Go, Squirtle!

The second the Professor gives the signal, you and Green each activate your pokéball, releasing your pokémon in perfect unison. A thrill shoots through through you as you see your squirtle materialize from the red beam of the ball for the first time, only a few meters from Green's bulbasaur.

With a grin, you push aside your wonder at being in your first real battle, and focus on winning it quickly and decisively. Before Green can act, you call out, "Alright, Squirtle, run straight ahead and use tackle!"

The water-type nods it's assent and takes off toward its opponent as quickly as its short limbs will carry it. It's closed most of the distance, less than a meter left, when Green calls out her counterattack.

"Bulbasaur, trip it up with vine whip!"

Twin vines sprout from the plant-lizard's shoulders and stretch out, sweeping low toward your charging squirtle and easily knocking its legs out from under it before you have time to react. The small blue turtle skids across the stage on its shell coming to a stop behind Green's bulbasaur without taking any real damage.

"Get up and give it another tackle!" you shout.

Your pokémon obediently stands up and starts to charge at its opponent from behind. Bulbasaur turns to face your squirtle, its extended vines held at the ready. Just as Green opens her mouth to give an order, you call out your counter at the same time.

"Bulbasaur, vine whip again!"

"Squirtle, overwhelm it with water gun and keep charging!"

Green's bulbasaur swings its vines toward your squirtle's feet, but before they can connect, your squirtle blasts them out of the way with a torrent of water from its mouth. The blast continues on to hit the grass-type in the face; it doesn't do much damage, but your squirtle manages to slam its shoulder into its opponent's face before it can get its bearings.

Recovering more quickly than her pokemon, Green tells it, "Hold it tight against you with your vines!"

The vines that had been pushed out of the way quickly wrap around Squirtle, holding it tight against the grass type.

You're not sure what, but Green's definitely up to something. Hoping to take advantage of the situation before she can carry out her plan, you order, "It's close and you have a clear shot, keep hitting it."

Your squirtle obeys, struggling in the grass-type's tight grip. It manages to strike the other pokémon several times, but being held so close is denying it any leverage and the blows aren't doing as much damage as they otherwise would.

"Okay, Bulbasaur, use sleep spore," Green commands.

A cloud of green spores shoots out of the bulb on the grass-type's back, and settles down over the two pokémon. Squirtle continues to strike at its opponent, but its blows grow sluggish and its eyelids gradually fall shut. Bulbasaur, unaffected by its own move, remains alert.

Green follows up with, "Now, put some distance between you and slam it with vine whip before it wakes up."

The vines around your squirtle immediately loosen, leaving it asleep on its feet. Green's bulbasaur quickly hops back half a meter and raises its vines into the air. It only takes a few super-effective lashes to knock your squirtle to the ground and render it ****.

"Squirtle is ****, Bulbasaur and Green are the winners!" announces Professor Oak from his spot on the sidelines.

The crowd roars as you and Green recall your pokémon. The two of you shake hands for the crowd, Green smirking and whispering, "That water gun was actually pretty clever."

"I do occasionally use my brain," you joke, knowing how straightforward you can be when it comes to battles.

Green chuckles. "Very occasionally. I guess I win our little wager."

Your mind blanks for a moment, then you remember. The bet you and Green made had completely slipped your mind in all the excitement. She can make you do anything. A chill runs down your spine.

Before your mind can really start processing what Green winning the bet could mean, Professor Oak pulls you aside for a few comments on the match. The next couple of hours are a blur of speeches, ceremony, congratulations, and finally a tearful goodbye to your mother. Through it all, the thought of your bet with Green pokes at the back of your mind.