Storm charged Pokemon extend their eyes onto the mask of Franklin. Hoot’s chanted through the onyx forest bouncing back and forth through the trees. Franklin looks around for Vanessa and her Pokemon.

“Vanessa!”

The hoot’s emerged louder from higher branches pouring over the dimming trail. Leaves fell to the ground around the forsaken shrub. 

“Vanessa! Where are you? Todd? Daisy?”

The Pokemon climbed into the cloudy moonlight, revealing sandy wings and crystal eyes. The Pokemon dove towards Fan-out

“Franklin?”

Franklin gasped for air and looked around the lit bedroom.

“Franklin? I heard you calling me.”

Vanessa worried expression was shielded from her younger siblings peaking through a ajar slit. 

“Yeah, I’m okay. Sorry for waking you guys.”

Vanessa looked at the window, “It’s already almost time to go for the second round. You must of had a long day.”

The gray smoke rose into the night sky, revealing singed winged Pokemon flapping in all directions. Next to Vanessa stood a large mustard mouse with a lighting bolt tail. The mouse’s shoulder had a fanged scar as the moon passed through the clouds.

“Good Job, Jacob,” Vanessa said returning Jacob to his ball. The family trouted along the aligned path with Franklin close behind.

The sea of trees parted and Vanessa stood in front of a log built home. The family with no hesitation entered and Franklin continued to stagger. The cozy home showed no sign of barren.

Framed pictures decorated the walls. Places and people Franklin didn’t recognize posed with Pokemon.

“This is our family. All around the regions,” Vanessa said. “That out Uncle, Lt. Surge, he’s retiring this year so our cousin is applying to take his place.” Lt. Surge was a mountain of a man standing next to a mustard mouse similiar to Vanessa’s.

“This way Franklin, your room is ready.” Daisy rushed from the open door, the bed was freshly made, floors clean, and another couple of pictures on a oak dresser.

“Goodnight, Franklin.”

The night hooted as we walked the dimly lit path. Tyler’s adrenaline still maxed from his victory, sharing every flash of detail with Daisy.

“Vanessa,” Franklin started to grab her attention from the path ahead.

“How come you didn’t battle in the first round?”

Vanessa turned, “The winner of the league last year gets to skip the first couple rounds.” She turned her attention back to the road ahead.

Who, who, who echoed through the forest and pairs of round jeweled eyes followed Franklin’s every step. Daisy and Tyler rushed to Vanessa’s side with their Pokeballs in hand.

Vanessa halted. Her brother and sister stopped closely with Greg and Daisy at the ready. The who’s flew threw Vanessa’s fingers like high noon. Than she ran.

Tyler and Daisy chased her into the night. Caught shocked, Franklin raced to keep up.

The jewels vanished and flying Pokemon darted out from the shadows. Red lights cracked the night and quickly replaced by shocking yellow flash. Silence owned the night.

“Trainers, you’ve made it pass the first round robin,” Professor Ivy said looking down at the remaining trainers from her podium. “Come fresh and ready because the battles will continue tomorrow!”

The trainers scurried towards the exit. The crisp night took Franklin by surprise as the chill air crushed his available skin. Franklin looked for Martin in the crowd and only catching rushing faces. The faces were two sides of the same coin, either excited for the next day or the regret of a miscalculations of the last.

“Hey, Franklin,” Vanessa stood behind with Daisy and Tyler, each wearing the two different faces. “Where is your dad?”

Franklin only looked around without words. “Want to come back to our house?”

Franklin looked back at Vanessa and Daisy’s and Tyler’s faces were the same.

“We live far but we should get there before it gets too dark.”

“Would your parent’s mind?”

“They aren’t actually home. Probably won’t be back until the end of the tournament.”

Franklin looked around again at the decreasing amount of trainers by the seconds. Daisy walked near Franklin, “Common, if we wait to long the Gastly’s come out.” Out reaching her hand, Daisy grabbing Franklin’s

 

Vanessa waited near the exit, “Congrats, Franklin, that was an exciting battle.”

“Thanks,” Franklin looked down as he walked past her.

“Everything alright? I thought you would be more, more energetic.”

“Yeah your right sorry. Where is.?

“They are getting ready for their match. They go on soon.”
Vanessa and Franklin sat, awaiting Daisy match.

You didn’t hold up your end of the deal. Your mother will hear from us.

“Introducing Daisy’s opponent, trainer we fear that’s in our mind, Max!”

Your mother will hear from us.

Franklin remembered Julie’s frightened face as the old man walked away

“Max and Slowpoke win the first round!”

The crowd erupted with Max cheers and awes. 

“Hang in there, Daisy,” her sister shouted.

Your Vileplume. You had your Vileplume.

Franklin remembered the Vileplume on the gurney with the swirl in it’s eye.

“And it’s over! Max wins the match in style!”

“Max! Max! Max!”

“Congratulations, Franklin, your Pokemon please,” Ivy’s aide said and Franklin complied. Franklin watched Julie do the same at the other exit and she was greeted by an older man wearing referee garb,

“What happened out there today,” Julie jabbed. “I was not supposed to lose to some rookie punk! How could he end up with a fire Pokemon when I specifically asked for my Vileplume?”

