The PokéCommunity Forums

The PokéCommunity Forums (https://www.pokecommunity.com/index.php)
-   Fan Fiction & Writing (https://www.pokecommunity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=20)
-   -   Trials of Reluctance (PG-13) (https://www.pokecommunity.com/showthread.php?t=22034)

Isaac Gravity November 16th, 2004 3:41 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.
--------------------
(Black screen)
(Steven Stone narrates)

[Is it possible to be too angry? So full of past bitterness that it would later evolve into Unexplainable wrath?]

[Some would argue that the emotion of anger is better than the emotion of sorrow; the emotion that makes one look and feel weak.]

[Though this may be. True strength is drawn from facing ones inner demons and conquering it; however, during my days of travel I came across many things, many people, and many emotions.]

[It was on that fateful day when the moon shone with an ethereal light like no other when I met wrath itself. She smiled like an innocent child, yet her fierce topaz orbs pierced my inner soul with a hatred that overwhelmed me…I was actually afraid…Afraid for my life and for hers…Despite all this, she halted her attack and made her leave looking for as she dubbed it “Her next hunt.”]

[I was spared…I wonder to this very day as the moon shines with that exact mystical light…Who is she chasing next…and most importantly when will her bloodlust end?]

---------------
(Kanto Region)
(Pewter City 12 AM)

A young man runs through an abandoned pier gasping desperately for air while he holds his cut shoulder. An Absol pounces on him as he lets out one last dying scream.

----------------
(Johto Region)
(Goldenrod City 9: 45 PM)

A 17-year-old waitress walks into the kitchen of the restaurant in which she works. She walks in a huff but the minute she sees the words “Reap what you sow” written on wall. When she sees the source of the ‘ink’ she panics.

“Joe!!! Joe! Please wake up!” She screams as she shakes his dead bloody corpse. “Please…You promised we’d be together…that we’d start over…and forget the past…PLEASE!!!”

As the young woman cried a Misdreavous materializes into the room, glooming behind the grieving girl ominously.

-------------------
(Orange Islands)
(Valencia Island)

A 15-year-old boy ran through an alley, throwing down trashcans to slow down his pursuers progress.

He climbs over a gate and continues to run he eventually reaches a dead end. The boy curses his luck then fearfully turns up to the roof to view his pursuer…

A 14-year-old girl we also know her as Angelique.

With her was her Pokemon Cerberus the Houndoom who stood to her left glowering down at the boy. Sitting on her right shoulder was the now healthy Skitty.

“Why did you stop running?” The raven-haired 14-year-old pouts. “I was enjoying your futile effort faker.”

‘So it’s my turn to be hunted…’ The boy thinks to himself before facing Angelique fearfully. “wh-What do you want! I never asked to be the way I am!” The boy screams as his eyes well with tears. “I never wanted to be dragged off the street like I was some piece of garbage then be treated as a lab rat!” The 15-year-old stammers. “I…I just want to live a normal life…I want to be with my family…That’s why I was able to fight the control…”

“I don’t care…”

“What’s with you!? I want nothing to do with Pokemon or organizations or anything!!!” The 15-year-old then shudders with a silent rage. “And I’m speaking for every other alive and well Crop Kid who is trying to live their life like it was before those horrid years…LEAVE US ALONE!

Angelique looked at the boy with cold unemotional eyes. “No, you don’t understand…And that’s the problem…You were blessed with the power to commune with your surroundings…yet this is what you do to it… My dream…has no room for third rates…Isn’t that right Cerberus?”

Cerberus says nothing; he just drops down to his target and moves in for the kill…

The boy didn’t even bother to scream or beg. He just murmured he will be avenged.

-------------------
(Morning)
(Location: Airport)

Angelique watches a plane take off from the giant airport window with an uninterested, unimpressed expression.

“The 10:45 flight to Lilycove City in the Hoenn region is now ready to board. All passengers head to Gate 9 now.” The man on the comm spoke.

Angelique looks at her ticket before shoving it back into the contents of her cape. With Skitty on her shoulder she makes her way to Gate 9.
---------------
(One 10-hour flight later)

Angelique walks out of the airport to see a man dressed in a red business suit with black shades and a woman also wearing shades in red business attire.

The man held up a sign that had her name on it and the woman nods solemnly at the girl smiling contently. Angelique says nothing she just walks up to them and follows them to their fancy Red sports car.

Both fancily dressed adults still held that content smile on their faces while the man drove the car and the woman turned on the radio to some travel music. Angelique sat quietly in the backseat gazing at the background with a bored expression while her loyal follower slept peacefully on her lap.

After a nice quiet drive and a scenic route, the trio (and the Kitten Pokemon) walks to the end of Lilycove City, through the beach where they stop at an odd rock structuring. The man puts his hand on the rock to reveal that it’s really a touch sensitive scanner. After verifying the visitors the computer-automated door greets them and lets them in.

The entire base was swarming full of members of Team Magma. All the Grunts freeze up in their place and salute the incoming higher-ups. After a walk down a hallway and a ride up the elevator to the top floor where the Leader, Executives and rest of the Magma top administration hangs.

The man and woman lead Angelique to the room in the center of the hall, where she enters alone, the man and woman both leave as silently as they arrived. Angelique now stands in a very fancy room fit for C.E.O or in this case Team Magma’s Leader: Maxie.

“I’m glad to see you’re well…It wouldn’t have hurt to at least call me once in awhile, Angelique.”
------------
Chapter 12- Topaz Eyes: Angelique the Ghost Tamer
------------
Angelique helps herself to an apple that was on the bowl on Maxie’s desk.

“You know I don’t like that name…” She states in an expressionless manner as she bites into the apple.

Maxie swivels seat to face Angelique. “Really? That was to be the name of the daughter that my dearly departed wife and I agreed to give upon her birth…” The Magma Leader then stares longingly at his dead wife’s picture

After his brooding, Maxie slides a picture of May on it to Angelique.

“Who’s this?” The 14-year-old queries.

“The reason I called you here.” Maxie answers. “This child has become quite a thorn in Magma’s side for quite some time now… She single-handedly put our Mission in Slateport to a drastic halt!”

---------------
(Flashback)

Maxie enters the second floor to think his men have usefully got the specimen from Capt. Stern. Only to see his two men backing away in shock at their losses to May.

“This can’t be! I was beaten by a runt!?” One of the Magma Grunt’s growls ruefully.

“What do you idiots want here anyway?” May questioned her defeated opponents.

Maxie half annoyed and half impressed makes himself known to the other members of the room. “We want Stern’s cooperation so we can get the stone we need to save the world!”

“Never!” Capt. Stern yells. “I don’t see anything heroic about changing the world! Don’t you realize the global aftermaths that can and will occur if either Team has their way?”

“No my friend you are mistaken-”

“I don’t care whose wrong or right here!” May interrupts the debate with her heated words. “You call yourselves protectors of nature and followers of justice! SO mister Justice?” The 13-year-old then gestures to messed up room due to Magma’s attack “Is this what you mean? The world is fine the way it is! The only thing it needs to stripped of is lunatics like you!”

“Still a child…” Maxie sighs. “You possess strengths and talents that one would die to have yet you’re too naïve to not only understand what your capable of…but you pale to comprehend the risks you are putting yourself, others and this beautiful planet when standing against us…This isn’t a game child…”

“I’m not joking…” May growls deadly serious. “You should ask yourself those same questions…But, even then again I doubt you’ll ever understand…with your head so up high in the clouds and all…”

“Tor!” Tsunami agrees.

Maxie shook his head with discontent after hearing the girl’s choice. “Such a waste…I will let you go without trouble for now child…” Maxie now calls out his high level Mightyena to intimidate May and Tsunami. “But promise me now that you WILL NOT further aggravate me…I cannot promise your safety afterwards…I do not play in the sandbox…”

“… Tsunami, Ember.”

Tsunami uses Ember at the Mightyena. Who counters with Shadow Ball. Tsunami jumps away from the attack and into May’s arms.

One of the Magma Grunts throws a bomb, which shined with a bright light on impact with the ground. As May, Tsunami and Capt. Stern shield their eyes the other Grunt who had his shades on snatches the stone from Capt. Stern’s butter-finger grip.

Maxie puts on a pair of shades while making his leave. “Child, you’ve been warned…I will not tolerate a run-in from you again.”

(End Flashback)
---------------

“And in the end she still managed to somehow steal the stone from us…so this is what the generation of Trainers have been reduced to…all might and no understanding…” Maxie frowns as he gets out of his chair with his arms folded to his back and stares out the window.
“Many would call my dreams of landscape expansion just a foolish dream wouldn’t they? But they never grew up where I did…Growing up with large families was to be expected for most…but did they grow up in an environment where one must rely up here?” Maxie gestures his right hand to his head. “And here.” Maxie then gestures his right hand to the heart.
“When I became older, my family and I was found by a rescue team and was offered a chance to the mainland…They sent me…It was there I saw and learned many things…I even met the woman of my dreams…But all was not well…I began to witness man, my own beings mercilessly destroying forests, de-grazing fields and turning it all into the steel cities we see today!!! Humans may be able to expand their horizons But at what cost?! I’ll tell you what…Pokemon…the same beings that I learned to live besides like furry brothers they truly are being ripped away from their homes and chased elsewhere…Now look! Two beings who knew nothing of each other but could live together in harmony now fight amongst each other for something that was intended for us both to share!”

The Team Magma Leader then clenches his left fist while right hand caresses the window. “That is why…I do this…If I can expand the land…Make plant life from dried seas…then there will be room for us both…The world is filled with too much water and though we need it there must be balance otherwise no one will be happy…”

A stray tear escapes Maxie’s left eye as it does a stray drop of water escapes the leaf of a plant that sat on Maxie’s desk. Angelique catches it with her right index finger.

“I still don’t understand where the girl’s so-called strength comes in…” Angelique dryly counters.

“If I didn’t know any better,” The Team Magma Leader grins. “I’d say little Angelique feels threatened by the aspect of a rival rather than pleased.”

Angelique gives the man a cold threatening glare. “I’m not impressed by third-rates…”

“She is what you call stand alone potential waiting to be unleashed…and aside from her natural talent I did some digging on the girl and I learned she is like you.” Maxie implies before continuing. “No, she doesn’t have ESP but she was given the exact same serum that further enhanced your powers.”
Maxie then turns to the 14-year-old with a warning look. “ I suggest you not take her lightly…She seems prone to use her abilities when pushed into a situation where she’s cornered.”

Angelique’s eyes show malice yet she keeps a straight face. “Well then…maybe this one wont be boring at least…”

-----------------
(In hallway)

Angelique stands in front of a vending machine and puts in the money for her desired drink.

The machine takes awhile to give her the drink; as a result the machine ends up being bashed in by a strong “ghostly force” chugging out all the available drinks from the machine. All Angelique does is pick up one of the many sodas rolling about on the floor.

“It’s funny…I never allowed such things to bother me…” Angelique spoke, as she looks at hand slightly amused. She then thinks back to her first encounter with May, “How could I have not seen it then…how!”

The vending machine is fully compressed, due to the girl’s “ghostly force”

Skitty runs up to Angelique with new bruises. The 14-year-old doesn’t even have to bother to find the culprits, they appear to her.

Arriving was a male and female Magma admin both dressed in a bit more fancy versions of the Team Magma costumes.

“Found you! You little wretch!” Team Magma Admin Duncan growls at Skitty “Now you’ll suffer for your intrusion…Team Magma has no room for creatures of your caliber”

“Really?” Angelique queried as she picks up her traveling companion. “Then it’s plain and simple that you are the one who lacks the justice Duncan!”

“A-Angelique! What brings you here?” Team Magma Admin Vanessa gasped nervously as she quickly spotted the girl.

“Does it matter?” Duncan smirks bitterly. “The favorite can do what she feels. And the reason this filthy NON fire Pokemon is here is because MAXIE let you drag it inside.”

Angelique ignores his comment completely and begins to speak while her hair overlaps her eyes. “You’re the one whose mistaken…Team Magma wants to expand the land to prevent a war between man and Pokemon which is already starting many different ways.”
The teen begins. “Team Magma is the holy light that will wash away all the sin. This group is not limited to only fire Pokemon, especially since Hoenn is quite scarce on these beings due to all the water that surrounds this region…”

Angelique now faces Duncan with mocking look. “If I’m not mistaken… Grunts and lesser nobodies like you use Poohyena and Mightyena…We should also use Grass, Ground, Rock and any other Pokemon that lives off the land and will not survive in the sea like a human can’t…” The 14-year-old wraps up her speech with a little sigh. “Until you understand this you will never understand true justice and thus will always be a sinner…”

“Bull!” Duncan screams. “Team Magma is only limited to fire Pokemon! We use Pooch and Mights because they’re fierce and strong and that shows Magmas power!!!”

Vanessa snickers as she waves her hands in a shooing gesture playfully towards Duncan. “Hey chill out. The kid doesn’t understand the real reason behind Magma.” The woman now bends down to smile playfully at Angelique. “Sure, we plan expand the land Little Girl but there are other reasons Team Magma came to be…”

Duncan shoves Vanessa aside to grab the 14-year-old by her cape. “Aside from the Pokemon Maxie gave you. I better start seeing you use REAL Magma required Pokemon from here on in!!!”

Angelique glowers Duncan as a strong force creates a bigger gap of space between them.

“Do not use Maxie’s name or this Organization name in your sentences ever again…” She warns.

With Skitty on her shoulder, Angelique turns and walks away from the stunned Admin.

Feeling strong humiliation running through his veins, Duncan angrily gets up and calls out his Mightyena, who launches Shadow Ball. The attack leaves a hole in the ground right in front of Angelique, stopping her in her place.

“You’re the fool!” Duncan roars. “You fail to realize that Maxie only keeps you around and allows you to do what you wish ONLY because of those **** freakish powers you have you conceited little Brat! Come back and face me! I’ll show Maxie and everyone how weak you truly are! You-You BLASTED DEMON!!!

Angelique stops in her place and only turns her head at shoulders length at Duncan with her piercing yellow eyes.

“So you do have some courage.” The foolish man smirks cockily. “Heheheh! Now Mighty-”

“Shadow Claw, Yami.”

Within a matter of seconds Yami the Absol pops out of his Pokeball and dashed through the room with his Custom Tactic Shadow Claw. Causing the now departed Duncan and his Mightyena’s blood and random body parts to splatter all over the walls and ceiling.

Vanessa was horrified at the events. She first handedly saw the powers of the child Maxie bragged so much about…

…And finally realized why Maxie himself is a bit uneasy being in the same room with her sometimes.

“Why do you quiver?” The 14-year-old grins wickedly. “You said it yourself: I’m just a child”

Angelique uses her powers to strangle the life out of the horrified Vanessa whose eyes began to bulge as her face turned different colors due to lapse of air while her throat slowly presses in.

The cracking of her neck could be heard down the halls and since this was the floor that executives and Admins hang out only the man and woman dressed in red business suites heard it. The two stop playing Soul Caliber 2 on their Gamecube and rush to the scene.

“Child is there any problem?” Magma Executive Royce ran in and asked as ignores the deaths.

“No I was only reducing Team Magma’s garbage level.” The 14-year-old tells her guardian.

Magma Executive Amanda walks in and looks at the “mess”. “At least the Grunts will be happy to know they can get promoted now.” She jokes.

Angelique says nothing and leaves.

Isaac Gravity November 16th, 2004 3:45 PM

Cont
---------
(Location: Route 119)

Angelique walks through the path with Skitty on her shoulder. As she walks a sudden feeling of nostalgia hits her.
-----------
(Flashback)

[My name is Angelique. That isn’t my true name though…My true name originates from a tribe that used to exist in one of the Southern Islands…That was where I was born…But even then, I never lived in harmony with humans.]

[The village Seer… or witch doctor however you want to call them Owego, from what Nana told me saw a vision of a great evil that will be born in the form of a little girl. Though the child would take human guise the devil couldn’t remove one factor from her follower: Her piercing demon-like eyes…]

[In reality Owego was afraid. For he knew that the “evil child” would be born with a source of power, which was unheard of in a land of black magic and would thus, overthrow his family’s reign over the Island.]

[A month later I was born…My life bearers and the rest of those related or close to them were killed ASAP except for Nana and her husband, who had no choice but to flee to a sector where my tribe feared called the Aerodactyl Graveyard to keep me alive.]

[I grew up quietly, one would say. Nana would warn me to never wander outside the area. So, I had no one but Ghost-type Pokemon to play with.]

[But on that faithful day…]

A 7-year-old Angelique runs back into the houses while her Duskull playmate floats along behind her.

The child sees a horrible sight as she witnesses her Grandfather on the ground with a pool of blood under him and her Grandmother sitting on her favorite rocking chair while holding her stomach as if she was holding in something.

“Nana? Why is Grandpa on the ground like that? Are you sick? You’re holding your stomach…”

Angelique answers her own question and looks at why Nana held her stomach. Only to see a deep cut, which bled uncontrollably; she was only pushing in her intestines.

“…Because very nasty men came here dear one… Do not be frightened…Our family are proud seers who is blessed by Lugia with a talent that exceeds dark magic. We were able to conceal ourselves from Owego’s family and the village for so long…It’s just that-”

Despite the fact that the Grim Reaper was trying to snatch her soul from this realm Angelique’s Grandmother told the 7-year-old everything she needed to know.

[The only family I ever knew were taken from me… their blood screamed to the heavens for retribution.]

[All because of a jealous little man who hid behind his families dwindling power.]

[Owego made a deal with some shady businessmen who wanted the fossil fuel and gems provided in Aerodactyl Graveyard for their own reasons. Owego greedily agreed since their money offer was tempting and he knew Nana and I were up there. Village fables were the only thing that protected us until now.]

[I followed one of the men who hung around the Graveyard to earn a little bounty for themselves…And with the many angry Pokemon in the area ambushed them in the village that betrayed Nana!!! That was the first time I ever used my psychic powers to harm another…]

[Oddly enough I enjoyed it…]

[Enjoyed the feeling of power over those humans. Being able to commune with Pokemon simply through my emotions…watching them fight for me like loyal soldiers…This is something no mortal can do…]

[I was literally visualizing those fools souls scream out in Hades as the soil drank the red liquids that seeped from their fragile skin. For humans death comes quite easy…But for a Psychic the aspect death is something we must embrace thus no one but one of our own could stop us.]

[Unfortunately, I wasn’t fully in-tuned with my powers yet. Thus, one of those thugs was able to fully complete his suicide mission and inject me with a needle…]

[It didn’t happen at first but I felt as though my own body was tearing me apart from the inside out. Everything hurt…I just wanted to die at that moment, if I did the pain would go away…]

Angelique’s nose bled uncontrollably as she clawed mercilessly at her own face, while coughing up her own red liquids just so she wouldn’t die of drowning on her own blood. The young girls yellow eyes began to grow fierce and wrathful as foam slobbered freely down her mouth.

Overtime the young psychic fell to the ground under going a massive seizure. After that she just went stone dead.

Owego comes out from his safe hiding spot in time to gloat. “Hahahahaha! Little wretch!” The Witchdoctor then faces his villagers. “You see this is what happens to those who defy the bronze gods of Dark Mag-”

A sharp wooden pole tears itself into Owego’s belly. Bringing instant death to the man.

The villagers saw a bright light shine down over the fallen Angelique.

The villagers, all being very spiritual all saw the souls of those they murdered under the given order of Owego circling around the child breathing new life into the girl.

To everyone’s shock the child that we know as Angelique stood up on both her feet ready for attack.

Many ghost Pokemon all appear behind the 7-year-old and to her right was the Duskull that she befriended since she was old enough to remember.

Angelique points to the Cipher Peons and the villagers.

Her now cat-like topaz eyes glowered with an anger that only the ice-hearted could see.

“Disappear.”

The Duskull and all the other ghost Pokemon all glower ominously at their human foes. A far view shot of the jungle is seen as a strong flickering light is seen from afar.
-----------
(6 months later)
(Location: East Southern Island. Piko-piko Children‘s Inn)

“Thank you Madam Sabrina!” A Nun graciously praises the Saffron City Gym leader. “I know that this must have been very out of your way but we are in desperate need of your help!”

Sabrina stood stoically with her two bodyguards at her sides.

“No, There is no problem” She begins. “Beings like her are exactly what I need to show Saffron‘s superiority.”

“Mistress Sabrina! Are you certain!?” The bodyguard on Sabrina’s left gasps.

“Haven’t you listened to the stories told of this girl!” The bodyguard on the right warns his superior. “The ambassador of death! She was rumored the sole survivor of now desolate and ghost infected Northern Southern Island!”

Sabrina says nothing she just follows the Nun inside.

Overtime the quartet went down to the basement of the Inn that led to a chamber that is said to lock away “The tainted souls.” It was then the Nun timidly stepped forward to point out a huge door that unlike the other doors, was chained down with restraints and other added holy items which prevented whatever was in there from breaking loose.

“Remove the restraints.” The Saffron Gym Leader orders the holy woman who could only quiver. “B-but madam…this child…”

“Will think twice before even striking me.”

As soon as the Saffron City gym Leader uttered those words loud crashing sounds from inside the room is heard. The doors begin to bust from the inside as the outer restraints where Sabrina and co. stood began to crumple apart.

A Gengar even materialized into the area and drank the holy water, He then smiled smugly at the Holy woman and the Psychics then dematerialized away.

“Sh-She’s a demon!!!” The Nun screams out in horror before fainting out of pure shock.

MISTRESS!!!

The man does his job as he shoves Sabrina out of the way and is impaled by a metal pole sent by the psychic force inside.

The chain that was supposed to hold the door suddenly wraps up the other guard. The man was already suffocating, but to add insult to injury a Haunter, Ghastly and Banette constantly rushed in and out through the mans body leaving nasty scars each time they passed.

A Gengar then takes the loose part of the chain and ties it to the overhead fan finishing the hung man off.

Sabrina had enough of the little show and with her own powerful psychic powers bashed the door down to reveal the little pest who has terrorized many.

The room was damaged and musty. An eerie mist filled the room’s atmosphere. Sabrina, being the powerful psychic she is, easily reflected any and all attacks made by the ghost Pokemon who tried to harass her.

The 16-year-old Psychic stared down with indifference at the “Ambassador of death.” The child sat on the floor lifelessly while she hugged her knees as many Ground and Ghost type Pokemon as well as Zubats and Golbats hovered/played around her.

The 7-year-old “demon” slowly tilted her head upwards and though her long raven black hair covered her deadly cat-like topaz eyes, a wicked grin full of the playful innocence of a child.

The girl stood up and attempted to use her psychic force on Sabrina. The Saffron City Gym Leader’s injured hand begins to burn causing her to actually smirk!
Even though the smirk resembled the smile the girl gave Sabrina, she smiled none the less.

Sabrina allowed her self to be pushed backwards by the attack; she never fell though.

“Is that it?”

Sabrina returns the favor with her own attack that made the girl loose her footing and hit the wall very heavily. Even when the girl went rabid she couldn’t even flinch from the teen’s might.
----------------

[Then she asked me: “Do you want to become strong? If you do then listen to me and disobey no order.” After that I, along with six others who deemed to have superior blood became trainees to become the Gym‘s next six protectors.]

[I spent five years training in the Mistress’ Gym. Since I was working under her terms, I had to use Psychic Pokemon as my partners…This was something that personally irked me but learned to get over…]

[The problem with it all was that I was too content with my new life…Too at ease working and competing with my five other teammates…]

[I was so content with the life the Mistress gave to me that I almost forgotten where I truly belonged…]

[Not much longer when the Kanto region was given the award as most lovely region. The men who destroyed my first life; A group by the name of Cipher was trying to recruit any trainer into their ranks through the idealism of false strength.]

[The Mistress and the Leader of the fighting sub-gym was constantly nagged by these fools to become top agents in their work and allow them access to use their Gyms as a base to begin their new project…]

[While Fighting Dojo Leader hastily refused, the Mistress…just seemed to be caught in prior events in her life… This ultimately made her refuse Cipher and threaten them to return to whatever dirt-clot they were conceived from.]

[Cipher now chose to play hardball. They easily overtook the fighting sub-gym in a fast hostile takeover.]

[My Mistress wasn’t weak nor is she easily fooled… So Cipher decided to use the elders who also held psychic powers and wanted the Mistress to stop “exploiting” this meant to be hidden talent in their plans to wipe her out.]

[In a plan made to turn the other five specially chosen students and myself especially look like scapegoats; the elders, their followers and Cipher’s goons ambush the Mistress within the back of Silph Company building.]

[Sadly to say, she and her Pokemon was overtaken by such great odds…]

[Later on the Mistress and her Pokemon was found lying with the debris in critical state that could only be caused by a Ghost Pokemons Dream Eater attack.]

[The six psychics originally hand-picked by the Mistress herself for reasons of superior blood was now being accused of a crime none of us had any real knowledge of at the time…And they knew it!]

[This is what made me realize how stupid others can be, even if they’re are a noble breed like psychics. This just proved to me even among us psychics there are third-rates…]

[Third-rates…Low-level beings who desire what they do not understand and do all they can to make themselves look powerful…]

[They…are just so…disgusting…]

---------
(Less than a year later)

[After the incident. The only thing my teammates and I all could do was escape the Gym and go our separate paths…All of them hoped to somehow prove their innocence and hopefully find the ghost responsible for what happened to the Mistress…]

[All of them…except for me…]

[As much as I am grateful and fond of the Mistress…I know that doing these fruitless endeavors will not bring her back…]

[Instead, I will work myself to the expectations she originally had for me! I will commemorate her memory by becoming strong and wiping out all those who are weak…]

[It was then; I met the man who changed my destiny.]

Angelique and her fully evolved Dusclops stood proudly over a group of now slain Magma Grunts and their Pokemon. Maxie then approaches the girl very carefully.

Angelique hisses at Maxie and uses her psychic powers to throw him on his rear. Maxie isn’t at all angry with the child he’s actually amused by her strong will. The Team Magma Leader stands up and begins to dust himself off.

Angelique was bewildered by why this man unlike the others didn’t take aggressive force? Was she some kind of joke to him?

The thought of this infuriated the 12-year-old psychic as she sent her Pokemon to maim the man. Maxie calmly calls out a Houndoom that begins to fight off the Ghost type bravely.

The Dusclops stomps his foot on the ground conjuring the move Earthquake that opens jagged openings in the once flat green pasture.

The Houndoom easily jumps over the attack and uses Flamethrower at his foe. The Dusclops dematerializes, avoiding his rival’s attack and triggering a bonfire within the open pasture.

“Is this what you hope to achieve?” Maxie further questions the silent child. “Mindless destruction?”

“I don’t care. Just stay out of my path.”

“This isn’t a very wise path for one like yourself to take.”

“I control my own destiny.”

Dusclops throws a strong Shadow Punch at Houndoom, which connects with the dark dogs jaw. Dusclops then grabs the Hound by his horns with one hand and pounds on its skull with the other.

