The Journey Begins-Route 31

“Now Blake, remember what I taught you. Capture all of the fighting type you can but also remember to expand your team to other types since the fighting type only have some of the other types for dual types.”

“I understand Dad, you have taught me to be aware of my opponents strengths and weaknesses in order to use them against them. In order to do that, I'll need a variety of tools and Pokemon at my disposal.”

“Take this, my old Pokedex I got from Professor Oak. You'll probably need to get an updated one from Professor Elm eventually. However, your first location shall be Bellsprout Tower for more training. It should teach you something which you need most desperately.”

“What is that? I thought I have learned as much as you could teach me.”

“You have been a most excellent student, my son. Remember this journey is as much about broadening your horizons as much as capturing Pokemon. Seek out the two big Fighting type Pokemon trainers, Chuck of Cianwood City Gym and Bruno of the Elite Four. Since Chuck is a gym leader and Bruno is Elite Four, most likely you'll have to do what most Pokemon trainers do and go through the gym circuit. This will be most excellent training for you and Chopper.”

Blake begins to walk out the door with Chopper beside him until he realizes he is still in his t-shirt and jeans. He then turns around back to his dad.

“Dad, may I have my gi and black belt?”

“Don't you remember, son, that you have one more item to complete in order to get your black belt? You either come back here with two additional different fighting Pokemon or get Chopper to evolve into Machoke or get two gym badges. If you come back with two of the three requirements, I'll throw in something extra. If you manage to come back with all three, then there will be a big bonus.”

“You have taught me the training is the reward itself. Belts are just a measuring guide to see how far one has gone in their training.”

“True, but sometimes when the road is really challenging, then other rewards are merited.”

“Thanks for the reminders, Dad. I don't know when I'll see you and Mom so take care.”

Blake returns towards the door and finally heads out. Chopper walks beside him. Along the dirt path from their house deep in the woods, Blake finds a good solid 6' walking stick. He tests it out on a few rocks to make sure it is solid. Once it proves itself, he continues along listening to his surroundings. Then he walks down to the creek he remembers playing in as a child and seeing several different Pokemon during those days. One of the weekly practices Dad gave him to do was to go find a secluded area of the forest and sit to listen to all he can. Blake walks down the path along the creek a little more and finds a nice mossy patch. He decides to sit down and practice the listening method. It wasn't too long until he realized how tense he was about this great journey. Only a couple weeks ago he graduated from his schooling and reached the black belt level. This journey will be nothing like what he has learned from his parents, peers, and tutors. Chopper follows Blake's movements almost exactly as they sit and listen to all that is around them. After they get up from their mental exercise, Blake and Chopper make their way to the main road Route 31. Then Blake takes out the folded map his Dad gave him and notices he needs to head west on Route 31 to get to Violet City and the Bell Sprout Tower. He had no intentions of heading into Dark Cave.

While Blake was walking, a pair of eyes peered down at him. Sitting in a tree nearby was a Hoothoot, who seemed to have awoken from his sleep when Blake passed. It regarded him wearily, but made no move to attack.

Hoothoot, Male, Level 7

He gets a feeling they are being watched. Blake looks around and spots the Hoothoot. Without too much movement, he speaks to Chopper.

"Chopper, up in the tree to our right side sits a Hoothoot. We know it would have a type advantage but Dad didn't send us out here to take things easy. How about we attempt to capture it and if not, knock it out."

A grunt and nod came from Chopper. Blake whispers to Chopper.

"Slowly walk over and hit the tree with Bullet Punch."

Chopper walks over to the tree and uses Bullet Punch. This reminds Chopper of the training he and Blake had done back home. Many of the trees has his punch prints in their trunks.

"Hoot!" the Hoothoot cried in alarm, taking to the skies when his branch violently shook from Chopper's rapid punching. Seeing that the trainer and Pokemon clearly wanted a fight, he swooped down and hovered above Chopper. Quickly, he tilted into a dive and sped down at Chopper, an aerial Tackle attack.

The idea worked to somewhat of what Blake had in mind. A few of the trees Chopper has punched did crack and break however this one seemed more solid then the other trees he got used Chopper hitting.

