Chapter 1 "Charmander, I choose you!" Alarm Clock. Jack sprang out of his bed in reaction. "Whoooahhaah!" He turned towards the clock and pushed ‘reset.’ It was 6:00 AM. Saturday was here, along with the first day of Summer Vacation! Normally, Jack wouldn’t get up at six in the morning like that for fun, especially setting an alarm clock to wake him. But this was no ordinary day. He would get a Pokémon of his own today! He rushed down the hall. Then he turned into his parents’ bedroom. "I need my allowance now, Dad!" he said quickly. His dad rose up. He looked at the time with his eyes squinted. "Now?" he muttered, "Ugh!" "Yeah," Jack answered quickly, "C’mon dad!" He slowly rose up, his wife snoozing next to his spot. He reached for his wallet, which was on their dresser. "Here son," he handed him the money, "Now go." "Thanks dad!" Jack exclaimed as he ran out the door loudly. He was so excited. Now that he had just enough money, he could get the import store’s Pokémon starter deal. The shop was the only place in the small town that sold Pokémon, a new pet craze from Japan. Unlike Japan where they were booming, they were just hitting America. A few families were getting them as pets for the kids. Few fought with them like the sport it was in Japan. But it was spreading. It would amaze Jack’s friends. A Pokémon! So Jack went to get his first monster. The friendly storeowner (and only employee) Mr. Chan opened the store really early, at 6:30. It took Jack fifteen minutes to get there, after getting dressed and stuff. He was just in time. Mr. Chan had only a few Pokémon, getting a few more in every now and then. They were all priced the same, nothing "special." "Hello Mr. Chan!" he greeted, "I’m ready for a Pokémon!" "Are you sure?" he asked, "raising a Pokémon is not an easy task." "I’m ready!" he confirmed. Then he asked, "do you know which one you want?" "Yes," he said, "I want that Charmander!" he pointed at an orange lizard Pokémon. "I don’t think you should get that one." he said, "Charmander are known for their stubbornness and the challenge they bring to their trainers. Pokémon are enough work already and-" "I’ve made my mind up, I knew I wanted Charmander before I came here." he said, "I will do whatever it takes to become a Pokémon master!" "A Pokémon master?" Mr. Chan asked. "Yes, I will battle anyone’s Pokémon to make Charmander stronger!" "Battle?" he asked, "Well, actually, a few people are doing that here but-" "Here’s the cash, Mr. Chan!" "Oh, alright!" "To be awarded a Pokédex, which becomes your Pokémon raising license, you usually have to pass a test. I assume you’ve studied Pokémon." "You can bet that I’m qualified!" "Okay, let me take that." He put the cash in the register. Now, your item. Mr. Chan went and got a Pokédex, the electronic Pokémon database. He put a five empty Pokéballs in the bag he was putting the supplies in. Than he took a sixth, and walked over to Charmander’s cage. "Hop into the ball, Charmander." Jack watched as Charmander hesitated a little, then formed into solid energy and transferred itself inside the ball. He came back over and put it inside the bag. "Come see me if you have any trouble, or need anything. I can also heal your Pokémon. Try to come by regularly and let me know how Charmander and you are doing, bring him along." "Okay, Mr. Chan." Jack said, "So, can it understand English?" "It’s learning." he said, "Now take good care of Charmander!" "I will." Jack said. He grabbed his bag and left. Chapter 2 "Jack: Pokémon Trainer Jack rode home quickly. Then he parked his bike, went inside his house, and ran upstairs with the bag. He jumped up on his bed. He thought of what to do first. He took out his Pokédex. He pressed "on." He took out the stylus. "NAME:" it wanted to know his name. He typed it in with his stylus using the on-screen keyboard. Then he hit "OK." Then he had to fill out more forms, including where to put his extra (after six) Pokémon he had (he located Mr. Chan’s shop with the built-in GPS). Then it connected to the Pokémon Network to create a trainer profile for him. The built-in modem connected, and his Pokédex became his Pokémon licensee. Then a menu came up. He needed to claim ownership of Charmander, so he chose "Deposit Pokémon." Then a slot opened, where he inserted Charmander’s ball. It displayed data for Charmander. Mr. Chan was listed as the OT (original trainer). "It obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to spout from the tip of its tail." Then when he was done, it spit the ball out. "Come on out, Charmander." The beam came out to form Charmander. "C’mon, my friend Rob said he would get a Pokémon today!" "Char." It didn’t seem like it cared. "Follow me." Jack went outside. "Let’s go to Rob’s house, you’ll get good exercise." "Char!" it resisted. Jack was prepared for this. "Fine then," he said, "Don’t come." "As a matter of fact," he added, "Go back inside the ball! You