Chapter 15:  Join the Club (Part A) by Michael Keens/ Exodus  

We finally reached Vermilion City, it had taken us much longer than expected, 
the welcome sign was a sight to behold.  
We stared in awe before entering, Chad took the first steps in, and sparks of 
light emitting crackling sounds exploded around us.  
�Congratulations, you�re the lucky winner of the S.S Anne Boat Cruise!� yelled 
a moderately old man.  
My mouth dropped, I�d never won anything like this in my life.  
�Here you go sir.� he said handing the ticket to Chad.  
�This one of those exact number visitor things, ain�t it?�  
�Yup.� he replied as he passed the prize over.  
�And us?� I asked hopeful.  
�Sorry, that's the only one.�  
My head fell down in despair.  
�Damn...  If only I�d walked in first...�  
�Tough luck Tetsubo.� said Chad smugly.  
�So you�re going without us?...� I asked.  
��Fraid so.  You knew that our trip together was temporary, the lady Emily is a 
fine trainer now, who can take care of herself, and she�s got you.�  
�Huh?�  
�Tetsubo, you�re a good trainer, I see that, and I thank you for all you�ve 
done to enlighten me.�  
�So when are you leaving Chad?� asked Emily.  
�Probably after I beat the Gym Leader.�  
�I�m sorry sirs.� said an old lady, �But Lieutenant Surge is on his annual 
leave.�  
�When will he be back? CHAD THE CHOSEN needs that Gym Badge.�  
�He�ll be back tomorrow, don�t worry, take a look around our town.�  
�Oh well, at least we get a break.�  
We dispersed, a little alone time helped friendships in the long run.  

Chad wandered around, �Why doesn�t anyone want a Pok�mon Battle?�  
�I�ll battle.� said a teenager named Steve, he had spiky blonde hair and light 
blue clothes.  
�Cool, YOU SHALL YIELD TO CHAD THE CHOSEN�S POK�MON.�  
�Huh?�  
�I�m gonna win.�  
�Oh.  We�ll see.  I choose you Dux!�  
�Let�s try again Spearow!�  

�Farfetch�d!�  
The brown duck Pok�mon struck a pose and Spearow pecked on Chad�s head.  
�Ow ow ow, why are you attacking me?!�  
�Here boy.�  
Steve had some special Pok�mon bird food in his hand and the Spearow flew over 
to him and became mellow and peaceful as it ate the food.  
�Hey, that�s a mean trick! Get over here and battle Spearow!�  
The Spearow flew off, pecked Chad hard, then went back to eating.  
The Farfetch�d wasn�t attempting to battle, it was practising heroic poses with 
the leak in place of a sword or staff.  

�Hey, your Pok�mon�s not battling either.�  
�No, firstly, I�d say the match is cancelled, second, we both have difficult 
Pok�mon.�  
�How come you�re so good with that Spearow?�  
�I used to live with them on a farm when I was younger, I�ve always wanted one, 
but the only Pok�mon I own is this Farfetch�d who doesn�t seem interested in 
battles, only showing off.�  
Chad was thinking, something in his head was trying to tell him something, but 
like most times he blocked it out.  
�That Farfetch�d is cool though, I�d like to own one of those even if it can�t 
battle, its super rare and this one is super cool.�  
�Hey, why not trade? I can take care of this Spearow if you take my Farfetch�d 
and maybe teach him how to battle.� suggested Steve.  
�Let�s weigh those odds, super cool Pok�mon who doesn�t know how to battle but 
looks good or a psycho bird who pecks my head and won�t battle for me anyway.  
I�d say we pretty much have a deal.� said Chad with some sarcasm.  
They recalled their Pok�mon and traded them in the Pok�mon Centre through a 
special machine.  

�The Spearow has no name so you can give it one.�  
�And my Farfetch�d is called Dux, but I�m sure you could arrange to have it 
changed.�  
�No, no.  Dux is fine.�  

I was at the Pok�mon Centre arranging some trades.  
�Okay, Whirlwind, you take a well earned rest, I�ll recall you when I need a 
good Flying Pok�mon...�  
�And here comes your Charmander.  Careful though, it has a high sense of pride 
so it probably won�t battle weak Pok�mon.�  
�I know Blossom, I�ll keep him for emergencies.  See you soon.�  
�Goodbye Tetsubo.�  

I walked outside, and a Squirtle ran by, followed by some cooks by the looks of 
their white uniforms.  
�Come back �ere! You thief!�  
Best not to get involved until I got the whole story.  

