No Going Back Now (Spark's journey, topic 1) [Long, but they will get shorter, I promise.]

DING DING DING DING DING
The loud toll of a bell startled Spark awake. Her eyelids slid back, relinquishing their hold on the paltry sleep they had tried so hard to achieve. There was a crusty layer trailing from the corners of the eyes down the left side of her face, which she realized were tracks from tears. It was an unfamiliar feeling to Spark and she rubbed the substance away.
Spark found her body laying on her left side on a cold, wooden bench. Her legs stuck off it forward, feet both on the ground. When she sat up her back cried out in aching protest from the awkward position she had been in. Waiting for the pain to subside, she pulled her coat more tightly around her body. She blew on her white fingers, watching the breath get jerked away and quickly dissipated by the wind.
The bell had dinged (and continued to ding) because the ferry Spark was on was nearing land. She squinted across the water at the nearing dock area, but wasn't able to see much in the gray light of day's infancy. As she rubbed her hands together, futilely attempting to restore warmth to them, she wished Charmander were here to help. Unfortunately, Charmander had a deep-seated hatred for water, so to bring her out of the safe confines of her Poke Ball would be selfish of Spark.
So instead she sighed, moving her bag from the place on the bench where she'd been using it as a pillow to her lap. She felt the left side of her head and, as she'd expected, her hair on that side was a ratty mess sticking in all directions like every morning. She managed to flatten it all except for one sprig which stuck straight out to the side, cheerfully unwelcome. Spark gave up on it and sat on her hands to warm them. After a few minutes, it began to work.
The ferry was nearing the dock now, and the salty-smelling air was finally beginning to warm a bit as the sun crawled up the sky. The bell stopped its rhythmic noise; not that most people could tell over the morning bustle on the deck.
Soon ropes were tied, the board was lowered, and the ship was at the dock. Spark was the first off, heading about 100 feet from the docks and the "WELCOME TO PALLET TOWN!" sign before letting Charmander out of her Poke Ball. Charmander yawned widely, scratched the back of her head, then smiled sleepily up at Spark. Spark couldn't help but smile back, and the two silently turned and headed into town.
In general, Pallet Town wasn't quite as active in the early morning as the docks had been. Even though the sun was almost completely out by now, there didn't seem to be many people out and about on the streets. The few people Spark and Charmander passed nodded in a friendly way - the inhabitants of the town seemed to realize that the pair were from elsewhere and were eager to welcome them.
After what felt like a very short, aimless walk, Spark and Charmander passed onto Route 1. They sat at a bench and ate cheese and crackers from Spark's bag, watching the town wake up.
Spark brushed crumbs from her fingers and cleared her throat.
"What do you want to do, Charmander?" she asked. Truthfully, she hadn't given a lot of thought to what they would do when they actually got away. She briefly considered going home now, but quickly disregarded the idea. They couldn't go home now; it was much too late for that.
Charmander was staring into the tall grass nearby. She seemed to make up her mind when she jumped off the bench and pointed into the scrub, saying "Char!" as she did. It had been months, maybe over a year since Charmander had had a real battle. There was very little to fight on Cinnabar island; she wouldn't go near the water and couldn't go near the volcano (Spark's mom had warned them it was too dangerous and forbidden them from going).
Spark got up from the bench, stashing the cracker wrapper and remaining cheese in her bag. She followed Charmander into the grass, the anticipation of battle building in her veins. The two poked around in the grass for a little while, until suddenly they heard a noise behind them. A _____ stood there menacingly, looking to battle!

It was a Rattata, allured by the sharp smell of the cheese. Determined to snatch it from the pair, its fur bristled and lips raised, revealing sharp teeth, a formidable weapon for such a small Pokemon. Sensing Charmander's anticipation, Rattata crouched down, waiting for the first move to be made.

Spark gave a start, pulling out her old Pokedex and scanning the Rattata in an attempt to learn its level and gender. While the Pokedex scanned, Spark decided it was time to act.
"Okay, Charmander," she said, excited for the first battle of their new life, "use Ember on that Rattata!"
Charmander inhaled deeply, claws balled into fists.
"Chaaaaarrr... Mander!" she yelled, spitting a flurry of flaming bits at the enemy.

(Rattata, Male, level 6)

Still baring his teeth, Rattata charged at Charmander, seemingly oblivious to the flame hurtling toward him. Suddenly, disappearing in a flash, Rattata was streaking toward Charmander. Going strait through the Ember attack, he took damage, but didn't hesitate. He continued forth with his dangerous, and hard to dodge Quick Attack.

The Quick Attack slammed Charmander backwards. She stumbled, but caught herself on her tail like a kangaroo and used it to plant herself back on her feet.
"Hmm," murmured Spark, assessing the damage done to Charmander. One Quick Attack was sure to do a bit of damage, but she decided it was nothing serious.
"Charmander, use Ember again," Spark commanded calmly. Charmander bared her stubby teeth and conjured up more bits of fire on her tongue.
"Char!" she shouted, sending the attack swirling out into the air. The specks of flame danced through the air like fireflies, many veering off course and flickering harmlessly out on the ground, but plenty searing straight towards the Rattata.

