//------------------------------//
// Train Battle 
// Story: Rainbow Dash's Pokémon Journey 
// by Razor Blade the Unicron 
//------------------------------//

	"Ready to head out?" asked Twilight.
"Hang on..." said Rainbow, rummaging through her saddle bags, "I can't find Charmander's Pokéball!"
"Are you sure it's not mixed in with your extras?"
"No, it has a flame marking on it. I must have dropped it when I fell, so there's no way of finding it..." she turned towards Charmander, "You okay with staying out, buddy?"
"Char!" responded Charmander, climbing up on to Rainbow's back.
"I'll assume that's a yes."
"I'll be outside in a minute," said Twilight, "Just need to say goodbye to my parents."
Twilight's parents had been kind enough to let Rainbow stay until she felt well enough to travel, which lasted until the next morning. They had also gotten her and Twilight train tickets to Ponyville, which was known as the best town for new trainers. The gym wasn't too difficult and there were plenty of places to catch new Pokémon.
The two made it to the train station with plenty of time to spare, and found two seats next to each other. Charmander hopped off of Rainbow's back, and sat right next to her. Rainbow couldn't describe how, but she and Charmander seemed to have a certain connection with each other.
Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon; if it's healthy, the flame on the tip of its tail will burn vigorously, even if it gets a bit wet.
Rainbow jumped when she heard the automated voice speaking, and then realized that if was from Twilight's Pokédex. Twilight grinned sheepishly, and tucked her Pokédex away.
"Sorry," she said, "I just wanted to get Charmander in my Pokédex."
"Nah, it's fine," said Rainbow, "By the way, who's your partner?"
Twilight pulled out a black Pokéball with two red stripes on it. She gently tossed it into the air, and a small gray Pokémon came out.
"Espurr..." it said softly.
"Nice," said Rainbow with a smile, "Mind if I try using my Pokédex on her?"
"Go ahead!" said Twilight.
Rainbow pulled out her Pokédex, and pointed it at Espurr. The screen lit up and showed Espurr, it's type, and a bunch more information.
Espurr, the Restraint Pokémon; the organ that emits its intense psychic power is sheltered by its ears to keep power from leaking out.
"Cool!" said Rainbow, tucking her Pokédex back in her pocket, "Why is your Pokéball black?"
"It's a Luxury Ball," said Twilight, "It's a bit more comfortable for Pokémon than normal Pokéballs."
"So they like it better?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll totally use those instead!"
"Well, they do cost a bit more than normal Pokéballs."
"Pssh, I'll get plenty of battle money to afford them! My Pokémon definitely deserve the best!"
"Char..." said Charmander softly.
"Oh, sorry Charmander! Don't worry, we'll find a way to get you a new Pokéball!"
"Mander!"
Twilight looked at the two interact with interest, "How long have you had Charmander for?" she asked.
"A day," said Rainbow, "Why?"
"Well, it's just that I've had Espurr for a few days, and even we're not as close as you and Charmander!"
"Well, me and Charmander just have a thing going! Right, buddy?"
"Charmander!" he nodded in response.
Twilight smiled, and returned Espurr. She tucked its Pokéball away in her saddlebags, just as a voice sounded on the intercom.
"Attention all trainers! The battle car has been opened!"
"Battle car?" asked Rainbow as other ponies stood up.
"I think there's Pokémon battles you can participate in," said Twilight, "It must be in a different car for safety precautions."
"Well Charmander needs to have his first battle sometime! Come on Char, let's go win!"
"Charmander!"
Rainbow stood up, and Charmander climbed on to her back. She started walked towards the door to the next car when Twilight also stood up.
"I want to come too," she said, "Not to battle, though, I just want to watch. Maybe I'll learn some new strategies!"
"Sure thing!" said Rainbow.
They walked into the next car, which was now filled with many Pokémon trainers. Rainbow managed to slip to the front, and Charmander looked very excited. Twilight was standing near the back, and had out a pen and notebook to write on. A unicorn stood in the middle of the car with a whistle around her neck, and was smiling broadly.
"All righty," said the unicorn, "There's enough space for about three battles in here, but before we start, are there any new trainers in here who'd like to start everypony off?"
