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 get ready to support your partner. "Alright, Squirtle, get Bulbasaur!" you call out, trying not to influence your pokémon's natural battle inclinations.

The water-type nods its 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. Before they can reach their target, however, you shout out a warning.

"Squirtle, look out!"

Showing surprising agility, your squirtle hurls itself forward into the air and over the swinging vines. Parallel with the ground, it shoots a water gun at a backward angle, both propelling it toward Bulbasaur and sending it flipping head over tail. At the last moment, it withdraws into its shell and the had carapace crashes down onto Green's pokémon's bulb.

You let out a cheer for your partner, as it bounces off of its opponent, the grass-type letting out a pained grunt as the little turtle lands behind it and gives a pleased cry.

"Good job Squirtle, now tackle it from up close!"

Before Green's bulbasaur can recover from the overhead strike, Squirtle hops backward, slamming its shell into the plant-lizard in an unconventional tackle. Before you can attack again, Green calls out to her pokémon.

Her cool facade cracking to show her desperation, she shouts, "Don't let it get another hit in, knock it out with sleep powder!"

"Quick, get in your shell!" you command, trying to reach Squirtle before your opponent's pokémon can act.

Your squirtle immediately withdraws into its shell, but the tactic ultimately proves unnecessary. Bulbasaur tries to execute its move, but instead of launching a cloud of green powder at your squirtle, it shoots a steady stream of the stuff off to the left of your pokémon. It takes you a moment, but you quickly realize that Squirtle must have damaged the grass-type's bulb when it landed on it.

Taking advantage of the situation, you order, "Stay in your shell and use water gun to propel yourself into its back legs.

You hear an echoed sound of assent from within Squirtle's shell, and the water-type shoots out a jet of water, slamming itself into Bulbasaur's hind legs. The plant-lizard's hind legs crumple, as your squirtle pops out of its shell triumphantly. Undeterred, Green calls out her next command.

"Bulbasaur, grab it with your vines!"

You grin at your childhood friend. "Squirtle, jump up and do another water gun flip onto Bulbasaur!"

Bulbasaur's vines race around behind it, heading straight for your pokémon, but once again your squirtle leaps above them, launching itself through the air toward Bulbasaur. Before it can use its water gun, however, Green calls out a counter move.

Grinning back at you, she coolly orders, "Angle your vines up, grab its feet, then slam it down."

You watch in horror, as Bulbasaur's vines shoot upward and wrap tightly around your pokémon's short legs. With a whip-like motion, it yanks Squirtle backward and flips it over, bringing the little turtle slamming down so hard that it bounces and hits the stage a second time. Your squirtle struggles to get to its feet, clearly having trouble after the super-effective hit.

"Alright, Bulbasaur, turn around to face it, then lash it with a barrage of vine whips," Green commands.

At the same time you say, "We can do this Squirtle, get back in your shell and get ready."

Green's bulbasaur isn't doing much better than your squirtle, staggering on its injured back legs as it rotates in place to face your pokémon. You wait patiently for it to bring its first vine swinging down at Squirtle, then call out your counterattack.

"Squirtle, same as before, use water gun to ram into its legs!"

It's Green's turn to watch in horror, as Squirtle is propelled along the stage by the torrent of water shooting out from its shell and her bulbasaur's vine strikes the empty stage where it had been. Bulbasaur doesn't have time to move its vines to defend itself and is struck hard it its front legs. All of its legs heavily injured, it is unable to hold itself up and collapses.

There is a tense moment of uncertainty, as Green's bulbasaur struggles to regain its footing and your squirtle remains inside of its shell, possibly knocked out by the **** of its own attack. Eventually though, Bulbasaur collapses to the stage, this time ****, and Squirtle comes out of its shell and slowly rises to its feet.

"Bulbasaur is ****, Squirtle and Red 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 quirking an eyebrow and whispering, "That's one hell of a shell."

"Squirtle certainly seems to enjoy using it," you return with a grin.

Green chuckles. "Seems like it. I guess you win our little wager."

Your mind blanks for a moment, then you remember. The bet you and Green made on the way to the lab had completely slipped your mind in all the excitement. You can make her do anything. Anything.

Before your mind can really start processing what that means, 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.