Pokemon Tech

Ash, Misty and Brock were continuing to walk towards Vermilion City. However, a mist was making it very difficult to proceed.

"I don't think we should keep walking." Misty said.

"Agreed, this mist is making it too hard to see." Ash nodded.

"Let's stop for the time being and take a break." Brock suggested. Ash and Misty nodded. He got out coffee, tea and prune juice. Ash and Misty accepted the idea, but weren't old enough to drink coffee and disliked prune juice.

"Would anyone like crepes?" Brock asked. Misty volunteered to get some water and Ash offered to collect the firewood.

As he, Pikachu and Charmander gathered firewood, they saw two Pokemon in the way.

"A couple Nidoran." Ash scanned both with the Pokedex.

"Nidoran M, the Poison Pin Pokemon. Stiffens its ears to sense danger. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom."

"Nidoran F, the Poison Pin Pokemon. Although small, its venomous barbs render this Pokémon dangerous. The female has smaller horns."

"Let's catch them, Pikachu Thunderbolt!" Pikachu released a powerful bolt of electricity which struck the Nidoran. Ash then threw two Poke Balls and captured them. Both Nidoran were then sent to Prof. Oak.

They were about to rejoin Brock and Misty after collecting the firewood when they heard voices. The two saw a boy running on a treadmill, surrounded by four other boys. The older boys were questioning the younger one about Pidgey. After getting a question wrong, the younger boy was pushed off the treadmill, called useless and left there. Ash, Charmander and Pikachu witnessed the whole thing and went to check on him.

"I'm alright." The boy said. "This happens all the time. My name's Joe by the way."

Ash wanted to know what Joe was talking about, so he invited him to have tea and crepes with him, Misty and Brock. Joe accepted his invitation. Ash led him back to where Brock and Misty were and they all had crepes and tea.

"Mind telling me what you meant by being tossed to the ground all the time?" Ash asked Joe. Joe explained to them that he was enrolled at Pokemon Tech.

"Pokemon Tech is a boarding school that teaches you about Pokemon." Joe said. "While there you can earn badges." He then explained that the older boys were trying to help him understand Pidgey.

"Pushing you to the ground for getting a question wrong." Ash said. "I don't consider that helpful."

"Would you mind taking us there?" Misty asked. Joe did so. By the time they arrived, the mist was gone. Pokemon Tech was a massive building complete with several floors.

Joe showed them around. He explained that the lessons are really difficult and some students were behind everyone else.

"What grade are you in?" Misty asked.

"I'm still a novice, but I acquired two badges." Joe said. He showed them a machine that revealed he could easily beat the Water Pokemon from the Cerulean Gym with his Weepinbell. This infuriated Misty.

"Listen here." She said. "This machine is nothing compared to a actual Pokemon battle. As Cerulean's gym leader I challenge you to a battle." Joe accepted it.

Joe and Misty got ready for their battle in one of the training rooms.

"Misty calls Starmie." Misty said.

"Okay and I choose Weepinbell." Joe said. Starmie hit Weepinbell with a single Tackle and easily knocked it out.

"No way!" Joe gasped. "How did my grass type Pokemon lose to your water type Pokemon?"

"Because Starmie has trained longer than your Weepinbell." A voice said. It was a beautiful girl with long hair and the four boys from earlier were accompanying her.

"It's true that grass has a advantage over water, but it depends on your Pokemon's experience."

"Who are you?" Misty asked.

"I'm Giselle." The girl said. "I'm the top student at Pokemon Tech. And I will be your opponent now."

Misty used her Starmie once again and Giselle released a Graveler. Brock was shocked, water type Pokemon beat rock type Pokemon. But Graveler easily knocked Starmie out with Tackle and didn't even seem affected by Water Gun. Misty was in disbelief.

"Since my Graveler was more experienced than Starmie, that was the reason it won."

"You think so." Ash said. "Let's put that statement to the test, shall we?"

"How many badges do you have?" She asked.

"Two badges and seven Pokemon." Ash answered. Giselle and the four boys laughed.

"Weak." They said.

"You think so. Allow me to prove you wrong." Ash challenged her to a battle.

"I accept." She said.

Ash sent out Pikachu while Giselle used Cubone.

"Cubone, hit that mouse with Bone Club." Giselle ordered.

"Dodge it with Quick Attack." Ash said. Pikachu avoided Cubone's attack.

"Iron Tail." Pikachu's tail glowed. When it hit Cubone, it did a lot of damage.

"Use Bonemerang." Giselle said. Pikachu allowed the bone to follow him, but led it back to Cubone. He then jumped on Cubone's helmet and the bone hit it and knocked it out.

"Let me fill you in on something." Ash said. "Type advantage doesn't mean everything. Pokemon can learn moves to compensate for their weaknesses. For example, my Pikachu can learn attacks that allow it to deal with rock and ground types. Just like how Water types can learn attacks that can handle grass types." The students were amazed. This was something they never learned at Pokemon Tech.

Joe brought it upon himself to leave Pokemon Tech and start a legitimate journey with his Weepinbell. As for Ash, Misty and Brock they said goodbye to Giselle and Joe then continued their own journey.