Houndoom is badly injured but refuses to lose to a ghost. The proud hound roars at the top of its lungs, this causes Angelique to cover her ears from the horrible noise as well as cause her shocked Pokemon to freeze up in its place, causing the one-eyed Ghost Pokemon to materialize making it vulnerable to any attack but a Normal type one.

Houndoom lunges at his now material foe and sinks his fangs deep into the hollow monster, taking a huge chunk of its brittle skin. Gaseous vapors freely escape the Dusclops hardened body as it trembled in tremendous paralyzing pain. Houndoom quickly finishes his foe off with Fire Blast.

The Dusclops is engulfed with the mighty flames before finally breaking apart and turning mist. Angelique returns her partner to its ball and falls on her knees shocked.

“Whatever you are trying to do must be noble. But…you yourself lack the justice.” Maxie states. “You were willing to destroy this beautiful green pasture where Pokemon graze and use as their homes and playground. Where’s the nobility in trying to do one thing but steal from another?”

The girl simply throws a scowl at the man. Maxie counters this action by shrugging.

“Hopefully you will see the light soon and when you do nothing can stop you.”

Maxie then recalls Houndoom before giving his respects to his fallen men and makes his leave.

“…Justice…What justice?” Angelique calls to Maxie in voice is a decibel a little over a whisper.

Maxie stops in his place but has his back to Angelique. “The justice of balance. To make sure both man and Pokemon can expand and survive without fear of one having more than the other.” Maxie then turns to the interested girl fully. “The scale is off balance and this is why my men and I hope to fix it.”

“To keep the balance of the land for both human and Pokemon?”

“Yes, but many still oppose this quest for balance to continue to live their own selfish ambitions.” Maxie emphasizes on his speech. “Thus, Team Magma fights the lone battle…when we complete our plans the world will be saved and all would truly see what we were trying to do for them.”

“They won’t.” Angelique smiles. “Be it Human or Pokemon; they are sinners and will be punished for their crimes of treason against nature.”

Hearing these words, Maxie smiles fondly at the child. “You truly are an interesting child. You are?”

“Many call me “Demon,”” The raven-haired girl honesty answers. “I have a true name but I dropped those ties long ago.”

“Heh, no matter.” Maxie smirks. “I’ll make a name for you on our way to base. I don’t think it proper to call a child something as degrading as “Demon.””

The Team Magma Leader then takes note of the 12-year-old’s attire. “Perhaps we can get you change of clothes as well you’re in nothing but rags! Why not?”

Maxie surprisingly hands his new subordinate the Pokeball that has Houndoom in it. “The Houndoom is your now. He will be your first step to understanding true justice.”

Angelique holds the Pokeball and gazes at it. “Justice…”

(End Flashback)
-----------

Angelique arrives in Mauville City.

“She’s here…” Angelique mummers before she notices that Skitty is acting strangely.

Skitty jumps off Angelique’s shoulder and runs back to Route 110.

Angelique, in a quick walking pace, follows her feline companion to a huge lake where she saw the Kitten Pokemon’s fur stand-on-in while she trembled and hissed furiously.

The 14-year-old psychic picks up her friend and pets her continuously, which calms the troubled Pokemon.

“Is there something over there that bothers you?”

Skitty nods.

“I see.”

Angelique uses her psychic ability to floats over the lake to the small mass of dry land then float over the rest of the lake to reach an entrance to a cave.

Skitty wriggles free from Angelique’s light grip and runs inside the cave. Angelique shortly follows.

Angelique, even when angry is a soft-spoken girl. But when she witnessed the sight she was about to see that would shortly change.

When finally entering inside, the 14-year-old and sees the cave being reconstructed in a machine generated underground city, while construction workers continued to work about with their Pokemon allies.

The sign said: “Welcome to New Mauville”

“…Wh-what…” Angelique stutters through clenched fist. “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?”

End Chapter 12

----------------
(Notes)

If one would say May’s overly self-righteous attitude gives her sort of a Super-Hero complex, then I guess you could say that Angelique’s attitude toward life (due to her abilities and the like) gives her a bit of a God complex.

Maybe in future chapters I’ll better emphasize why Angelique figured out that her and the other top six Gym trainers were accused of what happened. Maybe.

Ugh…Why do I always write something bad happening to my favorite characters…It kinda makes me feel like a bit of a jerk…

---------------
(Other notes)

1. Ever read/heard of the book called “The Swiss Family Robinson?” well yeah, that’s how I’m technically trying to describe Maxie’s childhood.

2. When I meant chosen six I meant those Gym trainers you duke it out with before a Gym battle. (Though you don’t have to fight all of them) I figured that there must be more trainers in the Gym but the one’s you probably fight in the game are considered the “best” of all them.

Next- Chapter 13- Flames of Darkness

Isaac Gravity November 16th, 2004 3:51 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else
----------------

Like the laughing wind his experience blows on through time itself. Leaving sparks of wisdom and happiness or pain and sorrow to however he crosses. One would say he’s too old to fight, but he can easily match up with any aspiring trainer. With his veteran days of experience his shocking talents and thus that’s what makes him the elemental master of Lightning.
---------------

Chapter 13- Flames of Darkness
-----------------
(Mauville Gym)

13-year-old May Hiromi freezes in her place as a stray speck of cold sweat trickles down her face.

“May-san? Is there something wrong?” 10-year-old Mia Stone asked the older girl concerned.

“You look really pale…Maybe you should forfeit and umm take it easy… You really should…But that’s just me.” 11-year-old Wally Reynolds meekly suggests.

“When those two are together it almost seems like they share the same brain.” May’s Pokedex named Alia cynically comments. “But May you do look a little burned out.”

May shakes off that feeling she was getting and looks to her Pokedex confidently. “Nah, I’m fine. Just you watch.” May replies as she turns to Whirlpool the Zigzagoon. “You ready?” The chestnut haired 13-year-old asked. Whirlpool nods excitedly. “Then go for it!”

Whirlpool runs out to the battlefield.

The Elderly Gym Leader Wattson just watches this scene with amusement. “Ho ho ho ho! Glad to see you got your nerve back child! Now let’s have a fight that can only be staged at the Mauville Gym. Go Voltorb!”
------------------
(New Mauville)

The corridor was full of dead and decapitated human and Pokemon bodies. When we see deeper into the underground city we see Angelique who bore an angry expression staring down a group of construction workers all holding shovels and any other tool they use, gripped fiercely in their hands.

“How could you…You monster!” One worker screams at the 14-year-old Reaper.

“Kouichi had a wife and three kids to support you heartless witch!” Another worker roars.

Angelique’s her hair only covers one of her fierce looking eyes. Her voice is soft spoken but hints with anger. “I was only acting out the feelings of those you hurt.”

“What the hell are you talking about!” A random worker bellows.

Angelique never answered. This is what left one worker named Frank shuddering with a cold bloodlusting rage. “I don’t care…I knew Jim since kindergarten! I won’t let his death go unavenged!” He yells as he runs at Angelique with Sledgehammer in his hand. “DIE DEMON!!!!”

The sharp claws of a Scyther rips through the soft flesh of worker’s back and out through his stomach. It then quickly pulls out its scythe like-hand and jumps up for a vertical slash. “I’ll be joining you on the other side pal” was his last words before he was cut in half.

The workers all stood in fright. As an army of Pokemon consisting of Electrodes, Voltorbs, Magnetons, Magnemites and Sandshrews appear behind Angelique. All of them glared venomously at the workers.

“I was acting out their feelings.” Angelique spoke as she points to the Pokemon behind her. “You stole their lands for your expansion of human purposes…There must be balance! Did you even think of what this steel cave could do to the land?” The 14-year-old questions. “The poison that will leak from it; damaging stem grains that internally kills the source humans and Pokemon need to breathe?”

The Scyther, being the only one of its species in the group of rebelling Pokemon shook in a cold rage at the truth behind the pale girls words. It literally saw red.

The Giant praying Mantis Pokemon screeches a loud battle cry and lunges at the workers. The enraged Pokemon also followed suite, all of them running right by Angelique who stood passively at the events.

Angelique smiled at the workers with cruel, playful eyes. “Better do something, their emotions are out of my control now.”

The workers seen and had enough. Gripping their tools as weapons and summoning out their own Pokemon to aide them, the war between man and their Pokemon allies begun.
------------
(Mauville Gym)

Whirlpool lands to his feet his body full of dirt, scratches and bruises. The petite raccoon Pokemon quickly jumps away from the Voltorb’s Rollout attack and continues to this.

Becoming overconfident, Whirlpool taunts his foe by shaking his fuzzy rear at it. The Pokemon with the literal short fuse didn’t take that lying down. Using Thundershock to fry the unsuspecting raccoon Pokemon.

The charred Whirlpool fell to the ground with a star in one eye an X in the other.

“Ho ho! I like that Pokemon, he’s quite humorous!” Wattson laughed as he wipes a tear from his eye. “But this is no time for games! Voltorb finish it!”

Voltorb rolls at top speed off a loose mound of dirt.

The Pokeball imitation began to glow as it spun in mid-air, coming straight at Whirlpool.

“Oh no! He'll get flattened!” Wally points out. “No, it's using Self destruct!” Mia corrects.

“Better think fast May!” Alia screams.

“I’m trying!” May screams back. “Whirlpool get it together!” No response. May quickly hatches a plan. “Where’s my nugget I think its somewhere under all that sand!”

Whirlpool’s ears twitch twice and he began to burrow into the ground with Dig looking for buried treasure.

The raccoon’s greed saved him from a very nasty head-on collision from a crazed berserker and its kamikaze attack…The Voltorb, i.e. the berserker wasn’t as lucky.

Whirlpool pokes his head out the ground to see what all the noise is about with a Pokemon bone in his mouth.

“He survived…” Wally gave a relived sigh.

“Well duh, that’s what Dig does. Safe underground one turn and sneak attack the second!” Alia scoffs.

Wally grumbles, something about big mouth computers and he’s still new at this. Wattson gives a jovial laugh while holding his belly.

“He’s a very hearty fellow huh?” Mia asks May while smiling blankly.

Wattson wipes tears from eyes. “My this is a rare treat. A trainer who not only has a lot of strength AND is a stand-up comic! Ho ho! Can I ask young lady? What are your ambitions? No trainer this strong would just want to “travel around.””

“To become strong.” May answers coolly as she heals Whirlpool with a Super Potion.

This puzzled Wattson. “Ho? Hmm that doesn’t seem right…hmm mm.” The old timer does a thoughtful nod before continuing his lecture. “You should really try to relax and breathe in the scenery once in a while…You kids get stressed way too easily now-a-days.”

May gives the senior citizen an enlightened look. “But I do commune with nature as I travel.” She implies. “I enjoy the breeze of a gentle wind and sunny days. The sounds of the ocean is also soothing…” May spoke with her eyes closed before she opens them and show a more serious face. “And that’s the elements I use to fight!”

“I wanna be focused like that…” Wally exclaims.

Mia was always wondering why May would just stare into emptiness sometimes. The 10-year-old knew that nature was beautiful look at, but May almost seemed entranced with it.

The Indigo-eyed 10-year-old continued to ponder this more before speaking in a low mummer. “May-san…I think I get it now…”

Wattson nods understandingly. “I can tell, I can tell. Not many could pull such a quick plan.” The man the gets the giggles again. “But you should’ve seen the looks on your Zigzagoon’s face during that entire battle!”

Wattson bursts out laughing. Leaving May and co. to sweatdrop.

“Hey!” Alia snaps. “We’d like to continue this fight while your still alive!”

Wattson wipes tears again. “Ok, ok. Lets move on to Level 2 shall we?”

May nods. Whirlpool stood ready.

Wattson presses a button and the room slowly changes into a place where one would consider a power plant.

Many mini generators stood in front of May and Wattson and many conduction spheres within the battle field. Wattson called another Voltorb and round two began.
----------
(In New Mauville)

Both sides fought desperately for their own causes. A Workers Ursaring used Slash to dismantle a few Magnemites only to be maimed Thunderbolt by two Electrodes.

The Scyther is able to decapitate a few men after having its own arm cut off by a man with a sickle.

When two Charmelon jumped in to corner the Mantis Pokemon a worker with a chainsaw ambushed the Scyther jumps up from behind.
-------------
(Mauville Gym)

Whirlpool narrowly avoids the Voltorbs Spark attack as the Pokeball imitation Pokemon careened about the battlefield.

Dodging the Voltorb wasn’t that much of a problem. It was a bit faster and stronger than its predecessors but it still couldn’t light a candle to Whirlpool‘s speed, as far as Whirlpool himself, was concerned. The problem was those **** conduction spheres powered by those ****ed generators.

Every time Whirlpool got too close he’d get zapped! Not only that but the floor for the Level 2 adjustments were made of marble! Can’t burrow in that!

This forced the raccoon Pokemon to be more evasive about his movements and thus, making it harder to dodge his foe that wasn’t even getting affected by the attacks. It seemed to be getting stronger…

The Voltorb deliberately rolled right into the middle of the room and began to charge up with electricity. Every single conduction sphere began to react to the Pokeball Mimic Pokemon and all sent their charged ions to it.

Some random jolts constantly shocked poor little Whirlpool who could only try to avoid further shocking. Try but ultimately failed…

As five conduction spheres were badly shocking Whirlpool, the Voltorb decides to add fuel to the flame and hit the already beaten Pokemon with Thunderbolt.

“Ho ho! A shocking upset!” Wattson laughs.

May recalls the fainted Pokemon into the ball and calls out Lightning the Electrike. “Ok Lightning! We’ll fight fire with fire!”

Lightning gives out a battle hardened Howl and runs at her foe. The Voltorb responds to Lightning’s battle cry by charging with electricity and rushing at her with Rollout.

The speedy Ball Pokemon rammed right into the thunder wolf cub Pokemon launching her into the air. The Voltorb continued to speed about the field smacking Lightning at every pass, not once allowing the Wolf cub to hit the ground.

When Voltorb smacks Lightning high enough into the air the Pokemon attempts to finish her with one last careening Rollout.

That little tactic didn’t work, the Pokemon shivered as sparks of electric ions that weren’t its own sparked about its round body.

“Good Lightning’s Special ability finally kicked in…” Alia comments smugly. Mia nods. “Luckily May-san caught an Electrike that knew the Static ability.”

“Mind filling me in.” Wally asked the 10-year-old.

“Erm…A Pokemon that posses the Static ability has the power to transfer its own electric ions to another Pokemon thusly paralyzing them. But…that’s not always the case…”

“May let’s finish this!” Alia replies to her owner. But May’s mind wasn’t on the battle. “MAY!” The pushy A.I. Travel companion nags.

“h-Huh? What?”

“Look we can visit La-la land some other time! You among many know better!” Alia the spoke quite concerned. “Are you alright?”

May wipes some cold sweat from her brow. “Ye-Of course!” May assures. “I was just trying to figure a way to stop those generators! Now Lightning-”

May face faults when she sees Lightning, without any orders, rushes at her paraplegic foe with Spark.

The wolf cub rammed herself right into her foe at such a force the Voltorb rolls backwards, and then self-destructs.

Lightning tumbles backward from the impact of the blast, very much injured. The rash wolf cub Pokemon licks the wound on her front left leg and awaits her final foe.

“You know they say a Pokemon’s personality reflects from the personality of their trainer…and sometimes takes it to the next extreme.” Wattson replies as he gives out a hearty laugh. “And this Pokemon is no exception. Ho ho! Well then, little May I’d say it’s time for the niddy griddy. The final karaoke, the last stand, the-”

“We get it already!” May snaps.

“Tsk. Children are way to serious now-a-days…” Wattson frowns as he calls out his final Pokemon. “Magneton! Show time!”

As the steel-electric type machine popped out of its Pokeball home, all the conduction orbs began to power with uncontrollable amounts of electricity.
Some of them cracked, while many just shattered apart. The generators reading levels starting to rise with the indication that this three Magnemite fusion was not to be taken lightly.

Lightning doesn’t even waste time to hear an order from May. She speeds across the room with Quick Attack as her guide.

The Magneton begins to zap minor jolts of electricity at its speedy foe. Lightning got hit by some but dodged the bulk of them.

As she continued to dodge she started getting hit by shockwaves of electricity that she avoided at first but started getting hit by constantly overtime.

Eventually Lightning gave into the pain of the attacks and was pushed backwards by one more of those bizarre attacks.

“What’s going on?!” May shouts confused at the sight. She then quickly addresses her Pokemon partner. “You ok?”

Lightning quickly snorts off the pain and stands to her feet.

“Whatever that move is Lightning can’t shake it…and she’s one of your faster monsters!” Alia warns.

“It doesn’t matter how fast you are…The Shockwave will always hit…” Wattson spoke, trying to look superimposed. May had no clue what he was talking about. Wattson made a serious expression and continued to talk. “Come now child you must know of the unavoidable attacks in the Pokemon world?”

May turns to Wattson with an annoyed expression. “If you think high accuracy attacks will save you old man then you really have gone senile! You watch!” The 13-year-old warns. “I’ll still figure a way around you!”

Feeling motivated, Lightning gives a toothed snarl as she sparks with electricity.

Finally done showing off, Lightning sprints about the room at a higher speed rate than usual. Within a blink of an eye the little wolf cub Pokemon was behind Magneton and readied an attack all her own.

“Tsk. That won’t due…” Wattson sighs.

All the magnets on the three Magnemite fusion monster begins to all pulsate and charge. The electricity all focuses on the center of the Pokemon before releasing a powerful beam of electricity all aimed at little Lightning.

Too close to the attack to dodge, Lightning takes the total brunt of the intensely aimed attack. Lightning rolls to the ground, badly injured, paralyzed and K.Oed…
----------------
(New Mauville)

The last construction worker fighting that long bitter war falls to the bloodstained ground after two Electrode Explosion.

Dead corpses, may it be man, Pokemon or Trainer Pokemon all laid on top of one another…all dead from the same war…all bled the same color blood…

The surviving Pokemon who once lived in this slowly progressed underground cove all gave out their own little victory cries as they celebrated their victory over the humans.

All the Pokemon continue to cheer, while they do, one Electrode got too excited and began to release his sparks of joy by the New Mauville generator.

::Siren sounds are heard::

WARNING! WARNING! GENERATOR FEED OVERLOAD! TOO MUCH FEED! MELTDOWN IMMIENT!” The system computer warns.

Everyone glares at Electrode who innocently rolls away.
---------------
(Mauville Gym)

May recalls Lightning and calls out her trump and starter: Tsunami the Torchic but she throws the ball in the air.

The flightless Chick Pokemon showers Magneton with a strong barrage of Ember shots the minute she popped out of her ball. Giving her time to crash somewhere within the battlefield and make due hiding there.

“This could prove interesting.” Wattson grins before he sees May turning the levers of the generators on her side of the gym causing a lot of static to pulsate about the room. Leaving him utterly confused.

“You never said we couldn’t touch these!” May replies to the old timer as she quickly turns Alia off. “And if Tsu gets hit by your Pokemons unavoidable Custom Tactic like how Lightning did then this fight is over!”
May manages to power the generator to max and runs to the final generator. “If your Pokemon is run on the power this generator gives then I’ll just stuff its greedy belly!” May then tries to power the last generator, but finds herself struggling with it.
An X-shaped vein appears on the right side of Tsunami‘s head as the she begins to berate May in her tongue. Ultimately, giving away her hiding spot.

Wattson laughs. “Oh ho ho! That’s using your noggin missy! But I won’t let your Pokemon be kept standing while you struggle with those generators! Magneton Shockwave!”

Isaac Gravity November 20th, 2004 8:38 AM

Cont 1
--------------

Tsunami, with the Quick Claw equipped quickly ran for shelter behind a nearby conduction sphere.

Much to the Chick Pokemon’s dismay the sphere she cowered behind was already damaged making her victim to Magneton’s attack. The little Pokemon quickly summoned up a quick little shield with the move Protect, but tumbled backwards due to impact.

May continued to struggle with the last generator, while Tsunami stood her ground by constantly activating the Protect attack.

The move was getting harder and harder for the little chick to conjure and when one did surface it was too weak allowing Tsunami to receive a bit of damage.

The lever of the stubborn generator finally began to jiggle. The 13-year-old continued to pull with all her might. As the lever moved the static in the air became more audible.

The remaining function spheres hungrily drank the energy. Not really having any further place to store them but still continued to absorb the energy anyway.

May’s long chestnut bangs began to frizz up as the static continued to prickle at her body. Wally’s hair also began to frizz up into a mini Afro, while Mia’s hair became a scattered, puffy, disarrayed mess.

Tsunami, being in the heart of the battleground, continually got jolted by little specks of mischievous passing sparks of electricity eventually three orbs shocked her at once causing the chick to puff up like a feather balloon full of electricity.

The Magneton, unlike the rest was in pure ecstasy!

It greedily absorbs the electricity the steel Pokemon’s three eyes all turned red.

The grip of holding that electrified lever finally over took May and she pushed to her back by the static-cling.

Magneton groggily floated about the room. Making scratching noises which replicated hiccupping.

“Is it…” Mia blankly states with a face fault.

“It looks drunk!” Wally points out equally stunned.

Wattson puts his hands on his hips. “Oh come on Mangeton! You mean to tell me you can’t hold your sake?”

As if answering his trainers question the three Magnemite fusion bursts with unimaginable amounts of electricity which not only blew a hole through the roof it left the steel Pokemon overheated and charred thus ending the battle.
------------------
(Mauville City)

May stood by a railing while staring at the lake down below.

So far, the girl had won her third badge and has added four Pokemon to her travel party. Each Pokemon has so far aided her in countless situations where she couldn’t have been able to get through on her own…

…But her mind has intoxicated for quite some time now… During her gym battle she could’ve sworn she heard a voice calling out to her…telling her that it awaits her in the cove where man has paid for their sins.

The 13-year-old decides to shake off these thoughts by focusing on the huffy Tsunami, who’s still frizzed up and angry.

Tsunami looks up to the sky angrily doing all she can to ignore May.

“Hey c’mon don’t act so spoiled…We won.” May tries to cheer her partner up but to no avail. Tsunami’s attitude really starts to get under May’s skin. “Look!” The 13-year-old screams at the bird. “I’m sick and tired of all your attitude! You’ve been acting like there’s something under your feathers for days now and it’s really starting to bug me!”

Taking that to full insult, Tsunami flares up fiercely causing May to shield herself a bit before kneeling down to her with a piercing look in her eyes. “There’s no place in my team for brats. Grow up!”

Tsunami is shocked at what May said. The emotions of hurt, betrayal, determination and anger pretty much ran through her systems.

Tsunami Pecks May in the left cheek to show her defiance.

“Aah!” May yelps as she holds her bleeding left cheek. “…Tsu…” She murmured a bit crossed before rage over took her system. “FINE! GO DO WHAT YOU WANT! YOU AREN’T MY PROBLEM ANYMORE!! GO BURN A TREE OR SOMETHING!!!” May’s anger slowly dissipated as she began to struggle in words. “j-JUST GET OUTTA MY SIGHT!!!

Tsunami didn’t expect May to do that. She never did before…This upset the fire chick Pokemon even more as tears fell down her feather face freely.

Spitting Ember at May's feet before doing anything, Tsunami then, runs off.

May turns away in a quick walking pace simply trying to shrug off all what just occurred.

‘I can‘t believe she did that!’ The 13-year-old mentally rambles. ‘Whatever. I never needed her anyway! I'll simply just get a better fire Pokemon is all! That's right! I don’t need useless factors!’

May was so locked in self-thought that she didn't realize her walking pace turned into a jog then an all-out run.

As she ran, Mia, who came out of a repair shop with Alia in tow, saw her friend in a distressed state and attempts to run after her.

“May-san!” Mia calls out as she manages to run in front of May. “What’s wrong?”

“n-Nothing Mia…” May lies, shifting her eyes to any direction but to the 10-year-old‘s.

Bzzt! Maike? -here’s Tsuni?” Alia asked the 13-year-old in a distorted fashion.

----------
(A few minutes later)

“Maike!!! ock alz he irresponzable-” Alia distortedly screams at the 13-year-old who glares at her in frustration.

“After the battle Alia’s circuitry was seriously messed up…” Mia informs the older girl. “She’s going to be a bit erratic until I could find the parts to-”


Alia cuts the 10-year-old off to further question the 13-year-old. “Bzzt! Wezz, what are youz intending Bzzt! doing about this?”

“What should I do?” May snaps. “I said Tsu-” May cuts herself off to correct her words. “No! I mean that bird went off and did or her own thing! Well I say good riddance!”

Bzzzt! Do you even know what you want in life Brat!?” Alia snaps back.

“Right now all I want is to get you out of my life!”

The minute the 13-year-old uttered those words Alia shut herself off.

With the screaming match over Mia bandages May’s cut and puts some rubbing alcohol on her burns.

Though not wanting to get into an argument herself, SOMETHING of reason had to be said.

“If I remember correctly May-san…” The 10-year-old mumbles. “You told me you resented your parents for forcing you to become a trainer when you refused it…”
The 10-year-old gulps before she finishes her observation. “Tsunami is Level 24 now and should’ve evolved back at Level 16...But she never did because she didn’t want to, but with you pressuring her…you…well… repeated a chain that you never liked from the start…”

May feels a twinge of guilt for the moment, even though her mind-set roared otherwise.

The chestnut-haired girl walks away from Mia obviously wanting time to sort this situation out.

The 10-year-old watched her friend go, looking over to Alia with saddened eyes. Not even group mediation can mend this broken bond.
------------------
(Later that day. On the other side of town)

“Ah You!! I’m so glad I found you!!” Wattson smiles at a less than pleased May. “You saved me a search around town.”

“But you didn‘t go anywhere.” Wally replies to the senior citizen who frowns.

“That’s only because you kept annoying me for a Gym Battle without a trainers license! Oh ho ho ho!”

“No,” Wally counters. “You didn’t go anywhere! You were just telling me the story of why you’re hair-”

Wattson covers the boy’s mouth to stop making him look bad. The old-timer then gives May a toothed grin. “If you could be so kind May…I have a favor to ask.”

The 13-year-old didn’t answer, but the fact she was still in the area proved her interest.

Wattson still covering the struggling Wally’s mouth starts his explanation. “For decades now I’ve been helping out and funding a new project of underground living located in Route 110.” The senior citizen Gym Leader begins. “I gave up then recently started it up again…But, there’s a problem…”

“Like?” May dejectedly mutters.

“I haven’t been able to receive contact of any of the workers there…” Wattson admits. “If there’s no-one around to stabilize the generator a meltdown could be imminent…Just think what kind of damage that explosion will cause to the area.”

It was at this moment May hears the voice again “Go there! This is where we shall meet!”

Wally furiously attempts to free his mouth from Wattson’s hand. His struggles enable him to finally bite the elderly man, freeing him from his hold.

“You liar!” The 11-year-old accuses the old man. “Why are you sending someone else to do your duties especially after mentioning the dangers of it? YOUR JUST A LAZY COWARD!”

May was certainly surprised by Wally’s outspokenness. But then again, maybe this side of the boy was the true one that he never had the courage to bring out.

