A Tribute to Ross Ferguson's "Journey of Champion: in Kanto" With Intro by Mister F

[Yuugis Black Magician]

The following was written by Ross Ferguson.

Dear readers,

Although it's been nearly a year since I ceased writing 'Journey of Champion: in Kanto' when I look back at the 1.5mb word file I recognize that this was one of the most beneficial endeavours I have ever undertaken. It taught me an unmeasurable amount about how story is constructed, what the important aspects of adaptation are, and if one wants to create something epic they must dedicate themselves to it completely. The story has undergone many transformations and when I stopped writing back in July 2004 it was initially to do a rewrite.

The rewrite was called 'Champions of the Dawn' and focused on the adventures of Aaron Masters, Ethan Oak and Naomi Amaranth. It would combine all the conventions I had learned whilst writing 'JoC:iK' and I believed it would be better recieved by the Serebii audience than 'JoC:iK', but I suppose we will never know. The more I wrote the more I discovered that I was finished with Pokémon fan-fictions, because I had learnt all I could from them and I had reached a point in my life where everything that I did had to be focused on aquiring new skill and knowledge. I would like to impart a little of that knowledge. 1) Writing is a very expensive medium. Expensive in the sense that it takes a lot of time to write and a lot of time to read, so people don't want to have to wade through massive amounts of pointless plot to finally get to the meat of your story. Fillers are created specifically for a more commercial medium where an executive wants to milk a story for all it's worth. In writing fillers cannot exist! You are writing a story, not the Pokémon television show. The Pokémon television show is a trite piece of garbage designed to sell toys.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that a good quality story is like 'Pokémon: Master Quest'. Good stories are 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Hamlet' or 'Neuromancer'. If you aren't reading as much as possible, don't write.

2) Don't write about yourself. It's narcissistic and masochistic. Believe me when I say that nobody on the internet cares about you or your life. If you want to tell people about yourself invest in a blog, this is not the platform for self-gratification. If you write about yourself you will find it increasingly difficult to look at your work objectively. If you enjoy reading about your adventures around Kanto that doesn't mean that everybody else does. Be creative and create an interesting character, preferably one that has depth. By depth I don't mean kill their parents and inject them with obnoxious amounts of angst; by depth I mean give them emotions, make them react to situations realistically, MAKE THEM FALLIBLE! If you do this then when you do kill off their parents it will make the event ten times more emotional.

3) Finally, if you want to write a journey fan-fiction then good on you. Many people will tell you that journey stories are easy to write and boring to read; they are ignorant, ignore them. If you want to write a journey story then do so, but keep a few things in mind. If your story starts with a character that wants to be a Pokémon Master, then gets his/her first Pokémon from a professor, goes around collecting gym badges, fights Team Rocket, arrives at Pokémon League and fights rival, then your story is unoriginal garbage. The point of a journey story isn't the Pokémon League at the end, the point is that the characters are travelling around, exploring the world. Have all those aspects if you want, but if that is all there is to your story then your story is crap.

If you choose to read on then you'll see that I have broken some of these rules, but keep in mind these were lessons learned after writing this story. The rewrite would see Aaron rescuing an injured Growlithe, Pallet being attacked by Raticate who want to kill Growlithe, forcing Aaron to head north and search for his father by seeking a hermit (Brock) in the mountains. Already it departs from the Pokémon Master storyline. I believed it would be enough to turn to game into a story, because every direct adaptation up until then had been awful. It was more difficult than I could have imagined and now I know why. If you aren't imaginitive you wont create an interesting piece of art. Personally I think you are better off writing something original, which is another reason I quit, but that's kind of redundant, considering where we are.
As for 'JoC:iK', I don't have much to say about it. When I originally posted it nobody bothered with it, save a small group of appreciative readers, and I doubt much will change today. Most people thought it was too long, some thought it was too much of a journey fan-fiction, and a few lacked the literary skills necessary to comprehend the writing. I also insulted the Serebii community when I suggested that their writing was elementary. Ah, good times. What I wrote is something I would enjoy to read and that one little message board didn't get it doesn't really bother me. That small coterie of loyal readers was enough to give me hope.

Something I wanted to change in the rewrite was to cut the length, because it is quite heavy, so if you aren't prepared to devote the same amount of time as you would to a short novel then don't start reading. Special thanks to Yuugis Black Magician for keeping this alive, and to all the old readers for keeping me going.

Regards,
MCNinja

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 1: Pokémon, I Choose You!

When Professor Samuel Oak announced that he would shortly be handing out starter Pokémon to those fledgling trainers who had completed the Pokémon written examination there was much talk and excitement in Pallet Town.

Professor Oak or, as many sought to call him, the Pokémon Professor had been a wondrous figure in Pallet Town for the past thirty years, ever since he began his own journey, only to return a decade later to open the most prominent Pokémon laboratory in the eastern lands. He was, to many of the townspeople who did not know him, a peculiar fellow who required much investigation rather then appreciation, for they had forgotten the wonders of being a child and the innocent curiosity that was synonymous with it. No matter how queer he was seen to be by the adults of the town Professor Samuel Oak was always a marvel to be admired by the children of Pallet Town.

It was these children and their untapped strength that Oak was devoted to, for he perceived the beginning of the Pokémon journey to be the most pure and good things to exist or to ever have existed in the world of Pokémon, which is why the old trainer took it upon himself to oversee the distribution of beginning Pokémon in the Pallet shire.

So when the day finally came he town was abuzz with chatter about the three trainers who would be chosen to leave Pallet Town and begin their journey, a huge honour that was bestowed upon only the most promising of initiates.

The night before the selection in the Pallet Town pub known well to the locals as the Jolly Snorlax two prominent figures in the Pallet shire voiced their opinions over a mug of ale. The first, Thomas Stout, was the mayor of Pallet Town, a well-liked fellow, and although simple he did not broach complicated subjects with a closed mind. His antagonist was Richard Barleywine, a local businessman and chairman of the Pallet Club.

Stout began the argument upon hearing some derogatory comments aimed towards his old friend Professor Oak from Barleywine. “I will hear no more opinions of Samuel Oak uttered without respect for the man’s achievements.”

“And what has he achieved, Stout?” Barleywine replied, snidely. “He did not even collect enough badges to become a Pokémon challenger in the League.”

Frustrated by his foe’s obstinance Stout waved his hand dismissively. “He is much more then that title can possibly bestow. He has taught Pokémon trainers for thirty years and although he lacks the recognition from the League to be a Pokémon master he has more skill and experience then some of the greatest masters in the world. You should show him more esteem for he teaches many of our children.”

“Yes, and whose children will become trainers tomorrow? His own?”

“Young Alexander Oak deserves a chance to prove himself,” Stout found himself defending Oak’s principles once more. “Besides, I’m sure his selection will not cast a shadow over the other three candidates. He did purposefully hold his selection off a year so he could become more skillful before starting his journey.”

By now their argument had attracted the attention of many residents in the bar, the majority of whom had had children learn under Professor Oak. It wasn’t unusual to see a debate break out in the small pub, but the topic was a particularly fascinating one, even for Barleywine. As the fighting looked to continue the door to the bar swung open and a man in a white coat strode in, ordering a cold beer from the barkeep.

“Jonathon, come and tell us who old man Oak will choose tomorrow,” Barleywine shouted over the murmur of half-cut men.

Oak’s assistant walked over to their table and shook his head. “Richard, you know that’s a secret.”

“Come now, Jonathon,” Stout said, jestingly. “Surely you can at least give us a hint.”

“I’m afraid not, sir.”

Barleywine leaned forward and scowled at the newcomer. “What of Alexander Oak? If you tell us nothing else of worth tonight at least settle the matter of Professor Oak’s nepotism. We all know he’ll choose his grandson.”

Jonathon Elm’s eyes narrowed. “Alexander Oak will become a trainer because he is skilled beyond comparison to any other student in Pallet Town. He has the potential to be great; greater then any other.”

“Surely you don’t include the Pallet Town Trinity in that edict,” Barleywine scoffed.

“Greater then any other,” Jonathon repeated solemnly.

Jonathon's announcement regarding the Pokémon Professor’s grandson and the trio of elite trainers that left Pallet Town two years earlier fuelled the fire of the argument that would continue on into the night until those involved were too inebriated to stand or too disgusted by their brethren’s belligerence to carry on. Light came where darkness once was, illuminating the Pallet shire in the warm glow of spring sunshine.

As the Pidgey chirped unremittingly at the rising sun a lone figure made his way down the streets of Pallet Town towards Professor Oak’s laboratory quickly and with great purpose, as though his entire life had lead up to the day. The streets were empty, for it was the time of morning when the sun was just breaking the horizon and the world was just waking up, so nobody stopped the boy as he proceeded through the town, his head held high to let the morning breeze wash the sleep from his eyes.

When he reached the lab he was turned away and told that the Pokémon Professor had gone for his morning hike on route one and would not be back for several hours. This did not surprise the boy, for he knew of Samuel Oak’s morning habits, so he cordially thanked the lab assisted to whom he was familiar and made his way out of Pallet Town towards the Callow Woods.

Nature blossomed before the boy and he felt a great sense of anticipation as he left the streets for the dirt track of route one. Although he had made such a trek many times before in his training he knew, with great jubilance, that he would only make it a few more times in his life. Content with the knowledge as it was he continued on.

“Ross!” A voice called out from the direction of Pallet Town. “Ross Spare!”

Ross Spare turned to find his mother on the long dirt road. She had seen the thirteen-year-old pass their house and had come out to see what had happened at the laboratory. She was no fool and knew that he couldn’t have received a Pokémon yet, so her curiosity prompted her to interrogate her son. The kindly woman glided towards Ross, her arm outstretched to deliver a red and black backpack, designed for Pokémon journeying.

“Ahoy,” Ross smiled sheepishly.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Alice Spare asked, forgoing formal greetings.

It was an inconvenience to explain what was happening to his mother, but Ross owed her his attention, so tried to tell what he knew as thoroughly, yet as swiftly, as he could. “Professor Oak is hiking again, and I’ve decided to go and greet him upon his return.”

“It’s dangerous out there,” Alice reminded him.

“Mother, I grew up in these forests.”

Alice nodded in understanding as he took his bag from her, but before he put it on he paused, staring at one of the straps. Hanging from the fastening was an old warn red and white ball, which had past its time many years before. Ross gazed at the sphere gravely, working the activation trigger with his finger before continuing to sling the bag over his back.

“Father’s Pokéball,” Ross named the sphere.

Alice adjusted his cap so the bill was over his eyes. “I thought it would give you luck.”

“Thanks.”

“Tell me how it end up, okay, honey?”

Ross smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell you when I plan to leave.”
Content with his answer Alice Spare left her son and returned home to fix breakfast. She was a bother sometimes, but she had always been supportive of her son’s dream and Ross appreciated that in his remaining parent. His father had left six years before to complete his Pokémon journey that he began before he met Alice. Ross always imagined what he’d say when he finally found his father and challenged him to a Pokémon battle.

When his mother had disappeared into the town beneath route one Ross turned his cap back the wrong way once more. Making his way into the Callow Woods he found a peaceful grove, bathed in an inspiring yellow and green light and sat himself down beneath a great tree. The Pokémon of the forest came out to see him, as he could usually be found reading in the calm of the forest amongst the wild pocket monsters and the glorious nature that they were born from.

Pokémon training was in his blood, so it was only natural that he would follow in his father’s footsteps, fulfilling the Spare bloodline. As the boy watched the sun creep into the sky he knew he was finally an official Pokémon trainer, registered in the Pokémon League and on his quest to catch every Pokémon in the world, the dawn somehow validating his license. He’d dreamed for thirteen years that he’d be able to walk the same path his father had and that day his dreams would be realized.

Normally prospective trainers received their Pokémon license at the age of twelve, however, although Ross came second in Pallet Town in the written exam his regular schoolwork left something to be desired and his license was with held for one year so he could get his schoolwork in order. He managed to scrape through with sixty percent on the end of year exams, and although it was remarkably low it was enough to pass him from school and get him his license, which was all he needed. With his Pokémon League authorization in hand Ross was going to march down to Professor Oak’s lab and get a starter Pokémon, a Pokémon of moderate power, but total loyalty, perfect for beginning trainers.

In addition to studying to pass his final exams over the past year Ross had also been researching every Pokémon in Professor Oak’s extensive Pokémon Pokédex thoroughly. When battle came he would be the best equipped of all starting trainers to answer its call; that he was sure of. There was only one person who he believed was smarter then he when it came to Pokémon and that was Professor Oak’s grandson. Ross sighed when he thought of Professor Oak’s grandson, his old friend, and began to recall past relationships of his.

Ross was ready for the trials of the Pokémon League. The best trainers in the world devote every fibre of their being to Pokémon, no matter the cost. If that were what it would take to become a Pokémon Master then Ross would happily pay the price. Pokémon were his life, but he would need to make progress from day one for his dreams to reach fruition.

He already had his course set in his mind, he’d been planning the journey for some time, and so everything had been considered. He would simply follow the routes until he’d passed the eight gyms in Kanto and defeated their leaders. The first step was to receive a Pokémon from Professor Oak and although his plans had already been diverted by the Pokémon Professor’s long walks Ross was sure that later that day he would be beginning his Pokémon journey.

So, he waited patiently for Oak to return to route one in the shade of the Callow Woods.


* * * * *


It was a spring day that the boiling sun had confused with summer. It beat down on route one with a ferociousness that would make Moltress blush. Despite the intensity of the heat it was still welcome to the forest dwellers after a particularly cold winter. Rattata scurried out of their burrows to bake in the rising sun and fledgling Pidgey squeaked for their parent’s attention, all ignoring the lone figure that made his way along the road that linked Pallet Town to the glittering gem of Viridian City, the city where hopes and dreams were born, and more often then not, realized.

Samuel Oak wiped the sweat from his ever-receding hairline and made his way back towards his hometown, a slight limp following his step. He knew his doctors frowned on these little early morning excursions, but Samuel didn’t care what they said, all he knew was that he needed to start his day among his little friends; Pokémon. They had dominated his life for nearly fifty years in much the same way they would dominate the life of the Pokémon trainer, and it was refreshing to be with them, because they silently assured him that he was still alive.

As he broached the final hill before Pallet he sighed and leant against a tree. Regardless of whether his mind was healthy or not, he could feel his body failing him. Every day the hike became hard, rather then easier as it did when he was a young Pokémon researcher signaling him that his time was fast approaching, but this day, instead of dwelling on his retirement he focused on the new Pokémon trainers he was going to christen later in the day.

Every half year he handed out starter Pokémon to three children from Pallet and they began their journey, revitalizing Oak with every joyous squeal, or heartfelt hug. He couldn’t wait to unveil the little pocket monsters to their bright-eyed and bushy-tailed new masters, so he sprung up and continued down the road, ignoring the cramp that struck him when he got up too fast.

Trapped in his own thought he nearly ran into the boy that was making his way up the hill and away from Pallet, but he noticed the lad just in time and stopped himself short. The boy’s face creased with recognition and approached at a brisk jog.

“Professor Oak!” The boy exclaimed, joyously, as though he’d just defeated a gym leader.

Samuel raised an eyebrow in anticipation, “Yes?”

“It’s me, Ross Spare,” Oak stared blankly at him, “From next door.”

Suddenly Samuel remembered Ross. He was a thirteen-year-old boy who lived next door and had recently been granted his Pokémon license by the League. Ross would have started his journey to become a Pokémon trainer a year before, but was held back due to poor grades in school. He seemed like a good-hearted child, but he was also quite clumsy and off-putting, never really getting on well with the other children in his year.

He seemed to have cleaned himself up, ditching his baggy cargos, which were the permanent home for his MP3-player; he was now wearing jeans, held up with a black belt that hung low from its silver buckle. His black, long-sleeved shirt had been replaced by a short-sleeved black T-shirt, covered by a red and white, sleeveless jacket. Finally he wore a plain red and white cap, turned backwards, allowing his dark brown fringe to poke out the gap at the back of the hat.

“Ah, yes, Ross,” Oak nodded, “You shouldn’t go out here,” The old man pointed to the road that stretched into the horizon. Although a relatively peaceful path Oak knew that there were some Pokémon in the world not as peaceful and forgiving as Oddish, Pidgey or Sandshrew, and while an old Pokémon professor may be able to avoid the dangerous Pokémon a thirteen year old boy would not. “It’s unsafe. Wild Pokémon live in the long grass. You need your own Pokémon for your protection.”

A smile began to form on the boy’s face when he heard mention of owning a Pokémon. “I know. I came here to find you so I could receive my starter.”

Oak nodded, knowingly, and motioned towards Pallet. “Follow me, then.”

The walk back to the Pokémon laboratory was in complete silence, but Ross didn’t need to speak to relay his excitement it was evident in the air. Samuel knew that Ross was more anxious then any child in Pallet to get his starter Pokémon due to his late start, but he also knew Ross was capable of remarkable amounts of patience to be able to wait as long as he did to start his journey. He’d also heard from some of his aids that Ross had spent afternoons after school pouring through the Pokédex mainframe at the lab. He was truly committed to becoming a trainer.

As usual there was a large crowd waiting at the lab to greet the new trainers lead by the mayor of Pallet Town and Samuel’s old friend, the honorable Thomas Stout, but Oak slipped through the side gate to get to his lab, avoiding the attention of the townspeople and saving Ross from getting mobbed. He was obviously in no mood to meet and greet his fans.

Samuel gazed up at his lab, longingly, his heart warming at the sight of his home and the home of his Pokémon and his trainer’s Pokémon. The primary research structure was a converted barn, complete with hay-loft which was made into his personnel office, and main floor, where his aids worked at computers and lab tops, decoding various genomes and decrypting ancient texts, while the secondary structure housed the Pokémon’s facilities and the gate to the reserve where they lived. It was the most advanced Pokémon research laboratory on the planet, or so Oak read in the various journal articles that crossed his desk.

Slipping into the Pokémon lodge he hung his backpack on the wall and exchanged his khaki jacket for a white lab coat. As he did this Ross wandered over to the holding area and watched a Diglett play with a Krabby. The crab Pokémon chased the mole around as it played an advanced game of peek-a-boo. Samuel guided the still-smiling Ross to the main lab.

By the time they got to the main floor his smile was replaced with grim resolve.

“Gramps!” Exclaimed a familiar voice. “It’s about time. I’m tired of waiting.”

Samuel and Ross stopped before the table that was the home of the three Pokéballs Oak was going to give out as starters. The Pokéballs rested, expectedly, waiting to be chosen and for their wards to be unleashed onto the world. Behind the table stood the three twelve year olds who were given the honor of being called to the lab to receive a starter Pokémon from the famous Professor Oak. They were all a year younger then Ross, and glared at him as he approached, as if he were some sort of disease to be expunged.

Standing behind the three new trainers was a boy the same age as Ross. He wore black denim jeans and a plain blue T-shirt and his similarity to Ross ended with his age. The thirteen-year-old had a stern face, twisted into a nasty sneer, which he directed at the two approaching his little party. This was Oak’s grandson, Alexander. It pained the old man to see he grandson so full of hate whenever he looked at Ross, but he tried to assure himself that a rivalry was healthy for all parties involved, as long as it didn’t get out of control.

“Alex,” Samuel greeted his grandson. “What are you doing here? Right,” The old man exclaimed in realization. His memory was slowly slipping from him in his old age, but he wouldn’t let it get in the way of guiding these young trainers on their first steps. “I called you here to receive your first Pokémon, too. First I would like to welcome all of you to the world of Pokémon. For those who don’t know me my name is Oak. People like to call me the Pokémon Professor. This world is inhabited with creature called Pokémon. For some people Pokémon are pets, others use them for fights. Myself,” He gave this speech to all novice Pokémon trainers, even though, every time, there was at least one person who rolled their eyes in boredom, but whenever he came to describing what it was he did you always said something different. “I study Pokémon as a profession. Alright, tell me your names.”

The three novices went first, despite Alex’s protests, all receiving one of the three starter Pokémon. Oak smiled warmly as he handed them their Pokéballs and they all thanked him graciously. When they were done Oak’s aids escorted them from the lab and to the waiting crowd outside where they showed off their Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.

“Fantastic,” Alex sighed, lazily. “Now, that the losers have gone the winners can get their Pokémon. Well, winner.” The boy said, sneering at Ross.

Ross rebutted quickly. “Why, thanks, Alex, but I wouldn’t go around calling yourself a loser if I were you.”

Samuel Oak shook his head and searched around for his last two Pokéballs, but only found one. Cursing his stupidity he confronted the two eager boys and sighed. When he had ordered the starters from the Pokémon League he had forgotten to get one for Ross. After he handed the red and white orb to Alex he could only watch as Ross’ face fell.

“What about Ross’ Pokémon, Gramps?”

Oak glanced at his grandson and was faced with dark menacing eyes. Alex was expecting to get a rival today, as well as a Pokémon, and he seemed to be as equally disappointed as Ross. “I’m sorry, Ross, I don’t have a starter for you.”

Tears ate away at Ross’ eyes, but he fought them back. “What do you mean?”

“The League only sent me four,” Oak confessed.

Alex was the first to break the stony silence. He was laughing. “Well, considering this is my second Pokémon I guess you’ve fallen behind again, loser. Ah, well, maybe next year. Smell you later.” Alex strolled out of the lab, spinning the Pokéball on his finger, laughing all the way. He paused at the entrance to take a deep breath and prepared himself to face to crowds.

Expecting Ross to cry Oak placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder, however he was surprised to see the boy shaking his head in disappointment. He must have been crushed to learn he wouldn’t be getting a starter Pokémon, but he hid his sorrow very well, not well enough to hide it completely, but enough to prove to Oak that he was no ordinary trainer.

The Pokémon Professor considered the thirteen-year old for a brief moment then turned to a Pokéball tray resting on a table at the stair leading to his office. One of his aids, Jonathon, was cataloging a group of sick Pokémon who were recently picked up at a Pokémon center in Johto. They were being transferred to Saffron City for treatment, but one of the Pokéballs, more scuffed then the others was carrying a troublesome Pokémon that required quarantine. It had attacked the Pokémon handlers in Cherrygrove and they had to lock it in its Pokéball.

Looking back at the dismayed Ross Samuel Oak considered what he was about to do. The Pokémon in the ball he held was not a starter, it was unruly and dangerous and if Ross wasn’t as good as Oak thought he was then he could get into serious trouble. Still, the boy was dedicated, maybe dedicated enough to tame the beast.

Resolved to hand the boy the Pokéball Samuel turned back and extended his hand; in it the sphere of red and white was grasped firmly.

“You’ll need this if you want to get to Viridian City.”

Ross stared at Oak, confusion evident on his face.

“I need you to go to the Pokémart in Viridian City and pick up a package for me,” He handed the Pokéball to Ross who slowly took it from the old man. “This Pokémon should help you avoid the dangers of route one. The package is already paid for, so all you have to do is bring it back here. Do you understand?”

Eyes transfixed on the Pokéball Ross nodded dumbly. “Why me?” He asked.

“You don’t seem too busy,” Samuel said, jovially, however Ross didn’t bite and just nodded. Quickly Oak continued. “And I think you could do well to get away from Pallet. Get to know the Pokémon; you never know what could happen. Remember, though, that Pokémon is not an endorsed Pokémon League starter, so it isn’t domesticated.”

Ross plodded out of the lab, though the side entrance to avoid Mayor Stout’s celebratory speech to the young new trainers and their fans. When he was gone Jonathon, who had watched the exchange, spoke up. “Do you think it was wise giving that Pokémon to the boy? The Pokéball was locked for a reason.”

“If anybody can bring that Pokémon around its Ross,” Oak rubbed his chin, thoughtfully, then added. “And if he can then he deserves to start his Pokémon journey.”

Satisfied with the answer Jonathon went back to cataloging the Pokéballs on his tray, leaving the Pokémon Professor to consider whether or not Ross was truly ready to become a Pokémon trainer. If he managed to quell the Pokémon in his Pokéball then he could begin the quest he had longed for for so long, but if he failed then his quest to become a Pokémon Master would end in Viridian City.


* * * * *


The sun was high in the sky when Ross left Pallet behind the first stretch of route one. It was looking to be a beautiful day, however inside Ross didn’t feel terribly happy, he felt destroyed. Pidgey sang from the trees on the sides of the road, but Ross hardly noticed them, he just trudged along, trapped in his own thoughts. The cool caress of spring was completely ignored by the young trainer, lost to rap against his jacket and spin into oblivion.

Ross didn’t know what to feel. He could blame himself for not getting his license when he was supposed to, but he could also blame Professor Oak for not informing the Pokémon League of the change of numbers. He didn’t feel like blaming anybody, though. He was completely calm in place of what should have been depression. He should have reverted to the crippling sadness that had struck him a year ago, however he didn’t, and he didn’t know why.

Taking the Pokéball from his belt he considered that maybe he was feeling calm, because he had actually left the lab with a Pokémon, even though it wasn’t actually his. Professor Oak had given this Pokémon and sent him on some errand to recover a package. Perhaps he wanted to test Ross and see if he was truly worthy of being a Pokémon trainer.

Ross sighed. He’d been through enough tests already; all he wanted was the chance to be a Pokémon Master. Chances were all Oak was trying to do was to get Ross away from Pallet, so he could forget his worries, but if his current situation was some twisted sort of test he couldn’t risk blowing it, so he drew his arm back and threw the red and white orb to the ground.

The activation trigger on the equator of the Pokéball struck dirt and started the materialization process. Light pierced the equator of the sphere and slowly split it in two. The hinge at the opposite side of the ball to the trigger caused the top of the ball to swing open, releasing brilliant red energy that splashed against the dirt of route one. It reminded the young boy of the teleportation process he’d seen thousands of times at the lab and at the Pokémart in Viridian City, but he knew the energy, that was rapidly taking a physical form, would soon be a living breathing creature, unlike the lifeless cargo of the worldwide Telenet.

Holding his breath Ross gazed, expectedly at the Pokémon before him.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 2: On The Road To Viridian City

He was obviously a dog Pokémon of some description, but he was unfamiliar to Ross. A fiery orange, the dog had tufts of cream coloured fur, tinted red sprouting from his muzzle, head, tail and legs. Black stripes dashed his orange fur, including across his ferocious and clearly hostile eyes, making him look extremely menacing. Ross took pause at the sight of the monstrous canine, which he guessed was a fire kind of some description. The blaze in his eyes was a dead give away.

As soon as the beast acclimatized itself to its new environment outside the Pokéball it began to growl, bearing its huge, yellow fangs. Ross would have been terrified, but he suddenly recognized the cry from Professor Oak’s master Pokédex. “Growlithe?”

Hearing its name gave the fire Pokémon pause, but it didn’t last for long. Surveying the surrounding area it realized that it was free and the only thing stopping it from escaping was one foolish human. It stopped growling and grinned evilly. Before Ross could react the Growlithe was upon him, fangs bared. The young trainer stepped backwards, but his leg caught on a tree root and he fell over, hitting his head hard.

Ross blacked out and when he came around an instant later all he could see was the Growlithe disappear into a bush. Struggling to stand Ross grabbed the empty Pokéball and rushed after the fleeing puppy. Cursing loudly as he stumbled through the brush Ross thumbed the activation button feverishly.

The sounds of Growlithe’s escape echoed around the forest, so Ross had no trouble tracking him, but he could sense the Pokémon was already several meters ahead of him, and the space between them was increasing rapidly. If he didn’t do something to stop his Pokémon quickly he was going to fail Professor Oak and his own dreams. Searching his memory he tried to recall what he could about route one. He knew to the west was a river that carved a direct path from Pallet to Viridian City, cutting the time taken to traverse route one in half. If his memory was accurate Growlithe would be forced to head north by the river, so the smug trainer dived through a bush to his right, scrambling to cut off the puppy Pokémon.

After about quarter of an hour Ross reached the river, but Growlithe was nowhere in sight. It occurred to Ross that he might have been too slow to get to the river and Growlithe could already be halfway to Viridian. Scratching his head the trainer decided to wait rather then doubt his own instincts and continue north.

Unfortunately for Ross this was what he was expected to do, lose control of his Pokémon and become lost on the very first route he was traveling. Alex would probably laugh his head off if he heard of Ross’ blunder. Still, he wasn’t technically a Pokémon trainer and probably never would be, so it didn’t really matter what happened cause his life couldn’t get much worse. People were always laughing at him and talking behind his back, or, simply ignoring him. He wanted to prove that he was worth something, but had failed at every step. When Oak had revealed that he had no starter Pokémon for Ross it confirmed the young boy’s fear that he was worthless and that his destiny was on a different path from that of his father.

Ross stared down to the crystal clear waters of the Pallet River and the violent white waters of the falls that made the huge steps unfit for mortals to climb. The roaring drowned out most thought, but Ross was able to reflect on the day so far and the mess he had made. When he returned to Professor Oak he would scold Ross for losing Growlithe and revoke his license, then send him home where his mother would put him back into school, so he could grow up to become a taxi driver or a dock worker at Vermilion City.

As Ross’ last hopes were dashed he caught out of the corner of his eye an orange shape following the river north. Turning, he was surprised to see Growlithe, tired from running flat out after spending so long in a Pokéball. Growlithe was equally surprised to see the human and made no attempt to hide his shock. He obviously didn’t like being outsmarted by a being he felt were inferior, especially a human.

“So,” Ross grinning. “Ready to work together?”

Growlithe returned Ross’ grin and edged closer to the cliff over the river. His brilliant eyes darted from Ross to the rapids below, weighing up their options. He could try to outrun Ross again, but he was obviously too tired to keep up the pace, and Ross had been resting for the past few minutes. On the other hand he could throw himself into the water and take his chances with the Goldeen.

Shaking his head Ross stepped forward. “Don’t make me chase you, sucker.”

The orange devil’s grin widened and he leapt off the edge. Ross’ immediate reaction was to chase after him, but as gravity tugged him away from the safety of the cliff he realized his error. Wind rushed past his head as he tumbled head over heel down to the blue waters below, his eyes always searching for Growlithe. The puppy Pokémon hit the water and disappeared underneath, refusing to surface, even after Ross had arrived and brought his head up for air.

Instead of fighting the current Ross followed it, because he figured Growlithe would see it as the fastest way to get away from its master. It was a predictable strategy, so Ross had not trouble catching up to his quarry, regardless of the number of falls they fell over.

Ross was beaten and broken by the time they reached smooth sailing, but Growlithe was obviously in much worse condition then he, being a fire Pokémon and everything. The young trainer feared that his situation could have actually gotten worse. He didn’t want Growlithe to die, that would be way too dramatic for him to handle. Professor Oak would certainly drop the hammer if his Pokémon died while under his care.

One thing Ross spent his spare time doing apart from researching Pokémon was swimming. He had even gone to the Pokémon gym in Cerulean City and played with the water Pokémon of the Sensational Sisters. This hobby had gifted him with a fairly powerful physique and good level of control under water, so he had little trouble propelling himself forward to meet the tired Growlithe.

Growlithe protested as Ross dragged him to the water’s edge and pushed him onto the shore, however he was incapable of protesting terribly hard, so he had to settle for biting into Ross’ arm as he lost consciousness. The canine moaned as his eyes slowly closed, fighting until the very end, but the darkness eventually claimed him.

Ross leant against the river’s edge, watching his and Growlithe’s blood drain into the water. It was a symbolic experience, showing that their destinies were becoming entwined. Ross was coming to realize what Professor Oak was trying to teach the young trainer by sending him out with Growlithe. They both needed something, and both had something to give, it was only natural that they compliment each other. It was as if his dream had suddenly been reborn.

One thing did concern Ross, though. Growlithe had obviously had a difficult past, but Oak had made no mention of it. He knew there was only one way for a Pokémon to become as embittered with humans as Growlithe was and that was mistreatment. There was somebody out there who would hurt Growlithe because he was too weak and that infuriated Ross. Although he was ambitious he was smart enough to know that weakness in a Pokémon was bred from the inferiority of the trainer, not the other way round and anybody who didn’t understand that didn’t deserve to be a trainer.

Sighing, Ross pulled himself from the water and spread himself out on the sandy beach.


* * * * *


It was a beautiful spring day, perfect for training Pokémon and Amy wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. As she peddled her red bike down the dirt trail towards the Pallet River she looked around the forest, at the Spearow, Manky and Weedle and truly felt at peace, as if everything was right with the world. She was a prospective young Pokémon trainer looking to make the steps necessary to become a Pokémon Master.

The path turned south through a grotto of creepers and low hanging branches before winding west to come out of the forest for an instant before plunging back in, ignoring the white waters far below the cliff edge that the track tempted. It was a dangerous ride, but Amy was never one to shy away from a challenge. She lived for the thrill and shooting though dark woods at break-neck speeds was exactly what she expected to be doing. Dancing with death was the hallmark of being young and full of life.

Laughing she recalled her journey so far, all the gym challenges, at the bumps in the road, all the times she though she couldn’t succeed, but here she was, months later ready to take on the world. It didn’t dampen her spirits for a moment that she had taken twice as long as everybody else she knew to get where she was.

It occurred to Amy that the extra time she spent on her journey had singled her out amongst her peers as a rather solitary trainer, but the isolation had only strengthened her and her Pokémon. Also, as long as she had her Pokémon she would never be alone, although she had heard people time and time again mention that her personality was like that of a Pokémon due to the time she spent with them. If the world didn’t want her in it that was fine by her, she didn’t want the world.

Taking the final turn on the track sharply Amy was shocked to find the beach where she planned on training at already occupied by an unconscious boy and a Growlithe. She pulled up he bike and rested it against a tree, slipping off her backpack and tentatively approaching the duo. They had obviously crawled out of the river as sand and mud was matted to their skin and fur, respectively.

The boy looked to be roughly her age, with dark brown hair, blue denim jeans, a black T-shirt, red and white jacket and cap. As she moved closer she spotted the Pokéball on his belt, however she didn’t see any Pokégear. He looked to her like a trainer, but the lack of Pokégear indicated something different, perhaps the Growlithe was just a pet, or maybe he was a Pokémon thief.

Her paranoia growing, Amy’s hands played over her own Pokéballs, finding Wartortle’s activation trigger. Cautiously she slipped her hand down to the boy’s neck to check for a pulse. Thankfully he was still alive, just sleeping, but Amy wasn’t sure how to proceed. Her shallow well of human knowledge didn’t cover CPR or the procedures associated with it. All Amy could do was grab the boy’s shoulders and shake, gently at first, but when no progress was made more violently.

“Excuse me,” She said, rather bluntly. “Hello… boy? Are you alright?”

When she garnered no response Amy became frantic. Slapping the boy, she placed her ear over his mouth to see if he was breathing. He was, so he was definitely alive. It crossed the trainer’s mind that the kid could be in a coma or something, or maybe struck by a Butterfree’s sleep powder, although there were no Butterfree this side of Viridian Forest and even if there were they wouldn’t be evolved enough to make use of their spores.

Despite all the signs pointing to a coma of some description the boy groaned. Amy perked up, twisting her neck to align her head with the boy’s. “Hello?”

“Hello.” The boy said, his eyes slowly opening.

They stared at each other, neither moving. Amy wasn’t sure if the kid was completely lucid, but he seemed to acknowledge her presence visually. He blinked, then his eyes widened in recognition of consciousness. Amy waited for the boy to make the next move, but he just laid there, on the shores of the Pallet River staring at her, judging her, his eyes dancing over her, questioningly. She would have slapped him into action, but her better judgment stayed her hand.

“Ross,” He said, dumbly, obviously his name. “And who might you be?”

She stood up and extended her hand for him to take. He slowly reached out and let himself be pulled to his feet. Stumbling for an instant he rubbed the nausea from his eyes. “Amy.” She steadied him.

Ross looked thoughtful for a moment then turned to his fallen Growlithe and was once again pressing against the sand, his hands searching through the pockets of his jacket. His ease at forgetting about her was a sign of his commitment for the Pokémon in his care and the worry he extended to it. Amy went to his side and placed her hand on the Growlithe’s head. He was very weak and without proper treatment his condition could degrade.

Before she could deliver her prognosis Ross had pulled a small bottle from his jacket pocket and popped the cap, breaking the tight seal and revealing the aerosol head underneath. Working quickly he placed the head of the container in the Pokémon’s mouth and squeezed, releasing the potion.

The Growlithe’s eyes opened slightly, so he could see his master delivering to him the potion, but he refused to draw on the small bottle, preferring to lie still and let most of the potion drip away onto the sand. Amy scratched her head in confusion. The boy and the Growlithe obviously didn’t have a particularly good relationship if he was refusing treatment. It pained her, but she would have to relieve Ross if the Growlithe didn’t start biting.

To Ross’ relief as well as Amy’s the Growlithe began to suck on the potion. The cool liquid would be directly absorbed into his blood stream to revitalize his cells and heal whatever injuries he may have. Growlithe relaxed as he felt his strength return to his battered little body.

Deciding not to procrastinate any longer Amy broached the subject of Growlithe and Ross’ origins. “You mustn’t be a good trainer if your Pokémon wont obey you.” Amy knew her blunt question would find out for her whether the Pokémon was stolen or whether Ross had been mistreating Growlithe, however instead of anger or suspicion Amy was greeted by sadness in Ross’ eyes.

“I’m not a trainer, and he isn’t my Pokémon,” Amy’s hand reached for Wartortle once again, but halted with Ross’ next proclamation. “I’m a failed Pokémon trainer from Pallet, hence the disobedience. Growlithe is just here to protect me, although he doesn’t seem to want to be part of my team. He was leant to me, so I could go to Viridian City and pick something up.”

He was a failed Pokémon trainer? Ross’ admission must have been hard. Failed trainers were labeled with a stigma among successful trainers. It was the greatest dishonor to have your Pokémon turn against you or die when under your protection and most trainers never recovered. That Ross never even started his Pokémon journey was even sadder.

To break the somber silence Amy patted Ross’ shoulder. “Well, you seem to be doing fine.”

“Am I? Growlithe could have been killed.”

Cutting her losses Amy changed the subject. “So, you’re from Pallet?”


* * * * *


The potion was sweet and gently caressed Growlithe’s throat as it seeped into his body cells, refilling their energy supplies and fuelling the blaze common to all fire Pokémon. He felt renewed strength coursing through his veins and he couldn’t understand why. A cloud of stupidity hung over the Pokémon, slowing his thoughts and making his eyes heavy. He tried to pull his brain out of the muck to broach the mystery surrounding him amnesia and subsequent lethargy.

Ross, the human boy, had done this to him. He had forced him off the cliff and into the water below rather then let him escape from a captive life he didn’t want. Growlithe didn’t want a master; he wanted to run free through the fields of Kanto and the forests of Johto, breathing free air away from the cruel domination of the humans. His faith in humans had been destroyed after he escaped his former trainer only to be recaptured by a Pokécentre and sent to Saffron City to be held by the Pokémon shelter. The humans didn’t understand and that included the boy, Ross.

Growlithe opened his eyes slightly to see where he was. Resting on a beach along the Pallet River he saw blood staining the golden sands and two figures talking, high above him. One of the shapes was Ross, while the other was a young girl. She wore a red mini-skirt, a blue tank top and a white, long-sleeve jacket. Her short blonde hair fell to her small, slender shoulders, from a plain white bucket hat. Around her waist was a black belt dotted with electronic pads, mobile devices and Pokéballs. She was obviously a trainer, and an experienced one, judging by the number of the red and white orbs she had.

If pained him deeply, but Growlithe turned his head to clear the sand from his ear, allowing him to hear the words of the humans without interference. To Growlithe’s displeasure they were talking about him.

Ross shook his head. “I don’t know what to do with him. If I can’t get him to trust me I’m afraid Professor Oak will never trust me to have a Pokémon of my own.”

“Are you so sure it’s a test?”

“I don’t know what else it could be, Amy,” Growlithe’s prospective master admitted. “He just seemed to give me Growlithe out of pity because I didn’t have a Pokémon of my own. He warned me it would be hard, but I know Professor Oak and he wasn’t just talking about Growlithe. He is my final test before I can begin my journey.”

This revelation caught Growlithe off guard. The more he resisted the human, Ross, the further he drove him from his dream of being a Pokémon Master, and although it would feel good to destroy the human’s life as he’d had his life destroyed by one he couldn’t help but sympathize with the boy. His dream was to run free from Pokéballs and masters and be an individual and Ross’ dream was to prevent him from doing so.

For the first time in a long time Growlithe paused to consider a human. He reminded himself that no matter how much bad had been done against him it had not been carried out by this human, it had been orchestrated by somebody else, somebody much worse and undeserving. Ross reminded Growlithe too much of his old trainer, full of promises that seemed beautiful at first, but would undoubtedly be rotten apples designed to poison the puppy. It came down to a leap of faith for Growlithe.

Growlithe closed his eyes slowly and opened them again, staring at Ross. He made a vow at that moment that he would never trust a human ever again, because if he became too close to Ross he could be hurt easily when the young trainer inevitably betrayed him. It was a vow soaked in blood and Growlithe promised to stick to it no matter what. At the same time he made the vow, he gave ground to Ross, putting himself in the human’s hands. He would lend himself to Ross, adding his strength to his and helping him step closer to realizing his dream, but he would be waiting for the day when Ross would abandon him.

Growlithe closed his eyes. It was only a matter of time.


* * * * *


It was sundown by the time Ross, Amy and Growlithe reached the end of route one and the gates of Viridian City. The lakes to the west of Viridian burned with a brilliant red fire that extended off the face of the world and scorched the sky. Clouds were tinged red by the retreating sun and purple by the rapidly advancing night. It was a wondrous sight to behold and for a moment Ross forgot his troubles. This was the world that he wanted to see, a world of beauty.

Curiously Growlithe had become more passive in the young trainer’s arms. He carried him with great care, opting to let the Pokémon be free of his red and white prison in an attempt to assure him that he was on the level. Still, he didn’t expect Growlithe to give in so easily. It was still a welcome surrender. Ross knew the puppy didn’t trust him at all, but he could sense the orange devil’s demeanor had changed enough to give him a chance to earn it.

Hugging Growlithe Ross started towards the Pokécentre to have him treated properly. The Pokécentre, which had been rebuilt in the past year since being damaged by Pokémon thieves, stuck out in the middle of the city, scraping the inky skyline. Spotlights illuminated the building for all tired trainers to find as if anticipating Ross’ arrival.

Ross paused and turned to face Amy. She had surrendered her bike, folding it into her bag, in favour of walking with Ross and his injured Pokémon. Yawning, she pointed to the gym at the north end of the city. “I think I’ll check out the gym before it closes down for the night.”

“I guess I’ll see you around, then,” Ross said, almost questioningly.

Amy gave him the thumbs up. “Count on it. Good luck, fellas,”

This sparked the attention of Growlithe he stared at Amy, as if surprised to be addressed by the girl. She winked at him, causing him to squirm uncomfortably in Ross’ arms, and then started down the hill towards the Viridian City Pokémon gym. It occurred to Ross that Growlithe didn’t like being patronized, he probably got enough of that from the Pokémon handlers who transported him to Oak’s lab.

Confidently Ross placed Growlithe on the ground. This surprised the puppy even more. He struggled to stand, but Ross could tell he appreciated the freedom. If that was what it took to earn his trust then Ross would do it. Growlithe frowned at Ross, then, realizing that the young training understood the circumstances of their ceasefire, nodded gently.

Ross pointed towards the horizon. “Ready?”

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 3: The Journey's Just Begun

The bell rung loudly as a new customer entered the Pokémart. Jacob stopped reading his Pokémon monthly magazine and glanced at the newcomer, his curiosity aroused. There was nothing terribly special about the boy, just your average trainer, however he did look familiar. He’d seen the boy in the Pokémart before, however his companion, a Growlithe, was new to the clerk.

Waiting, patiently, he watched the Pokémon trainer cross the entry threshold and start perusing the shelves. Growlithe looked less then interested in his master’s shopping, but he looked over every now and then to make sure things were proceeding smoothly. The trainer checked the shelf where the Pokéballs were stored, but came away empty handed, and disappointed.

Jacob shrugged and went back to his magazine. It wasn’t unusual to see Pokémon trainers in the Pokémart, although considering the fact that the Pokémon League wasn’t for another few months it was a little strange. Usually around July was the time when Pokémon trainers started coming through Viridian City, bound for Indigo Plateau. Still, Jacob knew that the odd trainer visited the Pokémart, even though most of the customers were researchers or breeders from Professor Oak’s lab in Pallet.

It struck Jacob that there were several other suspicious visitors in the past few days, although he never confirmed that they were from Pallet. Perhaps it was the time of year for Oak to hand out beginner Pokémon to young trainers. If so, this kid would be the trailing end of the group. Leaning over the counter he saw the trainer only had one Pokéball on his belt, an old scuffed one.

Diving back into his magazine he tried to look apathetic when the trainer approached the register.

“Do you have any Pokéballs?” The boy asked as he put the potion on the counter.

Jacob stared at him for a moment, then glanced past him to the empty basket where the Pokéballs were supposed to be. “Sorry, it’s the wrong time of year for Pokéballs. Our previous stock was sold out a few days ago. I can order some more balls in for you, if you have your license with you.”

The trainer, obviously ignoring Jacob’s attempt to see his identification, shook his head and indicated towards the potion. “This will do me for the moment.”

Upon hearing the price of the potion the boy opened his backpack and removed his wallet, pawing through the notes until he found the appropriate sum. He waited quietly for the transaction to be completed then stuffed the potion into the front pocket of his bag.

Unable to remain silent any longer Jacob questioned the trainer. “So, are you from Pallet?”

“That’s right.”

“I knew you looked familiar,” Jacob exclaimed, relieved he had managed to make some progress. “I don’t remember that Growlithe being yours, though.”

“He isn’t mine,” The boy admitted. “He was leant to me by Professor Oak while I run an errand for him.” He looked disappointed as he spoke, but when he glanced down at the Pokémon it gave him a reassuring nod.

So the boy wasn’t a trainer after all, merely a courier. That struck Jacob as odd, because he had identified the kid as a trainer at first glance. The clothes, the personality, every aspect screamed Pokémon trainer, but he had obviously been mistaken, a strange thing, due to his profession as a proprietor of Pokémon goods and services.

The kid did know the Pokémon Professor, however, and even mentioned the package which had arrived on the last Wednesday with the weekly Pidgeot mail delivery. It was a small thing marked fragile, so it probably carried some electronic device. Jacob had been told to hold it until somebody from Pallet could come.

“Ah, right, so Professor Oak sent you for the parcel?”

“Yes,” The boy said, plainly.

Jacob looked under the counter and picked up the parcel. “There we go. Just sign here,” He said, placing the release papers on top of the brown box. When he took the papers back he read the name from the signatory box and looked back at the boy. “Alright, Ross Spare, it’s all yours. Make sure it gets to Professor Oak in one piece now.”

Ross nodded and carefully inserted the package into the largest pocket of his bag, closing the zipper neatly over the top of the package. Thanking Jacob the young trainer turned and strode out the door, his trusty Pokémon at his side.


* * * * *


The Pokémon mainframe clicked and hummed as it began downloading its revised database onto the small red, electronic booklet called the Pokémon Directory Index, but known more colloquially amongst the trainers that utilized it as the Pokédex. Images of Pokémon from various regions of the world flashed across the liquid crystal display as the small computer began categorizing the information on its miniature hard drive. A small bar appeared over the display window, showing the progress of the upload, and very slowly began its long crawl to the right of the screen.

Professor Oak left the console after he was sure there were no weaknesses in the connection between mainframe and Pokédex. He was confident that the new Pokédex contained information on every Pokémon in Kanto, however whether this data was complete was another question. It concerned him greatly that his creation be finished in his life, but he’d run out of time and was too old to go gallivanting around the world in search of Pokémon. His solution, he hoped, would arrive within the hour.

Quietly Oak made his way to his office in what should have been the hayloft of the giant concrete barn. A huge window dominated the wall facing away from the entrance of the lab, while a set of stairs leading up to the loft provided fast access to the office, which offered privacy for the Pokémon Professor while staying completely open to the rest of the lab and the aids that rushed around below.

Oak sat down at his desk and produced a key from his lab coat. It fitted into the lock on the bottom drawer of his desk with a click and caused the oak shelf to shudder as it turned. Reaching inside the Pokémon Professor produced a bottle of single malt whiskey. Finding a glass from beneath his reports and Pokémon analyses he poured himself a snifter.

Jonathon Elm, his chief assistant, was out for the day, but Oak could still sense the air of efficiency around the place. Working in the lab was tiring and Jonathon made it even more so, with his constant mothering and scientific mind. He wouldn’t approve of Oak’s little break, but Oak was fifty-two years old and sure he knew more about life then the little rapscallion, Jonathon.

Before he could drink the vile poison Samuel heard his side gate slamming. He put the glass down and stood, shuffling to the large window behind his desk. The Pokémon Professor entertained the idea that perhaps Alexander had come early, which meant he was going to be waiting around the lab for a little while, waiting for the Pokédex to finish transferring its database onto the handheld booklet.

Pausing to pick up his drink he looked out to the yard outside the Pokémon shelter to see who had just entered and nearly let it slip from his fingers. He didn’t expect to see his grandson so early, nor did he expect to see Jonathon coming down the path to the main doors, but few other people used the side entrance. One of those few was Ross Spare, the boy he had given the troublesome Growlithe and had expected to fail in his quest to tame the beast before returning from Viridian City, but there he was, on Oak’s doorstep, baring both the Growlithe, seemingly calm, if not a little surly, and a large brown package.

The back doors opened and one of the professor’s aids, an intern he hadn’t met yet, allowed the boy in. Oak peered over the railing at the lower level and strained to hear what the boy and aid were saying to each other.

“Please wait here,” The aid said, adjusting his glasses and glancing around the lab. “I thought I saw him working on the Pokédex, but he seems to have disappeared.” He overlooked Oak’s office and went out the door Ross came in to find his superior.

Ross placed the package on the table where just a few days before three trainers a year younger then he had been given their starter Pokémon while he watched in unsubstantiated excitement. Growlithe looked around the lab, his tail lowered, curious yet cautious. He came to a Pokéball that had fallen from a mechanical repair table and sniffed the orb. Shaking his head in undisguised disgust he continued on his little adventure.

It confused Oak how Ross had managed to work out a compromise with the Growlithe so quickly. The greatest Pokémon experts in Johto, including his colleague, Professor Elm, had tried reasoning with the irrational Growlithe, but failed miserably. How could this child have succeeded where great minds had failed?

Samuel smiled in understanding. They had found something in each other that they lacked and were working together in an attempt to achieve dreams that they felt were unobtainable without the aid of another. It was a beautiful thing to see a Pokémon and his master who were so loyal to their feelings that they would surrender them to each other in order to protect them.

In a hurry Oak made his way down the stairs and onto the main floor, his drink resting on the carved mahogany of his desk.

“Ross, welcome back,” The Pokémon Professor beamed.

Ross nodded and gestured, clumsily to the parcel. “I got your package. We got your package,” He corrected himself, quickly, confidence filling his face as he remembered his triumph with Growlithe.

“I can see that. Have you and Growlithe talked?”

Growlithe stepped to his master’s side, as if answering the question for him. Oak was worried by what he saw in Growlithe’s eyes. It was a look of anger and frustration, as if the puppy felt he was wasting his time, but Oak also saw a true drive to make his friendship with Ross work. When he looked at Ross his eyes filled with hope. It was very important for Growlithe that Ross stay with him and Oak hoped that the young trainer knew that.

“We worked things out,” Ross said, cryptically.

Oak moved over to his package and put a knife to its sides. “Thank you for picking this up for me. It’s a custom made Pokéball I ordered. I would have gone and picked this up myself, but with the new generation of trainers already sending me Pokémon I felt I should have stayed at the lab to welcome them.”

“They are already sending Pokémon?” Ross asked, frustration rather then sadness on his face.

“Yes, which makes me raise the question: when will you start catching Pokémon?”

Ross looked at him quizzically. “I don’t have a Pokémon…” His voice trailed off and he looked down at Growlithe who stared back, clearly annoyed by his master’s stupidity. Ross nodded in understanding. “Thanks, Professor Oak. I don’t have any Pokéballs, though.”

“I’m sure I have some lying around.”

Professor Oak reached into his package and lifted out his custom Pokéball, carefully taking it over to an idle teletron microscope and placing it on a Pokéball tray. The tray slid into place below the lens of the microscope, giving the scanning device something to process. He would have the new aid begin analysis on the Pokéball as soon as he got back from the ranch.

“Do you know where you will go first?” Oak asked as he began his rummage through a cabinet for spare Pokéballs. “I hear there are some interesting Pokémon at the Safari Zone in Fuchsia City, although I haven’t had the time to get back to that area lately. Last time I was there I saw a herd of Kangaskhan migrating across the savanna. It was a wondrous experience.”

Ross stopped to think, but as Oak glanced back he could see the boy had definite plans. “I think I’ll head north to Pewter City and challenge the gym leader. I’ll also stop off in Viridian to challenge the gym leader there as well.”

“Are you sure about that, Ross?” Oak said, rising, his hand full of Pokéballs. “Gym leader battles are not to be taken lightly. With only Growlithe you will be fighting an uphill battle.”

“I understand that,” Ross said. “But by the time I get to Pewter I’ll have more then Growlithe, besides, Growlithe is ready for anything.”

Oak handed him five Pokéballs, the prescribed set for a starting trainer. “Very well.”

“That Growlithe isn’t ready for anything.” A familiar voice called out from the main entrance to the lab. Oak looked up and saw his grandson striding into the laboratory, a smug look on his face. Growlithe and Ross both glared at the young trainer, making them look quite alike.

“Alex,” Ross greeted his old friend and arch-nemesis with a voice dripping in disdain.

“Loser,” Alex countered. “Loser’s pet,” He nodded at Growlithe. “I heard you got a Pokémon, but I didn’t believe it. Who in their right mind would give you a Pokémon?”

Oak shook his head and stepped between Alexander and Ross. “Boys, please, if you want to fight, then please step outside.”

This made Alex grin harder. “What about it, Ross?”

“What?” Ross blurted, stupidly. “A Pokébattle? Now?”

“Scared?”

Ross shook his head. “No, it’s just…”

“Just what?”

Oak knew why Ross was hesitant. He had only just got Growlithe two days before, so there was virtually no time for him to be able to gauge how powerful his Pokémon was. Even if he’d been training non-stop for the past two days Alex would still have the advantage, having been free to engage Pokémon at his discretion. It wasn’t until now that Oak had given ownership of Growlithe to Ross completely.

“Whatever,” Alex said, knowing he had made his point. He knew for a fact that he was better then Ross, but he had to show Ross that and to undermine his rival he didn’t even have to engage him in battle, he just had to make him feel beaten.

With the tense situation resolved Oak was left with the business of his Pokédex. He had called Alex to the lab to ask if he was willing to engage in an experiment that Professor Oak was unable to complete without the aid of a spry new trainer. However, Ross turning up had changed things. He now had two candidates to take his experiment.

“Boys, now that you are both here I can present to you my proposal,” Oak said, flamboyantly, immediately catching their undivided attention. “I have reprogrammed my Pokédex, the Pokémon Directory Index, to accept new data from trainers. I haven’t done this since I first programmed it nearly ten years ago. The new drive allows the trainer operating the Pokédex to create entries on new Pokémon, updating the database to cover anything I haven’t catalogued.”

He had been given the idea a few years before when he encountered a large rainbow bird Pokémon flying over route one that he had never seen before. The number of unknown Pokémon in the world meant that he would probably never identify them all, so he needed the help of young trainers like Ross and Alex.

“I have a request of both of you,” Oak said, solemnly. “The new Pokédex automatically records data on Pokémon you’ve seen or captured and you can add your own footnotes to the entries. To create an encyclopedia on every Pokémon in the world was my dream, but I am too old now.”

Professor Oak turned away from the young trainers and sighed. They were just beginning their journey and he was at the end of his. At least he could relive his dream through them. Seeing them succeed at their dreams and become Pokémon Masters would give him limitless joy. Spinning back on his heel he stared at them, seeing if either had a comment yet, but they were silent, as was Growlithe. The talk of dreams seemed to spark his interest.

“I want you two to take these new Pokédex with you and fulfill my dream. This is a great undertaking for you, but I’m confident you’ll strive to succeed in this as you would in anything.”

“Leave it to me, gramps,” Alex said, confidently. “Ross here doesn’t even need to participate.”

Oak rolled his eyes and looked to Ross. “Ross?”

“Sure, it’ll be good to go down in Pokémon history for something.”

