto’s wings glowing a bright white.

John closed his eyes as he heard the sickening impact and Chikorita’s cry of pain. When he opened them Chikorita was out cold on the floor.

“Pidgeotto return!”

Falkner returned Pidgeotto to its Pokéball and walked forward until he was level with John.

“Try again next time squirt. I told you that you couldn’t beat the great Falkner. Next time when people give you advice for your own good, listen to them”

He then patted John on the head and ruffled his hair.

John threw his hand of him and glared angrily at him. He picked up Chikorita and stormed out of the gym.

As daylight came into contact with him, so did laughter. Ringing laughter. He marched, trying to ignore it, to the Pokémon Centre.

Chikorita was still out cold and as John walked, he could still hear Raymond’s shouts of glee….

“I told you! You are truly pathetic!”

One day, John thought to himself as he entered the Pokémon Centre, one day, I’ll show you, I’ll show you all…

[Raddstealth316]

John trudged silently down the road, watching his trainers getting dustier and dirtier with every step he took. Chikorita trailed behind, looking equally as unhappy.
Was he really that bad of a trainer? No! He told himself sternly. But then how did he lose twice in a row, and so easily?

That question had laid heavy burden upon John ever since he had left Violet City and had headed out on the road to the next town, which according to the map, was Azelea Town. Though John also realised that there were two major things in the way; a ruins and a large cave.
But what did it matter how long it took, John thought savagely, he would do just as badly in Azelea Town as he had done in Violet City

John, lost in thought, wasn’t watching carefully where he was going and tripped over something in the middle of the road. Chikorita bounded over to him to see if he was all right. John spat the dirt out of his mouth and got up, dusting his clothes. Looking backwards, what he had thought probably to be a small boulder, was actually someone crouched down, concentrating on the ground, inspecting it with a magnifying glass.

John moved in, Chikorita behind him.

“Err…excuse me…why are you crouching in the middle of the road? You made me fall over…”

John waited for an answer, but the figure didn’t reply and instead kept muttering to himself.

“Seven hundred mili-metres…this has to be it…yes it must be…”

He was wearing a grey one-piece zipper jacket and a dark grey hat.

John coughed loudly then spoke again.

“Excuse me? Did you hear me?”

The muttering stopped and the figure looked up rather angrily.

“Yes I heard you. But I have better things to do than talk to the likes of you. I am extremely busy. I am currently on the trial of a very rare Snorlax. So if you don’t mind…”

“Yeah whatever…” said John annoyed. “Lets go Chikorita…”

Chikorita started to follow but looked back at the figure. The figure looked up momentarily and caught Chikorita’s eye. He then looked at the back of John, then back to Chikorita, then back to John. His eyes widened.

The figure got up and starting sprinting towards John, who was quite a distance away now.

“WAIT! COME BACK!”

He overtook John and stood in front of him. It was only now, him not crouched on the floor any more, that John noticed how very tall he was, he looked to be well over 6ft.

“What?” said John, still feeling annoyed from how this guy had spoke to him.

“You’re a Pokémon trainer! Why didn’t you say so?”

“Err…yeah, I am. I didn’t know I had to mention that I was everywhere I go.”

The guy smiled. “I think we got off on the wrong foot. My name is Joseph. Joseph Rodman.”

He held out a hand and John took it reluctantly.

“My names John”

Joseph smiled again. “I have been waiting for a Pokémon trainer to come along because I long to battle with one. So what do you say? Will you battle with me?”

John sighed. “I’m sorry but I don’t really feel like battling…” said John remembering his last two defeats.

“Come on!” said Joseph defiantly, “We are both training Pokémon. It will benefit us both, win or lose”

John looked down at Chikorita.

“Up for it buddy?”

Chikorita nodded energetically.

John smiled. “Okay fine, I accept your challenge”

Joseph grinned. “Great! Let’s go!”

He threw of a grey rucksack that he had carried on his back and took of his grey zipper jacket and his hat. He threw them on a pile on top of his rucksack. John could now see his new outfit and full features. He had very dark brown hair that was quite short, he also had hazel eyes. He was dressed in a pair of long blue jeans and a grey t-shirt. John also noticed that he had a pair of grey sneakers on.

