Pokemon CYOA
Path 1-1-1: First Battle

Pokemon is (c) Nintendo & Game Freak, etc.

(due to the fixed gender nature of this thing, switching to full third-person narrative)

Alex, still cowering behind his chair, called out to Gary/Blue. "Don't just stand there, pass me my Charmander so I can defend myself!!" he called. Gary/Blue scratched his head, glancing at the chair. "Assdude? Is that you? By the way, original joke name. Hardy har har." Gary/Blue said sarcastically. Misty turned to him, still full of rage. "You know this twerp, Blue??" she shouted. At least we have confirmation on his name. "I've got a starter delivery for him. Then you can proceed to crush him, OKAY?" he said impatiently. Alex was in a panic. "Wait! You can't yet! I... I don't have my trainer's liscence!!" he stammered. Just then, the nurse returned. "Here's your liscence! We look forward to serving you!" Alex gulped. It seemed he was already finished. He picked a Charmander and already incurred Misty's wrath.

However, Blue suddenly interjected. "Aw, this kid's so pathetic, I'm feelin' sorry for him. Tell you what, let me battle him, Misty. I'll give him a standard beginner-battle." he stated. Misty growled. "Why would I agree to that??" she snapped. Blue smirked. "Don't you think I'll win? If he wins, he gets off scott free. If I win, I'll humiliate him good, in front of the whole center...by screwing his scrawny ass in front of everyone!" he snickered. "Do I get a say in this?" Alex asked. "Not after knocking me into the bushes!!" Misty growled, "And what if you tie??" she asked. Blue looked at her like she was nuts. "That's not a thing! You can't tie!!" he grunted. "Yes you can! What then?" Misty asked. Blue rolled his eyes. This was silly. "Fine, if we tie, you get to decide BOTH our fates!" he snickered, tossing a Poke Ball to Alex. "You're up, kid. This has gotta be the highest-stakes first battle I've ever heard of." he laughed.

Alex & Blue moved to the middle of the Pokemon Center. Alex was shaking, so Blue laughed. "Relax, kid! I'm not using trained GYM Pokemon on ya! Look, see!" he said, tossing a ball and letting out a Pokemon. In a flash of red light, a somewhat round creature materialized. Alex recognized it as a Squirtle. He sighed. At least it wasn't fricken' Wailord. He then tossed his ball, and in a flash, his Charmander emerged. It had a bright tail flame and glistening, orange scales. "Char. Char!!" it cried excitedly. Misty raised her hand in an official manner. "Match begin!"

Squirtle started with a simple tail whip, while Charmander responded with a growl. Neither move did any damage, and was only meant to size up the opposition. Blue called for a Tackle attack, and Alex countered with a Scratch. The attacks parried, seeming to affect each other evenly. Squirtle then unleashed some bubbles on Charmander, forcing it to turn and protect its vulnerable tail flame. Alex was rapidly falling behind. He tried for an Ember attack, but it didn't seem to do much of anything to Squirtle at all. These were all of Charmander's moves at the moment, according to his Pokedex. Squirtle still potentially had another attack. Alex's next move would be crucial...

What should Charmander do?
1. Scratch
2. Growl
3. Ember