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Staring deep into my reflection in the glass doors of Petalberg Gym, I heaved a sigh.
Going into the local gym and asking for help really shouldn’t be such a daunting task, however for me, it’s like jumping off of the highest diving board into a pool full of Sharpedo.
Feeling my chest stating to tighten, I fumbled around in my bag for my inhaler. Pulling it out, I took in a deep breath of the relieving medication. A few moments passed before I exhaled, already feeling a ton clearer. Looking back up to the double doors, I steeled my nerves, pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Looking around, I spot the gym leader deep in a conversation with a boy and a girl about my age. Shaking a little, I walk up to the gym leader.
“Um… I… I’d like to get a Pokémon please…”.
The gym leader turns to look at me, confusion written all over his face.
“Hm? You’re… Uh…” Suddenly he lights up and snaps his fingers. “Oh, right! You’re Wally, right?”.
Inod at him, with my eyes falling to the floor.
“I’m going to stay with my relatives in Verdanturf town. I thought that I might be lonely by myself, so I wanted to take a Pokémon along.” I look down at my shoes before continuing. “But I have never caught a Pokémon before. I don’t know how…”
Tears spring to my eyes.
“Hm. I see.”
The gym leader turns back towards the other two kids.
“Brendan, May, you two heard that right?” The pair nodded. “Go with Wally and make sure that he safely catches a Pokémon.”
I could hardly believe my ears. The Gym Leader was going to help me? After fishing around in his pockets, the Gym Leader pulls out a Pokéball, and holds it out towards me.
“Wally, here, I’ll loan you my Pokémon.”
I grasp the ball in shock. “Oh, wow! A Pokémon!”
While I was busy staring at the Pokéball, the gym leader pulls out another Pokéball. “Hm. I’ll give you a Pokéball, too.”
I look back up at the gym leader, who smiles before continuing.
“Go for it!”
I take the Pokéball. “Oh, wow! Thank you!”
I turned back towards the two trainers. “May… Brendan… Would you really come with me?”
Both nod, with Brendan stepping forwards and saying “Of course! Let’s go!” The two of them started to walk out of the gym, so I hurried to catch up with them.
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Once we were outside, May turns to me “So, I think the best place for you to find a starter Pokémon around here would be route 102.
There is a good variety of Pokémon there and they should all be lower leveled, meaning they won’t be too hard to catch. Plus, its not too far from here.”
I nod, and we all start heading east. While we passed the Pokémon centre, Brendan turned to me. “
Hey Wally. Mind letting me look at the Pokémon my dad gave you?”
I nod and passed over the Pokéball, before realizing
“Wait. The gym leader is your dad?!?”
Brendan laughs. “Yeah! And he never offered to help me catch my own Pokémon!”
Brendan pulled out some device that beeps after being touched by the Pokéball, before tossing the Pokéball back at me. I fumbled the catch however was able to stop the ball from hitting the ground.
“Looks like my Dad lent you a level 7 Zigzagoon.”
I looked down at the Pokéball. “A Zigzagoon…” I say in wonder.
“Yeah! It’s a fairly basic normal type Pokémon that currently only knows tackle. It’s the perfect choice for your first battle.”
I look up at that. “Ba… Battle?”
Brendan and May both giggle at that, with May continuing.
“Yeah, you will need to inflict some damage in order to catch the Pokémon, otherwise it might still be strong enough to break out of the ball.”
I must have still looked nervous after that, as Brendan turned to me, “Hey, we will be with you every step of the way!”
I looked over at Brendan, put on a brave smile, and nodded as we entered Route 102.
Looking around, May pointed over at a tall section of grass.
“Hey Wally! Pokémon tend to hide in tall patches of grass like that one over there! Lets go to that one!”
We head out to the patch of grass and start looking around for a Pokémon. After a few minutes of searching, I spot a red fin poking out of some rustling grass. I motion over to Brendan and May, and they sneak over to me.
I point out the fin and asked. “What do I do now?”
Brendan whispered back “Throw out Zigzagoon and fight them”
I take in a deep breath and throw out Zigzagoon
“Go Zigzagoon!” I cry out.
The spinning Pokéball snaps open, revealing a small brown Zigzagoon. The red fin pops out of the grass into the clearing serving as the makeshift battle arena. I was immediately taken with how the small Pokémon looked. I had to catch it. Snaping back to attention, I called out “Zigzagoon, use tackle!”
The Zigzagoon barked in response before taking off towards the smaller Pokémon. The Zigzagoon zigzagged between sections of grass before launching straight into the Pokémon. The red finned Pokémon cried out in pain but was able to keep standing before growling at the retreating Zigzagoon.
“Zigzagoon, use tackle again!” The Zigzagoon takes off again in zigzags, launching itself again. Zigzagoon hit again, however this time, the small Pokémon went flying from the hit, hitting the ground hard before struggling to get back up.
“Now’s your chance Wally. Throw the Pokéball!” Brendan called out. I gasped the empty Pokéball and threw it directly at the red finned Pokémon. When the Pokéball got close enough, it popped open, covering the Pokémon in a blinding white light, before sucking it in and snapping shut. The Pokéball fell to the ground and started to wiggle around. I watched on from a distance, feeling each heartbeat pound throughout my body. After a few more tense moments, the Pokéball let lose a few sparks from the button, locking in the capture.
“I did it…” I managed to say, walking over to the Pokéball. I picked it up. “It’s my… My Pokémon!” Brendan laughs as he returns the Zigzagoon for me, and May cheers. “
Way to go Wally!” I smiled back at Brendan and May
“Brendan, May, thank you! Let’s go back to the gym!” I take off with a sprint.
Brendan laughs “Wally! Wait for us!”.