Chapter 4: Battle Beginnings

I could almost feel my Chat going wild at the thought of a fight. Those instigating bastards were eating good today.

If anything this just proves my hypothesis, this shit is making great content. I could literally see the view count rising by the tens and the hundred every few seconds.

I made sure to set up a poll where people can bet channel points on the outcome of the fight.

[Morbius: yooo pog, first fight!!!]

[RinKaihou: I knew this would be an eventuality given Dante will end up being in a multitude of fights, but I didn't expect a battle so soon.]

[Pannenkoekenrage: I've never seen a pokemon battle with low tier pokemon, I usually only see battles between fully evolved seasoned Pokemon in league matches]

[Crybaby: my money is on Brandon, he's the son of the region's Professor after all, Pokemon is literally in his blood!...plus he's cute.]

[The_Brave: yeah well May is the daughter of Gym Leader Norman!]

[Crybaby: @The_Brave, she is!?]

[Gawain: my money is still on this Biden fellow, he seems competent. At the end of the day, May is still a woman.]

[Gawain has received a 480-hour ban.]

[Perfume_Princess: @Gawain, what's that supposed to mean!? Also I'm pretty sure his name is Brandon.]

[Definitely_Not_Champion_Cynthia: Given that my Piplup obsessed friend is not here I only feel it is prudent of me to cheer in her place. Go May!]

"Now hold on, hold on." Professor Birch called out in an attempt to mediate.

He takes a deep breath before continuing, "I should've known this would happen." He mumbles under his breath.

"Alright, if you two want to battle, that's alright with me, not that you need my permission." He went on to say, "But! You may not do so here in my lab, there is a battle 'arena', if you can even call it that, downstairs."

"We don't usually use it for battles but for testing the capabilities of certain Pokemon, but it's better than you wrecking my Lab equipment. Follow me." He said, leading us down some stairs.

We follow him of course, I grab May's hand and drag her along. Partly to stop the ensuing glaring match she and Brandon had going on, and partly out of habit.

I'm used to holding her hand simply because of how clumsy she is, but the smug grin that suddenly appears on her face makes me wanna chuck her down the flight of stairs we're currently descending.

Unaware of my thoughts however, my Chat misinterprets the situation due to the angles Rotom for some reason emphasised.

[Eggcellent_Scholar: Ah, young love how precious]

[Joyful: OTP! OTP! OTP!]

[RosyRose: Operation Burnt Maple is a GO!]

[Future_Kalos_Queen: I'm still not sold on Burnt Maple, what about May's Inferno?]

[Definitely_Not_Champion_Cynthia: This is cute and all but I'm conflicted…]

"You know, if you wanted to hold my hand you could just say so." May teased.

"Don't hold back on my behalf." She said, interlocking our fingers and grinning cheekily.

I glare at her before turning towards my Mudkip who I'm carrying with my other hand.

"Mudkip I have your first order as my new Pokemon." I called out to him.

He looked up at me with eyes full of determination and curiosity.

"Whenever May gets that stupid smile she has on right now, I want you to bite her. You think you can do that for me?" I requested.

"Kip!" He confirmed.

"Good boy!" I said giving him a head pat which had him literally melting under my hand.

Well not literally… that'd be horrifying.

"Excuse me!?" May acted offended, or maybe she actually was offended, not that I really cared.

"Chic! Chic!" I couldn't understand Torchic the same way I could almost telepathically understand Mudkip, but I didn't need a translator to get the gist of what she was communicating.

'I fucking dare you!' She most likely said. Glaring towards the blue bundle in my arms.

Mudkip glared right back, luckily we were saved from a staircase fight as we arrived.

To be completely honest, the Professor undersold this place. This arena wouldn't look out of place in a Pokemon Gym, not for the first time I wonder how much being a Pokemon Professor pays.

I'm making an insane amount of money from my Twitch deal but I wonder how much Brandon's dad makes.

"Alright, May take the left side, Brandon the right." He ordered, the people in question doing as he said.

As confident and as riled up as May was earlier, I could tell the nerves were starting to get to her from the stiff way she was walking.

