I stood outside the Fuchsia City Gym, bouncing on my heels as Pikachu perched on my shoulder. “Alright, Pikachu, just you and me. One-on-one. Think we can take on Koga?”
“Pika!” Pikachu pumped her little paws in the air.
I grinned. “That’s what I thought.”
Pushing the doors open, I stepped inside, only to immediately get hit with a thick cloud of smoke.
I coughed. “What the—?”
A voice echoed through the fog. “Who dares challenge the Fuchsia Gym?”
I blinked, waving away the smoke. “Uh. Me?”
Silence. Then the smoke cleared, revealing a very dramatic looking Koga, standing in full ninja pose.
“Ah,” he said, straightening. “A child.”
I scowled. “Excuse you, I’m a trainer.”
Koga studied me, then nodded. “Very well. What are your terms?”
I grinned. “One Pokémon. One battle. No switching.”
Koga raised a brow. “One-on-one? You do realize my specialty is Poison-types, yes?”
I smirked. “Yep.”
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded. “Very well. I accept your challenge.”
We both stepped onto the battlefield, and Koga tossed out his Pokéball.
Poof!
A giant Venomoth appeared, flapping its wings menacingly.
I whistled. “Ooh, big bug.”
Koga smirked. “Still confident?”
I grinned. “Always.”
I pointed forward. “Pikachu, let’s do this!”
Pikachu leapt off my shoulder and landed in a battle stance.
Koga didn’t waste time. “Venomoth, Sleep Powder!”
Green powder exploded from Venomoth’s wings, spreading across the battlefield.
I grinned. “Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
Pikachu’s cheeks sparked before she unleashed a powerful bolt of electricity, slicing through the Sleep Powder and zapping Venomoth mid-air.
BOOM!
Venomoth screeched as it tumbled to the ground, twitching.
Koga’s eyes widened. “What?!”
I smirked. “We’re fast.”
Koga gritted his teeth. “Venomoth, use Toxic!”
Venomoth weakly flapped up and spewed a stream of nasty purple sludge toward Pikachu.
I gasped. “Dodge and Quick Attack!”
Pikachu zipped forward in a yellow blur, dodging the attack and slamming into Venomoth at light speed.
Venomoth hit the ground hard—and didn’t get back up.
Silence.
Then—
Koga sighed. “Venomoth is unable to battle. The winner is—”
“ME!” I threw my arms up in victory.
Pikachu jumped into my arms. “Pikaaaaa~!”
Koga walked over, shaking his head. “I underestimated you, young one. Your Pikachu is powerful.”
I grinned. “She’s the best.”
He smirked. “Indeed. As Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, I present you… the Soul Badge.”
I snatched it out of his hand. “YESSSSSS.”
Koga chuckled. “You are… unconventional. But strong. I expect great things from you.”
I puffed my chest. “Of course! I’m amazing.”
Then I yawned.
Koga raised a brow. “Are you… alright?”
I blinked sleepily. “…Yeah, but I kinda ran here all the way from Pallet Town, so I should probably go find my family before they—”
CRASH!
The gym doors slammed open, revealing a VERY angry Red, Leaf, and Blue.
Oh.
Oops.
“…Mia.” Red’s voice was calm. Too calm.
I gulped. “Uh. Hi?”
Leaf put her hands on her hips. “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW WORRIED WE WERE?!”
Blue pointed at me. “And why the heck are you in Fuchsia Gym?!”
I blinked. “Uh… winning?” I held up the badge. “See?”
They all facepalmed.
Koga turned to me. “You ran from Pallet to Fuchsia?”
I nodded. “Yeah. It wasn’t that bad.”
Koga turned to Red. “Your sister is insane.”
Red sighed. “Tell me about it.”
Pikachu snickered.
I grinned. “Soooo… does this mean I don’t get in trouble?”
Red’s glare said otherwise.
Uh-oh.
Introvert vs. the World (and Gym Leaders)
Start from the beginning