Wattson becomes quite insulted by the boy’s words and throws him a harsh look. “Young man,” The senior citizen begins. “I suggest you watch what you say!”

“It’s not like I’m lying!” Wally argues. “How dare you hide behind your duty as a Gym leader to ignore a problem YOU started! WHAT KINDA-”

Wally’s words were cut short when May heavily ruffles his green hair.

“Wally, cool it.” May smirks at the boy. “You know that my Dad has his burdens too and well…” The 13-year-old finds herself struggling to find the words for her sentence.

“But…” Wally mutters. “You taught me that people should always face their problems and never yield…”

May raised an eyebrow at this before flashing the boy a toothed grin. “Well, I want to run this favor for Wattson! But what I need you to do is to go keep Mia company.”

“Mia?” Wally mutters quizzically before remembering the 10-year-old. “Oh! You mean that purple-eyed girl who follows you around?”

May nods. Forcing Wally to frown slightly.

“Oh, come off it!” May scoffs at the 11-year-old. “You two got a lot in common.”

“I don’t think we do…”

“Just go anyway!” May prompts. “She’s by the edge of town I remember running into her older brother a while ago too. Just say I sent you and he should lay off.”

Wally tosses May a bit of an exasperated look. “If her older brother is with her why ask me?”

May, tired of being nice, gives the green haired boy a serious look. “You keep talking about never running and becoming strong then why don’t YOU act like a man and do what I ask?”

Wally stood silent at the haired-haired girl’s drastic change of attitude. Even Wattson found this interesting.

Despite her earlier snap at him, May continues her words with the boy.

“I’m asking you to watch over Mia and take care of things while I’m gone. You’re the man in charge now and I don’t want to hear anymore whining from you…”

Wally didn’t know what to make of this personally. This was the first time anyone has really trusted him with anything…

Not waiting for the green-haired boy’s answer May turns away and heads to the direction of New Mauville yelling “Don’t let me down!” in the distance.

Wally just watched May run off into the distance. His face brimming with growing determination.

Wattson just hoped that the generator was the only reason why he didn’t receive a signal from the workers.

Isaac Gravity November 20th, 2004 8:46 AM

Cont
-------------
(Later)

May swims across the lake to reach the New Mauville entrance. Once entering the underground city she sees the corridor full of dead bodies.

Standing in the midst of it all was a Dusclops who stared straight at the newcomer with quite examination.

The single-eyed Ghost Pokemon continued to just stare at May before walking away. It only stopped once to steal another look at her, gesturing to her with its right hand in a “follow me” manner.

“Surrrrrre…” May mutters in a sarcastic tone.

Obviously the 13-year-old had no interest in following the Pokemon anywhere. That was until that little voice in her head appeared again.

“Are you afraid little fledging?” The voice goads. “Where you seek, I am. There, we shall see who is truly the third-rate…”

Though she was at first a little surprised to hear it again, May was glad the pompous little voice started to be a bit more specific.

“Are you the one responsible for all this?” May questioned the voice.

“They were sinners.” The voice comments. “They stole the land from the Pokemon here and they took it back.”

May rolls her eyes. The Dusclops now looks at her in a more aggressive fashion than before.

“My link with you is weakening.” The voice replies. “The choice you make is up to you…Though doesn‘t matter…” The voice adds smugly. “You’ll die along with the light-dwellers you love so much in any case.”

May shook her head at the voices arrogance but agreed to follow the Dusclops regardless.

Eventually, the 13-year-old and her Pokemon tour guide walked into a wide room. There, May finds herself holding back every urge to gag at all the mutilated corpses of humans and Pokemon.

The Dusclops looks at the scene as apathetically as it one-eye could convey. Since it had no real feelings about the matter, the Cyclops Ghost-Type looks to watch every strand of reaction made by May.

What made the Dusclops watch the girl even more intently was when the haired-haired girl finds a very small Aron under a slain Vigoroth.

The little Pokemon was the only of its kind from what May could see. The steel eater looked drained of strength and badly wounded.

Instincts told the girl to just walk away and let the little guy die, it would eventually…

But what ran through the girl’s head were flashes of Tsunami, Whirpool, Leaf and Lightning. Every moment they all shared as a team up until this point…

This is what forced the girl to come to her decision…

After being sprayed by the healing item the Aron slowly started to get up and eyed its savior with utmost gratitude.
From Little Aron’s point of view May looked like a beautiful princess with flowing chestnut brown hair that went down to her legs and wore a lovely white dress.

May shrugged off the giant twinkling eyes the Pokemon gave her. Since the little one couldn’t come along, the 13-year-old left it some food (which it refused) and wrapped the Silk Scarf she got from Dewford Island around its neck.

May then followed Dusclops, who looked at her now with approval, to the next area.

Much to the 13-year-old’s dismay, the Cyclops Pokemon forgot that humans or solid objects in general can’t go through walls and absent-mindedly left her behind.

Leaving the 13-year-old to curse her situation.
-------------
(Pokemon Center)

Whirlpool and Lightning both tried to sneak out of the Center in the guise of a box with eyeholes. The two end up crashing into a familiar pair of legs.

Nurse Joy picks up the box and taps her foot in a very annoyed manner.

“Going somewhere…” The Pokemon Nurse twitched.

Both Pokemon sweatdrop.
------------
(New Mauville)

A group Magnemites circle around May, all their magnets charging with electricity.

“You realize your all being used like pawns right? You’re fighting over nothing!” May’s reasoning is tossed out the window as three Magnemites forcing the girl to her knees shock her. “Go ahead…What’s another human right?” She smirks. “And they say that Pokemon are peace loving creatures…”

The magnets on all the Magnemites in the room spark up before attacking May.
----------
(Where the generator is)

Angelique brushes Yami the Absol’s fur as she sits with a content smile on her face.

“She’s interesting…I’ll give her that much…” Angelique smiles. Yami gives her a conceited look. “No Yami, I’m not admitting anything.” The raven-haired girl replies. “I’m just saying she’s not like the other fakers…”
The teen makes a more serious face when she looks over to Skitty who naps on Cerberus the Houndoom‘s back. “But I still should be the only one…No one is to be stronger than me…and I’ll prove that to you when you and I finally face…Hiromi, May.”

Cerberus the Houndoom just looked at his master with an uninterested yawn. Why does she like to toy with her prey? He’ll never know.
------------
(Outside the Pokemon Center)

Lightning, with Whirlpool on her back ran at top speed from a Chansey and Blissey who both held nets and sedatives in their hands.

“Stop those Pokemon!” Nurse Joy screams as she blows a whistle then picks up her Cell Phone. “Yes, we have some patients who are currently A.W.O.L! Please seal off this city!” The Pokemon Nurse then turns off her phone while shaking her fist ruefully.

“Nobody escapes Nurse Joy! Nobody!

To be continued…
--------------------------------
Not one of my favorite Chapters at all really…It was an ultimate pain to revise. But I must admit…I’m defiantly pleased with this revision... I even like a lot now!

(Notes)

A.W.O.L = Absent Without Leave.

1. May continued to struggle with the last generator, as Tsunami stood her ground by activating the Protect attack. The move was getting harder and harder for the little chick to summon and when one did surface it was too weak allowing Tsunami to receive a bit of damage. - Remember this quote?- Well, remember, Protect can’t really be used consecutively otherwise the accuracy of it will fall dramatically; however, if its the CPU’s case, like with every enemy I fought in Pokemon Colosseum that has the move, it never fails. Man that got irritating.

paige pelletier November 24th, 2004 3:47 PM

wow! I love this Fan Fic keep writing it is awsome!

Isaac Gravity November 25th, 2004 7:48 AM

Months back in the summer when I first wrote this story I was trying to figure a good backstory for one of the enemy Pokemon...I had an idea of it but I dunno...It just wasn't there. It was at this time in my slump that I came across a One-shot fic called Irony I was pretty moved by it and really enjoyed the aspect of the Absol hunt. So of course for reasons of honesty and avoiding the act of being called a poser or anything else that means takes ones work without permission I asked the Authoress if I could borrow the element of the Absol hunt even if the way I formed it wasn't what she was trying to point out to begin with.

To my surprise she gave me the ok. I was surprise and grateful. So well thank you Authoress Dragonfree, even if don't remember this, you really helped me out.

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.
------------

Searching…

Searching…

Dead bodies every where…

All alone…

The little Aron covered every single inch of this room in hopes to find survivors. But all his efforts were all in vain.

His trainer, all his human friends and his Pokemon friends all gone…

They all died while they saved him…

He was always the runt; the little guy that needed protection. His trainer couldn’t send him out into battle; his steel body was still too soft.

He was a baby, a newborn, the world is just one huge place…Can you imagine how it must feel for one so young to witness all those he cared for die in front of him…Died protecting him…

Even though all his friends kept him living, he sustained some injures from those untamed, envious Pokemon who despise ‘his kind.’

Aron heard this once from a group of wild Oddish who teased and attacked him when he one day wandered too far and wanted to play. In reality, as his mentor and guardian Vigoroth explained: “The untamed ones are jealous of us because we chose to walk alongside humans to better ourselves as they wish to better themselves. They must struggle alone as we struggle together. Do not be ashamed of who you are…”

But he was alone now…where could he go…He’s too weak for any trainer aspiring for strength to want him and wild Pokemon say his scent sickens them…so where? Where?

Within young Aron’s mind flashed the images of the Princess…she was kind, she befriended him, cared for him, she understood…He didn’t deserve her scarf, he should give it back.

With his mind made up, little Aron left the room to search for the Princess. Turning back to give his friends one last sad look before he began his journey.
--------------
(With May)

May, burned from the electric attacks, fatigued and injured uses every ounce of strength she has in her to climb up the stairs.

The injuries she sustained and the hike up those stairs took its toll on girl with the long chestnut bangs as she slumped down to the floor while leaning on the wall.

‘I won’t let myself die…Not yet…I can’t!’ May gasps for her air as she thinks to herself.
--------------------
(Where Angelique is)

Angelique sat on the floor waiting for her prey to arrive. Skitty and Cerberus the Houndoom were fast asleep. Yami the Absol was nowhere to be found.

Through her growing impatience the raven-haired 14-year-old began to cough violently.

Only halting in her actions once to breathe heavily and gaze dizzily at the red liquid that covered her hand.
---------------
Flames of darkness (part 2)
----------------
(Route 110)

After finally escaping the City Lightning the Electrike gasped for air, exhausted while Whirlpool the Zigzagoon looked at her with a mix of curiosity and sympathy.

“****ed eggs!” Lightning growls. “They wouldn’t let up.”

“Yeah they were pretty persistent huh?” Whirlpool agrees. Seeing the annoyed state of his ally he quickly frowns. “Sorry?”

“Eh?”

“You could’ve left me behind and escaped on your own. Even when you ran and I realized I was slowing you down you still ran with me on your back. It’s kinda my bad on that.”

“Hmph, Your Bangs ally as well. And I abandon no ally!”

Whirlpool brightens at the rash Pokemon’s words. “I’m glad. I thought for a while that you hated me…”

“Hey don’t get all soft on me!” Lightning snaps as she tosses the raccoon Pokemon a little smirk. “I could’ve dragged you but I carried you on my back just for the exercise strain.”

“Thanks I suddenly feel a lot better…” Whirlpool sourly replies with a frown. The raccoon Pokemon quickly notices a familiar figure and smiles happily. “Tsunami!” He cried happily as he runs up to her. “Did you come because you sensed May in trouble?”

Tsunami said nothing. She just continued to stare doubtfully at the lake.

“Tsunami?” Whirlpool continued his attempt to speak to his friend.

“Hmph. Better question why aren’t you with Bangs?” Lightning scoffs as she gives Tsunami a mocking grin. “Unless you’re trying to see why fire and water don’t mix.”

Tsunami doesn’t answer; tears just run down her feathered face.

Lightning become a little more considerate of her feelings. “Something the matter?”

“Get lost…” The chick Pokemon answers. Causing the wolf cub Pokemon to get extremely pissed.

“But Tsunami why…” Whirlpool innocently asked the Chick Pokemon. Tsunami closes her eyes as she spoke. “May is beyond that lake go to her if you want.”

“Awesome!” Whirlpool hyperly jumps up and down. “All we have to do is swim across. Lightning can carry you-”

“I’m not going.”

Tsunami’s outburst caught both Lightning and Whirlpool off guard. Tsunami continued to look at the lake as her eyes narrowed. “I can’t…I don’t want to see her…not ever…”

“Tsunami?” Whirlpool mutters sadly.
-----------------------------
(10 minutes later)

“How can you be so spoiled?” Lightning screams at Tsunami as she tackles her to the ground. “Whatever Bangs does is for us all.”

Tsunami gave the Rash electric-type a fierce look. “Well She didn’t consider my feelings this time! And that’s what matters! Now GET OFF!”

Tsunami flares up causing Lightning to reel back singed by the fire. Lightning charges with electricity, ready to fight.

Whirlpool steps between the two hot tempered females.

“This is just a misunderstanding.” The raccoon Pokemon spoke meditatively. He then focuses his attention on his hot-tempered allies. “… Now you two apologize. C’mon I sense May in danger.”

Both just glare at each other before lifting their heads into the air with a light ‘humph.’ Whirlpool sweatdrops.

“In any case…” The raccoon Pokemon continued his reasoning. “Tsunami, you knew May was in trouble and that’s why you’re here. No matter how mad at each other you get you two are still the best of friends.”

Tsunami downcasts her eyes to the ground with guilt.

“Ok, I have to admit…” Lightning grins. “Bangs does act without thinking but who doesn’t sometimes?” The wolf cub Pokemon then turns to Tsunami. “I’m willing to let you off this time…Lets just go help our trainer.”

“Then you go I’ll be waiting here.” Tsunami orders.

“You’re such a brat!” Lightning screams at the Fire-type.

Tsunami just rolls her eyes. “Whatever, or have you forgotten that …I…don’t-like-water-you-stupid-mongrel!”

A huge X-shaped vein forms on right side of Lightning’s head. “THAT’S IT!!!” She roars as she grabs Tsu and flings her across the lake. “HA! Take that you stupid fire crow!”

“Thanks now I’m across. Moron.” Tsunami happily chirps. This only causes the vein on Lightning’s head to grow bigger as her eyes also go demonic.

“Let it go…” Whirlpool snaps at the Rash electric-type as he swam across the lake. “Geez you two fight like siblings.”

Lightning just snorts and follows Whirlpool.

-------------
(Inside New Mauville)

The trio of Pokemon all walk inside the New Mauville corridor to see the bloodstained mess. All three could tell that this situation was nothing to stroll about.

Walking further down the path the three saw an elegant yet not very friendly Absol who stood in front of their path.

“Mind getting out of the **** way idiot” Lightning mocks. The Absol said nothing nor did he move.

This only annoyed Lightning even more.

“Move!” Tsunami shoves the Rash wolf cub Pokemon out of the way before a piece of the collapsed roof fell on her.

Whirlpool pops out of the debris unscathed. “I’m ok!” The petite raccoon Pokemon announced proudly.

The Absol, that we know as Angelique’s Yami says nothing; he just gives a light smirk for his cruel act.

Lightning was shaken up from Tsunami’s force. Though she knew the chick Pokemon meant well, she didn’t know her own strength.

The electric Wolf cub glares at the overconfident disaster Pokemon snarling at it while getting back on all fours.

“Tsunami, just get out of here.” She demands the chick that looks at her as though she’s lost it. “You crazy?” Tsunami yells at the overconfident wolf cub. “Can’t you tell that this is a high level foe?”

“No worries!” Whirlpool assures Tsunami as he, in a very hyper state hops about. “I’m here and with our speed it’ll be a snap!”

Yami just gives a mock-interested look but moves aside for the Chick Pokemon to pass never the less.

Tsunami hesitates to leave her friends but as they said but runs down the corridor regardless.

Yami watches the firebird leave with unconcerned eyes.

“Hey moron. The fights over here.” Lightning barks as she gives a fierce toothed grin. “Now with her gone I could fight you without worries.”

The Absol that we know as Yami considered Lightning‘s words quite unimpressed. “Is that so? Psh, a Pokemon who dwells in the light can never defeat me. You beings are too contradicting…Just like your master…” Yami glares coldly at the duo as he continued his speech.
“She who is of darkness herself yet wishes to live amongst those who shall never except her…” Two small twisters conjure around the Disaster Pokemon as he continues his belittling. “My master will show her true darkness before she allows her to die along with the world she desperately wants to become apart of!”

“You aren’t making any sense. You’re speaking in jumbled circles.” Whirlpool yelps.

Lightning scoffs. “No…you’re just too young to understand…” Lightning scoffs. “He talks of the hardships that Bangs went through when she was little…Hardships that we all suffer from in one way or another.”

Yami cringes in disgust a bit a he further examine his foes and surroundings. “This realm…and humans as a whole…it disgusts me to know end…they fear what they do not understand! They break whatever they are too small of mind to fully comprehend! And they kill in cold blood when their ignorance, hatred and greed reach full bloom!”

The Disaster Pokemon shudders slightly as he remembers days gone by…
-------------
(Flashback)
(Route 127)

An Absol that had an apple in its mouth while full of bruises and cuts is running for dear life after the recent most slaughter of his kin.

[We Absol are nicknamed the Disaster Pokemon because, as human folklore tells: Wherever we pass some kind of major disaster occurs…Feh! Was it our fault we were at the wrong places at the wrong time?]

[No, the only kind Disaster that we could ever have caused was being born as an Absol.]

The Absol continues to run but a man with a rifle manages to shoot it in its right hind leg, slowing the Pokemon down.

The Disaster Pokemon manages to limp its way further down the path but eventually falls to the floor due to loss of blood. The humans that were hunting it all circled around the dying creature.

One man lifted out a knife from his pocket and swiped it at the Absol. Some of the now slain Absol’s blood flies into the air.

From the bushes a very young Yami the Absol watched the horrifying events as it carried the fish in its mouth back to the Absol hideout.

[All because humans didn’t understand nor cared. They only wanted to satisfy their primitive beliefs.]

[Overtime, Absol killing started to become a game to people. They completely forgot why they were killing us and just did it for the sheer enjoyment of it…]

[And our fellow Pokemon never helped us.]

[Too afraid the humans would hunt them they became the human’s ***** and flushed us all out of our homes and attacked us on site…Life was truly nothing more than a fight for survival…]

(A few years later)

The young Absol managed to duck some Linoone and help itself to some fish, while dragging the rest back to the very small number of Absols that remained in Route 127.

While keeping a low profile in the grass he saw a shocking sight.

“Darling, I love it!” A woman squeals in delight.

Her fiancé nods. “100% Absol fur. It’s becoming quite expensive now that there’s such a scarcity of them around… Man those hunts brings back the good old days.”

Yami was literally shaking with anguish, a full-blown rage that could only be resolved by vengeance...

[They despised us! They hunt and kill us!! They called us cursed beings of the devil!! But look at them!!! WEARING OUR FUR ON THEIR DISGUSTING RAW HIDES!!!!!]

Yami lunges at the woman and sinks his fangs deep into her skin. Her boyfriend doesn’t take that lying down. Pulling out his handgun, the man shoots the Absol.

The sound of a cold falling body is heard while Murkrows fly from out of the tall grass.

Isaac Gravity November 25th, 2004 7:51 AM

Cont
----------------
Yami awakens in a dark, damp cave. His whole body burns with aching blow from the bullet.

“So, you have awakened have you?”

The Absol looks at the raven-haired girl with a war paint marking on her left cheek smiling kindly at him.

The raven-haired child offers to the Dark-type a fish on a stick that recently was under the fire.

Rather than bite on the fish the Yami sunk his fangs into the girl’s hand. She bled, yes, but she never once screamed or flinched in pain.

In fact when Yami challengingly dared to glare at the girls face, she immediately took him aback when he glared into her fierce Topaz eyes.

The girl’s face may have been expressionless but her eyes yelled otherwise.

The Disaster Pokemon tried to deepened its fangs into the girl but as he continued to look at her, his mounting fear rose up…

He wasn’t afraid of the human per-say, she just looked as though she was living death.

Hell, her entire scent smelled like that of the blood of many different people all invisibly sprayed on her like a bizarre perfume.

Yami actually felt warmth from the girl. Cold warmth that only one that has been through all the hardships that he has could understand…
-------------

[That girl… Why did the aroma of this girl smell so enticing to me?]

[It was just blood after all …All my life I’ve seen that liquid…smelled it so often that the scent actually burned itself into my lungs.]

[What was so different about her?]

(Days later)

“So I suppose you would want to return to your home.” The girl replies thoughtfully to Yami, who simply turns his back to her.

“So you like the realm of the light dwellers?” The 13-year-old child continued her questioning. “You don’t at all seem happy.”

Hearing these words, Yami turns to her interested.

“Going back only means you’ll get killed for sure this time.” The raven-haired 13-year-old questions. “Humans can never understand you they’re too one-tracked…” She begins. “When they become scared they become even more stupid and greedy for self security more than ever, that helps them kill in cold blood making them feel it was justified…”
The girl now tossed the Disaster Pokemon an eerie grin. “But for Devils like you and I…killing is second nature to us…So watching third rates become what they criticize and hate so much only makes things more sickening…”

Yami looks at the girl unsurely now. Not really caring what the Absol was going to do, the 13-year-old tosses a bag for him and walks away.

Yami didn’t trust the girl but checks inside the bag anyway…

In it he sees the heads of the man who shot him, his girlfriend and a few wild Pokemon and Fortree city residents.
-----------

[I had no clue how right that child was until…]

Yami returns to what used to be his home. He returns to nothing but dead, rotting, Absol corpses.

It’s unknown what happened during the time of his absence or what made humans want to go all out on these Pokemon but there was one thing he knew for certain…

He was the only Absol left in this Route…
-----------

[It was then I saw my true calling…Why I was born the Disaster Pokemon…]

[Death was my way of life and no matter what I do…destruction will always follow me. My option was would I let the destruction fall upon others or me…]

[Guess my choice…]

The entire Fortree City was engulfed in a ravenous fire. Many people screamed for helped as they died in the flames.

Yami stood tall on top of a roof of a home looking down at the flames.

When he finally thought he would get a little reprieve in his heart he hears clapping.

The Disaster Pokemon jumps off the roof to face the same topaz eyed girl, who smiled playfully at the elegant Dark-type.

“So you made your decision. But did you have to burn down the wildlife?” Yami continues to look at her in manner of want. “Do you wish to come with me? I’m sure there are many like you that need the teaching of true justice.”

Yami walks up to the girl and bites her hand lightly. The raven-haired girl responds to this by petting the Pokemon.

“Yami.” The girl mused. “Yami means darkness. And that’s exactly what you will be…my messenger of impending death.”

(End flashback)
-----------

Whirlpool gave his supposed foe a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry about what happened to you…” The little raccoon Pokemon began. “But not everyone is like that. Though it may not be in the same extremity as you I spent all my life stealing and when May found me she protected me from all those who wanted to kill me.”

“Stop trying to make your own pity party! Everyone has their own kind of sob story to tell!!” Lightning yells. “I’d much rather be a disgusting, self-absorbed light dweller than a hypocritical soulless puppet of the shadows anyday.”

Those untimed, uncaring and insensitive words were what were needed to break Yami the Absol from a passive soul into an enraged beast that felt nothing but the yearn for bloodlust. “HOW DARE YOU COMPARE MYSELF TO GUTTER TRASH LIKE YOURSELF!! YOU HAVE NO REAL COMPREHENTION OF WHAT I WENT THROUGH!!!” He roars as he lunges at Lightning and Whirlpool.

LIKE I CARE!!!” Lightning shouts back.

Lightning jumps at her foe with Spark. Due to Yami’s higher attack and defensive strength, when he collides into the wolf cub she’s the one that took the brunt of the damage. Lightning hits the floor with a loud thud.

Under Yami, Whirlpool pops out from under the ground and attempts to pierce at his stomach with Cut.

“Too slow!” The Disaster Pokemon mocked.

Using his higher Level parameters to his advantage, Yami jumps back from the attack and swiftly grabs Whirlpool with his sharp fangs, flinging the Petite raccoon Pokemon to the wall on the right.

As Whirlpool hits the wall a small tornado further bashes the little raccoon against the hard surface.
-----------------
(With May)

May walks through the halls of the now disgruntled and human blood wanting Pokemon tavern of New Mauville.

As May made that left turn she fell into a trap hole created by some Sandshrew.

It took awhile but May along with her Pokemon Leaf the Shroomish climbed out of the hole with cuts and bruises.

The 13-year-old girl wobbled down the corridor, the heavy injuries starting to veil her vision.

Groups of Electrode and Voltorb all roll in front off May and begin to glow indicating that they were ready to explode.

Fearing that New Mauville would be over-run by those obnoxious Pokeball imitations, a group of Magnemite all cover themselves around the 13-year-old and her Pokemon, while three Magneton create a triangular shield for extra protection.

“Idiots! Get away!” May shouts.

The Magnemites and their higher evolutionary forms ignored the chestnut-haired girl’s order and continued to defend her while bracing themselves for blast after blast from the Self Destructs that the Ball Pokemon did to themselves.

One by one each Magnemite broke apart, not being able to take the strain of the blast any longer.

Just when the Magnemite and Magneton shield would become a pile of scrap metal, May finally arrived in the generator area where the voice that called to her was waiting.


“So you’ve arrived.” Angelique smiles cruelly at May as she pets her loyal Skitty.

As soon as Angelique said that the Magnemites all cracked then crumbled apart to the hard floor.

Leaf, though kept alive thanks to the machine Pokemon, had sustained a lot of hefty damage. With his Black Glasses cracking apart the Mushroom Pokemon falls to the cold floor.

May’s left arm drooped numbly to her sides, unable to move and ached with freely running blood cuts, and burns. The girl herself was in horrible shape but she didn’t care.

The haired-haired girl walked right by Angelique and made her way to the generator.

Not appreciating May’s lack of respect towards her, Angelique uses her psychic force to toss May over to where she was.

“What’s your problem?” May asked the 14-year-old Reaper.

Angelique‘s features showed that of equal malice and annoyance. “The only reason why you lived for as long as you did was because of a gift that’s being wasted on one so undeserving as yourself.”

“…. Is that all?” May smirks. “I thought I did something semi-serious like kill one of your stupid pets when I little…”

May taunts the girl not caring about the situation she’s in. It was because of this lapse of thought that caused the 13-year-old to slammed into the wall by Angelique’s psychic powers.

“I enjoyed my fun and now you bore me…” Angelique mimics May’s taunts as she smirks maliciously. “You like the realm of light right? Well feel free to die with it!”

At that moment, it felt like an invisible person was strangling the life out of the 13-year-old…sucking away the air molecules from where she was…

Cerberus yawned at the show. He felt that Angelique must think little of this one to kill her the old fashioned way…

Everything was going black for May Hiromi she didn’t know how much longer she could hold out.

“Just die.” The 14-year-old flatly states.

