7 First Pokémon Battle

Ignacio first looked in his backpack and found money inside before buying medical spray and bandages in case no Pokémon center was around. However, he put away the rest of the money and the medical supplies in the backpack before leaving Pallet Town, ready to start his journey. However, he stopped right outside before changing his course.

"Tentacool, do you want to go into your Pokéball?" Ignacio asked while putting his hands in his pockets and whistling a tune.

"Tenta." Tentacool stated before shaking her head.

"Are you sure? I promise to let you out when I find a river. It just doesn't feel right for you to walk when I can find some water for you." Ignacio questioned, hoping Tentacool would reconsider.

Tentacool paused, pondering before looking at Ignacio.

"Tenta! Ten, Tentacool!"[I can't protect you if I'm in my Pokéball!] Tentacool yelled, shaking her head, never wanting to break her promise to protect Ignacio.

"Alright, but please tell me if you need a break." Ignacio replied, worried about Tentacool not being submerged in water for so long. Before his expression changed to shock, realizing Tentacool wasn't in the water for the month, he bonded with her, and she seemed perfectly fine.

"Tentacool?" Tentacool replied while tilting her head to the side.

"Tentacool, we must find a river or body of water fast. You need it!" Ignacio responded, looking around frantically.

"Tentacool?" Tentacool replied before shaking her head.

"But if we don't, you can die!" Ignacio stated as he hurriedly tried to pick up Tentacool.

Tentacool sighed before letting Ignacio pick her up.

"Let's hurry!" Ignacio proclaimed before running randomly, hoping to find a river.

However, he didn't get far before kneeling on the ground, ensuring Tentacool didn't fall.

"Tentacool." Tentacool replied before freeing herself from Ignacio's arms and standing beside him, trying to support him with her tentacle.

"I'm sorry. I'm weak physically." Ignacio started while struggling to get up.

"Tentacool." Tentacool replied before laying against him.

"Are you sure your alright, Tentacool?" Ignacio asked, hoping resting before reaching water was alright for her.

"Tentacool." Tentacool nodded before sighing again.

'Don't worry about me, Ignacio. I'll be fine.' Tentacool thought, happy her trainer cared so much for her.

Ignacio thought of something and took out his Pokédex and pointed it at Tentacool before pressing the button to turn it on.

"Tentacool, a jellyfish Pokémon. 99% of its body is made up of water." The Pokédex read before continuing. "This Tentacool is female, and her abilities are Clear Body, Liquid Ooze, and her hidden ability, Rain Dish. Presently this Tentacool knows Poison Jab and Acid. And her age is one month and a week."

Ignacio's eyes widened, seeing Tentacool have all three possible abilities when Pokémon are usually limited to one at most. Before he put away his Pokédex, he was stunned.

"Tentacool, let's find a river." Ignacio stated, ready to get up.

"Tentacool." Tentacool nodded before she rose as well.

Afterward, Ignacio and Tentacool continued to look for a river, or at least a small pond, so that Tentacool could enter and rehydrate. Their efforts weren't fruitless as they found a large river.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool yelled before walking and leaping into the water, happy she finally could rehydrate.

Ignacio sighed, watching Tentacool play while pondering about his future once more before sitting down on a large rock and wondering what the best course of action is.

'I should participate in the Pokémon league, but what other Pokémon should I catch? And how should I train Tentacool? I know some methods, but they are very harsh and arduous, and I don't want to force that kind of training.' Ignacio thought before sighing.

"Tentacool?" Tentacool asked while turning towards Ignacio.

Ignacio got up and walked next to the river.

"Tentacool, I have some training methods, but they are challenging to complete, and I don't want to force them on you. So do you want to train normally or through my method?" Ignacio asked while kneeling on the riverside.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool yelled

"Is that a yes to my training method?" Ignacio questioned while tilting his head to the side.

"Tenta. Tentacool." Tentacool vigorously nodded while looking at Ignacio.

"Alright, let's start training. First, we must see how well you battle before finding what we can improve." Ignacio replied before smiling.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool yelled, wanting to challenge a Pokémon.

"Tentacool, first we'll find an opponent." Ignacio stated before walking away from the river and towards the trees, before thinking of something and hurriedly grabbing some red-looking berries nearby.

"Tentacool, you should eat first." Ignacio suggested before bringing the berries to Tentacool.

Tentacool nodded before grabbing one of the berries and eating it.

"Tentacool, I think I may have a way so you'll be full of energy when you evolve into a giant Tentacruel. The sun, your crystals on you, can absorb sunlight. However, they are usually used for attack, but what about absorbing the energy and using it for sustenance?" Ignacio asked, wondering about Tentacool's thoughts on this.

"Tent, Tentacool." Tentacool nodded before she finished the berry.

"I'm glad. Are you still hungry?" Ignacio questioned, offering some more berries.

"Tentacool." Tentacool nodded before grabbing the pile of berries from Ignacio and eating it.

"I'll be back. I need to find some more berries." Ignacio replied before getting up.

"Tenta! Tentacool!"[Please let me help! I can't protect you if you go alone!] Tentacool yelled, shaking her head before grabbing Ignacio's leg.

"Tentacool, do you want to go together?" Ignacio asked while turning back and looking at Tentacool.

