Panting heavily, Ash, Brock and Misty charged through the forest after the mysterious Charizard. Pikachu perched on Ashs shoulder, still alert and growling. Hearing another giant roar, the group could tell that they were close.

A loud buzzing sound was heard overhead before the sky was filled with a swarm of buzzing yellow bug Pokemon, each one angry about having their peace disturbed. Misty screamed in terror and charged on ahead as the Beedrill began to gain on the youngsters.

"Wed better do something!" Brock cried as the huge bugs began to swoop dangerously close.

"Yeah," Ash smiled. "Pikachu."

Usually, Pikachu would have been happy to give a swarm of Beedrill a Thunderbolt attack and be done with it but now he just perched on his trainers shoulder, growling to himself.

"Hey Pikachu!" Ash cried, trying to get his attention.

"Forget it Ash!" Brock gasped as he narrowly managed to dodge a poisonous stinger. "Pikachus obviously still affected by that Chaizard. Try another one."

"I know exactly which one," Ash smiled, reaching for his belt and grabbing another Pokeball. "Charmander, go!"

"Char, char," the orange lizard cried as it burst from the Pokeball in a burst of white light.

"Charmander, use your Flamethrower attack," Ash called, stopping to give the order.

Charmander lurched its head forward and out of its mouth shoot a hot wave of fire which washed over the swarm of Beedrill in seconds, scorching them immediately.

The Beedrill turned and quickly retreated back into the depths of the forest.

"Thank you Charmander," Misty choked out, still itching from the sight of the Beedrill.

Another roar interrupted the celebration, signalling that the Charizard was close. Crashing through the bushes, Ash, Mist, Brock and Pikachu burst into a small clearing just in time to see the Charizard land and a female trainer and a Bulbasaur jump off its back.

"Nice work Fire Heart," the girl said, stroking the Charizards long snout in reward before it was recalled inside its Pokeball.

The girl was of a tall and stocky build with wavy brown hair down to just past her ears, spiked heavily at the fringe. She wore a sleeveless yellow top with dirty black jeans and grubby trainers. A long blue piece of cloth had been draped over her back like a cape which was knotted at the back and had a bit of black cloth wound around part of her left arm. Beside her crouched a stocky strong looking Bulbasaur.

"Who do you think that is?" Ash whispered over to Misty, Pikachu jumping off his shoulder to land on the soft grass.

"I dont know," Misty whispered back. "Hey Brock....HEY!"

Brock was already over to the strange girls side but before he could mumble one love struck word, he was on the ground.

"HEY!" Ash yelled angrily. "Whyd you hit him like that? Who do you think you are anyway?"

"Thats right!" Misty backed him up. "Brock was just trying to be friendly and you go and knock him to the ground!"

"I have no use for male company," the girl growled back. "He would only get in the way."

"Who are you," Ash said, slightly taken aback by her words as Brock painfully got to his feet.

"The names Nikki," the trainer replied. "And you are?"

"Im Ash, from Pallet town." Ash introduced himself.

"Im Misty," Misty said after him.

"And Im Brock," Brock stammered, taking refuge behind Misty.

"Oh yes," Nikki smiled, looking over at Ash. "Ive heard of you Ash. But I didnt think youd get this far without a Pokemon from Professor Oak."

"Actually I did get a Pokemon," Ash replied matter-of-factly. "Professor Oak gave me Pikachu."

"Really?" Nikki laughed, looking down at Pikachu, who was still growling loudly with its gaze firmly fixed on Nikki. "Looks like the little guy wants a fight."

"If its a match you want," Ash said excitedly, snatching a Pokeball from his belt. "Then you got it."

"Good," Nikki smiled. "GO ROCK HARD!"

Nikki tossed her own Pokeball and a rather large Geodude came out in a blinding flash of light.

"This should be easy," Ash cried, tossing his Pokeball. "GO BULBASAUR!"

Bulbasaur burst out from his Pokeball, eager for battle, and faced Nikkis Geodude.

"Rock Hard, use Rock Throw!"

"Razor Leaf now!"

Ashs Bulbasaur let loose a flurry of razor sharp leaves from the plant bulb on its back but even that couldnt stand against the rock shower that descended upon him. Within an instant, Bulbasaur was completely buried.

"Bulbasaur!" Ash yelled in panic. "Get out of there!"

"Use Dig attack Rock Hard!" Nikki called out.

"Dude!" Rock Hard called back before disappearing under the grass.

"Bulbasaur," Ash cried out in even more alarm. "Try a Vine Whip!"

There were a few tense seconds before Bulbasaur exploded out from the rock pile with Rock Hard hot in pursuit. Gritting its teeth, Bulbasaur threw out its Vine Whip and wrapped it securely round the Geodudes body. Gathering all its strength, Bulbasaur threw Rock Hard in a loop above its head before smashing the rock Pokemon onto the ground. Rock Hard promptly fainted.

Nikki frowned as she recalled her Pokemon while Ash celebrated before calling back his own.

"That was good Ash," Nikki frowned. "But lets see you beat this one."

"Fine," a hyped-up Ash said, tossing a Pokeball without even waiting to see what Nikkis was. "GO SQUIRTLE!"

"Squirtle," the small turtle Pokemon bubbled out as it appeared out of the ball to face its opponent.

"GO FRANK!" Nikki called and out of the tossed Pokeball, a Machop stood before Squirtle, flexing its muscles.

"A Machop huh?" Ash smiled. "This should be easy. Squirtle, use Water Gun!"

Squirtle thrust his head forward and shoot out a powerful jet of water with amazing speed and accuracy at Nikkis Machop.

"You know what to do Frank," Nikki said.

"Machop," Frank nodded before charging the Water Gun attack. Squirtle poured on the power but Frank tore through it like it was nothing. Before any reactions could take place, Frank was on top of Squirtle, pummelling him mercilessly.

"Squirtle," Ash called out, frantically trying to think of a strategy. "Use Withdraw."

But it was too late. Squirtle had fainted.

"Oh no," Ash gasped as he withdrew Squirtle back for a much needed rest. Nikki smiled and withdrew her Machop.

"Pikachu," Ash said, turning to the yellow Pokemon. "Its up to you now."

"Pika Pi," Pikachu cried out, running into the battlefield.

"Why dont you take this one Dark Shade," Nikki said, turning to her Bulbasaur.

"Bulba," Dark Shade nodded as it went in to face Pikachu.

"Pikachu," Ash cried, still stressed about the last match. "Use Thunderbolt! Show no mercy!"

"Pika," Pikachu cried, gathering all his energy for one big attack.

"Dodge it Dark Shade!" Nikki called out, her Bulbasaur tensing its leg muscles.

"CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!"

Pikachu let all of his electrical energy loose and aimed it right at where Dark Shade stood but just as the attack was about to hit it, Dark Shade aimed a Vine Whip attack at the ground, propelling him into the air and clearly dodging the attack. But the Thunderbolt didnt stop. It was going straight for Nikki. It was going to hit her!

In the next chapter: Nikki lives through the Thunderbolt encounter but what about the embodied R mark on her arm that is uncovered? And why would any sensible Pokemon trainer willingly enter a Team Rocket helicopter?