‘****! Why do I have to die like this?’ May mentally screams as she beings to succumb to Angelique. ‘…I still…Everyone…I-…I’m…’

“She’s quite stubborn.” Angelique mused. “But trash is trash no matter how big it is…it can always be compressed.”

Cerberus quickly jumps in front of his master and takes Tsunami’s Flare Peck in the ribs, feeling nothing but a tickle. Cerberus gives the injured Torchic a toothed snarl before simply unleashing Fire Blast at her.

The attack scorched everything in its path… Everything, but his target; Tsunami’s Protect had saved her once again from becoming a chicken dinner.
But a level 24 Pokemon using Protect against a Level 75 and hoping to leave unscathed is just plain fictional and thus was so for Tsunami the Torchic.

Very tired from all her previous fights to reach here and now severely burned the Chick Pokemon was at her last leg of life.

Cerberus wastes no time to hit his fatigued foe with Crunch.

------------
(Mauville City)

Mia becomes a bit woozy for a moment as her eyes go clear with uncontrolled tears that ran from them. Wally watched the girl fall to the ground with surprise.

The 11-year-old didn’t need to ask the meaning of what occurred though… He felt that bizarre spine tingling feeling too…

-----------------------------------
(Random Route)

It’s a feeling that one gets when they become close…

This theory could probably prove why Brendan Birch, who was once relaxing on a grassy pasture, lost that happy look on his face when a sullen breeze whizzed through the area.

-----------
(LittleRoot town)
(Hiromi Household)

Mrs. Hiromi sat in the living room of her home crying uncontrollably.

She cried ever since her daughter left home but today the pain and loneliness felt worse than usual.
--------------

(Birch Household)

Mrs. Birch sat and watched TV a bit more detached than usual.

-----------------
(Outside)

Laurel couldn’t put her finger on it…but the usually cheerful girl just felt a little down in the dumps.
-------------
(New Mauville. Where the Generator is)

Angelique glares at the near dead forms of May and her two Pokemon with mock shock.

“You didn‘t maim them?” The 14-year-old critique’s her Houndoom. “That‘s unlike you…”

Cerberus ignores his master; he just readies one powerful Hyper Beam aimed at May and her Pokemon.


(Story Arc 2: Complete)
End Chapter 13
---------

(Notes)

Err...yeah another of my confusing chapters...

...Concerning the Absol, I figured he just joined Angelique out of the reasons he's got nothing else in life. Going back to the only home he knows only means his death. Of course he could've attacked her and I orginally wanted to do that, but I saw it as pointless...I figure his high level of pride and memory of what the girl did for him (even if she had her own motives) made him just glare at her. Biting Angelique's hand shows a sign of disrespect overall...

Deep down, I think the relationship between that character and her Pokemon (with the exception of her Dusclops and probably the Skitty) is purely based upon scracthing eachother's backs. I'm not too sure about her Duskull and Misdreavus since I deliberatly made them both one-dimensional, only following Ange's orders. Most likely she just captured them or something...

(other notes)

1. The Pokemon are talking to each other in their tongue but since it’s just them I translated it into English without the Pokemon text.

2. Lightning’s name for May is Bangs and she calls Mia shy-gal.

Next- the start of the third story arc and Chapter 14- To each their own

paige pelletier November 28th, 2004 11:06 AM

this is just soooo cool! you write great!

Isaac Gravity November 28th, 2004 12:21 PM

Nice that you think so well of me...but I got ways to go and heavy, even complete chapter revision to undertake with the chapters I already have before I even bother continuing this story.

paige pelletier December 9th, 2004 2:21 PM

Please keep posting!!!!!! *cries*

Isaac Gravity December 17th, 2004 5:49 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else
-------

(LittleRoot Town. Prof. Birch‘s Lab)
(The moment of May’s encounter with Angelique)

Since a family emergency came up, Prof. Birch‘s assistant was going away for sometime. This forced the usually laidback Pokemon researcher to remain indoors, doing work he’d rather not do.

And he did so rather grumpily…

Along with the top Hoenn researcher was 8-year-old Max who stared idly at Prof. Birch’s last Pokeball.

“Professor…” Max questioned Brendan‘s father.

Despite his bitterness on the situation, Prof. Birch addressed the boy calmly.

“Eh?”

“Well,” Max began. “You’re allowed to get a trainer’s license at ten right?”

“If I remember, correctly yes. Why do you ask?”

“Brendan and May both got their licenses recently. What do either hope to accomplish after starting three years before the original trainer start?” Max pokes the Pokeball a bit before continuing. “What does someone like May hope to accomplish at all? She’s not impressing anybody with that attitude she flaunts. I actually feel sorry for Tsunami.”

“Brendan could’ve became a trainer when the Hoenn League rules officiate it but his Mother refused it.” Prof. Birch sighs. “It was probably for the better. Brendan is more disciplined in his actions. He‘ll become a fine researcher one day.” The Professor admits with fatherly pride.

Prof. Birch frowns slightly at his next ****ysis. “Now May…”

“Doesn’t know what she’s doing.” Max answers.

“Quite the contrary.” Prof. Birch states. “May is a more adept and responsive when it comes to taming Pokemon and training them than Brendan is and it’s all her work that reflects her battle skills.”

Max gives a loud exasperated sigh when he heard that praise. Prof. Birch, now seeing where this was going halted in his work and turned to the 8-year-old.

“No need to feel envious of Brendan or of May especially.” The Pokemon Researcher coolly replies. “Max, when you become of age what do you plan on doing when you journey?”

Max takes some time to consider this. This forced the Pokemon professor to grin.

“It’d be too easy to say compete in the Hoenn League right?” The Prof. starts. “And you among any child your age knows the true challenges it must take to reach such a goal.”

Max puffs his cheeks slightly. “It’d be better than what May is doing!”

“Max, I know it’s hard considering how much you love Pokemon…but try to understand where May is coming from.” Prof. Birch frowns. “Even if she just went on a journey to simply evade schoolwork I actually think it’s quite noble of her to go along with something she was against for so long to begin with.”

Max mutters to himself about knowing where the girl is coming from and he doesn’t like it. Prof. Birch looks at the boy in the corner of his eyes before shaking his head a bit disappointed.

----------
(New Mauville. Where the Generator is)

Angelique glares at the near dead forms of May and her two Pokemon with mock shock.

What struck at the 14-year-old’s nerves the most was the look on May’s face as she glared at her.

The chestnut-haired girl obviously lost consciousnesses after what Angelique did but the look in her fading ocean blue eyes hinted a deepening wariness.

Low vicious growling could also be heard burbling from the felled 13-year-old.

The feeling that this girl gave her only created a deepening rage within the raven-haired girl who fought every urge to brutalize the girl herself.

While fighting this feeling off, the 14-year-old began to find herself coughing constantly.

“You didn‘t maim them?” The 14-year-old critique’s her Houndoom nicknamed Cerberus flatly. “That‘s unlike you…”

Cerberus ignores his master; he just readies one powerful Hyper Beam aimed at May and her Pokemon.

“Aggron! Prevent the blow!” Yelled the commanding voice of Steven Stone from the distance.

Steven’s Aggron takes the full brunt of the blast, taking only little damage.

“You again…” Angelique growls at the 19-year-old who coolly walks down the damaged corridor to face the sickly teen.

Angelique, in the corner of her eyes notices that May was still glaring at her. This even furthered her growing irritation, making her to cough at an increased rate as a bodily response.

The 14-year-old’s constant coughing forced her to her knees as she suddenly felt a bit of lightheadedness and bleary vision.

“Hmph, so the mighty hunter is in fact a victim of some sort.” Steven mutters.

“Hippy. Do not get in my way again.” Angelique warns between coughs.

“Spare me.” Steven scoffs. “For me to actually fear you I’d need to be weaker than you… Since you obviously went to such great lengths to try to maim Hiromi and her Pokemon I‘d say you must fear her.

Angelique’s eyes practically became slits at that moment but she was overwhelmed by bodily fatigue she started to feel as she began to cough furiously again before she collapsed.

Cerberus steps in front of his trainer and gives Steven a warning look, as does Skitty, who hiss continuously at the Hoenn Champion.

The 14-year-old’s Dusclops materializes from the floor to give to stand in-front of his longtime companion fiercely. Yami the Absol comes from behind the 19-year-old and uses Aggron’s height to gain the momentum to join his allies.

Before any kind of aggressive action could be made on either side, a giant drilling machine with the Team Magma insignia burst from the steel floor.

From where he stood Steven couldn’t see what was going on but obviously the Hoenn Champion figured that girl must be connected to Team Magma; why else would they exit taking her with them…

At least the threat was gone… Steven nods to Aggron and figures he better do something about the generator first then get May and her fallen allies to medical attention ASAP.

--------
(Story Arc 3: The Reluctant Wild Child)
Chapter 14- To each their own
--------

(Two months later)
(Ever Grande City)

“I can’t be more pleased that this regions Government finally decided to look into this financial crisis it’s own Pokemon League is suffering from.” The Head official of the Pokemon League praised to his two government representative guest: Regional Interpol Agent Gabrielle Jenny and her partner Nasstastja Yukon.

“Oh it’s no problem at all sir.” Gabrielle Jenny replies. “Our group has been lead to the belief that your financial problems are just on your many enjoyable projects and events.”

The Head grins widely at this. “Quite hard to believe you’re with the Government with such young faces-”

“Oh enough with this empty flattery!” The second ranked official bellows. “The Hoenn League is the real bread winner for this region! If not it’s own power altogether!” He continues. “I don’t even see the point in the government acting superior with us when we actually ask for support!!”

“Money doesn’t grow on trees sir.” Gabrielle Jenny answers coolly. “It doesn’t matter how powerful your organization is it must go through the government loan process like everyone else’s.”

“You guys are supposed to be some kind of new Peace Corp. division right?” The third official questions the two agents as she adjusts her glasses. “You guys must be pretty bottom rung if all you do needless cleanup chores that the higher divisions didn’t want to take.”

The second ranked official smirks at this comment. “Useless factors made to act like a figurehead?”

“I was more thinking of a chess ****ogy but meh.” The third rank official shrugs.

The turquoise-haired agent pretty wanted to slug that smug woman for those thoughtless comments. Had it not been for her cool-headed partner moving in front of her, such actions would’ve been reality.

“We could always cut all negotiations and leave you to your money leaks.” Agent Nasstastja Yukon comments. “We have other problems we should be taking care of; this is all for your benefit.”

The third official throws the agents a scowl and walks away.

“Ms. Tolbot! Please!” The Head official chases after her in an attempt to reason.

The second ranked official gives the duo an indifferent look before breathing out a little “humph” and walking off.

This left Gabrielle Jenny and Nasstastja Yukon to themselves.

“Well, that went well.” The turquoise-haired agent dryly comments to her partner.

“Comrade you really need to work on your patience.” Nasstastja states, this forced Gabrielle Jenny to frown. “Yeah, I know!” The turquoise-haired agent snaps. “But it really ticks me off the treatment our division gets just because it’s less than a decade old!”

“Dah, since we’re stuck doing the dirty work our division sees the bulk of trouble.” The brunette agent speaks sympathetically towards her longtime friend.
Nasstastja then puts a comforting hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder. “But, if no one does the dirty work then it’ll pile up to a real hazard. So relax Gabby.”

“Ugh, if your gonna address me then call me Agent Jenny or Gabrielle!” The turquoise-haired agent pouts. “Calling me that reminds me of that obnoxious T.V. personality.”

Nasstastja couldn’t help but chuckle a bit until the entire electrical power within the League HQ went dead for approximately two minutes before returning as if nothing ever happened.

“The heck?” Gabrielle Jenny mutters. Nasstastja looks about in equal quizzical fashion. “Comrade, I believe this was no lapse of conduction bill.”

“Yeah, we should find the officials and get this sorted out.”

As the two friends depart they failed to notice on a large display screen that all Hoenn trainer data has just appeared and was being altered.

--------------------------------------------------
(A hilly cliff in Route 105)

Ragnarok the Marshtomp grits his teeth and attempts another attack at his Tentacreul foe only to be pounded into the ground by a strong strike of one of Jellyfish’s feelers.

The force of the attack also forced Brendan off his feet and onto his back.

“Is this really how strong Tentacruel’s are?” The 13-year-old muttered.

“Nope.” The buxom blonde owner of the Tentacruel and member of Team Aqua Mariah smiles playfully at Brendan. “Squishy is special.”

Her partner in crime named Sarah agrees with her teammates words. “Our early days as trainers befitted us a lot. The Berserk Gene is practically inexistent now-a-days.”

Brendan staggers to his feet while considering the mentioned item…he could’ve swore he heard of it from somewhere before…

Ragnarok also does the same.

“Your even getting up after a blow from a stronger Pokemon like ours.” Mariah smiles interested at the boy. “I like boys with guts.”

“But courage only takes you so far!” Sarah claims.

The Tentacruel named Squishy attempts to ensnare his foe within the grasp of its many feelers.

Much to Ragnarok’s luck, the bulk of the Jellyfish Pokemon’s feelers dizzily wrapped themselves around each other while the rest swats Tentacruel.
Only three feelers doused with Poison sting plummeted towards their mudfish target and they did so in a rather haggardly fashion that Ragnarok can easily evade.

“Squishy?” Mariah exclaims. “What’s the matter sweetie?”

“Hmph, now I remember why the Berserk Gene is practically inexistent.” Brendan replies to the Aqua Grunt while dusting himself off. “It was an item that gave great strength but at the cost of your Pokemon’s sanity. Many of those things were purged.”

Sarah rolls her eyes. “Yeah, don’t be jealous because we’re better rare item hunters than you are.”

“Items like the Berserk Gene are the exact reasons that proves why battle aid items can only help you so much.” Brendan states. “Your Tentacruel is stronger than my Ragnarok regardless…but now, because of your need to use unnecessary items you lost that advantage!”

Not wasting any further time, Ragnarok charged forward, using his foes seemly dazed state to buy time while avoiding any other random feelers to strike the oversized Jellyfish Pokemon with Bide.

“Ragnarok while it’s still dazed! Mud Shot!” Brendan calls out to his Pokemon.

Brendan’s Water/Ground hybrid grins before launching himself upwards by spraying Water Gun at full force on the now muddy soil.

While in the air the mudfish Pokemon with the nifty Mohawk blasts Water Gun at his also Water-Type foe to make sure the dazed Jellyfish Poke keeps his distance.

Ragnarok then lands into the muddy ground and begins to spin in it wildly, tossing mud in every direction.

The not well aimed but all over the place attack splatters everyone with mud. The already confused Tentacruel literally received mud in its eyes.

One of Tentacruel’s feelers indivertibly extracts even longer and is able to swat Ragnarok to the sides leaving the mudfish in very bad shape.

Brendan was again thrown to his sides due to the force of the move.

“You might be smart little boy.” Sarah compliments. “But, you fail to ever see the beauty of rare items.”

As Sarah spoke Mariah pulls out a Yellow Flute and begins to play a soothing melody that makes Squishy the Tentacruel break from his confusion just so he can focus on the tune.

Brendan throws the Aqua Grunt females a hard look as he grimaced in pain.

“Nu-uh!” Sarah teased. “I see you! This is a one on one! ” The woman then gives Brendan a goading look. “Trying to get another Pokemon to ambush our little Squishy or recalling your little mud pup counts as a forfeit and you‘ll have to relinquish that talking Pokemon dictionary we saw you use in Dewford as our prize!”

“So…you stalked me all the way out here and ambushed me just so you could steal Ciel!” Brendan yells at the young woman.

Sarah smirks. “We may be part of Team Aqua, but we have lives of our own you know! And rare item hunting has been our passion since we were little girls!”

Mariah, being a bit more sympathetic towards Brendan’s youth gives the boy an understanding look.

“You obviously don’t know the code of item collectors.” The blonde reasons. “So how about this? Call it quits and just give us something of equal trade value.”

“Hey yeah!” Sarah interjects. “You must be a pretty loaded kid to have such stuff anyway!”

Brendan wasn’t “loaded” as most think him as. In fact, since Mrs. Birch didn’t want him to grow up taking things for granted she never gave Brendan an allowance. So, Prof. Birch and his lab assistant was pretty much Brendan’s source of money growing up, provided he ran errands for them.

Any item of real cash or collectors’ value Brendan found on his quest was always transferred to his personal PC storage system since he’d rather travel lightly. The only real material possession Brendan had that on him that would suit their fancy was the necklace May gave to him as a good luck gift. And there’s no way in hell he’d ever give that up!

Ragnarok in the meantime struggled to pick himself only to notice Tentacruel looming menacingly over him.

Both, mudfish and his trainer were running out of options fast.

Mariah throws the 13-year-old a frown. “Listen, you and your little mud pup could get seriously hurt or worse if we continue.”

“Screw that!” Sarah cuts her friend off. “If they wanna play some more, then let’s play!”

Squishy the Tentacruel upraises its mouthpiece to launch Acid at his foes. The attack sputters all about, laying waste anything that it touched.

Touching everything but it’s originally designated targets…

The Team Aqua Grunts held a shared expression of shock and anger when they saw Angelique, dressed in the Team Magma uniform standing in-front of Brendan proudly.

On the 14-year-old’s left was Yami the Absol, on her right, her Dusclops. Skitty rested contently on the Disaster Pokemon’s back.

The teen’s Misdreavus nicknamed Mirai glimmered with the Custom Tactic Life Aura. The defensive move fully protected her master, her allies, Brendan and Ragnarok.

“You aren’t very smart.” Angelique comments to the snow-colored hair boy. “Though your heart is in the right place, people like that know nothing of real justice. They are nothing more than idealistic hypocrites who think they will magically sprout mermaids fins when they turn the world into a huge swimming pool.”

Feeling humiliated by being talked down to in such a manner by a Magma made Brendan grit his teeth while looking down to the muddy ground. Ragnarok was in equal shame…

“You think WE’RE the wrong ones?” Mariah growls.

“Turning the planet into a flooded water world is stupid.” The raven-haired 14-year-old blankly states with hints of smugness in her voice.

Sarah becomes really pissed at Angelique‘s attitude. “You got a lot of nerve you know that little girl?”

“Then face me.”

“Little girl’s should be playing with dolls not involving themselves in stuff like this.” Mariah replies bitterly. “Mess with Aqua in Magma cosplay clothes and prepare to be treated like a Magma!”

Tentacruel recklessly swings its mighty feelers that ravages at the land. None of its attacks ever touched hs targets with the thanks of Mirai’s defense Custom Tactic.

The ghost Pokemon held an amused position at the whole scene despite her hastening fatigue.

Angelique’s Dusclops uses the oversized Jellyfish’s focus on the barrier to his advantage and conjures the move Will-O-Wisp.

A multitude of blue little flames all form around the Cyclops Pokemon before all desecding to their new targets.

While the blue flames circle, flicker and burn the Tentacruel and his trainers, Angelique’s Absol Yami quickly ran towards his suffering opponents, conjuring two small twisters and sends them upon his foes.

The two small twisters lock together to create an even stronger gust of wind that felt as though you were being stung by pain of mutiple needles.

The force of the attack knocked Tentacruel backwards forcing it into an abrupt defeat and off the hill with its trainers along for the ride.

Brendan just sat quietly, slowly digesting what he just witnessed. It wasn’t what became of those two Aqua’s and their Berserk Gene hyped Pokemon that bugged him…It wasn’t his savior’s strength either…

What bugged him was his own lack of ability… He hesitated when it counted most! That could’ve cost him everything…

That Magma girl wasn’t lying, listening to those Aqua’s lecture him on a fair fight wasn’t one of his brightest moves either…But what difference would’ve been made if he DID call out an extra ally to lend Ragnarok a helping hand?

Especially since Ragnarok is his strongest Pokemon and considered the fight formation of his team.

The boy shakes off his disappointment, ignores Angelique and moves over to his just as disappointed Pokemon. Brendan pats Ragnarok’s head, motioning him not to worry too much about it.

“Cough! It’s like I said.” Angelique meekly replies to the 13-year-old while sitting on rock. “Your causes are good but…Cough! Cough! You’re just too easily seduced to others whims…”

“I’m not a supporter of Magma or of Aqua.” Brendan states. “So spare me your propaganda. We just have to get better than you.”

“Better than I?” Angelique mutters innocently before her amusement turns into constant coughing.

The raven-haired teen’s coughs become more and more hoarse. This and sound of a body dropping along with the frantic cries of the girl’s Pokemon forces Brendan to takes note of her.

Isaac Gravity December 17th, 2004 5:51 PM

Cont
-------------
(30 miutes later)

Angelique rested uneasily while Skitty, Yami, Mirai and her Dusclops face her with worried expressions.

They became even more territorial when Brendan stopped attending to Ringo the Numel, who helped him quickly boil a pot of water full of what little grounded herbs he had left and tried to put a damp towel on her forehead.

“Look! Do you want me to help your trainer or what?” Brendan snaps at them.

Figuring the truth in his words, the Pokemon all back off, allowing Brendan to proceed with his earlier attempt and wipe the blood that seeped from the 14-year-old’s lips.

Ragnarok the Marshtomp drags his trainer’s backpack over to him for easier access to the First Aid Kit.

“Thanks buddy, I appreciate it.” Brendan smiles at his partner. “But I think this situation exceeds the use of rubbing alcohol…”

Though the situation for reminiscing was an untimed time, Brendan couldn’t help but remember when he was in a bad situation…

--------------
(Flashback)
(Eight years ago)

“IT HURTS! MY TUMMY HURTS REAL BAD MOMMY!!!” Brendan whails while throbbing his stomach.

“Well no one told you to eat wild mushrooms.” Mrs. Birch coolly counters while she carefully examined the plants in the forest. “And you had to eat the bad ones… Now you could die of poison…”

The snow colored hair 5-year-old paled when his Mother uttered those words without a care.

An Oddish who happened by looked over at Brendan’s position before laughing at his stupidty. This only forced the boy to cry and complain even louder.

Mrs. Birch ignores her child’s whining and hands him a root.

Thinking it’s something to soothe his stomach, the 5-year-old greedily bites into the root only to spit it all back up.

“Belch! No way am I eating that!” The boy then begins to cry a bit more. “I’D RATHER JUST FALL DOWN RIGHT HERE!”

“OH HELL NO!” Mrs. Birch screams. “I DID NOT UNDERGO TEN HOURS OF LABOR JUST SO MY KID COULD WANT TO BAIL OUT WITHOUT REPAYING ALL THAT!!!”

Brendan froze in his place when his Mother lifted his voice at him for the first time.

The silver-haired woman with blonde strands sighs slightly before smiling at the current Herb she pulls from the ground.

“In any case…” The woman continues. “You aren’t suppose use Herbs and Roots raw. They need to be grinded and in your case boiled.” Mrs. Birch eyes her son at the corner of her eyes. “You can’t always rush into things…”

Mrs. Birch turns to son fully to realize that he was sweating a great deal and becoming pale. This forced the woman curse her luck. She didn’t realize those mushrooms would affect Brendan’s tiny body so soon.

Mrs. Birch didn’t want to hear her husbad say “I told you so” but she was low on time…

(Some time later)

Brendan awakens, stomach a bit calmer than it was before. Mrs. Birch notices her son’s recovery and hands him a cup full of colored liquids. Not wanting to argue with his Mom, Brendan thirstily drinks the bitter tasting remedy.

When he was about to spit it up Mrs. Birch covers his mouth. “Nu-uh!” The woman flatly replies. “Your gonna be a big strong man and drink this. It‘s good for you.”

“It tastes like paper.” Brendan mutters.

“So you’ve eaten paper?” Mrs. Birch questions. “In any case stop whining and blame your Father for putting us through this...Camping is so annoying…”

(End flashback)

-------------
‘Considering she doesn’t look like she’s eaten bad mushrooms hopefully this should amount should calm her for now.’ Brendan thinks to himself.

The 13-year-old now walks over to Ringo who curiously stared at the simmering contents within the pot. Carefully sucking up 10ccs worth of the hot liquids into a syringe, Brendan returns to Angelique and lifts her head so she can carefully swallow the medicine.

As a reflux to Brendan’s actions, the raven-haired 14-year-old furrows her eyebrows disapprovingly and coughs up the bulk of the heated drink.

The 14-year-old Magma gave the 13-year-old a harsh look through choked coughs before she finally calmed just slightly to mummer something in a tongue completely foreign to Brendan. The 14-year-old then rests a bit more peacefully.

Angelique’s Pokemon sigh in slight ease. However, Brendan was far from ok. Even if this girl was part of a group of extremists who wish to revolutionize the world, she did save him from a tight spot awhile back… And pride sometimes runs deeper than any other emotion can ever hope to drive to…

With that as his conclusion, Brendan decided to dwell deeper in helping the sickly teen. He didn’t need Ciel to tell him that the grounded herbs he used are factory produced thus greatly hindering their effectiveness…

If he remembered correctly, his Mom told him that medicine roots and herbs are best found in swamp-like or very tropical environments.

Well, since this place is obviously no rain forest and is as close as to a swamp as it can get, Brendan had to cut his losses.

Before those two treasure hunters ambushed him, his orginal intentions of coming to this deserted little Island was to test the Odor Sleuth strength of the Swinub he got in trade a few months back named Roxx.

Despite the seriousness of it all, he didn’t really have too much to turn to so what did he have to lose?

“Ok Roxx, it’s all on you…” Brendan states as he calls out the ice pig Pokemon.

Roxx the Swinub sniffed at the ground, complexly ignoring his new trainer, that was until Brendan pulled out the jar that once held the grounded herbs.

Roxx curiously approached the hand holding the desired item and began to sniff at the contents.

Continuing to sniff at the jar; the ice pig, out of all his curiosity, stuffed his nose into jar only getting all of the remaining powdery substance sprinkled all over his little snout.

Brendan could only slap his forehead when he watches Roxx sneeze and jump about.

::BEEP BEEP BEEP::

Brendan pulls out Ciel from his pocket.

“Not to be the a Gloomy Gus Brendan…” Ciel comments. “But don’t you think you’re asking too much of the little guy?”

The snow colored hair boy ignores his A.I. Travel companion’s frets and calls out his two remaining Pokemon: MacSlasher the Zangoose and Aero Adler the Taillow.

Ragnarok and Ringo walk over to the area to listen to their trainer’s game plan while Roxx still sneezes about the area.

The Pokemon all broke their attention from Brendan and onto Roxx.

“Guys, this is really important!” Brendan gets his fidgeting groups attention. “It’s gonna take all five formations working as one huge unit for this one!”

Aside from Ragnarok and Ringo, the rest Brendan’s Pokemon party had no clue what was going on. Ragnarok saves Brendan the trouble of wasting his voice and explains the situation to his creature allies.

MacSlasher and Aero look at Angelique and then at her Pokemon who eyed them with indifference. The mongoose and swallow Pokemon had nothing better to do… They both turn to Brendan and nod.

“Ok Brendan.” Ciel confirms. “I’ll go along with this… But I still think that this is a hefty favor on little Roxx… He’s only Level 14...”

It was at this point that Roxx stopped sneezing and a little glint appears on his usually closed left eye.