The Pokémon Professor nodded at both of them and walked over to the Pokédex mainframe. The handheld consoles had completed their download and were waiting expectantly for their owner’s hand. He picked them up, one after the other disconnecting their hard drives from the server, and handed the small red electronic booklets to Ross and Alex.

“Good luck, boys,” Oak said, patting them both on the shoulders.

“I don’t need luck,” Alex whipped on his sunglasses and moved towards the front door, Pokédex clipped onto his belt. “If you don’t need me for anything else I think it’s time to get a map of Kanto from Carolyn. I’ll tell her not to give you one, Ross,” Alex grinned, malevolently. “Smell you later, fellas.”

“Creep,” Ross muttered after Alex had gone. He noticed Oak had heard him and apologized.

“Don’t worry about it, Ross. You are entitled to your opinion. In fact, I wouldn’t be too quick to disagree with you were he not my grandson. Still, he bears a great potential to become a Pokémon Master, the greatest I’ve seen in a long time."

Ross shook his head. “He’s just such a jerk.”

“He feels threatened by you. You have a great potential too, you know.”

“I’ve got nothing.”

“Perhaps,” Oak rubbed his chin, thoughtfully. “But you have the drive to be great. You just have to follow your heart.”

“Thanks, Professor,” The young trainer held up the Pokédex. “I wont let you down.”

After Ross was gone Oak climbed the staircase back to his office, watching the boy head down the road towards the town. There was something about Ross that reminded him of himself at the age of thirteen. He’d had grand adventures forty years before and it was doubtless Ross would have similar adventures.

Sitting at the mahogany desk he stared at the report written by the new intern and rubbed his eyes. For every victory there was two weeks of preparation. It was a lesson he had learned the hard way and one that he hoped Ross was already aware of. He had spirit, but without hard work he would never see the lights of the Indigo Plateau. It was up to him whether he’d be a Pokémon Master.

Slowly, Oak poured his glass of whisky in the bin.


* * * * *


The Oak residence looked like any other house in Pallet Town, two floors, a white picket fence, and a blue front door. It was what visitors to the small town described as a perfect serene house. They called it clichéd mockingly, but Pallet Town was well known for its laid back, easygoing populace and peaceful atmosphere, all of which some people searched for all their lives.

Ross stepped through the front gate, letting Growlithe run on ahead, and then closed it behind him. Front garden was filled with beautiful flowers and plants from across the land. Ross saw some strawberry geraniums from the northeast and a patch of the much-prized fude-rindou that were grown in the Celadon City Pokémon gym. The lavender petals of the fude-rindou sparkled in the morning sun, causing colourful patterns to flash across the silver grass along the west wall of the garden.

Leaving the wonders of the Oaks’ garden Ross stepped up to the front door and pressed the doorbell. The young trainer strained and heard the chime echo through the house. There was no reply at first, but Ross could hear somebody moving around inside. He hoped that Alexander was already gone; he didn’t want to confront his rival again so soon. Shedding self-respect and confidence Ross had waited at the end of the road for an hour before visiting the house, just to make sure he didn’t meet Alexander.

The door opened slowly, cautiously, the first sign that Alexander wasn’t in the house.

“Hello, Carrie,” Ross said, trying desperately to hide his relief.

Carolyn Oak, Alexander’s little sister and the Pokémon Professor’s granddaughter was two years younger then Ross, so wouldn’t start her Pokémon journey, if she chose to do so, for another year. She wore the school uniform common to the school in Pallet, a blue dress, white short-sleeved shirt, blue jacket and blue scarf. Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail with a red ribbon that matched the crimson attacking her cheeks.

“Ross!” Carolyn gasped, clearly surprised. She looked hopeful, but realization crept onto her face and the colour in her cheeks drained. “If you are looking for Alex, you just missed him. He’s probably on route one by now.”

“Actually, I was looking for you.”

The cherry flared back once again. “You were?”

“Yeah,” Nodded Ross. “I know you like collecting maps, and you have the best in Pallet.”

“Of course, the maps, yes. Please come in.”

The interior of the house was much the same as his own, blue carpets, lightly coloured wallpaper, and old art vaguely reminiscent of the Smeargle impressionist movement from Johto. Carolyn led Ross into the living room and he sat down at the sofa, resting his bag against the front doorjamb next to his shoes. Growlithe sniffed around then leapt onto the sofa and made himself comfortable, making sure to always be on the same level with his master.

“Can I get you something to drink?” Carolyn said nervously.

“No, I’m fine. Growlithe?” Growlithe shook his head.

“Oh, okay.”

“I hope I’m not making your late.”

Carolyn looked at him quizzically, as if she didn’t understand a word. He pointed at her school uniform and she slowly nodded. “No, it’s alright. Well, I’ll just get the maps.”

As Carolyn shuffled out of the room Ross scratched his head. He had seen Carolyn with her friends, playing around with their Pokémon and she was always so clear, concise and intelligible, but whenever he was around she seemed so clumsy and single-minded.

“There’s something strange about that girls, Growlithe.”

Growlithe shook his head and looked at Ross as if he were a buffoon.

After a few minutes Carolyn returned. “I’m sorry, Ross, I gave my last map of Kanto to Alexander.”

“Oh, okay.”

“But…”

“But?” Carolyn’s eyes escaped Ross’ and wandered up to mantelpiece where there rested the map she had crafted for the Fuchsia City art expo. She looked thoughtful for a moment and reached over to take it from the shelf. Ross knew the significance of the picture. “I can’t take that. It’s really important to you, and to your grandfather.”

Carolyn removed the map from the frame and took one last look at it before rolling it up and handing it to Ross. “It is, but I still want you to have it.”

“Thanks, I’ll try to take care of it.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a map.”

Ross took the map from Carolyn, slowly, carefully folding it and sliding it into a plastic sleeve in his bag. The sleeve would protect the map from bending or ripping, but Ross wasn’t sure what else the map would encounter on his journey.

“Congratulations, by the way.”

“Pardon?” Ross looked up from his bag.

Carolyn looked more nervous then ever. “On getting Growlithe. He’s a beautiful Pokémon.”

Growlithe looked chuffed. Ross hoped it wouldn’t go to his head. “Thanks.”

“I’m sure you two will go all the way to the Pokémon League.”

“It’s a long road,” Ross admitted. “But I think if we train hard and never let up we’ll be able to get to Indigo Plateau. What about you? Next year you’ll be able to get your Pokémon license. Will you go after Alexander and your grandfather and become a Pokémon trainer?”

Carolyn looked uncomfortable, having the conversation focus on her, but she tried her hardest to stop from stuttering. “Well, I – I don’t know – know what I should do,” Looking straight at Ross’ eyes for a brief instant before turning away in fear, she asked with a hint of confidence. “What do you think I should do?”

Ross zipped up his back and slung it over his shoulder. “Do whatever you want to do. But don’t ever let anybody tell you what you want to do. It’s something for you to decide for yourself,” Moving towards the door he added. “Follow your dreams, whatever they are.”

“I will,” Carolyn whispered solemnly.

“Well, see you around, Carrie. Thanks for the map.”

Carolyn waved goodbye, watching Ross walk down the road, silently.


* * * * *


Ross made his way back to his house and picked up some supplies from his mother. Stuffing the food and a change of clothes into his backpack he kissed his mother goodbye and dashed out of the house, bound for route one. She had been preparing herself for her son’s departure for so long that
she took it well. She only cried for the whole hour he was at the house.

Leaving Pallet Town behind Ross and Growlithe made their way down the winding path of route one. This time he insisted on sticking to the main path instead of going into the forest, but Growlithe had other plans. He slowly changed his direction until he’d led Ross into the woods and the Pokémon within. Whether he was eager to battle, or wanted to help Ross catch Pokémon, or both, Ross was angry.

“Come on, Growlithe, I don’t want to get lost.”

Growlithe ignored his master and continued into the undergrowth, sniffing around and listening for any signs of other Pokémon.

Sighing Ross planted himself on a rock and whipped out his water bottle, drinking deeply and offering the rest to his companion, who made a point of ignoring him. Returning the flask to his bag he studied the Pokédex Oak had given him. It was standard issue for young Pokémon trainers, guiding them through the world of Pokémon, but Ross had a duty to perform with his Pokédex.

[I am Dexter Beta. A second generation Pokédex programmed by Prof. Oak for Ross Spare of the town of Pallet.] The Pokédex said in a toneless mechanical voice [My function is to provide Ross with information and advice regarding Pokémon and their training. If lost or stolen I cannot be replaced.]

“Cool,” Ross exclaimed, gleefully. He’d only seen a Pokédex once before, despite having studied at the mainframe religiously. Pressing the button labeled scan the young trainer aimed the small red pad at his four-legged friend.

[Growlithe, the puppy Pokémon – a Pokémon of the fire type. Growlithe has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this Pokémon won't forget the scent, no matter what. It uses its advanced olfactory sense to determine the emotions of other living things. It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.]

“What do you think?” Ross asked Growlithe, who smirked back at him. He laughed and keyed in a new entry for the Pokédex. “Okay, is this more to your liking?”

[Growlithe, the grumpy Pokémon. This Pokémon is a jerk and allergic to fun.]

Growlithe suddenly forgot about his hunt and growled a warning at Ross, causing him to fall about. The orange puppy Pokémon didn’t find it quite as funny, but he started to cheer up, slowly. Ross was always so serious in school, determined to succeed, but out here with his only friend he let it all go, joking around, happily.

Growlithe shook his head, trying to hide his chuckle. He paused and raised his head. Ross closed the Pokédex and followed his companion as he slinked through the green foliage of route one and onto an open field of long grass.

“What is it?”

The puppy Pokémon stopped and waited. Ross crouched beside him, trying to stay completely still. After five minutes of waiting Ross spotted Growlithe’s quarry. A small feathered head popped out of the grass and looked around for the source of the sound that had caused it to hide in the grass. The young trainer recognized it as a Spearow, however he decided to try the Pokédex in case he’d forgotten anything about the bird. Ross took out the Pokédex, plugged in his headphones and aimed the red pad at the Spearow.

[Spearow, the tiny bird Pokémon – a Pokémon of the normal and flying types. Spearow has a very loud cry that can be heard over half a mile away. If its high, keening cry is heard echoing all around, it is a sign that they are warning each other of danger. It is inept at flying high, however, it can fly around very fast to protect its territory.] The electronic crackle echoed around his head.

“Okay, Growlithe,” Ross patted his companion’s head. “Go in low and fast. Once you bite him don’t let him go or he’ll fly away. If he does get away remember that he can’t fly high, only fast,” He slid the Pokédex back into his bag and pulled a Pokéball from his belt. “Ready? One. Two…”

The Spearow’s head shot up and glared straight at the duo. For a split second Ross and Growlithe stared at the Spearow, but an instant later the bird had launched itself into the air and was screaming over the field in a mad dash for freedom.

“Go!” Ross yelled, unnecessarily, as Growlithe burst from the undergrowth, his short legs pumping furiously. “He’s heading for those woods,” The Spearow was going to try and lose them in the forest and he would if he managed to get into it.

Growlithe’s speed was a thing to behold. He ducked and dived through the long grass, ignoring the scrapes and cuts he was collecting, his mind bent on one goal; catching the Spearow. Ross couldn’t keep up and within seconds the Spearow had disappeared into the gloom with Growlithe in hot pursuit. When Ross reached the tree line his movements became more cautious. He didn’t know when he’d encounter a loose root and trip into a tree.

Hoping that Growlithe knew what he was doing he ran straight, but it became clear fast that he had lost the two Pokémon. Cursing he stopped running and listened carefully, taking a page from the book of his Pokémon.

He had to make sure that Growlithe knew he could always count on his master. Their relationship was precarious enough without undue stress being placed on it. If Growlithe lost respect for Ross it wouldn’t take long for the Pokémon to abandon his trainer as he had undoubtedly been abandoned before. This was Ross’ chance to prove himself not only to Growlithe, but to himself as well. He would catch his first Pokémon.

A sound caught his ear and he was drawn along a dirt path to a small clearing. In the middle was Growlithe, his jaw wrapped around the frustrated Spearow. The bird Pokémon was flapping its wings insanely and pecking at Growlithe’s head in an attempt to break free. Blood was flowing from the orange puppy, but he was holding firm, unwavering in his determination.

“Well done, Growlithe,” Ross shouted.

Growlithe’s eyes widened in surprise. He obviously hadn’t expected Ross to keep up.

Ross hit the activation trigger on his Pokéball and lined it up with the Spearow. He had been preparing for this moment all his life, so he was confident in his abilities. The red and white orb increased in size as the internal mechanism widened, allowing for easier use. Craning back his arm he launched the Pokéball at the bird and hit it on the back of the neck.

The light Pokéball impacted gently and bounced off, arcing into the air and splitting open at the equator. Red energy shot out and enveloped the Spearow, changing his molecular pattern and transporting him into the storage crystal of the Pokéball that locked in place as the sphere hit the ground with a high pitched ping.

Ross and Growlithe watched and waited while the Pokéball shuddered as the Spearow fought to escape the crystal’s grasp.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 4: A World We Must Defend

Ross glanced at Growlithe who looked completely exhausted. They had been training for nearly a week on route one and the constant battling had taken its toll on Pokémon and master alike. Ross wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Every muscle in his body ached, his joints were stiff and he felt as though he could fall asleep on the spot. He sometimes thought that he was pushing his Pokémon too hard, but whenever he broached the subject with Growlithe his Pokémon’s representative always deflected it.

Since capturing his first Pokémon, Spearow, Ross and Growlithe had traveled north to the west of Viridian City, encountering Rattata, male and female Nidoran and a remarkably powerful Pidgey who insisted on blasting Growlithe with wave after wave of gust attacks before finally succumbing to the puppy Pokémon and feinting.

Growlithe had been the focus of Ross’ exercises, but he knew he needed to branch out as soon as possible, because if he encountered water Pokémon Growlithe would be hard pressed to win the battle, and so he had begun training Spearow. The bird Pokémon had immediately met with Growlithe’s disapproval, but Ross had ignored him. This was one point Ross was adamant about; he would not doom Growlithe to a defeat because he was too lax to train a substitute.

Two Pokémon now made up his team, reducing his number of spare Pokéballs to four, but before he fought anything else he would have to rest at Viridian City. He and his team could truly benefit from some rest after a week of straight fighting.

“Well, Growlithe,” Ross said to his companion. “It’s time to go back to Viridian City.”

Growlithe scoffed at his trainer’s weakness, but Ross could tell he was relieved. The cuts and bruises on the puppy Pokémon were starting to fester, so a trip to the Pokécentre was in order. Maybe Growlithe didn’t like being helped by humans, but Ross wouldn’t let him suffer permanent damage because of sheer tenacity.

The road to Viridian City was easy to find and it appeared that they were closer to the city then Ross had originally thought, because the forest was already starting to thin out in favour of two huge lakes on the edge of Viridian that the road passed between. Ross could already see the Pokécentre in the distance by the time they reached the lakes.

As they passed the crystal clear waters they saw all sorts of Pokémon swimming around. Unable to smother his curiosity he turned his Pokédex on the closest one.

[Goldeen, the goldfish Pokémon – a Pokémon of the water type. Goldeen loves swimming wild and free in rivers and ponds. If one of these Pokémon is placed in an aquarium, it will shatter even the thickest glass with one ram of its horn and make its escape. Its dorsal, pectoral and tail fins wave elegantly in water, earning it the title the water dancer.]

Ross looked down at Growlithe. “Want to go for a swim?”

Growlithe sagged jokingly, but clearly showing his fatigue. Passing the swimming Goldeen the pair entered Viridian City. It was late afternoon, so the streets were filled with people rushing home to be with their families. Ross had no family to be with anymore; just his Pokémon, but they were more then enough company for him.

By the time they reached the Pokécentre it was twilight and the Viridian City nightlife had come out to play. Having lived in Pallet most of his life Ross was accustomed to big buildings and large crowds of people, but he managed to persevere and made it to the Pokécentre without incident.

The large glass doors slid open automatically and a wave of recycled air washing over him. He felt rejuvenated by simply stepping foot in the large white building, but he knew that it would take a little bit more then cool air to heal his Pokémon.

Shuffling over to the counter he slowly placed Spearow’s Pokéball on the white tabletop and pressed the button for summoning assistance. Within moments Nurse Joy appeared through a door behind the front desk, her white apron flowing gracefully behind her.

“How can I help you?” Joy asked, pleasantly. When she saw it was Ross who had summoned her she smiled widely. “Ross, you’re back. I take it Professor Oak was accommodating.”

“He was.”

Joy nodded. “He’s wise like that.”

“He sure is,” Ross agreed. He had told Joy his woes when he had brought Growlithe to the Pokécentre before. She had explained that the Pokécentre treated both Pokémon and trainer, both physically and mentally, and so she had listen to him for most of the day, eventually advising him to trust in Professor Oak and his bottomless wells of knowledge and experience.

“Hello again, Growlithe,” Joy leaned forward to see the puppy. Growlithe barked a short and simple greeting. “Would you like me to treat Growlithe again, Ross?”

“Actually I have an additional patient today.” He indicated the Pokéball on the counter.

“You caught another Pokémon!” Joy was beaming. “Congratulations!”

Ross rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “Thanks.”

“Have you spoken to the Pokémon yet?”

“Yes,” The young trainer knew the importance of communication with Pokémon. It was wrong to capture a Pokémon who had a family to care for, or take a child away from its mother. The Spearow that he captured had agreed to be a part of his team and if he hadn’t he would have released him back into the wild.

“Excellent. Well, I’ll get started treating them immediately. We haven’t seen too many injured Pokémon since the gym leader here left.”

Both Growlithe and Ross’ ears picked up at this news. “The gym leader isn’t here?”

“No, he left some time ago.”

“Damn,” Ross cursed his luck. If he’d come earlier maybe he could have caught him. “I’ll go by the gym anyway. Maybe he’ll be back.”

“Maybe.”

“Is the nearest gym Pewter City?”

Joy thought for a moment, and then nodded. “I believe so.”

So Ross’ research and Carolyn’s map were accurate. It looked like he was going to head towards Viridian Forest in the following weeks. Thanking Nurse Joy and saying goodbye to Growlithe Ross found a vacant couch and lay down. It felt good to have a soft surface underneath him after so many nights pressed against the roots of a tree. Ross wouldn’t have it any other way, though. It was the life he had chosen and he was grateful that he got the chance.

Taking his Pokédex from his bag he plugged in the earphones and put the speakers in his ears. Dozens of Pokémon cycled through his head as he dozed off and each Pokémon conjured an image in his mind. Some of the Pokémon he had already encountered, some of the Pokémon he wanted to find and catch, but all of them intrigued him.

As the nightlife in Viridian City got into full swing Ross closed his eyes and fell asleep.

* * * * *


The truck shuddered and bounced as it crossed the northern bridge and entered Viridian City, leaving the forest and the dirt track that wound through it behind. Midday sun beat down on the tar road, creating a haze over the outskirts of the city. It was unusually hot for spring; meteorologists attributing the rise in temperature each year to the recent volcanic activity on Cinnabar Island and the astral drift that carried the debris into the stratosphere over Kanto, trapping the heat in the region and making it slightly warmer all year round.

“It’s going to be a hot summer,” Eric said, breaking the tense silence.

Rachael ignored him and continued scanning the map, matching directions scrawled on a notepad with the streets and byways of Viridian City. Whether her green eyes even glanced at him he couldn’t tell through the black sunglasses she was wearing.

Due to the nature of their journey Rachael had donned a tight black jeans, white shirt and quarter length trench coat in favour of their standard uniform. Eric had joined her in dressing casually. He was starting to regret his decision to wear black as the sun climbed higher into the sky, but he had the discipline to ignore the increasing temperature.

The third member of their party sat in the back, but he hadn’t said a word since they entered Kanto. His devout silence was beginning to unnerve Eric.

“I said…”

“I know what you said,” Rachael snapped.

Eric raised an eyebrow. “And your response is?”

“Shut the hell up.”

“Don’t you want to discuss the weather?” Eric teased, happy in the knowledge Rachael was getting very angry. She strived to be as methodical as Eric, but she was naturally wild and unpredictable. That’s why they made such a good team.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Rachael insisted. When he became quiet she looked up again, questioningly. “Besides, isn’t it against your creed to talk idly while on a mission?”

Eric smiled. She knew him too well. “The weather interests me.”

From the back of the truck’s cabin came a scoff. Eric and Rachael immediately fell silent at the sound of their associate. He demanded a great deal of respect even from the likes of Eric and Rachael and to not pay him his dues was to incur his wrath. For the rest of the trip into Viridian City there was complete silence in the truck’s cabin.

After crossing the bridge they came to an intersection that they had to turn left at, however there was some commotion at the junction. It appeared that a truck transporting coffee beans from Cherrygrove City in Johto had tipped over, spilling the precious cargo all over the road. Police and firemen were swarming over the scene, cleaning up the mess and directing traffic to a short detour.

“Bacon,” Eric warned Rachael.

She looked up and screwed her pretty face up. “****.”

“Everybody be cool,” Their companion hissed.

The sight of the police made Eric nervous, but he knew they had nothing to fear. They were just drivers transporting Pokémon goods from the north to Cinnabar Island in the south. Deciding to be safe rather then risk being sorry Eric reached down and pulled out a Pokéball from inside his coat. Rachael removed her sunglasses in an attempt to appear friendlier and Eric maneuvered the truck along side the traffic conductor.

“Looks like you’ve got quite a mess on your hands, officer,” Rachael smiled at the deputy.

“That we do. An addict forced a coffee truck off the road. As you can see it made quite a mess.”

“I hope nobody was hurt,” This caused Eric to force his smirk away. Rachael was quite deceptive when she wanted to be.

The policeman shook his head. “No, everybody is fine, but we do have to reroute you, I’m afraid. It’s just a short detour. Follow the signs to the left.”

“Alright. Thank you, officer.”

“No problem,” The deputy said. “Wait a minute.” He added as Eric reached the gear stick, convinced that Rachael’s wiles had freed them from the wary eye of the deputy.

Very carefully Eric depressed the activation trigger on his Pokéball, preparing it for use. If the officer were to find anything suspicious Eric would be ready to pump his face full of poison. He took a step back and stared at the carriage, then looked back into the driver’s cabin. Rubbing his chin the cop looked down at the wheels of the truck.

“What are you guys carrying?”

“Pokémon fossils for the laboratory on Cinnabar Island,” Rachael said, quickly. It was a half-truth; their cargo was very much alive.

“I’m not sure if your truck can handle the detour,” The officer said. “But as long as you drive carefully you should be alright.”

“Thanks again, officer.”

The policeman nodded. “Have a nice day, ma’am.”

“You too,” Rachael said, replacing her sunglasses.

When they were past the intersection she smiled slyly at Eric, but he was too busy keeping his attention on to road; which was little more then a dirt track. Cursing silently he guided the lorry back onto a main road then relaxed into his seat, shrinking his Pokéball and returning to his coat when he was convinced they had completely passed the police.

Tiptoeing around the law was something Eric and Rachael had become remarkably good at. They were the best in their field. Nobody else in the organization was as good as them, which was why they were given the assignment they were currently undertaking. Their cargo was very important to the higher ups, however they didn’t even know what it was exactly.

To the best of Eric’s knowledge they were transporting a Pokémon of some description, however the type was unknown, because since they picked the creature up from a hunter in the forests in the north it had been frozen in a suspended animation capsule. Whatever the Pokémon was it was too powerful to put inside a Pokéball. The capsule had its own power source, separate from the van and was sealed in a steel crate that had been melted shut by a Magmar.

“We’re here,” Rachael announced, snapping Eric from his thoughts.
They were outside a large stadium of some kind that resembled ancient coliseums of foreign design. The archaic aura was broken when the huge stonewalls were broken by equally large metal doors. Three stories high the building was dotted with archways that revealed walkways around the walls of the structure leading to seats overlooking an arena.

Eric frowned. “It’s a Pokémon gym. Are you sure this is the right place?”

“I followed the instructions perfectly.”

“This is the right place,” The third member of their team snapped.

Turning off the engine Eric disembarked and lowered the ramp at the back of the truck. The steel container was where they had left it, completely untouched. Heads would roll if they lost the crate, Eric knew that much. He wondered what was inside, but he knew better then to ask that question of his superiors. He didn’t need to know what was inside and at heart he didn’t want to.

Spotting a small plaque on the front entrance of the gym Eric stepped closer to see what it said. The notice was engraved in a metal plate, so it conjured an air of permanence. The gold letters on the bronze plate read:


Viridian City Pokémon Gym closed for refurbishments.
We apologize for any inconvenience and hope you visit us when we reopen.
- Viridian City Pokémon Gym staff


Eric scratched his head and turned to Rachael. “It’s closed for refurbishments.”

Rachael, who had entered the back carriage of the truck to check on their cargo leant out the door and said something to Eric, but he ignored her, focusing instead on the figure that was walking up the road towards the gym. The boy was obviously a Pokémon trainer; the orange Growlithe at his side was testament to this.

The appearance of the trainer made Eric cringe, but he could see that the boy was a novice. He hadn’t even developed the tan carried by most Pokémon trainers on their master quest. Still, the Growlithe was a dangerous addition to the trainer. Hundreds of operatives more talented then Eric had been apprehended by Growlithes due to their keen sense of smell and ability to recall any scent.

Thumbing his Pokéball once again he approached the child. “Hello, boy.”

“Hello,” The kid said, cordially.

Eric didn’t want to kill the child. It was the middle of the day and there were police just a few blocks down the street, so it would benefit everybody if the child survived. “What do you want?”

“I’m here to challenge the Viridian City gym leader.”

“He’s not here,” Eric snapped, honestly.

The boy’s face fell, but he looked at Eric, suspicion drawn on his face. “If the gym leader isn’t here why are you here?”

Eric keyed the activation button on his Pokéball and prepared to make a mad dash for the lorry. The boy and his Growlithe were no match for his Grimer, but he would prepare the truck to escape if anybody saw the deed be done. If nobody saw anything then he was fairly confident that Grimer could dissolve the two corpses.

“We are renovating the gym, little boy,” Rachael answered. She strolled over from the truck and patted the kid on the head. “What’s your name, sweetie?”

The Growlithe gave off a low growl and the boy’s eyes narrowed. “I’m Ross.”

“Ross,” Rachael sighed. “That’s a nice name. I’m sorry, Ross, but there is no Pokémon battle for you here, just an empty gym. I believe there is another gym in Celadon City.”

“Thanks.”

“Buh bye now,” Rachael said, directing him away from the gym. As Ross the Pokémon trainer and his little Growlithe left Rachael walked past Eric and placed her hand in his coat, grabbing his Pokéball. He glared at her menacingly and she grinned back at him. “The answer isn’t always found at the end of a Pokéball.” She depressed the activation trigger, shrinking his Pokéball again.

Eric pushed her away. “What now?”

The third member of their party stepped out of the shadows. “We wait for somebody to come and take this crate off out hands.”


* * * * *


Wartortle danced forward, a devious grin spread across his blue face. He dodged the pin missiles with ease, spinning around the darts to get closer to its target, the floating Beedrill situation three meters above the ground, raining down all hell. It’s bug face showed no emotion as it relentlessly blasted the turtle Pokémon with cascades of pins. Once within range of his quarry Wartortle drew the water from the cells of his body and forced it out of his mouth.

“Beedrill!” Samurai commanded. “Agility!”

As the jet of water from Wartortle’s Water Gun reached the yellow and black poison bee Pokémon it dashed away over his head and if he had blinked he would have missed it, but luckily for Wartortle he had been expecting it and waited for his master to give the final command.

“Bubblebeam!”

Hundreds of bubbles filled the air as Wartortle channeled his energy into mixing oxygen with the water in his body. The result was a pillar of bubbles that not only slammed into Beedrill, knocking him off course, but it also blinded his vision for a moment, causing him to veer off course and into a tree, instantly knocking him unconscious due to his Agility.

Crashing through leaves and branches to land at Samurai’s feet with a dull thud Beedrill was defeated and Wartortle was the winner. He saluted his trainer and bowed to Samurai, who returned the gesture. He had learnt much of human customs from his trainer and had appropriated those that he believed expressed the greatest respect to his victory pose.

Amy’s Pokéball swallowed Wartortle as he turned into energy and exploded towards the summoning ring of the red and white orb. She shrunk the ball and attached it to her belt, glancing quickly to Samurai to see him thank his Beedrill and do the same.

“Congratulations, trainer,” Samurai said, humbly. “You are victorious.”

Amy nodded. “Thank you.”

“You are unusually strong for somebody of these parts. Tell me,” The bug-catcher’s eyes narrowed. “Where are you from?”

“Not from around here,” Amy admitted.

“You are not a Pallet trainer?” Samurai smiled. “As I thought. Your technique is too refined, your minions unstoppable. You are an experienced trainer.”

She didn’t think of herself as experienced, but she had traveled somewhat. “I’ve been around.”

“Modesty, the sign of a true champion,” Samurai laughed, causing Amy to blush. “I ask because it is the time of the year when the all-knowing Professor Oak of Pallet Town releases a new wave of Pokémon trainers upon the world and I remain vigilant to test them all when they come to Viridian Forest.”

“New trainers?” Amy asked when her memory prodded her. “From Pallet?”

“That’s right. It’s been nearly a fortnight since the unleashing, but I at first assumed that you were a straggler.”

Turning to leave Amy paused, the question she longed to ask balancing on the tip of her tongue. “Have you encountered a boy called Ross Spare from Pallet Town? He travels with a red and white jacket and a stubborn Growlithe.”

The bug catcher shook his head slowly. He hadn’t made it to Viridian Forest yet. That meant anything, but the thought that he could have failed in his quest played through her head. Perhaps Growlithe had been too much for him and Professor Oak had stripped him of his Pokémon license. The more she considered the possibility the more she was keen to dismiss it.

Ross had seemed like an intelligent boy dedicated to becoming a Pokémon Master. The intensity that she saw in him convinced her that he would follow that dream no matter the cost. Hoping against the odds Amy smiled at Samurai.

“Then get ready for another Pallet trainer, Samurai. He’s coming and he’s going to give you a run for your money.”

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 5: Every Step

The leaves crunched and crackled as Ross stepped down the path winding through Viridian Forest. It was a very different woods from that of route one; the shadows cast by the trees caused his heart to beat faster, jarred by the thought that dangerous Pokémon could be waiting for him in the darkness. It was a crazy thought, made more so by the presence of Growlithe, but it still plagued his mind as he walked towards Pewter City.

They’d been in the forest for three days and so far had seen very few Pokémon and those they did see disappeared without a trace. Ross was starting to become anxious to continue on, despite knowing that without Pokémon to battle Growlithe and Spearow could only become weaker. He was also looking to add a bug Pokémon to his belt, so brushing aside his fears he had searched feverously in the long grass of Viridian Forest, but still, nothing emerged.

It didn’t help that the average daily temperature was rising steadily in anticipation of summer. Sweat was pouring off his body and Growlithe’s fur was starting to become matted from the heat. It caused Ross to pause considering Growlithe was a fire Pokémon. The heat shouldn’t affect him, yet he too fell subject to fast approaching summer.

Wiping what sweat he could from his forehead he sat down in the shade of a willow, swinging his bag over his shoulder and drawing a canteen from the side pocket. The water was not cool, but it replaced what he had lost and that alone made it sweet. Pouring some into his hand he let Growlithe lap it up, then returned it to his bag and stood up, ready to continue the trek.

From the corner of his eye Ross spotted something worthy of note. It was a small green Pokémon he couldn’t identify. Drawing his Pokédex he tapped the scan button.

[Metapod, the cocoon Pokémon – a Pokémon of the bug type. Metapod is soft and weak inside its shell as it prepares to evolve. It stays completely motionless and hardens its exterior to protect itself, however sufficient trauma can cause Metapod to pop out of its shell.]

The Metapod was as the Pokédex reported, completely motionless, however that raised the question of how it maneuvered its way onto the branch it was resting on in the first place. How it got there was of little consequence to Ross, though. He was more interested in adding it to his team.

Releasing Spearow he pointed at the Metapod and shouted an attack command. “Spearow, Peck!”

In a flash, the battle hardened Spearow, who was eager for a fight since his training on route one dashed for the Metapod, raking his talons and beak along the side of Metapod’s shell, causing it to drop unceremoniously from its perch and touch down on the dirt path of Viridian Forest.

As far as Pokémon captures went this one was far too easy for Ross’ liking, but he knew to never look a gift Rapidash in the mouth, so he grabbed an empty Pokéball from his belt and prepared for the capture. Knowing full well what flying Pokémon were capable of doing to bug Pokémon, and not knowing at all how much he had damaged Metapod Ross recalled Spearow and threw his empty Pokéball, hitting the green cocoon with the activation trigger and sucking it in with little fuss.

Metapod struggled very little as it was embraced by the white and red orb, which was understandable considering its nature: docile.

“Looks like we’ve got another team member, Gardie,” Ross said as he picked up the Pokéball.

Growlithe didn’t answer; he stood perfectly still, staring off into the forest. Something had piqued his interest and judging by his hesitant posture it was not a Pokémon. Ross looked to where Growlithe was staring, trying to discern wood from leaf and branch from flesh. The forest was quite quiet, so any movement on the dry leaves would alert them to the presence of a shadow.

Ross made sure his Pokéballs were secured then ushered Growlithe to continue down the path. It was unusual for somebody to take any interest in him, let alone stalk him. He was a pathetic human being, he knew that at heart, and although he knew he could do better if he applied himself, he felt being watched so closely as queer.

Stepping carefully, so as to make little noise he watched Growlithe’s ears. As they moved down the path his Pokémon’s ears picked up at the sound of twigs breaking. Their shadow was so loud even he had heard the breaking of detritus underfoot.

Tired of being the hunted Ross grabbed Growlithe and leapt up a tree, scrambling to find cover behind leaves. He had identified the tree earlier as able to be climbed when he was looking for the stalker and had seen numerous ways to climb it. Hauling the extra twenty kilograms that constituted Growlithe was simple for the boy. He had spent his childhood adventuring outside of Pallet Town with Alexander Oak, so trees were something he knew very well.

Together Growlithe and Ross waited, not knowing what to expect, but after thirty minutes of crouching in the tree, their legs cramped, several times over, a figure appeared on the path where they were standing. He wore a white tank top, khaki cargos and simple looking sandals. On his belt were six Pokéballs and a single sheathed sword. His jet-black crew cut shimmered in the afternoon light that managed to filter through the canopy of the forest.

The boy’s eyes narrowed as he scanned the surrounding area. “You may come out. I mean you no harm,” He yelled to the woods, causing whatever Pokémon were hiding from Ross to flee.

Growlithe dropped down first, baring his fangs, and Ross second. Together they faced the kid who had promised that he owed them no ill intention. Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword the boy bowed, unnerving Ross. There was something about the boy that didn’t sit right with the Pokémon trainer. Maybe it was just the meter of steal by his side, or maybe it was something more.

At least it was breaking routine.

“What do you want?” Ross inquired rather shrilly.

“I am Samurai,” The boy replied, his caution evaporating. “I challenge you to a Pokébattle.”

“You what?”

Samurai raised an eyebrow. “You are a Pokémon trainer, are you not?”

“Well, yes…”

“Then you must accept my challenge.”

Ross was incredulous. After three days of nothing he had caught a Metapod and been challenged to a battle. Ignoring previous misgiving he grinned, eagerly. It would be the first battle of many and he was committed to winning, as he was committed to coming first in the Pokémon League.

“Alright. I am Ross Spare from Pallet and I accept your challenge, Samurai.”

The warrior trainer nodded. “So, you are from Pallet Town after all. Very good.”

“What does it matter where I’m from?”

“I am the master bug catcher in this forest and I await the challenge brought to me by the trainers from Pallet Town as they travel to Pewter City in the north,” Samurai explained, plainly. “I encountered a great trainer three days ago who warned me that there would be another from Pallet in addition to the four I had already faced.”

The four he had already faced must have been Alexander and the others who had begun their journey that day, which meant that Samurai had already battled his rival. Ross wondered how much progress Alex had made in the short time they had been separated. Everybody said he was a genius at Pokémon and everybody meant to say to him that no matter how much he trained he would never defeat his rival, but Ross had always ignored the subtext, vowing to topple the Champion of Pallet.

“Did you defeat them?” Ross asked, anxiously.

“All but one,” Samurai said.

It was obvious whom he was talking about, but Ross needed confirmation. “What was his name?”

“If he is a rival of yours then I pity you, for your road ends at the summit of a great mountain.”

Ross sighed. “So it is him.”

He would be the last person to admit that Alexander was a superior trainer, but if her failed to defeat the Samurai, then he would be forced to concede that point. Because of this fact Ross refused to be beaten. He would go to the Pokémon League and fight his rival in an epic showdown, his Pokémon tearing through Alexander’s, but on this day, as he stood in Viridian Forest he would not lose to Samurai.

“I have already fought this trainer,” Samurai said. “My interest is with you.”

“Then stop talking and pick up your Pokéball.”

His summons carried with it the intensity he felt in his heart causing Growlithe to turn and stare at his master, worry evident on his face. It was the first time Growlithe had ever looked at him with anything more then contempt, but for once he wasn’t trying to prove himself to the puppy Pokémon. Growlithe knew this and turned away from his master who glared down at him, as if daring him to fail.

Knowing that it was his duty to carry Ross’ banner Growlithe stepped forward, his legs spread apart, his coat shimmering in apprehension and his teeth bared. Ross had given Growlithe a lot and the time had come for the orange canine to give something back.

“Is a two on two battle alright with you?” Samurai asked, selecting a Pokéball.

Ross nodded. “Perfect. I choose Growlithe.”

“Predictable!” Samurai announced with a laugh. “Go, Butterfree!”

[Butterfree, the butterfly Pokémon – a Pokémon of the bug and flying types. Butterfree flaps its wings at high speed in battle, releasing spores onto its enemies. These same spores help to create a waterproof coat on Butterfree’s wings allowing it to collect honey from flowers even in the heaviest of downpours.]

“Spores?” Ross exclaimed.

“That’s right,” Samurai grinned. “Butterfree, use Stun Spore, and don’t worry about evading, that Growlithe cannot utilize the fire of its heart yet, so it is unable to use flame based attacks.”

Butterfree nodded, knowingly and started flapping its wings with increasingly intensity. Ross could see the air become clouded with a silver haze as spores descended on Growlithe. The puppy Pokémon stared at the cloud, concern evident in his eyes, but he did not falter and Ross knew it was because of his commitment to him.

He had never really questioned why Growlithe had never used fire attacks. It crossed his mind that perhaps Growlithe was incapable of summoning the intense blaze of a Charizard, but being a fire Pokémon he must have had some proficiency with conjuring flames. Regardless of whether he could use Ember or not Growlithe was in danger of being paralyzed.

Ross knew that without missile attacks there was no way Growlithe could hit Butterfree. He was floating up near the tree canopy and Growlithe was on the ground. Considering for a moment Ross concocted a strategy.

“Growlithe, the tree,” Ross said, pointing to the tree they had hidden in. It had low branches, and firm footholds, perfect for climbing, which is why it had initially caught his attention, however whether Growlithe could tackle the tree by himself was about to be put to the test.

The puppy Pokémon nodded and dashed up the tree, scraping bark and breaking branches as his short legs looked desperately for purchase. He eventually made it high enough up the tree that he could bound from one branch to another, however by this time the spores exuded by Butterfree had reaches the tree, settling on the green leaves.

Dancing passed the silvery leaves Growlithe reached a point where he was in range of Butterfree and, ignoring whatever effects the spores could curse him with Growlithe leapt out of the shadows and into the air. Branches sighed as he shot past as if paying their respects to the ferocious puppy Pokémon as he bore down on his quarry.

Immediately after leaving the safety of the tree Growlithe began to feel the effects of the Stun Spore. It settled on his fur and he twisted and spasmed in the air, as he wrestled desperately with his muscles for control of his body. Butterfree however was caught off guard by the speed of Growlithe’s attack and could only watch as he dropped down from above, fangs bared.

“Gardie!” Ross shouted above the flapping of wings, groans and convulsions. “Bite!”

Fighting off the paralysis that was rapidly setting in Growlithe brought his head around and bit into the exposed body of the Butterfree, causing it to squeak in pain and be pulled down to the floor of the forest. Both Pokémon hit with equal intensity, Growlithe rolling into a tree and Butterfree simply landing like a sack full of Meowths.

Ross knew there was no hope if Butterfree got into the air. “Gardie! You have to bite it again!”

Struggling Growlithe lifted itself off the ground and started hobbling over to the downed butterfly Pokémon. For a moment it looked as if he would reach it in time, however the closer it got the farther away victory became for Growlithe. By the time Butterfree was in attack position Growlithe was completely paralyzed.

“Gardie,” Ross whispered somberly as he walked over to recall his leading Pokémon.


* * * * *


Wartortle fired the his Water Gun desperately, but the fight had gone out of him and the pressure was low causing the water to splash gently against his opponent, washing the sweat off his small yellow body. He felt the water dampening his electric sacks, but he only felt strength entering his body, none leaving it. The knowledge that his opponent was at his mercy was a refreshing thought.

As the deep azure turtle Pokémon staggered forward in a futile attempt to force pressure onto his attack Pikachu grinned evilly and squeezed the lightning sacks hidden behind his cheeks by the red swelling common to his species. The lightning sacks forced ions to escape his body, charging the air around him and creating an aura of electricity that he focused on the stream of water splashing against his face. The fact that his attacks were extremely painful only made Pikachu squeeze harder.

The effect of the Thundershock was immediate: Wartortle trembled fiercely as electricity forced his muscles into clenching. Pikachu only stopped his attack after Wartortle had slipped into unconsciousness and fallen to the ground.

Strolling over to the downed Pokémon he patted its head gently, then kicked it. He had received his punishment for allying himself with a human and so would any Pokémon he encountered who did so. Pokémon who helped in the creation of a Pokémon Master were nothing more then sheep to be eradicated and Pikachu would make sure they were.

No human trained Pokémon could defeat him, he was invincible and he proved it time and time again as he encountered the infidels in Viridian City. More and more trainers were falling prey to him and soon he would attract an army of Pokémon the likes of which the world had never seen. They would fight, and die against the world’s greatest foe, mankind, but they would be victorious.

Staring down at the human girl before him Pikachu smiled. She would be the first casualty of war. Her hair was blonde, her clothes bright and her heart black. Squeezing his cheeks he glared into her eyes, daring her to draw her next Pokémon.

“Why are you doing this?” She demanded, showing a lot of spirit for somebody about to die.

Pikachu didn’t expect her to understand his words let alone the meaning behind them, so he saved his breath and simply squeezed.


* * * * *


Ross turned his head, staring over Viridian Forest in the direction of Pewter City. The sun was slowly falling from the sky and a lavender haze was beginning to descend over the valley, bathing everything in a blue glow. He could feel the Pokémon of forest returning to their homes, whether it be in a tree or a burrow, and curling up to rest in anticipation of the night.

It was a magical evening, with Butterfree floating over the forest, flapping spores over the forest-dwellers as if encouraging them to lay their heads on their pillows. It was a gentle goodnight kiss. Beedrill returned to their hives in droves, making the woods alive with chatter and the beating of insect wings. Every sense told Ross it was time for bed.

Yet in all the peace and tranquility of Viridian Forest at night something was a miss. He couldn’t be sure for he didn’t have the auditory faculties of Growlithe, but he would have bet his first gym badge, if he actually had one, that he had heard a girl scream. It was faint, and in the distance, as if a whisper.

Shaking his head and banishing the ghostly scream he leant closer to his patient. Ross fed Growlithe the paralyze heal, causing the puppy Pokémon to whine as his muscles jerked and released themselves. He looked downtrodden having been defeated by a simple Butterfree. His honor and ego had taken a sever beating along with his body.

Ross stood and faced Samurai. He was carefully applying a potion to his Pinsir who Spearow had easily defeated. Samurai’s Pokémon, being of the bug type, were no match for Spearow. He swooped in and tore them apart like a professional. Ross was concerned to see Spearow laughing insanely after he beat Pinsir to within an inch of his life.

His first battle was over, but with Growlithe taken down so quickly it felt like no victory at all.

“Well done, Ross Spare of Pallet,” Samurai bowed. “I hope we can battle again some day.”

“If I’m in the neighborhood.”

The bug catcher nodded. “I must part company with you now. The sun is falling and Viridian Forest can be treacherous at night.”

“Okay. See you later,” Ross mumbled dumbly. Then something occurred to Ross, something that didn’t seem relevant at the time, but which, in the light of Growlithe failure, caused him to think. “Wait a second.”

Samurai had returned Pinsir and was walking down the track towards Viridian City. “Yes?”

“How did you know Growlithe couldn’t use fire attacks?”

For a moment the bug catcher seemed perplexed, but then he
smiled. “Simple. When you saw Metapod he released Spearow to attack and capture it, where as if Growlithe were capable of doing so you could have simply incinerated him off the tree.”

“So the Metapod was yours,” Ross said, understanding dawned on him. “It was a test.”

In frustration and rage Ross screwed his hands into fists. It was the same everywhere he went. People were testing him no matter how many times he proved himself to them, they just wouldn’t stop seeing if they could make him fail and it was starting to really aggravate him. Perhaps Samurai didn’t understand what he’d been through, but that didn’t matter to Ross. He was angry and logic escaped him for the moment.

Unclipping his Pokéball from his belt he threw it at Samurai’s feet. “Then take your Metapod back. I don’t want it.”

“Nonsense,” Samurai shook his head, picking the small sphere up. “It is your Pokémon.”

“No, it’s your Pokémon. You gave it to me to test my weaknesses.”

“Does it matter where it came from? All that matters is that you were victorious in your battle. You defeated Metapod and you captured it. It is a willing member of your team and it stronger then it appears. I raised it from a Caterpie myself and I allow you to take it in recognition of my defeat.”

Feeling defeated himself Ross sighed and caught the Pokéball in one hand when it was thrown back to him, clipping it back on his belt. He watched Samurai walk away then hung his head in shame. Growlithe joined him and together they watched the sun set.

When they had finished feeling sorry for themselves the two companions continued on down the path to Pewter City in complete silence. The night seemed darker then ever, made so by the forest canopy that hid the stars and moon, which seemed to shy away from the victors of the day. Even the Pokémon of the forest hid from Ross and Growlithe, safe in their homes for the night.

As usual Ross thought as he walked. He was starting to feel as if his Pokémon journey was going nowhere and the feeling was claustrophobic. Pewter City couldn’t be terribly far away, but he needed to get there fast. If not for himself then for Growlithe who could really use a victory under his belt. He promised that he’d help Growlithe become the Pokémon he had the potential to be.

Despite what misgivings he had about what lay before him he had to admit that his journey so far had been quite an experience. All the places he’d visited had beautiful and elaborate, all the Pokémon he’d seen had been magical and wondrous and all the people he’d seen had been interesting and each with their own story to tell, even the two truck drivers in trench coats at the Viridian City Pokémon gym.

Ross’ mind began to wander back to his old life and he wondered what his mother was doing back in Pallet Town. It was nearly seven o’clock so dinner was about to be served, but it would be eaten alone and this concerned him. He felt as if he was abandoning his mother by going on the master quest, but she knew what her family would be life when she married Ross’ father. Still, it would have been nice if Ross could have been the exception for her.

He’d return to her victorious, to show her that her sacrifices were not in vain. When he returned was another matter altogether. He didn’t know when he’d be along the southern coast of Kanto again, let alone near Pallet, but he promised that he would return someday and show everybody there, not only his mother that he was not a failure.

Glancing down at Growlithe he saw he was having similar thoughts. Sadness clouded his face, but determination was evident on it as well. So they were both in agreement that they would step forward and become champions no matter the cost. Linked in defeat Ross felt closer to Growlithe then ever before and he knew that they were now both committed.

Ross was still musing about his destiny when he tripped over a piece of twisted metal in the middle of the path. His hands shot out to cushion his fall, but his legs banged against the heap of metal, bruising them. He cursed and dragged himself off the path and onto some grass, checking for any open wounds on his extremities. Rocks had shred the skin on his hands, but his legs were fine.

“What in the name of Gengar’s ghost?” Ross said as he inspected the obstacle he had failed to traverse properly.

It looked like it was once a bike of some sort. It was red in colour, with no cross bar, indicated a girl rider, and hinges where the wheel met the body, telling Ross it was also once collapsible. The damage was rather extensive, however. The red paint was almost completely stripped away by heat and where the bike would normally fold it would now only tear as plastic and metal were fused together.

“It’s a bike,” Exclaimed Ross.

Growlithe rolled his eyes.

Ignoring his companion he examined it further. Something was eating away at the back of his mind, some fact or piece of knowledge that he couldn’t recall. Suddenly it hit him and he felt like an idiot. He knew a girl who owned a red, folding mach bike, what’s more Samurai had mentioned that somebody had warned him another trainer from Pallet would be coming through Viridian Forest, but he had, in his infinite wisdom, assumed it was Alexander. However Samurai had said it was a great trainer and Alexander was only good, not great, yet.

Then there was the matter of the scream.

“Gardie,” Ross whispered. “I think Amy is in trouble.”

This made Growlithe growl. He obviously liked Amy, for she seemed to get along very well with Pokémon and less with humans. Strange that Growlithe would show so much compassion to somebody he barely knew. Amy must have had quite an impact on the puppy Pokémon.

“Do you remember her scent?”

Growlithe nodded, a smile growing on his face. He had a mission now and that filled the puppy Pokémon with purpose. Stuffing the mangled bike into his backpack Ross dashed after Growlithe into the forest, brushing bushed and branches out of his way. Normally Growlithe probably would have gone slower, but Ross knew he had proven how quickly he could move through woods on route one.

They ran for hours, never pausing for rest or breath and they both knew why. This was the ultimate test for them. They would keep pushing themselves and they would never stop getting back up. As Ross followed Growlithe, his legs like rubber, his chest as though a Hitmonchan had landed a direct hit, he felt nothing but power coursing through his veins. He stopped to throw up, then drank the remainder of his canteen, grabbing Growlithe low enough to force water down his throat, and then they pushed on.

His mind was starting to wander into the third hour of flight, but Ross managed to focus with a few quick slaps to his face. Their pace eventually began to slacken despite Ross peppering himself with open palms to stay lucid, but as Ross thought they were too tired to go on Growlithe stopped completely.

He nodded his head towards a clearing a couple of meters away between sharp intakes of breath. Ross pushed forward, staring into the clearing for any signs of Amy or whatever had attacked her. He saw her slumped against a tree at the far side of the clearing, blood matting her blonde hair to her forehead. There was nobody else in the clearing, but Ross wouldn’t take any chances.

“Stay here, Gardie.”

Pushing through the forest Ross entered the clearing, crouching low to avoid being spotted by anything that was watching Amy. Whatever had happened there had been a lot of fighting. The trees around the clearing were scorched by fire, puddles of water were scattered around the area and muddy footprints, both human and Pokémon were everywhere.

When he reached Amy he reached forward, brushing her hair out of her face and inspecting her would. It had already clotted shut, but the gash looked rather nasty. Checking to make sure her heart was beating and she was breathing he found himself overcome with a relief he found it was so.

Cradling her head he lowered her to the ground and nudged her gently, trying not to injure her further, but trying to get her attention. She stirred for a moment, groaning loudly. This caused Ross to look around the clearing for any signs of attack. When none came he tried and again and managed to wake her up.

She stared up, dumbly, not completely conscious yet. “I know you.”

“Yes, you do,” Ross agreed. “Are you alright?”

“My mouth’s a little dry.”

Caught by surprise Ross stammered and stuttered. “Sorry, there’s no water left.”

Amy stared at him blankly and he began to realize that she was completely out of it. Sighing he tried to help her up, so he could carry her out of the clearing, but she fell back in unconsciousness and he had to waken her once again. He was afraid she may have suffered brain trauma, so he didn’t want her to fall asleep.

Laughing caught his attention and he turned to see a small yellow Pokémon covered in wicked scars, grinning maliciously at him from across the clearing. Confused he whipped out his Pokédex and aimed it at the electric rodent. He’d never heard of insanity in Pokémon, but the Pikachu looked at him with murder in its eyes.

[Pikachu, the electric mouse Pokémon – a Pokémon of the electric type. Pikachu is an intelligent Pokémon that roasts berries with electricity to make them tender enough to eat. This electricity is generated by energy sacks on its cheeks and channeled by its tail which it keeps raised at all times to monitor its surroundings. When several of these Pokémon gather their electricity can build and cause lightning storms.]

“Why are you doing this, Pikachu?” Ross said, placing himself between the mouse and Amy.

Pikachu laughed and squeezed his cheeks.


* * * * *


It was a strange question for Ross to ask, for Pikachu could give no answer he would understand, but the Pokémon trainer asked it anyway, hoping to get some insight into the mind of the obviously deranged Pokémon. No matter how brave it was it would be a futile gesture, for Pikachu didn’t seem to be in the mood to talk.

Growlithe was frightened by the insanity in Pikachu’s eyes, for it was only something he’d seen in humans before, never a Pokémon. The anger he felt towards humans must have been tenfold what Growlithe felt and that caused him to shudder. There was only one answer for that much hatred. Ross had to capture him and stop him from hurting anybody else, no matter the cost to Pikachu.

Although he felt a deep connection to Pikachu due to his obvious mistreatment at the hands of humans Growlithe would not hesitate to unleash his full fury on the electric mouse. If Ross or Amy were put in danger he would protect them. It was part of the promise he had made on route one.

In response to Ross’ question Pikachu laughed and prepared to attack. As fast as a bolt of lightning Growlithe was out of the thicket and at Pikachu’s side, biting and clawing the electric rodent until it stumbled back, turning its attention to Growlithe. The puppy Pokémon lashed out with grim determination, but Pikachu only laughed, dancing around his attacks.

Everything Growlithe hit the electric mouse with was easily deflected and or transformed by a parry into dive, but he pushed on, growling fiercely and biting frantically in search of flesh to latch onto. Who ever had trained Pikachu had done a fine job, for he hadn’t taken a single hit from Growlithe’s attack. He smiled, as though his victory was assured, then squeezed.

The Thundershock threw Growlithe across the clearing and into a tree. He felt the air leave him as his lungs were crushed against his rib cage. Gasping for breath as he fell to the ground he could only think about his constant failures in battle and Ross who believed in him. It was strange that Growlithe pitied Ross for he and the Pokémon had much in common. They were both pathetic creatures that failed at nearly everything they did and they were both at Pikachu’s mercy.

“Spearow!” Ross shouted, flinging a Pokéball. “Fury Attack!”

Growlithe’s eyes widened. Ross wasn’t giving up, he continued to fight, trusting in Spearow’s strength, even knowing that against an electric Pokémon Spearow would have a huge disadvantage. He was resolved to defeat Pikachu and continue with his quest no matter what, which suddenly made him look a lot nobler in Growlithe’s eyes. Ross would never give up, never get tired, and never blame his Pokémon for his own failures.

It was strange feeling Growlithe had to deal with; the feeling of belonging. He had been traveling with Ross for nearly three weeks and in those three weeks he’d seen many differences between Ross and his old trainer, but he never attributed it to anything other then nature. Ross was young, full of life and expectations, which is what his trainer was once like.

For the first time in a long time, though, Growlithe saw something in the human standing before him, an energy and hope that all trainers lacked. It was because he worked so closely with Ross that he could see what the young trainer was really like. His mother, his mentor and his rival didn’t understand him at all and as such they greatly underestimated him.

As Spearow raked his talons along Pikachu’s side only to be hit with wave of electricity Growlithe pushed himself to his feet, trying his hardest to stand before the person he admired. Ross recalled Spearow and grabbed another Pokéball from his belt, releasing Metapod against Pikachu. This caused Pikachu to laugh and attack with a Thundershock. Growlithe, however, ignored the battle, focusing instead on a part of his body he had been ignoring for so long; his heart.


* * * * *


“Metapod!” Ross shouted above Pikachu’s scream of frustration. “Harden!”

He could see that while Metapod contracted his body pulling his armor plates closer to the surface of his shell it did nothing to dampen the effects of the Thundershocks being released into it. Trying to rationalize this Ross thought back to school. Electricity ignored physical shields, passing through most metals with ease. Perhaps it was the same with Pokémon. Energy attacks bypassed physical shields and vice versa. Although this was a useful revelation it didn’t mean much in the current battle.

Thinking quickly he tried to recall something from his memory that could help him. A grin spread across his face as a strategy formed in his head. “Metapod, Harden!”

Pikachu stopped for a moment and looked at Ross quizzically, as if he were an idiot. Shrugging he squeezed again and hit Metapod with another blast of energy, burning his shell and roasting his soft interior. As he squeezed harder and harder in glee he saw something that made him slow down and eventually pause.

