"Come on already Daniel!"

"I'm coming i'm coming, hold your rapidashes!"

One week since I woke up in that clearing and I had already started to use the common slang.

I open the door to find Michael and Venam waiting outside my hospital room. Venam grins unabashedly looking me up and down.

"Looking good hotshot"

I smile completely calm, "thanks Venam."

Venam mock pouts at my casual response and Michael chuckles. I glance at my reflection in the nearby mirror.

Short, military cut dark blonde hair sits above a pair of steel gray eyes and a young but chiseled face with features still somewhat soft considering I was still only sixteen or seventeen. 

I was fairly tall standing at a good six feet five inches. Over my bandages I was decked out in a plain black t-shirt that failed to hide the muscles slightly bulging all over my body a simple pair of jeans and black steel toes boots.

All were generously provided by Michael when I was told last week that I was free to leave the Pokemon centers hospital wing which was also being generously paid for by Michael.

When I told him I'd pay him back he just laughed and told me if I wanted to repay him to just teach him how to ride a beedrill. He was joking...I think.

"Well if you're done admiring yourself we need to be somewhere." Venam said dryly a sarcastic smirk on her lips.

I smile a little abashedly, "right sorry."

We leave the Pokemon center to a busy street under the noon sun. The town I have been staying in the past week is called Belwicke town a simple town close to a famous forest called the grand forest, the very forest I woke up in.

Where we were headed to right now was the branch building of the trainers administration, the only place where one can officially become a trainer. I was headed there not because I wanted to challenge the eight gym leaders and take on the league but I did need a license to catch Pokemon and take on Pokemon related jobs.

That's right jobs apparently here they have two forms of currency pokedollars which is used only for things related to Pokemon whereas everything else requires real money.

So I was headed down to the branch building in order to get my license so that I could take some sort of job involving my partner Enzo.

"...Is that him?"

"...Totally he looks just like the guy in the video"

"...Whoa he's cute, think I have a shot at him?"

As we walked to the branch building I could feel the gazes of dozens of people on my back.

"Uhh hey you guys is it just me or are people staring?"

Venam immediately straightened, I could practically see the sweat running down her forehead.

I give her my best piercing stare, "what.Did.You.Do"

Venam turns around slowly a stiff smile on her face. 

"Well...I may have possibly filmed just a little bit of your fight with the beedrill swarm and I kind sorta posted it on the internet where I sorta hit over ten million views so...you're a celebrity now hahaha."

Venam's explanation ends in awkward laughter as she slowly backs away. I can feel a vein throbbing on my forehead. Michael and I exchange glances and both nod once.

As one we both turn to look straight at Venam. 

"Hey you guys it was Just a harmless little joke no need to get upset...right?"

We don't answer instead we both take a single step forward.

Venam turns and sprints in the other direction kicking up a cloud of dust behind her, "somebody help me!"

Like enraged tauros we immediately charge after her. The onlookers simply stood there where we had been standing.

One girl leaned in to whisper into her friends ear. 

"...so do you think I've got a chance?"

...........

(1 hour later)

"Pant...pant...pant...I...give up...do...to me what...you will...scoundrels."

Venam dramatically declares while collapsing in front of a large building with an open pokeball on the front.

Michael and I also collapse on our rear ends panting. 

"Damn how does a girl that thin run so fast she's got practically no muscle?!" I manage to groan out.

Venam's signature grin adorned her face, " heeheehee you cannot possibly imagine the might of the great Vena-"

"She got her nickname from her terrible cooking her real name is-"

Michael cuts Venam off mid-sentence only to be cut off himself when Venam starts pounding her small fists on his chest with a red face. Although I doubt it hurt I mean seriously the dude was built like a machamp.

Venam was satisfied after punching him in the chest a few more times she hopped up and marched into the administration building without a word. Michael chuckled as he got up and followed her. I just rolled my eyes and followed them inside already long used to their antics.

The inside of the building was even grander than the outside with sea blue walls and beautiful artistry of along the walls.

When I caught up to Venam and Michael a beautiful young woman in business like attire was speaking to them. When they saw me the woman politely disengaged herself nodded just as politely to me and walked away.

"What was that about?"

Venam intertwined her hands behind her head and smirked like always except this time it seemed a little forced. 

"Oh don't worry about that just some boring elite trainer business something a mere rookie like you wouldn't understand," Venam replied jokingly.

Her expression and tone were no different than usual so I decided to chalk it up to my imagination. 