The ice pig Pokemon sniffed at the ground a bit before hopping about rather hyper and rushing into the woods at full speed, not even awaiting any orders from his trainer.

“Fast little guy.” Ciel comments.

“Yeah, when motivated.” Brendan chuckles before addressing his remaining Pokemon. “C’mon!”

-------------
(LittleRoot Town)

AHHHHH!!!

One would quickly think that someone was in some kind of danger with such a high-pitched squeal echoing throughout the small farmland based Town. But in reality it was just LittleRoot’s youngest residents 6-year-old twins Suzie and Sally screaming in girlish delight.

“Big girl is amazing!” Suzie giggles. Sally nods in equal jubilation. “Wowie, she wrapped balloons together without them popping!”

The “big girl” as they kept calling her gives a sheepish looks as she her runs her right hand through her neon pink hair.

“It’s quite easy really.” she assures.

Both twins shake their heads simultaneously.

“Nuh-uh!” Sally disagrees. Suzie agrees with her sibling. “You must be from the circus or something to know such cool tricks!”

“Big girl is the circus coming to town is it huh? Huh?” Sally picks her sister’s words very giddily.

The big girl raises an eyebrow as her wide dark brown eyes sparkled with growing amusement and curiosity itself.

The pink-haired girl, who looked about the age of thirteen turns her travel companion: a teen about the age of sixteen who styled her long chestnut-hair as two long pigtails and wore navy blue tinted shades and carried a heavy looking suitcase.

Compared to the preferred tie-dye short-sleeved shirt along with bleached jeans and sandals the 13-year-old enjoyed wearing; the 16-year-old dressed a lot less colorful with a pair of navy blue pants and a navy blur vest that overlapped her long sleeved white shirt. The chestnut-haired teen showed a more rugged feeling than her free-spirited companion since she wore mountain boots as her footwear.

“Do we really look like circus folk big sis?” The cheery 13-year-old asked the 16-year-old.

“Well, if you weren’t always making such a spectacle of yourself…” The 16-year-old began.

The 13-year-old grins as she attempts to make another balloon animal for the 6-year-olds. When she did, a wild Zigzagoon scampered from out of the tall grass hissing at her.

The pink-haired girl frowned slightly when she noticed this but attempted to pet the wild Pokemon who bit her finger.

In retaliation to this, the 16-year-old stomps her left foot close to the raccoon Pokemon to scare it away.

The Pokemon did back away but it kept hissing until it attracted about a dozen more of its kind to back it up. And in a group they all continued hissing while slowly, slowly approaching their problem source.

Suzie and Sally were rather afraid at what used to be a happy scene turned wrong, but tried their hardest not to cry and walked over to the dead silent 13-year-old who just stared at her cut.

“Psh, Pokemon are such stupid creatures until they’re finally tamed.” The 16-year-old irately comments as she tosses a Pokeball containing a Yanma into the air. “Strata Fly, show them why domesticated Pokemon are always the superior.”

Strata Fly the Yanma energetically moved about the air in erratic patterns before complying with his trainer command.

The dragonfly Pokemon swept down towards his foes and flew in differently patterns around the many raccoon Pokemon until the entire battlefield was covered in dust.

Within the dust the Yanma trounced his uber weak opponents with reckless Sonic Booms that flew about the area, everyone one else received the painful sting of Strata Fly’s Wing Attack.

Watching those Zigzagoon tumble and bounce about like rag dolls to the ground against a foe they have no chance of even damaging was what made the 6-year-old twins cry.

The cruel force that was being used was …so… Unnecessary…

“Hey, hey what’s all this ruckus about? I’m missing my favorite soap because of this nonsense!” Came voice of Mrs. Birch who bared a rather strained expression on her face. “Someone better be suffering a heart spasm otherwise you’ll be d*mned I came out here…”

End Chapter 14

----------
(Notes)

In the game Team Magma and Aqua (even their Leaders) were a joke in battle.

Well, this isn’t the game… The bulk of both planet expansion cults Grunt ranking are filled with talented Pokemon trainers who, for their own reason joined either groups’ ranks. (The rest are most likely trouble-making hoods who think what either Team is doing is mischievous and just wants in.)

The rest are the top dogs. (Admins, Executives and Leaders.) The biggest idealist and obviously posses Pokemon at dangerously high levels. (My guess the minimum would be in its 50’s) I’m just saying that defeating guys, who hold such a dream and are willing to go through whatever lengths to obtain it, aren’t to be taken lightly.

As for Brendan’s Pokemon: They’re specialized in the field of tracking and capture. A bit of a difference from May’s Pokemon party who seem to bear this jack-of-all-trades feeling aside from being specialized for battle.

Strawberry Delcatty December 26th, 2004 5:55 PM

I was going to wait until I've read all the chapters before I reply in the actual thread, but I've practically PMed you to death and I didn't want to double post in the Fanfic Lounge.

I've finished the battle with Roxanne and chapter 7. I never expected the battle to end in a draw seeing that Tsunami was powered up by Blaze. Also, interesting background on the Stone family in chpater 7.

I can't wait to check out chapter 8.

Isaac Gravity January 7th, 2005 11:24 AM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.
----------
(Location: ???)

[These surroundings look normal enough…]

[Buildings, cars, concrete, street lights, overly busy people who‘d never look your way until it’s their turn to suffer. Add this with the crappy atmosphere all this rain is giving and yeah, this seems like reality to me.]

---------------
The rain poured harshly within the streets of this urban area. While some people walked casually with their umbrellas, others had to resort to using their newspapers to shield their heads, making a mad dash for wherever they were going.

The area was utterly black and white; void of vividness as well as sound…

Continuing to watch this scene with dulled eyes, 13-year-old May Hiromi, the only being within the area that openly bared proof of life’s beauty, sat against a wall while hugging her legs.

Slowly but surely allowing the rain to wash away her vividness as well.

‘This feels wrong no many how many times I convince myself though…’

Lost in her thought, the chestnut-haired girl curled herself tighter in her own grip.

Reality will always be a nonfiction to you. But your dreams can always be made into reality, that‘s why you exist. That‘s why I will always be the only one there for you.

Shortly following that break in atmosphere was mischievous chuckling and the sound of approaching footsteps.

Pin-pointing such an oddity wasn’t too difficult for the 13-year-old; in a place where black and white dominates, something completely covered in a navy blue raincoat with yellow streaks and coming your way wasn’t what one would could call finding a needle in a haystack.

What was the vexing point for her was the voice of the approaching character. All other things aside, it sounded like a fiercer version of her own… That, and the feeling of unknown building anger hastily filling that earlier feeling of void were a bit on the overwhelming side.

Before May could make any further step of action, the newcomer already stood besides her, doing nothing more than giving an inviting sharp toothed grin and pulling out an umbrella to shield the chestnut-haired girl from more rain.

The newcomer, much to May’s surprise, was utterly identical to her in psychical appearance. The only thing that spread the gap between the two was the raincoat clad May’s more “untamed” appearance, more noticeably: the shaggier bangs, feral eyes that never seen the light of humanity and the two tiny fangs that some adults like Mrs. Stone deemed “very cute” replaced by a full mouth of piercing incisors.

Though, the thickening “air of deep danger” the feral girl naturally emitted was more than enough to force May off her feet and face her with growing rage.

“Puffing up yourself and balling your fist is the way you treat everyone foreign to you if I remember?” The feral May smiles playfully. The girl chuckles lightly when May continues her glares while taking a hesitant step backwards. “You distrust others so much because you lack the reassurance that no matter what harm others will throw you‘ll never be touched. Now that I‘ve let you rediscover what people really are to you-”

“What the hell do you mean “let me!” I don‘t recall crossing paths with a look-alike psycho!” May snaps.

“But I’ve always been within you.” Feral May counters quite innocently. “I just haven’t been around for you as much as I was when you were younger, I ran at full strength then… I’m still not at my peak and that nasty girl made things worse for the both of us…”

“But whenever things became too much for you I always gave you what I had so you could stand tall…” The feral look-alike explained. “Especially in such a stressing region like this; I’m sure within all the fear and doubt felt in those very scary situations you could sometimes hear me giving you that push so desperately needed… You deserve so much better in that world, let‘s show them that!”

It took a great deal of reminiscing, but May stood fixed in her place when finally realizing the truth in this character‘s existence.

“Aah, you finally remember me now,” The feral look-alike sighs. “Now come, we’ll hunt down that witch and repay her a thousand-”

The feral look-alike easily catches May’s punch, replying blankly how it was half-hearted.

“Little push my ass! I heard something inside throw words at me in those situations but it sure as hell no cry to never give in!” May growls. “You… not once but twice turned me against my friends!”

The expression on the feral look-alike’s face was utterly expressionless when the matter of the near murder situations of Brendan and Mia came up. Her grip on the May’s fist seemed so light as well, yet the chestnut-haired girl was on the brink of getting on her knees from the overwhelming pressure being placed on it.

“Oh them? We’ve both been growing and adapting to all our changes quicker than most would, so our sudden unity at points would be hard on the control part wouldn’t it? You’re not very strong and I know what I want more than you can grasp what you really want… That‘ll be different from here on out though…” The feral May releases her hold May’s fist, allowing the 13-year-old to crumple to her knees while caring to her throbbing hand.

The feral look-alike, as if magic, reveals to the girl an extra raincoat. “Hurry up and put this on.” The girl ushers. “You can’t stand cold things if I remember right? This rain isn‘t making things any better.”

May tosses the girl a frustrated glare that she counters with a smile, simply replying she’ll always know May best.

------------
(Verdanturf Town)
(Wally’s Aunt and Uncle’s home)

The badly injured and very much unconscious May Hiromi laid with bandages in the bed of the guest room.

She’s been in this condition for two months. While her Pokemon, minus little Aron, who somehow followed May here, were all rushed to the Pokemon Center in Mauville and were put in the intensive care ward ever since…

How she survived the attack was “her strong will to live” quote Steven Stone who carried May and all of her near dead Pokemon out of the totaled New Mauville. He explained that he found her like this.

---------
(Outside of Wally‘s Aunt and Uncle‘s house)

Keeping his promise to May, Wally asked Mia to stay with his relatives until May recovers. Wally’s relatives didn’t too much mind, especially since the 10-year-old was rather introversive in her actions and was with May to begin with.

This proposition didn’t sit too well with Mia though, who was unsure to take such a kind gesture from someone she hardly knew even if he is May’s friend.

Steven, when finding out about this was against it to the bitter end. But the Hoenn Champion knew better than anyone the duties that follow when a man makes a promise…So after a light bit of “advice” to the 11-year-old, Steven allowed his younger sibling to stay with Wally and his relativities…

Only irritating the 10-year-old even more since her opinion didn’t seem matter one way or the other.

“Amazing!” Wally exclaims.

The 11-year-old, thanks to Mia’s knowledge of Pokemon, just learned of Ralts evolution tree.

Wally’s Ralts was equally surprised to learn he doesn’t remain a small-fry for the remainder of his life.

Mia nods conformingly for the duo. “After the Kirila stage it goes to its final form at Level 30.”

The 10-year-old flips through some pages of her books and shows the over-excited boy a picture of Ralts’ final stage Gardevior. Both Wally and Ralts look a little skeptical about the form.

“And I thought Kirila looked a bit… odd…” Wally mutters. Ralts ****s his head to the side slightly puzzled.

“If your Ralts becomes a Gardevior, you should be really proud.” Mia assures the boy. “They say that Gardevior can use psychokinetic power to distort the dimensions and create a small black hole… Also,” The 10-year-old continues. “They’ll use that same psychokinetic power at max to defend their trainers at any cost!”

Hearing this, Wally and Ralts simultaneously shuddered with excitement.

“It’s settled then!” Wally announced to Mia. “We’re gonna need to power Ralts up real fast! And we’re gonna need you to do it!”

“Me?!” The indigo-eyed 10-year-old squeaks.

Wally nods. “I’m gonna need a lot of wins to make Ralts grow and I’m gonna need fast and easy ones ASAP!”

After hearing Wally’s logic, a small X-shaped vein appears on the back of Mia’s head.

Figuring the boy had to be taught a quick, humiliating lesson, Mia calls out Sharky the Carvanha. The 10-year-old quickly pours some water from a Wailmer pail on the usually water submerged creature apologizing for calling it out like this.

When Ralts unsurely glanced at his supposed foe, the barracuda Pokemon sends him a death glare with Scary Face.

Ralts sweatdrops as cold chill runs down his spine.

“d-Don‘t let that scare you Ralts!” Wally stutters equally intimidated. “d-Double Team!”

Ralts nods and surrounds the Carvanha with five extra doppelgangers who all continually circle him in hopes of dizzying him.

Sharky the Carvanha was totally unfazed by this act. The only thing he did was glare at his new trainer in the corner of his eyes with an expression that said: “You’re kiddin’ me right?”

“Now let’s finish our combo!” Wally confidently ordered his partner.

Ralts and his doppelgangers all use Psychic. Despite the fact the doppelgangers attacked, they are still doppelgangers.

Only one strong invisible force blew past Sharky and that was from behind! Sharky stands unscathed while rolling his blood red eyes in exasperation.

“Ral!?” Ralts cried out incredulously. Wally’s actions were similar, as he yelled “No way!”

Mia closed her eyes collectively as she spoke to her friend-of-a-friend.

“Sharky may be a Water-type but he is also a Dark-type.” The 10-year-old sighs contently. “Dark-types are completely immune to Psychic attacks, like how night overlaps the day…”

Without being given a single order from Mia, Sharky hops at Ralts in hopes of sinking his teeth into the little Psychic-type.

Much to Ralts’ relief, Mia quickly recalls her Pokemon before it has its way.

Wally felt rather annoyed about the outcome but shakes off his feelings with a disappointed smile. “Well, it was a quick win… Just not for me…”

“You should really consider studying your Ralts’ natural predators more.” Mia comments. “You’re a lot better a battler than I am but what good is that if you don’t know what your doing.”

“…At least Ralts doesn‘t act on his own…” Wally mutters.

Before any further exchange of words could be shared between the youths, a boy dressed in a green camp troop outfit named Daisuke runs up to where Wally and Mia are.

“Yo Wally!”

“Oh, Daisuke!”

---------
Chapter 15- Great minds think for themselves! Enter Jenrya the wise!
-------------

(LittleRoot Town)

“Watch how you talk to my big sis!” The pink-haired girl warns.

Mrs. Birch crosses her arms in a vexed manner. Though she didn’t want to get involved in pointless confrontations; Mrs. Hiromi was visiting her husband in Petalburg, while Laurel was at some weekend school event and the rest of her family were pacifists so they wouldn’t want to get involved anyway.

Since Max’s family were always on business trips while Max himself was aiding Prof. Birch in his fieldwork that just left her…

“Psh, for visitors you sure got a lot of disrespect.” Mrs. Birch sighs, getting more annoyed at the situation.

“I’m the one responsible for my siblings growth in mannerism.” The chestnut-haired 16-year-old states flatly.

“Figured as much.” Mrs. Birch sighs before getting back on topic. “Anyway, what’s all this about?”

The 16-year-old shrugs. “These Pokemon hurt my sister, so I returned their pain with twice the insurance.”

“Nice outlook on Hammurabi’s code there.” Mrs. Birch comments in an equally blunt tone. The silvered woman then turns to the sobbing Suzie and Sally. “She telling the truth?”

Both twins nod between sniffles. Mrs. Birch looks away from them and back on the rather content 16-year-old.

“You’re too noisy to be obnoxious tourist… so what exactly do you want?”

“We came here to see Prof. Birch old lady!” The 13-year-old snorts. “We got important business to discuss.”

Mrs. Birch turns to the 13-year-old and mutters something like “noisy brat” before looking back to the 16-year-old.

The 13-year-old puffs her cheeks a bit annoyed and looked like she was ready to say something she’d shortly regret if the 16-year-old didn’t gesture her to stay quiet.

“We’ll start this again.” The 16-year-old replies while adjusting her navy blue shades. “My name is Umi Furu and as you can tell she’s my sibling Danielle.”

The 16-year old named Umi finishes her introductions and gets to the point and does it by setting down her heavy suitcase. “I wish to discuss an interesting proposition with LittleRoot’s Prof. Birch concerning Pokemon technology and its future concerning trainers.”

Mrs. Birch gives a half interested look before sighing the situation off. “Sorry, the slacker is nowhere to be found right now.” she begins. “Go scrounge off the path or something you should find him.”

The woman’s attitude was really starting to irk Umi.

Suzie and Sally both run on opposite sides of the silver-haired woman and continually tug at her arms while simultaneously warning her of the danger she’s getting in.

“Hey! It can’t be so hard to find a prestigious guy in a small ass village like this!” Danielle shouts.

“Your right, it’s not hard at all.” Mrs. Birch verbally parries. “But I refuse to allow my husband to see any inappropriate brat without proper permission.”

“I see.” Umi mused with a small grin.

With a snap of her fingers Umi’s Yanma nicknamed Strata Fly began zip around Mrs. Birch and the twins in the same fashion he gave his earlier foes. Mrs. Birch holds onto Suzie and Sally tightly while her usually bored expression held hints of irritably.

Strata Fly soared high into the sky and with two snaps of Umi’s fingers unleashed a Sonic Boom attack aimed not at Mrs. Birch and the twins but at an electricity line pole.

Mrs. Birch looked at what she considered a deep low-blow and turned to Umi and Danielle with a harsh glare as a small X-shaped vein pulsated on the left side of her head.

“This is pretty much what trainers have watered down to.” The silver-haired woman mutters sourly.” Big talking idealist with no talent or conceited little thugs… Normally I can care less, but this is personal now…”

Mrs. Birch takes her time pulling out a string around her neck, which held a whistle. Mrs. Birch then hands to Sally, asking her to whistle at the top of her lungs.
Even though the silver-haired pessimist called her “Suzie” Sally chose not to argue and do what she was told.

Even though Strata Fly enjoyed the loud noise-waves the whistle created it didn’t take the dragonfly Pokemon too long to notice what the purpose of it all was for.

Taking its sweet time to exit the Birch household was a Machoke holding an exercise brace.

“Everyone is so busy trying to create purpose for themselves when they become Pokemon trainers that they all forget the whole point of what even made them want to become one.” Mrs. Birch comments flatly. “I’m glad I was a smart one and just returned home when I figured life got obnoxious.”

“That may be so,” Umi agrees. “But your Machoke looks rather out of shape.”

“That’s the problem with old people!” Danielle adds. “They spoil their Pokemon like over domesticated pets!”

Machoke turns to Mrs. Birch’s antagonist with a fierce glare and crushes the brace with ease.

Mrs. Birch walks over to the Superpower Pokemon that resided in her basement and adjusts the levels of his belt.

All of Machoke’s bulky looking muscles slimmed into a more normal Machoke fashion.

With it’s body at a more pleasurable level of strength, the Superpower Pokemon arches its back and puffs in air heavily, allowing every fabric of its muscles to tighten before relaxing it all by breathing out a strong Flamethrower at Strata Fly.

Unfortunately for Machoke, just because he could learn strong projectile attacks doesn’t mean he’s any good at aiming. That reason alone along with its high-speed parameters gave Strata Fly the advantage to hover towards higher grounds to evade the attack before he dove down to whack his foe with Wing Attack.

Machoke quickly pounds at the ground with Strength forcing a weaker rock structure to rise up from the ground and act as a shield.

“Brendan’s Mommy is strong Pokemon trainer!” Suzie squeals. “Machoke is flabby yet cool!” Sally adds.

“Big sis…” Danielle mummers to the 16-year-old while gesturing to a Pokeball that she held.

Umi looks to her sister and recalls Strata Fly to his Pokeball. The 16-year-old’s bizarre way of saying “yes” made Danielle whoop with joy and call out her Sandslash as an end result.

“Hey old lady, my sis and her Pokemon shouldn‘t waste their energy on such small matters, I‘ll be your opponent instead!” The pink-haired 13-year-old rudely addressed Mrs. Birch. “I won’t go easy on you just because you’re a has-been-WHA!”

Machoke was already in Danielle’s face before he throws a heavy punch at Sandslash who dodges the attack.

The Superpower Pokemon continues rushing at his current opponent and makes another attack but gets the same result.

“For something so bulky it moves real quick…” Danielle murmured a bit surprised. “Sandslash! You’re much faster than that! Show them what you can do!”

Sandslash complies with his trainer’s command and evades his foes recent attack to hit him with the never miss move Swift.

“An eye for an eye…” Mrs. Birch mutters solemnly.

Machoke knew exactly what his longtime partner meant and lunged at the sand hedgehog and gives it kick to the face with the influenced force of Revenge.

Sandslash hits the ground with a loud thud but is able to swiftly recover from the blow and burrow furiously into the ground with Dig.

Mrs. Birch gives an annoyed sigh at the situation before her, forcing Machoke who sweatdrops and quickly rush towards the broken electricity wire pole, pick it up and use it as some sort of shovel to drag his foe out of the ground.

“Hey! Don’t use that! It can still be fixed!!” Mrs. Birch shouts. Machoke gives his rather moody trainer a perplexed look but puts down the item anyway.

With the Superpower Pokemon’s guard finally lowered Sandslash bursts from ground and quickly rolls itself into ball with its spines extracting.

Before Machoke could react, Sandslash uncurled itself and sunk its left claw into the Superpower Pokemon’s right arm hinge joint.

Silence now befalls the battlefield as Machoke began to break into a pained sweat as the veins in his arm all turn purple.

‘Her Pokemon canceled out its own move to double it with another… I didn’t expect Danielle’s battle adaptability to culminate so nicely.’ Umi pondered with a grin. ‘On top of that the attack hit a vein so the poison will run faster.’

“See,” Danielle smirked proudly. “I told you not to doubt me. Now what do you have to say for yourself?”

“…Vital Throw.”

Machoke gave his trainer a weak grin and with available arm gave his Ground-type foe a hard punch, launching straight it into the air.

Even though the blow took a lot out of it, Sandslash curled itself into ball as a last ditch effort. Unseen bits of sand came sprinkling out from its sharp quills.

“I can’t be married to this region’s authority on Pokemon and not expect to learn a few tricks.” Mrs. Birch states calmly. “Machoke has a special ability that increases his attack strength when he’s hit with a condition like poison.”

‘For one who claimed to have given up training so long ago she’s still quite an adversary.’ Umi continues her mental rambling.

Mrs. Birch glances at Danielle only for a moment, gaining a tibit of respect for the child before addressing Machoke. “Give that thing the volleyball treatment.”

Machoke rubs his eyes for a moment but complies with his trainers command.

Getting a running start, the Superpower Pokemon jumps off the risen rock structure he created earlier and launches himself at his foe.

The air around the combatants seemed rather dusty from what Machoke could tell, but the Superpower Pokemon ignored the ac***ulating dirt hovering in the sky and threw his heaviest punch at Sandslash.

Danielle looks over at Mrs. Birch with a teasing look. “I know about Pokemon talents to!” The 13-year-old states childishly. “A Sandslash’s sand veil makes them harder to strike in the midst of a sandstorm!”

Suzie and Sally begin to rub their eyes and complain that there was something in it.

Mrs. Birch on the other hand, narrows her eyes to shake off all the dirt that was now in the air. “Right… sand mouse must be covered in sand especially since it dug into the ground not too long ago…”

With all the amounting dirt in the air Machoke’s punch missed it’s target, giving Sandslash the chance to now use the Superpower Pokemon’s bulk to climb on his back and slash at him constantly with Fury Swipes.

Sandslash then ends its attack by curling itself into a ball and jabbing his foe in the back with its spines.

Machoke falls to the ground with a heavy crashing noise defeated. Sandslash lands on the beaten Superpower Pokemon’s back panting heavily.

“Brendan’s Mommy lost…” Suzie mutters sadly. Sally nods. “Not fair…”

Mrs. Birch gives a slight sympathetic look for her ally as she walks over to him patting his back while muttering something about being the proud jock of a son she never had.

“Hell yeah! I kicked total ass!” Danielle cheered victoriously while her Sandslash gives an equally pleased look.

“You weren’t bad but… it came too close.” Umi states before addressing the defeated party. “Now, since we got that little problem out of the way… Do you mind giving us what we want now?”

Mrs. Birch grits her teeth in frustration.

“Though you went along with my wife’s terms, I have nothing to say to rude fellows who destroy the tranquility of my home and worse off endanger my family!” Prof. Birch makes himself know to the group with a stern look on his face.

Mrs. Birch hides a growing blush that stained her cheeks. “Hmph, hiding somewhere safe during the catfight?”

“Well…You looked like you had the situation down pat…” Prof. Birch replies nervously.

“Idiot.” Mrs. Birch counters.

Max, who was carrying the Pokemon researchers extra notes and paper work stood silent.

For all the years he knew Brendan’s Mom who knew she had this kind of talent? He was also as wary about these new fellows too having witnessed their potential.

“HEY! WE HAD A DEAL YOU CAN’T JUST BRUSH US OFF!” Danielle bellows at the top of her lungs while her Sandslash poised itself ready for another battle.

“There was no deal.” Prof. Birch turns to Danielle and Umi with a scowl. “Just you threatening my beloved wife. I‘d like it if you‘d leave now…”

Danielle grits her teeth and was about to curse at the laid back Pokemon researcher like mad until Umi wraps her arms around her younger sister in a calming way.

“Danielle, we were a bit out of place in all of our excitement.” Umi admits before looking at Birch. “We’ll leave for now… but we will come to terms and you will hear us out!”

With that, the 16-year-old along with her 13-year-old sister and her Pokemon walk away.

Before they go, Danielle gives the group a raspberry while Sandslash kicks some dirt at them.

“They are quite rude aren’t they?” Prof. Birch comments.

Mrs. Birch answers him by slapping him upside the head commenting how he allowed his fragile wife to fend for herself. Suzie and Sally also join in the teasing while Mrs. Birch’s Machoke scratches the back of his head sheepishly.

Max on the other hand wasn’t in a joking mood. He watched the mysterious duo walk away as quietly as they arrived.

Isaac Gravity January 7th, 2005 11:30 AM

Cont
-----------------
(Verdanturf Town)

“Wally, read it and weep!” Daisuke grins smugly as he flashes a Contest Pass. Since Wally has never seen such an item before he’s not impressed. “A card with a ribbon? You graduate your Troop or something?”

“You sayin’ I can’t?” Daisuke counters a bit insulted. “Anyway, this is a Contest Pass. I can now enter Pokemon contests with it!” Daisuke gives his friend a ****y grin in an attempt to look big. “Lemme guess? You want me to fill you in on what that big building north of your house is right?”

“Not really.” Wally replies flatly.

“Great, ‘cuz I’ll tell you!” Daisuke answers. “That my friend, is a Pokemon Contest house!”

“You’re just bursting full of information today Dai.” The sickly boy dryly comments to the Scout.

“Wally...” Mia intervenes. “A Pokemon Contest is sort of like a beauty contest. And in it Pokemon trainers and their groomed Pokemon can compete in the following competitions: Beauty, Coolness, Intelligence, Toughness and Cuteness.”