Ross saw the crack spreading up Metapod’s side as well. “Sufficient trauma can cause Metapod to pop out of its shell,” Ross recited the Pokédex. “When he hardened he made his shell brittle, so the heat from your Thundershock broke it easily. Thanks for your help in getting Metapod to evolve, Pikachu.”

Light poured from the crack in Metapod’s shell causing it to widen, allowing the Pokémon inside to spread its wings and soar. It was a purple creature with large red eyes and huge white and black wings that sparkled in whatever moonlight could filter through to the clearing. It was much like Samurai’s Butterfree, however it was more lavender then purple, a result of being forced from its shell early.

“All right, Metapod,” Ross said, happily. “I mean, Butterfree. Now, before he can get to you hit him with Stun Spore!”

Flapping his wings Butterfree flew up above the clearing a blanketed the entire area in Stun Spores. Pikachu had nowhere to run and could only scream in frustration as his muscles became rigid. His automatic response was to hit Butterfree with a Thundershock, but the newly evolved Pokémon was full of life and dodged the blast, raining down string on Pikachu, sticking his legs together and bringing his remarkable speed under control.

As Pikachu struggled with the string he laughed and squeezed his cheeks quickly, creating a wave of energy that washed over Butterfree, causing all his muscles to tense at once. Ross watched Butterfree, but nothing else happened.

While trying to figure out what technique Pikachu had just used he commanded Butterfree to finish what he had started. “Confusion!”

Butterfree squeaked loudly and the air around it quivered as a bolt of mental energy lanced towards Pikachu. He glared at the butterfly Pokémon as the blast knocked him from his feet and into a tree. Rolling to the ground he tried to get to his feet, but his muscles began spasming. Ross could see the anger on Pikachu’s face.

Just as he was ordering Butterfree to attack one last time the butterfly screamed and fell to the ground as its wings locked. He was as paralyzed as Pikachu. The technique Pikachu had used must have been Thunder Wave. It did no damage to the Pokémon it was directed against, but caused its muscles to lock randomly, just like Stun Spore.

“Butterfree!” Ross growled in fear and desperation.

To his horror Ross saw Pikachu stand up, no longer under the effects of the Stun Spore. He strode over to Butterfree, who twitched sporadically on the ground and smiled malevolently. The butterfly Pokémon could only watch as Pikachu squeezed his cheeks and emptied everything he had into him. Ross couldn’t let him be murdered by Pikachu, so he quickly whipped out his Pokéball and recalled Butterfree.

In one quick battle Pikachu had managed to defeat all of Ross’ Pokémon with little to no effort, and he didn’t even seem fazed by the paralysis he was suffering, or the beating Spearow and Butterfree had delivered.

Pikachu glared at Ross, as if daring him to select another Pokémon for him to defeat, but he didn’t have anymore, he only had himself, but he wouldn’t be able to stop Pikachu, he would only die trying to take him out, and Pikachu would let him. Glancing back at Amy he screamed in anger.

“You!” Ross shouted at the electric rodent. “You are nothing I can’t overcome. Do you think you can really stop me? I will be the greatest Pokémon Master this world has ever seen and you will be nothing if you don’t side with me. You think you are doing the world a great service by trying to kill us, but you are wrong. You would serve the world better to work with us to make it better. People like you make me sick!”

Pikachu looked taken aback. He was used to people begging for their lives, but he had never encountered somebody like this. Ross was as furious as him, spitting and frothing at the mouth as he delivered his final words. He had called Pikachu a person and that was a huge insult to the electric rodent. Evil was not something inherent to nature it was something conceived of by humans to explain the inequity of the world, and to call a Pokémon human was to call it evil.

Furious, Pikachu squeezed its cheeks as hard as it possibly could and aimed at the young trainer. If he wanted evil Ross would receive it.

Ross cringed when he saw death looming close, but before the disappointment and rage could register with him Pikachu stopped and looked to the side where Growlithe had fallen. To the young trainer’s surprise Growlithe was on his feet, his eyes burning with intensity Ross had never seen before. It was as if he had been reborn.

Pikachu stared at him dumbfounded, and Growlithe smirked back at the electric rodent. Ross knew exactly what Growlithe was trying to say: is that all you’ve got? Pikachu’s eyes darkened and he turned towards his new target, ignoring the helpless human. That was a mistake Ross was going to be sure to point out. He reached into his coat and pulled out an empty Pokéball. It was now or never.

In a flash Pikachu was upon Growlithe, the string sealing him to the ground broken and forgotten. It did manage to slow him for an instant, though, and in that instant Growlithe moved. He bounded forward, straight at Pikachu, causing the electric mouse Pokémon to screech to a halt and prepare an electric attack.

As his cheeks contracted and energy pulsed around Pikachu’s body Growlithe dived, slamming his body into the electric mouse, and knocking him clean off his feet. He landed on the ground, jarred for a second, but that was all Growlithe needed. He raced over to Pikachu, sunk his fangs into the Pokémon’s side and flung hi across the clearing, staining the ground with crimson tears.

Screaming, Pikachu stood, his small hands at his sides wiping away blood. He was losing consciousness quickly, but where he was in the clearing he could launch any attack against his opponent and he knew that, so did Growlithe. No amount of Body Slams or Bites would save him if Pikachu decided to use Thundershock.

Grinning, Pikachu squeezed his cheeks and stopped. His eyes widen and he dropped to the ground, fear spread across his face. As he looked at Growlithe accusingly his muscles began convulsing, ignoring any commands the small yellow Pokémon gave them. Butterfree’s Stun Spores hadn’t dissipated completely.

“That’s it, Gardie!” Ross yelled.

Expecting Growlithe to charge Pikachu down he was shocked when the orange puppy did nothing, he simply breathed deeply, as though preparing to force a burp. When he barked, however, only an intense heat emerged. Ross shielded his face as the very air caught fire and a sphere of red, raw energy blazed across the clearing.

Pikachu’s eyes opened wide as the Ember bore down on him. Defeat showed on his face, but by the time the smoke cleared from the resulting explosion, only calm surrender was evident. Ross threw his Pokéball, capturing Pikachu in a white light. The Pokéball didn’t shake; Pikachu struggled not.

Growlithe’s victory had happened so quickly Ross was speechless. He simply stared at his companion. It was finally his time to be surprised. Growlithe stood firm and proud, but the exhaustion was clear all over his body. It had been a long day and they were both completely wiped out, but they both knew it wasn’t over yet.

The trepidation Ross had felt earlier had completely evaporated. What fear he felt in his heart had transformed itself into determination and anticipation. The road was definitely not easy and it may end at the great Mt. Alexander, but the young trainer was happy to walk it, because he knew that from now on he would never walk it alone.

Ross picked up Amy, slinging her over his shoulder and indicated for Growlithe to lead the way. Growlithe smiled at Ross and the two friends walked out of Viridian Forest in silence.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 6: ROCK SHOWDOWN IN PEWTER CITY

Awareness slowly returned to Amy’s mind as he eyes creaked open. Instead of a hideous blackness she saw pure white, as if a bright light was being shone in her face from a source far away. The light stung her eyes, as though she had been in the dark for days, but she knew that couldn’t be possible. She couldn’t remember what she was doing before she fell into darkness, but she could recall a vague sense of urgency. Whatever had happened to her she knew if given the opportunity she would not have taken it lying down.

Groaning she rolled over to try and see where she was and was surprised to find that she was in bed in a hospital room. The white light that burned her eyes was daylight streaming in through the windows. Judging by the intensity of the light she would guess it to be about midday, but she felt groggy and didn’t dare trust her senses.

Amy reached for her belt, absentmindedly, and found it to be missing. Her clothes and equipment had been removed and placed on a table next to her bed, replaced by a white hospital gown and a saline drip. Resting on top of her clothes were two Pokéballs, containing her pocket monster friends.

Grabbing the Pokéballs she tapped the activation triggers and waited patiently. Nothing happened. Panicking she hit the buttons again, and a third time. When it finally occurred to her that the Pokéballs were empty she let them slip from her hands and hit the floor of the hospital room with a dull crack.

She tried to remember what had happened to her before she blacked out, but all she could recall was a bright flash of yellow, then black. Digging through her mind, caused it to ache and she was forced to clutch her head to try and elevate the pain. Her entire body tingled with fury and anger similar to that of a thunderstorm.

“Ms. Amaranth, you mustn’t strain yourself.”

Amy gazed up as a nurse rushed into the room, easing her back into her bed. Even if she had the strength to fight back, she wouldn’t have, preferring instead to sit back and rest. The birds chattering through the open window started lulling her back to sleep, but she had too many questions to simply slip back into the sinister embrace on unconsciousness.

“Where am I?”

The nurse smiled jovially. “You’re in Pewter City. We were worried about you, Ms. Amaranth.”

“Why?” Amy said, groggily, watching as the nurse injected something into her drip.

“You were in a very bad ways when you were brought in.”

Growing weary from watching the nurse sidestep her questions she asked something more specific. “What happened to me?”

“From what we were told by the boy that brought you in you were attacked by a Pikachu,” The nurse admitted, gliding over to the window and opening it further. She had a grace and beauty that her white apron hid. As she returned she spotted something on the ground. Dipping out of Amy’s sight she bent down and picked up two Pokéballs.

Amy cursed her battered mind for letting the memory of Wartortle and Vulpix slip. “My Pokémon?”

“They are fine. They were treated at the Pokécentre and are waiting outside.”

“May I see them?”

She didn’t know what she would have done if her Pokémon were seriously injured. It’s a hard reality for any trainer to face, but its one that must be. In a world where strength is decided at the drop of a Pokéball and battles for supremacy are commonplace it isn’t unusual for Pokémon and their trainers to be badly hurt. Caution had to be maintained, as safety should be a trainer’s number one concern.

As the nurse glided from the room Amy rubbed her temples and tried to think of what had happened to her in the forest. She remembered the forest vividly as the haze of trauma and drugs lifted. Whatever had been injected into her drip was working. Images flashed before her eyes, images of people and Pokémon. A samurai perhaps, and a boy from Pallet. Straining she tried to recall what happened after her battle with the samurai.

Clenching her teeth her memories of Pikachu’s insanity flooded back. The electric mouse was furious with her and she didn’t know why. Something he blamed all humankind for. It struck her once again as odd for a Pokémon to be so angry. Most Pokémon were calm and peaceful, never resorting to violence unless forced to.

War was something humans did, but for some reason the Pokémon that had attacked her thought that it was time for Pokémon to go to war as well.

“Vulpix! Wartortle!” Amy cried gleefully as her Pokémon rushing into the room, relief all over their faces. They laughed as they jumped onto her bed and let her hug them. Vulpix, the small red fox, with brilliant black eyes had a bandage around her midsection where Pikachu had tried to kick her ribs in. Wartortle, the upright blue turtle with wings for ears and an equally majestic tail had taken a greater beating then Vulpix, but his shell had protected him.

“So, you three know each other, then,” The nurse chuckled from the doorway.

Amy nodded, happily. “We know each other very well.”

Wartortle, Vulpix and Amy had been through quite a lot, traveling all over Kanto and even passing into Johto to visit a few gyms. Through everything they had managed to remain loyal to each other, no matter how many defeats and victories they garnered. For the past year they had battle all around the region, collecting gym badges and making friends everywhere. It was definitely an experience worthy of forging a family from individuals.

As she sat with her Pokémon her memory revealed the name of the young trainer from Pallet Town that she had met on route one and again in Viridian Forest. “Ross.”

“I beg your pardon,” The nurse asked, leaning forward to hear her.

“Ross Spare.”

“Yes, that’s the name of the boy that brought you here.”

She remembered being carried by him for what seemed like an eternity through Viridian Forest and into Pewter City, resting periodically to make sure he didn’t die of exhaustion and to ensure that she was still stable. The knowledge that Ross had treated her made her stomach sore. He wasn’t exactly the brightest Voltorb in the power plant, so there was no telling how many Potions he had fed her before realizing she wasn’t a Pokémon.

“And the Pikachu?”

The nurse shrugged. “He captured it.”

“What?”

She knew that was impossible. Pikachu had completely outclassed her in battle and there was no way that he had been defeated by Ross, who was a promising novice, but a novice none-the-less. But then Amy had never actually fought Ross, so she didn’t know how good of fighter he or his Pokémon were.

“If you want to detain the Pikachu I believe Ross is still in the city,” The nurse said, misunderstanding her outburst.

Amy pulled the covers of bed back and crawled out, grabbing her clothes. “Where is he?”

“Who? Ross?”

“Yes,” Amy nodded, passing her Pokéballs to Vulpix and Wartortle. They caught them and activated them, sucking themselves into the focusing crystal of the small red and white spheres. Amy didn’t believe in capturing Pokémon. If they didn’t want to go in their Pokéballs it was fine. The choice to enter the miniature prisons would always be theirs.

“Well, I’m pretty sure he was going to see Brock.”

Remembering Brock from her last visit to Pewter City Amy nodded. “The gym leader.”

“That’s right.”

“Thank you,” Amy said as the nurse left the room, allowing her to get dressed.

As she made her way out of the hospital the nurse questioned her about her fitness, however although Amy’s joints ached and her muscles felt like they were still bleeding she was desperate to see the battle at the Pewter City gym, so she assured all the medical staff she saw that she was perfectly fine.

It was apparent to Amy that she lying when she stopped on the street outside the hospital to catch her breath. Her injuries were more severe then she had originally thought and for a moment she entertained the idea of returning to bed and resting, but when she thought of Pikachu’s sneering face and Ross, who against all odds had managed to defeat the electric mouse she knew she had to press on.

Pewter City wasn’t beautiful by any standards, dwarfed by the tranquility of Celadon or the fast-paced metropolis of Saffron. Originally a mining community Pewter City’s buildings were old and constructed primarily of wood and simple materials that made the town look makeshift. She expected the bar to explode into a brawl as she walked past or there to be a shootout on the main street, however accompanied by a sigh of relief from Amy was nothing but cars and people wearing the same trendy clothes from Jumpluff Jeans as any other city.

The surly, almost backwater vibe that was instilled in the atmosphere of the city was only a vibe.

As Amy passed the northern district of the town she spotted the campus of the Kanto archaeological museum and she remembered why she was heading for Pewter City when she was attacked. She had made a promise to Professor Dogwood on Cinnabar Island to pick something up from his colleague in the museum.

Pausing momentarily she considered whether she had time to pop in and collect the professor’s package before proceeding to the gym, however she knew that she had been traveling for over a month since being sent on the errand, so another hour wouldn’t matter.

Only a little further down the road was the Pewter City Pokémon gym. It was a large building, like all Pokémon gyms, built specifically for housing the most intense Pokémon battles. Like every other building in Pewter the gym looked backwater, constructed from badly cut stones that were probably quarried from the Pewter mines.

Having already seen the splendor of the gym during her last visit to Pewter City Amy rushing inside, racing up the steps that led to the gym’s spectator’s stands. As she climbed she heard sounds of battle coming from above. An indistinguishable command was shouted and the entire building shook.

Appearing above the arena Amy looked down at the battle as it was unfolding.

“Rattata, tackle it!” A boy cried frantically at his Pokémon.

The sight of the small purple rat facing off against the giant mountainous snake of stone which was Brock Rockwell’s Onix would have been almost comical if Amy did not know the dangers of the rock snake Pokémon. If her Wartortle hadn’t been so well trained it could have been seriously injured during her battle with Brock, however Wartortle’s water-based attacks were enough to overwhelm the creature, but not before the turtle Pokémon received a severe beating of its own.

The arena itself was made of a huge slab of slate, common to all of Pewter City. Topsoil hid the rock formation the city was built on, however instead of constructing a battlefield the local gym leader had chosen to dig up the ground, exposing the stone below and giving his exclusively rock Pokémon an edge in battle.

“An unwise strategy,” Advised a teen standing on the opposite side of the arena to the boy with the Rattata. He wore nothing but baggy green trousers, so his bronzed toned torso was exposed to all those in the gym who had come to see Brock the Rock crush the dreams of another trainer. The teenager’s perpetual squint hid the dark eyes that matched his spiky dark brown hair. With the crowd filling the dark stands above at his back Brock raised a muscular arm and smiled. “Onix, harden!”

While the small purple rat charged valiantly towards its enemy Brock’s Onix stood still, conserving its energy. Although she was too far away to see the effects of Onix hardening its already stone skin Amy could imagine the rock contracting, closing any imperfections on the outside of its body to leave nothing but smooth pewter in its furrow.

Rattata hit Onix’s side and rebounded off, leaving not even the tiniest of scratch on the rock snake’s flank and throwing itself to the ground. As it darted to its feet Onix bent low to look into its eyes then whipped its tail around an into the purple rodent. The fifty spectators in the stands met the attack with awe. Rattata’s trainer, on the field below the masses, a little boy not even ten years old, could only sniff away his tears as his Pokémon hit the wall of the ring and slumped to the floor.

Brock withdrew Onix and consoled his opponent privately before escorting him off the field and returning to his post across the arena from the entrance. Amy began her search for Ross, her eyes darting over the crowd above, but at first glance she could not find him. The hushed murmur that had begun the moment Rattata was defeated died down when Brock raised his hand in a command for silence. Amy took the nearest seat.

“You have seen my power,” Brock shouted to the crowd arranged around the pit the arena was situated in. “Are there any among you who would dare challenge it?”

For a time nobody spoke and Brock sat cross-legged at his post. Amy wasn’t sure whether she had arrived in time to see Ross’ match, or whether he even had the conviction to challenge Brock the Rock, but she began to have her doubts about the trainer from Pallet Town. Perhaps he had seen ten meter long stone Onix and decided he could benefit with some training before challenging Brock.

A shadow fell on the arena from the large rock cut entrance across from the gym leader. Amy suddenly realized that in her heart she had been hoping that Ross wouldn’t face Brock, because she felt that he was too inexperienced to be capable of defeating him. To her dismay, and her somewhat excitement she saw Ross casting the shadow, Growlithe at his side. He marched into the stadium and took up a position where a challenger should.

“You are young,” Brock said, his deep voice booming throughout the gym. “What is you name?”

“I am Ross Spare from Pallet Town.”

“Is this your first gym challenge, Ross?” His tone suddenly very cold.

Ross frowned, but dared not speak against the gym leader. “Yes.”

Although it was impossible for a gym leader to refuse a challenge from a trainer, Brock was well within his rights to gauge his opponent’s strength using one of his trainees which was what the leader was undoubtedly about to do. He motioned for a trainer from above to come down into the stadium and take his position against Ross.

Brock looked from the boy to Ross. “This is Jerry, Ross. Prove your worth against him.”

“Wait,” Ross shouted as Brock stepped down. “I came here to fight you.”

The gym leader smiled, slyly. “Show me your skill and you will get your chance.”

Jerry looked a year or two older then Ross, but a young or two younger then Brock. His hair was styled similarly to Brocks and he wore the same baggy jeans, but although he was lean he was yet to craft his body such as Brock had, so he hid the top half of his body under a khaki t-shirt. He held a Pokéball tightly in one hand as though he had been anticipating the battle for some time and an anxious, yet malevolent grin confirmed this. He was far removed from the calm, peaceful demeanor of Brock.

“Don’t worry about Brock,” Jerry smirked. “You wont get past me.”

In the face of an older and more experienced adversary Ross simply shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“Go, Sandslash!”

Quickly cycling through his Pokémon and choosing the best to battle against Sandslash Ross put his hand on his belt and the Pokéballs hanging off it. Amy knew what was going through the boys head, because she had been in the same situation once before. Ross’ logical conclusion would be to use the Butterfree she had seen during the battle with Pikachu, because Sandslash’s attacks were primarily all launched from the ground. Butterfree’s flight combined with his biological attacks made him Ross’ ace.

Removing his hand from his belt he made a wild gesture at the arena. “Away to me, Growlithe.”

Amy was about to shout down at the boy from Pallet and point out his mistake, but she stopped herself. It made no sense to choose Growlithe to fight against Sandslash because the ground-based attacks would tear the fire Pokémon apart, unless of course Ross was saving Butterfree for Brock. He was taking a huge gamble on Growlithe’s abilities, but he suddenly had Amy intrigued.

So the battle was on, with Growlithe exploding from his trainer’s side towards Sandslash’s left as per his command and Jerry’s Pokémon, a one-meter tall golden shrew with a back covered in dark brown spines and two forelegs which ended in long silver claws, waiting patiently for orders. The entire stands were abuzz with chatter regarding Ross’ choice against Jerry, an obvious favourite, so in the end Amy could only see two people besides herself engrossed in the fight; Brock, and a shadowy figure across the arena who was sitting by himself. He wore a scowl on his gloomy face and it was directed at Ross.

“Sandslash!” Jerry started things off. “Defence curl!”

In a flash the mouse Pokémon had leapt off the floor and curled itself into a ball, spinning in the air and exposing, more often then not, deadly spines for the enemy to fight past. Growlithe’s charge halted beneath the spinning Sandslash, however he did not miss a beat and instead of waiting for his adversary to come back down he released a volley of burnings embers, which blasted past Sandslash’s defence and went straight for his body.

Amy counted three fireballs in all, which surprised her. Three fireballs was the international Pokémon League standard for the ember technique and in the short time since Ross received Growlithe he’d managed to teach him how to create that many. There was something about the Growlithe that put Amy on edge. It was as if the puppy Pokémon fought with a style completely separate from Ross’ training. Growlithe had definitely had a previous trainer before Ross.

Jerry laughed excitedly, ignoring the fire attack. “Poison sting!”

Both Ross and Growlithe cringed as the spinning ball of blades that was Sandslash fired a volley of its own. Amy couldn’t count how many, as they darted towards Growlithe faster then her eye could see, but she knew there were more poison-tipped needles then Growlithe could handle. The orange puppy tried to roll to the side, but the spray of barbs eventually caught him in the side.

Coming out of his roll Growlithe bit at his flank, tearing out the poison needles and throwing them to the rock floor of the gym. As Growlithe bled himself, making sure that no poison had entered his system, he watched Sandslash fall from the sky, carefully uncurl from his ball.

“Sandslash! Slash him!” Jerry commanded.

As he came down on Growlithe one of Sandslash’s silver claws lashed out, raking against Growlithe’s orange fur and cutting him badly. The puppy Pokémon danced away from the attack and faced off against his opponent as blood seeped from a nasty gash in his side. Although her vantage point was clumsy Amy could tell that the hit had not been critical. This angered Jerry who stomped around like a spoiled child, receiving a frown from his sponsor, Brock.

Composing himself, Jerry grinned. “Slash cuts deeply. It’s only a matter of time until it cuts so deep that your Pokémon can’t recover from it.”

“Relying on technique alone is a novice mistake,” Ross retorted quickly.

Enraged by Ross’ patronising tone Jerry pressed his attack. “Fury swipes!”

Sandslash somersaulted over Growlithe, a blur of yellow blade that only Growlithe seemed to be able to track. While the mouse was in the air he whipped out his talons once again, and using the momentum of his leap, clawed at Growlithe below. In his first pass Sandslash only managed to land two blows, but when he came out of his flip he landed in a crouch and repeated the attack twice more. By the end Growlithe was covered in scratches.

Despite the beating he had taken Growlithe seemed willing to continue the battle, although Sandslash leant on one arm as if he had been fighting for hours. The mouse obviously didn’t have much stamina, which meant that it looked like it was Growlithe’s move. Jerry waited patiently for Ross to decide on a move, but it didn’t take long for the trainer form Pallet Town to devise a strategy.

“Growlithe,” Ross shouted over the whispers in the stands. “Take down.”

Amy wasn’t sure if charging into Sandslash would be enough, because as Ross had pointed out relying on technique alone was a novice mistake, however when Ross gave his order Growlithe turned to look at his master and nodded knowingly, as though the two of them were communicating silently. Everything was not as it seemed and Amy could tell a plan had been hatched.

Growlithe charged straight at Sandslash, causing the larger Pokémon’s eyes to widen in surprise. He was obviously not used to being attacked directly. The orange puppy growled viciously as he bore down on his target, further intimidating Sandslash.

“Sandslash, sand-attack!” Jerry shouted in an attempt to counter the attack.

Dirt that sat peacefully on the hard rock floor of the gym was kicked up and sent into Growlithe’s face, momentarily blinding the puppy Pokémon and halting his charge. Jerry grinned in triumph when he saw the battle salvaged, however he became unnerved when Growlithe was lost beneath the blanket of sand. Although the attack was aimed at Growlithe’s eyes for a moment the orange puppy was lost in the dirty haze and this upset both trainer and his Pokémon.

Before another command could be issued a fireball burnt through the sand, then another. Sandslash was unprepared for the sudden attack and took the blasts straight in the face, blurring his vision and causing him to double over in pain. A third scorched his side, leaving a hideous red burn wherever it had touched skin.

Jerry saw the battle turn south and tried to save his Pokémon, but no commands came to mind. “Sandslash!”

The veil of sand fell away a split second after it had been created to reveal Growlithe, his eyes shut tight in pain, tearing towards Sandslash who was still recovering from the embers. With a bone-jarring crunch Growlithe fulfilled Ross’ command and executed take down on his opponent, throwing them both to the hard ground. The recoil from the attack was enough to make Growlithe yelp in pain, however when the puppy struggled to his feet Sandslash did not.

Amy could tell the crowd was impressed by Ross’ performance, since many of them were fans of Jerry and so thought that he was invincible. Even Brock was shocked to see his student defeated so easily. Amy looked over to the boy she had spotted before, sitting alone on the other side of the arena. He did not look impressed, he seemed to be disinterested as though he saw the battle between Ross and Jerry for what it really was; a warm up.

Seeing Jerry’s confused expression Ross explained his strategy. “Growlithe can perform odour sleuth, so being blinded by sand does really bother him, except for when the battle ends and he has to rinse his eyes out,” Ross added the last comment with some malice in his voice, bending down to pour his water flask over Growlithe’s face, and wash the grit from his vision. The puppy Pokémon licked Ross’ hand in thanks.

“Well done, Ross,” Brock shouted so all could hear. The gym leader replaced Jerry who stood to the side of the arena as the referee for the next match. “You have earned the right to face me, but I should warn you that I am not as easy to best as Jerry.”

The moment had finally come when Ross would have his abilities as a trainer put to the limit and Amy wasn’t afraid to admit that she was excited. It had been over a month since she had seen Ross in full lucidity and she wondered how he had grown. Chances were that Brock would clean the floor with Ross’ Pokémon since he had received his first Pokémon such a short time ago and most people waited at least a year before beginning the gym challenge, but there was always doubt in Amy’s mind.

Every ten years or so a true Pokémon Master was born, somebody with the skill and determination to defeat all the gyms in the land, win gold in the Pokémon League and befriend all Pokémon across the world. Amy had heard people predict that the next Pokémon Master would be born from Pallet Town and Professor Oak, considering the success of the Pokémon Professor’s previous students, the Pallet Town Trinity. Those three were already on their journey, though, and the name Alexander Oak was the one that was whispered in dark corners by the world’s Pokémon elite, but there was another trainer from Pallet Town who remained ignored by most. Amy watched Ross intently.

Brock motioned for silence and the crowds died down. In a stern voice Jerry announced the match. “This will be a two on two Pokémon battle between Brock, the Pewter City gym leader and Ross Spare of Pallet Town. There is no time limit. When a Pokémon is defeated I will declare it so. If I decide the match is over for any other reason then I will declare it so. The house will choose its Pokémon first. Begin!”

“Go! Graveler!” Brock shouted, flinging a Pokéball into the arena.

In a flash of light Graveler stood between Brock and Ross, a squat creature that appeared to be chiselled from porous rock. He grinned wickedly at Ross and uncurled his two stumpy legs and his four huge rocky arms that looked like they could tear the head off a Nidoking. Graveler taunted Ross by banging his fists on the ground making the entire gym shake. The spectators were anxious for the battle to begin and murmured amongst themselves.

Ignoring the rock Pokémon Ross removed a ball from his belt and threw it to the ground releasing Butterfree in a flash of white brilliance. It was as Amy had expected. Butterfree had numerous chemical and mental attacks that could bypass Graveler’s defences provided the butterfly Pokémon could stay in the air. If Butterfree were struck by the rock Pokémon he would be taken down in a second.

Not wasting any time Brock issued the first command putting the battle underway. “Rock throw!”

Instead of devising a counter Ross simply let Butterfree evade the attack, but it seemed at first as though it wouldn’t, for Graveler smashed its fists into the Pewter City bedrock, creating a dozen decently sized rocks that could be thrown at Butterfree. Graveler, however, ignored these rocks and forced his four arms beneath them, clawing through the bedrock until he found what he wanted: a giant shard of pewter larger then Graveler himself.

Brock wasn’t pulling any punches as was indicated by the surprised gasps that echoed throughout the audience. He was determined to take Ross out quickly. Amy couldn’t attribute the gym leader’s hostility to anything, save his bizarre reaction when he heard where Ross had come from. But why would Brock have an aversion to trainers from Pallet Town?

Following his orders Graveler raised the boulder above his head and, using the combined strength of all four extremities, he hurled the chunk of the earth at Butterfree. The speed and ferociousness of Graveler’s attack caught Butterfree off guard, but the butterfly Pokémon managed to get out of the way of the attack, leaving it to come crashing down near Ross.

“Poison powder!” Ross shouted, trying his hardest to remain calm in the face of such an overwhelming opening attack.

Following his trainer’s example Butterfree glided over Graveler, feverously flapping his delicate wings. The air became stained with Butterfree’s toxins, obviously upsetting Graveler, however the rock Pokémon stood his ground, trying hard to keep calm as a blanket of poison fell on him. Brock watched the attack sombrely, disapproving of the effective spray. It was common knowledge that the gym leader of Pewter City preferred to battle blatantly and with no disguise, much like the unmoving nature of rock.

Graveler’s reaction to the poison was immediate. The rock Pokémon cried out, cringing in pain as the poison worked its way through his stone body, invading his cells and using the waste to create more deadly pollutants. In union with his master’s creed Graveler scowled at Butterfree, preparing himself for a return attack.

Ross was determined not to let the rock Pokémon recover from the assault. If Graveler hit Butterfree just once it could spell doom for his companion. “Butterfree, hit him with supersonic.”

Like everybody else in the gym at that moment Amy grabbed her ears, as if she could levitate the discomfort caused by the blast of supersonic sound from Butterfree. Although it was a lingering nuisance to those outside of the battle for the focus of the attack, Graveler, it was debilitating. Only once in her life had she herself been struck by supersonic. She had disturbed a nest of Zubat and had suffered the attack as punishment for her insolence, but the nausea, dizziness and confusion had stayed with her for an hour afterwards.

Graveler staggered about, clutching his head in a vain attempt to squeeze out the offensive feelings from his mind. He only succeeded in making things worse when he tripped over the hole that he had gouged for ammunition and struck what passed for his head on the exposed bedrock of the city.

“Graveler!” Brock shouted, concern lining his voice.

It didn’t look good for Graveler, for to keep from hurting himself further the rock Pokémon curled himself into a ball, tucking his arms and legs into inconspicuous grooves, making him look like nothing more then another porous rock amongst the other exotic boulders in the room. Although Ross had the advantage he wasn’t smiling and Amy could see why; Brock wasn’t concerned anymore.

“Rollout!”

With those words it became Ross’ turn to look concerned. If Graveler were to hit Butterfree with rollout, especially after taking the time to use defence curl without anybody noticing, a fact that caused Ross to rub his forehead in frustration, Butterfree would be dropped like a sack full of Meowth.

Graveler began to roll around the giant arena, slowly at first, but faster and faster as he skimmed across the smooth bedrock that made up the gym floor. Butterfree could only float above his enemy and wait for him to make his move, which would undoubtedly be an attack. Rocks exploded beneath Graveler as he circled the stadium in an effort to gain enough momentum to launch himself into the air and hit Butterfree directly. It was only a matter of time until Ross would have to deal with the onslaught that was Graveler’s rollout and the Pallet trainer knew that.

The entire crowd watched the circling rock Pokémon with hushed silence. Ross’ victory over Jerry was still fresh in their minds so they were anxious to know what the promising young trainer would do to counter Graveler’s attack. Amy had similar thoughts to the other spectators for she had never actually seen Ross in battle until now, without the white haze of a concussion pulled over her eyes.

“Butterfree,” Ross began, uncertainty in his voice. “String shot.”

Amy shook her head at Ross’ command. String shot would slow Graveler’s roll, but Ross had waited too long to use the technique, for at his current speed Graveler could launch his attack whenever he wanted and losing the momentum that Butterfree’s string would rob of him did not change that fact. As she predicted Graveler tore through the attack and lined himself up against Butterfree.

Seeing the opportunity Graveler presented to him Brock acted without hesitation. “Now!”

At the sound of his master’s voice Graveler was in the air, spinning dangerously close to Butterfree at an angle that provided the majestic butterfly with nowhere to run. The entire crowd jointed Ross in gasping when Graveler struck Butterfree, knocking him out of the sky and throwing him to the hard stadium floor below.

Butterfree struggled to get his wings moving after it recovered from the initial shock of being knocked between rock and rock. The small purple butterfly looked desperate to get into the air, aware of the ever-present Graveler who was lining up for another attack with rollout. Since it had successfully hit with the first attack its speed had increased even more, so hitting Butterfree would most likely constitute a knockout. Both parties knew this and both were frantic to protect their interests.

It was pure luck that Ross protected his interests more thoroughly, for Butterfree somehow managed to launch himself into the air using a gust from his wings, narrowly avoiding Graveler’s attack, but avoiding it none-the-less. With his rhythm ruined Graveler had to begin again, so he made one quick circle of the room while Butterfree fought for breath then launched himself once more.

“Butterfree!” Ross shouted over the roar of Graveler’s rally. “Confusion!”

Brock’s eyes widened. “Graveler…”

The gym leader’s command came a moment too late and rampaging rock was in the air, spinning towards Butterfree who floated before him, the manifestation of calm. Nobody could see the effects of the psychic attack until it struck, because it was born in the curls of Butterfree’s brain, invisible to the outside world. Although hidden beneath flesh, bone and skin the chain reaction started within Butterfree’s mind was amongst the most potent of Pokémon techniques, striking straight at the soul.

Blue sparks flared from Butterfree’s eyes and Graveler was uncurled in the air. He writhed in pain as the butterfly Pokémon held his mind in the palm of his hand. Graveler groaned in frustration, and then plummeted to the ground far below, landing in a roll before falling forward, sprawled on the hard bedrock that made up the stadium floor, kicking up a wall of dust. The sound of the impact reverberated around the vast building, shaking its foundations and causing several spectators to cover their ears.

When the dust cleared Ross was surprised to see Graveler on his feet, a grim expression on his face. Amy noted that nobody else was surprised, as though they expected Graveler to press on, a sign of their confidence in Brock’s abilities as a trainer.

Just as Brock allowed himself a smug smile Graveler’s expression became blank and the rock Pokémon collapsed in a resounding explosion of rock on rock. A single breath escaped Graveler as he became limp before Butterfree. There was much commotion in the gym, with inexperienced trainers trying to justify Graveler’s defeat to those nearby by claimed he had fatigued himself, but Amy knew better then to listen to them. Slowly everybody’s gaze followed Brock’s up to Butterfree and the poison locked within his wings.

Prompted into announcing the victory by Growlithe bark Jerry stepped forward. “Graveler is unable to continue. Butterfree is the victor.”

“Impressive,” Brock admitted as he recalled his Pokémon. “I must say that I would expect nothing less from a trainer from Pallet Town. The one that came before you was just as skilled with his battle as you, perhaps even more so. I felt no dishonour losing to him, for he truly was a superior trainer.”

Ross understood the significance of Brock’s words. “Alexander? He defeated you?”

“There will be plenty of time to talk if you can best my next Pokémon.”

His tone indicated that Brock seriously doubted that Ross stood a chance at beating the creature inside the Pokéball he through to the ground. Once more the crowd was hushed and waited, expectedly for Brock’s ace, which could only be one thing.

A huge ten-meter long snake materialised from the red and white Pokéball that fell on the field, its body nothing more then giant granite boulders. Even when Onix stood relaxed on the battlefield its head towered above Butterfree. Amy looked down at the beast in wonder and knew that any chance Ross had of defeating Brock had just disappeared. Then Onix roared and Amy was sure that the trainer from Pallet Town’s fate was sealed.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 7: Shadow of the Past

“Onix,” Brock called out, nonchalantly. “Bide!”

In the center of the arena, the pillar of stone that made up the long, fragmented body of the rock snake Pokémon Onix became lax, curling around the open space exposing the larger part of its body to Butterfree, who floated in the air, unsure of what to expect from the titan before it. It was truly a site to see for the butterfly Pokémon was but a speck before Onix.

The challenger of the gym battle quickly decided what was to be done in the face of the unknown, opting to attack rather then waiting to see what would come from his opponent. “Butterfree, hit him with confusion!”

Brock was obviously expecting this, because he showed none of the anxiety that had taken a hold of him when the psychic blast was used on his Graveler. What little fear he felt he kept hidden beneath his exterior so as not to tip off Ross to his worries. Amy didn’t need to see fear in Brock’s eyes to know what he was thinking. When she had fought Onix she had discovered his weakness with Wartortle and exploited it as much as she could. Although Onix looked like an invincible force that was unmovable he could not suffer elemental attacks without risking serious damage. Water, grass and psychic techniques would strip Onix of his good health faster then a Gyarados fleeing an Electabuzz. Unfortunately for Ross he had no Pokémon that knew such attacks, except for Butterfree who was visibly weakened after his bout with Graveler.

As the crowd reacted to Ross’ command Amy looked to the stands across the arena from her at the boy with the scowl she had seen earlier. She was curious to see his reaction, but to her surprise he was looking directly at her, as if he sensed her thoughts. Shy to the point of being avoidant Amy looked back to the battle, hoping the boy with the scowl had not noticed.

She was glad she had looked back for as her eyes returned to Butterfree and Onix she saw the formers eyes flash blue and Onix, the apparent immovable object, be thrown to the ground. Debris clouded the air from the impact of the giant rock creature against the bedrock of the entire city. The stadium shook and Amy was sure the reverberations would be felt throughout Pewter City, although the townspeople were most likely used to the earthquakes caused by Brock’s gym battles.

Brock looked worried, but he was not without his plan. “Now, Onix, attack!”

Despite all expectations Onix lifted himself off the ground glared at Butterfree who could only be impressed and frightened by the Onix’s resilience. Amy had to admit that she hadn’t thought Onix could continue after the strike. He was notorious for being weak against the mystical Pokémon attacks born from the mind and not the body.

Putting all his anger into his attack Onix raised his tail and brought it down on Butterfree, smashing him to the floor with a sickening crunch. Refusing to surrender the downed butterfly made his way to his feet in a second, moaning as his torn body protested. Ross cringed at the sound of his Pokémon’s pain, but determination kept his hand away from the Pokéball at his side he would inevitably use to recall Butterfree.

Seeing Ross risk Butterfree angered Brock, but he kept cool. “Onix, bind!”

The gym leader chose his attack carefully. Bind allowed Onix to crush his opponent slowly, giving Ross the chance to see reason, but also giving Brock the chance to win the battle. Like the rock snake he was Onix slid with an ear-piercing screech that came from his body against the floor. He reached his opponent and curled around him, trapping Butterfree in his stone embrace and squeezing gently to force the life from the small butterfly.

Amy could see that Ross was having a battle of conscious. Even Growlithe was whimpering to get his master to give up, but even he was ignored. “Butterfree, like you did to Pikachu!”

Nobody but Growlithe knew what Butterfree had done to Pikachu, so the crowd was confused by the command, murmuring amongst themselves in hope of some insight. Amy looked to Brock who was equally puzzled, then to Growlithe who nodded knowingly, but also growled a warning at his master. Ross took his companion’s concern to heart and took up his Pokéball.

Seeing this, Onix became lax, releasing Butterfree’s wings, which risked being permanently damaged by the hold. As they unfurled the brilliant wings sparkled pink and after the butterfly had been recalled all that was left was a thin layer of pink powder on Onix’s body.

“Butterfree is unable to continue,” Jerry announced smugly. “Onix is the victor.

Brock knew it must have been hard for Ross to admit that Butterfree was defeated, but he was sure the young trainer had done the right thing, even if he did lose the match. “You have one more Pokémon, Ross. Choose well or it will follow Butterfree in defeat.”

“I know,” Ross said, trying to salvage his pride. He looked to his third Pokéball and then down to Growlithe. As he whispered to his companion Ross adopted a solemn expression. Growlithe looked worried, but Ross tried hard to reassure him and although Amy couldn’t hear them their body language spoke volumes. Ross was asking Growlithe to fight, but the puppy was apprehensive about fighting Onix.

Standing again Ross spoke loud enough to be heard by those who were straining to listen, including the boy with the scowl, but excluding about everybody else, who chattered amongst themselves. “I believe in you.”

“Your Growlithe is injured,” Brock said, seeing the puppy Pokémon race to face off against Onix on the marks drawn at the center of the arena. “You are risking much by putting him into battle, especially against an opponent like Onix. The fires of Growlithe will be smothered by Onix’s rock body. Why do you put your Pokémon in unnecessary danger?”

“I have as much faith in Growlithe as he does in me,” Ross explained, openly. “Just as I have faith in Butterfree.”

At this Growlithe grinned. Brock just looked confused. “Butterfree? He is defeated.”

“But his legacy lives on.”

“Enough,” The gym leader declared, frustrated that Ross was being ambiguous and going against the creed of the rock that Brock subscribed to so religiously. Prompting Jerry, Brock shouted. “We will begin now.”

Curious as to what attack Brock would open with Amy leant against the rail of the arena before he as if it would give her a better understanding of the battle. Brock had already used bide, which allowed Onix to deal tremendous amounts of damage to an opponent depending on how much damage he received, but he had paid a terrible price. Butterfree’s attack had dealt more damage then Brock had expected, so he hurt just as much as Growlithe. Would he risk his trademark technique once more?

“Onix,” Brock shouted. “Tackle!”

In a second Onix had obeyed his master and was upon Growlithe. The orange puppy Pokémon dodged to the side, nimbly avoiding the half a ton of rock that came crashing to the floor, headfirst. With his target beside him Onix reared back and tried again, slamming his head into Growlithe, but he once again met nothing but rock. As he reared up a second time Growlithe leapt beneath the giant rock snake and sank his teeth into the creature’s side.

Onix roared as his side was punctured, forcing many spectators to cover their ears, but Growlithe remained unfazed, jumping out of the way of Onix’s thrashing tail and preparing to dive aside should the beast charge again.

“Screech, Onix!” Brock commanded.

The rock snake opened his mouth and, to the discomfort of everybody in the room, especially Growlithe who was at the focus point of the attack, he screamed a high-pitched wave of sound that shook the foundations of the building and caused glass to vibrate precariously. The puppy Pokémon barked at the sound, confused by the sound he heard, but he stubbornly refused to lose face in front of his opponent, staying on his feet and barely flinching an inch.

When the attack had ceased both Ross and Growlithe were lost, giving Brock the chance he had waited for. The gym leader smiled and instructed his minion. “Onix, hit him with tackle again!”

It was obvious to Amy that Growlithe would not be able to dodge the attack, for he made no attempt to prepare himself to spring into action, he just stood before the giant Pokémon and stared at his incoming fate. Ross also saw Growlithe’s inaction and was about to order his friend to get out of the way, but the explosion that occurred when Onix hit the ground drowned the trainer’s voice out.

Growlithe was thrown into the air by the attack, but the puppy Pokémon was quick to reorient himself before his landed on his back on the hard gym floor. To his surprise, however, he landed on Onix’s head, putting him at the rock snake’s mercy. This delighted Brock, but his opponent was just as stubborn as always and darted over Onix’s face, racing down his back towards his tail. The surprised rock Pokémon twisted around to see Growlithe racing away across his body.

“Growlithe,” Ross shouted, taking charge of the situation his Pokémon was placed in. “Ember!”

Brock quickly countered. “Flail!”

From his position on Onix’s back there was no way for Growlithe to miss and the Onix knew that, but he struggled anyway, twisting his body to try and throw the puppy off. Firing three fireballs at Onix’s face Growlithe finally lost his footing and was launched into the air where he twisted around once again and unleashed another volley of the red and yellow blasts. Onix’s head snapped back as the fire licked at his eyes, temporarily blinding him from Growlithe’s actions.

Landing in a crouch Growlithe jumped back onto Onix’s body and began shooting fireballs all over the creature’s body, scoring the rock snake at every segment. Onix flailed about once more in a mad attempt to dislodge Growlithe, but the puppy Pokémon refused to budge, biting hard into Onix’s stone skin and hanging on for his life. A roar once again filled the stadium, this time more feral then before, but Onix did not fall down.

Amy could see that something was wrong with Onix, but she couldn’t figure out what. He had ample opportunity to take out Growlithe, but he just stood there, allowing the puppy Pokémon to walk all over him. It was almost as if he was waiting for Growlithe to finish before retaliating. Suddenly Amy realized what Onix was doing. It was at the same time as Ross, because moments after she saw Brock’s grim expression of success Ross called Growlithe off.

“Growlithe, get down!”

In response the gym leader only shook his head. “You have bided you time, Onix. Strike!”

Even from so far away in the stands Amy could see Growlithe’s eyes widen as Onix’s tail whipped up towards him. He released his jaw, but it came too late and the orange puppy Pokémon was slammed between rock and rock. Still not finished Onix brought his body down on the floor of the arena, crushing his prey between not just two rocks, but three. It was a vicious attack aimed at taking Growlithe out of the battle for good, which surprised Amy. Brock was intent on teaching Ross a lesson for his carelessness with Butterfree, repeated again with Growlithe.

Broken and beaten Growlithe slumped to the floor, defeated. Onix nudged his enemy, rolling him onto his back to see if he was unconscious. The puppy Pokémon was anything but unconscious. He leered up at Onix, angrily, causing the rock snake to rear back in surprise and amazement, leaving himself open to an attack, however Growlithe was in no position to take advantage of the effects of his leer, he simply lay before Onix.

“You should not have put Growlithe before Onix,” Brock scolded Ross. “It was not a fair fight. Had you trained your Growlithe more, then perhaps I would have conceded to you, but he is far to underdeveloped for gym battle. Take this lesson to heart and spend some time with your Pokémon, making sure that next time you are not beaten so offhandedly.”

With that Brock stepped down from his stage. Ross didn’t say anything at first; he only stood at his mark, watching Growlithe. Eventually, though he did speak and when he did his voice was full of relentless determination that chilled Amy to the soul. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Brock froze. “What?”

“We aren’t finished.”

“Yes,” Brock replied, as though he spoke to a child. “We are.”

“You may be the gym leader, but you are not the referee in this fight, so you cannot decide when to end it. It’s up to Jerry to step in when he thinks the battle has gone too far, not you,” Ross’ words stung Brock like a Weedle’s horn, but he was right; Jerry was the overseer of the battle. “Now, are you going to return to your line or do you forfeit?”

Incredulous Brock waved towards the battlefield. “Growlithe cannot continue! It’s over!”

“Yes he can,” Ross whispered, pointing at his companion, who, to Brock’s horror had risen and was facing off against Onix, with the same steel determination that Ross was expressing. Everybody in the stands, even those who had assumed the battle over and were moving to leave watched the exchange between challenger and gym leader with increasing interest. “And no, it isn’t.”

Brock looked angry, but curious. “What makes you think that?”

“Your Onix is paralyzed.”

This created uproar in the crowds, as dozens of people tried to see if what was being said was true and to everybody’s shock it was. Onix stood completely petrified, moving only to convulse in pain. His eyes wide and his mouth hung open enough to allow Pidgey’s to roost inside. Seeing this Brock raced back to his mark and began shouting encouragement to Onix, but it didn’t help the giant pillar of rock who could only gaze down at Growlithe with fully open eyes. It seemed that the battle was not over, but Amy knew it would be soon.

Amy tried to figure out when it had happened and after careful thought she finally identified the exact moment. When Onix had released Butterfree the butterfly had used his wings to plant spores on its enemy in the knowledge that he would be helping Growlithe win the match. Ross had planned that since the beginning, however he had obviously hoped the spores would take effect a lot faster. Obviously since Butterfree had only managed to hit such a small area they took their time to run their course through Onix’s body.

“Growlithe, you okay buddy?” Ross asked. When he saw his friend smile as though his injuries were nothing, he returned the grin.

Desperate to avoid an attack Brock commanded his Pokémon to strike first. “Onix! Tackle Growlithe, now!”

Snapping out of his paralysis Onix lurched forward, hitting the ground with a mind-shattering bang, but his attack was too slow and Growlithe had no trouble leaping into the air to evade it. Although he had shaken off the full paralysis for the time being Onix was still subject to the spores and was unable to move as swiftly as he once did, giving Growlithe an edge like nothing before. If Onix couldn’t keep up with his opponent he was finished and Brock knew this.

While Growlithe was in the air Onix acted quickly to bring his tail up and down on the airborne menace, but he was once again far to slow and Growlithe was able to cling to the rock snake’s tail and run down towards the creature’s head. As Growlithe made his way up Onix’s back he unleashed ember blasts, dotting Onix with explosions that threw chunks of rock into the air, leaving Onix with black pockmarks. The smoke wisped past Growlithe while the tail he had left behind swatted at him in a mad attempt to knock him off.

Luck seemed to smile on Brock, because before Growlithe reached Onix’s head the giant convulsed, throwing the puppy Pokémon over it and placing him once again at Onix’s mercy. Brock commanded Onix to finish it quickly. “Onix, bind him!”

For a moment concern took Ross’ face and half the crowd, who now supported the trainer from Pallet Town, but it passed quickly, because following the convulsion was a stony stillness that caused Brock to cringe. The spores had once again immobilized Onix, allowing Ross and Growlithe the moment they had been waiting for. It was a bizarre sight before Amy; a completely still Onix and a Growlithe flying over its head. She would have laughed if she had not been so surprised by Ross’ strategy.

“Growlithe,” Ross shouted, eagerly at his companion, who was reorienting himself in the air to face Onix as he fell. “Show him a real ember.”

Unable to believe what was happening Brock screamed. “Onix!”

His shouts were drowned out, however, by Growlithe who barked incessantly as he fell, spewing out embers, but not just three as Amy had expected, but an entire volley of a dozen. It was the largest and most powerful ember attack Amy had ever seen and she could sense that the entire crowd, including Brock shared her wonder.

The volley did not finish when Growlithe hit the floor. He renewed his attack once more, spewing out more and more fireballs, madly blanketing Onix in the burning air. Those that hit caused Onix to roar in pain and lurch backwards and those that missed exploded in the air around him, spraying dying embers over the rock snake. In a matter of seconds Onix was on the floor of the stadium, consciousness gone from him. Growlithe sighed deeply, struggling to keep his eyes open, but determined not to lose face before his master and his master’s opponent.

“Onix is unable to continue. Growlithe is the victor!”

From the stands above the arena the crowd went wild, even Jerry cheered for Ross, and Amy found herself happy for the trainer from Pallet Town. Despite all expectations the two-month-old novice had managed to defeat Brock the Rock, the renowned student of Bruno of the Elite Four. The battle had been long and hard and in the end Ross’ victory could be attributed to luck just as much as skill, but it was a stupendous victory, none-the-less.

As Ross and Brock recalled their Pokémon the crowd began filing out of the stands, some heading towards the exit and still more towards the arena to congratulate the battlers. Amy rose to follow one group of spectators to the arena, but paused at the stairwell to the gym’s entrance. Looking over her shoulder towards the other side of the arena she saw only a blur of spectators, no sign of the boy with the scowl that had caught her eye before.

When Amy reached the entrance to the gym she turned right towards the large steel arena doors and was stopped by Jerry, Brock’s pupil. He was explaining to a crowd of people that both Ross and Brock would prefer to be left alone to discuss their battle. Desperate to see Ross Amy slipped past the older boy and made her way down the long corridor to the battlefield. Standing at the door of the arena brought back a lot of memories of her own gym battle, but she overcame the nostalgia to approach the two trainers and the Growlithe in the center of the field.

“I am ashamed to say that I underestimated you,” Brock said in a hushed tone.

Ross shook his, dismissing the gym leader’s embarrassment. “You had good reason to do so. I didn’t think I could do it either, but like I said, I have confidence in my Pokémon,” Growlithe smiled at this comment, reassuring Ross who was feeling as though he had pushed his friends too far and asked too much of them. Growlithe did not think it was so and it was important that his master knew this.

As Amy walked towards them she caught Brock’s eye, causing him to raise a hand in protest. “I’m sorry, this area is off limits at the moment. If you are looking for a gym battle please return tomorrow, otherwise I must ask you…”

“Wait,” Ross interrupted Brock. “Amy, what are you doing here? You should be recovering.”

“I wanted to see your battle.”

Recognizing Amy Brock’s face warmed. “Oh, Amy Amaranth of Celadon City, welcome back to my gym. I trust you approve of your friend’s performance.”

“All three of you did great,” Amy smiled.

“All three?” Following her gaze the gym leader saw Growlithe nodding appreciatively. “Of course.”

“Seriously, Amy, you should be in bed.”

Amy nearly laughed and she would have if she had not been so fatigued by her injuries and then by watching the grueling battle, but she did manage a grin. It was unusual for her to receive compassion from anybody other then her Pokémon and it had been so long since she had been home. Despite his own interests Ross took the time to worry about her health and in a world of evils that touched her deeply.

Still wearing a healthy, reassuring smile she tried to convince Ross she was perfectly self-sufficient. “I’m fine, believe me. Would the hospital staff have released me if I wasn’t one-hundred percent?”

“I guess not,” Ross admitted, accepting defeat finally.

Brock put his hand on the newest champion of his gym. “Congratulations on your victory, Ross. I’m pleased to present to you the Boulder Badge for besting my Pokémon and I in battle. Your name will be chiseled on the great Pewter Stone outside so that everybody will know that you were a victor here,” From his pocket Brock produced a small badge of carefully cut rock. It was grey, almost silver, and octagonal in shape. Although plain it would mean a lot to Ross as it did to Amy.

“Thanks, Brock,” Ross said, taking the badge and pinning it to the inside of his vest.

“You have a rival now, Amy.”

Both Ross and Amy fidgeted nervously at this, but Brock only laughed. Breaking the uncomfortable silence and probing for information Ross faced Amy. “You’ve been here before?”

“She won a Boulder Badge too,” Brock announced, freely. “It was a magnificent battle. If you two will excuse me I have to see to that carving outside. You know where to find me, Ross. I believe you showed some interest in one of my other previous battles.”

Before Ross could ask about the Alexander mention before Brock had left. Instead of chasing him he turned to Amy, goodbye in his eyes. “So, I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Uh, yeah…” Amy stammered.

“See you, I guess,” With that Ross strode away from her, Growlithe at his heels.

Amy didn’t know why, for when she first met Ross she had been put off my his awkwardness, but when she saw him walking away she felt sad, as though she was going to miss something important. It made no sense to her, so she tried to shrug it off, focusing instead on where she should go next, but she found herself wondering where Ross was going and whether he’d win any more gym battles. His battle with Brock had left a greater impact on her then she realized.

“You know,” Ross called out from the entrance. “We could travel together for a bit.”

Amy considered it for a moment, but she knew she had already faced most of the gyms in the Kanto region, so she might not have much purpose on the journey such as he was on. Perhaps explaining that she would be going back the way they both would dissuade Ross from going with her. “I’m going to Cinnabar Island next.”

“Great,” Ross said. “There’s a gym there, right?”

Running to Ross’ side Amy nodded in confirmation. “Yes, Blaine’s gym.”

“I just have to pick something up and I’ll be ready to go,” Ross explained.

“That’s good, I also have something to do in Pewter City.”

After arranging a meeting place Amy left the gym and headed towards the north end of the city, leaving Ross at the Pewter Stone outside the gym with Brock. It would be odd to finally travel with a human being after so long, but she knew Ross was a nice guy, after all he had saved her life, so she would give him the benefit of the doubt. Still, she got along with her Pokémon better then she had with any human, so it would be an interesting experience to travel with the boy from Pallet Town.

As she walked through the backwater streets of Pewter City Amy began thinking more and more about the predictions surrounding Professor Oak and his students. Professor Maple, the world-renowned Pokémon Professor enlisted by the Silph Company to research rare and unusual Pokémon, had released a paper outlining various trends in Pokémon training. One of those trends was the increase in talented trainers from Oak.

