CHAPTER TWO
“VULLLLLLPIX!”
“Oh, a Vulpix! It’s so cute!”
“Yeah, it’s really sweet”
“Danielle?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Danielle.”
“Oh!” I said. “Is that your Bulbasaur? It’s really nice.”
“Yeah.” She had a really sweet Bulbasaur beside her, but she seemed exasperated.
“What’s the matter?”
“My rival. He’s the matter.”
“Who?”
“Him.” She pointed to a really thicko guy behind her.
“I challenge you to a Pokey-mon battle,” he said slowly and stupidly.
“Oh, fine,” Danielle said. “Bulbasaur, GO!”
“Then I choose MAGIKARP!” yelled the Supernerd.
“Oh, great” groaned Danielle. “This is going to be soooooo hard.”
“That’s right,” yelled the Supernerd, having no idea that she was being sarcastic. “Okay Magikarp, use your SWIFT!”
“Karp-karp-magikarp,” said the Magikarp, flopping around uselessly. “Come on! Okay then, SING!”
“Ma-ahgiikarp, magika-ahah-arp. Ma-ahgiikarp, mahagiiiiiiiiiii,” sang Magikarp in a not-very-enchanting voice.
“Idiot! Bulbasaur, tackle.”
Magikarp fainted! (Big surprise.)
“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! YOU KILLED MAGIKARP!”
“Calm down, Dumbo, it’s only fainted.”
“But- you KILLED him!”
“Karp?”
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! IT’S A GHOST!” yelled Mr. Thicko.
“Oh, god” Danielle groaned. “I’ll just leave you to scream at your ‘ghost’ than, shall I?”
“Honestly!” I said. “Danielle, that rival of yours, he’s just absolutely…”
“Will the owner of Number 8 please come here to register and collect their Pokédex?”
“Hey- that’s me! Bye, gotta go,” I said quickly to Danielle.
“Hello, Rachel,” smiled Professor Oak, handing me my Pokédex. “You wanted a rival, didn’t you?”
“I’ve always wondered, Oak. Why are they called ‘rivals?’ Why not ‘regular opponents?’ Because it’s fixed, isn’t it?”
“I don’t really know!” said Oak. “But yours is my son, James. See him over there?”
I looked over. He really was quite good-looking. I felt myself blushing. He had a sweet Eevee next to him, and my stomach gave a lurch. From my years in Pokémon Training School, I had learned that Eevee can evolve into one of 3 different Pokémon, depending on which Evolution Stone you use on it. And one of them- Vaporeon- could turn my Vulpix into toast. Eevee were thought to be really rare until a couple of years ago, when it was discovered that there were in fact zillions, but really shy and good at hiding.
I stared at him for a while, until I realised that Oak had pushed a map and a small booklet into my hands. I read the title ‘Regulations and Tips for the starting Pokémon Trainer.’
“Now, we need to register you and your Pokémon. Name?”
“Rachel.”
“Full name?”
“Rachel Katherine Charlotte.”
“Age?”
“Twelve.”
“Experience?”
“Three years at Pokémon Training School.”
“Pokémon number?”
“Eight.”
“Pokemon species?”
“Vulpix.”
“Pokémon name?”
“I told you! It’s a Vulpix!”
“No, that’s its species name. I need its personal name, what you want to call it.”
“Oh.” I thought hard. “Um… I don’t know…”
“How about using the Name Randomiser? You enter in your Pokémon’s species, and it suggests names for you. It’s a wonderful invention.”
“Hmmm… I’ll try it,” I decided.
Fingers trembling, I entered in ‘Vulpix’
The counters spun.
“Flame? No…”
“Blaze? No…”
“Polytail? No…”
I sighed and looked up at Oak. “This is no good. These names are all too clear. I want something- mysterious. Something that sounds as if it’s hiding a secret.”
Then it hit me. “Secret! That’s perfect! I’ll call my Vulpix Secret!”
Go to Chapter 3