Wally looks at Mia and considers what she said for a moment. “Hmm… That doesn’t sound as cool as a Pokemon battle.” he confirms.

“Then you never witnessed a Contest.” Mia replies in quick tone that made it sound as though she was snapping at him. “Even though Pokemon can’t battle like a regular battle, they’re fighting for the most appeal points using corresponding moves that will boost their appeal rating. For example, your Ralts’ Psychic attack is considered an Intelligence category move. While Sharky’s Bite is considered a category of Toughness.”

Daisuke quietly takes notes as the indigo-eyed 10-year-old spoke. “You don’t say…”

Wally gives a face fault in Daisuke’s direction. “Just a second ago you acted as though you knew everything…”

“Ra…” Ralts agrees.

Mia ignores Wally’s rude heckling and continues to speak. “Worst of all, you can loose appeal points if a rival Pokemon trips yours up with one of their appeal moves.”

“That’s despicable!” Daisuke clenched his fist in anger. “Isn’t that against the rules or something?”

“That’s where strategy and proper use of moves come in.” Mia answers while lifting her finger in a teacher-like fashion. “Using a move like Defense Curl will defend your Pokemon from a trip up at most once. You may not gain any extra appeal points for performing such a move in a contest where that’s not the proper move type. You may actually lose points, but it’s better than losing the bulk of it.”

“You don’t say…” Wally mused. “I think I’ll stick to regular battling.”

“Well, of course you would!” Daisuke snorts proudly. “Contests are something only the skilled can do…”

“You didn’t…” Wally mutters. This forces a huge toothed grin to fall Daisuke’s face. “Hell yeah! Me and my Seedot are gonna rock the Coolness Contests!”

“You haven’t a clue what you’re doing do you?” Wally continues to question his friend who still holds a confident ground.

“Well, the only way to learn is to actually witness one! Kids do get in for free on Wednesdays.”

Wally grins. “Yeah, and maybe Mia could tell you more info along the way.”

Mia shakes her head at the offer. “I have to work on Alia‘s repair…” she begins before addressing Wally. “Also, you have a lot of homework to do…”

“I could‘ve really kept an eye on you if went...” Wally sighs. “Besides, I could do something like homework in my spare time.”

Mia puffs her cheeks slightly from those comments. “You might be older than me but I don’t really see a real significance when you act like you’re the younger one!”

“There you go with that attitude of yours again!” Wally snaps at the girl. “All you ever do is sit down and criticize me! I never once seen you do anything for yourself!”

“That’s because you never really watch me.” Mia counters before walking away from the boys, never looking back.

Daisuke puts a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let it go man,” The scout began. “Girl’s are just weird anyway.”

Giving a sour “Yeah” Wally, along with Ralts follow Daisuke to the Contest House.

--------------
(Route 105)

Within the woods of the swamp-like terrain of the many Isles of Route 105 13-year-old Brendan Birch, through all of his toils, labor and close-knit team work with his five Pokemon were able to finally track down some Herbs that could be grounded for medicine he needs.

But like any item of rarity, fierce competition is to always be expected…

“Roxx!” Brendan yells as he and the rest of his Pokemon allies run up to the injured Swinub after he was knocked backwards by a strong surprise attack made by a Poliwrath.

Just by looking at the fighting frog’s bulkier than usual muscles and the veins that bulged from practically every aspect of its body it must be a regular user of the discontinued Berserk Gene item.

“That was for my teammates.” The owner of Poliwrath replied.

The ebony-haired female’s teammates were obviously those two Team Aqua Grunt that ambushed Brendan earlier in the day but were swept off by Angelique.

MacSlasher the Zangoose and Ragnarok the Marshtomp moved defensively in front of their trainer while Ringo the Numel and Aero Adler the Taillow finished the box formation by keeping from the rear.

The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt extends her left arm in a gimme fashion.

“What?” Brendan growls.

“You and that Magma girl really injured my friends.” The Grunt explained. “Those herbs are hard to find but do the trick. I’ll take them from you as a way of you saying sorry for butting in.”

“I have a better proposition for ya? How about you drop dead?” Brendan snaps.

“Listen, I took care of that Magma brat don’t think I won’t hesitate to take what I want from you by force.”

Brendan froze in his place after hearing those words. He wondered what those seeming sounds of a scuffle were far off the distance a while back…

And he also remembered who was currently resting there…

“Yeah real easy to kick someone when they’re already down for the count!”

“There’s no such thing as honor in the fights between Aqua and Magma!” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt snaps at the 13-year-old. “Honor is only a five-letter word the moment the two rivals clash. All moral codes, status and humanity are replaced by mounting dreams and aspirations!”

The Aqua Grunt gives snow colored hair boy an enlightened face. “Everyone, Aqua or Magma, Young or old all have their own silly little dreams… My friends and I joined Aqua because of the prospects of a living in one big ocean… Nothing but buried treasure and constant adventure would await us… That girl… she might be young but she is a Magma; my organization’s sworn enemy… And I must dispose of her at any degree possible just to obtain the long-run goal. She‘s knows this too and would easily kill me and you in a heartbeat if she must…Especially considering her reputation…”

“b-But it all seems so pointless…” Brendan mummers despondently. “The planet is fine the way it is! You’re just destroying each other and risking the lives of millions over a meaningless cause!”

“Your meaningless cause is my dream worth fighting for…” The Aqua Grunt mutters softly. “Dry your eyes and face me. We’ll fight for that item like noble rare hunters holding nothing back.”

“After hearing all this I don’t even want to fight period…”

“It’s something that we all must do in some shape or form for something we cherish.” The ebony-haired Grunt replied. “I cherish my friends who I’ve been through thick and thin with since we were all little girls. Don‘t disgrace your Pokemon, they cherish you and will throw their lives away right now to prove that.”

Brendan looked at all four of his Pokemon who had their eyes tacked on him.

The snow colored hair adolescent then looks at Roxx the Swinub who was cradled in his arms. The ice pig sniffed at his trainer in a sympathetic fashion.

This was what he wanted right? He even left a prestigious Pokemon school that many would kill to enter just to go out into the world and challenge himself.

-----------------
(Flashback to Brendan’s chat with Mrs. Birch in Chapter 1)

“They kept saying I was from the boonies and that I got such good marks ‘cuz my Dad is who he is…”

(Flashback to Chapter 6)

“That’s right!” One of Karen’s friends agreed. “Just listen to Roxanne and come back to the trainers school with us. WHY DO YOU WANT TO GIVE UP SUCH A HIGH RANK?

“There’s a reason I decided to leave this data run school to travel around…” Brendan growls, sick of his peers labeling of him. “There’s only so much data can teach you…I’ve learned that…And I’m not the same guy you once knew me as because of it!”

“I am ultimately a better student than you are so why fight a useless battle?” Karen chides her former schoolmate.

(Flashback to Chapter 14)

“Hey yeah!” Sarah interjects. “You must be a pretty loaded kid to have such stuff anyway!”

(Flashback to Brendan’s chat with May in Chapter 3)

“Sure we may learn the stats and strengths of Pokemon. But a real trainer sees the true pain and grow much stronger. I wanna bear that burden too…I wanna see how it’s like…Data isn’t everything! Ciel taught me that.”

(End Flashbacks)

--------------
‘I‘m sick of that life…’ Brendan mentally confirmed. ‘I knew the roads ahead of me and I didn’t care… If I run now I might as well continue my old way of living.’

Rising to his feet as if defying all that doubted him, Brendan Birch stared down his opponent and pulls off his headband in a fashion of showing he accepts any all odds now set against him. Only bringing a look of respect from his Pokemon allies’ faces.

“Good, you weren’t blacklisted by my people for nothing I see.” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt smiles for the boy’s raised fighting spirit. “Use as much Pokemon as you please, I’ll hold nothing back for this.”

The Aqua Grunt’s Poliwrath also celebrated this by beating at its swirled belly in a rhythmic-like fashion. The heavy beats the fighting frog made on itself actually looked as though it was paining it.

The young woman then shuffles into her Pockets until she pulls out an X-Attack and X-Accuracy.

“I’ll show you the exact same combo I used to beat that girl’s group of Pokemon.” The ebony-haired young woman announced proudly. She then doused her Poliwrath, who was already equipped with the Berserk Gene with the two items.

At first it looked like nothing of any significance had occurred if you rule out the minor twitch Poliwrath gave from time to time…

It took sometime but the fighting frog Pokemon’s fist tightened as its muscles bulged and tightened even further while the visible veins on its body began to swell up and pulsate in another sickening manner.

The pumped Water/Fighting hybrid then launches Blizzard at his foes without any sign of warning.

Had it not been for Ringo’s natural seething cauldron of boiling magma for a body, Brendan and the others would’ve become instant living ice sculptures.

As soon as the ice melted MacSlasher lunged at his foe; using his speed and the trees surrounding the area as an ace up his sleeve to confound his mightier foe.

“Good job MacSlasher, now Fury Cutter!” Brendan commands his Pokemon.

MacSlasher narrowly evades Poliwrath’s tree piercing Ice Beams and uses his gained momentum to attack the fighting frog from overhead with a barrage of slashes with his claws that gained more power with each swipe made.

Because of the way the attack was made all Poliwrath could do was shield itself using both it’s bulky arms as a shield.

When MacSlasher was about to throw down one more attack with all the strength within him, Poliwrath slaps his paws away and quickly nails the Zangoose in its stomach.

The impact of the blow made everything within the Cat Ferret Pokemon feel like it just rattled. The strength of the attack alone caused MacSlasher to fall back a few feet from his foe where he landed on Ragnarok, who attempted to catch him.

“Two down.” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt mutters

“Nothing is down until we say it is!” Brendan shouts ruefully.

Ringo agrees with his trainer’s words by standing on its hind legs just to fall back on all fours creating Magnitude at the power of 5.

Poliwrath, with all his advantages easily leap away from the attack leaving itself open to a small fireball created from Ringo’s Ember attack.

The fighting frog took the first attack and created a small spiky iceball in his right hand to absorb the second.
With the iceball now illuminating with a new kindling source, Poliwrath treats the situation as if he just threw a bowling ball in the form of icicle stalagmites that went careening right into Brendan, Ringo and Roxx.

The impact of the blast created a small flurry within the battlezone. The attack itself could be compared to someone suddenly getting smacked with a flash blizzard with bits of hail created by an angry Jack Frost.

Brendan laid flat on his stomach, only feeling the unnerving chill of the sudden lapse of his body temperature.

Despite the numbness he felt; the 13-year-old felt the added weight of Roxx on his back. While, not too far in front of him, Ringo shivered violently from the freezer burn a large percentage of his body suffered from.

“It looks as though we didn’t get enough strength to leech the true powers of Sub-Zero Hell.” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt mummers before addressing Brendan. “My Poliwrath is quite a rarity in this world full of no-talent trainers and their weak Pokemon. It only took us months to perfect the simultaneous use of Ice Beam, Submission and Blizzard in one powerful blast.”

“s-Stop t-trying to act special!” Brendan snaps. “It’s called a Custom Tactic…and it still has its heavy flaws…”

“You’re in no position to talk about my flaws.”

“You said you’d hold nothing back so what’s all this?”

Nope, he had it all wrong as far as the Aqua Grunt was concerned. Poliwrath really was fighting with everything he has now

It didn’t take the fighting frog too much energy to ambush and freeze the slumbering Angelique and her available Pokemon with the Sub-Zero Hell Custom Tactic…But it was the Dusclops who laid hidden the whole time that gave the most problems…

The Cyclops Ghost Pokemon was quite an opponent. It came down to the point where she had to use the Berserk Gene, X-Attack, X-Accuracy combo to leech Poliwrath’s full combat potential to counteract it.

Poliwrath entered this battle drained from the very start… It’s the stamina boost the combo creates that’s keeping him going as we speak. The ebony-haired sea enthusiast just failed to realize how tough the little blacklist is…

The Aqua Grunt broke from her contemplation to notice something is wrong… The kid had five Pokemon. And why is there a hole where the Zangoose and Marshtomp…

“Sh*t!”

The ground beneath Poliwrath became soft and muddy. As the Water/Fighting hybrid found himself losing his footing with the slippery environment.

MacSlasher bursts from the ground, using his foes vulnerable state to nail him with a successful Slash to the face.

The Cat Ferret Pokemon’s attack fully forced Poliwrath off his feet and open to a Quick Attack from Aero Adler who laid dormant within the trees to have the Fighting frog land on the soil in the most pained of ways.

The Water/Fighting hybrid then felt heavy pressure being made on its right arm. Using what little strength it had left, Poliwrath forcefully lifts his arms to see Ragnarok having his arms and legs tightly wrapped around his bulky arm with Bide.

Poliwrath’s muscles bulge as he slams his lifted arm onto the ground heavily in hopes he could pry the Mudfish off. Though Ragnarok yelps in pain he didn’t yield, this forced the irate fighting frog to continue his actions.

…And he was fully prepared for any and all interference…

Using his available arm Poliwrath launches himself towards Aero Adler with Ice Beam.

The attack caught the overly aggressive MacSlasher when he made a lunge at him; finally bringing defeat to the Cat Ferret Pokemon.

Aero Adler was clipped from the skies when Poliwrath threw a heavy punch at him with the arm that Ragnarok grasped himself to. The shock from the blow made fighting frog finally able to pry the drained Mudfish off his being when he lands on his feet.

“Out of luck and out of Pokemon.” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt muttered.

The young woman then takes it upon herself to walk over to 13-year-old and grab him by his white hair.

Roxx weakly tied to hit her with Powder Snow but was knocked off his trainers back by Poliwrath’s Ice Beam.

Two loses in one day and both were to Aqua. Brendan could only think what the hell had gotten into him to even think he could even win…

The boy’s thoughts went blank when the Aqua Grunt pointed a gun at his head.

“Like I said,” The Aqua Grunt replied solemnly. “Nothing personal but blacklists must be taken care of. By letting you and your Pokemon go I run the risk of allowing a threat no matter how small, to grow…”

All Brendan’s conscious Pokemon could do was watch with pure guilt. They all felt better knowing that they’d go with him.

A heavy gust stormed into the area before any end result could kick-up; a Skitty runs into the area and bites the Aqua Grunt’s hand. This forced her to drop her weapon and her focus on Brendan.

With her job done, the Skitty runs away from the woman just in time to avoid getting run down by a strong ghostly force like the Aqua Grunt did.

A stronger breeze with hint of warning within it blew into the area until it was replaced an enraged Angelique and her Pokemon.

The 14-year-old’s eyes usually cat-like topaz eyes were practically slits now. Aside from the strong killing intent that ran chills through Brendan’s spine, he also took note of the similarity of this scene.

“Ugh…so that Dusclops somehow got you free…” The Aqua Grunt replies despite only getting menacing growls as her answer.

The raven-haired 14-year-old took her sweet time walking into the midst of the battlefield. Only stopping once to narrow her eyes at Brendan. What couldn’t be sure if those eyes were of sympathy or disgust.

“Do not interfere…” The girl warns the downed 13-year-old, forcing him to look at her angrily.

“And do what?”

Angelique’s answer was her tossing Brendan away with her psychic power. In all her rage the 14-year-old had no grasp or concern how much power she put into the attack and forced the 13-year-old too hard against a tree where his body shook freely from the shock.

“So that’s how you thank someone who helps you?” The ebony-haired Aqua Grunt growls at the 14-year-old.

Angelique turns to the woman with a slow malicious look only trying her hardest to suppress her growing power.

“…Third-rate…” The 14-year-old mummers in-between heavy coughs. “…You ambush me…humiliate me with your use of false might while I slumbered then have the edacity to question my will?”

Angelique shudders as the horrifying look she gave the Aqua Grunt could pass for that of a homicidal lunatic.

A dark funnel opened from under Dusclops feet creating a powerful vacuum-like windstorm again but at a stronger degree.

“sh-Shoot.” Brendan groans in pain. “I have to get the guys to safet-Arghh…my ribs!”

The Aqua Grunt didn’t like what was going on but she had to rely on Poliwrath’s yet again. The Fighting Frog Pokemon braced itself to unleash another Sub-Zero Hell. Much to its surprise, the wind absorbed by the spiky iceball in his hand quickly shattered.

Neither Poliwrath nor his trainer had time to perplex over the situation since a strong gust from the funnel wind forced a broken log to fly at them.

The ghost Pokemon’s one eye glows with a fierce gleam as it began to move its hands hypnotically; the black hole under him begins to expand its territory ever so slightly.
Overtime the Pokemon and the funnel become one taking the shape of a huge cyclone that for a split second looked like a furious black dragon when the merger was in process.

“I WILL NOT BE MADE A FOOL OF BY A THIRD-RATE AGAIN!!!” Angelique roars. “AMADEUS! DEMONIC WIND OF THE CYCLONE DRAGON!!!”

Everything in Angelique’s body seemed as if it shutdown when she uttered that command. The 14-year-old coughs up a heavy amount of blood before collapsing.

Yami the Absol allows the girl to fall on him as he struggled to hold his ground while the Custom Tactic ravages at everything and anything within the area.

Isaac Gravity January 7th, 2005 11:38 AM

Cont 2
-----------------------
(Much later)
(Verdanturf Town)

“I never knew Contests could be so intense.” Wally admits. “But why was there an actual Pokemon battle?”

“Don’t take what that girl said to heart.” Daisuke replies. “Every Contest must have some different event.

Wally shakes off the annoying subject of Mia and focuses on the Contest he witnessed. “In any case, that Drew-guy and his Masquerain kicked a lot of ass.”

“Feh, he ain’t so hot.” Daisuke shrugs. “Seedstar and I could easily out do him in any event.”

“Well isn’t that nice,” A rather arrogant voice replied from behind. “I step outside to bask in my victory and meet some wannabes who have the nerve to compare my talents to theirs.”

The 11-year-olds turn around to see a lime-green haired boy looking at them rather smugly. The boy himself was about May’s age and wore a black shirt under an unzipped long sleeved purple jacket that went well with his purple pants and rather expensive pair of sneakers.
By looking at his rather feminine face you could tell that the boy was someone you could dub as a: ****y, rude, stuck-up dude that needs to be brought down a few dozen pegs yet has many (too many) fan girls.

“It’s that Drew-guy!” Wally exclaims, hoping he could probably get an autograph.

Drew arrogantly flicks back his hair and gives Wally a content look. “I never knew I was this popular in this small town…” The 13-year-old began. “Looks like I already got a poser on my hands.”

“Poser?” Wally mumbles before understanding the insult. “My hair is naturally green jerk! You’re the one whose hair looks dyed!”

“Poser.” Drew comments again just to successfully rile the 11-year-old.

Wally grits his teeth in frustration. When Ralts heard this guy insult his trainer, the little Pokemon stepped in front of him defensively.

Drew notices Ralts angry disposition and takes the actions as a challenge. “Hmph, so you want to made a fool of?” He confirms.

“Hey! Pretty boy! If you’re so hot then why are you going to a beginner house?” Daisuke intervenes, fully defending his friends.

Drew just looks to the 11-year-old with a “are you an idiot?” expression.

“Novice.” The Coordinator scoffs. “REAL Coordinators like to enter many different types of Pokemon into contests even if they won them already.”

“If that’s the case then why not take me on.” Daisuke comments with a confident smile. “I’m entering a Coolness Contest tomorrow so you have no reason to look me down!”

Drew closes eyes as he began to speak. “More amateur action…” The 13-year-old calls out his Pokemon. “Roselia, you know what to do.”

“Dai!” Wally calls out to his friend. “He challenged me to fight… I don’t need others stepping into my problems…”

“Guys like him need to learn to show some respect even if they are competition!” Daisuke assures. “This’ll be over in a nanosecond!” The 11-year-old now calls out his Seedot. “Seedstar!-”

The battle was over in a Nanosecond…but it didn’t end in Seedstar the Seedot’s favor.

Wally, Ralts and Daisuke watch in shock as Seedstar is knocked back several feet away from them.

“Pitiful.” Drew smirks. “Look at how ungroomed that Seedot is! It couldn’t even faint gracefully.”
The 13-year-old now takes note of Daisuke’s overly disappointed reactions. “Kids. Just like ‘em to pick a fight and go crying to someone after they get their words handed back to them on a silver platter.”

“Does it look like I’m crying to anyone?” The Boy Scout snaps. “If your so amazing like you said then face me in the Coolness Contest tomorrow!”

Considering what just happened, many would take Daisuke’s words as sheer pointlessness. But after witnessing a type of Contest and hearing the explanations from Mia… then Contests aren’t like actual battles and he’ll be able to shut Drew up in what he loves most.

Drew himself had no clue what was on Daisuke’s mind but didn’t really care. He could blow another day securing his spot on Verdanturf’s contest hall wall of fame.

That, and he was bored and needed some cheap laughs.

Though only giving a little ‘humph” it was certain that the 13-year-old Coordinator had accepted the 11-year-old campers challenge. He then turns to see Wally shuddering with anger.

“Want something?”

“RALTS DOUBLE TEAM!”

Five Doppelgangers all circle around Roselia who quickly counters by spinning around rapidly while little petals fly from the giant flowers it held.

The petals quickly disperse of the doppelgangers and of Ralts himself.

“Not even one missed…” Wally mummers.

“Hmph, amateur.” Drew chides. “Your Pokemon takes too long to form doppelgangers leaving you open attack. That’d hurt you big time in a Contest.”

“Well this isn’t a contest!” Wally shouts. “Ralts! Double Team!”

Ralts nods and breaks into ten copies of himself this time.

“Again with the Double Team…” Drew mutters with a shrug.

“Now Ralts!”

Ralts along with the ten doppelgangers began to teleport about, never once faltering. These actions even began to confound Roselia.

“I know what your Roselia did was one of those never miss moves.” Wally grins. “But even a never miss move would have a hard time if their foe teleports about!”

Drew looks at the 11-year-old a bit surprised at how far he thought ahead. But he shakes of that feeling by closes his eyes at the whole scene while smirking.

The 13-year-old’s attitude again successfully picked away at Wally’s patience.

“Ralts! Psychic!”

Ralts along with four doppelgangers stop in their teleportation dance to circle Roselia. Though the doppelgangers stood poised; Ralts was breathing heavily.

That was the give away.

“At least you aren’t stupid.” Drew comments. “But you’re still an amateur.”

Roselia quickly nails Ralts with the never miss Magical leaf attack. The little Psychic-type tumbles to the ground fatigued and beaten.

“Crap, Wally and Ralts lost too…” Daisuke growls bitterly.

The green-haired 11-year-old unconsciously fell to his knees. His eyes tacked sadly on Ralts.

“Aw man…why’d we have to lose to a guy like that.” Wally laments to his partner. “Anyone but him…”

“Hmph, you lost because you’re hopeless.” Drew responds.

These words made Wally and Daisuke face the Coordinator with bitter scowls and gritted teeth.

Since he pretty much had enough of the day’s events, Drew flicks back his hair smugly before making his leave.

The Coordinator didn’t even bother to pay attention to the silent Mia whose brows furrowed with discontent as she struggled to force the words that came out a decibel higher than a whisper.

“It was good plan.”

“Eh?”

“Had Ralts been higher in the area of stamina this battle would’ve ended in Wally's favor…” Mia explains. The 10-year-old then turns to the leaving Drew with a scowl. “Don’t act so proud!”

Drew just kept walking. He was used to the scenario: Some punk kids act too big for their britches, he beats them. Then they go crying, whining and insulting him yet never once question their own heavy flaws.

Mia watches the Coordinator walk away before moving over to the defeated party.

“Aw don’t worry about me.” Daisuke grins, returning Seedstar the Seedot to its ball. “Seedstar and I will rest up and tomorrow pretty boy is goin’ down! You quote me on that.”

“This isn’t right…” Wally mutters. “How could guys like him be so strong…It’s not like they deserve to be…”

“Because they work hard.” Mia answers.

The 10-year-old’s words of truth got the attention of both 11-year-olds; however Mia got on her knees to face Wally on an equal level.

“It doesn’t matter what kind of mentality a person has. As long as they work hard they can overcome any obstacle.” Mia finishes her words by giving the morose boy a comforting smile. “You just have to train harder and know what your doing next time…You big baby.”

Wally’s facial expression softened a bit even after the younger girl’s deliberate insult.

“IN ANY CASE WALLY!” Daisuke loudly interjects. “We should let out Pokemon spend the night at the Center. We’ll pick ‘em first thing tomorrow and show that guy what’s for!”

Feeling a bit better after the others words of confidence, Wally cradle Ralts in his arms and stands up to face Daisuke.

“Hell yeah! Me and Ralts will work real hard so we can become an invisible duo!”

“Darn straight!” Daisuke agrees. “Good to see my words of wisdom influenced you some.”

“Yup.”

::HONK HONK::

The group to the direction of Verdanturf’s entrance to see a Limousine drive into the area and parks itself a few feet in front of the group. Stepping out of the car was Tomoyo Stone.

Seeing this, Mia quickly removed herself from the ground and nervously hid behind Wally.

The 11-year-old didn’t have time to ask Mia what was wrong since after Mrs. Stone’s descent from the Limo the Regional Hoenn Champion Steven Stone also came out to make himself known.

The words: “Ah, how lame.” was all Wally could mummer as an end result.

------------------
(Much later)
(Wally’s Aunt and Uncle’s home)

Wally and Steven watched from the corners of the hallway while in the living room Mrs. Stone chatted away with Mia…Ok, actually it was more like Mrs. Stone lecturing Mia on responsibility and family tradition while Mia was as silent as a mouse only nodding or murmuring when needed be.

Seeing his fill of the situation Wally turns to Steven who had his back against the wall opposite the boy.

“Was she always like this?” The 11-year-old asked.

“Like what?”

“Does she always allow people to walk all over her like that?”

Steven gives Wally a stern look. “Unless Mia reflects something of your true self I believe you have no say in family related matters.”

Wally ignores the Hoenn Champion’s comment and thinks back to all the advice, information and lectures Mia gave him during the two months she was with him.

“She’s such a hypocrite.” The green-haired boy confirms with a frown.

“In comparison to how she was before I left to live on my own, Mia has grown some.” Steven admits. “But, the Stone family is a strong bloodline that is always able and willing to grasp success.”

The Hoenn Champion turns to Wally with a very serious look. “Mia falls short in description and has completely failed to show any real accomplishment for herself. I‘m afraid to say no matter how much my baby sister gradually changes she will always remain a spoiled, weak-willed child.”

---------
(With Mia)

Mrs. Stone takes her time to inspect every aspect of her daughter, greatly impressed by the psychical development.

“I must say Mia, I hardly recognize you!” The woman proudly states. “You look so tan and healthy! And you’ve developed some muscles on those arms! Maymay must’ve been working you hard.”

Mia’s eyes downcast sadly. Mrs. Stone ignores her daughter’s usual behavior and turns Wally’s 19-year-old cousin Wanda thoughtfully. “Speaking of Maymay, how is she?”

Wanda frowns. “She’s been like this for two months. Her condition never changes…but…I fear…”

Wally‘s Uncle cuts Wanda off to try to change the subject. “Luckily, our little girl is studying to be a fine doctor.”