It started out with three novice trainers two years before who had scoured the world together and become instantly famous. They had been named by the media the Pallet Town Trinity and had defeated every gym they found, eventually passing out of sight, possibly to train for the Pokémon League, possibly because of an internal dispute between the three trainers. Despite their disappearance there was buzz that they would be the next Elite Four.

Then Alexander Oak had emerged, a talented trainer and grandson of Professor Oak. He displayed the combined skills of the Trinity and had shocked trainers worldwide by putting off his journey for a year while he prepared himself for the League’s gym challenge. Nobody could explain this, but Amy was starting to think it had something to do with Ross. The Trinity was rumored to hold a grudge against Alexander for stealing their thunder and at the rate Ross was going Amy wondered if they wouldn’t hunt him down as well.

When she finally reached the Kanto archaeological museum Amy removed her backpack from her shoulders and rummaged through it trying to find the piece of paper that had the office number and contact details written on it. Just as she was about to give up she found the torn parchment and followed its instructions, entering the museum through a side door, instead of the main entrance.

It was a usual university campus, complete with a student common area and various lecture halls and libraries. At the far end of the campus were the residences, but she past them during her trek, heading towards the museum itself. When she found the door she was looking for she pried it open gently and stepped through, daring herself to breathe the musty air. It was truly a place of learning.

“Hey, you aren’t allowed in here,” A man in a white coat stopped her in the hallway.

Amy jumped at the sound of the voice, but quickly composed herself, trying to act casual. “Hello, my name is Amy Amaranth. I’m here on behalf of Professor Dogwood…”

“Ah, yes, the old coot,” The man scoffed, indicating for her to follow him.

“What is it I’m supposed to be picking up?”

As they walked through the dark and deserted hallways Amy found herself peering into the offices she passed, trying to catch a glimpse of an academic. Most of the offices were empty, but she did see some interesting things, such as models of Pokémon, and pretty double helix. Although the earthy colours and the large cream cinder bricks of the museum betrayed the same backwater atmosphere as Pewter City they were dashed by such scientific marvels.

“It’s called amber,” The man said as they finally turned into an office.

Amy returned her thoughts to the present. “Huh?”

“You are transporting amber. Tree sap.”

“Tree sap?”

“Yeah,” The man picked up an orange rock from his desk and handed it to her carefully. “It may look like a rock, but it’s actually sap from a tree that’s become petrified over millions of years. Don’t take this job lightly, the amber is very valuable and if you lose it Dogwood wont be getter another piece.”
Amy only half heard what he was saying. She had spotted something in the amber. “There’s something here.”

“Yes, it’s a mosquito,” The man explained. “It carried the DNA of an extinct Pokémon.”

“Is it alive?”

The man laughed. “Heavens no, but the DNA is vital in Pokémon comparative genetics and embryology.”

“Is that why Professor Dogwood wants it?”

This encouraged another chuckle from the man. “No, old Dodgy Dogwood wants the amber for a science experiment of his. He thinks he can extract the DNA and use it to genetically engineer the dead Pokémon. He’s insane of course. Although he maintains that his theories are sound the fact remains that the DNA is too damaged for replication, the RNA could only create equally damaged proteins. It’s all a load of nonsense.”

“When you say genetically engineer,” Amy began, staring into the orange amber.

“Clone.”

“He’s resurrecting Pokémon.”

The man sighed. “That’s right.”

Amy smiled. Professor Dogwood said his experiments were important, but he never said how important they were. If he was able to bring old Pokémon species back to life he could revive ancient Pokémon kind that people had been robbed of so long ago. As the sunlight filtered into the window, hitting the amber and reflecting orange beams of light into Amy’s eyes she considered what the piece of rock meant for Pokémon everywhere, but she also considered what the man had told her. She shivered when she thought that Professor Dogwood was actually raising the dead, but she tried to dismiss the idea.

After all, all he was doing was creating life. “Where’s the harm in that?”


* * * * *


Watching Amy walk off towards the Kanto archaeological museum at the North Rock University Ross tried to rationalize why he wanted to journey with the girl. He had been alone with Growlithe for nearly two months, and he could feel the isolation getting to him. Journeying with Amy would provide a breath of fresh air to his travels. It was just a bonus that she happened to be kind, considerate and loved by Pokémon.

With the crowds gone from the gym all that could be heard was the tapping of Brock’s chisel on the large slab of rock outside it. The stela stood a head taller then Ross, so he felt dwarfed by the victorious’ monument. Looking down the list of names he saw many he didn’t recognize and a few he did, the most prominent of which was Alexander Oak’s name, which was the second name from the bottom, just above his own.

Brock finished carving his title, Ross Spare of Pallet Town, and the day’s date and stood to admire his work. “What do you think?”

“Very nice,” Ross shrugged, not really comfortable with his rock carving appraisal abilities.

“This one is nearly done. I may need to have Graveler dig up another.”

Ross nodded absentmindedly, for he had no interest in engaging in small talk with Brock. The reason he had waited was burning at him, making him anxious beyond understanding. The simple matter of a rivalry shouldn’t really spark such emotions, but it was Ross’ passion for the journey that spurred him on, so he waited.

Seeing his anxiety Brock pulled a khaki shirt over his head and packed up his tools in a brown leather pouch. “You want to know about Alexander Oak, don’t you?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Only rivalry can cause a trainer such as yourself to lose their head,” Brock observed.

Ross wasn’t so sure about that, there were many things that made him lose his head, the least of which was his rivalry. “What was the battle like?”

“Short.”

“Was he that difficult to beat?” Ross asked, tentatively.

“He only used one Pokémon, but it completely overwhelmed me,” Brock admitted, humbly, as he strapped his tool belt around his waist. “If you truly are his rival then I advise you to train a lot harder, because he will overwhelm you too. I’ve heard the stories, as I’m sure you have and believe me, I know from experience, Alexander Oak has what it takes to become a Champion.”

After he talked to Brock Ross thanked the gym leader for the battle and left the Pewter City gym in the direction of the local Pokémon centre. He had stopped off at the Pokécentre before, so he knew how to get there quickly, and Pewter City was by no means a large city, especially when compared to Viridian City and Cerulean City.

As he and Growlithe made their way through the quiet streets Ross couldn’t help but think about what Brock said as they had departed. He told Ross that the key to victory in Pokémon battles, as well as in life, was to find a balance between mind and body. While flicking through Professor Oak’s book collection Ross had happened upon the Art of Pokémon Battles by Tzun Su which explained the nature of a trainer’s heart and how it could override the brain in a stressful time. Ross knew that Brock’s message was in reference to this passage he had read, but he was not fully aware of its significance. Surely the key to defeating Alex was training hard.

By the time Ross reached the Pokémon centre he could feel a sunburn beginning to form. Pewter City was on a particularly barren plateau, and in the boiling summer heat beating down on the populace it was easy to develop sunburns. Ross tried to usher Growlithe inside the large tin building for protection, but the puppy Pokémon stared at the structure doubtfully.

When they finally retreated from the shine of the sun they were relieved to find within the shack a Pokémon centre as clean and white as any other, just as they’d left it.

Ross approached the triage and the pretty nurse behind the counter. “Hello, my name is Ross Spare. I came in with a Pikachu last night.”

“Ah, yes,” The nurse exclaimed, remembering the patient.

“I was wondering if there has been any change in his condition.”

The nurse’s cheerful expression vanished into one of sadness. She showed Ross and Growlithe to a small waiting area off to the side of the main counters, but separate form the trainer’s common area. Sitting Ross down she explained the situation plainly. “I’m afraid there has been no change in your Pikachu’s condition and we don’t think there will be any. You may have noticed, but Pikachu has suffered severe trauma to the head.”

Ross remembered the scars on his head, as well as on his whole body. He didn’t know what to make of them, but he considered that the only way they could have been made with such precision was if a surgeon had created them. This frightened Ross, because although that meant that somebody could have been trying to help Pikachu’s condition it also meant that somebody could have caused it. Experimentation of Pokémon was not unheard of.

“Can you identify the reason for the scarring?”

The nurse shook her head. “They seem to have been made at various points on Pikachu’s body where his electrical power pools as well as near the brain stem, indicating some sort of operation to help him control such power pools. It’s possible that Pikachu could be suffering from a glandular disorder that prevents him from controlling his power, but…”

“What is it?” Ross asked, fearing the worst.

“If that’s so then he has already suffered major brain damage. Pikachu is schizophrenic to the point of multiple personalities. He must have been in so much pain he lashed out at those trying to help him and escaped into the wild, submerging his consciousness beneath his subconscious. Defeat was such a shock to Pikachu that his derangement has subsided. Now that that’s gone there is nothing left.”

“What can we do?”

Ross had seen her expression many times before during his trials for his Pokémon license so he knew what it meant. “There’s nothing we can do.”
“I see.” Ross forgot about his earlier victory.

“However,” The nurse continued. “There are some other avenues you could explore. If you were to go to Vermillion City you could speak to the foremost expert on electric Pokémon, Lieutenant Surge. He may be able to help you identify the source of Pikachu’s introversion.”

This lifted Ross’ spirit, because, despite his victory over Brock, the subject of Pikachu sparked in him a concern akin to that of a parent and child. He assumed it was the relationship he felt for all his Pokémon. The news that there was even a glimmer of hope was enough to spur him into action. He knew he’d have to change his plans with Amy, but that didn’t matter to him; all he cared about was the health of his Pokémon.

Thanking the nurse he picked up Pikachu’s Pokéball and left the centre, bound for the Pokémart where he hoped to get some medicine for Butterfree and Growlithe. As he left the Pokémon centre, though, he was too preoccupied with Pikachu that he ran into somebody, knocking himself and the boy to the ground. Ross was quick to apologize.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” He jumped to his feet and helped the boy to his. When their eyes were level Ross saw a scowl that made him cringe. His new friend was quite disapproving.

Brushing himself off his shrugged, but his eyes never left Ross’. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m Ross Spare,” Ross said, offering his hand.

“I know who you are.”

“Really?”

The boy took his hand in his own, gripping it tightly. “I saw you at the Pewter City gym.”

When Ross tried to remove his hand the boy held it, firmly, his eyes darting over Ross’ face as if he were trying to silently determine if he were friend or foe. Countering his steel grip Ross squeezed harder, showing the boy that he wouldn’t surrender to subtle interrogation. Growlithe looked between the two and shook his head, as though such a display of pride were beneath him, but his master ignored his scorn, knowing that he was being a hypocrite. Pokémon were just as proud as humans.

“When introduced to somebody it’s polite to tell them your name,” Ross said through grit teeth.

The boy sneered at him and released his hand. “Tim Fracas, at your service.”

“What bring you to Pewter City, Fracas?”

“Mistreatment of Pokémon,” He snarled in reply.

Ross’ heart skipped a beat. Surely Fracas didn’t know about Pikachu and if he did he couldn’t suspect Ross of mistreating him, after all Ross only got his license a few months before. Still, the steel gaze of Tim Fracas reminded Ross of the Pokémon Rangers, the Pokémon trainers devoted to protecting Pokémon from the organizations and individuals of the world who would dare harm them. Fracas was far to young, though; he couldn’t be much more then a year older then Ross.

“I’ll see you around,” Fracas said as he walked past Ross into the Pokémon centre.

There was something eerie about the boy, but Ross tried his hardest to dismiss it, thinking instead of Amy and the news he would have to give her when they met up. As he left the Pokémon centre, though he thought about Fracas and if he was a Pokémon Ranger then he would be relentless in his investigation of Ross. The question still nagged at the back of Ross’ mind, though. Why would the Pokémon Rangers investigate him?

When he finally met up with Amy at a shady glen on the southeast edge of the Pewter Plateau he had managed to forget about the encounter with Fracas, focusing instead on what he would tell Amy. He finally decided to tell her the truth about Pikachu and how he wanted to help him by taking him to Vermillion City. It was unfortunate that their companionship would be cut short, but Ross was sure she would understand. Strangely Amy didn’t mind accompanying him to Vermillion City. She explained that she could get a ferry from Vermillion to Cinnabar Island, anyway, and that her package wasn’t urgent and could wait as long as a year before it was needed. This also helped lift Ross’ spirit.

Intent on catching up to Alexander Ross, Amy and Growlithe left Pewter City that day, heading down route three to Mount Moon and Cerulean City on the far side of the range.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 8: To Train Them All

The journey to the Turnsole Pass from Pewter City gave Ross the chance to get to know his Pokémon both socially and strategically, as there were many challenges on the road, even excluding the cantankerous Mr. Fracas, and many opportunities to rest and train. It took the three companions, Ross, Amy and Growlithe, over three weeks to traverse route three, putting them in the heart of summer by the time they reached the Steppes of Bay at the foot of Mount Moon.

Ross had taken the time over the three-week trek to confront Pikachu, however he would not face the Pokémon by himself, opting instead to release his entire team. What he was faced with when he opened the Pokéball containing Pikachu was the broken shell of a pocket monster, which did not even meet his gaze. Pikachu simply sat despondently, ignoring all questions and encouragement. He bordered on catatonic, which worried Ross and inspired him to quicken his pace so they could reach the next Pokécentre before the end of the month.

It pained Ross to no end to see a Pokémon mistreated so badly. He had seen many programs on television, which showed Pokémon, abandoned by their trainer, unable to return to the wild, depressed to the point that they would not eat and risked suffering from malnutrition. Seeing the Pokécentre staff forced to feed the rogue Pokémon intravenously touched him deeply and he swore to never let his Pokémon ever suffer in such a way. Pikachu brought back those memories and caused Ross to consider that perhaps he had failed in keeping his Pokémon healthy in both mind and body, however he could think of no way to help Pikachu, except to find a Pokécentre with the facilities to treat his shattered soul, hopefully before he got the chance to go ballistic again.

Everyday Ross checked to see if there was any change in Pikachu
and each day he was disappointed to see the poor little Pokémon staring blankly at the peaks of Mount Moon. After the first week of letting Pikachu out, noting his unchanging condition and immediately returning him Ross thought that he could benefit from some time out of his Pokéball, so instead of locking him up he would let him sit beneath the great mountains, shaded from the summer sun by brilliant green foliage of Ashen Forest, which bloomed twice as bright as any other forest, free from the cold winter snows. Pikachu looked so peaceful in the forest, watching Ross training with Growlithe, Spearow and Butterfree that Ross was reluctant to return him to his ball at the end of the day. It pleased him to sometimes see Rattata, Pidgey and Jigglypuff offering Pikachu food from the forest, and pained him to see them turned away by silence.

Ross’ other Pokémon gifted him with hope where Pikachu drained it from him. Over the three weeks of traveling Growlithe had learnt to focus his energy more efficiently and mould the fire of his heart to his will, burning brilliant patterns on the floor of the forest, and accidentally burning Spearow in a mock battle. As Growlithe became stronger his confidence grew, as did his kinship with Ross and his fellow Pokémon. Ever since defeating Pikachu in Viridian Forest Growlithe had been a lot warmer to his master, barking affectionately at his jokes and sleeping next to his sleeping bag at night. He also kept a close eye on Pikachu. He felt guilty for breaking the electric mouse; Ross could see it every time he looked at him.

The gym battle with Brock was forgotten in the first week and the group became more concerned with stealing through the Turnsole Pass quickly, rather then appraising past victories. There was much to be done before they reached Cerulean City and Ross was committed to making sure it was. Amy Amaranth, the third member of Ross and Growlithe’s party helped out with training, however a lot of the time she too was training her Pokémon, which Ross had seen included a Vulpix and a Wartortle. Both were powerful Pokémon, indicating Amy’s experience as a trainer, as did her gym badges, which she kept in a small bag attached to her belt near her Pokéballs. He thought it rude to question her about her exploits, but gathered that she hadn’t collected the eight badges needed to get into the Pokémon League.

Amy was an interesting companion for Ross, always keeping her distance and addressing him rather coldly, almost as coldly as Growlithe would before Viridian Forest. It was obvious to him that she was grateful that he had saved her life, but she was wary of the strange trainer from Pallet Town who she really didn’t know anything about. It was understandable and Ross would have been surprised if she had reacted to him any other way, however by the end of the third week he began to wonder if she would ever warm up to him.

They talked very little, but when they did each poked and prodded for more and more information, trying to make some sort of decision about the other. Ross gathered that Amy was from Celadon City and that she had started her journey the previous year when Ross was supposed to begin his, so he rationalized that with her skill her Pokémon were at least three times stronger then his, so he refrained from challenging her to a Pokébattle before he got the chance to gauge her ability as a trainer some other way. Amy sensed his eagerness to battle, but said nothing, waiting instead for the time when Ross felt ready. She was a very conscientious trainer, watching Ross train patiently and talking to her Pokémon for hours, despite the barrier of language. When asked what she hoped to achieve from talking to her Pokémon she replied “All Pokémon have something to say. You only have to listen.”

As far as a group of friends or at least travelers went they were truly the definition of misfits, so when they finally reach the Town of Tranquility on the Steppes of Bay beneath the summit of Mount Moon there were many who looked at them queerly as they made their way into the Pokémon center and more often then not they shook their heads in annoyance.

Ignoring the townspeople of the small village Ross, Amy and Growlithe walked boldly through the stone roads to the town square, admiring the architecture of the north most town in Kanto and one of the highest above sea level in the world. The walls of the buildings were stone with wooden frames, dotted with stained-glass windows and topped with yellow straw roofs. The houses and stores were quite tall, as if mimicking the immensity of the Crescent Mountains, which they were situated at the top of. Ross had noticed the air becoming thinner and the temperature dropping as they had ascended the mountain range. It was curious to be cold at night in the middle of summer, but luckily he had made the genius decision to carry a thick sleeping bag with him all year round.

The Pokécentre’s architecture matched that of the town closely, being composed primarily of primitive materials, rather then cement and metal, however the interior of the huge building was as sterile and white as any other Pokécentre Ross had visited. Compared to the peace of the streets of the town the Pokécentre was rather busy. Ross could see various trainers sleeping in the lounge area, obviously resting after a tough journey, however the attending staff was small, consisting of only one nurse and a doctor.

Considering he had spent such a long time traveling through creeks and countryside Ross felt uncomfortable in the white hospital, with ceramic tiles replacing the soft green grass and creamy red plaster in place of the heavenly blue sky. It brought the young trainer back several months to the days when he would be confined to the classroom instead of being allowed to explore the world with his friends. It very strange being back inside a structure that wasn’t a Pokémon gym.

Plodding casually over to reception Ross started detaching his Pokéballs and placing them on the counter before the doctor. He looked up briefly, but continued to concentrate on the computer he was working at. After almost a minute by which time Ross had reached the end of his tether the intern stood up and placed some documentation before Ross.

“Welcome to the Town of Tranquility Pokécentre. I’m Doctor Glee,” When he finally had a long hard look at Ross and Amy recognition that the young trainer couldn’t understand flashed across his eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. You’re a mess. Have you been to Luna Light Caves?”

Suddenly self-conscious Ross looked down at the clothes and realized that he was a complete mess. After nearly three months of traveling his garments were riddled with tears and permanently marked with grass and mud stains. Although he had taken every opportunity to bathe in the fresh-water brooks and streams they encountered he could only assume he smelt quite foul, because he was never one for cleanliness. Amy, however looked as majestic as ever, if not a little sore from journeying immediately after being discharged from hospital.

Addressing the question Ross shook his head. “No, we’ve just come from Pewter City.”

Doctor Glee’s expression changed to one of apathy. “I see. What do you require?”

“My Spearow needs to be treated for burns,” Ross explained. “And I was wondering if you have a neurology department.”

“Come on, kid, this isn’t exactly Saffron City.”

“Right, then. Just Spearow,” He removed Pikachu’s Pokéball and carefully returned it to his belt.

Amy stepped forward and Glee looked between them. “Are you two together?”

“Yeah,” Amy and Ross said in unison.

“I’ll take your Pokémon at the same time then.”

Amy put a single Pokéball on the tray that Glee held out. Ross wasn’t sure whether it was Wartortle or Vulpix, however he suspected it was the latter, being a fire Pokémon sparring with water. Because they were never involved in each others trainer Ross had no idea just what Amy did with the two Pokémon when she was alone, however he had considered spying on her to see what strategies she had picked up since she began her journey. It wouldn’t have boded well for their friendship, though.

As Ross scanned the foyer for a vacant seat Amy began questioning the doctor. “What did you say about the Luna Light Caves?”

Immediately losing interest Ross began wandering around the Pokécentre looking at trainers and their Pokémon from around the world. It was odd to see so many in such a backwater place, however he assumed they had come to see Mount Moon in all its splendor and magnificence. It was still puzzling why they were all camped out in the lobby of the Pokécentre rather then out amongst the mountains.

Making his way through the masses he saw various colourful Pokémon from around the region. There was a Meowth from the central cities of Kanto, a Tangela from the south peninsula and even a Wooper from Johto in the west. It was unusual to see Pokémon from other regions, because most trainers preferred to stay in one part of the world, rather then traveling around. It was what separated a mediocre trainer from Pokémon Master.

Passing an old man he saw that he was clutching a gold Pokéball in his claw-like fingers, staring affectionately at the small orb, as if it were his life he was holding in his hands. Noticing Ross he smiled. “Why, hello there.”

“Hello,” Ross said sheepishly.

“You like my Pokéball?”

He wouldn’t lie to the old man; a gold Pokéball would look quite nice on his belt. “Definitely.”

“It has my favourite Pokémon within,” The old timer said, dreamily. “I’ve had many of his kind in my lifetime and each one has bestowed upon me honor, valor and victory. It’s been so long since I have been graced with a victory in a Pokémon dual, though.”

“Why is that?”

The old timer chuckled lightly and shook his head. “Because my young friend, I am old, beyond my time. It’s time to step aside and give trainers like you the opportunity to shine. I may be at the end of my journey, but I see that you are just beginning.”

“Is it that obvious?” Ross said, slumping against a vacant seat.

Again, polite laughter filled the air. “I am trying to find homes for my more youthful Pokémon, but this one, this had the makings of a new champion before I succumbed to age. Only a very special trainer will get the honor of training this Pokémon.”

Seeing an opportunity for advancement Ross cleared his throat.

“Perhaps you would like to have him. He fights well and has seen many battles. I will sell him for no less the five hundred Pokéyen. That includes the gold Pokéball.”

Ross considered his options. He only had three hundred Pokéyen left over from the original five thousand he left Pallet with and he wasn’t sure if he could spend that sort of money, even on this ultimate Pokémon the old man spoke of. Gingerly he reached into his wallet and withdrew all his money. It felt heavy in his hand as if warning him against handing it over. It wasn’t even the correct amount, so the old timer probably wouldn’t even consider his offer.

“This is all I have; three hundred.” He couldn’t stop the disappointment from painting his face.

Seeing his sadness the old man smiled. “That will do just fine.”

He handed the Pokéball to Ross in exchange for the notes. It weighed exactly the same as a normal Pokéball, however the northern hemisphere had the rough metallic feel that could only be produced by a precious metal. Ross cradled the Pokéball in awe, glad to have a fifth member on his team. Normally Ross would be hesitant to accept another trainer’s Pokémon, however the old man seemed to know what he was talking about, having enjoyed a lifetime of experience.

Ross bent low and let Growlithe sniff the Pokéball. He took one whiff of the small ball and gagged, almost laughing. The trainer from Pallet cocked his head, quizzically. He didn’t understand what Growlithe found so amusing, but he was sure it could wait until later, so he turned back to thank the old man. He stood up and smiled at Ross and Growlithe, slowly sliding his coat on and picking up his brown briefcase. As he lifted it up something rattled around inside.

“You will be a great trainer someday,” The gentleman said. “But for now train hard so you can achieve whatever dreams you have.”

Ross nodded in acknowledgement. As the old man left Ross spoke up. “What kind of Pokémon is it?” It hadn’t occurred to him to ask the question before, as he had trusted the old man to know what was classified as a good Pokémon, however now he was curious as to what Pokémon he had just bought.

“It’s the king of water Pokémon,” The man said, proudly. “Magikarp.”

“Magikarp?”

He remembered studying Magikarp back at Professor Oak’s laboratory, however he did not recall the circumstances of the research, so he could not compare what the old man had said to what was known about the Pokémon Magikarp, however he was surprised that Magikarp could be so great; he always thought they were common. Surely they were much more rare then he originally thought, and powerful. Ross was annoyed that he didn’t have such a strong water Pokémon when facing Flint and his assortment of rock Pokémon, but that wouldn’t happen again.

Sticking the gold Pokéball to his belt Ross stepped over to where Amy was conversing with Doctor Glee. They had finished and the good doctor had gone out the back of the Pokécentre to begin treating their Pokémon. Ross was sure that Amy would be envious of his new addition, especially since he had received him from such a great trainer, although he never actually caught the trainer’s name.

“What’s up?” Amy said, spotting the gold Pokéball on Ross’ belt.

“I just got another Pokémon.”

Amy’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t buy it, did you?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Did he show you his license?”

For a moment Ross was stuck in thought. The old man had seemed so sincere, he couldn’t possibly of been trying to cheat Ross, however the more he analyzed the engagement in his mind the more he saw that the old man had been manipulating him. He never had shown him his identification and had only insisted that he was a great trainer with great Pokémon.

Dumbly Ross showed Amy the Pokéball. “He sold me a Magikarp.”

“Ross, Magikarp are the worst Pokémon in the world,” Amy informed him. “Even I can’t stand them. All they do is splash around.”

“The gold…” Ross yelped desperately. Growlithe shook his head.

His companion shrugged. “Paint.”

Throwing down the gold Pokéball Ross was horrified to see a red fish that just flapped around on the ground, trying to find purchase so it can leap once more. It was a pathetic sight to see and despite all he’d been through he actually despised the Pokémon; it was completely worthless. His two companions ushered him to recall his Magikarp as many of the visitors to the Pokécentre were beginning to stare at the troublesome fish.

“Old man!” Ross growled as he raced out of the building, Growlithe sighing at his heals.

Outside the Pokémon center Ross caught up to the old man climbing into a brown car. When he saw Ross heading towards him he panicked, banging his briefcase on the car door dropping a white can on the road. He leapt into his vehicle and sped off out of the city. Ross reached the can that had fallen out of the briefcase moments after the con artist made his getaway and found that it was gold spray paint.

“You’re too trusting,” Amy said as Ross feverously scratched at his Pokéball only to see paint fleck off.

“Surely Magikarp isn’t completely useless.”

[Magikarp, the fish Pokémon – a Pokémon of the water type. Magikarp is completely useless.]

Ross groaned.

[It is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon, capable of only flopping and splashing. Magikarp’s only virtue is that it can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted, however this hardly save it from being labeled as the most unreliable Pokémon in the world.]

Closing his Pokédex Ross took a seat at a bench outside of the Pokécentre. He cursed Magikarp’s name and wondered how long it would take for Spearow’s burn to be treated so they could leave the Town of Tranquility. The mountain town had brought him nothing but trouble and he was determined not to stick around so that fouler fate could befall him.

Amy strolled over and joined him on the bench. “At least you got another Pokémon.

Ross nodded halfheartedly.

“Anyway,” The young girl chirped, trying to lighten Ross’ spirit, despite the subject of the conversation. “Doctor Glee explained why so many Pokémon trainers are staying in the Pokémon center, and why they appear to be so understaffed. Apparently they discovered several sick Clefairy and an injured Geodude at the entrance to the Luna Passage a week ago. Most of the center’s doctors are trying to heal the Pokémon they found. Access to Mount Moon has been restricted until a specialist disease team can arrive from Saffron City to quarantine the mountain.”

“The Pokémon are sick?” Ross asked, sadly.

It was hard to focus on his own troubles when just meters away Pokémon were lying sick in bed. Hurt and pain sure put things into perspective for Ross, helping him forget his troubles and putting his mind to something different. The young trainer from Pallet Town sighed and leant forward wiping his face and seeing grime and sweat come free. Growlithe stared at him, quizzically.

Amy leant forward to face him. “There’s nothing you can do. We should just collect our friends and continue through the Turnsole Pass.”

“Yeah, it’s a shame. Mount Moon has some good Pokémon.”

“I was certainly looking forward to being in the area.” Amy agreed.

When they returned to the counter Glee was happy to tell them that Spearow and Vulpix. The bird had only received minor burns that could be treated with a wet patch and some bandages, although it did mean he wouldn’t be flying for a few weeks, while the fox simply needed a night in a warm bed to raise her internal temperature. For Vulpix it was agreed that they would stay in the Pokécentre for the night before continuing on their way towards Cerulean City.

That night Ross lay on a couch in the Pokémon center trying to sleep, however it felt more strange then ever being back indoors when his instincts told him to be outside beneath the stars. He did eventually drift off to sleep, but his dreams were plagued by thoughts of sick Pokémon and the unrelenting cruelty of nature. Pokémon could fight against each other for food and territorial dominance, but it was a lot harder to fight against a virus or a bacteria.

Hopefully the specialists from Saffron City would heal the Mount Moon Pokémon when they arrived, but with many roads blocked between Cerulean City, Saffron City and Vermilion City it could be another week before help arrived. Ross thought about Growlithe and how much he would be hurt if his companion got sick, then he considered the hundreds of Pokémon in Mount Moon and a great depression fell around him.

As he dwelt on the thoughts of despair and suffering in his light slumber he was awoken by a scraping sound, as if rock were meeting marble with great force. Rolling over in a sleeping bag is no mean feat, so Ross took some time positioning himself to see the source of the scraping. Growlithe, however, was not hindered by bedrolls and alike, and was already facing the happening.

He had been awoken by a lone Geodude making its way across the floor of the Pokémon center towards the exit. A rock-like Pokémon with large granite, powerfully built arms, and a surly expression to match his authority, Geodude moved by walking on its huge arms. The scraping Ross and Growlithe had heard was the Geodude’s ‘limp’. Before Ross or Growlithe could alert Amy Geodude was out the door and into the night.

“What is it?” Amy asked groggily.

Ross pulled on his shoes and bent low to his companion. “I just saw a Geodude leave the Pokécentre.” He began clipping on Pokégear as she considered what he had said.

“But the only Geodude in the Pokécentre is the sick on.”

“That’s right.”

Amy sat straight up on the couch she rested on. “It’s going back…”

“Quietly,” Ross insisted.

“It’s going back to the Luna Passage,” She whispered, pulling off her sleeping bag, and checking to make sure none of the other trainers in the center had been woken by her outburst. “We have to stop it. The poor thing isn’t fully healed yet, and if it goes back it might catch this disease the Clefairy have.”

Ross nodded and signaled towards the glass doors of the Pokémon center. Amy acknowledged him quickly and began pulling her clothes on. As he left Ross buttoned up his jacket, making sure he would be provided some warmth in the cold night outside. Growlithe stepped out first, ignoring the cold, thanks to his eternally warm body, however when his human counterpart left the safety of the building he was struck by an icy wind like nothing he had experienced in his life. It chilled him to the bone and forced him to seriously consider retreating to the Pokécentre and abandoning the Geodude, however that thought stung even deeper then the mountainous chill.

After a few minutes Amy appeared at the door of the Pokémon center and the three companions began their trek up to Mount Moon in silence. It was hard going at first, but the bone freezing cold they were originally victim to fell prey to the strength and determination that came naturally to Pokémon trainers. Crossing stone and water they made their way up the winding trail until they at last reached the mouth of the Luna Passage.

In the pale moonlight it appeared to the travelers as a gaping maw, ready to swallow them whole, and banish them into the darkness of the mountain. Ross felt great trepidation as he gazed into the cavern, made more urgent by Growlithe who bore his teeth in disproval and released a snarl that warned the two humans that danger awaited them in the mountain.

Amy confronted Ross with a grim visage. “Are you sure about this?”

With the memory of the sick Pokémon at the fore of his mind the young trainer nodded and stepped across the threshold of the cave. They both knew full well what they were risking their Pokémon with, however they were also resolved to rescue the Geodude from a horrible plague. Aside from that Ross was eager to investigate the passage, for he was not completely convinced by Doctor Glee’s story. If such a horrid disease had taken foot in Mount Moon where did it come from, why was Geodude injured instead of infected and why did he want to return to a place of sickness.

In Ross’ mind it didn’t add up and the adventurous young boy was curious as to what was really happening beneath the mountain that was reputed by many to be the Cradle of Life of all Pokémon kind. Growlithe shared his skepticism, Ross could see it on the puppy-Pokémon’s face, and Ross trusted his friend’s senses as he trusted his own.

They crept down the rock passageway in a gloomy silence that reflected the emptiness of the Clefairy Moon Stone mines. After a hundred meters it became nearly impossible to see and Growlithe was called upon to light up the cave with a flare of fire. The deeper the party went the more the walls seemed to close around them, suppressing what precious light they had and forcing them to huddle together to escape the blackness.

Their journey stretched on for what seemed like an eternity, however they came at last to a great chamber, so massive that Growlithe’s brilliant fire could not even reach the ceiling. It was obviously once a mine for the Clefairy of the mountain, however now it lay abandoned, the Moon Stones yet to be dug out glittering in the darkness. The three companions stood before the chamber in awe, amazed at what the Clefairy had been able to accomplish over their years of toil.

Rumors existed concerning Mount Moon and the Pokémon that lived in the great tower. They spoke of another world where Pokémon lived together in peace and harmony and the petty quarrels of the human world had no weight. It was Eden and the Pokémon of Mount Moon would dedicate their lives to uncovering the means of their original passage to the human world. Many people believed that the Moon Stones were somehow related to this passing, some even spent their lives putting together the puzzle of the Moon Stone, but in the thousands of history surrounding human and Pokémon civilization nobody had even came close to uncovering the mystery of the origins of Pokémon.

“What is this place?” Ross gasped in astonishment.

“I had heard stories of the domain of the Clefairy,” Amy whispered, mesmerized by the grandeur before her eyes. “But this is unlike anything I’ve seen before. I had no idea Pokémon were capable of creating places of such beauty, especially in such a desolate place such as a cave.”

As he squinted to see across the enormous room he spotted movement at the far side of the city. The chamber was shaped like the interior of sphere, with many circular platforms of decreasing size along the surface creating tiers, almost like a small community. It sparkled blue in what little light Growlithe could muster, however Ross could see the sparkling blinking off and on across the chamber, as though a shadow were blocking the light.

He looked knowingly at Growlithe and Amy and they both nodded, Growlithe bearing his fangs and Amy drawing a Pokéball. The shadow moved around the perimeter of the sphere along the wall of the tier they stood on. When it was finally level with the three companions it began to slow, becoming cautious as it approached its prey.

Ross squinted through the gloom, trying desperately to see what came before them, however it was not until they gingerly stepped into the glow of Growlithe’s flame that he could see what they really were. And there were two of them. Ross couldn’t describe them with words for they were too unique, however he knew them by name. The first, an almost dog-like Pokémon with fierce eyes and rough, spiny pink skin, he had seen the last night he had spent in Pallet. His counterpart was more rabbit-like then dog, but just as stern, bearing blue skin, instead of pink. It was Nidorino and Nidorina, the eternal lovers of the Pokémon world.

“I should have known I’d see you again,” A voice called out from the darkness behind the two Pokémon. It was filled with self-importance and was hauntingly familiar to Ross’ ears. The boy that followed the voice Ross easily recognized within a moment. “What business do you have in inside Mount Moon?”

Tim Fracas glared at the three travelers with cold, angry eyes, a sneer creasing his face. Ross had originally dismissed Fracas as an arrogant trainer intent on making sure that he appeared superior to all others no matter the cost. Pokémon trainers just like Fracas had passed through Pallet all the time and Ross had learned to greet them all with a smile and enough good grace to see them leave swiftly. In the gloom beneath Mount Moon Tim Fracas appeared to be more then that.

He wasn’t really sure what Fracas had to do with what was
happening to the Pokémon, but Ross had an instinct that he was somehow involved. Knowing better then to ignore his gut Ross stood resolute before the questioning stare of Fracas.

“We could ask you the same question,” Ross returned.

Fracas’ eyes narrowed. “It’s none of your concern.”

As if sensing the tension in the air and the battle that could begin as a result of the two trainers’ obstinacy Amy stepped forward. “We followed an injured Geodude into the Luna Passage. We were afraid it would become diseased, so we’ve come to rescue it.”

“Diseased?” Fracas snorted.

“Yes, there is a terrible sickness plaguing these caves.”

Fracas shook his head in nuisance. “There is no sickness here. That story is a carefully laden veil that hides the truth from the light of the sun and the good people outside these rock walls.”

Seeing their master reveal what he knew to the newcomers Nidorino and Nidorina relaxed themselves, listening charily to what he had to say. Growlithe fixed his eyes upon the noble creatures in respect and humility, as the two Pokémon were obviously weighty with power and intelligence, a benefit of the abilities of a great trainer such as their master was.

“But the sick Clefairy…”

“A tool to keep trainers away from the mountain.”

Amy shook her head, not able to comprehend the gravity of the situation. “Why?”

With great concern and what Ross could identify as fear in his eyes Fracas looked between the two trainers slowly. Whatever had poisoned the Clefairy and crippled the Geodude didn’t want the three trainers in their domain and standing as they were in the Cavern of the Moon they were breaking that wish. It occurred to Ross whatever had cursed the inhabitance of Mount Moon had an almighty resolve, and a dangerous one.

A sudden clamor alerted the three trainers to another presence in the great chasm. Rushing to the edge of their tier they spotted a small rock creature making his way across a walkway of stone towards a large doorway, fit for a truck to enter. It was the Geodude Ross, Amy and Growlithe had followed, however it was once again about to leave their site as it passed beneath the grand archway.

“Where is it going?” Amy mumbled, rhetorically.

Fracas considered her question quickly and, finding and answer, signaled his two Pokémon over the edge of the tier down to the platform below. He followed close behind, carefully controlling his descent down the steep slope.

Watching the trainer disappear down to the tier below, then leap over that edge until he was on an even lower level, equal to the Geodude Ross and Amy stayed perfectly still. It was a long way between each platform and a slight miscalculation on the slide could mean the difference between life and death. They both accepted this and leapt over the edge, following the path of Fracas and his Nidoran.

Ross and Growlithe reached the lowest level of the city first, running past doorways and Moon Stone fragments to catch up with the boy he had met on route three. As he ran he clutched his palms in pain as they had been shredded when he slid down the final stonewall. He was forced to ignore the pain when he reached the walkway that connected the lowest tier to the lowest doorway in the chamber, for it was thin and set in smooth rock, making travel across it precarious due to its position above a large pit that had no foreseeable end.

Inside the doorway Fracas had caught up with the wayward Geodude, Nidorino blocking its path while Nidorina tried to reason with him in the unique speech of the Pokémon world. When Amy arrived at the doorway she knelt down beside the Geodude and tried to comfort the frightened creature, stroking its rough head, and holding at massive hands. He almost immediately calmed under the young trainer’s touch, sated by her kind words, which Ross could not make out. It was as if they were speaking the same language.

While Fracas and Amy worked with the rock Pokémon Ross continued down the passageway, slowly, for he dared not believe what he saw; there was light at the end of the tunnel, unnatural light, created by a lamp or lantern. He motioned for his companions to be silent.

“What do you see?” Fracas whispered, coming to his side.

Ignoring his associate Ross started down the tunnel towards the light. It was as he suspected; there were man-made lights lining the walls of the tunnel, illuminating a path towards whatever ill deeds were being perpetuated. As he crept down that path Ross began to hear a faint tapping noise, as though stone where being struck with metal. The noises reminded the Pallet-born trainer of Pewter City and the grand quarries that once existed there. Amy and Nidorina stayed with Geodude to try and convince him to turn back, but Nidorino, Growlithe and Fracas followed Ross down the passage to the source of the mystery in Mount Moon.

After almost half an hour of walking the passage began to open up into a large chamber, considerably smaller then the last, and lit up by dozens of electric lights. Being under Mount Moon, the Cradle of Pokémon life and the home of such wonderful creatures such as the Clefairy and their beautiful city, the chamber he now stood in was too artificial for Ross to look at without some amount of contempt. What had been created beneath the City of the Moon was a heathen mockery of the natural majesty of Mount Moon and its inhabitance. What resided in the center of the chamber sickened Ross even more.

In the two and a half months since Ross had left Pallet Town he had never felt such hatred touch his heart. The middle of the room was full of dozens of Clefairy; all working with picks and shovels on the wall of a great quarry, their ankles tethered together by bracelet and chain. The Pokémon below were no more then slaves to some invader, some human invader.

Whoever had desecrated Mount Moon paid no heed to the sanctity between human and Pokémon. It was a sacred relationship that had been forged over thousands of years, but in a few days these humans had destroyed it by betraying the Clefairy and putting them to work for some piece of rock. Finally Ross understood why the Clefairy at the Town of Tranquility were made to look sick, for no right minded Pokémon trainer would stand idly by as their wards were used in such a foul way.

Ross drew a Pokéball, ready to strike into the heart of the quarry, but Fracas stayed his hand. “Do not rush foolishly into battle.”

“We can’t leave these Pokémon here like this.”

“No, we cannot,” Fracas agreed. “But there is more here then meets the eye.”

Returning his Pokéball the young trainer followed Fracas’ gaze to the floor below. He was right of course, for at present they could see no slave driver, no whip or a master to wield it. So they waited for a time until the evil that had defiled the beauty of the mountain revealed itself, and it did. After an eternity of wait two figures finally stepped into view from below them, from a cave beneath the ledge they hid on.

Squinting to see them properly Ross was surprised that he found their site familiar to his eyes, although he could not place them at first. They wore long black coats, of a sinister design and dark clothes that would hide them in the night. The man’s hair was black, but the woman’s was a brilliant red that belied her obviously malevolent nature.

“The Viridian City gym,” Ross whispered, astonished.

Fracas was about to ask what significance the gym had, however he was cut off by the arrival of a third figure, although it fit no figure Ross could recognize. It was a dark orange, with eight sickening purple, yellow and black legs that oozed poison and dripped with malice. The new arrival caused Ross to shiver, as he had never liked spiders. It was an Ariados, the long-legged Pokémon from the land of Johto.

The woman spoke. “Have they found them yet?”

“No.”

“He will not be impressed by your failure.”

“It is only a matter of time, I assure you,” The man turned to face her, revealing himself to all on the ledge above. There was no doubt now that Ross gazed into the eyes of the man from Viridian City that he had met both these people before, however that meeting had been much more pleasant then this, despite the animosity and suspicion on the man’s face outside the gym.

“We must find them, no matter the cost,” She looked around the quarry at the tired and disheartened Clefairy. “Where is your Pokémon? He should be encouraging these creatures to double their efforts.”

“He will, but first he is dealing with another matter that has caught my attention.”

She nodded. “Good, you have noticed that we have company.”

“I have.”

Ross’ blood chilled. Surely they were not talking of him and Fracas, however this talk of company was beginning to trouble the young trainer, creating suspicion and fear. He looked from Growlithe to Nidorino to Fracas. Amy and Nidorina still hadn’t caught up and their absence was starting to appeal to Ross. These people certainly weren’t to be trifled with.

Very carefully the young trainer began to crawl backwards away from the ledge and towards the tunnel that lead to freedom, however as he and Fracas carefully retreated the man and the woman glanced at each other and turned, staring right at them. Before they could register shock Ariados had shot off the floor of the chamber and was scaling the cliff wall towards them.

Clefairy turned to see what was happening and they saw two boys and their Pokémon fleeing from the chamber, however they also saw them come to an abrupt halt as the exit of the room became sealed by a wall of dark purple poison.

Ross looked back to see the Ariados breach the top of the cliff, however they could not retreat from the creature as another descended from cracks in the ceiling. It was a foul monster, which destroyed the very air around it, forcing Ross to clutch his nose in pain. As it began to take shape it formed a strong arm, which pointed directly at the interlopers with an ill intent obvious to all. Nidorino and Growlithe stood before their masters, protecting them fro whatever would come.

“Muk, bring them down here,” The man’s voice rang from below.

In the split second it took for Nidorino’s eyes to widen in shock a stream of poisonous sludge had shot out, propelling the spiny Pokémon over the edge and down to the room below, with a gut wrenching crunch which would have made Ross shudder if he had the time to think. Growlithe was hit next, and Fracas soon after, encouraging Ross to hypothesize that the Muk was choosing targets based on personal ability. Naturally he would be the forth and last victim of the hideous toxic blast.

Sure enough the attack came, so Ross breathed one last free breath before his lungs were filled with morass and he was thrown down to the man and woman who waited patiently below.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 9: Prepare For Trouble

Coughing and spluttering Ross tried to free his body of Muk’s toxins but the sludge seemed to cling to his insides, like honey on bread. It began to burn at his esophagus and Ross feared that he would soon be poisoned. As he grabbed at his throat in a vain attempt to rip it open and release the vile poison he realized that he couldn’t breathe, it only drew more of the black slush into his lungs. Life was slowly ebbing away from him and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Muk,” A voice called out form the distance. “Help the boy.”

Trying desperately to look over and beckon whoever had spoken to be quick about it he was suddenly assaulted. Something thicker and syrupy then water covered his body, lifting him into the air. Ross gagged when he felt himself be squeezed by this presence, but the more his chest was crushed the more he felt his body rejecting the fluid inside him. It was slowly be expelled from him, allowing him a small breath of air.

Free of the Pokémon that had lifted him into the air he was thrown the ground where he immediately made his way onto his hands and knees and threw up black vomit onto the floor of the cave. The panic that had taken him before was lifted from him, although another eerie fear crept into his mind. Wiping the black bile from his mouth he tried to see what had happened.

Lying on the ground next to him was Nidorino and Growlithe, both of which were trapped in cocoons of the same black sludge that had invaded him, their bodies limp and eyes closed. Above him leered a mountain of vile alluvium that held in one hand the still-writhing body of Tim Fracas. Around the Muk strode the man and the woman, their face’s the perfect image of unimpressed snobbery. Ross tried to avoid their gaze and struggled to his feet, but the woman kicked him onto his back.

“What do we have here?” The woman laughed. When she saw Ross’ face beneath the matted hair and black ooze she flinched. “I know you…”

“Yes, the Viridian gym,” The man grunted.

It took a moment for the woman to compose herself, but in time her unsettling smile returned. “Small world isn’t it. You wouldn’t happen to be following us, would you?”

“No,” Ross stammered between gasps of breath.

“Is that true?” The woman leaned closer.

He stared into her cold green eyes and nodded automatically as though anything but the truth wasn’t good enough for her. “Yeah.”

“Wonderful,” Turning back to Fracas she patted his cheek. “We all know why you are here.”

Although almost completely enveloped in Muk’s grasp Fracas managed to choke out a message for his captor. “Heinous *****,” He then spat in her face and grinned insanely, as though the tear of mucous rolling down her cheek was the funniest thing he’d ever seen.

“Do you kiss your mother with that mouth, little boy?”

“Come now, Rachael. He’s old enough to be a Pokémon Ranger, he’s old enough to call you a *****,” The man said with a raised eyebrow, confirming Ross’ original suspicions.

When he had first ran into Tim Fracas at the Pokémon centre in Pewter City he believed he had some sort of connection to the Pokémon Rangers, the secretive sect of Pokémon Trainers committed to protecting the world from those who would wish to use Pokémon to control it. Ross doubted that Fracas was a full ranked ranger, though, for he was only thirteen, fourteen at most, so he was probably a student of somebody. If that was so, then where was that somebody?

The woman, Rachael, turned back and knelt down to face Ross. “What’s your name, little boy?”

“Ross,” He dared not provide her with his last name or hometown.

“Well, Ross, did anybody else come here with you?”

“No,” Ross said quickly, maybe too quickly, because Rachael rose slowly and smiled, knowingly.

“Ariados, check the tunnel, just incase somebody followed Ross and Tim,” She snapped, prompting her spider-Pokémon to dart off into the passage the interlopers had come from. “Eric, take our guests out the back and make them comfortable,” When Eric stepped forward with a slight grin she put her hand on his chest, halting him. “Down boy. That’s not innuendo for torture, big guy.”

Eric tilted his head sideways and sneered at Ross, then picked him up off the ground and ushered him and Muk into the second tunnel in the room that was hidden below the first. As he was whisked away from the bewildered Clefairy and their makeshift quarry Ross threw one glance towards Growlithe only to see that his friend was still unconscious. Biting his tongue he allowed the blob of morass to push him into a small cave along the wall of the main passage from the quarry. The passage carried on to who-knew-where, but the alcove they were forced into was tiny, like a cell.

“Your Pokéballs,” Eric commanded, holding out his hand.

Ross reluctantly unclipped his Pokéballs and gave them to the man whilst thinking up ways to defeat the two criminals and their highly evolved minions, but he came up with nothing. Despite being a Pokémon Trainer he was not in his element trying to do good, which was supposed to be the creed of all trainers. Sure, Ross could rescue damsels from mentally deranged electric mice, but when it came to fighting against people he found himself stumped, so he resolved to co-operate and follow Fracas’ lead.

Eric put Ross’ Pokéballs in a brown bag and threw it to Muk. “We wouldn’t want you trying to be a hero, like Mr. Fracas here. You should know now that heroes receive nothing but pain, suffering and inevitably a hero’s death,” With that Eric stole from the room.

When Ross and Tim were alone they both dashed to the entrance to the room and peered out into the hallway. To the left was the quarry and the two humans and to the right was Muk, guarding what must have been the way out. He grinned a big, slimy grin and Ross and watched his two captives slink back into the safety of their prison. And it was a prison, for they were essentially trapped between Muk and their captors, Rachael and Eric.

Tim staggered over to the far wall and sat cross-legged, his eyes closed to all but slits. Taking the opportunity while they were alone to learn as much as he could Ross approached the seated trainer. Fracas didn’t need to open his eyes any further to know that Ross wanted to talk. “What do you want?”

“You followed them here, right?” Ross asked, straightforwardly.

He received no answer at first, as Fracas was obviously trying to figure out how much he could trust his cellmate. “Yes.”

“Why? What do they want?”

“I don’t know that yet,” Fracas snapped, angry with Ross as much with himself. When his eyes flashed open they betrayed the shame he felt for not being able to tell Ross; he didn’t know what Rachael and Eric were up to and that obviously burnt him. “Whatever they are doing they cannot be allowed to continue. You saw what they did to Geodude and the Clefairy; they must be stopped. I originally encountered them in the jungles north of Pewter City, picking something up from a Pokémon Hunter under the identity of a non-existent company called Mount Moon Shipping. I thought I could handle them, but…” He trailed off, lost in his own thought.

Judging by what had happened in the battle of Muk versus Nidorino and Growlithe Ross assumed Fracas was beaten. He wondered what Eric and Rachael were doing in the jungles, but it must have been a painful experience for Fracas to recall. Abandoning his previous line of questioning Ross focused instead on the present. “Who are they?”

“Rachael Strife and Eric Riven,” Fracas snorted, indicating his feelings towards the duo. “She was a common thug from the streets of Goldenrod City and he was the rising young student from the Fuchsia City Pokémon gym. When they joined together they wrought all sorts of devastation in Johto before they were finally caught and taken to Saffron City for trial. Despite all the evidence they were found not guilty and disappeared off the scene for about six years. What’s more all police records regarding their escapades were destroyed, even the reports from the Pokémon Ranger that captured them.”

Ross was confused. “If all the reports were destroyed how did you…”

“How did I find out about them?”

“Yeah,” The curious young trainer from Pallet nodded.

“Would you believe the Goldenrod Times told me?” Fracas laughed, a smile for the first time since Ross had met the boy.

“So, somebody fixed the trial, destroyed police records and hid two fifteen year-old criminals from the public for six years,” Ross said, more to himself then Fracas. “And now they are back.”

“Yeah.”

Ross considered what it all meant, but he was no detective. Obviously they were up to their old tricks again, but they seemed to have a purpose that contradicted mindless destruction. Whatever had happened in those six years had changed Rachael and Eric’s perspectives on their occupations. He recalled the truck they had been tending in Viridian City and remembered the Mount Moon Shipping seal on the side, so he must have encountered them just after their skirmish with Fracas.

Although Fracas had been fighting to stop them from taking something that had to be shipped in a truck its contents were currently unimportant. There was a more pressing question Ross found himself asking. “Who are they working for?”

“Hey, you catch on fast,” Fracas snorted, closing his eyes once again. “You aren’t as stupid as you look.”

Ross took the insult in his stride. “And?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.”

It was at this point that their conversation ceased. Fracas was in no mood to answer any more questions and Ross wasn’t in a mood to ask them, he simply wanted to wait and ponder what he had learned. Their captors were criminals of some description or another, but they were working for somebody, somebody powerful enough to close down an investigation and bribe a judge. It was scary to think that business like this was conducted all across the world while he was on his journey, and Ross suddenly felt very aware of the evils that stalked the planet.

As he thought about evils walking the routes between cities footsteps echoed down the passageway, slowly getting closer to their prison. Ross maneuvered himself into a lazy position, appearing as though he didn’t think much of his captivity, however he paused when the footsteps became loud enough to identify. They sounded like the footsteps of a Pokémon. Fracas also seemed to make the connection, but he still ignored the visitor.

Into the room stepped a Pokémon Ross could identify immediately; it was a Raticate, the evolved form of Rattata. He moved around on four small legs, but preferred to stand upright, like a human during battles and when idle. Brown fur covered his body and was broken only by four white rat teeth, which he used to deliver the decimating Super Fang attack, which allowed Raticate to bite through lead. He slinked into the room, a long tail dragging behind him and paused to watch Ross and Fracas.

Fracas snorted again. “Our warden?”

There was something about Raticate that belied Fracas’ casual casting aside. His eyes darted between his two captives knowingly, as though the rat was there to interrogate them, rather then make sure they didn’t escape. It made sense since Muk remained outside, their true warden. Ross wasn’t totally convinced, though, and if he shared his thoughts with Fracas he would be ridiculed, for there was no way a Raticate could question them, or even pass on relevant information to his superiors.

Desperate for somebody to talk to he sat down before Raticate. “Hello.”

“What are you doing?” Fracas murmured, his tone implying idiocy on Ross’ part.

“Talking to Raticate.”

“The enemy’s Raticate,” He was corrected.

Ignoring Fracas he continued. “So, we are supposed to believe you are here to guard us, right?” This caused Fracas to chuckle to himself, his eyes still half-slits, however while he laughed at Ross the trainer from Pallet watched Raticate for any signs of recognition. There were none. Raticate only stood before Ross, his lips curled over his magnificent front teeth and his eyes drilling into the human’s. “Alright, fine, why are you doing this?”


* * * * *


The lights burned with greater intensity the further down the passageway Amy went, however she felt as though she was no closer to catching up with Ross, Growlithe and Tim. The air had become stagnant like she was walking into a tomb and no matter how much she quickened her pace the trek never found a grave. Her two companions had left her over an hour before and she hadn’t seen any sign of them since. Even Fracas’ Nidorina, who had remained with her and the zealous Geodude, who occupied a Pokéball on her belt, was losing faith.

As Amy stopped to drink from her flask, offering some of the iced water, made so by the chilling air outside the mountain, to Nidorina, she heard a definite tapping, which she had previously attributed to fatigue. It sounded like dozens of pick axes hitting splitting rock and it was coming from the direction that Ross, Growlithe and Tim had gone. She looked down at Nidorina for confirmation, but the blue creature was already heading down the passage.

Quickly stashing her flask Amy followed Nidorina, confident that she knew where she was going. As the two companions continued, however, Amy began to feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t put her finger on what. Nidorina, oblivious to Amy darted off down the corridor of rock, leaving Amy completely alone.

Nervously she made her way down the passage, her hand fondling her Pokéballs. Just as she thought her fears were a figment of her imagination she heard a scraping sound behind her. Whirling around she was faced with an empty tunnel and an eerie wave of fresh air that broke the stagnation like a knife in the dark. Trying to take a hold of the fear that was clawing at her heart she backed down the cave in the direction that Nidorina dashed off.

“Nidorina?” She called out, hoping to inspire Fracas’ Pokémon to return to her.

The same scraping sound punctured the silence that hung behind her, making her jump and then fall to the floor, a Pokéball in hand. When she looked for the source of the noise she found nothing, but bare rock. The lights strung up along the walls of the corridor provided a little light, but it was florescent and only heightened Amy’s anxiety. Telling herself that she was alone deep below Mount Moon didn’t help, because as the thought crossed her mind rock was dislodged above her and whips of dust drifted down to her head from the ceiling.

Very carefully, as though it would make a difference, Amy craned her head up to see directly above her and she stared into the eyes of a giant orange spider, with yellow and purple legs and a wide maw that dripped with venom. Amy tried to scream, but the spider arched its back and fired sticky string into her face, faster then she had seen anything move. Before she knew it she was on her back with the spider-Pokémon detached from the ceiling of the cave and pinning her to the floor.