Michael placed a heavy hand on my uninjured shoulder and grinned from ear to ear.

"I hope your ready because we just finished signing you up now you just have to battle with an official and if you and Enzo show a basic ability to work together you pass."

I secretly breath a sigh of relief, I love a challenge but if I had to go against someone of Michaels level I'd get curb stomped flat. 

"Awesome then lets get started!"

I match Michaels grin and follow him as he leads us down a nearby hall and into a large plain room the size of a basketball gym with the classic Pokemon battlefield taking up most of the room. I walk over to the end closest to me and turn to Michael who stands to the side as the referee next to a young boy with thick rectangular glasses and a clipboard in his hand.

"So who am I facing?"

Michael smirks and points to the other side of the field where a certain purple haired girl stands proudly with her hands on hips and (small)chest puffed up.

"Congrats Daniel not many newbies get to say they had the eighth gym leader personally battle them for their test."

I swear you could hear the crash as all my thoughts suddenly came to a screeching halt.

"...you're kidding right?"

"No, I'm serious."

"...you're a gym leader?"

"...like I said I'm the eighth."

"....................seriously?"

"YES!" 

By now I could see the vein throbbing on Venams forehead. Michael had long exploded into a deep belly laugh, it was to the point that I could see tears at the corner of his eyes.

Venam glared at him with a look that screamed, "traitor!" When she looked at me I suddenly had a really bad feeling. 

Venam had a grin on her face like always but for some reason it sent chills down my spine. 

"I was originally gonna go easy on you and only use one of the Pokemon I caught near the town but now..."

As she spoke she slowly pulled a Pokeball off of a belt with five other pokeballs attached to it.

"Lets get some payback Vali!" 

Out of the pokeball came a red arc of energy which took the shape of a purple bat with four wings two bigger ones on top and two smaller ones on the bottom.

My phone suddenly buzzed noiselessly from its place in my pocket. When I pull it out I see a picture of the very same Pokemon on the screen above a short blood chilling description.

[Crobat Type:poison and flying]

[level: 65]

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"...Oh s#*%"

Venam smirked evilly.

"Come on then bring out Enzo so we can begin."

I gulp but and glance to Michael but he just runs the other way whistling innocently. 'Traitor!'

I sigh resignedly and reach into my pocket and pull out Enzo's pokeball.

"I'm really sorry about this buddy."

I release Enzo from his pokeball in a red arc of energy. When Enzo is released he turns to me and looks at me pleadingly.

"Sorry dude..."

Enzo lowers his head in a silent sigh of resignation before turning to face his opponent, staring Vali the Crobat straight in the eyes.

Michael steps forward a white flag in his hand, "alright the rules are simple all Daniel has to do is prove he has the most basic of ability to battle with his Pokemon, the battle will start when I drop the flag."

We both nod once Venam with confidence and me with resignation.

"On my mark...ready...begin!"

I didn't waste a moment if we were going down we were going down fighting.

"Enzo use sand attack!"

Enzo obeyed and swung his wings with force causing a cloud of sand to kick up and completely cover Vali.

"Now Enzo take to the air and use air cutter."

Enzo obeyed and with a powerful flap of his wings shot into the air above the obscuring cloud. Once nine was directly above the cloud Ennzo let loose a crescent shaped blade of air directly into the center of the dust cloud. The air cutter flew through the center of the cloud turning it into a donut shape on a straight path towards Vali.

With a bang the crescent blade directly struck the top of the crobats head the impact pushed the cloud of dust away and filled the room with dust.

"As much as I hate to admit it That was a real nice strategy use Enzo's powerful wings to enhance sand attack into a massive obscuring cloud then use air cutter to do damage-as tiny as it was-and fill the whole room with dust so that I won't be able to see either, the only one who can see right now is Enzo because the dust cloud can't reach that high."

Venam spoke casually as if this didn't even surprise her at all, I suddenly had a really bad feeling.

"But..."

Faintly through the obscuring smoke I could make out Vali's silhouette raise his wings and casually bring them down, seemingly no different from the other occasional flaps he made to stay in the air.

Only this time it was much different. A hurricane of wind slammed outwards and pushed the dust cloud completely away. I actually had to dig my feet in a little to stay standing.

When the winds finally subsided I stared wide eyed at Venam my jaw practically touched the ground. 

Venam bust into raucous laughter, she laughed so hard tears were coming out of her eyes.