“I’d say she’s already become that and then some.” Mrs. Stone replies before addressing the 19-year-old. “I’m very grateful for what you’re doing for Maymay, she’s quite important friend to our family who’s gone so much out of her way to help Mia with her confidence issues. Her defining qualities really do make her a pretty unique kid…” Mrs. Stone chuckles. “It’s actually come to the point where I sometimes mistake her for my own child!”

Mia sank into a deeper feeling of uselessness after having to stomach her own Mother sing such high praises for someone else’s child. Even if that person deserves the praise AND is her very best friend whom she wished more than anything were a really sibling with…

…It still really stung…

“C‘mon! C‘mon! You’re this Region’s Champ! So show me your Pokemon!”

Mia turns over to the source of the noise and face faults as she sees Wally pulling a very hesitant Steven by his wrists towards the door.

“Yes, I am this Region’s Champion. And as such you can always hit the League’s official Website or any other fansite and see my winning team for yourself.”

That’s stupid! The real thing is right here! It‘s not like they‘re so holy I‘ll go blind!” Wally counters. “You might as well let me see ‘em close up now before you lose your title in the upcoming championship anyway is all I‘m saying…”

“Such an honor…” Steven sighs before he and Wally finally left the room.

With that over, Mrs. Stone turns to Mia with a stern look.

“Mia,” The woman began thoughtfully. “I understand how much you enjoy Maymay’s company but after what Steven told me…you might become a hindrance to her in all of this.”

“But I’m not!” Mia spat out, making her cover her mouth with both her hands as a reflex.

“You aren’t?” Mrs. Stone scrutinized. “If you knew she had such fierce enemies Mia, what could you do?”

Mia looked at her Mother weakly before a flicker of courage lights itself within her. “I’d stay by her side. Like she does with me!” The indigo-eyed girl spoke honestly. “Traveling with May-san was the only thing I ever decided to do on my own… And I’m glad I made that choice!”

“Well then, I suppose we‘ll just have to confirm that.” Mrs. Stone replies, pulling out a Safari Ball. “This’ll prove if your disappearing act without any consent was all for naught. I toiled hours of blood sweat and tears to get this Pokemon ready for an Intelligence Contest. Jenrya! Come out!”

Mrs. Stone throws the ball and out pops a Phanpy.

Mia quickly realizes where this is going and pales. “Momma… You’re not implying that…I-”

“Of course! That’s the reason why I’m here!” Mrs. Stone proudly proclaims as she puts her hands on Mia’s shoulders. “Mia! Your task is to reclaim family honor and win this contest!”

“Honor…Momma? This…doesn’t go back to your childhood rivalry does it?”

Mrs. Stone clenches fist and shakes them ruefully. “Grr. That Darlina!” Mia’s genki Mother remises bitterly. “I had that Cuteness contest in the bag then she did the most disgraceful thing! During her turn to have her Pokemon demonstrate she had her Pidgdy use Gust and aimed it directly in the direction of my poor ChuChu! It didn’t hurt anyone else! The full throttle of the attack forced him to faint because of it! Thus disqualifying him from the Contest! What was worst was her comment to me after she walked out of the Contest House with the trophy that should’ve been mine!”

--------------
(Flashback)

A dejected 10-year-old Mrs. Stone walks out of the Contest hall. Her features stung with defeat as she carried her equally saddened Pichu.

“It’s ok ChuChu. You alright?”

Mrs. Stone then runs into Darlina who turns to her smugly.

“Real smooth Tomoyo. But I remember when I was just as pitiful and couldn’t do anything right! Pwahahahahaha!”

(End flashback)

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

“You wench…” Mrs. Stone growls at the memory that felt like yesterday. “Ihateyou!Ihateyou!Ihateyou!!”

“I think she needs some personal space.” Wanda suggests as she backs away slowly.

“She’s…always like this…” Mia confirms.

“So Mia, you really think you can handle this?” Mrs. Stone assured. “As heiress to the Blossom Perfume Company this is only a stepping stone of your true challenges…”

“If…that’s what it’ll take to prove how much I’ve changed then I will…No…I-I want to!” Mia smiles faintly as she thinks to herself. ‘I must try…or all this really was for naught…’

Wanda gives Mia a light sympathetic look as Mrs. Stone takes her and Jenrya to the Contest House.

“Poor Girl…She’s a wreck.” Wanda comments sadly as she heads to the room where May rests. “Perhaps, you were the only person to ever see and accept her true face… For all those who care for you and need your strength keep fighting whatever is preventing you from coming back to the realm of the living and overcome it!”

-----------------
(Route 105)

“Feh, Overkill as always.” Team Magma Admin Tabitha replies with a whistle.

The Magma Admin takes note of the purple mist that did a good job of hiding all the carnage that laid waste about the place. It didn’t take him too long to notice that Angelique’s Dusclops; with half of his body breaking into vapors while the remaining half of its normal physical appearance threatened to break into a full fledged miasma was the source of the mist.

Taking that, as well as the bodies either dead or should be dead about now laying about within the destruction; it’d be safe to say nobody won.

Tabitha finally noticed Angelique’s still form covered under some debris.

Rather than deal with her, he decided to retrieve the unconscious and badly damaged Skitty, Yami, Mirai and Amadeus to vacant Pokeballs he had on him.

It’s not that Tabitha is a good guy or anything; he just doesn’t want the 14-year-old to go livid when she learns her Pokemon were left behind…

…Provided she ever awakens herself.

“I never knew you would allow your group to sink so low Tabitha.” The voice of Team Aqua’s Admin Shelly spoke.

Along with Shelly, were Aqua Grunts Mariah and Sarah who quickly saw their friend and her Pokemon’s mangled forms within the dissipating mist.

Normally Shelly would like to put a flirty attitude with her longtime rival, followed by a bit of a chat… They did used to have a meaning together at one point in life…

…But this… After viewing all of this, his actions, his resolve…

“You are really disgusting…” The redhead growls.

“I’ll take that compliment.” Tabitha cooed. “In any case, Magma has things to do, I’ll leave the refuse to you. Adios.”

Tabitha puts Angelique on his shoulders and walks off to the Magma helicopter waiting for him outside the forest.

Leaving Shelly to watch him go with a hardened look until the purple mist began to irate her.

“D*mn! The area isn’t safe!” The woman gasps. “Mariah! Sarah! Hurry up and lets move out!”

Mariah hastily carries her friend while Sarah recalls her friend’s felled Poliwrath into an empty Pokeball. Both treasure hunters take note of Brendan and his Pokemon lying about in horrible shape.

This forces them to falter in their movement until Shelly loses her cool with them.

I SAID MOVE!

This forced both Grunts to flinch in their place but they went along with their superior’s orders.

--------------------
(The next day)
(Wally’s Aunt and Uncle’s 8 AM)

“Ok… Just put this here and…” Mia murmured to herself cautiously. “Good! Now it only depends on Alia…”

Fully putting Alia back together, the 10-year-old then activates May’s A.I. travel companion.

Alia’s language wasn’t that of man at first, it was more she announcing her rebooting and use of back-up data and the percentage and length it’d take.

After almost a good ten minutes of this. The words “COMPLETE” appeared on the screen.

“Mia? Been awhile.” Alia greets.

“Erm…Alia, how are you feeling?”

“A little out of place but I’m working better than the last time…”

Mia frowns a bit guiltily. “I’m sorry about that…I had to work around the parts of you I didn’t really understand… I-I just didn’t want you to break apart…”

“… Don’t think too much of it…” Alia responds calmly. “After that Gym Battle a lot of my programming circuits got fried so alot of my data was either lost or pretty much corrupt. We’ll just have to head back to LittleRoot and get my creator to repair me.”

Mia paled when she heard that last part. “a-Alia…about that…”

“What? May is still fuming?” The A.I. travel companion scoffs. “Tell her to deal with it. I may not like her all that much, but I can’t go against my programming-”

“No! That‘s not the problem!!” The indigo-eyed girl cuts Alia off before explaining to her everything that happened while she went offline.

---------------
(20 minutes later)
(The room where May rests)

“So all this happened while I was offline?” Alia asks with a flat tone.

Mia doesn’t answer; she instead allows her hair to overlap her eyes as she pitifully downcast her eyes to the floor.

“So... I guess were stuck here until May and her Pokemon get it together huh?” The A.I travel companion comments.

“I don’t think we could’ve done anything even if I did follow May-san that day.” Mia admits with a weak smile. “She might’ve been worse off had I been there; in constant need of protection…”

“I’m not sure what happened between you and May when I shut myself down. But that isn’t true Mia! And you know it!”

“The funny thing is she didn’t say anything to me…” Mia counters. “She just walked away…this is a conclusion that I made up on my own… But even though I knew this was true I-I still went along with Momma‘s challenge…”

This was getting really hard for Alia. She was never programmed to deal with these kinds of situations and she was trying to be as sincere as her abilities can take her.

Luckily help was eavesdropping in front of the door…

…And made himself known in the most loud of ways.

“Mia!” Wally shouts.

The 11-year-old opens the door rather quickly to face Mia who shared an equal look of annoyance on her face.

“Your Mom said she needs you and Jenrya to meet her outside for some last minute practice.”

Mia nods solemnly at the 11-year-old and begins to walk by him.

“Mia.” Alia began. “I’m going offline for the rest of the day. I still feel kinda fuzzy and wouldn’t want those bugs to take over… Knock ’em dead in that challenge of yours.” The A.I. travel companion adds before shutting herself off.

Mia nods in an assuring manner to the Pokedex but realizes that it was just an excuse to avoid her guilt over the matter of not being there for her trainer.

“Do you really think crying is going to solve anything?” Wally asked the 10-year-old in a very serious tone.

“What I feel isn’t any of your business!” Mia counters sharply.

The 10-year-old then shakes her head feeling that she has no right to out vent her frustration out on Wally and goes back to May’s bedside.

Putting, Alia carefully on the top of a nearby drawer; Mia takes removes a silvery bracelet with an emerald in its center from around her neck and places it around May’s left wrist much to the 11-year-old‘s curiosity.

“What are you…”

“This necklace is a special gift that was given to me since I was really little.” Mia explains with a smile. “Momma said it’d bring me amazing luck, I never believed it until I met May-san and went on all these amazing adventures… But even before that I always cherished it and never took it off.”
Mia turns to May’s resting form fighting every urge to break into tears in front of Wally who was trying with all his might to do the same. “May-san… you’re the first real person I could ever call my best friend…please let this bracelet be your guiding light to return us. You may not believe it, but you changed the perspectives of many people… Myself included.”

‘That’s for sure!’ Wally mentally agreed.

The 11-year-old tries to wipes some tears from his eyes but realizes Mia had caught him in the act. The 10-year-old didn’t saying anything though; she just allowed her tears to slide freely down her cheeks and left Alia where she lay to go about her business.

“Mia!” Wally stops the girl again. Though the indigo-eyed girl didn’t say anything she did stop in her place to acknowledge the boy.

“You…trained really hard for that Contest.” The 11-year-old began. “…Do your best is all I‘m saying.”
With that, Mia gives a small, solemn nod before she makes her way to Wanda’s room.

There, she looks to see Daigo the Bulbasaur, Hiro the Treeko, Jenrya the Phanpy, Wally’s Ralts and the little Aron that followed Steven to this area played happily as Wanda slept on her desk; her book, acting as her pillow.

“Studying to be a doctor must tiring…” Mia comments in a hushed voice.

The Pokemon all happily run up to Mia as they happily tackle her. She quickly ushers them out of the room so that Wanda could sleep as well as continue muttering something about loving back rubs with the ‘proper oil.’

---------------------------------
(About an hour later)

“Great job you two!” Mrs. Stone compliments. “Now if you can memorize that you have the Contest in the bag. Oh!” The energetic woman then ties a Green scarf around Jenrya’s neck as she ties Mia’s hair with a green ribbon. “Matching team equal MEGA CUTE team that thinks together!”

“Erm right.” Mia mutters. Jenrya simply rolls his eyes.

“Well then, what are we standing around here for?” Mrs. Stone giddily announced as she raises right fist into the air. “Let’s Go!”

End Part 1

------------
(Notes)

If you haven’t guessed already, the entire events within Chapter 14 and 15 part 1 all took place on the same day.

In the original version of this fic I had Wally and Mia act too chummy too quickly… Or just chummy at all.

I completely forgot to recognize their equally high amount of idolism they both have for May and the immatureness that comes with their ages that would lead to more of a light rift between them over this and other things.

They don’t hate each other, they’re just a little mad at each other for some reasons:

In Mia’s case: She’s a bit mad that May didn’t trust her enough to take care of herself. Rather than believe in her, she asks someone she only met a few hours ago to look over her. Even if Wally is a trust-worthy friend of May’s, the boy is only a year older than Mia and as far as the 10-year-old is concerned, he’s not very mature in his actions and looks like he’s the one in need of a babysitter.

In Wally’s case: Like Mia, he’s not too keen on being around someone he hardly knows or likes. Since Wally aspires to become very strong May asking him to watch over the girl kinda gave him the impression that Mia doesn‘t want to do anything for herself. It was this belief that got him a bit angrier that May took Mia along as a travel companion rather than even take him along on her quests.

Though the two do win each other’s respect in later Chapters… I’d rather form a type of tolerance thing between them where they just figured that they both saw the other as a friend of a friend they both respect more than anything else.

In a sense another reason Mia was created was to give Wally an opponent at his current level to compete with. I’m not talking wrong against the little guy… but since you control Brendan or May in the Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire game you kinda become them. (Since neither character has a voice box when you’re in control.)

Wally’s boldness and the way he approaches you before challenging you to a battle in Mauville and in Victory Road gave me this impression: “The runt is acting a little too big for his britches. Fine, you want to bite the hand that fed and not expect to get schooled some more? Bring it!”

So why do Steven and Wally‘s interactions hold this feeling of hostility? Well, more or less its just the relationship every Champ in whatever field has with all the competitors: Even if the Champ is a nice guy/girl, everyone seems to dislike (or love) him/her and just wanna steal his/her crown and be the ones to make him/her fall.

Strawberry Delcatty January 7th, 2005 4:43 PM

Mia's entering a contest...cool. I wonder if she'll be a Coordinator after that.

Bezerk Gene Poliwrath with that crazy Custom Tactic... wouldn't wanna face that in real life.

Drew makes an appearence and beats Daisuke and Wally. Tee hee. Looks like those two have some work to do.

I like how the story is shaping up. Keep it up! :classic:

Isaac Gravity January 12th, 2005 4:20 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.

----------
Chapter 15- Great minds think for themselves! Enter Jenrya the wise! (Part 2)
------------

(The Contest House 10: 26 AM)

Mia and Jenrya stood in a room with eight other contestants and their Pokemon. All of them laughing and talking amongst themselves bragging why “they got this in the bag.”

The entire room was full of Psychic and Ghost-type Pokemon. All of them were quite intelligent in appearance. Aside from the muscular dude with the Machamp, Mia was the only person with a non-stereotypical Intelligence Contest Pokemon.

“This is nerve wrecking…” The 10-year-old sighs.

Jenrya looks around the room unimpressed.

Overtime, he sees a Kadabra that was glaring his way. When they locked eyes, Kadabra narrows its eyes at Jenrya while pointing menacingly at him.

Jenrya just holds an exasperated look on his face as he locks himself in thought. ‘Great, I’ve only been alive for six months and somebody already wants my blood.’

Jenyra looks at Mia, who looked very intimidated before walking about his business.

He didn’t even get too far; a 12-year-old female with short brown hair dressed in the Hoenn version of the Cool trainer outfit got down on her knees to pet him.

“Hey, what a little cutie. Did you lose your way?” The 12-year-old asked the baby elephant Pokemon cutely.

‘No!’ Jenrya mentally replies with a smirk. ‘But…I’d like to get lost with you anytime of the-’

“Jenrya! There you are! I was worried…” Mia cries as she runs up to two.

Making another exasperated face, Jenrya the sarcastic Phanpy again goes back into his thoughts. ‘About what? I only walked four feet away from you.’

The 12-year-old smiles warmly at the younger girl. “You two must be lost. The Cute Contest is down the hall.”

“n-No. I’m in the correct contest.”

“You must be a first timer then,” The girl confirms. “Phanpy are known for their strength so they’re more known for Tough Contests.”

“I know ma’am but…This Phanpy was trained just for this. I believe in him.”

Jenrya nods at his partner’s words.

A Cool trainer named Nick walks up to the conversation with his Haunter. “Feh. Chill out will ya Monica? Not everyone has to compete with the stereotypical types of Pokemon for Contests.” The boy then shrugs. “Who knows, this kid and her Phanpy might even make it past the preliminaries.”

‘That’s right!’ Jenrya mentally agrees.

“Or not. Heh, but regardless of the situation…” Nick smirks. As he spoke with his closes eyes. “You can compete with whatever Pokemon you want. That’s what makes a Coordinator a true Coordinator…But the outside type always has the disadvantage. No matter the situation.”
The fellow then opens his eyes to look his ‘chumpetition’. Remember that newbie. Oh, by the way, cute matching items, great if you were in a Cute or Beauty contest.”

‘What a jerk!’ The baby elephant mentally growls. ‘Who does he think he is? This is an amateur House! What gives him the right to under-look us? Makes me want to win even more! Right Mia?’

Jenrya looks at Mia and notices she’s lost what little confidence she had.

Jenrya then notices the Haunter staring at him. ‘What are you starin’ at?’ The baby elephant mentally growls. Haunter makes a scary face to shock Jenrya before disappearing with obnoxious laughter. ‘Just as big a creep as his trainer.’

“Ooooh, Don’t let that loser get to you. He hasn’t won a single contest in this category yet himself and he’s entered about seven already.” The girl, apparently named Monica relies trying to cheer Mia up. “He’s just bitter and feels threatened by the chance of good competition.”

“r-Right. Thank you ma’am.” Mia politely answers.

“Monica will do.” The cool trainer counters embarrassed.

Jenrya smiles and thinks to himself. ‘See Mia, everything will be all right. Just believe in your power and not someone else’s like I’ve been told you do and you’ll rock.’

The baby elephant then notices that the Kadabra is still glaring and pointing menacingly his way.

‘Give it a rest already.’

----------
(In the audience)

“This is so exciting! I haven’t been to these events in so long.” Wanda smiles.

Mrs. Stone hands the 19-year-old a bag of popcorn. “You really need to get the hang of time management dear. No matter how swamped with work the office brings, I’ll always find the time for a Contest.”

“Time management has always been my weakest points.” The 19-year-old admits. “It was very kind of you to invite me to this though.”

“It’s the least I could do for someone that’s been so good to Mia and Maymay. Don‘t tell Mia this, but I know she‘ll do well. Steven is a bit skeptical about her; she‘s just a late bloomer who will amount to great things… We just have to work those self-esteem issues…”

“I-I won’t say a word Ma’am, but Mia is quite young, so her struggling for your affection would never be out of the norm.”

“Aren’t they cute at that stage.”

‘It’s not really a stage…’ Wanda mentally frowns. ‘I know people a bit older than me who are still struggling to win their parents approval…’

The 19-year-old took some time to remember how sullen Mia’s facial expression usually is and how it would only light up when she would practically boast about her comatose friend. Wanda really wondered about that girl herself at points…

Wanda is sure about one thing though, that girl sure has a lot on her plate.

The 19-year-old was thrust out of her thoughts when Mrs. Stone put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry too much about these things. You’ll get gray hair before your times. Mia will do very well.” she assured.

“Ah! Oh, right! Of course!” Wanda nods hastily. When she was about to help herself to some popcorn, a sudden pulsation of an X-shaped vein that appeared on the left side of her head along with an annoyed face graced her features.

“Hm, yeah the popcorn isn’t very buttery.” Mrs. Stone mutters a bit impressed Wanda didn‘t need to bite into a kernel to see this.

What surprised the woman was Wanda bolting from her seat and towards the hall as if chasing something. The woman now looks at the popcorn and wonders if there was a small health violation following it.

------------------
(In the Hallway)

“And why are you here when you know you have school today? We‘re not raising you to be some delinquent!” Wanda shouts. “Well, answer me Wally!”

11-year-old Wally grimaced from the verbal beating his cousin gave to him but chose to stand his ground against the ferocious when furious (especially with him) 19-year-old.

“I… Mia worked real hard and I just want to see if she won‘t goof.” Wally answers. “And Daisuke has a contest later this afternoon-”

“Don‘t give me that!”

“Madam, if I may digress…” A voice deep masculinity cuts in from behind.

The two cousins turn to face a rather aged man with an old fashioned mustache, who from the looks of the heavy flamboyance he adorned himself in, seemed to be deeply trapped in the long and thankfully forgotten days of noblemen.

Wanda and Wally sweatdrop at the newcomer, or rather the out of nowhere glimmering that appeared around him as he rubs his chin with his fingers.

“Not surprising you’d be overwhelmed by a man of my flair.” he began. “But Madam, the tremendous torrents of education is something that follows for an eternity, while the dazzle that follows the blooming of a Contest is something that can only be captured in your heart for so long…”

As neither cousin couldn’t find any other action but blink a few times, the flamboyant man continued his speech. “I’ve witnessed and competed in many Contests in my days and still find the deep pleasure of it. Whether it be one of Pokemon or human, the beginner house always holds that passionate spirit of festive budding beauty!” Tears begin to flow down the man’s eyes as he continued. “Sootopolis City, though a place of such deep divinity is denied the access of holding regional Contests of any caliber, so I must travel outside my sacred haven to indulge in the radiance that is such! Surly, this boy pulsates with the serenity of such a truthful resolve and follows it to join in the festivities of the blooming! I commend you boy!”

The man walks up to Wanda and clasps her hands into his own, then gets down onto one knee to finish his actions. “Madam, I humbly beg you, allow this brave young soul to feed his passion!”

He was quite a weirdo, but very much a solid gentlemen. This made the flushed Wanda give into the man’s plea, much to Wally’s delight, of course.

------------------
(Where the competition is)

“Welcome everyone to today’s Intelligence Contest!” The Announcer proclaimed energetically. “We have quite an arrangement of brainy Pokemon and their studious Coordinators all here to duke it out to show us who’s the big brain of the beginner house! So, let’s give ‘em a round of applause!” The audience goes nuts with applause until the Announcer makes a type of sign to calm them down.
“Well,” The brunette with silver highlights in her hair continues. “What are we doing standing about! Let the preliminaries begin! Will all Contestants go to their positions?”

The preliminaries itself was a nerve wrecking examination made by the head judge himself.

More or less known as: The Jackass Imperator. This guy is known for his picky attitude, *******-like mannerism and brutal criticism when judging. His glares feel as if he tearing you apart from the inside but regardless of that this man calls it how it is.

-------------
(In the audience)

“Where were you?” Mrs. Stone questions the vexed Wanda.

The 19-year-old quickly takes her seat coming to note that a very nervous Mia stood fixated in her place. It’s pretty clear the usually rumored to be spectacular opening ceremony had just passed and she only had one person to thank for that.

The college student irately tugs on Wally’s ear gesturing for the woman to ask him.

“Could you quit pulling on my ear already! No one told you to-”

“The only thing your telling me I want in life is to grow old and never have children along the way!” Wanda counters, now pulling on the 11-year-old’s cheeks.

“You two are absolutely adorable!” Mrs. Stone chuckles.

“Excuse me but,” A rather calm voice from behind responds. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to watch this.”

Wanda and Mrs. Stone merely tuned to the fellow and looked away. Wally looked to the familiar face that was 13-year-old Pokemon Coordinator Drew and frowned.

“Want something?” The 13-year-old questioned flatly.

“Why are you acting so polite? Not like you need to hide anything.”

“Likewise, I don’t really have to pay attention to a no talent amateur.”

‘I really don’t like that guy…’ The 11-year-old mentally cursed before turning back to the contest.

-----------
(Where the competition is)

So far, he just examined three of the eight contestants and sent them away. Those three Pokemon disqualified were an Alakazam, Banette and Claydol.

Next up was the guy with the Kadabra that keeps giving Jenrya dirty looks.

“Hmm… Those shifty eyes represent a being that’s full of surprises… Whether they be good or bad… Pass!”

The Kadabra’s trainer named Evan gives a relived sigh while Kadabra smirks at Jenrya.

Jenrya gives his rival a smug look. ‘Psh. You only lucked out.’ The Phanpy mentally mused before he notices the Head Judge raising an eyebrow at him.

“Hmm… Phanpy are usually seen in Toughness Contests.” The Judge comments as he goes straight into the feared bastard mode. “Are you sure you didn’t enter the wrong Contest child?”

n-No sir. Jenrya was raised specifically for this one.” Mia stutters.

“I see…Taking by the Green Scarf, I’d say you know what you’re doing. A first for Coordinators who enter with unorthodox Pokemon.”

‘Unorthodox?!’ Jenrya screams mentally. ‘Someone ever tell you that the Nobleman look is out this lifetime?’

The Verdanturf Head Judge then feels the scarf’s fabrics. “And it’s the real thing too!” The man exclaims as he looks at Jenrya with interest. “Perhaps you may do well, perhaps not.”
The man uncaringly continues his onslaught of commenting as he immediately notices the X-shaped vein appearing on the left side of Jenrya’s head. “But overall, like true geniuses, you’re a smartass. Reminds me of better days… Pass!”

Mia gives a huge sigh of relief while an X-shaped vein continues to pulsate on the side of Jenrya‘s head.

After eliminating one more contestant, the final four were left which consisted of: Monica, Nick, Evan and Mia.

Now the Contest moved onto Phase two: Crowd approval.

Monica and her Medicham really got the crowd going. Nick and his Haunter awed the crowd with its ghastly nature. Evan and his Kadabra didn’t get too much love.

Mia and Jenrya really spiked the audience’s interest by not only the unorthodox team but at how intelligent the little baby Elephant Pokemon appeared to be. The indigo-eyed 10-year-old and her cute yet very brainy elephant with the nice green scarf really stole the crowd’s attention utterly, sweeping Phase 2.

“Wow! You got so many people to cheer you on…” Evan whispers to Mia. “What type of berries do you use?”

“I…didn’t do much…Jenrya’s family raised. I only trained with him.” Mia sadly answers. Suddenly feeling like she’s cheating the other contestants who actually did all their work.

Evan smiles for the shy girl. “Hey, that’s ok. But you know what your doing and that’s all what counts.”

Kadabra angrily narrows his eyes at Jenrya while mentally bending his spoon.

‘Stick around slim, I’m only getting started.’ Jenrya smugly replies.

The contest now moved into the five part finale of Phase three: Coordinator and Pokemon strutting their stuff in a number of various challenges that test whatever field that they’re trying to win.

Monica decided to take advantage of Medicham’s hybrid and show how strong she is mentally and physically through heavy meditation and the lifting of certain objects with Psychic earning her a good deal of appeal points.

Aside from the awe/look of interest she earned from the Judge and audience, Medicham’s Psychic also doubled as a mind crush to intimidate her rivals.