Amy tried to panic, but she didn’t have time, the Ariados was closing in on her face, the stinger unfurling from the base of its thorax. Although she was used to thinking on her feet she was no long on them, but she was still quick of wit, rolling the Pokéball in her hand away after hitting the trigger. The corridor was filled with light for an instant and when Ariados whirled round she did so into a blast of fire. Amy scrambled behind Vulpix and faced the charred, but very much alive Ariados.

“Vulpix,” Amy cried after tearing the webbing on her face away. “Flamethrower!”

Ariados chattered insanely as Vulpix stepped towards to execute her master’s command, but as she opened her mouth, unleashing a wave of flame on her opponent Ariados dashed up the wall away from the stream of hot death and straight towards the red fox. Vulpix couldn’t keep the attack up as Ariados closed in and Amy could only watch in shock as Vulpix was hit with a coil of string, enveloping her in a cocoon of white twine.

It was the greatest defeat she had ever suffered, for Vulpix was just as strong as Wartortle and that was very, but even with a type advantage she was no match for Ariados who just chattered excitedly as she moved in to claim her quarry. Amy didn’t know what Wartortle could do to stop the advancing spider, but she didn’t want to risk her last Pokémon, especially against such an overwhelming opponent.

The urge to run rose in Amy, but as she turned to follow Nidorina her foot was caught by a volley of string tripping her up and putting her face to the floor. Amy, defiant to the end, only squealed as the hungry spider poured more and more string onto her. Ariados looked around to make sure that nobody was watching, however such a gesture was moot, for they were alone in the tunnel, then she leaned forward, her gaping maw glistening in the fluorescent light.

Amy could have sworn Ariados was laughing as it prepared to eat her, flipping her stinger down, readying the final blow, but before Amy could scream with her dying breath a shadow fell upon her and upon Ariados. The spider-Pokémon glanced up to see the silhouette of a Nidorina standing at the end of the corridor. It glared angrily at Ariados as thought the spider was but a distraction. Amy was going to warn Nidorina of the true dangers when Ariados attacked, a flash of yellow and purple.

Twisting around to see the battle Amy was struck deaf when a high-pitched scream filled the cavern, melting any distinct thoughts she had in her brain. If her arms were free she would have made for her ears, but she could only writhe in pain and prey the onslaught would cease. When it did Amy found Vulpix on top of her, having made short work of the string that tied her to the floor and doing the same to Amy’s own bindings.

Struggling to her feet Amy faced Ariados and Nidorina. The poison pin-Pokémon had managed to get the upper hand by hitting the spider with a Supersonic wave, however the abomination shrugged it off quickly and was striking at Nidorina with the same malice and lightning fast speed as before. Nidorina was ducked and weaved carefully, almost as if she had fought with Ariados before, however despite all her strategy she would not hold out against the spider.

Amy looked down to Vulpix who was still full of stamina. “Vulpix, hit Ariados with another flamethrower.”

Vulpix obliged her master, taking a moment to aim and not hit Nidorina, firing the beam of fire down the corridor towards Ariados. The spider seemed to sense the attack and twirl around to face Amy and Vulpix. The fire hit nothing, but air for Ariados leapt onto the roof and stayed there until Vulpix’s attack had subsided, leaving nothing but singed air in the tunnel.

Having lived with Pokémon most of her life Amy read the expression of Ariados face in an instant. The spider-Pokémon was going to make a run for it, rather then fight a battle on two sides. Whoever had taught the creature had taught it well, because it was a free thinker, judging scenarios to ensure the best possible outcome. She knew she’d be trapped if she tried to take on both Nidorina and Vulpix at the same time, so the obvious response was to flee, through the weaker of the two.

Amy dived on Vulpix, pushing the red fox to the ground and saving it from being impaled on Ariados’ stinger as he rushed up to tunnel the way Amy and her company had come. Nidorina raced after it, but Amy stopped it. “Wait, we have more important things to worry about right now,” Nidorina saw her reasoning and continued on, leaving Amy no time to catch her breath.

Just to make sure she wouldn’t fall prey to the treacherous spider again Amy kept Vulpix out of her Pokéball for the remainder of the trek down the passage. As she walked she tried to free herself from the threads of string that still clung defiantly to her clothes, but as time passed the gooey web became increasingly solid until it was almost like brittle cement and Amy found herself snapping it off herself. Spider silk was notoriously strong and Ariados was the king of spiders.

Free from danger at last Amy found herself thinking about where Ariados came from and whether Ross and Tim had run into the creature when they explored down this way. The fact that they had never returned irked her somewhat and her imagination began painting pictures of a nest of super-powerful Ariados in the bowls of the mountain, poisoning the inhabitance and lashing out to ensnare any visitors foolish enough to dare enter their domain.

While her mind tried to rationalize the situation she came closer to the end of her journey and before she knew it she was standing on a ledge above a large quarry filled with dozens of Clefairy, possibly even the entire mountain’s population. They were all operating small pick-axes, hammering away at rocks in a depressed attempt to unearth something. The sight saddened Amy, for she had heard of such slavery before, but never as close as Kanto.

Before she or Nidorina could, though, voices floated up from a passageway below her.

“The boy doesn’t know anything, you said so yourself,” A female voice whispered.

A second voice, a male’s, chimed in. “But that Fracas does, he followed you here.”

“He followed you here,” The first snapped. “Your Muk was responsible for poisoning enough of the Pokémon to keep trainers away from the operation. I’d say your mission failed.”

“It can still be salvaged,” The man countered. “Just give me permission to deal with them using whatever discretion I see fit and our problem will go away,” Although she had only heard the two voices it sounded as though the man had been speaking to somebody else apart from the female. Perhaps there was a third person, their leader.

The woman scoffed. “Perfect, that’s just what we needed, more corpses. Remember Ecruteak City? It didn’t work out then, why would it work out now?”

“Killing Fracas is the only way to get him off our backs forever.”

“You are so single-minded.”

“Thank you.”

“That makes you a good field agent,” The woman warned. “Not a good leader.”

Amy wasn’t sure whom they were, but it was evident that they meant to harm Tim and Ross, who they referred to as ‘the boy’. Furthermore Nidorina became agitated when she saw something hanging from the wall to the left of where the Clefairy’s were mining. Incased in cocoons of black tar were Growlithe and Nidorino, their eyes closed and their heads matted with blood. Whatever Ross and Tim had found they had obviously discovered the source of the plague in Mount Moon.

It wasn’t a situation in which Amy could function easily; either she returned to the surface and tried to find the proper authorities, giving the criminals a chance to hurt her friends and then escape, or she could try to take on two fully grown trainers and their impossibly fast and strong Pokémon. The only comfort she could find was the knowledge that Ariados might have been an exception and their other Pokémon were nothing special.

“Enough!” A third voice snarled. Normally Amy wouldn’t have been fazed by such an outburst, but there was something about the voice that made her shudder. It was almost as if the speaker was a monster. “You will continue digging until we find the fossils. We have been here for over a week, so we should find them any time now. Rachael, take Ariados…”

“Ariados isn’t back yet,” The woman stammered, fear obvious in her voice.

There was an annoyed grunt followed by more monstrous words. “Fine then. When she returns take her out again and make a sweep of the upper tunnels. I don’t want any surprises. Eric, stay here and guard the workers.”

A shuffling sound followed, as though the third speaker moved to leave, but the man spoke up, halting him. It was strange that the confidence that filled the man’s voice was gone, replaced by the same fear that the woman had shown. “What about Fracas and the boy?”

“Kill them,” The third person said with more then a hint of malice.

Amy was worried now. She had to act quickly, because not only were Ross and Tim at risk, but also her own life was on the line as long as Ariados remained away from her masters. As soon as she returned Amy would be trapped. Trying to think of a plan she reached down for Squirtle and paused when she saw movement form the corner of her eye. There was somebody else listening to the conversation.

From his position on the wall Nidorino saw and heard it all including Amy, and although he looked broken and beaten he seemed to slowly be regaining strength. It made no sense when Amy thought about it at first, but when she considered where Nidorino was it struck her as obvious. Mount Moon was formed when a piece of the moon fell to the earth, so the mountain contained traces of that original moon rock. Some Pokémon react differently when in the presence of the Moon Stones, gaining strength and power. Clefairy were the most obvious example, it’s why they worshiped the mountain, but Nidorino and Nidorina were also affected.

Hope came alive in Amy’s heart and the Pokémon Trainer from Celadon City recalled her Vulpix, resting all her prayers on Nidorina and her mate. Indicating for Nidorina to follow her down Amy leapt over the ledge and landed in the quarry below, right in front of the meeting. She saw Rachael, Eric and a Raticate. The third member of the meeting was nowhere in site.

“What the hell?” Rachael swore when she saw Amy land in front of her.

“I’m a little lost,” Amy quipped. “Could you point me in the direction of the gift shop?”

Eric narrowed his eyes. “Muk!”

In an instant the giant purple blob was squeezing between the trainers and into the room with Amy, forcing her to back away and give them space. Eric followed his Pokémon out, but Rachael raced back in the direction it had come. Raticate simply slipped into the shadows.

“You are no match for Muk,” Eric sneered.

“Maybe, but let’s even the odds.”

The room shook as a deafening explosion rocked the mountain. Eric whirled around behind him to find the course of the blast and found Nidorino standing triumphant over the shards of black cement. He bore his teeth at Muk who returned in kind by burping in him general direction. With Nidorino and Nidorina on both sides Eric was starting to feel a little insecure, which was unusual for the talented young criminal. He put a brave grin on his face.

Amy still wasn’t convinced she could beat Muk, even with the two Nidoran, but she had no intention of battling the purple blob, the battle would be decided without combat. Although the Clefairy had obviously made the cavern they were standing in they had only had a week to create it, according to Eric and Rachael, so structurally it couldn’t have been very sound.

As Eric was about to command his Muk Amy held out her hand. “Wait! You don’t actually want to battle in here, do you? The ceiling could collapse at any moment.”

“Does that scare you, little girl?”

“No,” Amy replied, wryly. “But your boss might have a problem if you lost his fossils.”

The young man nodded knowingly. “Very well, what did you have in mind?”

“We’re leaving,” Indicating to the Clefairy Amy added. “All of us.”

“I can’t let you do that.”

“Nor can I,” Rachael said re-entering the room, Ross in a chokehold before her. She pressed a knife to his neck and smiled sadistically. “I’m willing to bet you wont risk your friends life, no matter the consequences. You Pokémon Trainers are so predictable it’s sickening. You are so high and mighty, but when a little pressure is applied you fold like a wet towel.”

Forced into an impossible situation once again Amy was about to cry, however she noticed in the reflection cast by the surgically polished knife that there was somebody else in the room that Amy hadn’t taken into account. As he made his move she prayed that he knew what he was doing, but she also knew that he would do anything that wasn’t in Ross’ best interests.

The fireball struck Rachael’s face before she could draw her weapon across her hostage’s jugular. Writhing and screaming in pain she fell to the floor crying every curse known to man while Eric watched on through gritted teeth. Growlithe leapt free of his restraints and took to Ross’ side, scowling at his victim whose face he hopes would be scarred for life. Despite Growlithe’s hatred of Rachael Ross held no such animosity and ran to her side, grabbing his bag and Pokéballs from the corner of the room and applying a burn healing salve.

“Any more surprises?” Amy asked Eric who remained stoic as Tim appeared at the entrance to the room, ignoring Ross’ feeble attempt to help the woman who tried to kill him and rushed over to Nidorino.

Answering her question a Clefairy approached her, a rock held in its outstretched hands. Everybody in the room looked up to see what Amy had been given and saw that it was a small fossil, no bigger then the amber she had received from the museum in Pewter City. Eric’s face contorted into a glare of fury; he was losing his cool. Amy peered down at the rock and saw a spiral pattern imprinted on it, a footstep of a long extinct Pokémon. A second Clefairy approached Tim and handed him a second fossil, a roughly circular rock, like the dome of a gym. He stared at it dumbfounded, then looked up at Eric and grinned wickedly

“Those fossils are mine,” The young man snapped. “Give them to me now and you may leave.”

Suddenly Ross grunted and everybody turned towards him to see Ariados, who had taken the time spent whilst everybody else was watching Clefairy to sneak up behind him and plant his stinger into Ross’ shoulder. The spider chattered excitedly as it pumped more and more venom into the wound, but to everybody’s surprise Ross whirled around and, grabbing Rachael’s knife, slashed the stinger clean off, showering himself in the overgrown arachnid’s green blood.

“Ross!” Amy screamed as Growlithe rushed to his master’s side, barking at Ariados until it had backed off. Desperate to flee the cave Amy commanded the Clefairy. “Get out of here! Now!”

On command the small army of fairy Pokémon exited the chamber through the passage on the ledge above, and Eric let them escape, no longer interested in his makeshift digging crew; his eyes were focused on the rock in Amy’s hand. Transfixed by the Clefairy who defied all gravity by floating up to the ledge above to make their exodus Amy barely had time to stash the rock in her bag before she and her party began filing out of the room.

Fracas grabbed Ross and hauled his limp body though the second opening in the room whilst Nidorino and Nidorina covered his escape. Amy went next, followed by Growlithe who paused at the mouth of the corridor and fired a blast of fire into the ceiling of the cave, initiating a cave-in. At first Amy was shocked by Growlithe’s callousness, but she saw that Muk easily shielded his master’s from the cascade of rocks.

Beneath the wall of sludge Eric drew a small black object, pointing it objectively at Amy and squeezing the trigger. The crack of the gun was drowned out by the fall of rocks, but the bullet was not as easy to dismiss, having hit the wall inches from Amy’s head, spraying broken rock at her face. Diving out of the way of Eric’s second attack Amy and Growlithe disappeared down the passage in a mad dash to avoid the desperate attack.

They eventually met up with Tim who recalled his Pokémon and heaved Ross over his shoulder, intent of escaping Mount Moon and reporting what he had learned to his superiors, whoever they were. Amy didn’t know who Rachael and Eric were, but she knew that they were engaged in business that two twelve year olds and a thirteen year old should have nothing to do with. Tim was surprisingly strong so he had no trouble carrying Ross for the hour they spent navigating through the caves below Mount Moon.

Before the hour was over the faint rumble that marked the cave-in ceased, leading to the assumption that they were successful in trapping Rachael and Eric, however after a minute or two of rest Growlithe heard something else, something that made him nervous enough to indicate for them to hurry up. Tim and Amy were in no physical state to argue with the puppy-Pokémon, so they both got up off the hard rock floor and pressed on.

Racing through dimly lit corridors of rock was a far cry from the slow paced hikes endured by the average Pokémon Trainers, but all the traveling had made her fit enough to keep up with Tim, the far more experienced trainer. Despite the fatigue that had been gnawing at her for the previous thirty minutes she was more concerned with Ross then anything. They had taken a brief break to pull Ariados’ stinger out and patch up the wound, but a fever had already taken him.

Amy eventually lost track of time, so she didn’t know what time it was when they finally reached the exit. It appeared as a light at the end of a tunnel, inspiring the humans in the group to stop and rest. Only Growlithe had the sense to carry on, knowing that they were still in danger as long as they staying in the caves. Tim just looked at the puppy like his looked at his master, with disdain.

“We’re safe, dog,” Tim said, matter-of-factly. “Quit your whining.”

Growlithe ran past Tim and Amy back the way they had come and began barking incessantly. She had never seen Growlithe so agitated, so she paid him the courtesy of trying to figure out his disposition, however he inquisitive drive ended soon after she stood up and felt her legs turn to rubber. Finding willpower enough to take a step she listened. When Growlithe saw her taking an interest he became quiet and stared into her eyes.

Silence filled the tunnel. Only Tim’s heavy breaths broke the still air at irregular intervals. In the distance Amy could hear a noise, but it was one of the strangest sounds she’d ever heard, considering her location. It sounded as if somebody was up the tunnel slurping the last of a milkshake up a straw. Trying to put sound and image together Amy suddenly realized what it was that Growlithe was so worried about.

Amy looked down to Growlithe, comprehension dawning on her face. The puppy Pokémon turned and began barking again, as if it would ward off what was coming for them. Amy turned to look at Tim who was completely clueless, and Ross who, despite the pain he was obviously in, recognized the sound as well. He reached up and tried to stand, eventually failing and using Tim as a prop. Either way both Ross and Tim were on their feet.

“What is it?” Tim demanded.

Ushering Growlithe ahead Amy pressed on. “Bless your ears, Growlithe. It’s Muk!”

At that moment the torrent of purple sludge cascaded around the corner down the end of the tunnel, heading towards the light. Tim pulled Ross off his feet and made a dash for the exit, making it difficult for Amy to keep up. The sickening slurping noise became louder and louder as the sludge Pokémon closed in on his prey, his face, which was currently dissolved into his body, would have been a grin if he could make it so.

They managed to reach the exit of the cave before Muk caught them, but to their shock they found themselves on the side of a rickety old rope bridge, suspended over a deep ravine, with a crystal clear river running down below. It was after dawn, for the sun was already beginning its journey across the sky and the air was crisp and clear, like a morning breeze should be. Pidgey tweeted in the forest across the bridge and for a moment Amy forgot a blob of sludge was chasing them.

“Come on!” Tim shouted, stepping onto the bridge without fear.

Rather then accept the immediate death that would follow being caught by Muk Amy risked the bridge, following Tim, Ross and Growlithe into the middle of the wooden structure, however halfway across she realized that Muk had given up the chase, he just stood at the mouth of the cave, waiting. Tim also noticed and stopped his advance.

Like a flash of lightning Ariados darted past Muk and launched herself into the air, clearing the entire bridge in one jump. She landed on the far cliff edge, blocking off Amy and her company’s escape. They were trapped between Muk and Ariados, but it wasn’t long until their true captors arrived. Eric slipped passed Muk and onto the bridge, Rachael resting against his shoulder, her face badly burned from Growlithe’s attack. She looked so furious that she could stare a Fearow down.

“Nice try, you brats,” Rachael choked out between tears. “Now hand them over.”

Tim stepped close to Amy and began rummaging through her bag for the helix fossil. She didn’t know what he was planning, but she was sure he wouldn’t willingly hand over the fossils to Rachael and Eric, who knew what they planned to do with them. They were valuable pieces of Pokémon history and Amy wouldn’t let them fall into the hands of such evil people.

Putting both rocks in his own bag, he took it from his shoulder and held it out over the ravine. “Let us go or I drop them.”

“They will be found,” Eric shouted. “You will not! Kill them!”

“Bugger,” Tim swore, throwing his bag back over his shoulder as Muk and Ariados advanced slowly over the old bridge. He turned to Amy and Ross to see if they had any suggestions, but Amy was as stumped as he. They couldn’t battle on the bridge, but they were left with little alternative. “Now what?”

Ross grinned evilly then motioned for Growlithe to come closer. “We can have Growlithe burn through the ropes.”

“What would that achieve?” Tim spat, thinking Ross had reached a new height of stupidity.

“We’d be free.”

“We’d be dead,” Amy corrected, staring down at the river far below.

Shaking his head Ross tried to justify his crazy plan. “You have water Pokémon, don’t you? We simply use them before we hit the water and they should be able to carry us to safety if we survive the fall. It’s either that or fight with both Muk and Ariados on the bridge and we all know it would break before it saw the end of that battle, so why tiptoe around the pool? Let’s just jump in, so to speak.”

Despite Ross’ reassuring words Amy didn’t have complete confidence in the plan, because the chances were very good they’d all be killed when they hit the water and Amy wasn’t quite ready to end her twelve-year living streak. Ross’ words did sting with a sense of logic, because they wouldn’t be able to beat Muk and Ariados without destroying the bridge.

It was times like these when she found herself suspended above a river with nothing but a few rotted ropes for support while two extremely powerful and equally dangerous Pokémon closed in on the kill that Amy truly appreciated flying Pokémon and the quick escape they provided their masters. At least she had a water Pokémon, so that part of Ross’ plan could fall into place, however what happened after the fall wasn’t really what was worrying her.

“Ready?” Ross asked, grabbing hold of Growlithe with one hand and thumbing the activation trigger of his gold Pokéball with the other.

Startled by Ross’ sudden initiative Amy protested. “What about you? Your wound…”

“I’m fine. In fact I feel great. I’m actually glad I bought Magikarp.”

“You bought a Magikarp?” Tim scoffed.

“Let’s hope there are no Feraligatr in the water…” Ross trailed off, maliciously.

Tim’s eyes widened. “What?”

“Do it, Growlithe,” Ross commanded, pulling the orange puppy in closer.

Amy threw one glance towards Eric and Rachael to see their eyes widen in surprise as Growlithe began burning through the support ropes of the bridge, but their surprise immediately turned to fear when they realized that they were standing on the bridge. They quickly retreated back into the cave, followed closely by Muk. Amy could only assume Ariados also retreated, but her thoughts were interrupted when the entire bridge shuddered.

She didn’t know what to think of Ross Spare and whether it was a mistake agreeing to travel with him back in Pewter City, but she realized that although her life was at risk she had enjoyed her adventure with him and only hoped that they lived to continue it. Once more the bridge shuddered as Growlithe burnt through the second rope that held the whole rickety structure together.

After the bridge convulsed a second time it fell away and Amy felt gravity take her down into the black abyss below.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 10: What Kind Of Pokémon Are You?

The darkness opened, filling the world with light and Amy felt a strange calm that was as peaceful as a newborn’s smile.

She lay where she fell, thinking not of how she arrived, but how she would leave and she hoped it would not be for some time yet, for the peace was welcome and a rare thing in her line of work. It was as though she were still in Celadon City, rising when she wished and always watched over by her parents, whose faces were alien to her now. Ignoring her physical existence she relaxed her mind and wrapped herself in the comfort she felt, happy she would not have to work anymore towards the goal of all Pokémon Trainers, the search for paradise.

Cool ocean breeze played with her face, spurring her from her reverie. It was only at that moment that she realized that she could hear the ocean in the background. It was a soothing sound, pleasing to the ears, however it was also unsettling, for she knew somehow that she was nowhere near the ocean. When she tried to remember where she was she received mental flashes of Mount Moon of the Crescent Mountains, but she could not recall how she came to leave the mountains or the journey to where ever she was at that moment.

Opening her eyes slowly she was struck by déja vu. She recalled awaking in such a way previously, after an altercation in Viridian Forest, however once again she was frustrated by her inability to remember specific events. When she tried to dig for memories it was like trying to catch a shadow, her prey was intangible and she couldn’t find purchase on its incorporeal form.

Tilting her head slowly, so as not to overwhelm herself Amy began looking around the small room she was in. It was a bedroom with a red oak floor and white sandstone walls. Chest of drawers adorned one wall, perpendicular to the wall with the room’s only door. Quaint windows were fixed in the final wall, their frames filled with black metal patterns that held the bubbly glass pieces in place. The windows were open, however, allowing sunlight and peaceful breeze to flow in unhindered.

Lifting herself out of the bed Amy and slipping a dressing gown that was hung at the end of it over her small body which was clad now only in underwear she checked the chest of drawers for her Pokéballs and became troubled when she couldn’t find them. Leaving the safety of her room she slipped out the closed door intent on finding her lost companions and finding some answers to the questions that were plaguing her thoughts.

The hallway outside her room was of the same construction as her room itself; red oak floor and white sandstone walls, however the corridor that connected hers to the rest of the structure she was in was considerably longer and had a higher ceiling. Pressing on slowly she made her towards what she though was a staircase, passing a number of rooms similar to hers as she went. As she passed closed doors she found herself wondering about another’s safety.

Thinking intensely as she walked Amy managed to conjure his face. He was a scruffy looking boy from Pallet Town who was completing the Gym Leader Challenge like her. He traveled with his friend, Growlithe until Mount Moon when she, Ross and Growlithe ran into a depressingly critical Pokémon Ranger named Tim Fracas. It was all coming back to her when she recalled Rachael and Eric and her exodus from their trap. The fall from the bridge haunted her, because she couldn’t remember anything after Growlithe fell them, not the impact on the water, or the swim that inevitably followed.

She was so deep in thought that she did not take any notice of the room she descended into or those who inhabited it until she stood in the middle of it. The room was a great hall, complete with stone steps at one side, leading upwards, large wooden doors at the other and a table large enough to seat a banquet party of ten. Sandstone pillars lined the walls between the stone steps and the wooden doors. Amy stood between two such pillars, the wooden stairs she descended behind her. To the right of the main stone steps was a small wooden archway and to the left were two large tanks Amy couldn’t identify, but she would not have had the time to if she could. Her attention was drawn to the Pokémon that stood across the banquet table.

“Oh my God!” Amy gasped, eying the shell creature and the blue tentacles that curled out around it. It was an Omaster, an extinct Pokémon that had died out millennia before, yet she stood before one.

Realizing that she was in a potential dangerous situation facing an extinct Pokémon, which was naturally stronger that the current wild Pokémon due to environmental pressure, with no Pokéballs to defend herself with Amy started to back away, hoping the Omaster hadn’t seen her, but the creature turned towards her, its beak chattering excitedly. The Pokémon made its way around the table towards Amy, but the girl evaded it, strafing in the opposite direction. The Omaster saw this and growled at her angrily.

When fear would grip a normal trainer Amy paused and inspected the Omaster closely, looking for some fault in its form, but she couldn’t see any. Regardless of its appearance the fact remained that Amy was unnerved by it, not because it seemed hostile to her, but because the way it moved was almost human. Hoping she wouldn’t regret her actions she allowed the extinct beast to approach her. As it did it shrieked happily.

Amy’s eyes widened in shock. She could have sworn she had heard the Omaster use human words in its address. Listening carefully she tried to decipher the Omaster’s cries. “…thank-you-I-though-I-would-be-stuck-in-this-body-permently-it-is-good-that-you-came-should-not-you-be-resting-your-injuries-are-bad…”

“Oh my…” Amy’s voice trailed off when the Omaster reached her and put its tentacles on her.

“…please-listen-I-am-not-Pokémon-I-am-scientist-I-have…”

Shaking her head, incredulously she motioned for him to slow down. “You are a human!”

Rather then bombard her with another short burst of information Omaster nodded slowly and pointed towards the two large tanks that Amy had glanced at when she first entered the room, as they were of some significance to the situation. Ignoring the scientist Amy reached out and poked his new Pokémon body, not believing her eyes or ears. The Pokémon before her seemed to be the long extinct Omaster, however trapped within its shell was a human being.

Looking over her shoulder to the large tanks she finally began to recognize their function, they were industrial transport chambers, designed for transporting inorganic matter over large distances. They made up the backbone of the worldwide Telenet and were employed to move Pokéballs between trainers. Because they were specialized in moving inorganic matter Pokémon had to be in their Pokéballs to be moved or they would risk physical damage.

“How did this happen,” Amy asked the Omaster, whilst already forming a theory in her head.

“…I-was-trying-to-move-fossil-for-study-but-became-irradiated-be-transfer-energy-and-sent-to-my-secondary-transporter-pad-I-would-find-another-to-assist-me-or-do-it-myself-but-I-am-finding-it-hard-to-function-without-arms-guess-this-takes-getting-used-to…” The Omaster carried on after that, but it seemed to Amy to be a rant and she couldn’t decipher his message.

Interrupting Omaster Amy stepped over the control panel on the first transport chamber, studying the controls and trying to figure out in a few minutes what university graduates learned over a three-year course. “What am I supposed to do?”

“…simple…” Omaster snapped quickly, scurrying to her side and tripping over his tentacles. She helped him to his feet and waited for his instructions, but he just stared at her. Only after she had given him a dirty look did he explain. “…run-the-last-program-used-according-to-my-calculations-it-should-be-enough-to-separate-me-from-the-DNA…”

Morbidly curious Amy asked nonchalantly. “What if it doesn’t work?”

“…the-computer-will-overheat-and-cause-the-internal-power-source-on-the-transporters-to-go-critical-and-explode…” Omaster said, trailing off at the end of his barrage.

“What?” Amy asked, not sure she had heard him correctly.

“…it’s-nothing-we-will-be-fine…”

“Uh, maybe we should wait,” Amy objected, but Omaster had already stepped into the transport device and ushered her to continue as planned.

Crossing her fingers Amy began working on the keypad. She managed to navigate through the transporter’s system using a small liquid-crystal display and brought up the program that the Omaster had previously run, a basic command that would have transferred the spiral fossil that Amy and company had found at Mount Moon to the Pokémon laboratory on Cinnabar Island, had Omaster not been standing on the pad when it had run. Luckily for him safety systems had detected organic matter on the pad a routed it back to the second chamber. If it had not Omaster could have materialized as a quivering blob at the lab.

Sure that she had managed to reverse the program she sealed the two chambers and ran it, prompting an immediate explosion of light through the plastic windows of the two tanks. Amy tried not to look at the brilliant light for it burned brighter then a Magmar’s tail, but she had to hazard a look into the tank to see if the process had been successful. By the time she reached the view plate the light had died down in the first chamber and the spiral fossil waited to be collected.

With a hiss the door to the second tank rose, allowing smoke to billow out into the room to be dealt with by the building’s air conditioning. Slowly approaching the chamber Amy was relieved to see a figure step out and stretch, making sure his body was working. He was in his late teens wore loose office cloths leading Amy to the assumption that he was self-employed, however when she saw his face beneath his black hair and dark eyes she recognized him immediately.

“William Aboideau,” Amy gasped.

“Please,” Aboideau insisted, brushing himself off. “Call me Bill, all my friends do, and you are certainly one of the prettiest friends I have ever had. Now, you know my name, but I don’t know yours.” He smiled, taking her hand in his own.

Amy laughed, unused to receiving such attention. “Amy.”

“Well, hello, Amy,” Bill said, kissing her hand, regally.

“So,” Stammered Amy, praying that she wasn’t blushing before the dashing young millionaire. “What happened to you and the fossil?”

Tilting his head playfully he reached behind him and hit the release trigger on the door of the first tank, causing the large metal panel to swing upwards towards the high ceiling. He turned away from her and stepped into the machine. Remembering his previous mistake he stepped back out and shook his finger, then reached inside and brought out the spiral fossil, handing to Amy, as though the dull rock were some wonderful present he would give to one of his rich girlfriends. She accepted it carefully and turned it over, appreciative of her first chance to examine the rock.

The spiral fossil was as she remembered from the cave, a small rock slightly larger then her fist with a spiral shell pattern imprinted on it. Recognizing the pattern now as that of Omaster Amy looked over her shoulder to the table in the centre of the room where the dome fossil, the fossil given to Tim, lay. Instead of a spiral it was curved like a stadium dome, or the top half of a Pokéball.

Seeing her interest Bill answered the unasked question. “It bears the imprint of Kabutops, another extinct Pokémon that died out around the same time as Omaster. As for myself and the Omaster fossil, it was a glitch in the Telenet.”

“I thought the Telenet was perfected,” Amy said, suddenly aware of the danger to her Pokémon.

“It is,” He replied, smoothly. “However it is not calibrated to Omaster’s genome, because Omaster is extinct, so whilst programming the Telenet his genome was not a primary concern. To transport an item along the Telenet it needs to have the base structural information of the item encoded, otherwise it wont rematerialize. That’s why meteorites carrying unknown minerals can’t be transported using the Telenet.”

Science was never her strong point, but Amy understood the fundamentals of the Telenet. “What does this have to do with you turning into an Omaster?”

Bill shrugged. “When the Telenet terminal the data was being sent to rejected the genome of the Omaster it was imprinted onto me as it rematerialized here. I just happened to be foolish enough to stand on the transport pad. Next time I try to send the fossils I will make sure the Cinnabar Lab has the genomes, so they can rematerialize there.”

“But the Telenet moves only organic matter,” Amy protested.

“A common misconception,” He continued his scientific rant. “Organic matter can be sent over the Telenet, but without the digitizing effect off the Pokéball, which compresses transpacial energy, making it easier for transport, the process would take a lot more power. It’s basically made for power efficiency.” Seeing that Amy understood only half of what he had said he stopped talking and let the twelve year old speak.

Content with the resolved situation Amy’s mind turned to a more pressing concern. “How did I get here? And where are my friends?”

“Ah, yes,” Bill nodded, knowingly. “Always the Pokémon Trainer, thinking of others. I’m afraid the story of your rescue is quite plain. All I can claim to have accomplished is to pull you from the river as I was walking by one day. Your Wartortle carried you down the stream to here from Mount Moon.”

“Where is here, exactly?”

Bill took her arm in his own, taking on the role of the wealthy gentleman that all the newspapers made him out to be. He was the youngest billionaire on the planet, having made his fortune in the development of the Telenet in Kanto and Johto at the age of nine and introducing it to Hoenn only two years before when he was thirteen. A child prodigy in the eyes of many, he was the most popular non-trainer personality in the world.

Leading Amy through the smaller door she had seen before he laid on the charm he was notorious for. He may have carried himself with more then a small measure of pomposity, but due to his achievements he had earned that right. “You are long way from Mount Moon, let me say that, but do not concern yourself with your location, just be content that you are there with myself.”

“And my friends?” Amy asked politely, trying not to sound disrespectful.

Smiling at her rebelliousness Bill took Amy through a small kitchen, a lot less grand then the main chamber they were in before. It was small and dingy and Amy felt as though she were in a seaside cottage, instead of the mansion she was sure she was strolling through.

Through the kitchen Bill explained. “Nobody was harmed in your escape, permanently at least.

“Our escape? You know what happened at Mount Moon?”

Bill nodded. “Yes, you are not the first to awake, I must confess. Although I do maintain that you are the most beautiful. No, the first to awake was that charming gentleman, Tim Fracas, unfortunately he had no interest in my hospitality and after making sure everybody was safe and that I’d send the fossils away he left towards Johto, or where ever the Pokémon Ranger’s headquarters are situated these days.”

“He left us?” Amy asked, incredulously.

“He claimed he needed to report in to his superiors.”

Bill opened the outer door of the kitchen, allowing Amy to step outside onto a small field that looked out over the ocean. Staring between the plain of crystal blue that extended forever before her and the large white structure she had just stepped out of Amy was shocked and she didn’t hide her surprise well. The mansion she believed she was walking through was actually a lighthouse, a huge pillar of white that jutted out of the green countryside like beautifully polished tooth in the viridian mouth of a Venusaur.

It seemed too extraordinary to believe, but Amy was faced with undeniable proof. “We are at Northglen? Your lighthouse retreat at the delta of the Hydruman River?”

“Yes,” Bill nodded.

“But if that’s so then we must be…”

“Hundreds of kilometers from the Crescent Mountains and the Turnsole Pass?” The jetsetter finished her sentence with a wry smile. “Yes, your Wartortle pulled you quite a way before he came across me on the Hydruman Road, or route twenty-five for those trainers among us. I was originally going to take you to Cerulean City, but decided that I could treat you, and, as always, I was right.”

Amy was about to protest when she saw a familiar blue shape running over the field towards her, followed closely by a familiar red shape, and a bouncy rock. “Wartortle! Vulpix! Hey, Geodude.”

They screamed joyously and she embraced them tightly, glad to be with her friends again. As she hugged them she saw two other Pokémon floating in the air, Butterfree and Spearow, as well as Pikachu, who was slumped against the wall of the lighthouse, watching the waves of the ocean crash against the cliffs below a nearby forest. All of her companions were present, except for the two most important members of her fellowship.

“Where is Ross?” Amy asked, after her emotional reunion with Wartortle and Vulpix.

Vulpix barked and began running back over the field towards the ocean, beckoning for her master to follow her. Amy and Bill walked over the field and although the girl from Celadon believed that they were walking into ocean she was surprised to find a beachhead hidden over a fairly subtle rise. Sitting on the golden sands in the midday sun accompanied by only a Growlithe was Ross. He wore a dressing gown similar to Amy’s and his back was turned.

Bill forced her to halt before she could announce herself. “He is still healing due to the near lethal attack delivered by Ariados, however I actually managed to teach Butterfree to expel the poison from his system, so the only thing left to do is to let his shoulder heal. Currently he is meditating, trying to focus his chi,” When he saw Amy looking at him strangely he shrugged. “He’s been reading quite a lot over the past few weeks.”

“Weeks?” Amy shouted, furious that she hadn’t been told just how long it had been since they left the Crescent Mountains.

“Hello, Amy,” A voice rang out. Turning back to Ross Amy saw that he was looking back at her over his shoulder, allowing her to see his arm, which was in a white, sterile sling. Taken aback by his face Amy nearly gasped. Ross’s face was completely white, save for the black blood vessels that crossed it. “How are you feeling?”

Rushing to his side Amy stared at his skin. “What is this?”

“The poison can no longer harm him,” Bill explained. “But unfortunately it did do quite a number on him before Butterfree expelled it. He will recover in time, but in the meantime he needs to rest.”

After Bill had returned to the lighthouse to see about sending the fossils through to Cinnabar Island Amy stayed to talk to Ross. He didn’t say a word to her; he simply sat with his eyes closed, as though waiting for something to happen. Growlithe greeted Amy by licking her hand, but Vulpix warned him off. Growlithe and Vulpix were immortal enemies, so there was no surprise that they didn’t get on, despite their masters.

“I can still feel it.”

Amy looked back at Ross. “The stinger?”

Although his face was shrouded in calm she could see him considering what she said and dismissing it. “That too, although I was actually talking about the fear I felt knowing that people as dangerous and evil as Rachael and Eric are out there right now, performing ill deeds that even the Pokémon Rangers have no control over.”

“It is a scary thought, but the Pokémon League keeps tabs on all the trainers that might misuse the power their Pokémon give them. Remember their hasn’t been a coalition of evil trainers for hundreds of years, ever since the Pokémon League buried Team Bane,” Amy tried to take comfort in her own words, but they were not as calming as she expected.

Ross nodded. “You’re right. Rachael and Eric were probably just rogues, but…”

“What is it?”

“Tim said something in the cave,” The Pallet born trainer revealed. “He said that Rachael and Eric started off as Rogue Trainers, but after they were caught somebody got them out of prison and employed them secretly. I wish Fracas stuck around a bit longer; maybe he could shed some light on Rachael and Eric’s employer.”

It seemed like Amy hadn’t seen Tim for months, so she sympathized with Ross. “Did you get to speak with him before he left?”

“Yeah.”

“What did he say?”

Ross fidgeted before he answered. “He warned me that although I should try my hardest to surpass my mediocrity,” He said, rolling his eyes skyward. “I should always remember that Rachael and Eric are still out there somewhere, and as long as they are there is something bigger then all of us at stake and I should hold that above all else.”

It was a dire warning that would cast a shadow over all of Ross’ training, but the sooner the novice trainer from Pallet Town learnt that the world was a harsh place filled with evil people the better. Although since the Pokémon League was founded a utopian society had been formed there would always be evil, it was human nature, and no matter how hard Pokémon Trainers tried to be like Pokémon they could not banish the darkness completely.

Putting her arms around Ross, Growlithe and Vulpix Amy relaxed on the beach and let the smooth crashing of the waves wash away her troubles.


* * * * *


In the weeks after awakening Ross could be found sitting on the beach trying to heal, ignoring the allure of the games his Pokémon were playing in the fields surrounding Bill’s lighthouse. He encouraged his friends to have fun, because it would keep them sharp while he rested. Only Growlithe knew the full extent of his injuries, being the only Pokémon that stayed by his side always, regardless of what he was doing, whether it was sleeping or walking along the golden shores of Northglen.

Growlithe was not the only Pokémon who was distancing himself from Ross’ team, however. Butterfree was spending awfully long hours with the billionaire Bill, training privately to hone his skills. Although Butterfree evolved while he was young, as it was with his kind, he still longed to be complete and Bill was his best chance to reach that goal. There was so much that the intelligible young man could teach the butterfly Pokémon that Ross could not.

It was the afternoon after Amy woke up that Ross finally broached the subject of Butterfree with Bill. He knew what Butterfree wanted and he would do everything in his power to help his friend, even if it meant turning him away, so as the sun was setting Ross crossed the meadow and entered the lighthouse through the kitchen, stepping into the main hall and making his way up the stone steps to Bill’s office inside the main tower of the lighthouse.

Knocking gently on the large oak doors of Bill’s study Ross crept in, not sure of what he would find. It reminded him of Professor Oak’s study if the Pokémon Professor had lived in the medieval times. A stone fire took up one wall of the room, a bookcase the other, but in the center sat Bill at his grand cedar desk. Upon seeing Ross he beckoned him inside.

“Ross,” Bill cried, glad to see him up and about. “Feeling better, I see.”

The Pallet trainer only nodded in confirmation of Bill’s hopes. “I’ve come to talk about Butterfree.”

“What do you want to talk about?” Bill asked, suddenly serious as he indicated for Ross to sit down in. “Obviously, I know of you associate’s aspirations, but I would like to know how you believe I can help him.”

Sadly Ross admitted his feelings to Bill, startling Growlithe, who had followed Ross up to the study, but not the billionaire, who sat tonelessly before the trainer as he pleaded his case. “I want you to take Butterfree from me. He deserves a good trainer who can help him reach his full potential and he can’t do that as long as he stays with me.”

“I’m sorry,” Bill shook his head. “But that isn’t my decision.”

“The fact that you taught Butterfree how to Safeguard against disease is proof enough that he’s better off with you.”

“No, Ross…”

“Even Butterfree agrees with me,” Ross ignored Bill’s protest, drilling on with his speech. “I’ve seen how much time he spends with you, reading and discovering himself, growing more powerful everyday. He isn’t a battler, he’s too gentle, and that much was obvious during the battle with Brock. Only his determination got us through that battle.”

“Stop. Are you doing what you think is right for Butterfree or yourself?”

Indignantly Ross scowled at his host. “You may have saved my life, but don’t insult me by thinking that you understand the relationship I have with my Pokémon. Everything I do is to better them,” Realizing his error he corrected himself with haste. “To better us.”

Sighing Bill stood and walked around the desk. “I’m not trying to insult you, I am just making sure you understand what you ask.”

“I do.”

“Then with Butterfree’s permission I will give him a new home here. Understand that I am not a Pokémon Trainer, though, and as such I will not claim dominion over him as you would.”

“Butterfree was always free to leave whenever he wanted,” Ross protested.

Bill raised a hand. “I know, but here I can not force anybody to do anything, we are all equals.”

It was a shame to see Butterfree stay behind, but Ross knew deep down that it was for the best despite all the reservations he felt. The thing that broke Ross up the most was the thought that Butterfree was never really his, because he was given to him out of pity in Viridian Forest by Samurai, so no matter how much he trained with Butterfree he knew this day would come. Ross’ only regret was that he was left with only two usable Pokémon.

Suddenly a klaxon sounded from downstairs, echoing around the stone walls of the lighthouse and prompting Bill to crease his face with confusion. The billionaire returned to behind his desk and checked a display, mumbling something about ‘chaos theory’ as he rounded the edge of the cedar table.

Typing something into a keypad he raised an eyebrow. “An incoming traveler from Pallet Town.”

“Pallet Town?” Ross gasped, joining Bill to gaze at the readout.

“It should materialize in the main hall in thirty seconds.”

Rushing out of the room Ross and Growlithe waited expectantly before the transport tanks in the main hall as the klaxon continued to sound and the digital clock counted down above the two chambers. Although loud Ross could only assume the alarm was made so by the rock walls lining the room, although it did manage to attract a few curious onlookers, including Amy, Vulpix and Butterfree.

As they waited Bill arrived and began hitting on Amy, then explained the situation. It irked Ross somewhat that Bill would make romantic moves against Amy, especially when he didn’t see what was so special about the girl, but he tried to dismiss the idle thoughts before they got him into trouble emotionally. The last thing he wanted as a Pokémon Trainer was feelings for some girl. Chuckling to himself he decided that Amy deserved Bill.

The counter reached zero and a flash exploded form the transport tank. When the door lifted open, expelling the damp gas into the large room all that could be seen through the mist was a lone Pokéball. Growlithe approached it first, sniffing it to make sure it was safe then indicating for a human to retrieve it from the transport pad.

Bill checked the transport tank’s display. “There’s an electronic mail from Professor Oak. He apologizes for the mix up four months ago and hopes that this gift from the Pokémon League makes up for any inconvenience you have suffered, Ross.”

As the billionaire stepped back from the tank and shot a confused glance towards Ross the Pokéball on the pad split at the equator, releasing brilliant light into the room. Most turned from the light, but Ross stared into and watched the small green dinosaur-like body take shape, followed by the large bulb on its back. He had seen such a creature many times before, but only on television, he never imagined that he’d see a Bulbasaur in the flesh.

“Well, I guess you’ve got another team mate, Ross,” Bill smiled.

“What?” Watching Bulbasaur as he made his way towards Ross the Pallet trainer was surprised to see Growlithe snarling at the grass Pokémon aggressively. “Are you saying that Bulbasaur is for me? I thought starting Pokémon were only given out to beginning trainers.”

Bill shrugged. “Well, you obviously missed out originally. I guess Bulbasaur is here to replace Growlithe as your starter.”

This really set Growlithe off; he began barking incessantly at Bulbasaur who just stared at the attacker, as though he were insane. He clearly didn’t understand what was going on, but Ross was sure that he would get up to speed in no time. Ross was actually surprised that Professor Oak remembered Ross’ preference. Originally he had chosen Bulbasaur as his starter when he first took the license test over a year ago and although he failed he guessed his choice was catalogued.

Bending down Ross patted Bulbasaur playfully letting him get his scent and understand he only wanted to be friends. Bulbasaur chewed his hand in recognition of their friendship and the Pallet trainer took him outside to introduce him to his new companions, much to Growlithe’s anger. The puppy felt like he was actually being replaced and although Amy patted him to reassure him the pangs of loneliness were unavoidable.

“Don’t worry,” Amy whispered, soothingly. “You are still Ross’ first Pokémon and nothing will change that.”

She was right of course, but her words carried little weight with Growlithe’s heart, which was heavy that evening. As all the other Pokémon gathered round Bulbasaur and got to know the newcomer Growlithe sat away, watching from afar, finally breaking his bond with Ross, who was looking much healthier since the plant Pokémon had appeared. If he wanted a lackey to comfort him then he had to look no further then his new starter. With those thoughts fresh in his mind the puppy slipped off to sleep.

The next day called for training. The arrival of Bulbasaur heralded a change in Ross’ personality; he was far more concerned with old training plans then his own healing and began waking at dawn to go for a morning run with his troops. It only took ten minutes for Bulbasaur to tire, but Spearow, the only other Pokémon besides Growlithe who participated in the hikes, helped him along. Growlithe sneered back at his new teammates often.

Ross wasn’t blind to the animosity between Growlithe and Bulbasaur, but he didn’t think much of it; his feelings about Growlithe hadn’t changed he was just being presented with a fresh start in his journey and he planned on taking it, molding Bulbasaur into his principle Pokémon. Ross was sure Growlithe would come around and understand Bulbasaur’s importance to him before long.

When Butterfree didn’t show up for any training sessions Ross explained that he would be staying with Bill, prompting a snort from Spearow who thought very little of the bug Pokémon. As far as motley crews went Ross’ was the most motley of them all, ignoring all teamwork and respect that was required for good group cohesion. He knew it was just childishness, but Ross was truly fearful of what it would mean to go into battle if his friends hadn’t come to peace with each other.

One bright sunny day Ross woke to find his wound completely clean and his completion clear. The month and a half of rest had restored to him his health and so he decided that morning, with some consultation with Amy and Growlithe to leave the next day. Upon hearing their decision Bill was saddened, however as he had pointed out to Ross he could not control people’s comings and goings only provide them with a room and a bite to eat. So the billionaire provided his guests with one final bite. On the last night of their stay at Northglen, forty-three days after their arrival, Ross, Amy, Growlithe and company received a grand farewell dinner from their host. Chefs from nearby towns were brought in to prepare a banquet for the young trainers beyond anything the commoners could comprehend and the finest Pokémon food was shipped to the Cerulean Peninsula from Cerulean City for their entourage.

The next morning Ross, Amy and Growlithe found themselves at the front entrance to Bill’s lighthouse, their traveling clothes on and their bags full of food and fresh linen, staring to the south towards the Hydruman Road that would take them to Cerulean City and then on to Vermillion City further south.

Bill stepped up to Amy and took her hand in his own; as he did the first day they met. Although Ross had preferred the company of his Pokémon over the two he was not unaware of their relationship. Bill thought worlds of Amy and she in turn was easily attracted to the allure of the slick billionaire. “Farewell, my love.”

“Goodbye, Bill,” Amy smiled as he kissed her hand.

“Can not convince you to see Butterfree’s logic and stay with me?”

Ross rolled his eyes as Amy blushed and shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, William, but I am in the middle of my Pokémon Journey and I’m committed to seeing it through, besides, I have to get to
Cinnabar Island.”

“Yes, I’m sorry I couldn’t help transport the amber.”

If it had been as simple to transport the amber as Bill had thought then Professor Dogwood would have chosen that method of transportation over courier. Ross would have laughed at Bill’s arrogance if he wasn’t so adamant about leaving Northglen. It had been over a month since his last Pokémon battle and he was afraid that his skills had grown stagnant, and there was only one way for him to prove himself wrong; to reach Cerulean City.

Clapping his hands Bill summoned Butterfree forward, who was carrying two tickets in his short stubby arms. “To make up for my failure, and to reward you for rescuing my body from the Telenet and my heart from mediocrity,” He winked at Amy. “I present you with two tickets to Pokémon Trainer’s Conference aboard the cruise ship S.S. Anne.”

“We can’t accept these,” Amy protested, ignoring Ross who began drooling at the thought of a Pokémon expo. “They are addressed specifically to you, Bill. To William Aboideau plus guest,” She read aloud from the tickets.

“Please, Amy, take them with my love. I’m not really comfortable at these things. These events are for the Pokémon Trainers, not the Pokémon Researchers.”

Greedily Ross snatched the tickets from Amy. “Thanks, Billy.”

Bill beamed at him. “It’s settled then. Enjoy Vermillion City’s hospitality, all three of you.”

After everybody had said his or her goodbyes, to Bill and Butterfree, the fellowship moved out, however the billionaire prompted Ross to stay behind for a moment. Itching to get back into the training saddle Ross reluctantly agreed and told Amy and Growlithe he’d catch up and waited for them to get out of earshot. Bill looked serious, rather then playful as he usually did. Ross knew his jocularity was a façade, but confronted by the grim and stormy Bill of myth was disconcerting to say the least.

“Ross, I want to ask something of you.”

Curious as to his motivation the Pallet trainer played along. “Shoot.”

“I want you to watch out for Amy,” Bill confessed. “I know she is strong and she would be furious at me if she knew I asked you to do this, but she is still learning as well. No matter how much stronger then you she appears to be remember that this is her first gym challenge as well, so she is as vulnerable as you.”

Ross swallowed his pride and nodded. “I understand.”

“Good luck,” He reached out and presented Ross with his hand.

Taking it up the Pallet born was surprised to find that Bill was wishing him luck generally, rather then wishing him luck to protect Amy. It was strange to have somebody else confidence, since so many others had just ignored him. “I will watch out for Amy, I promise.”

“I would never doubt it for a second,” Bill whispered with a boyish grin.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 11: WATER SHOWDOWN IN CERULEAN CITY

“Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip to finish him off!” Ross commanded, glad to add another victory to Bulbasaur’s name.

The seed Pokémon’s vines lashed out, striking Psyduck all over his body, and knocking the duck Pokémon to the ground. He groaned loudly, causing Bulbasaur to halt his attack and wait for further orders, but Ross knew that the battle was over and issued no further commands. Diana, Ross’ opponent ran to Psyduck’s side and, seeing that he was hurt, recalled the yellow duck creature.

“Great battle,” Diana admitted, despite her inability to faze Bulbasaur.

“Yeah,” Ross agreed, trying not to look too pleased with himself. “Next time you might want to avoid taking on a grass Pokémon with a water Pokémon.”

Diana looked dejected but he knew the boy that beat her was right. “Say, you are a pretty good trainer. Have you beat Misty Marina yet? She’s my hero. She actually lets my train at her gym in Cerulean City. I bet you have a chance of beating her.”

It had been some time since he’d heard talk of Cerulean City, for he had been traveling on route twenty five for the past two weeks and although he had fought many battles with Bulbasaur, letting the seed Pokémon thrive, he felt like he wasn’t getting anywhere. The mention of his destination rekindled old flames of motivation in Ross; it meant he was getting very close to his next gym battle and that invigorated him like nothing else.

“I haven’t actually been to Cerulean City yet,” Ross told Diana. “I’m on my way there now.”

“Hey, have you signed up for the Nugget Bridge Tournament?”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“The Nugget Bridge Tournament,” Diana explained. “Is a championship organized by the Cerulean City Council that is carried out in preparation of the Pokémon League that will begin next month at the Indigo Plateau. It’s just a competition between local trainers who aren’t experienced enough to attend the actual Pokémon League.”

The idea of a Pokémon tournament that he could enter truly appealed to him, because it was finally a chance to show all the people that doubted him that he was the best in the world. It would provide a nice change from the caliber of trainer he had been facing lately. Bulbasaur, although now experienced with basic battle tactics, had only been tested against novices who had just recently received their license or who didn’t have one at all and were just mock battling with their pet.

“Sounds like fun,” Ross said with an enthusiastic grin.

Before Ross could get the details of the Nugget Bridge Tournament from Diana Amy appeared from the forest they had been battling beside. She was followed by Growlithe who saw that Bulbasaur had been fighting again and scowled at the seed Pokémon angrily.

“What sounds like fun?” Amy asked Ross.

Sparing no time he explained everything. “Apparently the Cerulean City Council holds a challenge for novice trainers called the Nugget Bridge Tournament every year around the time of the official Pokémon League. I’m going to enter, and so should you. What do you say, Growlithe?”

Growlithe wagged his tail in anticipation of the battles to come, but Amy was less eager. “I don’t know, Ross. What makes you think you are good enough for tournament battling?”

“You only need two badges to enter,” Diana pointed out, trying to help Ross, but failing.

“He only has one.”

Frustrated by Amy’s lack of fervour Ross recalled Bulbasaur and bid farewell to Diana, storming away. His companion tried to keep up with his charge. “Why are you being so difficult? I’ve been on the road for nearly six months, I can handle one little tournament.”

He hadn’t expected such blatant resistance from Amy, she had always been so encouraging, but as soon as a tournament was mentioned she began putting Ross down and it infuriated the Pallet trainer something tragic. He felt betrayed by his companion and began to understand that they shared very different views on the world. Ross had learnt nothing of Amy before the incident at Mount Moon and he had been just as distant from her while they stayed at Bill’s. They didn’t seem to be getting along well.

“I know you’re a good trainer, but I’ve been in these sorts of tournaments,” Amy explained, almost apologizing. “If you think you can pick up an easy win from Misty then take on the tournament and come first then you are going to get a real shock.”

Spitefully Ross tore open old wounds. “This isn’t the first time you’ve underestimated me, Amy. Remember the Brock battle? Everybody was surprised by the outcome of that battle except me.”

“Granted, but…”

“But nothing,” The Pallet trainer ranted on, impatiently. “I’m going to win this tournament on the Nugget Bridge and unless you are going to enter yourself, meet me in the first round and then physically stop me, then I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do to change my mind,” With that said Ross quickened his pace and left Amy behind on route twenty five.

After an hour of walking with Growlithe the friends finally reached the Nugget Bridge, which connected Cerulean City with the Cerulean Peninsula over the Hydruman River. It was not a particularly large bridge by any standards, but it was certainly large enough to host a Pokémon battle or two. The traffic had been stopped for the week, while preparations were made for the upcoming tournament, so Ross and Growlithe could make their way into Cerulean City with little trouble.

The city itself was larger then Pewter City and looked far more contemporary. The buildings were grand and fluid, a far cry from the tin shacks of the previous gym town. White buttresses swept off the structures like fantastic jets of water, frozen in time by cement and mortar. The fluid architecture was not limited to the buildings, either, for in the many parks Ross and Growlithe walked through to reach the gym they encountered post-modern sculptures from the Dragonair period of Neo-Kanto art.

Two hours of travel through the big city saw the duo finally reaching the Cerulean gym. It brought back memories of his previous visit to the gym with his mother when he was younger. Back then the gym acted as the Cerulean City aquarium and pool, allowing visitors to swim, play with Pokémon and watch battles. The building looked exactly like any other building in the city, except that it was twice as large as anything else and had huge banners advertising Misty Marina’s show.

When Ross had first come to Cerulean City at the age of eight he had seen the Sensational Misty perform her act and instantly fell in love with the extroverted beauty, however four years on he found his boyhood crush dissolved into something akin to a bloodlust. He now wanted to face her in battle and show her that he had become a man and that his emotions were a thing of the past. Storming defiantly into the gym he stopped short of walking into the pool, which was alive with Misty’s act.

