Train!

After a brief stopoff at the Pokémon Center, you head south, to a patch of tall grass just on the outskirts of Viridian Forest.

Wading in, you let Bulbasaur loose and encourage him to battle the wild Pokémon. They might not be an accurate representation of what's waiting for you back in the Gym, but every little bit of battle experience helps.

You go on like this for about two hours, alternating between Bulbasaur and Pikachu. You feel like not only are they growing more experienced in battle, but you're developing a bond with your Pokémon, a sort of short hand that allows you to co-operate much more effectively. You also manage to snag a wild Pidgey with one of your few remaining Pokéballs.

Just as you're going to head off, a Mankey emerges from the treeline and rushes Bulbasaur. You had absolutely no idea the Pokémon was even native to this part of Kanto. It looses a painful looking kick that sends Bulbasaur hurtling across the grassy patch.

It occurs to you that strength like that might be useful. Recalling Bulbasaur, you send out Pikachu.

Using a tactic you'd become aware of during your training session, you direct Pikachu to blast the Mankey with waves of electricity intended to incapacitate.

The white-furred primate is an agile little bugger. It jumps about so much that it takes Pikachu a couple of tries to land a hit on him. Luckily for you, it works like a charm. Mankey hits the floor, spasming, his fur bristling with static.

With such an immobile target, it's rather simple to hurl a Pokéball and capture the hard-kicking critter.

"Good job, Pikachu!" You smile, crouching down to stroke the little mouse. He squeaks with appreciation as you pet him. Like always, there's a sort of static-y buzzing feeling when you touch him. It's not entirely unpleasant.

Deciding to call it a day, you step out of the grassy area. With your Pokémon trained some more, and your team twice the size, you're feeling a lot more confident about your odds. Of course, you can never be too prepared...