Rattata seemed out of breath after his speedy attack. As the flames hurtled toward him,he attempted to dodge, but was unsuccessful. Shaking the searing flames off of his fur, the rat was obviously getting tired already. A glint in his eyes showed that he wouldn't give up, even damaged and out of breath.

He ran at Charmander in an attempt at a full force tackle, putting the majority of his strength into the attack.

"Charmander, get out of the-!" Spark's warning came too late. Charmander was hit by the launched Rattata body, doing moderate damage. Her condition was worsening, but Spark knew the enemy's was, too.
"We can do this, Charmander, he's tiring out!" called Spark.
"Give it another Ember, come on!" she encouraged. Charmander huffed for a moment to regain her breath, then repeated the attack. Little bits of hot coals shot boldly at the Rattata.
"Char," she cried, the strain of the battle becoming evident in the strength of her voice.

The barrage of flame proved too much for the Rattata, and he fell to the ground after getting hit. Still grasping consciousness, the Pokemon wasn't moving. Spark had two options: the Rattata was an easy catch right now, and was almost guaranteed to be caught, or she could finish it off, allowing Charmander the experience.

To catch a Pokemon would have been nice for Spark, but Charmander could use the experience. Besides, to end their first battle without a faint would have felt... Spark wasn't sure, anticlimactic?
"Charmander, finish him off," declared Spark. Charmander stood over Rattata and used Scratch, claws raking through the air toward Rattata's face.

Rattata took the damage, and quickly fainted.

Charmander gained 6 experience!

"We did it," Spark said somewhat breathlessly, poking at the unconscious Rattata with her toe. They had won the first battle of their new life. Charmander smiled wearily and reached out for Spark to pick her up, which Spark did. From there Charmander climbed up to Spark's shoulders and sat, holding onto Spark's head for support.
"Steady?" asked Spark. Charmander nodded affirmatively, so Spark took off at a leisurely stroll out of the tall grass and back down the road toward Pallet Town. They found a Pokemon Center and had Charmander healed, then wandered around the small town for a while. Spark quickly concluded that there was nothing interesting to do in this town. She'd picked up a convenient map of the region at the docks, which she now pulled out. After scanning the page for a moment, she discovered that the nearest city was called Viridian City and it was only one route away.
"Well, I guess our next stop is here, Charmander: A place called 'Viridian.' What do you think?"
Charmander nodded enthusiastically, so Spark began to fold up the map and put it in her bag. However, she noticed something on the map that made her pause: A couple sentences in small print next to Route 1.
"Wild Shinx hide in the tall grass here. Sometimes they can be lured out if they hear the Sinnoh Sound playing nearby!"
"I think I've heard of those," Spark said thoughtfully. She faintly remembered seeing a picture of a Shinx in a book back home. Something told her the picture had been cute, even though she couldn't totally remember it.
So Spark pulled her old, beat-up radio from her bag and tuned it to the Pokemon Music Channel. The radio wasn't her favorite piece of technology, but she left her Pokegear at home on purpose; she didn't want to be tempted to contact the life she'd left behind. She was in luck: The Sinnoh Sound blared cheerfully from the device, which she clipped to her belt. With that, the pair set out. They were quickly confronted with an area of long grass, and Charmander decided to climb down from Spark's shoulders. They continued to forge ahead. Before long, the grass in front of them rustled, and Charmander bared her fangs in preparation for the upcoming battle.

It was a Buizel, rummaging through the grass. It ran full tilt into the trainer and the hostile Charmander. It took a defensive stance and waited for the worst. In it's quest for water, it surely had time for a battle before it got dehydrated.

Buizel, level 4, male

"Wow! It's a... Buizel. Huh. I really didn't know those were on this route," said Spark, squinting at her map. She shrugged and stuck it into her pocket.
"A Water-type, huh?" she said, looking anxiously at the Pokemon. Charmander looked less determined than she had before, and Spark realized that she wasn't helping so she put on a more confident face.
"Go get it, Charmander! Try Scratch first," she said. Charmander nodded, looking anticipatory but resolute. She stepped forward, extended her claws, and raised them over her head.
"Charrrr... Mander!" She shouted the second part of her name as her claws came slicing down in a vertical line through the air, hopefully to connect with the Buizel!

The Buizel deftly dodged it. It jumped back and sprang in the air, releasing a SonicBoom from it's tail and covered itself into a coat of water, using Water Sport.

"Charmander, look out!" called Spark, but it was too late. SonicBoom connected and, what with Charmander being at the low level she was, it did a large amount of damage. She hoisted herself back up from the ground though, and turned her head toward Spark for her next instruction. She didn't take her eye off of the Buizel, though.
"Okay, he avoided it last time but you'll get him this time! Scratch again, and make it count!"
Charmander sprang forward, claws extended, arm held high.
"Char!" she cried as her claws sliced through the air in Buizel's direction.

Buizel wasn't expecting it and it hit full on, as Buizel was flung back. It got up slowly at it released another SonicBoom.