Water Pokémon filled the exceedingly deep pool, dancing and twirling and every variety was present; Ross saw Poliwag, Seel, Shellder, Krabby, Horsea and Goldeen. They created brilliant patterns in the water with the bodies, but the patterns alone only highlighted the brilliant shape in the center of the spectacle. A young woman of at least sixteen years stood atop a lone Lapras, clad only in a dark blue bikini. Her red hair fell limp around her shoulders.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” The announcer shouted from a booth amongst the cheering crowd that filled the stands around the pool. “The Sensational Misty!”

At the sound of her name the crowd went wild for Misty. Ross showed his Pokédex to the gym’s trainers, showing them that he was there for a Pokémon battle and not for the show, although he had to admit that it was a fine performance. Misty dived into the water, cutting through the crystal, her lithe body like a knife. Ross spotted a group of schoolboys in their mid teens hooting and hollering at Misty, as though she were some ‘thing’ to be jeered at.

Ignoring their insolence as best he could Ross took a seat away from the rambunctious teens, waiting for the Sensational Misty to finish her show. It consisted of her swimming around a bit more, and then her Pokémon went on parade, pleasing the younger audience members. The finale consisted of Misty swimming out of a tunnel at the bottom of the pool, which annoyed the teens, who thought they’d catch sight of the wonder wet.

Another hour passed after the show wound down, but Misty never returned to the main pool. When Ross inquired into her whereabouts he was angered to hear that she had left with her boyfriend immediately after the performance and nobody knew when they’d be back. It didn’t take much digging for Ross to find out where she had went and in no time at all he and Growlithe had made their way to the park aptly named by the locals as ‘Lover’s Lane’.

Using his keen nose Growlithe managed to find Misty’s scent and follow it. As they made their way through the park Ross became aware of all the young couples around him, enjoying each other’s company on the warm summer afternoon. He felt sad because the only relationship he could share was the friendship with his Pokémon; love would have to wait for him.

In the middle of the park was a river that ran off from the Hydruman and over that was a simple wooden bridge of archaic design that sat out like a sore thumb amongst the technological advancement of the rest of Cerulean City. Running past all the couples Ross made it to the bridge and the two figures that waited on it. One was Misty, still clad in her bikini and a blue silk dress, no Pokéballs in sight, however her companion Ross had never seen before. He wore jeans, a red jacket and had jet-black hair that lay matted against his sweaty forehead.

“I just wanted to see you before I went to Indigo Plateau,” The boy whispered lovingly to Misty.

“You don’t want to be late for the preliminary rounds, do you?” Misty warned him.

Seeing Ross the boy smiled and kissed his girlfriend on the cheek, prompting a tight hug from her. “I should go then. It’s a shame that you can’t come with me, but your fans are waiting.”

Misty glanced over her shoulder and glared at Ross who fidgeted nervously under her fierce look. He was sick and tired of watching lovers say their goodbyes. Amy and Bill’s little tryst had made him sick to his stomach and now seeing the Cerulean City gym leader to teary eyed made him question the female gender altogether.

Eventually the boy departed for the Pokémon League, a detail that Ross was desperately interested in. He would have interrogated the older trainer if he weren’t supposed to be challenging Misty. As Misty’s aficionado left the park Ross began to wonder what it would take for him to reach the Pokémon League, because he obviously wouldn’t be making it to this year’s championship, but next year was another thing. It had taken him five months to get started, but in another year who knew what the world had in store for Ross Spare.

“Can I help you, kid?” Misty snapped at him, stepping off the bridge.

Nodding gleefully Ross answered with the bravado and confidence that only came with a megalomaniac. “I challenge you, Misty Marina, to a Pokémon battle for the Cascade Badge.”

“And who are you?”

“Ross Spare, of Pallet Town.”

Leaving the green of the park Misty lead Ross and Growlithe back towards the Cerulean City Pokémon gym where the battles always took place. It was the middle of the afternoon, so the sun was at its peak and the ambient temperature was in the high thirties. Ross and Growlithe were both drenched in sweat from their hunt from Misty and now that they had found her they could only go back the way they came and sweat some more.

The only consolation Ross could take was that after the gym battle he could jump into the pool and relax, however he would feel more then a little guilty considering his recent stay at the coast. Drinking away the last of his water before they got back the gym Ross realized that Growlithe was totally wiped out and was in no shape to battle. That didn’t matter, he only needed one Pokémon for the gym battle, and it wasn’t Growlithe.

As they came close enough to the gym to see its roof peaking above the other buildings in the city, Misty stopped Ross and directed him towards a small house that was surrounded by police. A crowd had gathered outside, but it immediately parted when they saw the local Gym Leader striding up. Like most other Gym Leaders Misty was the absolute authority on Pokémon in her city.

A police officer stopped Ross and Growlithe, but Misty calmly delivered an order as though she were the Celadon City police commissioner. “No, let him pass; he’s with me.”

They stepped inside the building and Ross realized it was a house, although the interior was practically gutted. There was furniture overturned, carpet ripped up, and the glass that usually filled window frames shattered across the floor. There had obviously been a robbery and whoever had perpetrated it had been quite thorough, searching every inch of the house.

“What happened here?” Misty demanded of a detective crouching in the center of the living room, his suit damp from sweat.

The middle-aged cop ignored her at first and continued examining a piece of broken glass from the floor. Misty did ask again, she simply waited for the man to give in. “There was a break in. So far no Pokémon have been indicated in the crime, but we’ll keep you informed as the situation resolves itself.”

Furious of being treated with such contempt Misty grilled the detective. “What makes you think the situation will resolve itself? This is the forth attack on a Pokémon Trainer’s home in as many weeks and if memory serves those crimes are no closer to being solved either. What was taken this time?” Misty obviously knew what she was talking about, because she accurately identified the house they were standing in. Ross was suddenly aware of the Pokémon competition trophies on the mantel.

“It was a technical machine,” The cop grunted.

“What technique did it detail?”

Rising, the detective lit a cigarette and finally turned to face Misty and Ross. “Dig.”

Ross had learnt about technical machines while at Professor Oak’s laboratory, so he understood the significance of the theft. Technical machines were pieces of writing written centuries ago by long dead Pokémon Masters, detailing the teaching of certain techniques. Because of Pokémon League limiting the teaching of unusual techniques to Pokémon in an attempt to control Rogue Trainers technical machines were rare and very valuable.

“Was it Team Rocket?” Ross froze when her heard Misty utter those words. They carried with them a fear that had been free from conversation for years.

Ross strained to hear the detective. “As I said, it’s too early to tell.”

“If a team has arisen after all these years Lance must be informed,” Misty snapped.

“And he will be, but so far all we have are some random Pokémon thefts and the events that transpired on Mount Moon last month. To leap to the conclusion that there is a clandestine organization devoted to controlling the world is preposterous,” The detective tried to assure Misty, however when Ross dared to glance at the gym leader he realized that she was not and would never be convinced that all was right with the world.

When Misty saw that Ross was listening in she had him escorted outside where he waited for her on the curb for a quarter of an hour. During the fifteen minutes with Growlithe Ross was allowed a chance to reflect on what was happening around him. A mysterious benefactor rescued Rachael and Eric from prison, Pokémon artifacts were being stolen from holy sites and now thieves were stealing the most rare and powerful Pokémon technology.

Recalling his imprisonment with Tim Fracas under Mount Moon Ross remembered that the Pokémon Ranger didn’t know what was going on either, implying that the Pokémon League proper was also ignorant to the identity of the menace that was slowly descending on the world. Ross suddenly felt naked, because in an age of utopian society the populace had become complacent, so nobody would believe stories of the Team Rocket Misty mentioned.

Sighing, Ross patted Growlithe, a benign gesture that denoted his place in the scheme of things; obviously the battle for control was being fought on the highest levels of society, so at present Ross didn’t have to worry about the Illuminati of the Pokémon world. The thought had occurred to him that he was being paranoid and Rachael and Eric were completely rogue, separate from even the most conniving of criminals, but uncertainty always returned his thoughts to Team Rocket.

“Ready to get started?” Misty asked, leaving the house.

Growlithe snapped to attention as Ross rose. “Yeah, let’s go.”

Misty continued towards the gym, which couldn’t have been more then a block away, however she kept looking over her shoulder to consider Ross, as though she suddenly didn’t know what to think of him. Eventually she spoke up, prompting Ross from his thoughts that were focused on the Pokémon League and how great it would be to win.

“What do you make of Team Rocket?” Misty asked, bluntly.

Casually Ross flicked his head back. “What’s that?”

“Don’t play dumb, I’m a gym leader.”

“I was at Mount Moon,” Ross admitted. When he saw Misty’s eyes narrow he realized what she had been thinking. Misty was just as paranoid as he was; she thought that he worked for Team Rocket and that he came to Cerulean City to spy on her. His admission that he was at Mount Moon only made her paranoia justified. “Some friends and I followed a sick Geodude into the mountain where we found two criminals enslaving the Clefairy,” Ross tried to explain.

Immediately Misty’s demeanour changed. “Ross Spare, of course, I thought your name sounded familiar. It was on a report I received a couple of weeks ago from the Pokémon League. Ross Spare, Amy Amaranth and Timothy Fracas,” She recalled out loud.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Pushing open the doors of her gym Misty lead Ross into the main aquatic area. “I wouldn’t mind talking to you about what happened after the match. The Pokémon Rangers Corp. is interested in hearing your account of the event, to see if Agent Fracas missed anything.”

“Agent Fracas?” Ross asked, curious of his associate. “So he is a Pokémon Ranger? Isn’t he a little young?”

Misty laughed. “He’s older then you.”

“Yeah, but the Pokémon Rangers are the elite guardians of the Pokémon world, and Fracas…”

“Passed his novice grading last year,” The gym leader informed Ross with a smirk.

In the fight under Mount Moon Fracas had handled himself admirably, there was no doubt of that, so the more Ross thought about it the more he realized that the Pokémon Ranger was worthy of the title, despite his age. After all, when Ross finally made it to the Pokémon League he could achieve the rank of Pokémon Master, the most prestigious position in the League, and he was only twelve.

As Misty entered the administration section of the gym Ross went through his strategies, most of which involved Bulbasaur, not Growlithe, who lay lethargically by the pool. It wasn’t like Ross had much choice in the matter, although Growlithe had proved effective against Onix. This time he vowed that it would be different, for he intended on no type mismatches. Bulbasaur would be able to sweep the arena clean with his vines.

Misty eventually returned with a team of apprentices who proceeded to carry large white platforms into the room and lay them on the water. Despite their size they floated steadily, giving non-water oriented Pokémon something to stand on in the water gym, which was what Ross needed, because Bulbasaur wouldn’t be able to swim with even close to the same adeptness as Misty’s Pokémon.

“Is a two versus two alright with you, Ross?” Misty asked from across the pool as her students hurried to prepare the arena for battle.

“That’s fine by me.”

The gym leader smiled. “Excellent, then we shall begin shortly.”

Hearing their leader’s announcement the trainers around the pool doubled their efforts and in less then five minutes they had transformed the pool into a battlefield, suitable for land Pokémon to meet the aquatic. As quickly as they had entered the room the students fled, leaving their mentor to handle the nuisance from Pallet Town. One trainer did remain, taking up a referee post on Ross’ left.

“Hello again,” Diana chirped, happily. “Guess you made it.”

Ross nodded sheepishly. “Yeah.”

“You two know each other?” Misty asked her student with a wry grin.

“We’ve met.”

It was obvious to Ross that Misty’s main hobby was not Pokémon training, so her frisky smile carried with it a hidden meaning that the Pallet trainer managed to pick up with little trouble. Diana looked uncomfortable and fidgeted at her post, but Ross just rolled his eyes. Cerulean City seemed like an awfully superficial place and the sooner he escaped the better.

Clearing her throat Diana announced the battle with a precision that only came with Pokémon gym training. “In this sanctioned Pokémon League Gym Battle both the challenger and Gym Leader may use up to two Pokémon each. There is no time limit, however if the referee decides the battle is over then it will be so. Good luck to both of you,” She winked at Ross. “Begin!”

Grabbing a Pokéball from his belt he thrust it into the air and summoned his minion, who fell into the water with a loud splash. “Magikarp! Go!”

“Magikarp?” Misty shouted, incredulously. “I thought you were going to challenge me, but if Magikarp is the best you can do…”

“Don’t sell him short,” Ross warned.

“Ross, I’m a water Pokémon Specialist, I know the best water-Pokémon in the world and Magikarp are worthless. All they can do is splash around; they don’t even making quality targets when training.”

Frustrated Ross growled. “Are you going to choose a Pokémon or not?”

“I already have,” The redheaded Gym Leader laughed.

Confounded by her mysteriousness Ross looked around the arena, however he saw nothing on any of the white platforms. Checking back with Misty he saw that she stood with her arms crossed, a smirk across her face. It suddenly struck Ross what was wrong and he started looking into the pool near Magikarp. As he suspected the tunnel that Misty and her Pokémon had swam out of at the end of her show was open and a dark shape shot out towards his Pokémon.

It was an odd looking creature, more so then normal Pokémon, for it had the characteristics of a bird, but it’s body was similar to a mammal. The duckbilled Psyduck arced around Magikarp, staring at his adversary with no small amount of confusion. When Magikarp saw Psyduck and realized he was in a battle he began thrashing about frantically, only perplexing Psyduck more. The duck Pokémon clutched his head as though the futility of the current match up was giving him a headache.

Ross shook his head at the sight of the worthless fish and hypochondriac duck. “Is your Pokémon alright? He seems to be having trouble… existing.”

“You just worry about Magikarp, mister,” The Gym Leader scoffed.

“It looks like it’s developing a headache, though.”

“I know.”

Once again feeling left out of the joke Ross whipped out his Pokédex and began tapping buttons. He brought up the profile of Psyduck written by Professor Oak, unchanged throughout his journeys, for it was the first time Ross had seen such a Pokémon. He had updated the Pokédex with each encounter, adding information on Ariados’ stinger and Graveler’s rollout and he knew that he would have much more to write after the battle.

[Psyduck, the duck Pokémon – a Pokémon of the water type. While lulling enemies with its vacant looks it will develop headaches. When peaked these headaches signal the activation of latent psychokinetic powers in Psyduck. Although potent in battle Psyduck does not posses the mental capacity to maintain these powers, so suffers from amnesia regarding them constantly.]

“Psychokinetic powers? Like Butterfree?” Ross cried out in shock.

The gym battle was starting to look dangerously difficult, because if Psyduck managed to defeat Magikarp quickly and Ross was forced to switch to Bulbasaur psychic attacks would tear through his poison half, weakening him considerably before the second round. All Ross could do was hope that Magikarp could hold on until Psyduck’s headache subsided.

Before Ross could think through a strategy Misty leapt into action. “Psyduck, scratch him!”

Trying to ignore the increasing pains in his head Psyduck began swimming through the pool, gained speed and angling towards Magikarp who twisted around randomly in some inane attempt at evasion. Psyduck managed to pick up a remarkable amount of speed for such an unobtrusive little Pokémon, so when he finally reached his target and raked his webbed claws against Magikarp the fish suffered the attack terribly.

Swimming like a Sharpedo, Psyduck rocketed around and prepared himself for another attack on the defenseless fish Pokémon. When he hit a second time Ross felt Magikarp’s pain and for a split second considered pulling his friend out of the grasp of the mad little duck, however he remembered his strategy and renewed his faith in Magikarp. The third and forth attacks were no easier then the first two and by the end of the fifth Magikarp floated dangerously close to the surface, his thrashing ceased.

What Misty had said about Magikarp stung Ross, because he had heard the words uttered before, however they were not in relation to a Pokémon, but himself. The common conception in Pallet Town was that Ross was a failure as a Pokémon Trainer, having failed to receive his license his first try, a disappointment, equaled only by himself in the townspeople’s eyes. Magikarp would pull through the battle and get Ross the Cascade Badge.

Kneeling down Ross thrust his head into the pool and shouted at his Pokémon. “Come on, Magikarp, you can do this. I believe in you, buddy, just believe in yourself. Remember our training at Bill’s and you’ll be fine. Come on, Magikarp,” Finished he pulled his head out of the water and was faced with queer looks from Misty.

“All your eccentricity wont save Magikarp, Ross,” Misty snorted.

Psyduck prepared himself for another attack, but as he bore down on the red fish he swung around and presented Psyduck with his tail, which collided with the duck Pokémon’s head and sent him spiraling into the side of the pool. Magikarp didn’t seem to understand what had happened because he just continued thrashing around while Psyduck slowly recovered from the harsh blow.

Clearly surprised by Magikarp’s resourcefulness Misty smiled. “That was flail, a desperation attack and Magikarp’s only real defence. Only the most well trained Magikarp are able to flail. Congratulations, Ross.”

“Looks like Magikarp is finally earning his keep,” Ross whispered to Growlithe who grinned encouragingly at Magikarp.

Expecting Psyduck to try and scratch again Ross prepared to advise his friend to attack first, so as to avoid another direct attack, however Psyduck did not strike, he just floated in the pool clutching the part of his head that had hit the wall. Ross spotted dark blood flowing out of the wound and mixing with the chlorinated water, but Misty did not share his concern, she was actually grinning fiendishly, a sight that tipped Ross off to her strategy. Psyduck’s headache was getting worse.

Before he could warn Magikarp Psyduck’s eyes flashed and the fish Pokémon was flung against the wall of the pool, creating a large crack along the aquamarine tiles. The assault didn’t stop there, either, as the duck Pokémon continued using his powers to beat his opponent senseless. Ross gritted his teeth and hoped Magikarp would forgive him for using him as a cushion for the psychic blasts.

Misty eventually called off Psyduck and looked to her opponent to see if Ross was considering taking his Pokémon out of the match. Even Diana was doubtful of the fish’s ability to weather the attack and Ross could see in her eyes that the referee was about to make a judgement. He was being forced into another uncomfortable position that reminded him of the Brock battle in Pewter City. The fact that his Pokémon were inexperienced made battling hard.

Finally surrendering, Ross recalled Magikarp. “Good work, buddy. You hang in there and you’ll be able to do great things.”

“Psyduck is the winner!” Diana declared.

Throwing out another Pokéball Ross hoped that Bulbasaur would be able to handle the psychic long enough to dispatch Psyduck and then take out Misty’s last Pokémon.

“A Bulbasaur,” Misty seemed relieved. “For a second there I thought you were going to send out a Caterpie or something. Unfortunately Psyduck will make short work of him as well. Psyduck, take him down quickly with Confusion!”

Being a land based Pokémon Bulbasaur had no choice but to stand on the white platforms above Psyduck, making it hard to see Misty’s Pokémon without exposing himself, however it seemed that she had no interest in keeping the seed Pokémon dry. The first psychic attack threw Bulbasaur straight into the water in front of Psyduck; the second smashed him against the wall of the pool in the exact same spot where Magikarp hit, damaging it even more extensively.

In the first minute of the battle between Bulbasaur and Psyduck the seed Pokémon seemed to take a great deal of damage. He was having trouble maneuvering in the water and it was obvious that he was finding it hard to hold his breath, but Ross could see the determination on Bulbasaur’s face. He wanted to prove himself to Ross and Growlithe, because so far the puppy Pokémon hadn’t been particularly welcoming towards Bulbasaur.

Two psychic attacks later and Bulbasaur was floating belly side up. The battle had turned pear shaped and it was jeopardizing Ross’ chances of getting his Cascade Badge in time to compete in the Nugget Bridge Pokémon Tournament. Misty shook her head and ordered Psyduck to cease his attack, then nodded at her subordinate to make a judgement call.

Shocked by the ease of his defeat Ross was about to recall Bulbasaur and save Diana the trouble of declaring him unconscious when two vines sprung out from beneath Bulbasaur’s bulb and reached up to the platform above. The seed Pokémon hauled himself out of the water and glared down at Psyduck menacingly, his vines whipping the air excitedly.

Realizing that Bulbasaur understood his strategy of buying time Ross laughed. “Go, Bulbasaur, let’s go fishing, buddy!”

Bulbasaur’s vines snaked into the water and headed towards the duck Pokémon who stood firm waiting for and order from Misty. When the command was given and Psyduck struck there would be nothing that Bulbasaur could do to save himself, because playing dead wouldn’t work twice against a Gym Leader. Biting his bottom lip Ross waited.

“Psyduck, use Confusion,” The Gym Leader shouted down to her companion.

Expecting the fight to end Ross was shocked to see Psyduck look back to his master, a vacant expression on his previously menacing face. Remembering the Pokédex entry that Professor Oak had made Ross understood why Psyduck didn’t comprehend the order; his brain was too basic to grasp the concept of his own psychic attacks. Psyduck’s headache had subsided.

Misty also saw this. “Oh, no! Psyduck, return!”

Bulbasaur brought his vines back out of the water and waited for yellow duck to limp back through the gate out of the arena, totally confused by what had just happened. Although the seed Pokémon made his victory look easy Ross could see that his friend was hurting. He was panting heavily, trying to make up for the breaths he missed underwater, and his side was bruised from being beaten against the wall of the pool, which had been stripped down to bare concrete from the constant impacts.

“I guess without his headache Psyduck wouldn’t stand much of a chance against Bulbasaur.”

Frowning, Misty spurned Ross. “The type disadvantage is too much for little Psyduck, but my next Pokémon wont have to worry about those vines of Bulbasaur’s, it is far too fast for you to catch. Come on out, Staryu!”

From beneath the two trainers there echoed an explosion and a moment later a brown streak shot out of the gate at the bottom of the pool. It circled the arena before shooting out of the water and landing on a white platform across from Bulbasaur. Staryu looked quite bizarre, being a central core of red gem in a gold socket, with five brown extremities around the core in the shape of a star, making the Pallet trainer wonder how it moved on land. It was also very beautiful, but Ross knew that it was deadly as well, since Misty would save her best for last.

While Bulbasaur caught his breath Ross started forming battle strategies in his mind, although he found it hard, since the Pokémon he was facing remained completely alien to him. He remembered reading about the star shape Pokémon at Professor Oak’s lab and its remarkable regeneration ability, but that didn’t really help Ross in the present, because he hadn’t even landed a blow on the creature yet.

“Begin!” Diana shouted, having decided that Bulbasaur’s rest period was over.

Thinking about Misty’s declaration that Bulbasaur wouldn’t be able to catch Staryu Ross made the decision to slow the star shape down. “Bulbasaur, hit it with your Stun Spore!”

Squeezing hard, Bulbasaur created an explosion of dust in the air above his bulb that began falling towards Staryu. As it managed to somehow roll itself towards the waters edge the spores settled on its body, creating a sleek coat of purple, however when it entered the water the spores dissipated dying the pool lavender. When Staryu started moving it became instantly apparent that the spores had been completely washed away.

A smug grin crossed Misty’s face, indicating her intentional use of the water as a barrier. The toxins created in Bulbasaur’s bulb were dusts, so they would all be ineffective in the watery arena, meaning that direct attacks were Ross’ only resort. Before he could order a direct attack against Staryu Ross remembered another technique that he could use in the water that wouldn’t be hindered.

“Use Leech Seed, Bulbasaur,” Ross shouted.

Grinning eagerly at his master Bulbasaur nodded and began concentrating on his photosynthetic energies, charging a seed in his back with enough energy to spring alive once implanted in his target. When he did fire the seed it surprised Misty to see the small brown sphere explode into the water with the speed and accuracy of a Dragonite’s Hyperbeam. It bounced off Staryu’s core then cracked down the middle, releasing a jungle of roots that wrapped around its extremities and began harvesting nutrients.

Ross was pleased to see Bulbasaur soaking up the energy, refilling the reserves in his body that that were sapped by Psyduck’s psychic attacks. Although the Leech Seed was a slow attack it was steady and Ross had full confidence that it would rid Staryu of its health in no time, he just had to wait. Confident that the battle was pretty much over as long as he could keep Bulbasaur away from Staryu Ross relaxed and imagined himself caressing his Cascade Badge.

The star shape Pokémon was not prepared to admit defeat just yet, however and began spinning up towards the surface of the pool, the roots around it holding fast. Ross was about to order Bulbasaur into action, however the seed Pokémon had already deployed its vines above the pool in preparation of the inevitable emergence of Staryu, so when it shot out of the water it was immediately caught in Bulbasaur’s net.

“Hold it, Bulbasaur,” Ross commanded.

Across the pool Misty smirked. “You can’t hold Staryu, Ross. Use Rapid Spin!”

Staryu began turned in the air despite Bulbasaur’s best efforts, until it was nearly a complete blur and the green vines that trapped it were thrown free along with the roots of the seed that had been planted across its core. Using the spin Staryu had managed to completely counter Bulbasaur, destroying Ross’ perfect vision of the battle.

“Now, hit him with Water Pulse.”

Still in the air Staryu arced one of its arms towards its target below and released a stream of water into his face, which only infuriated Bulbasaur. As the seed Pokémon was about to lash out at Staryu its arm bulged and a sudden explosion of water smashed into Bulbasaur’s face, knocking him senseless. The sound of the attack reminded Ross of a Snorlax belly-flopping it was so harsh.

As Bulbasaur staggered around, dazed Ross grilled Misty. “What was that supposed to accomplish? Water attacks do next to nothing to Bulbasaur.”

“She was trying to confuse him,” An unwelcome voice announced from behind Ross. He tried to ignore Amy at first, but she kept up her commentary. “Water Pulse is such a concussive technique that it can completely daze Pokémon with a direct hit. Misty knew what she was doing from the moment you put Leech Seed to Staryu. She is always thinking two steps ahead, and so will the trainers in the Nugget Tournament.”

Spitefully Ross growled at Amy. “If they think two steps ahead then I’ll think five!”

“How cute, a lovers quarrel,” Misty said, moony-eyed.

“Razor Leaf!”

Because of Amy’s interruption Staryu had failed to retreat back into the water yet, it simply stood on the platform across from Bulbasaur, so Ross seized upon the opportunity to test out Bulbasaur’s most powerful attack he had managed to develop since Bill’s. Bulbasaur could store leaves in his bulb with cuticle layers so thick they were like ninja stars, tearing through all defences with the same ease as a ninja strike.

Staryu couldn’t do anything against the onslaught of green blades, which cut its body all over; leaving scoring that would take weeks to heal. The star shape Pokémon staggered backwards off the platform it had landed on and sunk into the water, barely moving at all. The red light that once glowed brightly in its core was nearly completely diminished. Ross was afraid that his attack had done more damage to the Pokémon then he had intended, but his anger towards Amy overrode his compassion.

“Where are your two steps now?” He asked Amy, as though he blamed her for Staryu’s injury.

“Staryu,” Misty called into the water, her face surprisingly passive. “Recover.”

To Ross’ shock the marks across Staryu’s body were instantly filled and the light in its core became bright again, filling the pool with a red hue. It had managed to recover all the damage the Razor Leaf attack had dished out, as though it had never happened. Filled with renewed vigor Staryu began spinning through the water, preparing for its next attack.

Although the Water Pulse didn’t daze Bulbasaur anymore the fact that Staryu had managed to shrug off his strongest attack was a real blow to the moral. Even Growlithe was disheartened by the turn of events, whimpering sympathetically for Bulbasaur. In the heat of the battle Ross took consolation that Growlithe and Bulbasaur would be able to see eye to eye from then out.

Amy stepped past Ross and took a seat in the empty stands above the pool, watching to see if Ross had grown as much as he claimed to have had. Currently the trainer from Pallet had nothing to show his companion, but he promised to change that, all he had to do was to outthink Misty, which couldn’t be terribly hard. The thing that truly annoyed Ross wasn’t that Amy thought he wasn’t a good trainer it was that there was a chance that she was right. The battle with Brock was more of a fluke then anything else, and in the second test of his journey he was failing miserably.

Remembering his creed that he would be five steps ahead of everybody else Ross began to analyse the battle so far, poking and prodding for a weakness in Staryu’s strategy. To his surprise it didn’t take very long at all. That Staryu had to leave the water to attack was obvious, so all Ross had to do was make sure that it didn’t and Bulbasaur would be safe.

Hoping Bulbasaur would also pick this up Ross began his campaign aimed at keeping Staryu in the pool. “Bulbasaur, use your Razor Leaf again.”

Despite Amy shaking her head, sadly, Ross had confidence in his friend’s abilities, because no matter how fast Staryu could move Bulbasaur’s leaves were faster. Jumping to the edge of the platform Bulbasaur angled his bulb towards his target and let loose a flurry of leaves, which cleft through the water and raced towards Staryu, who turned to face the incoming attack.

Just as Ross was about to declare victory again the attack reaches the star shape and bounced off his body, floating away harmlessly. Ross’ jaw dropped in shock, but he quickly recovered and began considering what went wrong. The leaves hadn’t even fazed Staryu, so they must have been slowed down too much by the water, but that would mean that Bulbasaur had no way of getting to Staryu, because his vines were also too slow to reach the speedy sea creature.

They seemed to have reaches an impasse, for there was no way for Bulbasaur to hit Staryu in the water and Staryu left the water he would be too vulnerable. Essentially Ross would have to draw his opponent out and there was only one way he could think of doing that.

“Staryu, Swift!”

At its master’s command Staryu began spinning faster and faster until its core began turned a bright white. Ross didn’t know what Swift was, but he knew that he was about to find out. As Staryu built up more speed the light became a beam of pure white, aimed at the platform that Bulbasaur was standing on. Growlithe began barking frantically, but Ross, nor Bulbasaur understood the significance of the attack. Suddenly they did.

The shaft of light passed through the platform and surrounded Bulbasaur, who cried out in surprise at the technique that seemed to pass through solid matter. Before Ross or Bulbasaur could react the beam of light solidified and blasted Bulbasaur into the air. He hung above the platform for a moment then came crashing down into the water once again.

“Bulbasaur!” Ross cried out in surprise more then concern.

Taking Ross’ outburst as a sign of his weakness Misty pounced. “Hit him with Double-Edge!”

Staryu, who was still spinning like a Hitmontop who’d taken a few too many Speed Ups, sliced through the water towards Bulbasaur, crashing into him at breakneck speed and thrashing him against the wall of the pool once more, shattering the remaining tile and creating structural damage that would see the gym closed for repairs. Both Pokémon recoiled from the attack, groaning in pain from crashing into the wall, but Bulbasaur recovered first.

“Bulbasaur, get it out of the water, now!”

His eyes burning with fiery determination Bulbasaur dispatched his vines in the blink of an eye, one wrapping around Staryu, preventing it from retreating and the other shooting out of the water and grabbing hold of the platform far above. Misty could only watch, star struck, as the seed Pokémon wrenched her champion out of its domain and into its own. Although Bulbasaur was near unconsciousness he was as determined as Ross to see the battle through.

Finally out of the water Bulbasaur lifted Staryu above his head like a trophy, however it was becoming exceedingly hard to hold the star shape Pokémon, because it was starting to spin quickly in a mad attempt to free itself and return to the water. Just as it broke free Bulbasaur withdrew his vines and aimed his bulb at the falling water Pokémon. Shooting through the air like bullets were dozens of razor sharp leaves that tore at Staryu’s body causing its core to dim into near nothingness.

When the star shape Pokémon hit the water it was no longer spinning, in fact it didn’t show any signs of movement, it just drifted down towards the bottom of the pool, six meters below. Ross hoped that the battle was finally over, but he knew that it couldn’t possibly be that easy. Misty and Staryu had proved time and time again to be remarkably resilient foes, so Ross dared not to count his Combuskens before they hatched.

As he suspected Misty just smiled and waved her hand, as though casting a spell. “Staryu, use Recover, wont you.”

Infuriated by the star shape Pokémon Ross began cursing the pool that it was using as a hiding place. Every time he managed to get the upper hand in the battle Staryu would return to the water and heal its battle damage. There was only one way to make sure that the battle would be his and that was to take the pool away from Staryu and without any techniques to freeze the water it meant only one thing.

“Bulbasaur, Leech Seed,” Bulbasaur nodded between exhaustingly long breaths and aimed his bulb towards Staryu. “No, not Staryu,” The seed Pokémon glanced back at Ross as though he were mad, but when he followed his master’s gaze he understood his orders.

Summoning all the available energy from his bulb Bulbasaur turned away from Staryu and aimed towards the wall of the pool. With so much energy forced into the attack the seed rocketed in between the cracks in the concrete and immediately exploded into a mass of rapidly growing roots that punched through the weak cement, creating holes large enough for jets of water to burst through, breaking away more and more cinder until the holes were so large the pool began to drain.

Everybody in the gym gazed into the emptying pool in horror, unable to come to grips with the massive amounts of property damage that was inflicted on the building. Misty was completely speechless, and only regained her voice when she saw Staryu become exposed by the dangerously low water levels. It seemed so petty thinking of a Pokémon battle when her gym was lying in disrepair.

“Staryu, use…” The Gym Leader’s voice failed once again.

Triumphant Ross pointed at the prostrate Staryu. “Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf.”

The first blast knocked Staryu against one of the platforms, which had come to rest on the bottom of the pool, floating gently atop a small layer of water. Exhausted beyond comprehension Bulbasaur wasted no time taking down Staryu. Another blast of leaves was fired, and then another, until the seed Pokémon was sure the star shape would not get back up. It slid into the shallow water and the red hue that followed it disappeared completely.

“Staryu is unable to battle,” Diana declared immediately, clearly surprised, but honed by training to be a perfect referee. “Bulbasaur wins the battle and match. Victory goes to the challenger.”

Unlike the battle at Pewter City there was no cheer to mark his victory only the stern gaze of Amy and the boyish grins of Growlithe and Bulbasaur. Accepting the encouragement of his friends he went to the Cerulean City Gym Leader and accepted his second gym badge.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 12: Fire and Leaf

It was the last day of summer, but the populace of Cerulean City did not recognize this landmark; they were far more concerned with trying to shelter themselves from the burning sun that beat down on the town disregarding the calendar its residents adhered to. Compared to previous temperatures the day was tame, but with the mercury peaking in the mid-thirties it was hardly a temperature to scoff at, especially due to the unexpected timing of the heat wave.

Most of Cerulean’s busiest streets were empty; those townspeople who hadn’t resolved to spend the day at the Cerulean Gym relaxing with Misty scurried frantically home. The white buildings of the city screamed in the bright light, causing those in the streets to shield their eyes as they dashed around hurriedly. Those who had weathered the sun all summer, bearing their tans proudly, ignored the heat of the day and sat beneath the red and white umbrellas of the Poliwag Café.

Ross Spare sipped his cool beverage half-heartedly, the volume of his attention to bear on his companion sitting across the table. By his side was Growlithe, who watched the humans around him try and avoid the burning sun that was a comfortable temperature for him.

“So,” Amy chirped, placing her cola carefully on its coaster. “You’ve made up your mind to take part in the Nugget Bridge Tournament?”

“Yes.”

A sigh escaped Amy, resulting in a look of contempt from Ross. The twelve year old simply couldn’t understand his companion’s resistance to the idea of his victory in the tournament, not because of his victories at the Pewter City and Cerulean City gyms, but because he thought she would have some measure of faith in him and he felt betrayed by her skepticism. They had traveled together for nearly four months, but she still didn’t believe in his ability.

Perhaps it wasn’t necessarily her doubt itself that upset Ross, but there was a fear in him that his inability to sway her opinion despite their relationship was a sign that he was not a good trainer. After all his victory over Brock was nothing more then a fluke and even with Bulbasaur his battle with Misty was a gut-wrenching struggle; he was showing no indication of improvement. The only thing that kept him going was his resolve to succeed.

Seeing Ross’ troubled expression Amy conceded. “Very well.”

“What?” Ross snapped, uncharacteristically.

“You can take part in the Nugget Bridge Tournament if you want,” As though it was somehow her decision she gave Ross her blessing. “I doubt you’ll be able to win, but you are right that you need experience in these sorts of events before you take part in the Pokémon League proper.”

Fidgeting under the weight of Amy’s words Ross murmured. “Thanks, I guess.”

“Just don’t get arrogant,” Amy warned.”

“I wont.”

“Remember that a lot of the people you will be battling have years of experience, where as you have six months, so although your heart is most certainly in the right place, they will kick your butt if you give them a chance.”

Shrugging Ross took another sip of his cola. “I’ll probably be knocked out in the first round like you said,” This was quite obviously a joke on his part, one meant to break the ice that had come between Amy and Ross since the Cerulean Gym battle the week before.

During the week following Bulbasaur’s battle Ross had taken his little green friend out of the city and practiced his Razor Leaf technique, because due to its performance in the gym battle Ross was fairly certain it would decide whether Bulbasaur won or lost in the upcoming tournament. Because of this training Ross felt sure that he was going to come first in the competition. The way he figured it he would be the only hardcore, gym challenging Pokémon Trainer with all the others either taking part in the Pokémon League at Indigo Plateau or at least spectating.

Who would be in Cerulean City who could pose a threat to him, Ross Spare of Pallet Town?

“Well, well, well,” A snide chuckle snapped Ross from his revere and caused him to turn slowly, his expression incredulous. There was no way the trainer he thought he’d heard was in Cerulean City, he went to the Pokémon League every year to study the trainers competing. As Ross’ eyes fell on his rival, there was no more doubt, only unrestrained shock.

“Alex?”

Alexander Oak of Pallet Town grinned evilly at Ross’ surprise. “So, little Ross made it all the way to Cerulean City. I hope you aren’t considering entering the Nugget Bridge Tournament. There can only be one tournament champion,” He indicated himself. “And we all know who it will be.”

“Ross,” Amy looked between rivals. “Who is this?”

It occurred to Ross that he had never fully explained Alex to Amy, because he never really expected to travel with her for so long. When they traveled they very rarely talked, and when they set up camp Ross was either training or asleep, so his companion didn’t know anything about the obnoxious terror from next door. Faced with his worst enemy Ross was suddenly saddened that he and Amy didn’t know anything about each other.

Pulling up a chair Alex reached down and patted Growlithe who fumed angrily beneath the trainer’s clammy hand. “Nice mutt, Rosco. Does it know any tricks?”

“What do you want, Alex?” Ross growled out his rival’s name as though it were an insult.

“Nothing,” Feigning hurt Alex landed himself in the white plastic seat. “I just wanted to talk about good old times with my good old friend,” He muttered the last word with no small amount of enmity. “I heard stories of a promising young trainer capturing deranged Pokémon, thwarting evil trainers and flying through the gym leader challenge. I knew I had to meet the prodigy. Imagine how surprised I was to find out that the trainer riding my coat tails was none other then my childhood chum, Ross Spare. I must admit, the stories of your triumphs are starting to become as prolific as my own.”

Ross just laughed. “Afraid I’m catching up to you?”

“You’re good, Ross, but you are nothing compared to me, remember that, my friend,” Alex grinned at Ross’ forced outburst, but when Amy scoffed at his last statement it captured the genius trainer’s attention. “You have something to add?”

“I just find it ludicrous that you think you are so much better then Ross.”
Pouring Ross drink into Amy’s then downing it all Alex smiled at the girl. “What’s your name?”

“Amy Amaranth.”

“Amaranth?” Alex’s face betrayed his surprise for an instant.

“That’s right.”

Regaining his composure Alex just flicked his hair back and put a small rainbow icon on the table. Ross tried to figure out what the small symbol was, but Amy quickly blocked his vision. “I’ve met your sister. She says hi,” Alex said with a smirk.

Tired of being left out of the conversation Ross interrupted Alex and Amy. “If it’s all the same to you two I’m going to take my two badges and win the Nugget Bridge Tournament.”

This prompted a bout of laughter from his rival, who thought better then to tell Ross what he was laughing about, although it was obvious it was something he had said. “You really think you can actually compete in the tournament, don’t you? What’s the point? I’ll be competing as well, and if you remember you’ve never beaten me before in your life, so why would this tournament be any different?”

“I have two gym badges, just like you,” Ross shouted.

“I have four.”

Amy and Ross glanced at each other, before the latter spoke up, uncertainty once again plaguing his thoughts. “What?”

“You heard me,” Alex laughed. “While you were off saving the world from evil organizations bent on dominating Pokémon everywhere, I was preparing my troops for a real battle, not some mythical war. You’ve been wasting time while I’ve been gaining more and more power. If you still want to challenge me, that’s fine, but you will never defeat me.”

“I can see where Ross gets his arrogance from.”

Alex bowed his head to Amy. “I can’t argue that I’m not arrogant, because that would be false, however unlike Ross I have sufficient reason to be so. There hasn’t been a trainer as successful as me since the Trinity of trainers from Pallet Town three years ago, but they were three and I am one.”

Although it pained him to finally concede defeat Ross knew that collecting four gym badges in less then six months was an incredible achievement, one that he could never hope to match. If Alex continued as he was progressing he would be able to compete in the Pokémon League the next year. Pokémon League participation was normally inconceivable after only one and a half years, but Alex could manage it.

It was the same when they were children; Alex always managed to do the impossible. Perhaps it was his rival’s strive for excellence that made Ross reach so high, because without somebody to always make him try harder Ross wasn’t sure he’d be so vehement in his convictions. Now they had reached a point where Ross was totally out of Alex’s depth and there was nothing the young trainer could do about it. He had trained all his life to become a Pokémon Master, but Alex had obviously trained harder.

Discarding the insecurities that haunted him Ross stared Alex in the eyes, renewing his determination. Just because Alex came to Cerulean City and insisted on intimidating Ross didn’t mean that he was a better trainer. They had grown up together, so Ross could confirm that Alex was just a man, and men made mistakes.

“I’ll see you on the Nugget Bridge,” Ross promised. Summoning Growlithe and Amy to him he stormed away from the café.

Questioningly Alex turned to address the posse. “You still plan on competing?”

“Yes.”

“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,” Alex grinned wryly.

When they got a block away from the café Amy finally turned to Ross, her face a perfect image of apprehension. The novice from Pallet Town knew that their strife over entrance into the Nugget Bridge Tournament had ended, so his interest was piqued as to what was currently troubling his companion. Although his encounter with Alex had shaken Ross up he didn’t perceive Amy as having a similar indignation.

To Ross’ discomfort Amy looked resolute. “You never told me you knew Alexander Oak.”

“Sorry.”

“I’d heard that you and he were from the same town, but the fact that you were once friends is incredible,” Amy suddenly became excited. “You’ve heard the rumors surrounding Alexander, haven’t you? After all, you two were close.”

When Ross shrugged Amy shook her head in disbelief. “Sorry, but I’ve been busy.”

“He’s the grandson of the legendary Professor Oak; people have been grooming him since birth to be the greatest Pokémon Master in the league’s history. The prophets of the Sprout Tower foretold of the Champion of Pallet’s victory over the forces of darkness after the foundation of the Pokémon League a hundred years ago,” Amy looked at Ross suspiciously. “You understand all that, don’t you?”

Ross just waved his hand dismissively. “There are chosen ones coming out of Pallet all the time.”

“You’re talking about the Trinity of course.”

“Yeah, everybody thought they were the greatest thing the world had seen, until Alex.”

“Look,” Amy rubbed her eyes, and glared menacingly at the sun high above. “You don’t have to believe that he’s some sort of paragon, but you should know that he is one of the greatest trainers on the planet, and a lot of people have invested in his success.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Ross sneered as he marched towards the Nugget Bridge.

Enrolling in the tournament the night before at the Cerulean Pokécentre had ensured Ross a place in the competition, so he only had to find a seat beneath the large stands that had been erected along the great bridge, and wait for his battle to be called up. Amy sat with him, but she did not argue with him any more, she just sat stony faced underneath the gigantic sails that would protect the crowd.

The bridge itself with alive with spectators, technicians and trainers, most of whom had just arrived from the Cerulean Gym that promised to close during the tournament to allow Misty to judge the battles. She too had expressed concern for Ross in the tournament, but she had been dismissed with the same zeal that Ross had sent Amy away with. Now that he was on the battle ground Ross started to consider the legitimacy of his friend’s fears.

Although most of the world’s trainers were at Indigo Plateau those still committed to their dream were at the Nugget Bridge, testing their skills against those who were unable to enter the Pokémon League. Alexander was just the tip of the iceberg in the sea of Pokémon Trainers. There were trainers from as far as Johto at the admission desk, signing up to fight against the best in Kanto.

Ross wouldn’t have been surprised if the Trinity themselves turned up to wipe the arena clean of competition, in their jihad to conquer the world Pokémon scene. Trying not to draw attention to his worry Ross began thinking about all the other trainers who would be at the Nugget Bridge Tournament. They didn’t have to be the best in the world to beat Ross, they just had to be better then he was which was not hard, considering his relative youth as a trainer.

Doubts still clouded Ross’ mind when Misty approached with the name of his first opponent. “Are you ready, Ross?”

“Yeah,” He nodded half-heartedly.

“Nervous?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, you about to get a whole lot more nervous,” The Gym Leader admitted, handing Ross a small envelope. She waited patiently as Ross worked the small package open and flicked open the piece of paper inside with his opponent’s name printed on it.

Ross felt his knees buckle. “Alexander?”

“Wait, what?” Amy snatched the paper from him. “That’s impossible.”

“You guys were matched up randomly,” Misty insisted. “Just bad luck, I guess.”

Their words were lost on Ross, however, who sat, introspective. Finally facing his rival in battle was an enormous event into Ross’ journey, but the fear of failure was paramount. He didn’t expect to fight Alex in the first round; he had always envisioned defeating his rival in a blood-soaked tournament final. Nevertheless, whether he fought Alex in the first round or the last, he was destined to face him eventually, so he was mentally prepared for the challenge.

He didn’t know what the outcome of the battle would be now that his perfect vision had been shattered by circumstance, but as long as he tried his hardest he would be able to stun Alex with the same incredible strategy that had claimed Brock the Rock and the Sensational Misty. They had all underestimated him and that was his key to victory. As Amy had said Alex was the greatest novice trainer in the world. If he could surprise Alex and get the drop on his rival then the matches following would be simple compared to round one.

Suddenly brimming with confidence Ross shocked Amy, Growlithe and Misty by smiling. “It’s probably for the best.”

“How do you figure?” Misty looked as though Ross were mad.

“He doesn’t know how good I am, and he’ll have to find out in battle.”

Shaking her head Misty turned towards the arena. “Well, good luck, you’re up now. Be careful, Ross. Never forget that Alex got one of his badges from me, and the battle was the shortest I’ve ever fought,” With her final confidence boost delivered the young Gym Leader took up her judging post.

The stands began to fill along the bridge as trainers took up Pokéballs against their opponents. There were four makeshift arenas set up along the length of the bridge with the two long grandstands lining the edges of it, so that four battles could take place simultaneously and could be seen by all. His summons in hand Ross walked down from his seat and found the arena that he was expected at. As he made his way there he heard a battle beginning in the adjacent ring.

Crowds cheered as an explosion rocked the bridge. Ross suddenly felt all too aware of the structure they were all standing on and the danger that was involved in a Pokémon battle. The Cerulean City council obviously didn’t think much of the abilities of the local trainers; otherwise they would hold the tournament on the shore, instead of beneath the great red towers of the suspension bridge.

Growlithe prodded him forward when he stopped the gaze up at the metal framework high above, but Ross was not fearful, as his companion assumed, but rather nervous of his first public bout. He had fought in at least twenty random trainer battles since he had begun his journey nearly six months before, however the only time he had performed in front of a crowd was at the Pewter City gym and he was becoming self-conscious.

With Amy’s eyes watching his progression from the safety of the crowd Ross reached the admission table and signed in for the first round battle. The council workers at the desk pointed to the position that he should take up. On the flat box opposite his own stood a familiar trainer and an equally familiar smug grin.

“Well, well, well,” Alex chuckled for the second time that day. “I knew we
were destined to battle, but I didn’t think the fates had scheduled our duel so soon. They are not without their own twisted sense of humour, I guess.”

The sound of spectators straining to hear Ross’ retort was deafening. He lost all the conviction he had summoned up whilst in the stands, because under the critical eyes of a hundred Pokémon fans all values seemed to escape the young trainer. He could only look valiant before his rival, but found it impossible to form any words. Even the judge, a trainer from Misty’s gym by the name of Parker, waited for Ross to respond to Alex’s attempt at pre-bout banter.

Desperate to say something cool in front of the crowds Ross pointed at Alex. “You are going to lose, Alex.”

Although the stands went wild at his challenge Alex just shook his head. Ross was scared beyond comprehension and Alex knew that, laughing at his feeble attempt at a battle cry. Trying to remember his game-plan Ross grabbed a Pokéball from his belt, checking twice to make sure he knew what Pokémon was inside the red and white sphere.

“There is a time limit of an hour in this first round battle,” Parker announced though a small microphone clipped to his shirt. “Each competitor is allowed to use only one Pokémon. The battle will continue until one of the Pokémon fighting is unable to battle, whether by the judge’s discretion or it’s knocked unconscious,” Looked between Ross and Alex he raised an official Pokémon League tournament flag. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Ross mumbled. Alex just nodded and grabbed a Pokéball.

Seeing that they were both eager to start Parker dropped his flag. “Begin!”

“Bulbasaur!” Ross threw the bulb-Pokémon’s Pokéball. “I choose you!”

“Charmander! Go!”

To Ross’ horror a small orange lizard appeared from Alex’s Pokéball. As its tail burned to life it rose up on its hind legs and grinned innocently at Bulbasaur, who glared angrily at its nemesis. Being starters of rivals they would share unrestrained disdain for each other as long as their masters feuded, it was the creed of the starter, and although Growlithe was Ross’ starter Bulbasaur was committed to making up for the disgrace of not receiving the loyal starter he should have.

Bulbasaur and Charmander strode into the centre of the arena so they could look into each others eyes in preparation for their commands, but the orders never came. Alex knew that he had no way of judging Ross’ ability, so he was cautious, to his rival’s obvious dismay. He was counting on Alex charging into him completely blind, although the fact that he was using a fire Pokémon against Bulbasaur complicated his strategy. He had to make sure Charmander didn’t get a chance to attack Bulbasaur.

Irritated that Ross refused to surrender his advantage Alex made the first move. “Fine, if you insist on hiding behind my ignorance, then I’ll go first. Charmander, Smokescreen!”

With a shrill shriek Charmander raised his head into the air and released a cloud of black smoke from its prison within his body. Heat radiated off the cloud as it billowed out, filling the arena and shrouding the lizard Pokémon in a black fog that looked volcanic enough to choke a human. Bulbasaur glared at the ever-expanding obsidian haze with suspicion and trepidation; he understood what Charmander was trying to do by hiding himself. It was inviting attack on Bulbasaur.

Despite all her warnings against the tournament Amy was glad Ross had entered, even if he didn’t learn anything from the battles, it was riveting to watch. She imagined Ross as a lame Magikarp trying to face off against an immoveable Rhydon, and although it pained her to admit her own mistakes Ross had managed to make her feel as though he had some sort of shot at defeating his lifetime rival, in spite of the gap in their skills.

If Ross and Alex were as passionate as they claimed to be then Amy foresaw the battle running close to the time limit, although only the most advanced battles went for any longer then thirty minutes. Silently praying that Ross would be able to match up against the Greatest Novice in the World Amy suddenly remembered the weedy little boy she found washed up on the side of a river. He had come a long way since then, but was it far enough?

Spurred into action by Charmander’s disappearance Ross started barking commands. “Bulbasaur, get into the smoke! Don’t let Charmander find you!”

The fact that both Pokémon were now completely invisible vexed the crowd to no end, but Ross and Alex knew exactly what was happening and that was really all that mattered to Parker. While the stands erupted into exclamations of frustration and abuse Parker watched and waited as the two trainers prepared for the inevitable explosion of fire and leaf that would come.

After the first few minutes of nothing the smoke began to dissipate and the spectators received their first glimpse of the silent battle that was taking place. A figure stalked carefully through the gloom, searching exactly for its prey, however as more of the soot and ash fell away another figure was revealed, standing right behind the first, ready to pounce.

“Charmander!” Alex shouted. “Behind you!”

Whirling around without thought or pause, completely committed to his master’s orders Charmander reared back and released a blast of fireballs, illuminating the dark particles in the air and throwing the darkness aside in place of fiery embers. The spray of Ember blasts exploded around Bulbasaur, knocking the seed Pokémon to the ground and scoring his side black. Concern flashed briefly on Ross’ face, but it passed quickly.

As more and more people spotted Ross’ calm expression they begin peering at Bulbasaur to see why he was so relaxed. To everybody’s shock, including Alex’s, Bulbasaur wasn’t Bulbasaur at all; it appeared to be a rather tacky representation of the seed Pokémon, like a giant plush doll. Most in the stands were too shocked for words by Bulbasaur’s execution, even Ross’ rival hesitated, and it was this that would be his downfall.

From the plumes of smoke that dared to escape Charmander’s Ember attack shot two green vines that whipped around wildly until they finally slapped against Charmander’s leg and throat, hoisting the lizard Pokémon into the air so he could evade the next assault. The remaining smoke cleared from the battlefield to reveal the true Bulbasaur looking smugly at his victim.

Amy was stunned with the rest of the crowd; she didn’t know what Bulbasaur had learnt Substitute, and she was starting to wonder what other techniques Bulbasaur knew. The duplicate Bulbasaur lay docile on the ground its created wrestled with Charmander, twisting the lizard Pokémon around in the air so that his mouth was aimed away from his vulnerable bulb. There was a slim chance Charmander couldn’t yet focus the flame on his tail to shoot fire from his mouth, but due to his master’s history the chances of that were next to nothing.

“Hit him with Razor Leaf,” Ross ordered his companion, wasting no time to gloat of his successful maneuver.

Bulbasaur’s bulb opened slowly and aimed towards its target in the air. From the bulb shot dozens of small green leaves, their edges reinforced with uncompromising cuticles to deliver maximum damage. They raced at Charmander, grazing his sides and drawing streams of fiery magma that constituted the lizard’s circulatory system. After the first volley Charmander fell limp in Bulbasaur’s vines, having taken too much of a beating.

As the crowd admired Ross’ skill as a trainer Amy began to consider Alex’s ability, for there was no conceivable way that such a great trainer would lose his first Pokémon to a fight where he had the advantage. Furthermore his opponent was Ross, who had captured Amy’s confidence at one point, but now she found that waning beneath Alex’s smug grin.

“Well done, you really got me with that Razor Leaf,” Alex smirked, sarcastically.

Indignant, Ross shook uncontrollably. “Shut up.”

“I overestimated you, Ross. I thought you would put up a better fight then this, but the best you could manage is Razor Leaf! Its basic knowledge that grass Pokémon can’t penetrate fire Pokémon’s magmas skin. Razor Leaf is a good technique when used properly, but against Charmander it’s useless,” Alex shook his head in dismay for his rival. “Okay, Charmander, enough goofing around.”

With a wry smile the lizard Pokémon snapped his head forward, breaking Bulbasaur’s grasp and causing the seed Pokémon to drop his prize. Landing in the crouch Charmander laughed at his own rival and began stretching, as though he were just warming up. This caused Bulbasaur to growl angrily and, had he had any other master, he would have most likely attacked in a furious rage. Luckily Ross had taught him patience as well as battle tactics.

Serious now, Alex signaled for Charmander to stop playing with his enemy. “Face it, Ross, at your level you are no match for me.”

“Shut up,” It was all Ross could articulate.

“Instead of running around like an idiot why don’t you train hard, like me?”

“I train just as hard as you!”

Without a hint of complacency Alex lowered his voice so only Ross and Parker could hear. “Then why am I winning? If you haven’t figured it out yet the key to being a Pokémon Master isn’t some mystical psychic destiny, its sheer determination. You have to train everyday with your Pokémon it you want to be the best. Don’t expect to come here and win unless you have some hard work to show for it.”

Ross shook his head. “I have been training hard, you’ll see.”

“I doubt it, little buddy,” Alex snorted. “And I’ll show you why. Charmander, time to get serious; finish Bulbasaur quickly.”

“Bulbasaur, Razor Leaf,” Ross countered swiftly.

Their interval concluded the two trainers were once again launched at each other. Bulbasaur opened his bulb and fired another volley of leaves at his opponent, but as quick as a flash Charmander summoned his inner fire and launched Ember blasts at each individual leaf, blasting them out of the air until the only thing remaining between the two was the smell of scorched chlorophyll. Ross cringed at the sight of his Pokémon’s most powerful attack being discarded with relative ease.

His opponent completely countered Charmander prepared himself for another attack, but this time Ross could see the lizard was putting everything he had into the attack. His eyes began to glow and the trainer from Pallet’s eyes widened in surprise. Charmander’s next attack would completely wipe Bulbasaur out, if he didn’t do something first. The seed Pokémon glanced back at his master, waiting for a command.

