Chapter 4: Don George

After Gibby took a quick shower after a tiring (and odd) battle against Munchlax, which he captured after the battle, he reunited with Carly, Sam, Freddie, Bianca, Cheren, Professor Juniper and Captain Shay in the lobby of the Pokémon Center. They were sitting around two tables they just joined together. Steven Shay paid for the lunch Nurse Joy served and certified the lunch break as started. Freddie kept Munchlax Poké Ball for Gibby while he was away.

"Here you go," Freddie said giving the device to Gibby.

"Thanks bro," Gibby said with a smile.

"Hey, no prob," Freddie smirked. Gibby joined the group and sat between Sam and Freddie.

After finishing lunch Shay broke the non-existent silence. "Good," he said. "As you must know, I'm here to give a lecture, but I postponed it just for the ehrm… four of you. Of course that's because I wanted to see my daughter, but I also think you can help me with something," Shay continued. "As you know, I am part of an operation to bring foreign Pokémon to the Unova Region. My goal is to bring all known breeds of Pokémon into the Unova and I think that the operation is getting to an end, but I need some field research to see how Pokémon act in their habitats and how healthy there are,"

"So, what are we supposed to do?" Carly asked.

"Well," the Captain said. "I wanted you to be the researchers,"

"Meehh…" Sam said. "I don't want to write boring reports,"

"Oh," Captain Shay said with a small chuckle. "You don't have to write anything. All you have to do is to carry this device around," Captain Shay held a red, small palmtop in his hand.

"Is that a Pokédex?" Sam asked.

"Yes, it is," Captain Shay, "but this one is equipped with a Poké Radar. When you are going around Unova, I get all information about Pokémon around you. He took another palmtop, this time a black one, and turned it on. "Let's see," Captain Shay said, until he suddenly stood up. "Excuse me?" he called around. "Does anyone here have a Girafarig?"

"Yes, sir," a young man stood up.

"Good, do you mind telling me what moves it has?"

"Erhmmm… yes, sure. It knows Double Edge, Stomp, Psybeam and Energy Ball,"

"Thanks, young man," Shay said and showed the black device to the teenagers on his table. They could see a list of different Pokémon. One of them was a Girafarig, with the moves the young man just mentioned.

"That's impressive," Cheren said.

"So, we just walk around passing data through to you?" Freddie asked.

"That's the plan," Steven said sitting in his chair again.

"Ehrm… I don't want to be straight-forward," Carly said, "but you were talking about a gift. Did you mean this Pokédex?"

"Oh, not really," Shay said. "I know just 'walking around' maybe a little boring, so I've got a more interesting gift for you, Sam and Freddie," he stood up again and pulled three Poké Balls out of his left pocket with his left hand. "May I present you…" he said picking up one Poké Ball with his right hand from his left "…Elekid!" he hurled the ball in the air. The Poké Ball opened and an Elekid presented himself. "Elekid is an Electric type,"

"Bibibi" Elekid cried out.

"Duh," Sam said.

"I'm sorry, Sam," Shay said, "but as far as I know Carly and Freddie don't know as much about Pokémon as you do, so please cut them some slack, okay?"

"Sorry," Sam said. "But does the lightning bolt on his stomach not say enough?"

"Yes, it kinda does," Freddie said.

"Anyway, the next one is…" Shay said as he threw another Poké Ball in the air, "…Roggenrola! A Rock type"

"Rola!" Roggenrola called out when coming out of the Poké Ball.

"Wow, that's a cool one!" Freddie said as he kneeled down before the Pokémon to pet it. He was immediately sold. "Wow, it's really hard,"

"It sure is," Shay said with a smile. "The last one will be Ralts!"

"Ralts!" it said happily when presented in front of the gang.

"Awww," Carly said petting the Ralts on its head. "This one is so cute,"

"Are you nuts?" Sam asked surprised. "Elekid is obvious the cool one here?"

"Well it seems you three already made a choice," Shay said.

"What do you mean?" Freddie asked.

