The First Mile

Spencer couldn't believe it... he was a trainer now. After the years of waiting, he finally had a Pokémon of his very own, a male Nidoran. He could hardly breathe as he stepped out of his home town onto the route leading to the next town. This wasn't really a new place to him, but... it all seemed so newly, and so much more exciting now that he had his Pokémon with him.

"I... I suppose I should get to know the little guy, right?" He spoke to nobody in particular, not even himself really as he reached down and popped the new Poké Ball off of his belt. He pressed the button on the ball, expanding it, and released the little 'mon within in a brilliant flash of light. In a matter of seconds, there was now a small purple creature standing in front of him, a bit disoriented. Spencer leaned down to get closer to his new pal, who looked vacantly back up at him. "Ni...?"

"Hey little guy, my name's Spencer! What's yours?" Spencer smiled widely at the Nidoran in front of him, putting his hand out as if to shake hands, before bringing it back, realizing the problem with that. The Nidoran just continued to stare up at him. "Hmm... I guess I should use that thing Professor Oak gave me to find out more about you...?" At this, Spencer pulled out his Pokédex and held it up to scan the Nidoran, listening carefully to what it said. Nidoran, the Poison Point Pokémon. Its large ears are flapped like wings when it is listening to distant sounds. It extends toxic barbs when angered.

"Is that it? I... suppose that's kind of interesting, but I was expecting something a bit more useful... so, what should I call you?" Spencer looked down at his new friend as if he legitimately expected an answer from him, before shaking his head. "Man, not even two hours and I'm already going insane... well, Spencer, think about this logically... Nidoran evolves into Nidorino, and then Nidoking... king... perhaps... Napoleon? How's that name sound?" For perhaps the first time since being let out of his Pokéball, Napoleon looked up at Spencer, with a happy expression on its face. "Oh, I thought it was pretty good too! Well, Napoleon, I think this is the start of a great friendship!"

Spencer waited a few seconds, with no response from Napoleon. "You're a pretty chill dude, aren't you? Well, we're moving on to Veridian City right now, unless we run into some wild Pokémon. I mean, if we're going to be traveling together, we ought to get to learn how the other works in battle, right?" Again, no real response, but Spencer laughed it off. "Right, let's go Napoleon! We're on the road to Viridian City!"

"A battle, huh? You think you're ready for this, Napoleon?" Spencer looked down at his new companion as he asked his question, and got a slow, deliberate nod from him as he stepped forward. "Alright then, I promise I'll do my best for you, Napoleon!" Napoleon merely nodded again, limbering out slightly and shaking the rest out from his limbs, getting ready for the battle. "Man, you're so relaxed, even in the face of battle, Napoleon."

"Hmm... first battle, let me just think for a bit... you probably don't know that many attacks, right?" Spencer thought for a few seconds before shaking his head to stop his train of thought, looking up at Lisa. "I'm sorry, I didn't officially accept your challenge, did I? I'd be happy to battle you!"

"Yeah, he's pretty cool, but I wouldn't expect you to take it easy on him! He deserves more than that! So, uh... Napoleon..." Napoleon looked back quickly, waiting for his orders.

"Uh... you don't know that many attacks, so... I guess use Leer to try and intimidate it, then Peck?" Napoleon nodded, before turning around and taking up a fighting stance, ready to start his first battle. "And uh, you can do it, Napoleon!"

"Not bad, Napoleon... umm..." Spencer sits, thinking for a few seconds, watching both Napoleon and the Squirtle. "Well, since it worked last time, why not try a Leer and Peck combo again?"

"Oh, uh... quick, Napoleon, counter with a Peck and... uh... another Peck too!" Spencer was realizing that he may need to think of a strategy at some point in the future... more skilled opponents wouldn't be as forgiving with all this thinking time. Still, he hoped that this would work well, since if it came down to a tackle and a peck... well, Napoleon had his horn.

"Good job, Napoleon... I think we might be pulling ahead! Show that Squirtle that you mean business with a Leer, and follow it up with another Peck!" At this point, Spencer seems to really be getting into the battle. Although before he spoke with obvious hesitance, his voice is filled with much more confidence now. Even Napoleon seems to be a bit fired up, though he still manages to retain his calm, relaxed demeanor.

"Alright Napoleon, looks like they're at the end of their ropes... match those double tackles with your own Tackles!" Spencer smiled, victory was in sight. It was only his first battle, but he thought that he and Napoleon were doing great! "You can do it, Napoleon!"

"Wait!" Spencer shouts after Lisa as she turns to leave. "Are you sure your Squirtle is... okay..." He trails off at the end of his question, realizing that she's already long gone. "Oh, looks like she's gone already." At this, Spencer walks over to Napoleon and bends down to scratch behind his ears. "Good job, Napoleon! You did great for your first battle!" Napoleon growled happily at the praise and the ear scratching.

"I have to say, it was pretty lucky that your ability activated... if it weren't for that, maybe you wouldn't have won... nah, who am I kidding? You did so great that you would have won even without that." Spencer looked at the fruit Lisa had given him for winning. "You look a bit tired, Napoleon... wanna try this berry she gave us?" Napoleon nodded, and Spencer held it out... before quickly pulling it back and taking a tiny bite out of it. "Sorry, Napoleon, gotta make sure it's alri...ooh, sour!" With a smile on his face and a party in his mouth, Spencer reaches down and gives the rest of the berry to Napoleon, who eats it happily.

"But... a rival... huh, I guess we're on the way, aren't we? Everybody knows you aren't a real trainer until you've got one of those. Just wish I got one that wasn't such a sore loser, you know?" Spencer laughs before looking down to see that Napoleon had finished the berry. "Alright, you ready to go on, Napoleon?" With a nod from Napoleon, Spencer started off down the road toward Viridian City again, pocketing his 300 PokéDollars.

"Oh, another battle so soon? I guess it was a good thing I gave you that berry, huh?" Spencer pulls out his 'dex and holds it up to scan the Pidgey standing in front of him.

"Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. A common sight in forests and woods. It flaps its wings and ground level to kick up blinding sand."

"Hmm... well, Napoleon, are you ready for another battle so soon?" Spencer looks down towards Napoleon, a bit surprised that he's already stepped up to defend him. "Alright, Napoleon... if you're ready, then so am I! Let's start off with that already classic combo, Leer and Peck!" Spencer smiles, already a bit confident. If that combo worked on a trainer and her Pokémon, then surely it could work on a wild one! Napoleon nods, and strikes a readied pose.

"You alright, Napoleon?" Napoleon nods, keeping his battle-ready stance, and Spencer sighs in relief. "Alright, Napoleon, maybe be a bit more defensive this time... stand back, and wait for it to come to you. Use Peck when it gets in range, alright? And then follow that up with another Peck!"

"Alright Napoleon, don't wait for it to move this time, go after it right away with a Peck attack, and then follow up with a Bite attack!" Spencer makes sure to take extra effort observing the Pidgey's condition, both before and after the attack. He draws an empty Poké Ball from his belt, contemplating whether to throw it yet.

"Alright, Napoleon, let's end this now before the Pidgey gets hurt any more... wait for it to get close, then dodge its attack!" Spencer grasps the Poké Ball in his hand... it's now or never, with the Pidgey as worn out as she is. He gets ready to throw it right after Napoleon dodges her attack, when it should be open. Napoleon braces himself, ready to dodge.