“I don’t know how he ended up with the Vulpix. The only Vulpix family is kept close to Ivy’s facility so it is possible for some to be in this tournament. You still should have been able to beat the rookie, according to his father, this was his first ever battle. You telling me the daughter of a gym leader lost to a rookie. I saw you stand there like a Stantler in the headlights.” Julie stared at the ground unable to answer.

The older man’s voice was rough and didn’t echo through the halls like Julie’s voice. He continued, “This was your tournament to win and you couldn’t hold up your end of the deal. Your mother will hear from us, will be in touch.” The older man turned and left the hallway.

Julie stood by herself still staring at the ground unable to move or speak. The aides rushed passed her and Franklin with Vileplume on a gurney, rushing for the emergency exit.

Julie raised the Pokeball and a red stream shot out and grabbed the Sandshrew and it disappeared. Franklin raised his and the celebrating Squirtle vanished.

The trainers raised their next ball and threw it, “Woah, we have a Ratticate for Julie and a Krabby for Franklin!”

Franklin stared at his Pokemon deeply never-resting. Krabby had large pincers with thin eyes  and it walked side to side. Krabby eyed Raticate, white long belly and brown outer coat with large sharp teeth with whiskers thin and scraping the ground.

The pincers snapped together and Franklin saw his Vulpix where Raticate was standing. Vulpix gazed into his eyes and licked her paw.

“Raticate, quick attack!” Raticate charged head first into Krabby’s torso, launching Krabby into a jagged rock.

Franklin rubbed sweat from his forehead and looked for his Vulpix and only saw Krabby on shaky legs sinking into the earth.

“Again Raticate, quick attack!” Raticate appeared in a blur and rammed the Krabby towards the feet of Franklin with swirls in his eyes.

“Krabby is unable to continue the battle. Julie wins this round!”

Julie returned the Raticate and Franklin stared at the Krabby with an open mouth and a pale thin face.

 

Jullie launched the ball,

“We have a Sandshrew!”

Sandshrew was a mustard colored mouse Pokemon small and a colorless belly.

Sandshrew is a ground type. Sandshrew will be strong in this arena.

Franklin peered down into the ball bag and took the one with the black ridges.

~

“I noticed one of the Pokeballs on your sash is blue,” Franklin said to Vanessa.

“Yeah, it’s called a Great Ball. Its better at catching Pokemon than the typical Poke Ball but it’s more expensive. There is a bunch of different Poke Ball’s in the world, I have some listed in the Pokedex if you want to check those out too.”

~

I hope there is a water Pokemon in this Net Ball.

Franklin launched the Net Ball,

“It’s a Squirtle!”

Squirtle was a tiny cadet turtle, same height as the Sandshrew, and a squirrel style tail.

“Go, Sandshrew, Mudshot,” Julie commanded.

Sandshrew sucked in air and spit thick mud from its cheek.

“Squirtle, Water Gun!” Squirtle also swallowed air and spit water towards the incoming water.

The two streams concluded and both Pokemon caught their breath.

“Sandshrew, dig!” Sandshrew burrowed under the earth arena hiding his presence.

Squirtle and Franklin looked side to side for the missing mouse. The earth shifted as a furious burrower closed in on Squirtle.

“Squirtle, Withdraw!” Sandshrew shot from the earth under the turtle hiding itself within its shell, sending Squirtle into the air.

“Now, Squirtle, Water Gun!” Squirtle poked its head and launched a jet of water at the floating mouse. Sandshrew crashed down to the earth pinned by Squirtle’s attack.

The Gun ceased, “Sandshrew is unable to battle… Squirtle wins the first round!”

The crowd cheered and encored, they want more.

The crowd roared as the tournament continued. Franklin stood backstage swaying side to side holding his left arm.

“Alright, Franklin your match is next. Here are your three Pokemon,” said Professor Ivy’s assistant. Two of the balls were Pokeballs and one was turquoise with black webbing.

The cold breeze rushed from the stadium, “and that’s it ladies and gentlemen! Lance takes this match three to zero!”

Lance walked through the tunnel when Franklin was waiting, “Congratulations, Lance, the Pokemon please,” the assistant said. Lance handed her the balls and stared at Franklin. Lance wore a large green coat and a tan adventure hat under a full body and full facial hair. Lance also towered over Franklin being almost a foot taller.

“Alright the next match is going to start!” The crowd roared as Franklin heard the stage shift. “Now, we have a new comer in this next match. A young kid from Valencia Island, trainer 100382, Franklin!”

The crowd cheered as Franklin’s knees shook as he walked the tunnel. Bright lights blinded the faces of the crowd, the only face he could see was the announcer. The stage last match had pools of water, this one was rough earth and large jagged rocks.

“And his opponent is a veteran and already has the Spike Shell badge! Please welcome trainer 000158, Jullie!” The crowd shouted louder for Jullie than they did for Franklin. Jullie didn’t look much older than Franklin. Jullie’s long black hair hung down to her plaid green skirt and a tucked in white school shirt covered by a black sweater and black clogs with long black socks.

“Hey, Franklin, I’m here to be the best and your just another trainer for me to crush,” Jullie shouted.

“And battle!”