Episode 2: First Battle, First Friend

"Thanks for agreeing to ref for us, sis." Gary smiled as a dull brown haired girl colored in two halves of a large chalk Poke Ball on the pavement. While it wasn't the sleek red and blue arenas of Gyms and Indigo Plateau, the huge chalk Poke Ball would do for a makeshift arena.

"Nice arena, Daisy." Ash agreed as he and Tintri took his place on the red half of the chalk drawing, quieting the murmuring onlookers.

Once all was quiet, Daisy announced "Representing the Red side, Ash Ketchum and Tintri!"

[Do all arena referees make such a big show out of a battle?] Tintri asked as some of the crowd cheered.

"Not all of them, but many of them do to hype up the crowd." Ash replied as he heard the other half of the crowd cheer for Gary and a small brown fox Pokemon staring him down from the Blue side of the makeshift arena.

He decided to quickly read up on his opponent:

"Eevee, the evolution Pokemon." Dexter began. "It has the ability to alter the composition of its body to suit its surrounding environment."

"Hello? Red side, are you ready?" Daisy's voice snapped him back to reality.

"As I'm ever going to be..." Ash sighed.

"Blue side ready?" Daisy asked as she hung a referee's whistle around her neck.

"Let's do this!" Gary smirked, to laughter and cheers from his supporters.

"And three...two...one..." Daisy counted down before blowing her whistle to start the battle.

The whistle made Tintri spark in surprise, making him narrowly miss being Tackled by Gary's Eevee. [Boy, those little silver thingies are loud!] he grumbled as he composed himself.

"That's just how they start every battle, so you'll have to get used to it." Ash explained. "Now, counter with a Thundershock!"

[Hi-YAAAAAAA!!!] Tintri cried as a tiny thunderbolt went flying at the Eevee. Not one to be deterred, the Eevee whapped Tintri with its tail, sending Tintri flying backwards.

"You okay?" Ash asked as Tintri gingerly got up.

[That's gonna hurt in the morning...] Tintri replied. [Mankey see, and Mankey do!] he taunted before Tail Whipping the Eevee back.

[Arrr!] The Eevee growled. [Not so high and mighty now, pipsqueak!]

[YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!] Tintri screeched as he unleashed a more powerful Thundershock, overwhelming the Eevee enough to make it faint.

Gary, meanwhile, was unfazed by the swirly eyed Eevee at his feet. "Not bad, not bad." he grinned. "But next time, you'll need more than beginner's luck to save you!"

He turned back to look at Ash. "Until then, smell ya later!"

[Good riddance...] Tintri grumbled. [Can we leave on our big adventure now?]

"Yes, let's go." Ash replied as he too turned to leave to the cheers of his own supporters.

Later, somewhere on Route 1...

[Has that Gary jerk always been like this?] Tintri asked as he and Ash made their way down Route 1 later that afternoon.

"Somewhat--as our tenth birthdays drew near, he became more and more cocky and Mr. Better than You." Ash explained as he led Tintri underneath a tree by a river and removed the headphones he had been listening to through his PokeNav. "But I was always told you'll get further on kindness and respect than arrogance and cockiness."

[Like the professor always said, 'pride goes before a fall'] Tintri agreed.

Ash smiled. "You seem to be pretty friendly for not being fully tame yet..."

[That's 'cause I sense a lot of that kindness and respect you were talking about.] Tintri replied. [And I want a trainer that has those qualities, not a jerk like Mr. Cocky back there.]

"Well, I'll do my best to be a good trainer." Ash smiled. "I may not be perfect, but I'll also do my best to teach you that even losses and mistakes have lessons to learn from them."

Tintri, meanwhile, was rummaging through Ash's bag. [What's this for?] he asked as he unearthed the PokeNav, piqued in the music note background and media player on its screen.

"That is a PokeNav--an all purpose digital assistant, media player, communicator, and console all in one." Ash explained as he unplugged the headphones and put them away. "So if you wanna hear the song I was listening to, this is 'Yellow' the solo single from one of the members of the new idol trio Waves."

A happy melody gave way to a driving pop beat as Ash danced along to the female singer coming from the PokeNav:

I wonder how long it's been, your laughter and your smile are so far away...
Good things must come to an end, when it does, it's so fast, and it's too much too soon...
Too many to even count, are these tears and the saddening tomorrows...
The heated words that you said, all their pain and their sorrows I'll try my best to forget!

I want to find that smile, and then bring it back to you!
No matter where you are, I won't stop, singing this song just for you!
I don't know just how many nights it's been,
I know that this wish, in my heart will come true one day...

The song that you left behind, all the pieces are just lying scattered here...
I gather them once again, and I work my own magic just to make it whole!

I want to find that smile, and then bring it back to you!
Through the end of time, I won't stop, singing this song just for you!
I close my eyes and wish on a shooting star,
For the love I have, in my heart, to reach you one day...

The period comes...the sentence is almost complete
And yet more words come...I have so much I want to say!
The morning light shines, a new day dawns one more time
That special place where anybody and everyone is waiting for you!

A yellow morning comes, and it sparkles like the sun
I don't think that I, ever will, forget its simple beauty
All this light from the heavens raining down,
I know deep down, it won't stop, step and clap

I want to find that smile, and then bring it back to you!
No matter where you are, I won't stop, singing this song just for you!
I don't know just how many nights it's been,
I know that this wish, in my heart, it will come true one day!

Tintri swayed to the beat as Ash spun and twirled through the grass. [Nice moves, there!] he raved as he applauded.

"Yes, that was pretty good!" a female voice agreed.

Ash whirled around to see who had spoke to discover an orange haired girl applauding him. "Uh, thanks, miss..."

"Misty, please." the girl smiled. "I take it you're a new trainer?"

"Yeah, my Pikachu Tintri and I just left Pallet Town today." Ash replied. "Name's Ash."

"Nice to meet you." Misty smiled as she set her bag, an instrument case, and some fishing gear on the grass. "I hear the fishing's great out this way...made it worth the trip from Cerulean."

"If you don't mind--since I have to go to Cerulean myself for a badge anyway..." Ash began, at the same time trying oh-so-hard not to convey to Misty that he was nervous. "D-do you want to travel together? To Cerulean at least?"

"I'll go with you to at least Cerulean--and maybe beyond!" Misty replied. "Besides, no Pokemon Master or Mistress ever traveled alone. I could probably teach you a thing or two along the way, as well."

With that, she cast her line in the water as Ash and Tintri looked on...