I considered telling Rotom to not record this part, but I don't think it's the cameras or the thousands of people currently watching that's currently unsettling her.

It's the situation as a whole, there's a lot of hurt feelings at play here. This is the chance to 'get back' at Brandon for everything. Similarly she's terrified of losing, not only would losing here mean having the winner holding the match over the loser's head. It also means she's lost her very first battle as a trainer, her debut match.

Though Brandon's signs weren't as obvious as May's, I could tell he felt the same way.

Birch turned to me and said "In the name of fairness, I believe you should referee this match."

"What, why me?" I asked.

"Because Brandon's my son, I'm not saying I'd be biased, I wouldn't. But I don't wanna leave doubt in anyone's mind, win or lose." He clarified.

"Dante," Brandon gets my attention, "It's fine… I trust you." He said while looking away and clicking his tongue.

"If you say so." If that's the case, there's no reason for me not to.

I get in position, make sure everyone else is as well and begin entering into professional mode, "Alright, I want a nice clean match between you two, do I make myself clear?" I asked, getting into character.

"Yes." They both declared.

"Link up on the official trainer app, so this may be an officially sanctioned match." The Pokemon Trainer App is a pretty recent development.

It was introduced alongside trainer classes, with the aim to limit the power of veteran trainers against those weaker.

There used to be a law that you had to accept a battle against anyone that challenged you, but that's been done away by the class system.

This way you can still fight those of higher standing, but they can't force you. You're only forced to fight trainers within your own class, for example Bronze Class Trainers can't reject fellow Bronze Classes.

It's illegal to hold a Pokemon battle without passing it by the App, there are very specific exceptions however.

The App makes sure to track your win rate, trainer rank and class alongside automating pay out. That's another way veteran trainers extorted newbies, taking their money. Or worse refusing to pay out when they lost.

The Official Trainer App handles the monetary aspect of Pokemon battles automatically, it's linked to your bank account so you can't opt out. Once you lose, the App AI will take in mind the trainer ranks, win rate and a variety of other aspects to determine how much you owe and then pay it automatically.

All in all, It's a very welcome addition to the average trainer's experience. That makes being a trainer more convenient.

After making sure both Brandon and May had linked up and writing my name as ref we're finally ready to begin.

"Alright, in that case are both of you prepared?" I once more asked.

"Yes, ref." Brandon declares confidently.

"Uh, yes…ref?" May could use some work.

"Good enough, now on the count of three!" I spelled out.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

[theboringman: oh god it's happening, the hype, the hype!]

[The_Brave: I bet all my channel points on May, I hope she wins.]

"Fight!"

"Torchic rush him!" May uttered in an explosive voice, shocking me who wasn't expecting her to go on the initiative.

It surprised Brandon too if the widening of his eyes was any indication.

He wouldn't be a very good protagonist if that's all it took to catch him off guard however.

Brandon quickly regained his composure, keeping a close eye at the surprisingly speedy bird.

His Pokemon seemingly calm as well, not panicking in the slightest despite the rapidly approaching enemy, even as Torchi was about to reach Treecko, he didn't flinch.

"Now Torch-" May wasn't able to finish her plan as Brandon was quicker.

"Now Treecko, jump over her!" Brandon called out.

Treecko without hesitation did so, as he was currently in mid air over the consumed Torchic, Brandon's tranquil voice sounded out again.

"Now use her momentum against her, slam her head down!" He ordered.

Treecko did so, grabbing onto Torchic's head and using her own momentum against her by viciously slamming it against the floor.

Rotom followed the action at a close distance without bothering the two participants. Getting up close and gliding alongside the rapid movements of the Pokemon, creating a potent final result of a video.

"Torchic!" May screamed out in concern.

[HighFlyingWings: oh no!]

[Dragon_Queen667: Dammit I should've bet on Brandon!]

[Future_Kalos_Queen: I hope Torchic is okay!]

[The_Forgotten_Sister: I didn't think a fight between two pre-evos would start off that brutal!]

[Hard_Boiled: I like this Treecko; it followed its trainers' unorthodox instructions without a moment's hesitation or doubt.]