"Well, these Pokémon are your gifts," Shay said. "I would ask you to choose one, but it seems like you already did. I guess Carly will train Ralts, Sam will start with Elekid and Freddie will take care of Roggenrola,"

"Wait, how about me?" Gibby asked.

"I didn't know you were coming," Shay said a little bit embarrassed, "that's why I gave you Munchlax' Poké Ball, so you can join Carly, Sam and Freddie,"

"Thank you, Capt'n" Gibby said enthusiastically.

"So, do you want to start off with the assignment?" Shay asked.

"I'm in," Freddie said. "If I can keep Roggenrola,"

"Me too," Carly said.

"This is a dream coming true," Sam said. "So if I have to carry a Pokédex along the way, I don't really care,"

"I'll just join them," Gibby said.

"Okay," Shay said. "I'll give each of you a Pokédex and a couple of Poké Balls," Shay said, while handing them their Pokédexes and Poké Balls. Carly got a pink one, Sam's Pokédex was green, Freddie had a red Pokédex and Gibby received a black one. "You just watched how to catch a Pokémon, kind of, so I don't have to teach you that you have to battle a Pokémon to capture it.

"Captain," Juniper said. "I think it's best for Cheren and me to go back to Nuvema Town,"

"Right," Shay said. "How about you, Bianca?"

"I'll be going as well," Bianca said. "If there is anything I can help you guys with, don't doubt, just ask,"

"Okay," Carly said in a friendly tone. Juniper, Cheren and Bianca left the Pokémon Center leaving Carly, Sam, Freddie and Gibby alone with Captain Shay. Carly, Sam and Freddie had their newly obtained Pokémon close to their feet.

"Now, that you have the basics, it's time for you to meet someone," Shay said.

"Another Pokémon?" Freddie asked.

"No, no, no," Shay chuckled. "It's a man. I'll show you, it's not far,"

The new Pokémon Trainers returned their Pokémon into their Poké Balls and followed Shay outside the building.

Shay was right. It wasn't far at all. In fact it was just a couple of meters separated from the Pokémon Center. It was an imposing building. It was bigger than the modest Pokémon Center and it was standing pretty much in the center of the town.

"Welcome at the Pokémon Battle Club!" Shay said. "Let's go inside," Shay went inside followed by the gang of four, including their Pokémon. "Don George!" he yelled. "Are you there?"

"Sandshrew! Sandstorm!" they heard.

"Axew! Dual Chop!" another voice called. The five people entered the battle hall and saw two – relatively young – trainers drawn into a Pokémon battle. On one side there was a light brown mouse, which just turned into a ball and started spinning. Loose sand came free and a mini-sandstorm was whipped up in the middle of the building. The other Pokémon was a dark green Pokémon with tusks. It was currently trying to get through the large curtain of sand. In the middle was a big man with gray hair and a thick mustache. He wore a red belt around his stomach and held two flags (a red one and a green one) in his two fists. When Axew was very close to Sandshrew, Sandshrew's trainer shouted out for a Fury Swipes attack. Sandshrew immediately stopped the sandstorm and attacked Axew by scratching it furiously.

"And now Brick Break!" Sandshrew's trainer yelled. Sandshrew held his hand in the air, glowing white, and hit Axew hard in the stomach. Axew was send careening backwards and landed a few feet further.

"Axew is unable to battle! Ronald wins,"

"Axew!" the other trainer yelled. "Are you okay?"

"Young man," Don George attracted the attention of the loser of the battle. "I think your Axew needs works on its timing. You can train with one of my assistants. DON EDUARDO!" he yelled from behind him. An assistant, with a Latin appearance and a much slimmer figure, appeared through the door behind Don George.

"Si, Don George?" the assistant said.

"Help Axew and Andrew with Axew's timing. You know what to do,"

"Si, Don George," Andrew, Axew and Don Eduardo disappeared through the door.

"Ah, Steven Shay," Don George finally addressed the Captain. "It's so good to see you in person. Welcome to the Battle Club!"

"Hello, Don George," Steven said looking up to the giant. "Please let me introduce you to my daughter, Carly, and her friends, Sam, Freddie and Gibby,"

"It's a pleasure," Don George said to the teenagers.

