Pokemon: The Controversial World

Section 2: The Stranger on the Field

The autumn sun weighed heavily on my skin, despite the wind relentlessly trying to cool me down. 3:00 PM. I still hadn't eaten, but now wasn't the time to think about that.

I thought it was over. Yet, Tony had mentioned a second round.

Another Pokémon.

That could only mean one thing: the battle was far from finished.

He grabbed a Pokéball and threw it with confidence.

— It's your turn, Mudkip!

A flash of light illuminated the field. When my eyes adjusted, I saw a creature I had never encountered before.

An unknown opponent.

Mudkip.

The name meant nothing to me. But by observing it, I could already draw some conclusions.

Its skin was a deep blue, slightly damp, catching the sunlight like a rippling water surface. Its round eyes gave it a naive look, but its stillness was unsettling. It was watching. It was waiting.

An orange fin stood on its head, and two lateral fins quivered slightly in the wind. Every detail suggested an amphibious creature, built to thrive both on land and in water.

A Pokémon that did not come from here.

A trainer from elsewhere…

I didn't have a Pokédex with me. But even if I did, it would have been useless. Standard databases only recorded Pokémon from Kanto.

The information asymmetry was striking. I was at a disadvantage.

But maybe… I could turn it to my advantage.

A blue-skinned Pokémon.

The association was instinctive: Water type.

If it was a starter Pokémon, then it likely belonged to the Fire, Water, Grass trio, just like my Bulbasaur. That meant I had a natural advantage.

But I knew all too well that relying on appearances was a mistake.

A Pokémon is not defined by its color.

The nature of an opponent is revealed in action.

Mudkip attacked.

— Water Gun!

A jet of water cut through the air, heading straight for Bulbasaur.

An instant later, the attack exploded against its body. The impact was clear but not very effective.

Confirmation.

It was indeed a Water-type Pokémon. And probably a starter, like my Bulbasaur.

But type alone didn't determine victory.

Battles are won through strategy, not weaknesses.

— Vine Whip!

The vines lashed through the air. Tony hesitated for a brief moment… but not like before.

He was learning.

— Dodge!

Mudkip rolled to the side. Dodging so early… interesting.

But I had already anticipated this.

Tony reacted instantly.

— Mud-Slap!

A Ground-type move?

— Dodge!

Bulbasaur leaped aside. Razor Leaf.

The attack shot forward. Fast. Unavoidable.

Mudkip took the hit head-on.

Match over.

Tony recalled Mudkip into its Pokéball.

I could have been satisfied with my victory. But something bothered me.

That attack from earlier… Mud-Slap.

Why would a Water-type Pokémon use a Ground-type move?

Two possibilities.

1. Mudkip had a dual typing.

2. It simply inherited the move through its evolutionary lineage.

I didn't know the answer.

And I hated not knowing.

Tony stepped forward.

— That was a great match.

Then, without another word, he turned around and headed toward Pewter City.

He wanted to challenge Brock.

That detail confirmed my suspicions.

He wasn't from here.

I watched him walk away, lost in thought.

Then, without further delay, I recalled Bulbasaur and resumed my journey.

Heading to Cerulean City.