"Whoever said headbutt was the only way to get a Pokemon out of a tree must have used it too many times because there is more creative ways then ramming your head against something."

"Now this is more like it, Chopper. By no means could we get up there. We have to time this just right. Wait for it to get very close and then jump up over it and use Bullet Punch."

Chopper waited for the right time and jumped up and over the Hoothoot. In a matter of a couple seconds he was in position and threw another Bullet Punch.

The onslaught of rapid punches slammed into Hoothoot just as the name of the move would imply: like a barrage of bullets. "Hoot!" the bird cried in alarm once the punches subsided. Not about to get bested, he regained his composure and put even more power and effort into another diving Tackle heading straight at Chopper.

Chopper lands on the ground after hitting the Hoothoot. Before he could turn around, the Hoothoot makes another dive tackle and hits Chopper in the back. The hit flattens Chopper as he falls onto the ground.

"Come on, Chopper, get up. You've taken worse hits then that."

Chopper gets up and shakes itself to loosen up a little.

"Now, focus energy while the Hoothoot comes back around. When it does, squat down and try to uppercut it (not the move sky uppercut) with bullet punch once more."

Hoothoot wasn't suspecting a thing, and didn't even grow weary when Chopper began focusing. Thinking his foe was just unsure of what to do, he flew into another diving Tackle and fell easy prey to Blake's plan. The barrage of punches forced the breath out of Hoothoot, and he was sent flying into he air before slamming into the ground with a huge thud. He was too weak to continue fighting, and now was the time to either catch or finish him.

"Nice job, Chopper. It looks weak enough to catch. Let me use a pokeball and see if it works."

Chopper walks back to Blake as Blake throws a pokeball at the fallen Hoothoot. Chopper had both a disadvantage and advantage against Hoothoot. They were lucky Hoothoot didn't use any flying moves because it would have made things quite a bit tougher to fight. Blake waits patiently as the pokeball hits the fallen Hoothoot and watches for the first time the pokeball rock back and forth. Something so simple brings so much excitement which catches Blake by surprise. Chopper looks at the wobbling pokeball and at Blake and then back at the pokeball.

The shaking abruptly cut off, and the center of the ball flashed red, signifying a successful capture.

Congratulations, Hoothoot was caught! Would you like to give him a nickname?

A raised pumped fist goes high into the sky as Blake jumps a few inches off the ground. Chopper imitates his partner. Blake runs to the pokeball after he lands. He carefully examines the pokeball.

"Come out, Big Eyes. Welcome to the team."

Blake throws the pokeball out and his new friend comes out.

Watching from a spot nearby, a tired looking Rattata observed the trainer and his Pokemon. She twitched her whiskers and flicked her ears, a sign of uncomfort in such a close proximity of a trainer.

Rattata, Female, Level 13

Blake takes a closer look at his new friend, Big Eyes. The damage from the last fight was still there and hopefully a little rest will take care of things. It probably be wise to take it to a Pokemon center when they get into town.

"Big Eyes, return."

A red beam came from the pokeball as Big Eyes returns to its pokeball. Blake then looks around and sees a Rattata looking really uncomfortable. Chopper follows his "brother's" eyes and sees the same rattata.

"Mach?"

"No, let us leave this one alone. The rattata wouldn't be much of a challenge for you. Dad made it fairly clear our training at Bell Sprout Tower is more important. I'm glad he didn't give us a deadline."

Blake motions Chopper to walk on the other side of him from the rattata.

"I'll admit, I am in a hurry to get a few more fighting type Pokemon but Dad did remind to catch different types. An intelligent fighter needs to know a few techniques outside of his main and in case of Pokemon, needs to expand beyond my focus. I'm glad Dad taught us all there is to know about Fighting types including their strengths and weaknesses."

Blake walks up into town and starts to head towards Bell Sprout Tower.

Besides a few powerful looking sages who didn't give Blake a second look as he passed, nothing crossed the trainer's path as he walked to the esteemed training ground known as Bellsprout Tower. The tower seemed to extend even beyond the horizon, and it stood as a beacon to any trainer wanting to get stronger, Blake probably being in that category. The doors were open and inviting, and nothing was stopping him from entering.

(continued in Bell Sprout thread)