"Hi," Freddie said politely, also on behalf of the rest of them.

"They're from America, so they're quite new to Pokémon," Steven said. "I gave Carly, Sam and Freddie a Pokémon and Gibby caught himself a Munchlax. Don't ask how," he whispered the last part.

"Ah, I see," Don George. "There is no introduction to Pokémon like a Pokémon Battle. What would you think about a Pokémon Mini-Tournament?"

"What do you mean?" Sam asked.

"Well, two battles for each of you will get you known to what it is to be a Pokémon Trainer," Don George said.

"I think it's a good idea," Carly said.

"I agree," Gibby added. Sam and Freddie agreed to, so Don George entered their names in a panel and produced the battles for the first round: Carly vs. Sam and Freddie vs. Gibby.

"Ladies first," Don George said.

"Wait that's not fair," Carly said. "I don't know anything about Pokémon and Sam is an expert,"

"Don't worry," Sam said. "I'm sure you're a natural. And besides Gibby will be your coach" Don George stood on his spot as a referee, while Steven and Freddie took place on the bench on the side line and Gibby stood next to Carly.

"Okay, this will be a simple one-on-one battle. The first Pokémon to knock out the other wins. Begin!" Don George yelled. Sam nodded.

"Elekid! Go!" Sam yelled as she flung the Poké Ball into the battlefield. It opened and Elekid appeared.

"Okay," Carly said. "What do I do now?"

"You send out a Pokémon like Sam did," Gibby said. "Since you don't have much choice, you should send out Ralts,"

"Right," Carly said. "Ralts, go!" she yelled as she threw the Poké Ball forwards and the Feeling Pokémon appeared.

"Okay, Carly, now check your Pokédex for Ralts' moves," Gibby said.

"Alright," Carly took her Pokédex and scanned Ralts. "What button?"

"I think that one," Gibby pointed.

"Bulbasaur, the Seed Po-"

"Oops wrong one, that one." Gibby pushed another button.

"Ralts, the Feeling Pokémo-"

"Not relevant," Gibby said nervously, "That one!" he pushed a triangular button on the right of the button he pushed before.

"Ralts moves: Confusion, Double Team, Magical Leaf"

"Okay, now try those moves out in this battle," Gibby coached her. Sam too took her Pokédex from her back pocket and scanned Elekid for its moves.

"Elekid's moves: Leer, Thundershock, Low Kick"

"Okay, you're first, Carly!" Sam yelled.

"Alright, Ralts use Magical Leaf!" Carly yelled. Ralts turned around and nodded at Carly. Carly smiled at this little gesture and Ralts turned back to Elekid and summoned a lot of green, shiny leaves around her and shot it at Elekid.

"Good move, Carly," Gibby said. "Magical Leaf is incredible hard to dodge,"

"Elekid! Thundershock!" Elekid smiled and shot a load of electric energy at the leaves, making them explode in mid-air.

"Wow!" Carly yelled impressed.

"Elekid, use Leer!" Elekid's eyes started to glow and looked at a very wicked way at Ralts. Ralts seemed to be intimidated, exactly what Elekid wanted.

"Now Ralts defense power has been lowered," Gibby told Carly. "You better try to avoid any damage done to Ralts. Double Team is a good way to do so,"

"Right," Carly nodded. "Ralts! Double Team!" Ralts cried a high cry and more Ralts copies are created. "Gibby, what's happening," Carly whispered.

"Ralts is creating copies of herself. Only one is the real one,"

"Elekid, Thundershock." Elekid circled his arms and loosened a Thundershock at Ralts and his copies. Although it didn't hit the real copies, almost all fake ones disappeared.

"Quick, Ralts, Confusion!" Carly yelped, seeing that Ralts is in trouble. Ralts started to send out waves at Elekid, much to his annoyance.

"Elekid! Low Kick!" Elekid started to run at his opponent and executed some kind of sliding tackle, while Ralts didn't stop his Confusion attack on Elekid. The two Pokémon finally collided and both were lying on the ground. Yet one of them was able to stand up…