"Now finish it, while she's down, jump and slam down on her using [Pound]!" Brandon commanded, not letting up even for a moment.

Treecko gathered up some type of energy, the entirety of his large tail glowing a bright white.

'It's over.' I thought a bit disappointed in May.

She managed to surprise me once more however as did her Torchic, "Now, Torchic meets his collision head on, [Peck]!"

She was obviously using Brandon's strategy against him, utilising the momentum against their opponent.

Torchic was hurt, but she might tough out another attack if she's lucky, on the other hand it's unlikely Treecko can tank a super effective attack against it when adding on the momentum of its own attack.

May was banking on the fact that Torchic could withstand the [Pound] just long enough for her [Peck] to knock out Treecko.

I agree that it's probably the best chance she has of winning right now.

Torchic gathers up that same glowing energy but instead focuses it into her beak, obscuring it from view.

Brandon realised just in time, "Treecko dodge to the left!" He pleaded his casual demeanour slipping.

To his credit Treecko does one hell of a job carrying out the unreasonable task its trainer set out for him. There's only so much you can do while in mid-air, expecting it to somehow dodge is absurd.

But it still does so, pulling out of his attack and spinning his body to the side just barely missing the [Peck] and landing on one of his legs.

Unfortunately for him, Treecko is now unbalanced, "Don't let up, Torchic! [Peck] again!"

Torchic charges towards the green reptilian in determination, she finally manages to hit him. Impacting his side with a strong slam of her beak.

Said Treecko groans out in pain and collapses into the ground for a second before, using it's hand to throw itself to the side, without his trainers orders. Avoiding a follow up attack in a vulnerable position.

[Flattery: holy shit, this Treecko is built different, different! Not bad for a grass type]

[Crack_Head: yo, where can I catch a Treecko!]

'This Treecko is built for combat, what great instincts!' I thought in a bit of awe.

"Treecko!" Now it's Brandon's turn to be concerned however.

It doesn't KO it like it probably would've if it collided with Treecko in mid air, but it still does heavy damage, and it shows.

The cool and collected Treecko was currently hunched over holding his side, hissing in pain.

"Now Torchic you're in close range, [Flamethrower]!" She orders, only to be met with nothing, Torchic even turned her head back in askance.

I try but I fail to resist the urge to facepalm.

[MyPowerIsMAXimum: lmao flamethrower! Stupid bitch!]

[ArtMagnus: That's our May lol!]

[Auburn_Cargo_Pilot: Imagine a torchic that actually know flamethrower thad be sic]

[Obu_Obu_Obu:May's throwin for content less go!! You love to see it]

May seemed to realise her mistake, "Wait, I meant Emb-"

Brandon took advantage of the situation without missing a beat, "Treecko again, [Pound]!"

Having recouperated a bit, Treecko was able to perform the move. The attack connects this time, making a brutal smacking sound as it launches the Torchic metres away.

It somehow doesn't knock her out, probably because of the damage Treecko sustained earlier.

I want to tell May to use [Ember] so bad, I get not using it early on in the fight. This is a newbie Pokemon, I doubt Torchic could launch the attack at a speed in which Treecko couldn't dodge, especially with so much distance between them.

But it's different now, Treecko is sluggish due to the damage it's taken. It might not dodge the attack, even if he does it'll take a lot of its energy. Treecko at this point doesn't have a counter against long range.

As much as I wanna explain this to May, I promised I'd be impartial. I'm not about to betray everyone's trust, May wouldn't want that either. If she loses now, she'll have no one to blame but herself.

"Treecko this is it! Finish it with [Quick Attack]!" Brandon yelled.

May perfectly mirrored him, "No, you finish it with [Quick Attack]!"

The two charged at each other a white glow surrounding their bodies, I expected one of the trainers to pull out at the last second. But I realised both were fully committing to the charge.

It made sense, both Pokemon were exhausted, that they lasted as long as they did, already spoke well of their stamina.

They met head on, the collision causing a miniature wave of energy to explode which then in turn caused a huge dust cloud to form obscuring the arena.

Both of the trainers called for their Pokemon in distress. They waited for the smoke to settle, once it finally did it revealed both Pokemon laying on the floor unconscious dizzy circles where their eyes should be.