Spark bit her lip. Charmander was laying on the griund, panting. She didn't look like she could take another Sonicboom. There was only one option left....
"Poké Ball, go!" shouted Spark, hurling her last hope at the Buizel. It opened and the Buizel went inside. Spark crossed her fingers, praying it would stay there....

(I always thought you are a dude.)

The only thing that can save Charmander from more pain would be the successful capture of the wild Buizel. Lady Luck says yes and grants Spark a new fighter for his party. The 'Ball swirls around for a few seconds before staying put and allowing a sigh of relief and a grin of victory. Would you like to give the newly captured Buizel a nickname?

(I will edit your Trainer App once I can use a PC. I am currently using my Android, sorry.)

(Why would you even say something like that?)

Spark and Charmander sighed in relief. Charmander was okay! After a brief moment of celebration, Spark and Charmander slowly turned to look at the Poké Ball, which was no longer shaking. The magnitude of the situation was slowly dawning on them.
Charmander scurried up Spark's back and nudged her forward, in the direction of the Poké Ball. Spark stepped forward with some trepidation and picked up the Poké Ball. She pressed the button on the front.
The sensation was at the same time familiar and new. It was familiar in that Spark had pressed the button hundreds of times on Charmander's Poké Ball, but new in that it was a brand new Ball entirely. The Buizel came out and landed on the ground, shaking his head. He looked Spark up and down, sizing her up.
She felt a wave of emotion. It was the first Pokémon she'd ever caught- After all, she hadn't really "caught" Charmander.
"I'll call you Chuckie," she said with a hint of a smile.

Trainer App has been updated.

Buizel -- which is now known as Chuckie -- doesn't seem to like the sound of his new name. He would like it if it was something like Trevor or Garrin. But his Trainer has decided and there's nothing he can do. He'd probably get used to it after a couple of days. Chuckie's ears suddenly perk up as rustling on the bushes were heard.

(Eh, this is my bad. But since you didn't say anything along the lines of wanting a foe, I still gave you a foe. Sorry.)

(No problem, but normally you would say what foe jumped out instead of leaving me with my turn to post and nothing to say. As it happens, I have an alternate solution.)
To Chuckie's surprise, Nurse Joy stepped out of the bush.
"Char?" Charmander said in surprise, approaching the nurse curiously.
"Nurse Joy!" Spark said. "This is a surprise. What brings you here?"
Nurse Joy smiled. "I was just out here collecting some healthy berries with Chansey," she said, indicating the Pokémon who had just stepped out of the bush beside her.
"And yourself?" Nurse Joy asked.
"I was just training my Charmander when this little guy showed up," said Spark, pointing at Chuckie.
"By the way, would you mind healing these two for me?" she asked.
"I wouldn't mind at all!" replied the nurse, still all smiles. She crouched down and took some things from her pack. Several sprays and squeezes later, Charmander and Chuckie were good as new.
"Well, I'd better get back to the Pokémon Center," remarked Nurse Joy, her grinning teeth gleaming in the sun. Spark thanked her, and then she and the Chansey were gone.
"That woman's good mood always kind of creeps me out," remarked Spark. Charmander nodded in agreement. Chuckie, however, was poking around a different a different set of bushes. There was a rustle. Suddenly, a wild Pokémon jumped out at him!

(Got it, captain. :) And I don't know if you did this out of sake of having something to write but Pokémon are healed upon capture. EBIL Sorry. o3o)

Comically, it's a Pterodactyl that jumped out with its jaws open that damn wide. What's a Fossil Pokémon doing here? What's an Aerodactyl doing around this part? Spark must be pretty lucky to encounter such a rare creature. Though the Pokémon jumped out; it quickly landed on the ground before innocently began strolling around.

Wild Aerodactyl appeared!
Level 10 | Male | HP: 5

(Charmander still needed healing. Also, then what's the point of a Heal Ball?)

Chuckie immediately responded to the Aerodactyl's presence with a SonicBoom!
"Whoa there, hold back a little," Spark said to Chuckie.
"Bui?" Chuckie said in confusion. Then he realized that Spark was his trainer now, and he calmed down a tad so that he could at least hear her commands in the future.

Spark bit her lip. She was faced with a tough decision: should she capture this Aerodactyl or defeat it? She couldn't go around capturing every Pokémon she met, but then again it was a pretty rare Pokémon.... She was conflicted.

(Don't ask me. Go ask the admins. I don't get it either. :D)

The SonicBoom did not make contact with the Aerodactyl. He didn't seem to have noticed it either. It's either this Pokémon is deaf or careless or planning something. As his footsteps tap the ground, he suddenly turns towards Spark and slowly walks towards her innocently. As if playing mind games of sorts.

This Pokémon has wings. Why is it walking? wondered Spark, eyeing the Aerodactyl suspiciously.
"Chuckie, back up a little bit," she said. Chuckie stared intensely at the Aerodactyl. He did back up, but he never broke eye contact with the enemy. Spark stepped forward, crouching down as she did so.
"Are you okay, little guy?" she asked, speaking in a slow, manageable voice.