Part 1 – An Introduction

We find Bracken exiting the stadium complex with Moon, having recently checked in for the day and scanned the notice board for her opponent.

Bracken blinked at the bright beam of light that greeted her as she passed through the main glass doors of the stadium reception. Excited and nervous, she let out a shaky sigh. Moon, already a few steps ahead of her, looked back questioningly.

‘Yeah, I’m coming...’

Despite her recent victories in the stadium, Bracken continued to feel insignificant as a trainer. She had made some unnecessary mistakes in her battles – mistakes she felt would cost her the tournament if she continued to let her feelings run riot. Lack of a strategic plan, together with a tendency to panic under pressure, wouldn’t allow her to last much longer. Intent on giving the next round her all, she lifted her head higher and strode purposefully towards the breezy hills she ate her lunch at before every fight.

When she arrived at her usual spot, however, Bracken noticed that an unfamiliar figure resting with a Pokémon had gotten there before her. Disappointed, she turned away.

‘Guess we find somewhere else today, Moon.’ The blue Miltank tugged on Bracken’s shirt as she walked past. ‘What is it?’

The figures up ahead were advancing towards her, and Bracken felt wary as a large, muscular man and a green Marowak came to stand before her and Moon. The man wore loose clothes with no shoes, and towered above Bracken. ‘Hello...’ she said, unsure if she should merely walk away, ‘do I...know you?’

‘Hah!’ the man laughed loudly. ‘Know me? Well if you do I’m afraid I don’t remember you!’ Laughing again, he scratched the back of his head with his large hand. He held out the other for Bracken to shake. ‘Name’s Chief! And if I’m not mistaken, I’ll be fighting you in the next round!’

So this is Chief...Bracken pondered.

Bracken laughed nervously and accepted the hand – Chief nearly engulfed it with his own as they shook. He smiled broadly and pointed towards the Marowak. ‘This here’s Fracture! Don’t mind him, he’s just shy, right buddy?’ Fracture looked Bracken up and down, sniffed and looked away. ‘Awh, don’t be like that! Nice Miltank you got! She have a name?’

‘Her name’s Moon,’  Bracken replied, smiling down at her partner, ‘and she’s not shy at all, are you?’ Moon, always grateful for the attention, took Chief’s hand in both of hers and pumped it up and down vigorously.

‘Haha! Well that’s just what I like in a girl, eh! Bit of boldness in her!’ Chief patted Moon’s head roughly, which she seemed to enjoy. ‘Anywho! Now that I’ve introduced myself I’ll be heading off to train, if you don’t mind me doing so.’

‘Oh, not at all. I was just about to do some training myself,’ Bracken grinned, ‘until I found you in my spot, that is!’ she added jokingly.

‘Hah! Excellent, well I’ll be seeing you then!’

‘Have fun.’

Chief brought a sizeable, fearsome-looking Rampardos from its Pokéball and climbed onto its back with Fracture. The Pokémon had a large jaw and a broken horn – the other couldn’t look sharper. Chief patted its flank proudly. ‘This one’s Jormund. Maybe you’ll be seeing him later today! You take care, now!’

Bracken gulped through a smile as Chief rode away.

I sure hope not...

*

Continues in Part 2.