He took out a Pokéball from his rucksack and threw it onto the floor next to him. A yellow Pokémon that looked like a mouse. John knew this Pokémon. He had seen it on video, watching it many times as Ash Ketchum used it to defeat his opponent in the final round of the Houenn Championships.

Pikachu looked up at Joseph for instruction.

“Pikachu, use agility!”

John, who had been watching the Pikachu curiously, now looked down at Chikorita.

“Lets show him buddy, us Razor leaf now!”

Pikachu began running straight at Chikorita and Chikorita steadied herself then used Razor leaf, but as Chikorita did the attack, Pikachu vanished into thin air. John and Chikorita looked around confused, then astounded, noticed Pikachu was charging up next to Joseph.

“Pikachu! Show him with a Thunder shock”

< Pii-ka-CHUUUUU! >

Chikorita was rooted to the spot as the bolt of lightning hit her but she was nowhere near out.

“Chikorita are you okay?”

Chikorita nodded furiously

“Great” said John relieved, “Use Razor leaf again”

“Quick attack Pikachu! Don’t let it attack you!”

Pikachu nodded and began running at Chikorita, then vanishing every few seconds and appearing in another place.

Chikorita looked around confused then saw Pikachu leap into the air and tackled Chikorita with a head on collision. Before Chikorita could even respond, Pikachu had done it again. Chikorita tried Razor leafing but it kept missing. Pikachu was too fast and was slowly taking advantage in battle

“Sorry John, but this battle is mine,” said Joseph with a smile

John looked on at the battle and Chikorita weakening with every blow. Chikorita couldn’t beat Pikachu with special attacks like Razor leaf because it was too fast…he couldn’t hit Pikachu with special attacks…

[Raddstealth316]

John tore out of his thoughts with a brain wave.

“Chikorita! Razor leaf is no good, meet it in the air with a tackle attack!”

Chikorita nodded and as Pikachu came flying in with a quick attack, Chikorita jumped into the air and with a sickening crash, Pikachu was thrown backwards and onto the floor.

“Pikachu!” said Joseph in disbelief.

Pikachu got up angrily and sent another Thunder shock straight at Chikorita. Chikorita now though had come accustomed to the air and jumped sideways into it, causing the Thunder shock to miss.

“Okay now Chikorita! USE RAZOR LEAF!”

Chikorita, in mid air performed a roll and sent hundreds of sharp leaves straight at Pikachu. Pikachu was forced to the ground once more but certainly not finished. It sent another Thunder shock at Chikorita and this time it’s aim was true and Chikorita fell from the air.

“Pikachu use Quick attack!”shouted Joseph.

“Stay where you are buddy!”

Chikorita looked surprised at John but nodded and stood glaring at Pikachu. Pikachu was now fast approaching and ready to strike.

“CHIKORITA! USE YOUR VINE WHIP!”

Chikorita sent two long vines straight at Pikachu and they made impact just as Pikachu was flying through the air to strike. Pikachu was knocked backwards through the air.

“NOW CHIKORITA! FINISH IT OFF WITH A TACKLE ATTACK!”

Chikorita ran the length of the road extremely fast and jumped into the air and tackled Pikachu.

< PIIIIIIII!! >

Pikachu let out a cry of pain and fell to the floor, unmoving.

The battle was over.

Joseph stared at Pikachu in disbelief. He walked over to Pikachu and smiled.

“You did your best, you earned a rest inside your Pokéball”

As Joseph returned Pikachu to its Pokéball, John ran forwards and took Chikorita into his arms.

“You did it buddy! I’m so proud of you!”

Chikorita was exhausted from the match but extremely happy at her efforts.

Joseph walked slowly up to John.