"Brandon, May!" The professor gets the distressed teens' attention before, throwing a circular object in the direction of both of them.

"Recall them into their balls so they can rest." He told them.

They do so of course and with it the match concludes, "I declare this, a tie!"

"Hell no!" They're completely in sync for the first time as they both disagree with my decision, they then proceed to argue over who actually won.

It was getting us nowhere when suddenly, and without my input, Rotom spoke, "I know who won." He stated simply.

"You do?" I questioned him in disbelief.

"Yes, utilising my infrared camera lens' I was able to see through the smoke and saw the Pokemon that collapsed first." Rotom explained.

"Who was it? Wait, matter of fact, pull up the footage, stop projecting Chat and project footage of the match.

"Of course, Dante."

He does so, projecting a large screen displaying the events of the battle, the lens suddenly switches when the dust cloud forms so we could see through it.

Everyone including the Professor was entranced to the sight.

"According to my infrared lens, Treecko was the first to pass out, followed shortly by Torchic." He informed us.

Sure enough, the footage shows Treecko collapsing immediately and falling unconscious, while Torchic managed to stand again, and even took a few dizzy steps, sure she collapsed a few seconds later.

But the fact of the matter is, Torchic was conscious while Treecko wasn't, facts are facts regardless of how little the difference was.

I know deep down the only reason May won was the type advantage [Peck] provided her. She would've lost in a more even fight, but that didn't stop me from feeling immensely proud of her, nor did it stop her from gloating.

"I won? I won!" She laughed exuberantly, "In your face!" She yelled her remark obviously aimed towards Brandon.

Brandon didn't try to make excuses; he simply accepted his defeat, "I see." He said simply.

"I'll win next time." He stated before turning away and leaving. "I'll wait upstairs for my PokeDex, so hurry up old man." He told his father.

Meanwhile May was busy still jumping for joy, her assets bouncing with her. I motion for Rotom to turn away, it might get me views but I don't want my Chat staring at her like that.

They're horny enough as it is. Yeah… that's why, nothing else.

Nevertheless Brandon left and my chat was left to bask in the afterglow of May's, and subsequently this stream's, first ever victory!

[IGotAGreatAss: she won!]

[Long_OakWood: dawg… that was kinda hot. Anyone got May's socials?]

[P1g: May has ProfessionalCloutChaser as her @ in every social media.]

[Long_OakWood: wait really, I thought that was just a joke?]

[The_Brave: I knew May would win that's why I bet all my channel points!]

[Flattery: This wasn't anything close to the spectacle of League matches, so why is my heart racing so much!?]

[Definitely_Not_Champion_Cynthia: because of our personal investment towards May, I'll admit I've seen my fair share of battles, experienced them firsthand even. But this is the first time I've ever felt so much pride in another, and over such an amateurish fight too.]

After a few more minutes of gloating where in, May literally pulled me into her chest and started jumping up and down, we finally joined Brandon and went back up.

'I swear to God, if I find that clip of me and May circulating the net, I'm going to kill someone.'

We reach the lab again with Brandon nowhere in sight, Professor Birch doesn't seem too concerned however, continuing his little speech and preparing for us to depart.

"Here are your PokeBalls, I know you two can afford your own, especially you Dante. But it's tradition at this point." He said handing us not only some Pokeballs but extra supplies as well.

I could see May getting emotional from the corner of my eye, Professor Birch really is like the Town's dad, he's kind to everyone regardless of status or anything else.

"And don't worry," Professor Birch tried to reassure, "As trainers sponsored by yours truly, you're extra Pokemon won't be sent to a Gym or a Pokemon Center, they'll be sent to me." He explained.

"Any Pokemon you catch over your six Pokemon limit will automatically be sent to me." Birch elaborated further.

I appreciate the sentiment I really do, but, "You don't have to worry about that, I don't plan on catching every Pokemon I come across. Even if I do catch more than six Pokemon, by the time I do so I'll already be at least an Ace class trainer. The six Pokemon limit will no longer apply to me." I said, explaining my thought process.

