Your first badge.

You opt to start with Runt. Released from her ball, Runt shakes in excitement at the battle she’s entered. “Runt use bite.” She sprints towards Brock’s Geodude taking its arm in her mouth.

The Geodude cries out. “Defense curl,” Brock orders. Geodude pulls itself from the Poochyena’s mouth tucking into a ball. Runt jumps back awaiting your order.

“Runt use sand attack,” she turns and kicks up a cloud of dust at the curled up Geodude. He unwinds as his eyes are filled with dust.

“Geodude use rock throw.” Geodude, still blinded by Runt’s sand attack, starts throwing rocks.

“Runt dodge the rocks.” Between Geodude’s lowered accuracy and Runt’s natural speed and grace, she easily dodges the flying rocks.

“Runt bite him again.” Runt once again latches on to the Geodude.

“Rollout.” The Geodude tucks its arms once again and spins into a rolling motion. The speed of his rollout and the close proximity prevent Runt from dodging. She is knocked aside by the contact skidding to the side.

“Runt behind you, use bite.” Runt turns towards the still rolling Geodude and lunges to bite him. But the rollout connects before her teeth can land their blow. Runt is once again hit, looking beat up. “He’s coming around again. This time just dodge him.” The Geodude rolls under Runt’s jump hitting a boulder and stopping in his place. “Now’s our chance, bite.” Runt latches onto the Geodude knocking him out.

“Geodude is unable to battle.” The coordinator calls out as Brock recalls his pokemon.

“Nice job. But it’s not over yet.” Brock throws out another pokeball. The battlefield is dominated by a giant rock snake, Onix. “Onix use rock tomb.”

“Runt dodge it.” Runt goes to move but falters. Her injured state reducing her speed and the rock tomb surrounds her. When the move finishes and the tomb disappears Runt is lying on the ground.

“Poochyena is unable to battle.”

“Good job girl, return.” You recall your injured pokemon. “Let’s do this Squirtle.” You let your starter out onto the battlefield. He slowly looks up at the giant Onix. Squirtle panics and starts running around. “Squirtle stop we got this.”

“Onix rock throw.” Onix flicks his tail sending a rock flying at Squirtle. Squirtle ducks into his shell as the rock hits sending him skidding into the rock outcropping on the battlefield.

“Squirtle snap out of it. Use water gun.” Squirtle perks up at the command. Poking his head out he fires a stream of water at the Onix. The water hits causing Onix to cry out and recoil. Seeing the snake’s pain fills Squirtle with confidence causing him to walk out from the rocks ready to fight his foe.

“Onix bind.” Onix’s tail grabs onto Squirtle without even needing to move. Squirtle cries out shocked at the sudden grappling.

“Squirtle use bubble.” From the Onix’s grasp, Squirtle starts spewing bubbles hitting Onix from every angle. Squirtle falls free as Onix collapses to the floor.

“Onix is unable to battle. The challenger Amber is the victor.” As the coordinator calls out your victory, Squirtle starts to glow. You watch on in amazement as Squirtle starts to evolve. After a few blinding seconds Wartortle stands in Squirtle’s place.

“Congratulations,” Brock calls out as he approaches you. “You have defeated the Pewter City Gym Leader and as a sign of this accomplishment I present to you the Boulder Badge. As a special bonus today, I also have the TM for Rock Tomb and a ticket to tonight’s Mounted Polo League match between the Pewter Miners and the Saffron Sirens as well as a cash prize.”

You stare at the Boulder Badge filled with pride over your accomplishment. You’ve done it, you’ve won your first gym battle, the first step on your journey towards becoming the champion of the Indigo League. You look to Brock, taking your other prizes from him. This is your first time seeing him up close, and the waitress’s words from this morning flood into your head. “Thanks,” is all you manage to say as you stare at Brock’s muscular physique before turning to leave. You walk back to the pokecenter thinking about your battle and your starter’s evolution.

Once you reach the pokecenter you realize that you just nonchalantly walked through town with only one pokemon in fighting shape. Luckily you made it back without incident and you hand your pokemon over to the nurse. You find a seat and take the time to attach your newly acquired badge to your bag. You take out your phone and pose with your badge. You send it out to everyone you’ve met along the way and your mom of course.