“That was a great match John. I must give you my congratulations”

John smiled. “You gave me a good fight, your Pikachu is extremely well trained”

“Thanks. I hope though that we can meet each other again in battle some day…”

John thought for a second and then said, “Hey Joseph, you wouldn’t like to come with me. Me and Chikorita could use the company and it would be great to have you along”

Joseph gave him a sad smile. “That sounds great John but I can’t, I need to continue with my research. I will be probably heading your way someday but not right at the moment…I’m sorry…”

John gave a sad sigh. “That’s okay, you have to do what you have to do. We will meet again some day…”

He and Joseph shook hands and Chikorita waved a paw goodbye to Joseph. They then set of back on the road, John thinking of what might have been.


They had been walking though for only 10 minutes when they heard some footsteps and panting behind them. John and Chikorita turned and to John’s astonishment saw Joseph running towards him.

“WAIT JOHN!”

John waited on the road until Joseph had caught up.

John looked puzzled at him. “What’s wrong?”

Joseph straightened up, after catching his breath with a smile on his face.

“I’ve changed my mind, I would like to go with you”

“But” said John even more puzzled, “Your research?”

“Yeah I know” said Joseph with a small grin, “Research is important but then I thought to myself, how many times would an opportunity like this come along, to go on an adventure of a lifetime like this. It could also be a great asset to my research, coming along with you. And who knows? I might even find the rare Snorlax on the way. So if the offer is still open…”

John’s puzzled look turned into a true smile.

“Of course it is. Welcome to the team!”

He offered his hand out to Joseph who grasped it smiling.



A few minutes later John was walking down the path once again, with Chikorita and now his new friend accompanying him.

This, John thought happily, could only make his adventure more worthwhile.

[Raddstealth316]

CH 7

John strode happily onwards; Chikorita on his right and Joseph on his left. He took out his map and looked at it carefully and saw that they were approaching a tall grass area that stretched a long way. And sure enough, as John pocketed the map, the vast greenness appeared before his eyes.

“Whoa. We’re going to have fun getting through this,” said Joseph as he first caught sight of it.

John nodded and stepped through first, closely followed by Chikorita then Joseph.

As John did, he noticed that the grass covered most the evening sunlight, making it quite dark. He pushed his way though for about ten minutes before turning around. Joseph was right behind him and looked puzzled that John had stopped.

“What’s up?”

“Where’s Chikorita?” said John looking around. Joseph looked around the ground also.

“She was right in front of me, she must have taken another path. John we need to find her before it gets dark. Losing your Pokémon in tall grass isn’t good in itself, but for it to be dark also, we would find it very hard.”

John nodded, his heart racing. Without a second to lose, he began tearing through the grass, with Joseph running to catch up.

“CHIKORITA! WHERE ARE YOU?”

But there was no response to John’s calls, only the running footsteps behind him of Joseph. For a while, the search went on, with John calling after every few minutes and staring into the depths of the long grass. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, John made his way into a clearing. There was only short grass in this area. It spanned out a huge circle effect, being the only short grass in the entire field.

John heard a rustling in the long grass, on the opposite side of the circle.

“Chikorita?” said John uncertainly. John just realised how vulnerable he now felt without Chikorita. He heard a noise to his right and looked there startled only to find Joseph releasing out Pikachu. John, relieved, watched Pikachu step forwards and call into the grass.

< Piiiika >

There was another rustling, this time quite near to where John was standing and out of it crawled Chikorita.

John smiled, relief seeping through him. Chikorita was very dirty but had a smile on her face at finding John at last.
Pikachu began walking happily over to Chikorita but then turned sharply in the direction of the rustling coming from the other side of the circle.

John’s tension was mounting as he, Chikorita, Joseph and Pikachu waited in silence. Then suddenly two glowing green eyes appeared in the middle of the blades of grass. John gasped and took a step backwards. Then through the grass out it stepped into the evening light so John could see it for what it was. It was a Pokémon. It looked to be what seemed a small mushroom.

Joseph took a few steps forward. “John! That’s a Shroomish! It’s a rare Pokémon that is not normally found in Johto, they come from the Houenn region”

John regained himself and took a few steps forward. A rare Pokémon?.