“Bulbasaur, the Substitute, now!”

Vines shot out and whipped up the Bulbasaur doll, throwing him in front of Charmander who vomited a stream of fire towards his opponent, scorching the air itself. Ross was blown away by the sheer power of the attack; for as far as fire Pokémon went Flamethrower was the technique of choice. It created a perfect balance between power and accuracy, however to create a constant stream of flame was taxing on the Pokémon, so only the strongest could master the attack. Growlithe watched the battle with envy in his eyes.

As soon as the Flamethrower hit the Substitute it exploded throwing Bulbasaur away, much like the rag-doll clone he created. He struggled to his feet, but to his dismay he saw that Charmander wasn’t fatigued at all by the advanced technique. Suddenly the seed Pokémon and his master were faced with a disturbing truth; Bulbasaur would be hit with the Flamethrower and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The only question was how they could use the assault to their benefit. Bulbasaur glanced back at his master and nodded knowingly.

When Charmander reared back and spewed forth another funnel of flame Bulbasaur was ready for the attack, twisting around in a frantic attempt to absorb the blast on a less vulnerable spot on his body. What Bulbasaur failed to realize was that the Flamethrower didn’t discriminate when it hit, it famed his entire body. With a defeated groan Bulbasaur slumped backwards to the ground, his side blackened and his eyes closed.

The crowd, sympathetic of Ross, the underdog of the battle, crooned for his Pokémon, who lay motionless in the middle of the arena, however Ross would have none of their pity, he just stared Alex in the eyes, dissolving his rival’s smirk in an instant. “Bulbasaur, you’ve bided your time, now strike!”

Not for the first time in the battle Amy was completely taken by surprise. Bulbasaur leapt up and extended his vines behind him, as though he were about to bring them down on top of Charmander, however when the lizard Pokémon looked up for the onslaught Bulbasaur whirled around, creating a disc of green in the centre of the battlefield and flinging Charmander away with little trouble. The fire lizard took the attack directly in the face, so when he got up everybody could see how close he was to fainting.

Brock had used Bide to completely overwhelm Butterfree and turn the tide in his battle with Ross, and now, almost three months later Bulbasaur had just copied the Gym Leader flawlessly. For the first time in the battle Amy looked down on Ross with awe and respect. She had witnessed his resourcefulness before, but to copy a Gym Leader’s strategy was something completely different. The ability to constantly adapt to his opponents was a skill that would take Ross far.

“You moron,” Alex snapped, forgetting his cool. “Where did you learn that technique?”

“I picked it up in Pewter City.”

Even from up in the stands Amy could see that Ross was completely white and Amy knew why; he had used his trump card on Alex and it hadn’t won the match, which meant Charmander would get another chance to attack and Bulbasaur would be knocked out. It was obvious that the battle was over, however the crowd weren’t as critical as Amy, they thought Ross was back in the game. Shaking her head Amy descended the stands towards the ring.

Smirking Alex swept his hand across the length of the arena dramatically. “This ends now!”

Charmander reared back one final time and launched a blast of fire at Bulbasaur, who looked to his trainer, desperate for a command. As the flames licked his body the seed Pokémon shed a single tear for his master and the dream that was being destroyed with his defeat, then he fell into unconsciousness. Ross pulled out a Pokéball, his body working on automatic to retrieve his beaten friend.

“Bulbasaur is unable to battle. Charmander is the winner. The match goes to Alexander Oak,” Parker swung his flag through the air and the crowd went wild with applause, although to Ross they sounded distracted. He could hear explosions coming from another arena and assumed a more exciting bout was taking place.

Collecting himself up he left the battlefield, his course set for Cerulean City. The match had ended so suddenly he had no time to register the defeat in his mind, he just continued as though he had won the tournament, swinging his backpack over his shoulder and striding off the bridge, defiantly, leaving the crowds behind him to congratulate his better, Alex. It wasn’t until he reached the outskirts of Cerulean City that the tears started to trickle down his soft face.

Although he had been in many close battles he had never been defeated before, so he didn’t know how to handle the sensation of disappointment. He had never gotten used to being a failure in Pallet Town and now he felt as though he were back there again, scorned in school, mocked by Alex and banished to Professor Oak’s laboratory to study the Pokédex in solitude, his only companion the worrisome aid, Jonathon Elm.

Growlithe came to Ross’ side, but he couldn’t offer any support, he was just as sad as his master. He had been having such a great time traveling with Ross he had forgotten his own problems, but now that the image of a perfect journey was shattered forever Growlithe felt uncertainty returning to his heart. More then ever he looked to Ross for reassurance, but the boy from Pallet just stared blankly at the road, his salty tears falling for an eternity before fading into oblivion on the asphalt.

“Ross, wait up!”

An expert at hiding his feelings Ross wiped the tears from his eyes and turned around to face Amy. To his surprise Alex was with the girl, however where she looked worried about Ross Alexander only looked smug. He was a pillar of confidence, as though what he had been preaching was right all along and Ross’ training was inadequate to compare to his own.

Suddenly Ross began to think realistically, ignoring his pride and opening his mind to new ideas and possibilities. Perhaps his rival was right that he wasn’t striving hard enough. Ross had always been scared of pushing his Pokémon, but it was then that he understood that their friendship meant that they expected to be pushed. What was the point of being a Pokémon Trainer if you couldn’t be the best you could be?

Interrupting his thoughts Alex laughed, jeeringly. “So, I told you you were no match for me!”

Returning his rival’s grin Ross put on a brave face. “I guess we’ve finally figured out who is the better of us, Alex.”

“Was there any ever doubt?”

“Yeah,” Ross admitted. “There was a time when I thought it was me.”

Alex shoved Ross playfully. “And now?”

“I think it’s you.”

Sadly, assuming that Ross had given in to one depression or another, Amy shook her head. The disappointment on her face was completely evident, obvious to even the most elementary of observers. She had expected more from Ross, that when faced with defeat he would be able to perhaps draw on the experiences he had shared with her over the past few months, but he seemed defeated. Luckily appearances were deceiving.

Clearing his throat Ross smiled slyly at Alex. “And when I beat you it will make my victory even more satisfying to know that I’ve beaten the best.”

“Err, what?” Alex murmured after performing a double take.

“You heard me, Alexander; the next time we meet each other in battle I’m going to beat you.”

Beaming Amy stepped between the two before a rematch broke out on the spot. “Then it’s settled. Shall we say Indigo Plateau in about five years?”

Hearing his name over the loud speaker back at the tournament Alex looked furious that he couldn’t argue with his opponent, but it was obvious by the slight grin tugging at his mouth that he was relieved his rival wasn’t throwing in the towel. Turning away from Ross and Amy he dashed towards his next bout. “It’s a date.”

“Good luck,” Ross called after his rival as the twelve year old rushed off.

“Smell you later.”

Watching his rival walk away from him allowed Ross to reflect on his unique perspective. He had proven on the Nugget Bridge that he was not the Champion of Pallet Town that the seers had prophesized about at Sprout Tower a hundred years before, but he really didn’t care. If Alexander was some paragon of Pokémon mastery then his defeat would be a phenomenal achievement for Ross, proving once and for all that he was a Pokémon Master.

Grinning widely Ross started strolling into Cerulean City, oblivious to Growlithe and Amy who followed, worried about their friend who was showing signs of insanity. It was only when they reached the south side of the city that Ross paused beneath and tree to begin treating Bulbasaur’s wounds, allowing Amy a chance to talk to him about his defeat.

“Are you alright?” She asked, bluntly.

Truthfully Ross answered her, whilst applying a burn healing salve to Bulbasaur. “I’ve never felt better.”

“You just lost.”

“I did, didn’t I?” He laughed happily.

An eyebrow raised, Amy checked Ross forehead. “Are you feeling alright?”

“Never better, Amy. Never better.”

And it was true; he had never felt so committed to becoming a Pokémon Master, all thanks to a simple defeat. After the incident at Mount Moon Ross was starting to lose sight of the entire plot, but now that he was defeated he could see everything for what it was, a process that needed to be undertaken. The next day Ross planned on running his Pokémon through tougher and more taxing drills, even Magikarp. He would train them all.

But first he needed to see to Pikachu. “We should hurry up and get to Vermilion City and meet with that Lieutenant Surge. Time is a wasting.”

“Okay, but answer me this first. Why are you so calm about your loss? I always thought you’d consider defeat to be the end of the world.”

“But it isn’t,” Ross smiled. “It’s just the beginning.”

[Twilight Absol]

ehh....nice fic, I remember this one, so you are posting it for him? One word of advice though...it's best to post chapters at the fastest one chapter per day, or the length just turns ppl off....

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Yeah, I asked Ross and he gave the OK to hey, I thought I'd give everyone the chance, I'll post another chapter soon...(once I get the chance).

[Cipher Admin Anti-Shipping]

this is a very good fic, I only got around to reading chapter 1 and 2, but this is a good fic as the plot actually twists a little bit and differs from most journey fics

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Trust me, if you continue to read on, and once I can get the other chapters up, it'll be the best plot you'll have ever read. I can tell you from experiance.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 13: Cruise Ship, Party Night


As though unfazed by pleads for help from the two twelve your old trainers at the front gate of the Kanto Defence Force Academy the two military police brandished their automatic rifles as a warning for the benefit of any Pokémon Trainers who were thinking about sneaking into the base. Although they sympathized with the boy and his sick Pikachu their military training demanded that they turn him away without delay so that the road would be cleared for official escorts on that very special evening.

Frustrated by the soldiers’ unyielding stoicism the girl started to create quite an uproar, to the military police’s irritation. “We have to speak to Lieutenant Surge about a sick Pokémon. This is of the utmost importance. He’s the electric Pokémon specialist, isn’t he?”

“Look, kid,” The first soldier stepped forward, his hand blocking their way and his face a patronizing sneer. “No unauthorized personnel on base.”

“Come on, Gregory,” The second whispered, so that the children wouldn’t hear their disagreement.

Gregory turned back to his associate and repeated himself. “No unauthorized personnel on base.”

“What if the Colonel wants to help?”

“And what if he doesn’t, Horton? Surge would chew our arses off.”

Stepping forward Ross spoke up for the first time since they’d arrived at the military base. It had taken Ross, Amy and Growlithe four days to track down Lieutenant Surge, which was strange considering his infamy in the nearby Vermilion City. He would come in to the local drinking establishments during rest and recreation and drink the town dry with his buddies. With no enemies to fight the military was becoming complacent and that could become dangerous for Kanto should the mysterious Team Rocket take a physical presence in the world.

“If we can’t go in then could you at least tell him we are here to see him?” Ross asked.

Private Horton, the more sympathetic of the two, seemed as though he were about to concede to Ross’ request and phone his superior, but Private Gregory stopped him. “I’m sorry, little boy, but tonight is a big night. You probably know about the fancy party aboard the S.S. Anne, being the big time trainer you are, well, the lieutenant was invited to the Captain’s table, so he’s pretty busy this evening. Try again tomorrow.”

Angry that he was being patronized by the tactless soldier was about to make a scene, but thought better of himself. Instead Ross just nodded and turned to leave. “Thank you for you help.”

“We’ll be back,” Amy added as they retreated down the road, past a convey of limousines.

It was an overcast afternoon, draped in shadow by the sun which was already beginning to set, rendered invisible by the grey sky, in mockery of the fiery summer that had scorched the entire region just two months before. As autumn began and Ross’ fellowship made their way south towards Vermilion City the weather began to turn surprisingly rapidly, ignoring the claims by meteorologists that Mount Cinnabar was throwing up enough dust to transform Kanto into a tropical zone.

While scientists futilely tried to figure out what was happening on the island in southern Kanto Ross and his Pokémon friends trained feverously, so that they would never be faced with a Nugget Bridge defeat ever again, however the path on self-improvement didn’t end there for Ross; he endeavored to spend his free moments talking to Amy about her past, her interests and her dreams. Although he felt the girl wasn’t telling him everything about her past he could understand her hesitation, since he hadn’t told her that he had known Alexander Oak. Ross took enough comfort in the fact that they were finally talking like they were friends, instead of merely traveling companions.

Although they had taken a detour past Saffron City to reach Vermilion City faster Ross had insisted that they wait before looking for Lieutenant Surge, partly because he wished to continue his training, but also because he wasn’t ready to hear of Alex’s inevitable victory at the Nugget Bridge, so they camped about outside Vermilion City until Ross was ready to get back to the civilization he had been avoiding. His fears were justified, for Alexander had wiped the floor with all competition, claiming the fifty thousand Pokéyen reward

The news reached the group when they were sitting at a café in the city centre and the radio announced the Champion of the One-Hundred and Forty-Ninth International Pokémon League at the Indigo Plateau. The reporter had also mention the rising talent from Pallet Town and grandson of the world-renowned Pokémon Professor, Samuel Oak, who had succeeded in winning the Nugget Bridge Tournament without losing a single Pokémon. Amy thought he had taken the news well.

“Well, are we going?” Snapped from his reverie Ross looked to Amy for an explanation. “To the party aboard the S.S. Anne.”

“I don’t remember getting invited.”

“I do,” Amy held up two small, gold tickets.

Understanding hit Ross like a bolt of lightning. “Of course! Bill! I’d forgotten.”

Pocketing the tickets Amy squinted at her friend, almost absurdly. “You got so worked up over the party back at the lighthouse, how could you forget about it?”

“Just slipped my mind,” Ross shrugged.

As they continued down the road, through the wet, dank forests surrounding Vermilion City Ross began to become aware of the salty smell in the air, reminding him of the lighthouse they had washed up at so long ago. He was a different person now, desperate to fulfill his dreams no matter the cost, sacrificing his own happiness to see his friends become the best they could be. Even Magikarp was showing signs of improvement, although another greater then a Metapod would still be able to take him out in one hit.

Starting to get ideas for the party Amy tried striking up a conversation. “If this party is formal enough to attract Bill’s attention we’ll need something to wear other then our travel clothes.”

“Eh?” Ross grunted, distracted by thoughts of Pokémon leagues.

“We should go and hire some stuff to wear.”

“Why?”

Frustrated by her male friend Amy decided to take control of the conversation. “I could get a black dress, with sequins and I could wear a rose, like a broach. Oh, it would be great to wear a dress again. I’ve been traveling so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like to go to one of these big events. There’s nothing quite like an upper-class social, with dukes and princes from strange and exotic lands. The clouds are a little depressing, though.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Ross laughed.

“Parties.”

With a quick shake of his head the trainer from Pallet sighed. “I expected more from you, but you are like all the other girls, obsessed with getting your dream guy and having a wonderful evening of dancing and stuff.”

“Hey, I’ve been on the road a lot longer then you and I want a magical evening,” Amy insisted.

As they walked Ross became more and more dreary. “I doubt they even make dresses like what you’re describing for twelve year olds.”

“I’m thirteen.”

“What?”

“I turned thirteen at Bill’s house,” She informed her companion bluntly. When he stopped in the middle of the road and stared at her incredulously she explained. “You were busy training and I didn’t want to distract you, so Bill, Growlithe and I had a private little ceremony.”

Ross turned to his loyal puppy Pokémon. “You knew about her birthday?” Growlithe nodded and continued to strut down the road, as though he were **** of the walk. “Traitor,” Ross muttered.

“Don’t worry about it,” Amy insisted when they continued.

“Birthdays aside, what about money, we can’t afford dresses and suits and stuff.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, I’m loaded.”

Rolling his eyes again Ross paused when they left the woods. “Why wasn’t I informed?”

Before them was Vermilion City, the port town of the central Kanto valley and home dock of the S.S. Anne, the most prestigious ocean liner in the world, challenged only by the S.S. Aqua which was being constructed in dry dock in Johto. About the same size as Cerulean City Vermilion was a sprawling metropolis, which lacked the high rises of Saffron, but made up for its horizontal orientation with a huge development district and dock front.

As they entered the city Ross turned to Amy. “So, what did Bill get you?”



* * * * *



Careful not to disturb his medals which hung proudly in their splendor above his heart whilst uncomfortably adjusting his tie, one of the few arts he was unable to master in all his years as a drill instructor, not to mention a Pokémon Gym Leader, Lieutenant Colonel Galvani Surge silently ran through the etiquette he was required to adhere to at the dinner aboard the S.S. Anne. When he had initially received his invitation from Captain Bow he was hesitant to accept, but quickly realized the sad truth; he had nothing better to do.

Laying down his arms in face of a superior adversary Surge threw his tie down to the floor of his bedroom and grabbed a clip-on from his drawer, forced into impatience by the limousines outside which beeped their horns to announce their presence. His watch read six-oh-five, he and his entourage were already late for the reception. Although Surge despised formal events where he was forced into the uncomfortable military dress uniform of dark navy and black, he admired punctuality.

A knock on the door preceded Major Victor’s entrance into Surge’s bedroom. Although not as physically imposing as his commander the executive officer was by no means scrawny, able to throw his subordinates about on the gym mats with the greatest of ease, a mastery Surge had taught him. Surge didn’t acknowledge his presence at first; he simply stood before the mirror struggling with the clip-on with all the ferocity of a private wrestling a foreign soldier to the ground.

“God, I hate these things,” Surge muttered to Victor who waited patiently for the colonel to finish getting ready. Victor would never disrespect Surge by pointing out their tardiness for the reception, for he was sure he knew what time it was.

Stepping to the side to see Surge’s progress in the mirror Victor allowed himself a slight shrug. “I’m sure you’ll get it eventually, sir.”

“I wasn’t talking about the tie,” Surge explained with the wry grin.

“You never did enjoy wearing full dress, did you, sir?”

Nodding incessantly as he worked the final clip around his collar Surge became flustered by the fiendish contraption that was supposed to do little more then hang around his neck and avoid being hindrance. Surrendering once again to yet another worthy adversary Surge threw the clip-on to the ground. “To Hell with a tie.”

Crossing the room to the bed Victor picked up the sabre that rested comfortably on the end of the bed and turned back to his commander. “It’s is part of the uniform, sir, and it’s required at these formal parties.”

Surge snorted and grabbed the weapon by the black and gold scabbard. “What are they going to do? Disallow me entry into their gala? If we are turned away I’ll simply have the drivers take us to the Indecent Gardevoir and we can drink the night away. We haven’t done that in a while, have we?”

“No, sir.”

Slapping the sword to his side Surge began waving his free arm eccentrically. “Screw champagne! Give me some Red Tauros any day.”

“Yes, sir,” Victor laughed.

The executive officer of the Kanto Military Academy was glad that his superior was in better spirits. Over the past few years Surge had become more and more distant, staying in his room at night instead of fraternizing with the men, which used to be his hallmark as a commander. It came with the knowledge that the world was at peace and with the Rangers patrolling between the cities it would stay that way.

Lieutenant Colonel Surge had been trained by dinosaurs of an archaic epoch where the road to peace was pathed with destruction, instead of the good intentions of the young. It was becoming more and more obvious to Victor that the Kanto Defence Force was becoming more and more obsolete as time went by, and as it slipped into neglect so did the commanding officer of its training grounds.

Picking up his white cap from the bed Surge straightened up, as though he were being drilled. “Well, what you think?”

“You look like ****,” Victor answered quickly. To sate the military protocol that had been bred into him by his years in the military Victor endeavoured to stick to ceremony, so he brought his left foot to his right with a quick jerk and snapped his right hand to his brow in salute. “Sir.”

Returning the salute half-heartedly, a sign of disrespect Surge slapped his executive officer on the shoulder and pointed to the door. “I didn’t know you cared. After you, Major,” His emphasis on rank made Victor cringe, but he was glad his shot was in.

By the time they had exited Surge’s cabin the Colonel was marching with army-borne purpose, saluting his subordinates crisply and quickly as he made his way towards the parked limousines. He was the model of military etiquette, a totally different person from the spoiled boy who had traded blows with Victor just moments before. As a colonel Surge knew his place and the place of his men whilst on duty.

The chauffeur opened the back door of the limousine for Surge who leapt in quickly and shifted across so that Victor could enter behind him. When he reached the far window he saw a private running across the asphalt towards his car. The man was completely dwarfed by the military outpost behind him, which bustled with activity. Hundreds of soldiers ran drills while fighter jets rocketed overhead, bound for the Bay of Kanto where the I.B.C. Kangaskhan’s Child was performing manoeuvres.

As the private reached the limousine the phone rang on the console next to the television and bar fridge. Surge wound down the window and pointed at the phone for the benefit of Victor who climbed into the limousine and slammed the door. “Can you get that?”

“Lieutenant Surge, sir,” The private saluted, surprised to see his commander through the window of the limousine.

Frustrated by the pet name he had received from the Pokémon training community Surge returned the salute and sighed. “Although I’m not on duty, I’d prefer it if my subordinates accorded me the respect I deserve and address me by my military rank, which is Lieutenant Colonel, or Colonel if you think that’s a mouthful, never Lieutenant. Is that alright with you? Private Horton,” Surge snapped, reading the man’s nametag before finishing.

“Sir, yes, sir,” Horton stammered.

“You aren’t being drilled, Private; one ‘sir’ is enough.”

“Yes, sir.”

Surge paused as a fighter took off, drowning out their conversation. While they waited Horton stood dumbly in the presence of such a powerful figure. After a few seconds the noise subsided, but before Private Horton could deliver the report he had undoubtedly crossed the compound to convey Major Victor interrupted, covering the mouthpiece and holding the phone up to Surge.

“Sir, it’s for you,” Victor advised. “It’s important,” He added when he saw that Surge didn’t appreciate being interrupted mid conversation, first by a jet then by his executive officer.

Nodding, Surge turned back to Horton. “Make it quick, Private.”

“Yes, sir…”

Private Horton was cut off by the limousine driver, who wanted to get underway and sought to make sure his passengers was similarly inclined. The black screen separating the driver’s cabin from back lowered slowly and the chauffeur stuck his head through the gap. “Whenever you are ready, sir.”

“Just wait until the Colonel is finished with Private Horton,” Victor advised.

Taking the phone from the major as he spoke Surge prompted Horton to be quick. “Sir, a couple of minutes ago two Pokémon Trainers came to the front gate asking to talk to you about a sick Pokémon, but Private Gregory and I turned them away.”

Without interrupting Surge and Horton Victor continued talking with the chauffeur. “When you head into the city make sure you take the north road. We are supposed to be entertaining a non-com, the President of the Pokémon Fan Club, so we’ll have to make a slight detour.”

“Don’t worry, about it, Major, I already have it written in my routes.”

“Did you point them in the direction of the Pokémon Centre?” Surge asked the Private, sarcastically.

To Surge’s annoyance Victor turned to him. “That’s alright, isn’t it, sir?”

“Its fine,” Surge insisted, rubbing his eyes. Putting the phone to his ear the Colonel looked up at Private Horton. “Thank you for telling me, Private. I’ll keep an eye out.”

“We weren’t sure whether we should report to you directly, because it’s not strictly military.”

“All Pokémon matters come to me, directly, thank you, Private,” Rolling up his window Surge indicated for the driver to proceed out of the compound. “Damn kids should learn not to come knocking. Haven’t I defeated enough of them?” Surge asked Victor rhetorically, lowering the guise of seniority in the face of their privacy; the chauffeur had brought the screen back up.

Ignoring all protocol Victor had gone to the bar fridge and poured himself and his compatriot a glass of champagne. “I guess there are two more you need to beat, besides, you don’t win all your battles. You gave a Thunder Badge to that Alexander kid from Pallet Town.”

Taking a sip before removing his hand from the mouthpiece of the phone Surge nodded. “Damn ground types. Hello?”

“Galvani?” The young female voice asked, nervously. “It’s Misty, from the Cerulean Gym.”

Surge chuckled to himself. “I know who you are, Misty.”

“Sorry, but we haven’t talked in a while.”

“Hold on, I’ll put you on the monitor,” Victor leaned forward and pressed a button on the side of the television in the limousine, calling up the image of the beautiful red-head from Cerulean City. When she saw Surge’s face appear on her own screen she relaxed. “Now, what’s so important?”

“There was an incident at the Nugget Bridge Tournament last month. As you might have seen on the news the winner of the tournament was a young boy from Pallet Town; however what wasn’t publicized was the fact that the winner of the event was approached privately by an employee of the sponsor. He tried to recruit the winning trainer,” Misty reported, solemnly.

Curious Surge leaned forward. “Recruit him into what?”

Misty fidgeted on the small monitor, upset by her answer. “The incident on Mount Moon has lead to speculation that there is a new organization rising.”

“Team Rocket?” Surge laughed. “That myth has been floating around for years.”

“Well it’s gotten to the point where the League has decided to look into the validity of the stories. I’m actually calling to inform you there is a Gym Leader summit at Indigo Plateau next month to discuss the current situation. Everybody will be attending, from Kanto to Johto, with the possible exception of Sabrina, who is sending an emissary in her place.”

Taking a long sip of his champagne Lieutenant Surge considered the implications of such a summit; there hadn’t been so many Gym Leaders in one place for nearly a hundred years, ever since Team Bane was wiped out. It would be a real treat seeing all the Gym Leaders from Johto, he hadn’t talked to some of them in years, so it would be nice to catch up. Judging by Lorelei’s conviction is seemed there would be little time for pleasantries, though.

There must have been quite a bit of unrest at Indigo Plateau for Lorelei to get authorization to call a summit. As coordinator of the Gym Leader Challenge it was Lorelei’s responsibility to see that all the Gym Leader’s were well informed with the League’s policies and if that meant the League had decide to take the Team Rocket stories seriously then the Gym Leader’s were going to receive their orders in a months time.

Putting his drink on a coaster set in the door Surge snapped back to the conversation. “So, who is the emissary Sabrina is sending?”

“Her associate, William Bender.”

“And why won’t she be attending herself?”

The image of Misty flickered as she shrugged. “Lorelei didn’t say.”

“When is the summit exactly?”

“The fifteenth.”

Surge suddenly became excited by the idea of a clandestine organization that had managed to evade the Pokémon League for as long as it had. Although he, like all honest trainers, understood the tragedy of war the sad fact was that all his training in the military was pointless unless he could put it to use, and it sounded as though Team Rocket would provide him with that opportunity. His anticipation was bitter-sweet, but he could only guess it was the same for all the Gym Leaders.

Gym Leaders could only battle so many children who didn’t understand how to wield their Pokémon and they could only fight so many adult trainers who had lost their thirst for adventure before their skills became stagnant. He knew he was wrong to feel the way he did, but part of him hoped all the rumours were true and Team Rocket was rising.

Curious as to what Misty thought of the whole situation Surge tried exploring her opinions. “What do you think of this whole Team Rocket crisis? Sounds like a steaming pile of Tauros **** to me, but I suppose if the League thinks something of it then its worth investigating.”

“I’ve seen evidence of Team Rocket’s presence first hand, so I don’t think it’s something to laugh at, however I do think it’s a waste of time,” She admitted.

“How do you figure?” Surge asked, downing the remainder of his champagne and passing the empty glass to Victor, who placed it in the bar fridge and handed his superior another, more squat glass filled with scotch and ice, which rattled around in the limousine as it pulled into the city.

Adamant in her convictions Misty flicked her hair back and grinned. “I could be going to my boyfriend’s beach house, but instead I’m committed to this summit, thanks to these criminals, that mightn’t exist at all. If they do exist I’m going to kick their arses for wasting my time.”

Surge glanced at Major Victor. “Uh, okay,” Feeling the limousine begin to slow he looked back to Misty apologetically. “Sorry, Misty, but we’re about to take on another passenger and he isn’t authorized to hear this information. I guess I’ll see you at the Indigo Plateau.”

“Alright,” The Cerulean Gym Leader nodded, nobly. “See you then. Bye.”

“Goodbye,” Surge clicked off the television just as the door of the car opened.

Climbing in was an older gentleman in a black suit complete with a cloak and a top hat, and an elderly lady that could only be his wife. The old man’s wispy white goatee betrayed his age, which was well past a lot of the Pokémon Trainers that Surge knew. As the President of the Pokémon Fan Club he was once a great trainer in his day, but now Howard Lincoln was just a senile old man who spent all his time worshipping trainers and Pokémon alike. He had actually made a business around following the exploits of trainers.

Although he had little respect for Howard now Surge had heard stories of the old timer’s exploits as a young lad. He had never become a Pokémon Master, few did, but his skills were impressive none-the-less, allowing him to reach the final round in several Pokémon League tournaments until his retirement over twenty years before.

He courteously tipped his hat to Surge and Victor. “Hello, gentlemen.”

“Hello, Howard. Madam Lincoln,” The major smiled at fan club president and his wife and offered them a seat. “It’s good to see you again. Tell that granddaughter of yours that the cookies she made for Lieutenant Surge’s Squad were much appreciated by all the boys. Right, Colonel?”

Surge just huffed; he wasn’t interested in the banter between Lincoln and his executive officer who just so happened to be courting the older man’s granddaughter, Surge’s mind was focused on the summit being arranged at the Indigo Plateau, and it was pointed in that direction for the rest of the trip to the Cruise Ship S.S. Anne’s pier. The S.S. Anne itself was visible long before they reached the wharf, though, for it was a huge ship, greater then any other in the water.

Although it was a tremendous vessel, dwarfing all those in the water, there was rumour that it was at the end of its life and would soon be replaced by the Fast Ship S.S. Aqua from Johto. Having sailed many times on the S.S. Anne as a child Surge would be saddened if the old cruise ship was retired, like so much else in the world around him. It was symbolic of the progress being made and heralded a new age of technological prosperity.

At three-hundred and sixty-three meters long, with a beam of thirty-four meters, the Lapras-class Cruise Ship could support over seven-hundred passengers at any one time, lending its three function halls to their needs or one of dozens of onboard restaurants. It was one of a kind when it was commissioned nearly half a century ago and it still catered to the best in the world, outclassing all other cruise ships, while still allowing for lower class guests.

Surge took a deep breath of the salt air before proceeding up the gang-plank, his entourage in tow. The red and white hull and twin smoke stacks conjured memories of his childhood where he would watch the majestic behemoth set sail every chance he got. Nostalgic by the time he reached the top he was disappointed to see the first mate waiting to greet him instead of Captain Bow.

“Lieutenant Surge,” The elderly officer extended his hand forward to greet the mountainous Gym Leader. “I am Commander Stern. I’m afraid the Captain may not be joining us tonight.”

“That’s too bad,” Although disappointed by the news Surge did not let it show. Captain Bow was almost as old as the S.S. Anne itself, so it was hard to distinguish between the old seadog and the grand vessel he commanded. Commander Stern was just as ancient as his captain, but it was Bow who entertained the local schoolchildren with stories of fighting pirates off the coast of Hoenn, whilst Stern busied himself below deck with ship operation.

Directed into the main ballroom by restaurant staff Surge was surprised to see the golden halls so alive with activity. The night before any voyage from Vermilion City a great party was held in honor of the vessel’s hometown, but the captain had outdone himself this time. So many people were enjoying the festivities onboard the S.S. Anne that the royal red carpet that adorned the interiors was completely blocked out by party goers. The only floor visible was the crystal of the dance floor.

Classical music hung in the air, providing those in the centre of the room with a beat to waltz to. Everybody else strolled between their tables, chatting happily to old friends and acquaintances that could only come together at a party aboard the S.S. Anne. Stepping through the crowd Surge made for the great stairway that pointed upwards to the bow of the ship. It was in this private dinner hall that the captain’s table was situated.

Before he even reached the stairway he was stopped by a guest who recognized him and wanted to talk to him about one thing or another. It was not an unusual event, due to his position as Gym Leader. The thing that made Surge look at the boy twice was the fact that despite his tuxedo the boy looked completely out of place at the party, not in part because of the Growlithe at his side, but also because of the dirty sneakers on his feet, beneath the hired tux.

“Lieutenant Surge?” The boy asked

Pausing with one foot already on a higher step and his hand groping the railing Surge stopped to address the boy. “Yeah, that’s right. How can I help you, boy?”

“My name is Ross Spare of Pallet Town…”

Suddenly Surge’s memory returned to him, the name of Pallet Town of particular significance. He remembered all the news reports and even his conversation with Misty and realization dawned on him; Ross Spare was the trainer who won the Nugget Bridge Tournament and uncovered the Team Rocket plot. He must have received an invitation to the party from Captain Bow in recognition of his achievement in Cerulean City.

Trying to hide his ignorance Surge extended a hand. “Ah, Ross, I’ve heard a lot about you.”



* * * * *



Although the party, which was in full swing behind her called out to Amy she continued to make her way down the first-class nexus towards the officer’s quarters at the front of the ship nestled beneath the bridge for easy access during an emergency. Occasionally a member of the S.S. Anne staff would stop her and see if she required assistance, but she sent them away, because she knew exactly where she was going; Captain Bow’s cabin lay just ahead.

While Ross and Growlithe searched for Lieutenant Surge at the party Amy forced herself to steal away and find the captain of the ship. It had been some time since she had stretched her trainer muscle, having fought against her last Gym Leader over six months before in the backwater town of Pewter. Traveling with Ross only lead her to gyms she’d already been to, so she had little to do but train Vulpix, Wartortle and Geodude.

Not once did she regret her decision not to part company with the naïve trainer from Pallet Town, but it did mean that she would have to find other ways to entertain herself. Finding the legendary Captain Bow, the Cut Master, was one of these ways. Although he spent most of his time captaining the S.S. Anne Captain Bow also kept a Farfetch’d which was reputed to be capable of cutting anything its experience and skill was so wealthy. Amy looked forward to being advised by the master.

It was surprising to hear from the cook’s aid that Captain Bow would not be at the celebration he was hosting. Rumours onboard the S.S. Anne would have Amy believe that the captain was suffering from mal de mer, a condition that would make him the laughing stock of the oceanic community. Captain Bow was under the influence of sea sickness.

Coming at last to the old man’s door Amy rapped gently against the oak wood door, careful not to make too much noise incase she aroused the interest of more staff. “Captain Bow? Are you in there?”

Hearing nothing the young trainer felt defeated, however when she was alerted to movement in the room by muffled footsteps her hope of learning from a master was rekindled. Surprised by her own gall Amy reached down and turned the door handle, prying the large wooden gate from its frame. It slowly fell inwards and allowed its operator access to Captain Bow’s cabin. Holding her breath, incase she found something not too pleasant, and cursing Ross, whose persistence had obviously rubbed off on her, Amy proceeded into the room.

“What do you want?” Captain Bow shouted from beneath a towel. “Go away!” He corrected.

Stepping over the threshold of the cabin and holding her hands up in defence of her obstinacy Amy was amazed by the decor of the room; it was a monument to a man’s lifetime achievements. Along one wall was all his qualifications as captain of various ships and awards he’s be granted by captains of others, but along yet another was all the trophies he’d garnered performing his Farfetch’d’s technique at numerous tournaments and League events.

Addressing the man whose head rested on the edge of a red bucket, shielded by a white and green towel, Amy spoke up. “Captain Bow? Wow, I didn’t want to believe the rumours, but I guess they are true after all; you are sea sick.”

“Just came in here to tell me that did you, young lady? Thank you for your commentary.”

“It’s just,” Amy stammered, nervous, despite her aversion to society’s myths. “You are a living legend, so it’s really odd seeing you hurling into a bucket when you should really be navigating the oceans of the world. How did you get by for so many years with your ailment? Surely somebody would have noticed you sick before.”

Captain Bow snorted. “I never complained.”

“But wouldn’t that mean that nobody ever diagnosed you?”

“What do you want, young lady?” Bow ignored her previous rationalization.

Rolling her eyes Amy made her way over to the small kitchenette built into the side of the regal cabin. Rummaging across the tabletop she encountered a small box that made her smile and conclude her search. Pulling a mug out of the cupboard and setting the kettle to boil Amy dropped the bag of ginger tea that she had procured from the box into the mug and leant back, contently, sure that the captain would find some relief in her concoction.

Unsure as to whether he should alert security or remove the intruder himself Captain Bow struggled to his feet. “What are you doing there?”

“Making tea,” Amy answered, plainly.

“I don’t feel like tea.”

“I’m sorry, Captain, but this will make you feel better, I guarantee it.”

With the kettle’s task completed Amy began pouring the boiling water into the captain’s mug, making sure that the steaming water absorbed as much of the ginger as possible, then aptly dunking the bag twice in ceremony. Triumphant she presented her creation to the sick old captain, who stared at the tea with more then a little suspicion. He, like many others, had heard stories of queer folk about who were up to no good, so he was wary.

Despite his misgiving Captain Bow took the mug from the little girl and took a sip, cringing in the aftertaste of the ginger, but continuing to drink at his visitor’s behest. As he drank the girl came to his side and rubbed his back, spreading the warmth of the tea through his body. When he was finished the nausea that had dominated his being was diminished.

Surprised by the results of the girl’s remedy Captain Bow became curious of her identity. “Who are you?”

“My name is Amy Amaranth,” She proclaimed proudly.

Doubt still stopped him from opening up to the young lady, but Captain Bow did feel grateful to her for alleviating his illness. He had always suspected that ginger tea helped cure sea sickness, and now she had proved his theory. If he had known about the miracle cure earlier he could have avoided years of discomfort.

“Well, Miss Amaranth, thank you for your assistance.”

Amy smiled. “Actually there is something you could help me with.”

“Really? I do not know what an old dog could do for somebody such as yourself.”

“Teach me cutting combat.”

Taken off guard by her request Bow slowly realized that it made sense. He had always been unable to train an apprentice because he was too sick to be near people, but now that his ailment was resolved it was only logical that his saviour be his first pupil. Besides, he was old and he made no illusions regarding his mortality. Cutting was an art that needed to be kept alive, because none could develop it naturally.

As excitement gripped his old heart so did dawning sadness. “I would be happy to help you, however the S.S. Anne sets sail tomorrow, and it would take more then one night to teach you about the art of Cut. Are you traveling to Johto? If you are taking the full trip and not just attending the party I could expose you to all the wonders of my Farfetch’d’s technique.”

“Oh,” Amy’s face was plunged into deep thought. “I don’t know where I’m going.”

“The S.S. Anne docks at Mahogany Town,” Bow advised her.

Sadly, Amy shook her head. “I actually have some business in Kanto.”

“That’s too bad,” Captain Bow admitted solemnly. It was a shame that Amy wouldn’t be able to train with him, but he could tell that she could get by without being a Cut master. “Although you wont be able to gain any sort of mastery over Cut tonight, perhaps we can attend the party together and I can give you some pointers. It’s the least I could do for you.”

“I’d like that.”

So, as Amy waited outside the captain’s cabin Bow fixed himself up, putting his tie on over his uniform, which was unbuttoned in a futile attempt to removed pressure on his belly during his retching. When his party clothes were in order Captain Bow made his way out of the cabin and met up with the girl. Arm in arm they made their way back to the party.

Coming back out in the main reception hall Amy was struck with a sense of awe. Although there were many trainers at the party she could see that the youngest was a few years older then her; even if Bill had decided to attend he would have been considered a spring-chicken. The age barriers troubled her not, though, because in her black dress the thirteen-year-old felt splendid.

Amy looked around the party in search of Ross and Growlithe. She wondered if her naïve young friend had found Lieutenant Surge or not. Despite his scruffy nature he would blend in well with the rest of the party goers, handsome in his miniature tuxedo as she was in her little dress. I was all very pretentious, playing grown ups, but Amy played a child every other day, so she wanted it to be different for once.

Led up to the private balcony by the captain Amy was troubled to hear shouting coming from Captain Bow’s table. For some reason Ross immediately came to mind, but she dismissed the thought that he was the cause of all disagreements everywhere. When she heard a Growlithe barking Amy slapped her forehead.

“What’s going on here?” Captain Bow demanded of his guests.

Although for the most part Amy couldn’t recognize the people she managed to put faces to reputations. There was Ross of course, who was locked in argument with a man of military posture, who Amy remembered was Major Victor from the Vermilion Gym. His commanding officer, the imposing Lieutenant Surge, sat to the side, an amused grin slowly creasing his face. Trying to break up the disagreement was Commander Stern, a sailor almost as ancient and revered as Captain Bow. Finally, an older man with a mystical white beard sat apart from the events at the table with a lady of similar ancient age.

Victor, seeing Captain Bow, straightened his uniform, always glaring at Ross. “Captain Bow, it’s good to see you can join us, we heard that you were indisposed from Commander Stern. I trust the force preventing you from joining us was not serious.”

“Not anymore,” Bow smiled at Stern. “Now, young man, don’t avoid my question.”

“This kid is plaguing our table with lies and deceit!”

“That is Tauros,” Ross shouted, defiantly.

Pulling out a seat for Amy Captain Bow took his place at the head of the table. “Could you expand on your accusations, Major, or should I remain in suspense?”

Wiping his forehead with a napkin Victor tried to calm himself before continuing. There was no doubt in Captain Bow’s mind he didn’t want to lose face in front of his girlfriend’s grandfather, so he allowed the youngster his breath. “This boy claimed to be the champion of the Nugget Bridge Tournament. He had us all fooled!”

“Lies!” Ross interrupted. “All lies!”

“It’s true,” Surge muttered. “It was really my mistake.”

With a contorted look of frustration Victor continued, trying not to step on his commanding officer’s toes either. “Colonel Surge made the initial mistake of believing the boy was Alexander Oak, but luckily Mr. Lincoln picked up the deception.”

Looking sideways to the last member of the party, Amy was shocked to realize that she recognized the man at last. He was Howard Lincoln, the President of the Pokémon Fan Club, and a legend in his own time. Now he just amused himself by encouraging the young to follow their own dreams. Lincoln perplexed Amy greatly, for he was mainly myth, but there were many stories of him encountering legendary Pokémon.

“Don’t drag me into this debacle,” Mr. Lincoln pleaded with a laugh.

Turning to Ross Captain Bow shrugged. “Do you have anything to say in your defence?”

“First, let me just say that I never once suggested that I was Alexander Oak, but Lieutenant Surge just got mixed up when he heard where I was from. Major Pain-in-the-Arse here got angry when I alluded to his brain being the size of a Rattata terd, and then things got blown way out of proportion.”

“Please, Captain Bow,” Amy spoke up. “Ross is my friend, so I know that he’s telling the truth. This was probably just a big misunderstanding.”

Rubbing his chin Bow shook his head. “I don’t know Miss Amaranth.”

“Amaranth?” Surge murmured under his breath.

“Ross and I are here representing William Aboideau, and you trust his judgement, don’t you?”

Captain Bow thought for a moment and Amy feared that Major Victor was going to see his desires come to fruition and Ross keel-hauled, but just as Bow delivered his verdict he smiled at Amy. “I suppose you are right. If young Master Bill can vouch for him then I’m sure Ross is of noble character. Besides, I owe you a lot more then some archaic wisdom, Amy.”

Hearing his master’s name and ‘noble’ used in the same sentence caused Growlithe to chuckle. Not prepared to try his luck Ross kicked his companion in the ribs, jarring him out of his amused chortle. Captain Bow greeted Ross to the table officially as Ross Spare of Pallet Town instead of Alexander Oak, a mistaken identity that Ross would be more then happy to shed, considering his disposition towards Pallet’s prodigal son.

Once the guests had recovered from the excitement of the identity crisis they began to delve into Ross’ past, asking questions of his hopes and dreams and his relationship to Alexander Oak, who had amassed quite a bit of popularity, especially in Howard Lincoln’s circle of followers. Hearing that Ross already had two badges the guests encouraged him to challenge Lieutenant Surge, or Lieutenant Colonel Surge, as his official rank insignia displayed.

When Ross’ interrogation was finished the conversation turned to politics, some supporting the international government in Celadon City, but still others against the Prime Minister and his stubborn refusal to open free trade with Hoenn, like many other organizations in Kanto, including the Silph Corporation and the Pokémon League itself. When talk turned to rising Pokémon crime in Kanto Colonel Surge politely excused himself.

Despite a rocky start Ross was pleased with himself at the end of the night; he had managed to make powerful contacts in the Pokémon world, including Major Victor who begrudgingly warmed up to the young trainer, and by nine o’clock Ross and Amy found themselves standing on deck, excused for the evening while the older guests were regaled with stories of Captain Bow’s adventures in the south islands.

Equally bored by the discussion of the old folks Surge followed the kids out. Ross, Amy and Growlithe made it all the way around the to starboard side of the ship, which faced the black sea and the crystal clear night, all signs of an overcast day washed away, before Surge caught up to them. “Excuse me, Ross.”

“Lieutenant Surge?” Ross squinted in the moonlight. “Or do you prefer Lieutenant Colonel?”

Surge shrugged nonchalantly. “Whatever; you are a Pokémon Trainer, so it’s okay.”

“Have you thought about helping Pikachu?” Amy asked.

“Sure, although I’m a Gym Leader, not a doctor, but I’ll see what I can do,” Surge agreed to help with a lot less goading then Ross or Amy originally thought. “But the main reason I followed you out here is to ask you to challenge me to a gym battle,” Seeing his audience’s bemused expressions Surge shrugged. “You know how it is; there are no challenging trainers these days, but good trainers come out of Pallet Town. What do you say?”

“Okay, I guess. How about Amy?”

“Well, she’s already beat me before, but if she wants a rematch,” The colonel grinned.

“Been here too, eh?”

Turning to leave Surge looked at his watch and saw that it was nearly lights out time and he wanted to get in a quick drink at the pub while he was off the base. “Why don’t you swing by the base tomorrow and I’ll see if me and my boys can’t help Pikachu? See you then.”

Lieutenant Colonel Surge was a friendly enough person to Ross, but he could see the Gym Leader was the extroverted jock-type that always gave him a hard time in school. Old animosity aside Ross was glad the base commander was going to help him with Pikachu. When he first set course for Vermilion City he thought he was going to heal one of his friends, and now, to his pleasure, he was going to get a gym battle as well.

Leaning against the railing and enjoying the moonlight as it reflected on the still water in the bay Ross tried to take in as much of the sight as possible, because in a couple of days time living the high-life would just be a memory and he would be back in a life of constant training and uncertainty. T was true that he would never trade that life for any other, but it was good to have a break in routine. Even Bill’s house provided a change of scenery.

Suddenly remembering Bill and Amy’s birthday Ross turned to his friend, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a round object wrapped in a white paper bag. “Happy birthday, Amy.”

Amy, who was deep in thought, performed a double-take on the bag. “Ross, thank you.”

“Sorry, it’s nothing extravagant. I just used the some left over money you gave me for the tux.”

Spotting the sneakers Ross was wearing in place of the highly polished shoes that usually accompanied formal wear Amy raised an eyebrow in suspicion. It was apparent her funding had been used for personal use, but she didn’t mind. The thought was all that counted. Tearing the white paper off Amy smiled when she saw a Pokéball with a black and yellow northern hemisphere fell out. It was a Greatball, the advanced version of the Pokéball by the Silph Corporation.

“Look on the back,” Ross said, gleefully.

Turning the Greatball over to see the opposite side from the activation trigger Amy found some small writing, carved into the battle using a knife or another crude implement. It read:

“Happy 13th Birthday, Amy

Catch something legendary

Your friend, Ross”

“Friend,” Amy murmured in shock. She was surprised to hear Ross use such a word, because she hadn’t had a human friend since before she began her journey nearly two years before. Emotion swarmed her heart, but she stifled it, a task that had become frighteningly easy through practice.

Looking up to see Ross staring intently at the moon, wonder in his eyes Amy felt some of the emotion she was feeling bleed through. It was incredible for her to accept such feelings, but it felt so natural it couldn’t be wrong. Ross was her friend; they had been on the road together for months, and in the month since the Nugget Bridge Tournament Ross had opened up to her, kidding around as he or she would with their Pokémon.

Ignoring the icy shield she had created around her heart, like a Cloyster’s shell, Amy leant forward and kissed Ross affectionately on the cheek, snapping him out of his dream-like trance. Her feelings for him were completely unlike those she felt for Bill, and it was no surprise that his reaction was completely different as well.

“What are you doing, wench?” Ross gasped.

Amy grinned. For the first time in a long time she felt close to somebody, not romantically attracted, but emotionally close, and this made her feel safe, not vulnerable as she’s always suspected. Hugging her perplexed companion Amy soaked in the night, committing everything from the stars to Ross’ horrified _expression to memory, because it would soon drift away. She had always thought that winning Pokémon battles made her happy, but now, as she hugged her friend, she wasn’t so sure that was where real happiness lay.

Meanwhile, Ross was wondering if it was a wise idea to give the girl his carefully chosen gift. Maybe he should have just stashed the money until an opportunity presented itself for him to buy a bike from the stores in Celadon City.

“Girls,” Ross huffed.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 14: ELECTRIC SHOWDOWN IN VERMILION CITY


Systematically removing the small electrodes from Pikachu and placing them on the surgical tray that lay beside the catatonic electric mouse Surge rubbed his brow in frustration and beckoned those watching his examination of the sick Pokémon from outside of the room to enter. His _expression was grave and as Ross approached, with Amy and Growlithe by his side, he could see that the Gym Leader’s thoughts were elsewhere, as though his findings carried with them some special significance for Surge.

Preparing himself for the worst possible news Ross patted Pikachu on the head, ignoring the depressing fact that he would not react to the compassion of his master in any way. Barely moving for months at a time and refusing to eat anything solid had weighed heavily on Pikachu and now the small yellow creature was so thin the bulges of his electric sacs could be seen under his skin. It was a truly miserable sight and it made Ross question whether he was doing the right thing hanging on to Pikachu so closely, when he could receive twenty-four hour care at Professor Oak’s laboratory.

Surge sighed. “I don’t know where to begin.”

Remembering what the nurse had said in Pewter City Ross tried to shed some light on Pikachu’s illness. “The doctors in the Pewter City Pokécentre said that Pikachu had been operated on. They seemed to think that he could be suffering from a glandular disorder that prevents him from controlling his powers and that somebody might have tried to help.”

At first Surge considered the idea, as though it were a more attractive conclusion then what he had come to, but in the end he shook his head. “No, I’m afraid that’s not the case.”

“He wasn’t operated on?” Amy asked.

“Oh, no, he was operated on all right,” Surge confirmed, gravely. “But the operations conducted weren’t designed to help Pikachu control his powers; they were done in some sort of botched attempt to increase his abilities.”

Hearing this Ross thought back to the battle in Viridian Forest. “Pikachu is really strong; I don’t think the operation was a botch.”

“Oh, his powers have increased tenfold, to the point where this Pokémon could take on my own electric types if it was fully charged up, however the procedure that caused this power boost had the undesired side effect of causing major haemorrhaging in his brain. Further work was carried out to try and stabilize his mind, using a rather primitive sensory feedback protocol.”

“What does that mean,” Ross asked, exhausted by the science that he thought he’d avoided when he left school to start his journey.

Picking up the surgical tray Surge lifted up a small metallic disc covered in wires and tiny red plates. It reminded Ross of a Tentacruel, the violent evolved form of Tentacool. “My surgeons found this imbedded in Pikachu’s spine. It was designed to stimulate his nervous system when he refused to perform certain tasks.”

“It hurt Pikachu when he didn’t follow orders?” Amy asked, incredulously.

“Wait, so the scarring on Pikachu isn’t a result of somebody trying to help him?”

“Most definitely not,” Returning the tray to the table beside Pikachu Surge shook his head.

This new revelation filled Ross with something akin to hatred. In all his travels he had only felt such pure malice once before, beneath Mount Moon when he saw Rachael and Eric’s enslavement of the Clefairy. Since then Ross had tried to keep his temper under control, and he had succeeded, even in the face of defeat at Alexander’s hands he still managed to feel only joy at another step taken, but now the raw rage he expressed so thoroughly had returned.

When Amy and Ross had arrived at the Kanto Military Academy they hadn’t suspected that the truth that Surge would uncover regarding Pikachu would be so heinous. Even as Ross stood in the aircraft hanger that had been converted into a gym by the commander of the base he still couldn’t believe that somebody had hurt his Pokémon in such a way. Not only was it a disgusting idea, but it was also perplexing, because the young trainer couldn’t figure out what the perpetrator of the crimes against Pikachu was trying to achieve.

“Why?”

Considering the obvious question for a moment, as though Surge hadn’t been thinking the same thing ever since his medical staff had departed about half an hour before, he leant against the examination table Pikachu was lying on. “This sort of experimentation on Pokémon is very rare and I don’t think a case has been reported since Team Bane’s days, but the goal of these people has always been the same; to create a super powerful Pokémon that is completely loyal in everyway.”

“And Pikachu is it?” Ross asked.

Surge shook his head, purposefully. “No, Pikachu is just an experiment. What these *******s like to do is work on a weaker Pokémon, bringing it up to full power, then discard the poor fella and start working on a more powerful breed.”

“What’s the point?”

“Because, Pokémon rule the world,” Amy answered to Surge’s relief. The colonel wasn’t as bright as he tried to sound, so the science and sociology was starting to tire him. “Imagine an army of genetically engineered Charizard, completely loyal to some megalomaniac; he’d be able to take over. Not even the Pokémon League Champion would be able to stand up against ten Blastoise that are at their absolute limits.”

Ross glanced down at Pikachu. “What’s the downside to that sort of power?”

“You’re looking at it, buddy,” Surge said.

“If a Pokémon gets too powerful too fast they suffer permanent brain damage, nerve damage and early death. That’s what happened to Pikachu,” Amy elaborated.

“Okay,” Ross murmured. “My next question is who would do this?”

When the question was finally up in the air Surge seemed to shy away from it, as though it had something to do with him. Ross knew that the colonel could get a little rough, being trained as a drill instructor, but he also knew that Surge was a passionately ethical man who fought for what he thought was right. Clearing his throat Surge spoke up. “Uh, well, there’s no way to know. But,” Scratching his head nervously he paused. “The Pokémon League keeps tabs on all Pokémon crimes, so if these people haven’t been caught yet then they are still out there.”

His rage building Ross balled his fists. “You mean whoever did this could be hurting another Pokémon?” Growlithe barked, sharing his master’s anger. It could be a Growlithe under the scalpel next, so the puppy Pokémon understood Pikachu’s plight better then anybody in the hanger.

“I’ll inform the League as soon as possible,” Surge assured the boy. “We’ll find them.”

The Gym Leader’s words held little comfort for Ross who was feeling as useless as a Magikarp; he’d been travelling for half a year and despite all the training he’d put his Pokémon through and all the obstacles they had overcome he still felt powerless in the face of a hidden enemy who were creating a master race of Pokémon soldiers. He was just one person, and in a world full of budding evils that wasn’t enough to change things, only the Pokémon League had that sort of influence.

Feeling defeated and powerless to save Pikachu Ross admitted to himself that there was doubt in his mind that he could accomplish anything. His defeat at the hands of Alexander had been a lesson in failure and learning from mistakes, but perhaps he had learnt the wrong values from the thrashing; maybe he was being shown how tough the world really is and how impossible it is for one person to stand up again something so imposing.

Even the Pokémon League, despite all their power, were unsuccessful in putting an end to the evils of humanity, because Team Bane’s destruction was not complete so long as people were torturing Pokémon for their own personal gain. The power to change the world belonged to nobody and no matter how hard Ross tried he knew that would never change, but looking down at Growlithe, who had once stood before Brock’s might Onix Ross understood that the power to change his own destining belonged to only one person; himself.

Reaching into his green army jumpsuit Surge drew out a small red and white orb. Amy approached the colonel before he activated the Pokéball. “Uh, what are you doing?”

“I think I know how we can snap Pikachu out of this coma,” Surge explained.

“How?” The statement had grabbed Ross’ attention in an instant.

“Well, my medics attempted to use Thorazine to make him wake up, but it was unsuccessful. The alternative is a little extreme, but it has a greater chance of success. If we can force Pikachu to have an epileptic fit then we can balance out his schizophrenia and eventually wake him up. My only concern is that being an electric Pokémon and electricity we feed him will only be absorbed into his body and recharge his cells…”

Interrupting large man Amy looked as shocked as Surge hoped Pikachu would be. “You are talking about electroshock therapy; that’s barbaric!”

“Hey, it’s extreme, but in this situation the benefits out way the risks.”

“This isn’t the Shadow Ages; we don’t lobotomise the mentally ill anymore.”

Surge rolled his eyes and snorted, obnoxiously. “This sort of stuff will work on Pokémon; their physiology isn’t as complex as humans, that’s why they live so long, are so easy to heal and shoot fire out their arses. Besides, little girl, I’m not going to go off and electrocute Pikachu unless Ross agrees to it,” He turned to Ross and waited for a response to the question he’d managed to avoid asking.

