Spearow

"Peckster," you shout before throwing out your Pokeball, "I choose you!"

The Pokeball hits the ground and pops open, a beam of light shooting out that shapes into the form of your Spearow, which lets out a cry of battle and takes to the skies, glaring at Blue and Elerat determinedly, who are both... grinning very widely.

"Elerat," Blue says, "Let's show her why this isn't gonna be like last time."

Elerat responds with a very confident sounding "Pika" and hops off Blue's shoulder. Your stomach drops a bit as the realization hits you that your desire to be dramatic by having a battle involving both of your Starters and First Catches may have left you at more than a little disadvantage.

It doesn't take long for Blue to exploit that advantage either, and whatever difficulties in communication he and his Pikachu started off with seem to be a thing of the past, as Elerat wastes little time making use of Thundershock to harass Peckster in the air. Your Flying-Type companion tries his best, dodging the first few blasts and even managing to follow your command to dive in for a Peck attack at your command, but eventually getting hit and falling to the ground.

To his credit, Peckster staggers back to his feet, smoldering from the lightning damage and continuing to glare at his opponent. Blue raises an eyebrow and chuckles as he remarks, "Looks like we both found feisty fellows right off the best. But yours isn't feisty enough. Finish it, Elerat!"

You wince as Peckster is Thundershocked again... and then again... and after the third time even his willpower gives out and the Spearow collapses, no longer able to continue fighting.

You recall Peckster to his Pokeball. "Sorry," you whisper to the ball, "that was my mistake, not yours."

You then unclip the ball containing Charmy and throw it forward as you shout, "Charmy, go!"

Your Eevee springs forth out of his Pokeball, ready to fight but Elerat is still mostly fresh. You bite your lower lip but keep trying to direct Charmy in battle with the rope-a-dope stratagy that worked before. Fortunately for you, Charmy is still faster than Elerat so it mostly works, much to Blue's annoyance but Elerat's hardiness is enough that it takes a lot of effort to do so and by the time you're ordering a Quick Attack that knocks Elerat off his feet, Charmy is breathing hard, his legs shaking unsteadily.

Blue recalls Elerat to his Pokeball and, without pause or hesitation, throws out his second one. "Okay Trapjaw," he shouts, "the enemy's weak! Finish it!"

After seeing so many Rattatas on the way to the city, you didn't think seeing another could make you feel nervous and yet, as it appears out of the flash of light, Trapjaw does cause your stomach to twist. It doesn't help that there's an unusually determined glint in his eyes that creeps you out and, before you can consider strategies to combat it, Blue orders it to attack.

With distressing speed and aggression, Trapjaw slams into the tired Charmy again and again, your attempts to think strategically thrown off by having to hear the pained whines of your partner. Soon enough, one particularly strong charge from Trapjaw slams into Charmy's side and Charmy collapses, unable to continue battling as well.

"Ha!" Blue exclaims as recalls Trapjaw and then places his hands onto his hips triumphantly, "Told ya last time was a fluke! Oooh, I am lookin' forward to this one."

You shiver in nervousness (and perhaps a little anticipation as well) as you recall Charmy to his Pokeball. Looks like you're going to have to pay up after all.