"If you say so." The Professor seemed unconvinced, as did some of my viewers.

[PrepareForTrouble: ooh how cocky]

[CasualLurker: awfully overconfident with nothing to back it up]

[MakeItDouble: I'm pretty optimistic, Dante is built differently after all, figuratively of course. Though also literally, I mean have you seen his face? How can one man be so unattractive? Not like me of course!]

[Bob: pog]

[DarkMagicianGirl: @Make_It_Double, what are you talking about? This Dante dude is smoking hot!?]

[Perfume_Princess: wrong]

[InvincibleThunder: @DarkMagicianGirl, L]

[The_Brave: @DarkMagicianGirl, L(sorry)]

[Burn_Baby!: @DarkMagicianGirl, L]

[Science_is_the_future: you're just objectively wrong Dante is ugly, end of story.]

[DarkMagicianGirl: y'all really huffing that copium huh?]

I stopped reading when my chat devolved into berating the poor newbie who didn't understand the inside joke. The newbie seemed to have some backbone this time though, biting back a bit, nice to see.

"Oh, I almost forgot. All three of you gather around me." The Professor gathered us up to hand us three small red devices.

"These are-"

"It's a PokeDex, we know what they are, don't go on another rant old man." Brandon suddenly said coming out of nowhere.

I made sure not to mention the fact that his eyes seemed puffier and redder than before, May noticed but even she had enough social literacy to not call him out on it.

The grown man childishly pouts, "You take all the fun out of everything."

I wasted no time in scanning my Mudkip.

"Sit still okay?" Mudkip yips in confirmation.

I scan and the results aren't very shocking except for one thing. Or two things I should say.

— — —

Mudkip: The Mud Fish Pokemon

On land, it can powerfully lift large boulders by planting its four feet and heaving. It sleeps by burying itself in soil at the water's edge.

Moves: [Tackle], [Growl] [Mud Slap], [Water Gun], [Mirror Coat], [Ice Ball]

— — — 

"[Mirror Coat] and [Ice Ball]? This Mudkip knows two egg moves!?" I cried out in shock.

"What!?" Brandon demanded.

The Professor smirked, "Try scanning your Pokemon as well." He suggested.

He did so, as did May without being prompted.

They ended up having similar reactions.

"[Counter] and [Rock Slide]!?" May exclaimed.

Brandon similarly questioned, "[Crunch] and [Leech Seed]!?"

The Professor couldn't look more smug if he tried, he turned to his son.

"Maybe if you had a little more patience you would have fought after learning of these moves, it would've made the battle more exciting and maybe you wouldn't have lost the way you did, don't you think, hmm?" He said teasing Brandon in the way only your family could.

His son's response was simply to scowl at him, and to sit there and brew in his own angst.

"I can't believe we were lucky enough to receive a batch of starters with egg moves!" May said joyfully.

"It wasn't luck," The professor boasted, "I arranged for it to be like this."

May looked at him with stars in her eye and although I wasn't doing the same I was definitely appreciative as was my Chat.

[Dragon_Queen667: that's so cool]

[Flattery: that kinda seems like favouritism]

[Definitely_Not_Champion_Cynthia: is that allowed?]

"It is." The professor suddenly spoke.

"Huh?" I turn to him in confusion.

"I was replying to one of your viewers, he, or she pardon me, said that it seemed like I was displaying favouritism." He explained.

"I said it is, it is favouritism, but so what? There's no laws against it, It's not as big an advantage as people would believe and even if it was so what? What are they gonna do? Arrest me?" He questioned mockingly.

[Flattery: Bruh, gigachad professor!]

[Dragon_Queen667:Homie really said, "yeah I did it, watchu gonna do about it, pull up"]

[BabyShark9:Based Birch]

For once I agreed with my Chat, Professor Birch is based as fuck.

[A/N: That's Chapter 4, leave interactions please, I need the dopamine, I'm nothing without it. Sorry this took so long, I wasn't expecting a chapter this big, it kept getting bigger. Next chapter should be the final chapter in littleroot before we set off. I know I promised Caroline, I'm sorry MILF lovers she'll for sure make an appearance in the next chapter.]