haven’t earned a position outside of it! I was going to keep you outside of it regularly but-" "Char!!!" he was getting angry. "Well, I’m going, I’m leaving you until you’re strong enough to fight." "Char!" Jacks insults we’re making him really mad, very good reverse psychology. Jack started running. Charmander kind of followed. "Coming? You won’t be able to keep up." "Char! Char!" he was really pumped. "You’re just not strong enough, anyway." Jack’s constructive criticism was fooling Charmander into obeying him. Jack ran down the street. Charmander came sprinting after him. A few minutes later, he reached Robert’s house. He rang the doorbell. "Hey Jack." Rob answered the door, "What’s happening?" Charmander jumped behind him. "Pokémon are happening." "Sweet!" he replied, "I just got one myself." "Which one?" he asked. "A Squirtle! That’s what I really wanted. I thought I could handle the challenge." Jack congratulated him. "Looks like you got that Charmander you wanted. Now THAT’S a challenge." "You’re not kidding." "Step aside, Jack." he commanded, "Squirtle! Go!" He threw the ball forward. Squirtle ran behind him once he was released. "Squirtle, Squirt!" it chanted. "I’m even starting to make friends with the little guy." Rob said. "Oh," Jack said, "Uh, same with Charmander." "Char!" it growled. Rob snickered. "Okay, let’s see then. I challenge YOU to a Pokémon battle!" "Well," Jack hesitated, "I’m not sure Charmander is strong enough..." "Char!" he felt insulted. "Gaining experience from battle is really the only way it’ll get ant stronger." Rob reminded him, "Besides, Squirrel’s not that strong himself. He can’t even do any water moves yet." "Squirtle!" it was starting to feel insulted itself. "Are you afraid to battle pr something?" he started making fun of Jack, "Chicken!" "I AM NOT!" Jack screamed, "CHARMANDER WILL TAKE SQUIRTLE ON RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!" "Char!" Charmander supported the claim. "In the backyard." Rob challenged. "OKAY!" Jack accepted. Chapter 3 "Pokémon Battle!" They walked around to Rob’s backyard. Each one took an end. Behind both trainers stood their Pokémon. "Okay," Rob called out, "let’s do it!" "Charmander, go!" "Char!" it hopped out from behind Jack. "Alright, Squirtle, go!" Rob commanded. "Squirtle!" it chanted. Squirtle leapt from behind Rob to center field, right in Charmander’s face. "Don’t let him get too close, use growl!" "CHAR!!!" it roared at Squirtle. He was shot back a little bit. "Okay, Squirtle, don’t back down!" Rob said, "Go in for tackle!" "Squirtle!" With little hesitation he jumped up in the air, and dove for Charmander. "Go up with him, Charmander!" Jack ordered. He started to leap up, and Squirtle pinned him. Squirtle landed on top of him, and strangled him. "C’mon, Charmander!" Jack yelled. Its strength gathered. Then he rolled over, putting Squirtle on the bottom. "Now’s your chance Charmander!" he said, "Scratch-attack now!" "Char!" Charmander swiped his claws against Squirtle furiously! Squirtle slid and was knocked across the surface.’ "Get up, Squirtle!" It slowly rose up, "Tail Whip!" It turned around and waved its tail back and forth at Charmander. It wasn’t doing a whole lot. "Go scratch ‘em, Charmander!" "Squirtle!" it yelled as it quickly turned around. Charmander was running toward it. "Squirtle, tackle!" Squirtle was able to quickly pull off a high-speed tackle. It knocked Charmander back powerfully. He landed in front of Jack. It looked weak. "Don’t give up, Charmander!" "Don’t be so hard on him!" Rob said. Jack sighed. "I guess you’re right." Then it lunged up. "Charmander," he held up the Pokéball, "Return!" It quickly turned. "Char!" it yelled, breathing heavily. It seemed to refuse. "I think," Jack interpreted, "It wants to fight. "What!?" Rob exclaimed "CHAR!" he looked furious and rageful at Squirtle. "Not surprising," Jack said, "Charmander is known to build up rage and attack with it!" "Char!" Charmander lunged at Squirtle. He growled at him nastily. He smoothly sank back into the air, jumping, spinning! He was gathering his strength collectively. "Char, man, der!" it yelled as it landed. Its mouth opened, and it leaned forward as it powerfully shot a large stream of fire at Squirtle. It badly burned Squirtle. After everything, Squirtle just fainted. His eyes looked dizzy as he lie on the ground. Everyone was shocked, speechless, just gasping. Then Jack cheered, "Yes! Charmander won! You did it Charmander!" "Char!" it said proudly as it stood triumphantly. Rob held out his Pokéball, "Squirtle, return!" The emitting red beam sucked Squirtle up into the ball. Rob looked exhausted. "Whew!" he sighed, "Good fight, Jack!" He was walking toward him. Rob held out his hand. Jack shook it. "I agree." "Now I’ve got to heal Squirtle." "Yeah, same with Charmander." "Bye." "See you around, Rob." So Jack had won a battle, and maybe even a little of Charmander’s respect.