There was something about Shroomish that was entrancing him. He wanted to capture it, it was an experience he had never felt before, a burning desire to catch this Pokémon. He snapped out of his daze and took out his Pokédex and pointed it at Shroomish:

‘’
Joseph looked over at John.

“Are you going to attempt to capture it?”

“Yes” said John, “there’s just something about it…”

Joseph nodded. “It’s all yours”

John smiled. “Go Chikorita!”

Chikorita bounded forward until it was a few metres away from Shroomish.

Shroomish glared, not moving. John hesitated then…

“Chikorita, use tackle attack!”

Chikorita ran forwards and hit Shroomish head on. John watched Shroomish fall to the floor. He grinned.

“Go Pokéball!”

John threw the Pokéball at where he supposed Shroomish was and then waited a few seconds. He walked over to the spot and saw the Pokéball on the ground with Shroomish nowhere to be found. John smiled and picked up the Pokéball.

He waved a hand to Joseph, Chikorita and Pikachu who started celebrating with joy.

He walked over to them.

“So guys ready to meet our new team mate?” and with that John released the Pokeball and it fell to the floor. It opened and…

Where was Shroomish? The Pokéball was empty!

Joseph went up to it and picked it up, examining it closely.

“A Pokémon hasn’t used this…you never caught it…it must of dodged it at the last minute”

John felt like he had been drenched with ice-cold water.

He started turning in odd directions, looking around for any sign of Shroomish.

Joseph and Pikachu started doing the same, but Chikorita walked across the field and started sniffing at the ground. John noticed and walked over to Chikorita.

“Hey, is Shroomish’s scent here?”

Chikorita nodded and began to keep sniffing on the ground apparently following a trail. Joseph and Pikachu abandoned what they were doing and along with John followed Chikorita. Chikorita changed directions many times but eventually stopped at the edge of one of the sides of the long grass.

“Does the scent go into the grass buddy?”

Chikorita nodded.

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Then lets follow it,” said John.

As he started to step into it Joseph held him back. “John, its almost dark, I don’t think it’s wise to start looking for it now”

John looked longingly into the grass but nodded and started to head back into the middle of the circle. Chikorita held back and just as she started to turn to go with John, her ears detected a slight rustling. She stopped and took a pace forward. Two glowing green eyes suddenly emerged, then a face, then a body.

< CHIKO! ? > cried Chikorita, calling for John.

“What is it buddy?” said John not turning around.

He heard a swish then Chikorita cry out in pain and the next thing he knew he saw Chikorita being knocked backwards through the air and past John’s head.

“John look! It’s back!” said Joseph, turning around and pointing at Shroomish.

John turned quickly and just saw Shroomish fall gracefully to the ground after knocking Chikorita back.

“Chikorita?” said John looking behind him.

All he saw was a flash of green racing past him. He turned forwards again and saw Chikorita try and tackle Shroomish but it hopped lightly into the air, avoiding the collision.
Chikorita looked murderously at Shroomish who once again fell lightly to the floor, glaring with equally as much hatred.

John seemed to have regained himself.

“Chikorita, use Razor leaf!”

Chikorita fired at Shroomish and it hit perfectly. But to John’s surprise it had only made a light scratch on Shroomish’s face. It was now Shroomish’s turn to fight back. It closed its eyes for a second or two then opened them and glared at Chikorita. Then suddenly green balls of light started to come out from Shroomish and into Chikorita and then after it had hit Chikorita, they returned back into Shroomish. Chikorita looked amazed at first but as more and more of them came out, it seemed the weaker Chikorita was getting and the stronger Shroomish was getting.

John suddenly released, with a flashback of his battle with Raymond…that seed. But this had no seed but seemed to be doing the same effect of draining Chikorita’s energy and giving it to Shroomish.

Joseph gasped. “John its using Mega drain! If Chikorita doesn’t move, all its energy will be lost!”

John nodded.

“Chikorita! Don’t stay in the same position! Move around!”

Chikorita, feeling slightly dizzy, started moving and as soon as she did, the balls of light vanished.

“Great! Chikorita use Vine whip!”