Rainbow's hoof flew into the air, along with a few other ponies'. The unicorn looked around the room, and then pointed at Rainbow and a yellow Earth pony in the crowd.
"You two!" she said, as they walked forward to the center, "Either of you ever been in a battle?"
"Yes." said the Earth pony, a smug look of confidence on her face.
"No," said Rainbow honestly, "But I've seen tons of them before!"
"Pssh, like that will do you any good," the Earth pony's smugness was starting to bug Rainbow, "Seeing a battle does little to help you unless you've actually been in one, like me. So there's no chance of you winning with no experience whatsoever."
"We'll see about that!"
"Hey now!" said the unicorn, "No fighting until the battle starts! Now, both of you go to one side."
Rainbow quickly took the right side of the car, and the Earth pony took the other side. The Earth pony continued to have a smug grin, and Rainbow really wanted to smack that grin right off of her face.
"All righty, send out your Pokémon!" called the unicorn.
"Charmander, get in there!" called Rainbow as Charmander hopped off of her back and into fighting position.
"Trapinch, show them how to battle!" called the Earth pony, tossing a normal Pokéball into the air.
"Tra!" cried an orange, Bug-like Pokémon as it came out.
Rainbow automatically pulled out her Pokédex, and switched it to mute before it scanned the Pokémon. The screen lit up, and she quickly looked over its Pokédex entry.
Trapinch, the Ant Pit Pokémon; as it digs through the sand, its giant jaws crush any rocks that obstruct its path and it builds a funnel-shaped nest.
"Ground-type, huh?" muttered Rainbow, checking the type, "Charmander's weak to ground..."
"The battle will be one Pokémon each!" declared the unicorn, "Be careful not to use excessive force! Battle, begin!"
"Trapinch, use Bite!"
Trapinch ran towards Charmander with its jaws open wide, Rainbow quickly checked Charmander's moves on her Pokédex, before calling out.
"Charmander, dodge and use Scratch!"
Charmander moved out of Trapinch's way at the last second, and scratched at it with sharp claws. Trapinch flinched slightly, but turned around back towards Charmander.
"Mud Slap!"
Trapinch formed a small ball of mud, and threw it at Charmander in a flurry. It hit Charmander in the face, who cried out it pain before quickly wiping it away.
"You can do it, Char! Use Scratch, again!"
Charmander ran at Trapinch and lashed at it with it's claws. Trapinch barely dodged it, and swung around to face Charmander, again.
"Trapinch, use Bide!"
Trapinch closed its eyes, and stood completely still. Rainbow and Charmander both stared in confusion, before Twilight caught Rainbow's eye in the back. She was shaking her head, and pointing at Trapinch. Rainbow blinked in confusion, before realizing that she must mean that Trapinch was standing still to surprise Charmander!
"Leer!"
The Earth pony's grin faded away as Charmander didn't attack Trapinch. He glared at Trapinch, who shivered slightly at it even though its eyes were closed.
"What, you too afraid to attack?" mocked the Earth pony.
"Leer!"
Charmander used Leer again, and Trapinch's eyes opened. It charged at Charmander, who easily moved out of the way. Rainbow smirked at the frustrated Earth pony.
"Scratch!" yelled Rainbow just as the Earth pony cried, "Bite!"
The two Pokémon ran at each other, and hit each other with their attacks. Both stumbled back, and glared at each other, before Trapinch promptly fainted on to the floor.
"Trapinch is unable to battle!" said the unicorn, "The winner is Charmander!"
Everypony (except for the Earth pony, who angrily returned Trapinch to it's Pokéball) clapped for Rainbow and Charmander, none more than Twilight. The unicorn smiled at Rainbow, who walked over to Twilight as other battles started up. Charmander jumped back on to Rainbow's back, looking very pleased.
"Nice job!" said Twilight.
"Thanks for warning me about Bide," said Rainbow, "Charmander would have gone right into that trap!"
"I know! The Pokémon stays still for a little while, and whatever damage it takes, it does double back to the attacker!"
"Wait, that's what it does? I thought it was just a trick to get you attack while the Pokémon looks defenseless, and then they attack!"
"Char!" said Charmander in agreement.
Twilight rolled her eyes, and she and Rainbow stood back to watch some other trainer's battle.