Considering the fate of eternal night Pikachu was facing Ross was open to any suggestions people had, however to harm Pikachu into healing was a concept that didn’t sit right with Ross and he at once understood Amy’s reluctance to sanction Surge’s plan. Unfortunately for the young trainer he had few other options open to him, but lack of planning didn’t justify hurting Pikachu, so despite his desire to see the electric mouse healthy once again he didn’t want to risk damaging him further.

Determined to make a learned decision Ross questioned Surge. “What are the risks?”

“Further brain damage, I guess, but…” Surge shrugged.

“You can’t actually be considering this?”

“Hey,” The imposing electric-type Gym Leader snapped, his _expression one of frustration and annoyance. “This isn’t spur of the moment, you know, I have thought this through. Think about it for a second; Pikachu is an electric Pokémon, so when he attacks what do you think happens? He doesn’t shock himself because he develops layers of static flesh around his vital organs. The risk of damaging him is greatly reduced then if we were attempting electroshock on a Psyduck.”

It made sense, since Ross had remembered reading about Pichu’s inability to channel its energy properly and its constant damaging itself when he was back in Professor Oak’s laboratory. Lieutenant Surge’s assumption that Pikachu would be able to protect most of its body from the electricity was a perfectly logical one; however the danger of the seizures was ever present. Ross imagined Pikachu convulsing around on the work table and shuddered, but then he imagined Pikachu comatose for the rest of his life and grim resolve took control of Ross.

“Alright.”

“Kick arse,” Surge shouted in triumph, as though all their problems were solved.

Without giving Ross a chance to change his mind Surge threw down the Pokéball and released what appeared to be a larger, inverted Pokéball; a giant sphere with a white northern hemisphere and red southern hemisphere. Confused by the giant Pokéball he was seeing Ross bent low for a closer look and recoiled in shock when the sphere spun around, revealing two glassy eyes set into its side and a hole, which looks hauntingly like a mouth.

Ross whipped out his Pokédex, curious to know what he was looking at. “What the…”

[Electrode, the ball Pokémon – a Pokémon of the electric type. It stores electricity in its body under extremely high pressure, allowing it to propel its body faster then nearly all other species of Pokémon despite its peculiar shape. This built up energy is very volatile, though, and even the slightest jolt can cause Electrode to explode.]

Taking one look at Electrode and then another at his Pokédex screen Ross took a tentative step backwards, causing Lieutenant Surge to chuckle, wildly, as he bent down and attached wires between Electrode and Pikachu. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’ve been training this guy for a long time, so he knows when to explode and when not to.”

“An Electrode?” Amy gasped. “Wow, that’s impressive. Electrode run this country.”

“The Prime Minister is an Electrode?” A confused Ross murmured.

Surge let another bout of laughter loose, appreciative of an opportunity to smile during such a miserable procedure. “No, they provide the electricity that all the cities in Kanto run off. Originally there was a power plant east of Saffron City which powered everything in Kanto and Johto, but having so many Electrode in one place caused widespread damage and the plant was abandoned. Now every city runs off its own power network.”

Understanding quickly Ross smiled. “So, if one power plant goes down the others still function.”

“Bingo,” Surge grinned. As he finished on Electrode and stood up his grin vanished. “Ready.”

Despite all the wonders he’d seen on his short adventure Ross was by no means a religious person, so he had little faith that the great Pokémon titans of old actually existed, for it they were as all powerful as legend dictated then surely they would have been found as enthusiasts scoured the globe for them, but Ross decided that a little faith wouldn’t hurt anybody and if it helped then so much the better. Saying a short and succinct prayer to Ho-oh to watch over Pikachu Ross nodded to Surge.

Patting Electrode on the head to signal the commencement of the procedure the excitement on Lieutenant Surge’s face was completely washed away by the gravity of their situation; they were performing a dangerous operation on a sick Pokémon and none of them were certified doctors. “Go for it, Electrode.”

At first there was nothing, and then Ross noticed the high-pitched whine rising in volume from the direction of Electrode, whose eyes were closed in concentration. Sparks began to fly around the ball Pokémon as it channelled more and more energy into the electric mouse on the table. As the whine reached its climax Ross could see Pikachu who had been still for so long twitch slightly, not so much that Surge and Amy could see, but enough for his master who knew every line on his face to notice.

Hope started to get the better of Ross and for the first time in a long time he actually dared to believe that Pikachu could get better, however as more and more energy was transferred into the small yellow rodent and his mind was forced into a painful seizure nothing happened; Pikachu didn’t scream, he didn’t even flinch again, and he certainly didn’t wake up, he simply lay on the table, his eyes staring up at the ceiling of the hanger high above.

Adamant in its belief that it could help its fellow Pokémon Electrode gave Pikachu everything it had, however after its batteries had been completely emptied there was still no change in the catatonic mouse. Sure that Electrode had exuded all its energy Surge stepped forward and patted his friend in congratulations of its effort, although it came as no consolation as its mission seemed to have been a failure; Pikachu still did not wake.

Trying to lighten the dismal atmosphere Surge laughed. “Obviously, when Electrode are releasing energy in power plants they do so at a constant rate, so as not to…”

“It didn’t work,” Amy announced, examining Pikachu.

“Let me be the judge of that,” The mountainous Gym Leader growled, stepping over to the table.

When Ross reached Pikachu he was struck by a strange feeling on the back of his neck, as though his sixth sense was calling out to him. Curious as to what has instincts could be alerting him to Ross bent low to examine the patient with Surge, but he could see no visible signs of change, despite what his gut was telling him. Perhaps there was something that he was missing, because the uneasiness remained, even after he’d stepped away from the yellow Pokémon on the table.

As he sighed Amy could tell Surge had conceded. “It didn’t work.”

“What makes you so sure?” She asked, bitterly.

“No response in his pupils, just like before. I’m sorry, Ross.”

Ross did not hear Lieutenant Surge; he was too busy gazing into Pikachu’s eyes, searching for signs of life. The feeling that had come over him had passed, but he remembered it with all the vigour of a parent recalling the birth of its child. Although he was certain that now Pikachu lay dormant again Ross could not ignore what he had felt before immediately after Electrode’s attempt at revival; it was as if the air had become charged with energy, and it didn’t feel like Electrode’s energy, it felt like what he had experienced in Viridian Forest.

Carefully Ross reached out to touch Pikachu’s face, but he recoiled quickly when an arc of electricity struck his hand from the Pokémon’s cheek, cleaving the air gently to stab at his hand. As the muscles in his forearm tensed Ross continued to look at Pikachu, as though daring him to leap up and attack like he did so many months ago, but as always the electric mouse simply lay where he fell, his eyes glued to the ceiling of the hanger.

Pulling Ross hand back Surge issued a warning. “He’s probably charged up now. Better be careful you don’t receive a really big shock or we’ll have two vegetables.”

It was a feeling more then anything, and he had no solid evidence on which to base his belief, but Ross could have sworn that for a moment Pikachu was awake, as though the seizure had caused him to snap back to reality, only to have his catatonia catch back up to him and drag him into unconsciousness once again. However, it was just a feeling, and probably just a false hope, so he did not burden the others with what he had seen during the operation.

“What now?” Amy asked, stepping to Ross side for support.

“Dunno, but we can’t shock him again,” The Gym Leader reported, withdrawing Electrode. “Electrode’s batteries were nearly completely drained, so even if we wanted to repeat the procedure we can’t. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. Pikachu got a lot of electricity and it did virtually nothing. I guess we should pursue another avenue.”

As though some higher power had sensed their concession the hanger doors began slowly rolling open, filling the room with sunlight and revealing the silhouette of a man standing at the far side of the great room. From what Ross could tell he was wearing a suit and he walked with the same stride as a dignitary, indicating either royalty or a proud man who had had an entire lifetime to develop his gait. When he drew closure Ross was surprised to see Howard Lincoln, the President of the Pokémon Fan Club, who had attended the party on the S.S. Anne, which had set sail that very morning.

“Mr. Lincoln, hello,” Surge greeted the older gentleman. “What can I do for you?”

“Actually, Galvani, I’m not here to see you,” Lincoln smiled. “I’m here for the children.”

Curious, Amy stepped forward. “What can we do for you?”

“I was wondering if perhaps you two could do me a small favour.”

“Depends what it is, I guess,” Ross answered.

Wary of the old man whom he had only met once before, Ross was careful not to commit to anything without knowing all the facts, because he didn’t like breaking his word and so tried his hardest to make sure he never did, and if that meant that he made fewer promises that was fine by Ross. His reply seemed to amuse the fan club dignitary, so at Ross could gauge his character as playful and not deceptive. Still, you didn’t get to the head of the Pokémon Fan Club without being a little manipulative.

Nodding at his verbal adversary Mister Lincoln tried his best to explain the situation without raising too many questions. “There is going to be a protest later today to try and stop a building project outside of the city. We need as many Pokémon Trainers as possible to join our ranks.”

“Why Pokémon Trainers?” Amy responded with a question, upsetting the old man.

“To finish the shopping complex it’s necessary for the local Diglett population to be destroyed.”

Considering the reason they were standing the in the hanger in the middle of the Kanto Military Academy it didn’t really strike Ross as out of the ordinary that yet another group of people were trying to impose their evil ways on a group of Pokémon. In fact it would have surprised Ross if the evil of humanity wasn’t being exercised somewhere in some form. Life was so much simpler for Pokémon; it was starting t get painful to look at the wild ones.

Amy still had the willpower to be shocked and appalled by the news, however. “That’s horrible,” She announced. “Of course we’ll help you. Right, Ross?”

“Uh, yeah,” He answered dumbly.

Mister Lincoln clapped his hands together. “Marvellous!”

“Doesn’t the opinion of a Gym Leader impress people anymore?” Surge interrupted.

“We all know how much you hate ground Pokémon, Galvani.”

“True,” The Gym Leader chuckled. “True.”

Turning to address Ross directly, surprising the Pallet trainer, Lincoln grinned wryly and glanced at Lieutenant Surge. “Have you picked up your Thunder Badge yet, Ross Spare?”

It had completely slipped his mind that Lieutenant Surge was a Gym Leader and there was a potential badge floating right next to him, probably because of his concern for Pikachu, but now that he had been reminded Ross began to thirst for another challenging enemy he could best. On the journey from Cerulean to Vermilion City he had faced half a dozen young trainers, but he had only come close to losing once and his defeat by Alexander left him with a blood lust.

With menace in his eyes Ross glared back at Surge. “Shall we?”

“That’s why I invited you here, isn’t it?” Quickly remembering the need for a referee he strode towards a phone connected to the wall of the hanger and dialled an internal number to the air field. “Hello, Major, we are about to battle. If you would be so kind as to referee.”

“Can’t Mister Lincoln referee the match?” Amy asked, leaving Pikachu’s side.

Answering for Lieutenant Surge Lincoln seemed surprisingly humble. “I’d like to, dear, but unfortunately the League rules dictate that a member of the Colonel’s gym must attend the battle,” Ross knew that this was just the old timer’s modesty, because in actual fact sixty years of trainer experience was more then enough to qualify him to referee a simple gym battle.

“Besides, he’d cheat,” Surge joked. “He loves his ground Pokémon, Howard does.”

Rubbing his chin and idea came into Ross’ head. “Ground Pokémon, eh?”

“Don’t worry; I’ve got a good defence against those guys now.”

“He’s taught his Pokémon techniques of strange types,” Lincoln whispered to Ross as Surge selected a Pokéball for the battle. “It means that he can cover all his weaknesses, so you shouldn’t assume that bringing out a ground Pokémon will beat Surge. Never underestimate the colonel, either, because he is a soldier, so battle is his element.”

With the Pokémon Fan Club president’s words taken to heart Ross took up his own Pokéball and went to his side of the arena, not sure of what to expect from the battle. He would try to match up types as best he could, but as the old man had pointed out; Surge hated his weakness to ground Pokémon, so trained to avoid it. That would ring true for other types as well, but Ross was sure that he’d be able to find a suitable counter for any technique used by Surge.

Before he reached his mark Surge called out. “Hey, what about Pikachu?”

“It’ll do him good to watch,” Ross replied.

Amy and Mister Lincoln wheeled Pikachu’s tray over to the edge of the arena to give the blank-faced little mouse a better vantage point, then they waited for the participants to prepare and the referee to arrive. Major Victor strode into the hanger a short time later, curtly greeting Ross and waving passionately to the grandfather of his beau. He took up a position across the battlefield from Amy, Lincoln and Pikachu.

For the third time in his life Ross found himself carving out his destiny. “This will be a one on one Pokémon battle for the Thunder Badge. Although there is no time limit, I am within my powers to end the match whenever I see fit. Ready?” Not waiting to receive an answer Victor continued. “Begin!”

“Go, Bulbasaur,” Ross shouted without any hesitation.

“Kick his arse, Electabuzz!”

Although he had fought no gym battles with only one Pokémon yet there was the Nugget Bridge Tournament, which he had lost with flying colours, so when Victor had decreed that it was be a one verus one duel it had taken Ross by surprise. In the long run it didn’t really make a different, he just had to make sure that he didn’t make any mistake with Bulbasaur otherwise his winning streak with the Pokémon Gym Leaders would be destroyed. For the past month Bulbasaur had been training hard, though, so Ross had faith in his friend.

Opposite Bulbasaur stood a strange creature that looked vaguely human, and Ross remembered the incident that Amy experienced at Bill’s retreat, however he did not delude himself. It may have had arms and legs like a human, although they were somewhat stunted, its black and yellow fur and tooth filled mouth destroyed any allusions that the Pokémon was anything other then that. Curious as what he was facing Ross brought out his Pokédex and flicked it open.

[Electabuzz, the electric Pokémon – a Pokémon of the electric type. This Pokémon recharges the electric cells in its body by siphoning energy from areas of high power such as power plants, causing widespread blackouts. Electricity runs across the surface of Electabuzz’s body, causing it to glow slightly and statically charge the air.]

“Right, let’s get started then,” Ross said more to himself then anybody else. “Start off with Double-edge, Bulbasaur.”

Wasting no time on pleasantries with his opponent Bulbasaur charged the yellow creature down, his teeth bared. Like his Pokémon Ross was eager to end the battle quickly rather then draw it out, because it left less room to make a mistake that Surge could exploit, so he had opened with Double-edge, a technique that used all of Bulbasaur’s strength to deliver maximum damage. The other side of the sword was that to gain this level of attack power actually hurt Bulbasaur.

As Bulbasaur approached Electabuzz Surge shouted out a quick, concise command. “Counter!”

Electabuzz’s arms shot out and caught the speedy green bullet just before he reached his target, lifting him high into the air, and, to Ross’ shock, slamming him straight into the ground with a mind numbing crunch. As though adding injury to insult Electabuzz grabbed a tight hold of the upside-down opponent and laughed, channelling electricity through his skin and into Bulbasaur, causing plumes of smoke to rise from the seed Pokémon.

Despite the parts of the plant Pokémon that were burning and his flank which had been plunged into the tarmac he was perfectly alright. Thundershock barely fazed Bulbasaur thanks to his plant heritage and luckily Electabuzz, in his arrogant vigour that the military was renowned for, had forgotten that plant tissue was not good at conducting electricity. Finishing his attack he glanced back at his commanding officer who nodded knowingly.

Rearing back his arm Electabuzz squeezed his eyes tight and concentrated. Bulbasaur took this time while the electric Pokémon was distracted to orient himself and counter-attack, however as his vines came out to help him pull himself away energy crackled around Electabuzz’s hand, glowing so bright that it suddenly burst into flames. In a flash Electabuzz had punched Bulbasaur in the face with the flaming fist, knocking him clear across the arena.

“Fire punch on an electric Gym Leader’s Pokémon,” Ross whistled. “What’s the world coming to?”

“All’s fair in love and war, and Pokémon training is a combination of both,” Surge laughed, enjoying every moment of his opponent’s vulnerability. “And don’t forget, Ross, Fire punch isn’t the only cross-type technique that Electabuzz knows. Show him, Electabuzz.”

Concentrating just as hard as he had before Electabuzz closed his eyes and charged energy around the closed fist as though he were summoning a Thunder punch or its flame based equivalent, however the energy that surrounded his hand spread outwards creating a magnetic field around his forearm, which, to Ross’ surprise drew all the heat out of the air and layered Electabuzz’s arm with a layer of blue sleet, similar to the thin blanket of ice found on early morning grass in winter.

In one hand the electric Pokémon was wielding a ball of fire, like the volcanic brass knuckles of the Pokémon world, but in the other hand the lack of heat had created a swirling mass of ice that corrupted their around it into sub-zero temperatures. With both extremes of the mercurial scale at his command Electabuzz had Bulbasaur, a slave to both extremes, at a disadvantage.

Shaking his head Ross tried to taunt Surge into surrendering his obvious advantage by playing off his pride. “Lieutenant Surge, I didn’t know you had to stray away from the Pokémon element you pledged you loyalty to to win.”

“We play the cards we’re dealt,” He returned, refusing to take the bait.

“Makes little different in the long run, Lieutenant,” Placing emphasis on the rank that had been given to him by the Pokémon Trainers of the world, cheapening his real military rank of lieutenant colonel, Ross was attacking Surge out of spite for then anything else.

Frustrated Surge growled. “I think it’s time to put you in your place, boy.”

“Don’t worry, Bulbasaur,” He consoled his friend as he staggered to his feet. “To use his attacks Electabuzz has to get close. Just stay away from his fists.”

“Can’t have that, can we, buddy?” Electabuzz shook furiously at his master’s banter.

Seeing Electabuzz psyched up put Ross of guard slightly. He was probably used to fighting these sorts of battles, having faced many trainers with Bulbasaur who considered themselves smart for using a grass type in an electric gym, so he was used to the strategies. The key to victory in the Vermilion gym was thinking outside the box that less talented trainers were confined to; however it was proving difficult to come up with battle plans.

Taking the initiative Electabuzz charged at Bulbasaur, prompting the seed Pokémon to send out its vines, so it could pull itself away quickly. As he charged, though, Electabuzz close his eyes and screamed, charging up more electrical energy. Just as he reached Bulbasaur he released the charge and a wave of electricity washed out over Bulbasaur, causing him to flinch visibly and falter in his attempts at a retreat, much to Ross’ chagrin.

“Bulbasaur!” Ross pleaded. “Flee!”

While the Pallet trainer could only watch as Bulbasaur tried to stumble away from Electabuzz’s dichotic attacks, which pounded him into the ground, Surge shed some light on the seed Pokémon’s ailment. “Electabuzz used Thunder Wave…”

“I know,” Ross snapped. “I hate that technique!”

“Well, then, you should also know that Bulbasaur is helpless now.”

“Not as helpless as Electabuzz,” The Pallet trainer murmured as a plan for victory flashed into his mind. “Bulbasaur, Sleep Powder!

Because Electabuzz was standing directly over his pray the cloud of silver dust struck him in the face and he inhaled an entire lung-full of the chemical concocted inside Bulbasaur’s bulb, causing him to stagger back and sneeze uncontrollably. When the black and yellow Pokémon was finished spasming he looked up at Surge to see if his master had any commands then collapsed to the ground in a heap, trying desperately to keep his eyes open.

Shaking off the paralysis Bulbasaur staggered backwards, nursing burns from both fire and ice on both his flanks, however he stopped before retreating too far and without waiting for an order from Ross lashed out with his vines, slapping Electabuzz to the ground. It was obvious even to the most elementary observer that the attacks had very little effect on the electric Pokémon, but Bulbasaur persisted anyway in revenge for the previous beating he received.

Knowing all too well that he had only bought himself some time and that Electabuzz would have the poison out of his system in no time Ross considered the facts; he needed to get Bulbasaur away from Electabuzz, but in a position where he could fight back and win the match. As he thought about the battle his eyes wandered up to the iron framework of the hanger roof high above, then to Bulbasaur’s vines.

Slowly Electabuzz’s strength was returning and he was angry at his green little antagonist. After a minute or two of having his sides whipped by Bulbasaur’s young vines Electabuzz was sporting a series of nasty red marks, not the gashes Bulbasaur was aiming for. Striding purposefully towards Bulbasaur he recharged his hands with fire and ice and prepared to finish the match.

“Bulbasaur, go up,” Ross shouted.

Looking up to see what his master was screaming about Bulbasaur understood the order given to him and his vines shot up into the rafters above, wrapping themselves up so he haul himself into the air, however since he was just a small Pokémon his vines weren’t nearly developed enough and he nearly didn’t escape the furious Electabuzz in time.

Once Bulbasaur was safe he was free to fire bursts of leaves down on Electabuzz without worrying about fiery or icy repercussions. Realising the melee combat he excelled at had been removed from the battle Electabuzz saved the energy in his hands and they returned to their original shades of yellow. The next step was to charge up his electric cells again and start firing bursts of energy at Bulbasaur, who used his vines with swing through the air randomly, making a tough target to hit.

“What are you trying to accomplish? You are just delaying the inevitable,” Surge pleaded.

“Use Leech Seed,” Ignoring Surge’s banter became easier the more Ross remembered jocks.

An expert at Leech Seed now Bulbasaur hit Electabuzz with the miniature plant with little difficulty. As its roots burrowed through the electric Pokémon’s skin Bulbasaur continued his Razor Leaf attack, cutting his opponent more and more until red was starting to replace yellow on Electabuzz’s fur. Although nothing came to Ross’ mind as far as effective strategies went he would soon be forced into a situation where he would have to act on his feet.

Suddenly Bulbasaur spasmed in the air, releasing one of his vines to the paralysis that still lingered in his muscles. With only one inexperienced vine left to support him Bulbasaur fell free to the ground below, landing with a thud and then leaping up to his feet, the seizure subsided. Electabuzz jumped on the opportunity to end what was supposed to be a short battle, casting the flames and sleet back onto his fists.

Frustrated by fate Ross watched dismally as Electabuzz bore down on Bulbasaur, until something rather peculiar happened; in the sunlight that bathed the hanger in a warm glow Bulbasaur had fallen, and now that he was in the yellow light once again his bulb began to glow vigorously. Ross had seen this once before during training when Bulbasaur had used the technique Synthesis to regain health from photosynthesising the light. Wondering what other techniques Bulbasaur had stored within his bulb Ross returned his spirit to the competition.

Seeing Bulbasaur’s back glow yellow didn’t dissuade Electabuzz from attacking, so as planned his fire fist raced towards its target, great jets of fire lancing forward in excitement. The burning fist never reached Bulbasaur, though, for as they closed the distance between the two Pokémon something appeared in the air, as though the light created a solid wall. Electabuzz’s fist slammed into this sparkling shield and bounced off.

Perplexed by the latest development in the battle Electabuzz tried his other hand, only to receive the same result. He tried both, but to no avail. Bulbasaur, knowing not to look a gift Rapidash in the mouth lashed out quickly with his two vines, dragging Electabuzz to the ground. He then jumped onto the electric Pokémon, performing an expert Body Slam, breaking one of his opponent’s arms and jarring him so badly he couldn’t move.

Surged cursed under his breath, making sure the children didn’t hear.

“Go, Bulbasaur,” Ross encouraged his friend. “Try Double-edge now.”

Although luck played a part in the turn around of the battle credit could also be given to the seed impeded in Electabuzz’s skin, which constantly fed Bulbasaur energy, recharging his cells. When the seed Pokémon struck the electric, Electabuzz groaned in agony as the roots under his skin did their work. Bulbasaur would have been injured in the attack also, however as Electabuzz hurt Bulbasaur healed.

Racing forward, eager to deliver another devastating Double-edge Bulbasaur did not see Electabuzz shake off his paralysis and swing his fist around. It was only until he was lying on the ground, scorched by yet another Fire punch did Bulbasaur considered what Electabuzz’s intentions were. It became obvious as Electabuzz stalked towards the downed seed Pokémon, one arms limp at his side, that his intentions were hostile.

“Come on, Electabuzz, buddy,” Surge shouted. “Kick the **** out of him!”

Blessed by the gift fate had bestowed upon him Ross dared to tempt it again. “Bulbasaur, use the sunlight to recharge yourself.”

Facing the blinding morning sun Bulbasaur soaked in the beautiful warm glow, causing his bulb to pulse uncontrollably, as though its energy was overloading. Despite the burns and frostbite Bulbasaur looked pretty good and, although before he had looked close to death, now he looked rested. With the energy stored inside Bulbasaur began to concentrate, focusing what he had gathered from the sunlight. Curious as to see what would some next Ross held his breath.

Electabuzz charged straight at his enemy, causing the seed Pokémon to bring his vines to bear, however as the electric Pokémon closed in, he disappeared in a flash of yellow. “Watch out behind you!” Ross shouted. “He’s using Quick Attack!”

“Yes,” Surge shrieked as adrenaline coursed through his body. “Finish him!”

Whirling around Bulbasaur spotted the yellow and black streak that could only be Electabuzz and opened up his bulb, revealing to everybody to see, row after row of leaves, ready for deployment. They were stuffed into the small space there were so many, so when the burst of energy released them came it was more like an explosion then a spray of leaves. Because of the volume of Razor Leaf every available area of air was taken up by small leaves, creating a green beam.

They crashed into Electabuzz as he closed in, stopping him in mid stride and tearing through him with a deafening screech. Like a good soldier he did not fall, though, he simply stood in the beam, accepting each lick as it was given to him; however when the onslaught ended there was really nothing left for the bewildered Pokémon to do but collapse.

“Electabuzz is unable to battle,” Victor murmured, amazed at his commander’s defeat. “Bulbasaur is the winner.”

Withdrawing Electabuzz Surge crossed the arena to meet Ross in the middle as he tended to Bulbasaur’s injuries, concentrating on his paralysis first and letting the sun heal his other ailments. Lincoln also stepped onto the battlefield to congratulate Ross on his victory, but Amy was mysteriously absent; she stood, staring at Pikachu, as though she had seen a ghost.

“Well, done, young man,” Mister Lincoln said, with a twinkle in his eye.

“Yeah, that kicked arse, Ross,” Slapping the twelve year old that defeated him on the back Surge held out his hand with a small yellow icon in it. “Here is the Thunder Badge, the prize for defeating the Vermilion City Pokémon Gym. You’re one step closer to living your dream as a Pokémon Master, little buddy,” Surge slapped him on the back again, playfully.

As those around him offered their congratulations on a brilliant battle Ross found himself thinking about his Pokémon. Although he had won the Thunder Badge his mind was focused on the strange behaviour of Bulbasaur and Pikachu. Something was a foot with the both of them and, as their master Ross was determined to mind out what it was.

It was only a matter of time.

[Yuugis Black Magician]

Chapter 15: Stick to the Path


The picket line outside the fence line of the Crimson Bay Mall construction site was not nearly as impressive as Ross had originally been told. It was certainly true that the protesters needed more Pokémon Trainers, because the sad fact was that Ross and Amy were the only Pokémon Trainers present at Howard Lincoln’s little rally; the rest were children from the area and rabid Pokémon fans who couldn’t bare seeing the Diglett in the area hurt.

Armed with his very own sign, sporting the slogan ‘We are Digletting our own graves’ Ross stood at the front of the crowd, the guest celebrity of the Pokémon Fan Club and the latest winner of Lieutenant Surge’s coveted Thunder Badge. As the activists shouted out chants to the construction yard Ross looked around the crowd, wondering how exactly he ended up in floundering protest he was part of. Off to the side Amy and Growlithe were thinking the same thing.

After about half an hour of chanting in the warm afternoon sun a representative of the construction company stepped out of the yard and approached the crowd where he was met by Mister Lincoln, who beckoned for Ross to join him. The man in the suit greeted the protestors with a firm handshake. “Hello, I am Roger Vincent of Machoke Construction.”

“I’m Howard Lincoln, President of the Pokémon Fan Club.”

“I know, Mister Lincoln,” Vincent nodded. “Your reputation precedes you.”

“Why thank you, young man. This is Ross Spare,” He prompted Ross to step forward. “Ross recently defeated Lieutenant Surge and is here today to represent the interests of Pokémon Trainers everywhere.”

Suddenly aware of everybody’s eyes washing over him Ross became embarrassed that he was representing the Pokémon Trainer community, considering there were so many better trainers then him out in the world. He felt as though he were disrespecting Alex and his peers by being their emissary. It crossed Ross’ mind that Mister Lincoln wasn’t paying attention during the battle with Electabuzz; Ross had been scraping the bottom of the barrel with his strategies at the Vermilion gym.

Vincent glanced at the twelve year old, casually, barely acknowledging his presence. “Mister Lincoln, I’m afraid this protest is a waste of your time; the Vermilion City Council has green-lighted our plan to exterminate the Diglett.”

“What did the Diglett ever do to you?!” Somebody shouted from the crowd behind Ross and Lincoln. When the words were uttered the rest of the crowd expressed their support of the question with an almighty uproar.

While Lincoln motioned for the crowd to settle Vincent answered. “They have destroyed our foundations at every opportunity and now must take drastic actions or fall behind our schedule. We’ve spent months looking for alternatives, but the Diglett refuse to stop their vicious attacks. If you can think of a better way to get our shopping centre built then by all means tell us and we’ll consider it.”

“What exactly are the Diglett doing?” Ross asked calmly, to the chagrin of the crowd.

“They are burrowing immediately under our foundations, making the ground unworkable.”

“Do you know why?”

Ross’ questions began to annoy the obviously impatient executive. “They are Pokémon, nothing more then animals. How should we know what’s going through their heads? The sad fact is that they are just an infestation and we have to get rid of them.”

Roger Vincent’s callous characterisation of Pokémon caused another uproar amongst the protestors, one that didn’t look as though it was going to die down any time soon. Even Ross was horrified by the company’s vilification of the Diglett and so made no apologies when Growlithe bore his teeth at the man and released a guttural snarl. If Ross were a Pokémon he would have had the exact same, animalistic reaction to Vincent’s tirade.

Despite an overwhelming support for Pokémon in the world thanks to the Pokémon League those that enjoyed the company of the mysterious creatures still found tremendous social gaps to overcome, as too few could forget the darkness that had gripped the world a hundred years before when Pokémon had been misused by the shadow league of Team Bane. Too many feared Pokémon and the power to change the world they possessed, but they did not realize that in such circumstances it is the Pokémon Trainer that wields the power.

As the crowd became violent Machoke Construction security guards assembled at the entrance to the work site, protecting the assets of the company and ensuring no damage could be done by the unruly mob. Vincent fled behind the line of guards and Mister Lincoln and Ross were prompted by security folk dressed in blue uniforms to rejoin their peers in the protest; however Ross had seen enough of the decadent human condition and was inspired to take his leave of the affair.

Finding Amy in the crowd he led her onto the dirt road the connected the Crimson Bay Mall, which peeked mockingly over the trees as though to ridicule those seeking its destruction, to the main street of Viridian City, connecting the north residential district and the south docks. The angry yells of the activists were drowned out by the all encompassing silence of the dirt track.

Weaving his way out of the crowd Lincoln followed Ross, Amy and Growlithe. “You aren’t leaving are you?”

“There’s really nothing we can do,” Ross admitted, sadly.

“But you represent Pokémon Trainers…”

Shaking his head quickly, Ross interrupted the old man in a desperate attempt to explain his ineptitude if appointed such a position. “I’m not representing anybody; I have three gym badges, which I scraped and cheated to get, three healthy Pokémon and two Pokémon who don’t know the time of day. Nobody in their right mind would want me here. I can only make things worse.”

“He’s right,” Amy’s agreement came too swiftly for Ross’ liking.

“You are Pokémon Trainers, both of you. To be such is a lifetime commitment. You can’t hope to reach for greatness unless you immerse yourself in their world, and Diglett’s world is about to be destroyed,” Lincoln spoke with all the wisdom and sincerity of a Pokémon Sage.

Despite his insight Lincoln neglected to address Ross’ concerns. “What can we do?”

“Help them.”

“How?” Ross cried, frustrated by Lincoln’s incredible ability to dance around the subject.

“You are the Pokémon Trainer. It’s your responsibility to find a way.”

As though on cue there was an almighty explosion from the direction of the construction site and plumes of smoke began to snake their way into the air. Marshalled by the blast the protestors began striding forward towards the gates of the yard, causing the guards to split their attention between the advancing mob and the attack which had occurred unseen behind them. Inevitably they were torn apart by their loyalties and half of the men fled to see what had just transpired inside the compound.

Seeing the potentially volatile situation unfolding Ross raced forward to stand between the Pokémon fans and their enemy. At first the mob refused to pay his shouting for calm any attention, however Growlithe aided his master by creating half a dozen controlled explosions before the crowd, prompting them into silence. When the roar died down all that could heard was the frantic yelling within the construction site.

Putting his arms in the air, defensively Ross suddenly became aware that all eyes were on him. “Please, this is not the time to lose control. If we give into the desire to tear these guys arses off then we are just proving that they are right in their hatred of Pokémon and their ethics.”

Surprised by his voice of reason Ross couldn’t help glancing over to Amy, who had always been his voice of common sense in his travels. Slowly the crowd agreed with the young boy’s proclamation and lay down their arms in the face of the security guards, placing their banners and signs, which were previously wielded like weapons, on the ground. The bloodlust that had taken the fans and their children was replaced by curiosity regarding the explosion in the compound.

Equally interested in the occurrence Ross approached Vincent who remained glued to the spot, even after the march of the rabid fanatics. “What’s going on?”

“What do you think?” He snarled. “It’s the Diglett again; they have destroyed another foundation. There are probably injured workers back there, maybe even injured Machoke. Now do you see how dangerous the creatures are?”

Frustrated once again by the simple-mindedness of others Ross was about to have at the executive, however when he looked back to the crowd for support he saw Lincoln staring at him sternly and he was suddenly reminded of the old man’s creed about Pokémon Trainers and their responsibility to immerse there selves into the world of their wards. Taking this to heart Ross turned back to Vincent who looked as though he expected another revolt.

Swallowing his pride Ross indicated to Amy, Growlithe and himself. “Can we help?”

At first Vincent was taken off guard, not knowing how to respond to the gesture of generosity; however he quickly moved onto suspicion and refused to allow them into the yard where they could interfere with the operations of the corporation. Soon after, though, one of the security guards who had left when he had first heard the blast returned and reported the substantial damage to Vincent and convinced him that two Pokémon Trainers could make a difference within the yard, so they were allowed in, much to Lincoln’s approval.

Once inside the compound Ross could see the shopping complex in all its glory. Standing three stories high the long grey structure, yet to be painted orange to match the other buildings in Vermilion City, was an enormous sight and it amazed Ross how easily the Diglett had dispatched it. The south wall of the complex was nearly completely sunk into the ground and the rest of the building showed cracking where support had been stripped away underground.

Despite their arrival on the scene Ross, Amy and Growlithe felt helpless as they saw half a dozen Machoke racing around the yard, lifting pylons the sizes of houses and dragging out injured workers. There was really nothing the fellowship could do except watch as the company cleaned up the destruction strewn around the compound. It seemed that further damage was expected and so the immediate area around the shopping complex was to be evacuated.

Amongst the shouts of workers and the screeches of crumbling cement Ross heard a melodious song drifting up from behind him. What he found watching him was the smallest Pokémon he had ever seen. It was smaller then a Caterpie and covered in brown fur, appearing as a tiny head from the ground. Whipping out his Pokédex Ross alerted Amy and Growlithe to the creature.

[Diglett, the mole Pokémon – a Pokémon of the ground type. It burrows underground and feeds off plant roots, sticking its head out only when the sunlight isn’t strong. Because Diglett have thin skin direct sunlight causes their blood to heat up, weakening them substantially, so they prefer dark places, such as caves, more then anywhere else.]

“That’s a Diglett?” Having never seen a Diglett before Ross was shocked that such a small creature could cause so much mayhem at the construction site.

Growlithe bounded forward in an instant and barked fiercely at the small brown mole creature, garnering the attention of several nearby workers who immediately dropped what they were doing and converged on the menace, shovels and picks raised high, ready to strike. If Diglett was afraid it certainly didn’t show its fear, it just bobbed up and down playfully, as the structure behind it collapsed. Despite the carnage Ross could see innocence in the Pokémon that he had seen before in Caterpie.

As the workers closed on the small shape Ross stepped forward to stop them. “Stop!”

“Get out of our way, kid! We’ve got to kill it before it escapes!” One of the workers shouted above the sound of cement shattering behind them. Together the pushed Ross out of the way, who had the strength of a twelve year old and couldn’t resist.

Snatching up a Pokéball Ross released Bulbasaur. “Stop them, Bulbasaur.”

Now an expert at using his vines Bulbasaur sent his whips out and whipped at the worker’s legs, knocking them from underneath them and throwing them to the ground, a meter short of Diglett. The mole Pokémon watched all this with awe, its eyes fixed on the Pokéball in Ross’ hand as though it was the answer to everybody’s problems. Crooning softly at Growlithe it paused for an instant before the puppy, then, before anybody could blink it was gone.

“Hey, where did it…”

“You *******!” The second worker hollered in despair. “You’ve killed us all!”

Before Ross could counter curse him the ground began to shake, inspiring him to look upwards towards the building that was collapsing in the distance. Between him and the Crimson Bay Mall was a stream of rock and broken earth, as though something was rapidly burrowing towards him, and it wasn’t a single Diglett. Faced with the oncoming wave of unground attackers Ross was completely petrified. They were moving so swiftly there was no escape.

Coming to his senses when he heard Growlithe barking at him he whirled round to find his four-legged friend, but Amy had already hauled the puppy away. Bulbasaur was also running away, dragging the two workers along behind him, a testament to the incredible strength he had built up since Ross met him at Bill’s lighthouse. Deciding to follow his Pokémon’s command for once he dashed after Growlithe, but before he’d taken one step the Diglett cause up with him.

At first the ground just shook uncontrollably, knocking Ross off his feet, but then it splintered into tiny pieces and Ross’ hands went straight through the once solid rock like it was made of wet tissue paper. The further he sunk into the earth the more it opened up to swallow him, until so much of the planet’s crust had been stripped away that Ross found his hands grasping wet paper no more and he lurched forward into the darkness below.

“Ross!” He heard Amy shriek above the screams of exploding rock.

Once in free fall Ross was reminded of the Clefairy city beneath Mount Moon and the bottomless pit that lay at its centre; only then did the Pallet trainer begin to forget himself and panic. His hands shot out and tried to find purchase on the rock walls around him, but they too shattered and he only succeeded in tearing up his hands. More and more rock collapsed beneath him and he knew in an instant that he was going to die.

He then hit the floor of the cave he’d fallen into and everything went quiet.

“Bugger,” It was all Ross could say in the darkness.

Twisting around to try and get some bearing on where he lay in the dark cavern Ross found, to his discomfort, that his arm was broken in several places. He allowed only a muffled snarl to escape his lips, but decided that it was best if he didn’t move about any more lest he risk further injury, so he lay on his back in the darkness, waiting for somebody to come and find him. Surprisingly, it didn’t take as long as he thought, although it wasn’t who he expected to see.

The ground next to him erupted and a small brown creature burst forth in the gloom, illuminated only by the cracks of light that sneaked though the hole he had fallen through, nearly ten meters above. Expecting some grizzly death at the hands of the wild Pokémon Ross was surprised when it just moaned softly. Its peers joined it until the entire cave was full of the little brown creatures and one large hybrid of three Diglett, which could only be the evolved Dugtrio.

Dugtrio swept past its subordinates and approached Ross, a grim _expression on its face, but when it passed the first Diglett Ross had seen the small mole Pokémon cried out, halting the progress of its leader. The Dugtrio frowned at Diglett and to find favour with its leader the mole made its way over to Ross and knocked one of his Pokéballs off his belt.

“Hey,” Ross objected.

Upon seeing the red and white sphere Dugtrio and the army of Diglett made a sound that could only be a gasp. For some reason the creatures were surprised to see the Pokéball, but Ross couldn’t figure out why, until he remembered what Lincoln had told him; he was an emissary. It was his duty to bridge the gap between Pokémon and humanity and the Diglett had been waiting for him, which was why he had been brought into the cave, rather unceremoniously, after Diglett had seen Bulbasaur’s Pokéball.

Struggling to his feet, a movement that put Dugtrio on edge, Ross held up his good hand in defence and gazed around the cavern. “What is this place?”

Seeing the direction the cave stretched Ross suddenly realised what was going on underneath the Crimson Bay Mall. The Diglett Cave, which Ross had uncovered, ran the length of the mall’s foundation, making the ground unstable. Because it was the home of the Diglett they were being blamed for the whole debacle, but the real blame fell on Machoke Construction for being so careless when they chose the construction site.

“I’ll be damned,” Ross whispered.

“Ross!” He heard Amy’s voice cry out from high above. “Can you hear me?”

He considered ignoring her to make her worried, but thought better of himself; picking on Amy’s emotions like he planned to would be childish and unbecoming of a Pokémon Trainer of his calibre. Besides, he had just solved the mystery of the Diglett Cave and he felt like gloating. Excited he tried throwing his arms into the air in triumph and was suddenly reminded of the price of his success.

“Yeah, I’m here,” Ross called up, nursing his forearm. “And do I have news for you.”



* * * * *



As the sun rose over Saffron City only one person was awake to see the birth of the day, sacrificing sleep for the power he felt for the knowledge that he could exist consistently from dusk to dawn when something as powerful as the sun had to lay down it’s life before the night. Such a feeling was sheer ecstasy and although it was experienced by lovers who spend all night together they couldn’t comprehend the true meaning of the joy they felt, only the teenager who stood watching Saffron City awaken understood the significance of the sun’s death and rebirth, and his own power to avoid such surrender to the night.

Brushing his long golden hair out of his eyes the teenager adjusted his glasses and took a deep breath of the morning air that surrounded him. From his vantage point above the Saffron City gym he could see practically the entire city centre, especially the skyscrapers of the central business district, some of the largest buildings in the world. They sparkled in the morning sun, reflecting the newborn light to the streets below.

One building sparkled brighter then all others, cemented in the middle of the city and, as some believed, the heart of Kanto. The Silph Tower was the tallest skyscraper in the entire world and was second only to the Radio Tower of Goldenrod as the largest man-made structure in it. Despite the majesty of the Saffron City gym and the impressive knoll on which it was constructed the Institute was still dwarfed by the Silph Tower.

“Someday,” The teenager whispered. Someday he would watch the sun rise and fall at the top of the Silph Tower, the throne of the world.

Despite locking the door of the roof of the Institute the teenager knew that it would not stop his daily ritual from being interrupted, so he was not surprised when a second presence joined him on the roof. While his back may have been to the new arrival he saw the man teleport in, thanks to Abra, whose eyes he shared, and who remained hidden at the far end of the roof, ready at all times to whisk his master away, but the new arrival posed no threat, so the teenager mentally calmed the psychic Pokémon with a thought.

Without bothering to provide even the most fundamental greeting William Bender, or Will, as he liked to be called by his students, approached the teenager who still only acknowledged the man’s presence by continuing to watch the sun creep into the sky. “Where have you been?”

“Here,” The golden haired teen said with a smug grin. “As always.”

“You had Abra shield your thoughts from me so I couldn’t find you, Adam,” Will accused.

Nothing was more satisfying for Adam Psyche to watch those who perceived themselves to be greater then he flounder before him. William Bender was the most powerful psychic in all the lands, even more powerful then Sabrina, and some even believed him to be destined for the inner conclave of the Pokémon League, but before Adam he still trembled, as was natural when in the presence of the number one trainer of the Pallet Town Three, the Pokémon Trainer Triumvirate.

Through Abra’s eyes Adam could see every drop of sweat that made its way down Will’s face. Such anxiety in the Pokémon Master towards Adam pleased him to no end. He was destined to do great things in his life and it was important that everybody understand this and revere him for it; even the most powerful trainers should know that in time they too would have to prostrate themselves before his supremacy.

Angry now Will stepped forward to grab Adam’s shoulder and turn him around. “Well? What do you have to say for your insubordination?”

With a thought Adam had Abra stop shielding his thoughts for an instant and in the second it took the psychic Pokémon to veil his mind once again Will reached out quickly and scanned his head. What he found caused the Pokémon Master to stay his hand from Adam’s shoulder and retreat from the Pallet trainer. Adam’s mind was a steel trap and it closed on Will’s psychic probe with all the zeal of an Arbok’s strike.

“I’m hardly insubordinate, William,” Adam finally turned to face the psychic who glared, furiously, into his eyes. “This isn’t your castle, despite all your kind words in Sabrina’s ear, and they are just those, words. Don’t think that Sabrina can’t sense this.”

Will huffed in the face of Adam’s arrogance; the pompous psychic had met his match in self obsession and it irked him that somebody could be more self-assured then him. “You’re new here, boy, so I’ll let that slide.”

“I may be new, but Sabrina favours my opinion over yours,” Adam retorted.

“What makes you think that?”

“Simple,” He shrugged. “You may have been told to represent her at Indigo Plateau at the Gym Leader summit, but while you are away who is taking over her gym? And who is charged with protecting her while her illness runs its course? Sabrina sees me a worthy guardian, not you.”

For a moment Adam thought he had finally beaten Will and the psychic’s emotions were shattered, a hard task indeed when faced with the fortress-like mind of telepath, but Will only laughed in Adam’s face, splintering his feeling victory and destroying his high spirited mood which had slowly grown since the first of the sun’s rays touched the sky.

Between bouts of laughter Will tried to apologise, half-heartedly. “You don’t actually believe this, do you? The Gym Leader summit is more important then you can possibly comprehend, little boy.”

“Team Rocket?” Adam snorted.

“The heirs of Team Bane are rising.”

“Bedtime stories to scare inexperienced trainers,” The golden haired trainer insisted.

To Adam’s stalwart scepticism Will just shook his head gravely. “What makes you so sure Team Rocket is a myth? You have only been a Pokémon Trainer for three years, so you have no idea of the dangers that lurk in the dark where the light of decent folk cannot reach. Team Bane was a reality and people like you who continue to believe that it cannot happen again will be the death of us all.”

Being the number one trainer in the Triumvirate Adam heard all the important gossip regarding the Pokémon Underdark, so he had been privy to the theories of the desperate regarding Team Rocket many times before and each time the theorising became more and more desperate. Some believed the shadow organisation was on the rise, while others believed that it already had its tendrils of control throughout the Pokémon world.

Because of his familiarity with the naive fears of the weak Adam grew weary with Will’s prattle and yawned his way through what the Pokémon Master had to say. Something as large scale as Team Rocket would easily be discovered by the Pokémon League; only the most intelligent of leader’s would be able to mask the organisation’s presence, and such a leader did not exist, for Adam would have found him and beaten him.

“Fascinating,” Adam waved his hand at Will. “Is there anything else, or do you want to cry to me about the boogieman as well?”

Will shook his head and turned away from the smarmy Pokémon Trainer from Pallet. “I’m leaving for Indigo Plateau now. Be sure to keep an eye on Sabrina; she is through the worst of her illness, but she could turn at any moment.”

“And?”

“Be vigilant,” Will’s eyes narrowed as he delivered his warning, as though there were spies nearby, listening, in hopes of hearing the Saffron City gym secrets. “I sense that something is a foot in the city, but it’s masking itself well.”

Angry now that the psychic hadn’t already left Adam considered having Abra let Will near his mind again, but decided such an attack would be spiteful and not in his character; he was better then Will, so he shouldn’t sink to the man’s level to show him how flawed he was. Still, the arrogant Pokémon Master deserved to be taken down a few steps on Pokémon Trainer’s ladder, and although he knew he wouldn’t stand up to William Bender yet, someday he would face the man in battle.

Facing the rising sun again Adam readjusted his glasses, which had slid further down his nose. “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”

Without retort Will disappeared. He didn’t leave the roof he just disappeared, teleported, in the same manor as his arrival, and Adam saw it all through Abra’s eyes. All that remained behind Will were wisps of smoke that hung in the air and for a brief moment caught the sun’s rays before dissipating completely into the morning air.

“Don’t worry, Will,” Adam murmured. “When it comes I’ll stop it.”



* * * * *



“I’m sorry, son,” Doctor Remington said with a smile as the orderlies helped lower Ross into his hospital bed. “But you aren’t going anywhere.”

Biting his tongue to try and keep his mind off the pain in his arm Ross wondered what he had done to deserve being locked up in the Vermilion City Hospital. All he’s tried to do was protect the Diglett, and now he would have to spend the next four weeks learning how to tie his shoe-laces again. Moving around caused his arm to throb and he became enraged that a few broken bones were the least of his worries and not the most of them.

When he was settled in the orderlies fled from the room. Sure that they were gone Ross decided to ask about the results of his Deep Scan. “So, what’s going on, doctor? My arm really is doing alright. Why is my term here posted as a month instead of the week and a half it should be? A few days in an isolation chamber, submerged in Pokémon DNA should cure me up fine.”

“I wish it were that simple, Ross,” Remington sighed.

Despite his reassuring _expression Remington’s demeanour was grave. “What’s wrong?”

“Unfortunately we’ll have to run some tests on you, but at the moment we aren’t sure.”

“Apart from my arm, which smarts like Hell, I feel fine,” Ross insisted.

Doctor Remington made his way to the end of Ross’ bed and began flicking through his chart. “When we Deep Scanned you we found traces of venom in your blood stream, and it appears to be active. We haven’t identified yet, as I said, but we do know that in pockets were the venom is building up your blood is clotting. If one of these clots bursts it could travel to your brain or heart, causing you to suffer a stroke or cardiac arrest.”

“What?” Ross was incredulous. “That’s impossible!”

“I’m afraid it’s happening right now.”

“But where would I get venom like that from…” As he uttered the words he found himself scratching his shoulder, which had just begun to itch, right where he had been impaled three months before underneath Mount Moon.

Seeing Ross’ _expression fall Remington put the chart down. “Ross?”

Since he had healed from Ariados’ sting at Bill’s lighthouse Ross had paid little thought to the injury, but in retrospect it was foolish of him to think that time could heal the poisons of a fully evolved Pokémon. He should have checked himself into the Cerulean City Pokécentre when he had the chance, but the Nugget Bridge Tournament and the Cascade Badge had distracted him, and now his life was threatened by the two Pokémon Rogues he had fought.

Misinterpreting his trepidation for weakness Remington replaced the chart and stepped towards the exit of the hospital room. “I’ll let you rest. It must be a lot to take in. We can begin tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Ross nodded, deciding to wait before telling Remington what ailed him.

“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“Could I see my friends?”

“Of course,” With that the doctor stepped out of the room.

After being hauled out of the cave by Bulbasaur and Machoke Ross was taken to the hospital by Amy and Lincoln, but neither hung around whilst Ross was put under the Deep Scan, the multispectral analysis machine devised by the Pokémon League to diagnose simple Pokémon physiology quickly and efficiently. He was not sure, but Ross suspected that the Diglett Cave he had discovered had caused quite an uproar at the construction site.

Initially Machoke Construction had managed to acquire authorization to cull the Diglett population on the grounds that they were interfering with human operations, however now that the situation was reversed Ross was sure the Pokémon League would pounce on the chance to have the Diglett Cave named a national landmark and the Crimson Bay Mall construction site shut down, indefinitely.

Gazing around the room he was in lazily Ross was surprised to see that it was empty; apart from he there was nobody in it and this puzzled him greatly. He lay in a bed close to the door of the room and opposite a television hanging from the ceiling. There were dressers along the walls and tables covered in standard hospital paraphernalia; buckets and bedpans; however the wall furthest from the door was hidden behind a blue curtain. When Ross stared at the curtain closely he was surprised to hear a muffled cough from behind it.

“Ross,” Amy sighed with relief as she and Growlithe made their way into the room.

“Hey, guys.”

Patting him carefully on the shoulder Amy smiled supportively. “You’ll be happy to know that Lincoln has managed to have the construction site shut down while a Pokémon League inquiry takes place. Apparently there won’t be one for a while since Indigo Plateau is having some conference, but at leas the Diglett are safe.”

“Excellent.”

“How are you feeling?” Ross graciously accepted his Pokéballs from Amy as she spoke. “Doctor Remington told us that the hospital needed to keep you for study for a couple of weeks before they release you. I thought you just broke your arm; what’s the hold up? Is something wrong?”

Considering how well he’d taken the news that Ariados’ poison was still filtering through his blood Ross decided in an instant not to tell Amy the truth about his injuries. He didn’t want her worrying about his health when she should be training with her Pokémon, so he resolved to lie to her to try and put her thoughts at ease, although he wasn’t sure what the best approach to take with his companion was.

“I’ve had a previous injury in my arm, so they want to make sure it sets properly.”

Surprised by the less then serious reason for his extended hospital stay Amy checked her watch, all concern washing from her face. “That’s fair enough, although Doctor Remington seemed to think that something was really wrong with you.”

“Nah, they just want to make sure my arm doesn’t bend the wrong way when it heals,” Ross lied.

Growlithe rolled his eyes, obviously not accepting his master’s deception, however if Amy suspected anything was seriously wrong she didn’t show it. “Okay, that’s cool.”

“I’ll be in here a month, though. What will you do?”

“Well, Captain Bow invited me to train aboard the S.S. Anne, so I guess I’ll do that, and jump ship when we get near Cinnabar Island; I have some business with the scientists there,” Reaching into her backpack she pulled out an orange rock. “Remember how I got this amber from the university in Pewter City? I’m behind schedule; I was supposed to drop it off ages ago, so I guess I’ll do that.”

Sad to hear they were parting ways Ross hung his head, feeling like a dejected cripple. “Oh, alright. I guess this is goodbye, then.”

“I’m going to come back, idiot,” Amy slapped him playfully on the head.

“Okay, cool,” Cradling his head Ross added, spitefully. “I guess.”

Amy huffed and replaced the amber in her bag, then went over to Ross’ at the end of his bed and began removing her belongings that he had offered to carry. It made sense that Amy would take back the equipment, because now that she would be travelling alone she would get a lot more use from a kettle then Ross who only had to alert a nurse and have a meal brought in. One thing that Ross was considering was having Amy take care of his Pokémon for the month.

Stuck in a hospital Ross knew that Growlithe and Bulbasaur would get tired and he didn’t want their training to fall behind, especially Bulbasaur’s, who was showing incredible strength in recent weeks, the battle with Lieutenant Surge being the tip of the iceberg, however the more he thought about it the more he realised that training wouldn’t be a problem. He wouldn’t be able to go on the morning runs with his Pokémon, but he could still send them on their way and run battle drills when they were finished.

He did have one concern, though. “Amy, I’ve been meaning to release Spearow for some time now. Could you do it before you go?”

“What’s wrong with Spearow?” Amy asked, taking the bird Pokémon’s Pokéball from Ross.

“He isn’t happy with his development, and I think he misses the wild.”

“That’s a shame.”

It certainly was a shame, because, although Ross promised himself that he’d respect the wishes of his Pokémon he knew that with Spearow gone he’d only have Growlithe and Bulbasaur to rely on in the numerous battles that took place between cities, which meant that they’d get incredible work out, but they’d also become hideously tired. It would be interesting to see how powerful they could become in Spearow’s absence.

After Ross assured Amy that he would be alright while she was away enjoying the fruits of Captain Bow’s hospitality she left for the docks, hoping that she wasn’t too late to catch the S.S. Anne. She had been told that it was sailing late morning and now the sun was beginning to sink from the sky, but she doubted Bow was as punctual as the stories went, and to add to that if it had already departed she could catch it using Wartortle.

Seemingly alone in the hospital room Ross relaxed with his Pokédex and began acquainting himself with Pokémon he’d studied months before in Pallet Town, however he eventually became distracted by a faint whispering from behind the blue curtain he had spotted before and got out of bed to check what was behind it. Tearing the cerulean linoleum away he was shocked to find a boy lying in a second bed.

The boy was biting his nails and stared at Ross with all the wide-eyed awe of a Stantler caught in a car’s high-beams. He looked roughly a year younger then Ross, but his hair, which stood up, a pillar of curls, made up for any lost height, although he appeared to lose little. Despite his original belief that there would be two beds in the hospital room Ross was actual shocked to finally discover the second bed tucked away, apparently purposefully hidden by the boy.

Pulling his fingers from his mouth he waved at Ross. “Hello.”

“Hello,” Ross returned, eying his discovery suspiciously.

“So, you were the guy that got Machoke Construction into all this trouble?”

Ross was shocked to see the boy hold up the local newspaper, the Vermilion Herald, whose front page story was the discovery of the Diglett Cave and the immediate closure of the Crimson Bay Mall construction site while the authorities waited for the special gathering of Pokémon officials at the Indigo Plateau to end, and the Pokémon League to make a statement regarding the discovery.

Concerned by the knowledge the boy possessed Ross returned his newspaper to him. “You overheard my conversation with Amy?”

“Sorry,” He mumbled. “Was that private?”

Glancing at the newspaper Ross shrugged. “Not anymore.”