Go, Charmander!

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 charmander 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, "Charmander, full power ember, straight ahead!"

The small orange lizard lets out an eager growl in response. It inhales deeply, then leans forward and launches a ball of flame at the green plant monster across from it. Green doesn't even have time to tell her bulbasaur to dodge before it's struck head-on and knocked back nearly a full meter by the **** of the ember attack. Most of its bulb is charred and its left side is burned, but Green's bulbasaur manages to stay on its feet.

Before you can get another attack in, Green yells, "Bulbasaur, vine whip around its leg!"

Twin vines sprout from the damaged pokémon and shoot toward your charmander's legs. Your pokémon manages to dodge one of them, but lets out a small yelp as the other wraps tightly around its ankle. The attack doesn't seem to have done much damage, but you're sure Green is up to something.

That doesn't affect your strategy though, so you forge ahead. "Charmander, use ember again!"

Your charmander lets out a small roar as it produces another ball of flame. Before the flame can leave its mouth, however, Green shouts, "Bulbasaur, pull in your vine whip!"

The grass-type follows its trainer's orders and retracts its vines, pulling your charmander's leg along with them. Pulled off its feet, your pokémon's attack misses its target and hits the wall behind Green and her bulbasaur.

Before you can react, Green orders, "Tackle it when it reaches you!"

In response, you tell your charmander, "Scratch it when it tackles you!"

The two pokémon collide, Green's bulbasaur slamming its head into your charmander's stomach. The fire-type lets out a pained cry, but manages to rake its claws along the sides of its opponent's body. Green's pokémon cries out in pain and exhaustion, then collapses on top of your charmander.

"Bulbasaur is ****, Charmander 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 smirking and whispering, "I almost got you."

"You didn't though," you return with a smirk of your own.

Green shakes her head. "Fair enough. 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.