2 Chapter 2: Rival Battle #1

Filled with determination and eagerness to battle, Red accepts, "Sure. I'd love to."

At the local battlefield, Red and Blue face each other.

"So what are the rules of the battle?" Red asked.

"It will be a one-on-one battle. Charmander vs Squirtle." Blue explained, as he sends out his Pokemon, with Red doing the same. "You may have the first move."

"In that case, I've better some heat into this battle." Red said, "Charmander, Metal Claw!", As his Pokemon's claws glowed and charges at Squirtle with the intent to strike.

"Ice Punch at the ground." Blue commands, as Squirtle freezes the battlefield, causing Charmander to slide and land on it's back, "Now, hit it with Gyro Ball."

Squirtle pulls it's head into it's shell, with it's arms and legs glowing. Spinning and floating like a disc, it attacks Charmander, who once again falls to the ground, unable to balance.

Seeing Charmander down, Blue laughs and say, "I thought Charmander is strong against Ice type."

"Charmander, get up." Red commands, as his Pokemon recovers from the attack but manages to slowly balance, "Use Flamethrower!"

"Put it out with Scald." Blue commands Squirtle, who overpowers the the stream of fire with a stream of hot water, soaking Charmander, who slides again and is seemingly defeated. "I believe this match is over."

But the Fire Pokemon got up, making everyone shock and Red happy.

"That's the spirit. Two moves won't end the match. Now let's do this." Red cheered.

"Is that so?" Blue smiles arrogantly, "One final Scald."

"Flamethrower at the ground." Red commands, as Charmander melts the ice to produce steam as cover. "Now, Dragon Rage!"

"No way!" Blue exclaims surprise, as Charmander fires a ball of yellow energy at Squirtle, who is damaged.

"Oh my." Oak said.

"Good job, Red." Willow cheers.

"No more games." Blue angrily said, "Squirtle, use Scald! No mercy!", Making everyone shock, as the Water Pokemon sprays boiling water at Charmander, who is sent flying to the bushes, where it faints.

"Charmander is unable to battle. Squirtle wins. And that means, Blue is the winner." Willow sadly declares, as Bulbasaur looks at Charmander with pity.

"Charmander!" Red exclaims with concern and goes to the bushes to carry it.

Blue returns Squirtle and mocks Red after laughing, "I have never seen a weak Trainer like you. Oh wait. You already are ever since we were kids." Approaches him and say, "Now, hand over the Dragon Fang Lance gave you since I earned it."

Disgusted, Willow comes to Red's defense, "Leave him alone, Blue. That Dragon Fang belongs to Red since he has the heart of a Champion."

Finding it hilarious, Blue just laughed, "Champion? He couldn't even defeat me ever since we got our Pikachu and Eevee. I guess he deserves to be a loser and pathetic Trainer. Smell ya." And tries to leave, but Oak and Daisy stop him with anger.

"Where do you think you're going?" Daisy asked.

"I do not approve of how you treat Red." Oak scolds, "You will never be the Champion everyone loves if you do that."

"Why are you defending him, Gramps?" Blue fearfully asks.

"Because he is not like you. You only care about becoming Champion and you don't even love Pokemon like Red. I do not approve of how you treat your opponents. If you don't change your attitude towards Trainers, you'll never be able to defeat Red, once you and him become equals." Oak explains, "Even when you become Champion one day."

Blue, unable to understand his grandfather's meaning, rudely says, "I'll prove you wrong, Gramps. You're just saying this because you're too foolish to believe that a loser like Red will become very strong." Before leaving, "Smell ya."

At Oak's Lab, Red sits down with disappointment while holding the healed Charmander's Poke Ball alongside Pikachu at the grass of the Corral.

"I never thought that my first day as a Trainer turned out to be terrible, right, Pikachu?" Red asks, which Pikachu agrees.

"I know it's kinda tough losing." Daisy comforted before sitting with him, "I remember my first time battling in my first Pokemon Contest. I lost to my first rival and it was very tough that I cried backstage."

"I'm so sorry I hurt Charmander by accepting his challenge." Red apologized.

"It's ok, Red." Daisy accepts the apology, "You'll get my brother next time. If you train very hard and gain experience, you'll be so strong that you could even defeat Lance and my brother."

"You're right." Red gets up with a cheered up face, "I think I learned something from my loss. Although I didn't win, I did gain some experience from my battle and it will help me become very strong."

Red goes inside to talk to Oak, "Professor, what should I do to become stronger?"

Seeing that Red is all fired up, Oak wisely instructs him, "You should go to my student Primo. He's an experienced Trainer who serves as a mentor to beginner Trainers like you. He's in Viridian City. Tell him that Professor Oak sent you. OK?"

Red agrees and say, "Yes, Professor. I'm gonna be the Trainer Lance wants me to be. Where's Willow?"

Oak smiles and say, "She already left Pallet Town. Guess you should catch up with her and Blue.", Making Red storm out of the Lab, where his mother is waiting, "Just in time, Flora."

Confused, Red asks, "What?"

Flora explains, "You see, Red, Professor Oak and I talked last night while you and Pikachu were watching Lance's battle. He managed to convince me to let you start your journey. So here you go." And gives Red his bag, which is filled with the stuff he needs, before hugging him.

The next day, Red arrives at Viridian City with Charmander and Pikachu at his side.

"We're finally here, guys. Viridian City." Red said before seeing a building with a Poke Ball symbol, "That must be Viridian Academy. Let's go!" And goes inside, where he asks the receptionist, "Hi, I'm Red. A new Trainer from Pallet Town. Where can I find Primo?

The receptionist replied politely, "Welcome to Viridian Pokemon Academy. If you're looking for the teacher here, he's on Room 5, where he is teaching a young Trainers about Gym Battles and Pokemon Contests."

Entering the room, Red interrupts their lesson, "Sorry. You must be Primo, right?"

Primo replies, "Yes. Why don't you sit down and I'll continue discussing?"

Red obeys and sits down, putting his bag, as Primo continues his discussion.

"Now, a Pokemon Trainer has the goal of becoming very strong and, to do that, they must collect eight Gym Badges that they earned from Gym Leaders to enter the Pokemon League. For Pokemon Coordinators, they should earn five Ribbons from Pokemon Contests to compete in the Grand Festival. Both competitions are created to test a Trainer and Coordinator's strength and skills."

Red raises his hand, which Primo saw, and asks, "Mr. Primo, if the Trainer and Coordinator won a Pokemon League and a Grand Festival, what would happen next?"

Primo replies, "The winning Trainer will have the chance to battle the Elite Four and their Leader and Champion Lance while the winning Coordinator gets to battle the Top Coordinators and their Leader and Grand Coordinator Daisy Oak on a Double Battle."

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