Shroomish, who had only just realised that Mega drain had stopped working, looked around surprised as Chikorita dashed here and there then sent two vines straight at it.

Shroomish was knocked into the air. It seemed to be down but in mid air, it turned back to Chikorita and tilted its head. Suddenly some kind of powder seemed to be ushering out of the top of its head straight at Chikorita. Chikorita watched it, dazed. Then, without warning, fell over.

John ran up to her but as he did the powder spread to him and he felt very sleepy. He heard distantly Joseph and Pikachu also coming over but then he fell over, fast asleep.

[Raddstealth316]

CH 8

John awoke to find it very dark. He got slowly to his feet and saw Joseph, Pikachu and Chikorita sitting down on the floor quite near to where he was. They had started a fire and were warming themselves by it. John walked over to them and sat down besides Chikorita.

Joseph looked up smiling.

“Hey John, it’s quite late, almost midnight I think. We were just warming ourselves before going into our tents…I wasn’t sure if I should wake you since you seemed in a very deep sleep…”

John’s memory flashed back to him from hours ago.

“Joseph, what happened? Where’s Shroomish?”

Joseph sighed. “Well that powder that it used was one of its greatest tactical moves. It’s called spore and it sends the opponent into a deep sleep for a while. I saw from afar, first Chikorita, and then you fell down and then I realised Shroomish was using the Spore attack. By the time we had gotten over there, Shroomish had vanished again and you two were fast asleep. Chikorita woke up about fifteen minutes before you did.”

John looked down at Chikorita, who looked still a bit hurt from the injury. He placed a hand on her head.

“You did great buddy…we just need to think of a better way round this situation”

Chikorita nodded.

“So going to attempt to capture it again?” said Joseph, with a slight smile on his face.

John looked down. “Yes, I won’t give up on catching it. I won’t let it win…”

Joseph nodded. “I understand. Hey John, I almost forgot. While you were asleep, Pikachu and me went into the grass and found all sorts of berries. I knew that the patch we found were edible because of a book I read about them. So we brought them back here and I sort of used a recipe of mine and blended them together coming up with these berry bars.”

He handed a few to John, who took it gratefully.

“What about you?”

“We already ate ours, so did Chikorita, those are for you”

“Thanks” said John, starting to bite into one.

As he did he felt like he was tasting about a hundred different flavours in his mouth. It was amazing.

“Joseph, how did you learn to cook so good? These are so tasty!”

Joseph blushed. “Thanks. I spend a lot of time outside, so there are no home-cooked meals, just me making stuff outside. Though they didn’t always taste this good, I had to experiment for a long time to get it just right”

There was silence for a few minutes while John finished the rest of the bars. He looked up at Joseph thoughtfully.

“Hey, so…do you have a family back home?”

Joseph looked away.

“They’re dead…”

John’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry…I didn’t know…”

“That’s alright,” said Joseph briskly, getting up. “Well John, Pikachu and me are going to go set up our tent over there” he pointed to the other side of the fire. “See you in the morning”

“Night” said John quietly.

He watched Joseph take out his bag and start setting up a small grey tent. He looked down at Chikorita who was looking sleepy. He reached into his own bag and pulled out his own black tent and slowly started setting it up. Five minutes later, it was set up next to the fire. He unzipped it and waited till Chikorita had gone inside, before getting in himself and into his sleeping bag. Chikorita got into her own tiny sleeping bag that John had been given by his mum awhile before starting out on his journey so that his Pokémon could have their own sleeping quarters.

“Night buddy” said John yawning.

< Chiko > said Chikorita in reply.

John lay on his back thinking. He knew that Joseph didn’t want to stay on the subject of his family and he better not touch upon it again. His thoughts now turned to Shroomish and how much he wanted it. With that thought in mind, he fell asleep again in a short space of a few hours.


John awoke the next morning to find bright sunlight seeping in through miniscule holes in the tent. He got out his sleeping bag and saw Chikorita do the same. He opened the tent and he and Chikorita got out. Looking at the opposite side of the now burnt out fire, he saw Joseph with Pikachu strangely planting something on the ground. John walked over to them.