"Tentacool!"[Yes, please, I promised I'd protect you!] Tentacool nodded before hugging Ignacio's leg tighter.

"Alright, however, I'll wait for you to finish eating first, Tentacool." Ignacio replied before lying on the grass.

Tentacool let go before she finished all the berries. Afterward, she ran to Ignacio and hugged him protectively.

"Tentacool."[I never want to be far from you. I'm keeping my promise. I'll keep you safe.] Tentacool stated

"Alright, Tentacool, let's find your first Pokémon to battle?" Ignacio asked before picking up Tentacool while getting up.

"Tenta." Tentacool nodded

Afterward, Ignacio carried Tentacool further into the forest before seeing a Vulpix. However, he quickly put Tentacool down and grabbed some red berries before returning with them. Subsequently, he knelt in front of Vulpix and smiled while bringing out his Pokedex and pointing it at Vulpix.

"Vulpix, a fox Pokémon. Its six tails are extremely beautiful. As it evolves, it grows even more." The Pokédex read

"Hello Vulpix, I'm Ignacio, and I'm curious if you want to battle?" Ignacio asked curiously after putting away his Pokédex.

"Vulpix." Vulpix shook her head before seeing the berries and stopping.

"I'll give you these whether you win or lose." Ignacio replied, hoping Vulpix would agree now.

"Vulpix." Vulpix nodded before moving further away.

"Tentacool, are you ready?" Ignacio asked

"Tentacool!" Tentacool nodded before walking in front of Ignacio.

"Tentacool, use Poison Jab!" Ignacio instructed

"Tentacool!" Tentacool nodded before running and jumping at Vulpix, aiming her tentacle at them.

However, Vulpix gracefully dodged before dashing at Tentacool, bouncing off her head and causing minor damage. Subsequently, she used the rebounding force to backflip before landing on her feet.

"Tentacool, use acid!" Ignacio yelled before smiling, excited he was battling.

Tentacool nodded before spitting a ball of acid at Vulpix.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix's eyes widened before she dodged to the side before she used ember on Tentacool.

"Tentacool use Acid at the attack to block it." Ignacio instructed while his body had a hard time standing still.

Tentacool complied and shot three balls of acid at the ember. As the attacks collided, the acid evaporated into a cloud of poisonous gas, while the ember turned into smoke.

'I'm here in a Pokémon battle.' Ignacio thought before shaking his head.

Tentacool waited for Ignacio's following instructions.

"That's enough for our first battle." Ignacio stated before carefully picking up the small pile of red berries and placing them in front of Vulpix.

"Vulpix?" Vulpix asked before looking at Ignacio and tilting her head to the side.

"I'm not here to catch you, Vulpix, just to battle. Here are the berries I promised." Ignacio stated before getting up and smiling.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix nodded before beginning to eat.

"Tentacool!"[Are we going to continue traveling, Ignacio?] Tentacool asked before pointing one of her tentacles to the river.

"Yes, we will continue this way." Ignacio nodded, believing it was time to go.

Vulpix continued eating the berries, thinking she'd want some friends before sighing and running towards Ignacio.

"Bye, Vulpix." Ignacio yelled before beginning to walk towards the river alongside Tentacool.

However, before Ignacio could move one more step, he felt a gentle bite on his leg.

"Vulpix!"[I want to go with you too!] Vulpix yelled, hoping she got her point across.

"Vulpix, do you want to come with us?" Ignacio asked as his eyes widened.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix nodded before pawing at his shoes.

'I'm not sure if I should. It's not fair to Vulpix and any other potential Pokémon if I have prepared a way to make Tentacool able to face legendaries after her evolution but not them.' Ignacio hesitated and thought about the future, at a loss on how to deal with this situation.

"Vulpix." Vulpix whimpered, pawing at Ignacio's shoes more, wanting to join him and Tentacool.

Ignacio's expression turned conflicted between accepting Vulpix and other new Pokémon and having no way to get them similar opportunities as Tentacool or refusing Vulpix and any other Pokémon.

However, just as Ignacio was about to pick the second option, he felt a tentacle grab his arm.

"Tentacool?" Tentacool asked, hoping Vulpix could join the team.

"Okay, Vulpix, you can join us." Ignacio nodded before sighing.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix exclaimed before hugging Ignacio's leg, careful not to hug too tight.

"Hehe, welcome to the team Vulpix." Ignacio replied while chuckling before he grabbed an empty Pokéball and placed it in front of her.

"Vulpix." Vulpix pressed the button on the Pokéball with her head before it opened and brought her inside.

"I have caught a Vulpix!" Ignacio proclaimed while smiling.

"Tentacool!" Tentacool also cheered.

However, before Ignacio could put Vulpix's Pokéball away, it opened again while Vulpix smiled at Ignacio.

"Vulpix." Vulpix stated before climbing up Ignacio's back and licking his face gently.

"Hehe, um, do you want to stay out of your Pokéball too?" Ignacio asked with his brow raised.

"Vulpix." Vulpix nodded before licking his face again.

"Hey, let's set up camp outside of Viridian City." Ignacio stated before walking towards the river and following it, hoping it led there.

Vulpix and Tentacool nodded before the trio followed the river.

(Choice three won. Ignacio will travel with other trainers later on)