A vein throbbed in my forehead. 

"Enzo close in and use peck!"

Enzo obeyed immediately and dove head first towards the stationary Crobat. Venam didn't even bother to look up as Vali casually met Enzo's diving peck with a slap from one of its wings.

Enzo went flying like he'd been hit by a car. He only stopped when he crashed into the wall. 

"Enzo!"

Michael prepared to raise the white flag of Enzo was unable to continue but only a second later Enzo flew out of the small hole in the wall and landed right in front of me.

A look of grudging respect appeared in Vali's eyes but Venam just smiled arrogantly. Neither one of them noticed that Enzo had gotten a bit thinner nor did they realize that he had flown out of that hole much faster than when he had taken to the air before.

Michael however did notice, a michievous grin stretched his lips before vanishing without a trace, as if he never even saw it. 

Venam finally calmed down enough to speak, 

"alright I think that's-"

"Enzo dive in for another peck!"

I quickly speak over her which obviously annoyed her quite a bit. 

Enzo gathers the power in his legs before bursting forward his beak glowing white. He traveled the fifteen foot distance in a second but Vali didn't even react. He just casually swept his wing down again smashing Enzo into the floor with a bang.

Venam smiled like the battle was over, "that was a good match for a newbie you definitely-"

"Enzo use steel wing!"

I cut her off for the second time in a row which annoyed her to the point of stomping her feet in frustration. Just as she was about to chew me out Enzo sprang up again his body Hausa a little bit thinner than before.

Venam and Vali's eyes widened at the same time as Emzo's glowing wing smashed Vali right on the head. More out of surprise than pain Vali staggers back little.

Anger soon overshadowed the surprise but before the crobat could do anything a whistle suddenly sounded out startling everyone.

I turned to the source of the noise to find Michael with a whistle in his mouth and a very amused grin on his face.

Venam glared at him, "Michael why'd you interrupt we were just getting started!"

Venam stomped her foot several times as she spoke as if to punctuate what she was saying. Honestly I thought it looked like someone's reaction to a spider crawling up your leg.

Michael gave Venam a firm look, "we only needed to confirm if he had a basic ability to battle with his Pokemon and he proved he could from that very first move the fact that he actually got in a hit one you-even if it was only because of your own cockiness-is more than impressive enough for him to get his amatuer trainers license."

Venam wilted a little under Michaels reproachful words and muttered an apology. I ran over to Enzo who was sitting down in obvious pain. The nearly forgotten boy with the glasses beat me to him however and began administering a potion to Enzo's injuries.

A half hour later Enzo and Vali were back inside their pokeballs and Michael Venam and I were simply waiting for the boy to come back out with the license.

"So Daniel what kind of job are you thinking of taking?"

Michael asked me out of nowhere after seeing that I was staring off into space, going over the battle in my head.

I shake my head a little and sit up straight in the bench we were waiting on. 

"I honestly don't know, something that would let me travel with lots of freedom would be most ideal I guess."

Michael grinned as if he had been hoping for that answer.

"In that case I think I've got the perfect job for you."

I give him a slightly suspicious look, it's obvious he's been waiting to bring this up.

"And what would that be?"

Michael opened his mouth to answer but was interrupted as the boy with the thick glasses walked up to us with what looked like a credit card in his hand.

"Sorry for the wait sir here is your amatuer trainers license."

Four eyes as I've decided to call him-since I don't know his real name-hands over a red plastic card, on the card is a picture of me with eight empty squares under my picture stretching from the left of the card to the right. Next to the picture and above the squares is simple information name, age, when i got my license, occupation.

...wait why was occupation already filled out?!

Slowly I turn to stare at Michael who had a suspicious amount of nervous sweat on his forehead.

"Michael.What.Did.You.Do?"

The exact same words I spoke to Venam I aimed at Michael.

Under my gaze Michael drooped his giant shoulders a little a nervous smile on his face.

"Now now Daniel no need to make such a scary face it's just that I thought it rather suited you and besides it fits with what you were hoping for in s job doesn't it?"

I ponder his words for a moment before looking at my license again.

Right there next to occupation in crisp white letters it said mercenary grunt.

AN: sry I was gone all week my schedule is really rediculous right now but in the bright side we've finally finished the prologue arc, now the real fun can begin!

----------------------------------------

I know there are a lot of mistakes I had quite a bit of trouble getting this chapter out for some reason but I promise the next one will be written much better than this