“What are you doing?”

Joseph looked up. “Well since you wanted to catch that Shroomish I thought the best way to lure it would be to tempt it with food, so I’m laying down some of the berries that I didn’t use in the berry bars for it”

“Nice idea, I’m sure Shroomish can’t resist those berries”

Joseph smiled. “Yeah, oh and here’s yours and Chikorita’s berry bars for breakfast”

He handed John about ten bars and John lay five on the ground for Chikorita, while the other five, he pocketed.

Chikorita munched happily on one as Pikachu did so on his.

“Let’s go into the tall grass, we can wait in secret for Shroomish to come that way”

“Okay,” said John and along with Chikorita, they followed Joseph into the tall grass.

“So now what?” said John.

“Now,” said Joseph, “We wait…”

An hour passed and the berry bars had all been finished. John was starting to get bored.

A few more now passed very slowly. John, looking down at his watch, saw it to be half noon. His stomach rumbled; it seemed to be an eternity since he had those berry bars. He put his arms on his knees and started to doze. What seemed though in no time at all, he was being shaken awake.

“Wha-?” said John groggily.

[Raddstealth316]

“SHHH!” said Joseph, putting a hand to his lips and pointing towards the middle of the short grass circle.

John leaned forward and saw the Shroomish. Its eyes were no longer glowing green and it seemed a great deal calmer than before. It sniffed at the berries suspiciously.

“That’s it...” said Joseph in a whisper, “Eat up…”

Shroomish, finding no suspicion in the berries started munching on them hungrily.

John smiled. Then a light wind blew across the grass and some dust picked up and blew them into John’s nose.

John blinked furiously trying not too…but he couldn’t help it.

“ATIISHU!”

Joseph, Pikachu and Chikorita jumped, then looked back at John who went bright red.

Shroomish looked up startled, and then seemed to spot Pikachu’s tail. It started to growl.

“Oh dear…” said Joseph, taking a step backwards.

Shroomish tilted its head.

“IT’S GOING TO USE SPORE AGAIN, GET OUT OF THE GRASS!”

Joseph’s voice rang through the entire field and the other three, getting the message rushed after him into the middle of the short grass just as Shroomish fired a spore at the place they had been two seconds ago.

Shroomish glared as they bundled inside the circle. It’s eyes started to glow green again.

“Okay John, this is your chance, do not let it spore you!”

John nodded at Joseph and took a pace forward with Chikorita.

“GO CHIKORITA!”

Chikorita bounded ahead and straight at Shroomish.

“Chikorita, tackle attack!”

Chikorita ran at Shroomish and Shroomish, surprisingly, started also running or hopping fast towards Chikorita on its stubby legs.

They were now ten metres from each other and closing in.

Five metres and Chikorita was starting to pick up speed, determined to hurt Shroomish.

Two metres and Shroomish’s eyes glowed a brighter green.

With half a metre away from each other, Shroomish suddenly dodged sideways. Chikorita skidded forwards, looking confused. She turned to where Shroomish had dodged to and only saw a blur of yellow and green as it came crashing into Chikorita from the side.

Chikorita was tumbled onto her side and coughed and dirt entered her mouth.

Shroomish now hopped lightly into the air, ready to come down to finish off Chikorita.

“Chikorita, use Vine whip!” shouted John.

Chikorita sent the vines straight at Shroomish and it knocked it off course. Just as in the last battle Shroomish got ready to tilt its head.

“CHIKORITA, DON’T LET IT USE SPORE!”

Shroomish had barely let out a few spores when Chikorita’s vine had hit it again.

“Keep on at it buddy!”

Slowly but surely Chikorita was forcing Shroomish backwards, whacking it through the air with the vines. Chikorita held back for a second then let an extra powerful vine come and whack Shroomish on the head. Shroomish toppled out of the air and onto the floor, dizzy.

“Now Chikorita, use tackle attack!”