Meanwhile, Emily took a rest and released little Clefairy.  
�So, you�re just a baby, that�s the only reason you wouldn�t learn attacks.  
Well don�t worry, we�ll find you an owner who�s not into Pok�mon for 
battling.�  
�Clef?�  
�Ahhhh! What a cute little Pok�mon!�  
�Huh?�  
An old man with black specs, suit and a tall black hat had snuck up from 
behind, picked up Clefairy and started hugging it.  
�Um, should I get the police, or ask you nicely to let go of that Clefairy?�  
�Oh, no, sorry, I just looove Stage 1 Pok�mon.  They�re so small and cute and 
huggable!�  
�Yeah...� said Emily bewildered.  
�Oh, I�m sorry, you must be new here, everyone in this town knows me.  I�m the 
Director of the Pok�mon Fan Club.�  
�Fan Club?...� asked Emily nervously.  
�Yes, yes, please, why not take a look around?�  
�Well, I�ve got nothing else to do...�  

�There�s that green chick that hangs with the turquoise kid.� whispered Claus.  
�What about the guy in yellow?� asked Cassie.  
�Can�t see that klutz.� replied Claus.  
�But sir, if dat �klutz� beat yer Pok�mon, den what does dat make y�all?� 
pointed out Cletus.  
�Shuddup.  Anyway, she went into that place...  Pok�mon Fan Club? I didn�t know 
such a place existed.� noted Claus.  
�But it probably has some lil� ol� rare Pok�mon somewhere.  Let�s take a 
looksie...� finished Cletus.  

�Emily?...� I called, searching the town, where could she have gone? It worried 
me when we were away from each other for so long, I just wanted to know where 
she was.  
I heard a �CHAD THE CHOSEN...� being mentioned around the corner.  
Of course only one person could say that with a straight face, but I was 
curious as to what Chad was up to now.  
I saw the Squirtle from before.  
�Go on, beat eet up! Eet stole our food!� yelled spectating chefs with a 
typical French accent.  
�I�ll try, Go Dux!�  
�Chad has a new Pok�mon, how?� I thought.  
�Far, har har Fetch�d!� it shouted adopting a pose, I had to record this:  

�Farfetch�d, the Wild Duck Pok�mon.  This rare bird Pok�mon always holds a leak 
and is known to use it as a weapon.�  

�DUX, USE YOUR... FURY ATTACK.�  
�Far!�  
It adopted a fierce pose instead.  
Chad didn�t seem to have much luck with new Pok�mon.  
�Dux, come on, a pose is meaningless if you can�t prove your skill and 
strength.�  
�Far? Farfetch�d!� it screamed.  
Perhaps Chad knew what he was doing this time.  
�Okay Dux, we�ve reached an understanding, so USE YOUR SWORDS DANCE.�  
The Farfetch�d concentrated, improving its attack power, the Squirtle was 
frightened and didn�t move either way, there was no way to escape.  
"OKAY! FURY ATTACK!"  
"Far har har!" it laughed charging forward, raising its leak like a sword and 
bringing it down on the Squirtle�s head.  
�Squirt!�  

�Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pok�mon.  This Pok�mon can shoot powerful sprays 
from its mouth, it withdraws into its shell when it is in danger.�  

It scowled and jumped forward ramming it with its head.  
Dux fell back bruised.  
�Hang in there, there�s always a little pain to start with, but believe me, 
we�ll get better.  NOW HIT IT WITH ALL YOU�VE GOT! SLASH ATTACK!�  
�FAR... FETCH�D!!!� it screamed as it swung the leak with such force, it became 
the equivalent of a staff hit.  
The Squirtle was defeated.  
�Now what chefs?�  
�We either run eet out of town or you can capture eet and take eet away.�  
�I choose Catch.�  
Before Chad could throw the ball, the Squirtle glared at him and leaped back on 
its feet.  
Though battered, it wasn�t willing to give up everything and serve him.  
Withdrawing into its shell, it suddenly bounced to the side, rebounded off a 
wall and rose so that it ricocheted off the walls of the narrow alleyway and 
onto the rooftops where it disappeared.  
�Yeah! And stay out!� shouted a chef.  

End of Chapter 15A  

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Chapter 15B
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