Chikorita ran forwards and collided with Shroomish head on. Shroomish fell backwards but to John’s amazement, got straight back up again. It seemed to be shaking with anger. It lunged forward and hit Chikorita, who stepped a pace backwards. Shroomish then hit again without warning, sending Chikorita another pace backwards.

John thought for a second then the solution came to him.

“Chikorita, hit it back, don’t let it force you backwards!”

Chikorita understood and as Shroomish came for another hit, Chikorita forced its head forwards too. Both Pokémon were knocked back slightly but regained themselves and went and hit each other again. This happened several times and eventually all they were doing was locking heads and snarling at each other in rage. John couldn’t see a way to get Chikorita to force an attack. Shroomish though, seemed to be winning and was slowly causing Chikorita’s feet to slip.

“Chikorita push back harder! I know you can do it buddy!”

< Chiiiikooo! >

Chikorita strained with the effort and very slowly started pushing Shroomish back.

“NOW CHIKORITA, BREAK OUT OF IT AND KICK IT!”

Chikorita found this a strange instruction but pulled backwards out of the headlock and turned around and gave a swift kick to Shroomish’s head.

Shroomish rolled through the grass backwards. It got up and quickly tilted its head and sent a spore attack at Chikorita.

Chikorita was immobilised out of surprise and the spore came out of Shroomish’s head and started seeping towards Chikorita.

But, the spore didn’t seem as strong as before; it was thin wisps rather than a prominent wave. It seemed that when Chikorita had hit it on the head with that extra powered Vine Whip, it had temporally damaged its spore releaser.

Though thin spore it was, it still was doing the same effect but more slowly.

Chikorita’s eyes were beginning to droop.

John thought quickly. What can stop light spores?

The solution came to him. “Chikorita! Use Reflect to stop the spores!”

Chikorita nodded and sent the yellowish beam of light that turned into a wall of protecting light. As the rest of the spores hit, they now rebounded and floated away.

Shroomish looked puzzled that the spore wasn’t working but regained itself and closed its eyes momentarily and sent green balls of energy at Chikorita.

“Chikorita! Break the Mega drain balls with Razor leaf!”

Chikorita pounced through the Reflect wall, causing it to break, and swung the leaf on her head forwards and sent a flurry of sharp leaves straight at the Mega drain balls of energy. They slashed mercilessly through them and kept coming strong.

Shroomish didn’t even have time to move and was knocked backwards by them. It let out a cry of pain as it fell to the floor.

< MIIIIISH! >

[Raddstealth316]

John couldn’t miss this opportunity now; it was now or never.

“CHIKORITA, GIVE IT YOUR HARDEST TACKLE ATTACK!!!”

Chikorita raced forwards towards the injured Shroomish on the floor and tackled it with all its might.

Chikorita was knocked a bit backwards by the force of it and fell sideways.

Shroomish was flung into the air and fell to the ground unmoving.

John whipped out a Pokéball from his pocket.

“GO POKEBALL!”

The Pokéball flew straight over Chikorita’s head and hit Shroomish and John watched as the ball opened and it got swallowed up into the ball.

John stepped forwards, his heart thumping. Would this be his first capture?

The Pokéball shook violently. It shook once…shook twice...

[vellyvell]

Storyline: Pokemon like. Sorta reminds me a little of the anime. Plot was evident. 23/25

Grammar/Spelling: nice, just a few typos. 22/25

Length: 0.o this much for a Shroomish….. 25/25

Battle: wow, it was good 20/25
Total- 90/100 excellent story.
It was a total shroomish capture.

[Raddstealth316]

It shook a third time and stopped moving. John’s face broke out into a huge grin. He raced forwards and picked it up and held it up into the air for Joseph and Pikachu to see. They gave their shouts of joy and John walked up to Chikorita and ruffled its head.

“I’m so proud of you, you did great buddy!”

Chikorita smiled, completely exhausted.

“You deserve a rest,” said John still smiling.

He returned Chikorita to his Pokéball and held both Shroomish’s ball in one hand and Chikorita in the other.

Nothing could spoil this moment. He had caught a new Pokémon and a new friend. Things could only get better from here.

~END~