The action fully startles Kadabra, forcing him to his rear while Evan held his ears in frustration. This costs the duo seven appeal hearts. Haunter simply sinks into the ground leaving his trainer in the same predicament as Evan costing them four appeal points. Jenrya struggles with everything he has to fight off the mind attack, even stomping his feet a few times in the struggle. Mia on the other hand, was plain petrified. This costs them seven appeal hearts.

Nick’s Haunter decided to show its exceptional knowledge of Algebra to show how scarily good he is at math but gave many, Wally especially, a headache in the process. The Judge, being a great lover of math rewarded him with many points putting him in the lead.

Kadabra watched this scene with great interest, whereas Medicham realized the Ghost-type’s equations were off and yawned in disinterest. The Judge noticed this and took her actions as an act of unprofessional behavior thus, deducted four of her appeal hearts. Jenrya notices the same thing Medicham does and scoffs lightly, the Judge didn’t notice the baby elephant’s attitude but saw his restlessness and simply withdrew three appeal hearts from him.

Evan’s Kadabra tries to use Hypnotism on the Judge and audience to force them to vote for him. The tactic failed and Kadabra ended up hypnotizing himself. Knocking him out for a while. Evan lost a lot of hearts for that one while all his rivals were unscathed.

Finally it was Mia and Jenrya’s turn. As she wasn‘t strong enough to lug it on stage herself, the set-up crew dragged in a rather large stone. The Judge quickly began to criticize Mia’s tactic saying: “I have a feeling of what you’re going to do. All Pokemon of strength can do this.” Mia nods and nervously counters. “He has to in order to complete what he making.”

Jenrya, despite the annoyance of the jerk‘s presence, used Take Down to shatter the outer structure while his truck completed his desired item: A sculpture of Pikachu holding a flag but he ran out of moldable stone and Pikachu’s ears were messed up a bit.

Many were interested at the sight. As was the Judge. Not saying anything further, the man deducts three appeal hearts from Mia’s rivals for their Pokemon all flinching when the stone fragments flew about the area.

Now, Phase 3 moves onto part two of five: Each Pokemon takes turns trying to destroy a very heavy rock with mental strength. Using any skills used in the rounds prior to this one will be heavily frowned upon…

----------
(Some time later in the audience)

“I don’t get it. Why do they look so tense?” Wally asked puzzled after witnessing Monica in action.

“They have to stay on guard because this is the perfect time for their rivals to trip them up. Get with the program.” Drew scoffs. “You’ll have to get used to your little buddy crying in frustration especially throughout this part. So for now, just be thankful you‘ll be able to keep up with this sadly laughable low-level of Pokemon Coordination.”

An X-shaped vein appears on right side of Wally’s head.

“It’s low-level, maybe laughable, but only the true Contest enthusiasts can ever grasp the passionate spirit of festive budding beauty that can only come from beginner houses and its competitors.” Wanda mimics the bizarre man’s saying matter-of-factly.

Drew ignored the 19-year-old while Wally grins widely for her.

“Shh! It’s Mia’s turn.” Mrs. Stone states.

-------------------------
(Where the competition is)

“Jenrya! Use Rock Tomb and form a box around your target. The impact of the shockwave the falling rock will make will be enough to destroy them!” Mia orders her Pokemon.

Jenrya look pale and is sweating.

“…Jenrya? …Are you ok?” The 10-year-old concernedly asked her partner.

Jenrya says nothing. He just continues to breathe heavily.

------------
(In the audience)

The audience begins to look bewildered as they talk amongst themselves.

“w-What’s going on? Is he sick?” Wally questions.

“Jenrya was perfectly healthy this morning…” Mrs. Stone counters. “And there’s no medical illness on him that I know of…”

“He looks very ill though. Probably those late bugs…” Wanda states.

-----------------------------------
(Where the Contestants are)

“Jenrya?” Mia called her Pokemon again, becoming very worried.

“He’ll live.” The Verdanturf Head Judge sourly replies. “Now quit stalling and make your Pokemon perform or both of you will be disqualified.”

The Announcer looks at the Judge harshly as she addresses him. “Aren’t you taking it a bit too far?” she asked. “I mean that Pokemon looks pretty sick. Perhaps we should call the Pokemon Center-”

The Judge glares at the woman before turning his attention back to Mia. “You have until the count of five: Five, Four-”

Mia gives her Pokemon a sad smile. “I won’t force you Jenrya… You did well.”

Jenrya looks at Mia as though she‘s crazy.

Despite his sudden illness, the baby elephant builds up his strength and gives a little scream as he summons up four huge boulders, which rises from the ground and floats in mid-air.

“j-Jenrya… Ok… Start the formation!”

Jenrya starts to pull off the very fancy in appearance formation. The boulders suddenly look as though they are struggling within his telekinetic grip.

The little elephant struggles to stay in control, as he also fought the urge to just collapse then and there.

Jenrya gives out an exhausted cough of lost breath before fainting. One of the boulders falls from the formation and into the ground. Had not been for the flamboyant aged-man and his Crawdaunt, the injury count would’ve been higher than just a few people in the front row.

The three remaining boulders all break away from the formation and land in random areas in the room:
One near the Judge, the other where Wally and co. were, but they all safely moved out of the way again thanks to the work of the flamboyant fellow and his very powerful yet awe-inspiring graceful Pokemon.

And finally, one that threatened to flatten Jenrya.

Mia grabs Jenrya but since he was too heavy for her to carry, all she could do is shield him and die along with him.

That didn’t happen though, Evan’s Kadabra quickly teleported both Mia and Jenrya to safety while Monica’s Medicham used a strong kick to destroy the boulder.

“Hey! You ok?” Evan and Monica scream as they run up to her. Nick and his Haunter remained in their places; they knew they’d receive heavy deductions if they left their places for whatever situation.

“Jenrya! Jenrya!” Mia’s calls her Pokemon as she desperately shakes him. “Open your eyes please!”

Jenrya made no response.

The Verdanturf Head Judge walks up to Mia and gives a harsh glare. “I suggest you get him up by the time the intermission ends. It cannot die before this Contest ends. You should be glad I’m not disqualifying you, none the less, arresting you for the damages and destruction you caused.”

Mia makes no response; she just hugs Jenrya tightly.

Isaac Gravity January 12th, 2005 4:26 PM

Cont
---------------------------

(During the extended intermission)
(Locker room. For Contestants only)

Mia sat on one of the benches; her head hung low with her hair overlaps her eyes. The girl felt absolutely horrid after the events that recently transpired.

“I’m such a fool!” The 10-year-old screams at herself. “I should’ve thrown in the towel! I knew that Jenrya wanted to go on… but-Why can’t I do anything right!” The girl continues her self-demotion as she sniffles.

“Mia there’s no point in beating yourself up about it.” Monica replied. “No one was seriously injured and you weren’t disqualified.”

“Also, your Pokemon is doing much better now…” Evan adds as he further tries to lighten the mood. “Kinda weird considering all the craziness and all. Right? Ahahahahahaha-”

Monica glares daggers at Evan making him stop his poor attempt to help.

Mia faces at the duo weakly. “I thank you both. But this all is my fault…”

“Good to see you realize that.” Nick confirms. “After all, it was your newb error that caused such a catastrophe! It could’ve been the tragedy of the Lilycove flower bowl all over again if you were any worse!”

“What’s your deal?” Monica growls.

“Only calling it how it is.” Nick counters matter-of-factly.

Evan scowls at the fellow competitor. “Well mind “keepin’ it real” elsewhere? C’mon, we don’t need some pessimist ruining an already sucky mood.”

“Pretty big talk for a guy acting so phony.” Nick verbally parries. “I bet you’re only acting like this to cover up the fact that you tripped the newbie up!”

“Wh- I’d never do something so low!” Evan yells.

Nick continued his onslaught. “Why not? A little psychic attack is all it takes. Just because the amateur had no actually control over her Pokemon from the start is what resulted to this happening.”

“I heard enough!” Monica shouts at Nick as she grabs him by his collar. “Look, we don’t need sore contestants like you here! Get lost!”

Nick angrily pulls himself from the girl‘s grip and adjusts his collar while giving her an irate look. “You’d like that wouldn’t you? The telltale heart called your conscious actually eating away at you Monica? This wouldn‘t be the first time that happened. Or do I need to tell the newbie the story of the kid whom you were all chummy with just to-”

You b*stard!” Monica was already in tears when she was about to punch the boy’s lights out but Mia manages to grab her wrist.

“Please stop arguing!” The girl pleas. Mia now turns her full attention to Nick. “You’re right, someone probably tripped me up. Or I just can’t control my Pokemon at all… Either way this is all my fault…”

Nick looks at Mia dryly. “At least you’re admitting it.” he replies. “But remember we all could‘ve tripped you up kid; you only have yourself to blame for underestimating the lengths your rivals would go to win as well as your lack of training ability for your unorthodox intelligence Pokemon unable shake it all off.”

“Geez, she gets the point man, just lay off already!” Evan shouts.

Another harsh exchange of words was set between the three Coordinators.

Mia didn‘t stick around for any of it; she just walks out of the locker room.

--------------------
(In the halls)

“What’d you say?” Wally screams at Drew.

“You heard me.” The 13-year-old spoke. “One of her opponents tripped her up… though this is perfectly legal-”

“Well come on! We have to find out who did this and report it!”

“Why?”

“What part of cheating don’t you get?”

“What part of what I said weren’t you listening to?” Drew snaps at the boy. “In any case this isn‘t your problem so why waste your time pondering on it?”

Wally didn’t say anything at first but he began to think of all the knowledge the younger girl had on contests not to mention how hard she prepared for it…

The boy then thought about the part of equal importance to him…

“I care because…I care…” Wally mummers. “Because it’s my duty to watch over things and protect my friends!”

The 11-year-old’s words made Drew raise an eyebrow.

“Forget I even talked you!” Wally snorts. “This is something I should be doing for myself anyway!”

Drew just watches the boy go while shaking his head at the boy‘s naivety.

The 13-year-old was slightly taken aback when the 11-year-old actually stopped in his place to face him once again.

“I almost forgot.” Wally began. “Everyone starts out ridiculous at first, but that all changes when you become experienced enough through hard work! People like you are just afraid of growing talent!

“You still think you’re talented?” The 13-year-old smirks. “When I see that, then I’ll submit to it.”

“Just don’t lose track grooming your Pokemon to forget your battling skills. You’re stronger than me now, but I’ll most definitely catch up to you sooner than you think.”

And with that, Wally walks away. Drew really didn’t want to admit it, but even if a lot of trainers are trash talking weakling guys like that made the world Pokemon competition very amusing…

…A good laugh or two can always be thrown from their alley…

------------
(A bit later)
(Further down the hall)

“Man, for such a small looking place it’s really hard to find your way…” Wally gripes aloud.

As the 11-year-old’s feet kept plowing forward while his eyes continued to study everything it shifted their view, the outcome of the petite boy being knocked to his rear due to collision wasn‘t out of eventuality.

What he collided into is another story…

“Hm, the impact wasn’t even that great a force, you really are as frail as they claim you to be aren’t you?” The familiar voice of Steven Stone greets solemnly. The Hoenn Champion ignored the harsh look Wally tossed him, to finish drying his hands with a paper towel and immediately dispose of it. “In any case, I never knew non-Pokemon related educational facilities even allowed such field trips- Is something wrong?”

“What the hell are you anyway? Here you are lounging about when your own sister needs all the support she can get!”

“Oh?” Was Steven’s response before turning away.

“Oh- Is that all you’re gonna say?! Hey!”

“I told you before, the Stone family is a powerful bloodline which holds countless eras of great success and fortune as its backing. However, Mia is an oddity as she lacks even the most minimal of standards. I’m here only for business.”

Though the Hoenn Champion would easily admit the official Champion only business” the League sent him on wasn’t something he was too keen on doing either…

Being Hoenn Champion did prove to have its mighty quirks he figured… As much as he didn’t really care for how commercialized the League tried to make such an important rank like Regional Champion look, they did need to make their income for all their events somehow…

Yet of all the things the League could endorse why this?

It’s bad enough that Glacia, the second-ranked Elite Four member whose he’s not on good terms with period kept teasing him about the manner, while fourth-ranked Sidney just kept trying to get him to try and smuggle him in or at most bring something back…
The third-ranked Elite Phoebe she… well, the rather beautiful Hawaiian-clad 19-year-old was just furious with him about it all. Only adding ammunition to Glacia‘s taunts.

Only Drake seemed to show no concern about the situation… Well, if a light pat on the back is not caring.

Steven regains focus to give Wally a cold glare at the corner of his eyes.

“Seeing my younger sibling in a Contest is nothing of any real significance. No matter how much of a lost cause she is, she‘s a Stone and that proud bloodline has to amount to something.”

With that, the Hoenn Champion continued to walk away.

“… … I don’t think I’ll ever understand…” Wally mutters. “I don’t have siblings and always felt lonely until I got to stay with Wanda. Kids who have siblings always say how much they wish they were alone simply because they bug them… Wanda tends to tease and pick on me from to time and I can really get on her nerves on that same ratio but- Do you hate your sister that much you’d stand by while she cries?” Wally questioned in a shaky voice. “Can you even look at yourself in the mirror and still call yourself a man when it‘s all over?! I lost respect for you! Hoenn Champion!”

“I thought it was you who was supposed to be watching over things? Isn‘t that what Hiromi designated and what you consented to?”

It was this and the comment about whether it was he who couldn’t handle his responsibilities that made the 11-year-old freeze in his place.

“Despite what beliefs you hold, I really am here as a League representative. Yet at the same time,” The Hoenn Champion continued. “Mia cannot have her hand held all the time. She chose on her own accord to prove to us she’s not what she used to be. Though I personally have my own, more effective ways of testing this, I’ll leave Mother to her ways, you to yours and Mia to her proposed path through Hiromi.”

With nothing more to be said, Steven walked down the halls until he was out of site. Before he left though, a pair of keys fell from his pockets and to the floor. To Wally this was obviously intentional as he could’ve easily took note of the jingling noise of falling keys as well as the fact the removal of the keys from the pocket looked a bit forced.

Wally tossed the exiting fellow an annoyed expression from his over-obviousness. But there should be some worth to these things if he would do such a thing…

For his sake, the boy pondered, it better not be his house keys…

-------------------
(Sick Room)

‘So stupid!’ Jenrya mentally raged. “How could I have been so careless? Even if it was some stupid little trick to slip me up, I shouldn’t have suc***bed so horribly to it! Especially after all my training! I was supposed to be prepared for anything… WHATEVER WAS TOSSED AT ME I SHOULD’VE-”

The baby elephant calmed down as soon as he realized Mia slowly entered the room. Jenrya originally wanted to pay no heed to the child, but felt the light feel of the 10-year-old’s right hand softly rubbing his head.

“Jenrya… Please forgive me…” A teary-eyed Mia pleads softly to the very surprised baby elephant. “You’re amazing every way but I’m not talented enough to even hide behind your strength right…”

A weak smile now falls upon the girl’s face making Jenrya worry. “I know you might hate me, but I knew we’d lose…” she replied to the Pokemon’s shock. “That’s just… the usual end result when it comes to me… I’m a complete and utter waste of space… May-san could’ve at least took me with her so I could’ve found some use with as a shield!”

Mia cries out the question of why can’t she also be anything of value before falling to her knees with loud aching sobs of pain and self-loathing.

Jenrya, on the other hand, still had a hard time trying to digest what he just witnessed. This matter went from the blame game to being a book without value. The baby elephant slowly picked himself up to look at the sobbing Mia with a pained expression.

‘Why are you crying like that? Shouldn’t I be the one in that position! I screwed up! I want to cry more than you, hell, had you not entered I’d be crying like a baby! But I still want to compete!’ Jenrya continued to watch the girl cry until all feeling of sympathy was washed away by bitterness. ‘You coward… So this is the real you huh? Tsk, what a troublesome waste!’

Jenrya turns away from Mia, taking note of Wanda’s entrance but simply ignores her. Mia felt things couldn’t get any worse for her. Even if the 19-year-old’s entrance made her loud sobs simmer into light sniffling, tears were still being shed.

Wanda sighs lightly as she made her way into the room, quickly trying to loosen Jenrya’s defenses with soft petting, muttering aloud “He showed signs of someone whose stressed out.” in hopes it’d calm the crying girl but to no avail.

The 19-year-old heaves a small sigh when Jenrya pulled himself from her light hold.

“You and that girl… You must really hate her huh?”

Wanda shrugs when Mia stops sniffling long enough to face her with slightly crossed expression.

“All I’m saying is that a part of you must really be happy that she’s not there to overshadow you anymore. What was it called…” Wanda trails off. “Oh! A sidekick complex or something… Whatever it is you have the spotlight now kiddo.”

“I-I never! I would never wish harm to May-san!” Mia protests, now back on her feet. “sh-She’s done too much for me to think like that…”

“But that can‘t stop you from being jealous of her, or be ready to curse her existence for not completing you correct?” Wanda counters knowingly.

Time itself felt like it had stopped for the 10-year-old. Even Jenrya’s interest were caught as he no clue where the 19-year-old was going with this.

When Mia finally regains her senses, she still denied Wanda’s findings. The college student simply rebuked: if that’s the case, then she shouldn’t treat the commentary like a criminal offense has just been committed.

Wanda shortly regretted saying this when Mia, her eyes swelling with a fresh batch of tears while on the brink of a nervous breakdown, was still denying her words.

Sure, he was angry with the 10-year-old, he saw as her as selfish and weak, but not even Jenrya could stand for her suffering like this. What he didn’t expect however, was the seemingly antagonistic 19-year-old to wrap the girl in a warm hug.

This resolve even made Mia halt her actions.

Not a sound was made from either party for the short-lived moment the embrace took place.

“I’m so weak…” Mia sniffles. “Even now, all I can do is accept someone’s pity… May-san isn’t like that though… She’s so strong, compassionate and beautiful it’s no surprise why my family prefer someone so amazing over a worthless book…”
Mia shook lightly, failing the battle to hold back her tears. “May-san always denied that but we both know its true! I’m useless and always in need of help when it really counts! That’s why she left me behind to end up like this… having me there-”

“Is calling yourself useless a new way to deny you were only being steered from harms way?” The 19-year-old questioned. “Wally’s like that too, he always gets so upset with me when I’m only looking out for his well being. Sure, things can get rocky between us, but if I was ever given the opportunity to go back in time to choose a younger sibling… Wally would be my choice every time… You’re really lucky to have such a loving surrogate older sister, don’t let ugly feelings and some misunderstanding come between that.”

“…May-san…wh-Why couldn’t she trust me enough…” Mia quivered.

“Because she wants you to live and be strong.” Wanda answered. “How can you desire trust from others if you can’t even confide in yourself enough to simply see a Contest through to the very end? C’mon you can’t be THAT selfish to see who you‘re really betraying here.”

Wanda broke her hug with the indigo-eyed 10-year-old to allow her to make the final decision.

Mia took some time to consider her actions, but when the announcement of her Contest going resume in fifteen minutes the 10-year-old walked over towards Jenrya to hug him lightly. Only muttering something about not being able to run away anymore.

Jenrya really didn’t know what to make of this girl. The best thing to do, is go with the objective created for him by Mrs. Stone no matter what and thus, allowed himself to be recalled into his Safari Ball.

Wanda smiled lightly as she watched Mia leave the room. Now the 19-year-old only had to solve the task of where the heck did Wally run off?

-----------------
(Twenty minutes later)

“Ladies and Gentlemen!” The brunette Announcer with the silver highlights in her hair begins her speech. “Due to… an error of sorts and a nasty little delay on our setup crew’s part, we decided to move straight to Phase three part five! We hope that both Coordinator and Pokemon are ready for this final challenge!”
A man from the set-up crew walks up the Announcer and mutters something in her ears forcing her to pale. “Umm… Cough! Ladies and Gentlemen, we are still running through some errors so why don’t we just give a round of applaud for our four final contestants once more huh?”

The crowd does such, as Nick with his Haunter, Monica with her Medicham, Evan with his Kadabra and finally Mia with Jenrya all walk out onto the stage for some pulled out of nowhere questionnaire’s from the Announcer who mentally sobbed this is a low point in her career.

----------
(In the audience)

Wanda walks into the partially repaired room to notice the audience number has been drastically reduced. Only those with true Contest spirit (and didn’t have to be rushed to the hospital) stuck around to see the outcome of this once in a lifetime chain of events.

Of course, the 19-year-old could see the flamboyant aged-man eagerly awaiting the event in the front row. Surrounding him were other enthusiasts, all female, who seemed to be more interested in him than in the Contest itself.

“So you haven’t forgotten about little old me.” Mrs. Stone seethed from behind.

Wanda faces the woman only to sweatdrop nervously when seeing her eyes were nearly demonic yet were flowing with tears, while a large X-shaped vein pulsated on the right side of her head.

“Well, I hope loads of fun came along with wherever you swingin‘ kids ran off to so this old fossil wouldn‘t drag ya down!” The woman sniffles. She then gestures to an annoyed looking Drew who silently sipped on a soda. “If it wasn’t for this very sweet young man, I probably would’ve died of loneliness! It‘s good to see someone tolerates their elders enough to spend time with them when they‘re worrying for their daughter!”

“i-It’s not like that at all!” Wanda stutters. “Wally just wandered off somewhere and I was looking for him! He is my responsibility after all.”

Mrs. Stone stared at the college student suspiciously but sighed lightly. “Well, I’m sure he‘ll turn up.” she changes the subject. “We should just get to our seats.”

The audience all share surprise when the final event of Intelligence is revealed as a huge maze.

Isaac Gravity January 12th, 2005 4:37 PM

Cont
---------------
(Where the contestants are)

“You Coordinators may not be the best there is yet. But each and every one of you has been through much with your Pokemon. Now after all of your training, all of your teamwork and trust it’s time to put it to good use. For Part five you Coordinators have no control over…Your Pokemon alone can decide their fate.”

Jenrya felt a bit unsure yet was ready to go all out if. A lone trickle of sweat rolled down Mia as she began to really consider what she was up against this round.

“Sorry for interruption everyone, but I have an important message I need to relay to a person who I know is about to wimp out!” Wally’s voice bellows over an intercom.

Thanks to this foreign announcement, all activity within Contest house came to a close. Mia herself noticed the familiarity of the voice and prayed the message was for someone else… It had to be! Why would he go out of his way for…

-----------------------------------
(In the audience)

“What’s that idiot doing?” Drew critiques.

“Better question: How’d he get there.” Wanda twitches.

“Such a caring boy.” Mrs. Stone mused in a soft voice.

This left Drew and Wanda to look at the woman with exasperated expressions.

-----------------------------------------
(Where the contestants are)

“Mia, after all that know-it-all trash you spat out you better not flake out or I‘ll never let you live this down!” Wally continues through the intercom. “Big deal, you made a mistake that almost wiped out the entire room but you seriously better dry your tears, grow a backbone and take some responsibility! We all believe in you so… stop being such a spoiled little crybaby and just win this!”

“But I’m not crying…” Mia mummers rather annoyed, trying to hide the pink tints on her cheek. Jenrya simply scoffs to that.

“Thank you young man, I’m sure your little girlfriend must be really invigorated for success now.” The guy who usually works the intercom comments dryly. “In other announcements, our annual beauty pageant will be postponed until further notice. I apologize for all those this has unconvinced, thank you.”

Despite Wally’s further arguments and the threat of security guards on the worker’s part, all intercom feed went dead. Leaving the room in an awkward silence.

Aside from Mrs. Stone, who thought the matter was cute and the flamboyant aged-man who now considered Wally even more commendable for not only wishing to indulge in passionate spirit of festive budding beauty of the beginner houses, but the entrancing dance of the Luvdisc has smitten him with a contestant who he now rallies with words of deep-seated passion! Only in the beginner house can events like these take place he proudly proclaims.

The remainder of the room bared a mixture of amused, annoyed, exasperated or embarrassed faces. (Wanda was definitely going to kill the boy should he dare show himself for a while.)

Mia’s feelings were with the majority. She just wished she could somehow turn into Zubat and fly far away…

As her dreams weren’t going to become a reality anytime soon, Mia hesitantly opened her eyes and stared wide into the still, lost in their own perceptions audience.

The 10-year-old’s indigo-eyes widen when for a split second, she could’ve sworn she saw Steven standing by the door giving her a stern expression along with a confiding nod before going about his business.

“Even you Onii-chan?” Mia mutters. “…Even if you refuse to watch me… I-I won’t… I won’t run away!”

‘So this is the real you…’ Jenrya mentally confirmed. ‘I really don’t know why you look down on yourself Mia, it’s really not acceptable for your health… Ok, let’s start this over again. I’ll give you infinite shots if you give me mine!’

“Well, today is just one surprise after another!” The Announcer sweatdrops. “Now without further ado! Pokemon take their place! On your mark…”

‘Here goes…’ Jenrya mentally growls. Mia just gives a determined yet nervous look.

“Ready set Go!

All four Pokemon ran into the maze. The first obstruction in each of their path was a movable log.

Haunter just went right through the log while Kadabra used his psychic abilities to topple down the log. Medicham merely jumped over it while Jenrya had to use his own brute strength so he could squeeze himself in.

Jenrya failed to note how much strength he put into removing the offending obstacle. The log went flying somewhere into the third row where luckily, people possessed the common sense to run.

Once in the maze, the path broke off three ways: Left right and straight.

Haunter decided to sink into the ground while giving a smug little laugh. Medicham ignored her rival’s taunt and ran through the left path, Kadabra walked into the right path before he decided to sit down and meditate.

‘Ok left is taken and right never steers you correct so the best path is forward! Jenrya deduced as he runs down the path and sees a dead end. ‘No good! Well, I’m just gonna have to use what my folks passed onto me and make my own path!’

Jenrya picks up speed until he was able to build the momentum needed to curl himself into ball and perform the bane to Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal players everywhere known as Rollout.

With the power of this mighty move, Jenrya was able to plow straight through the walls until he caught up with Haunter.

Haunter just looked at the baby elephant Pokemon with a bit of amusement before both were plowed down by a Psychic attack made by Medicham.

“Ladies first!” Medicham yells as she rushed by.

“Believe me after that you’re no lady!” Jenrya sarcastically comments. The Haunter tries to laugh but he’s in way too much pain after that blow.

Jenrya, despite his nervousness about using it, performed Rock Tomb to quickly block Medicham’s path.

Haunter recovered from the attack and attempts to go through the rocks giving another one of his annoying laughs.

“You mind?” Jenrya asked Medicham slightly aggravated.

“Gladly.” The Psychic/Fighting hybrid responds, launching another Psychic that successfully K.Oes Haunter time.

Medicham then tries to move the rocks but it won‘t budge, Jenrya then tries to help.

“What’d you do?” she screams at the baby elephant.

“Like I’d know my own strength. I’m only six months old!”

“How dare you snap at me like that! Respect your elders!”

Jenrya rolls his eyes. “Psh. You’re my elder yet not even you can get out of this? I guess it’s what they say huh Grandma? Age really doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll gain experience.”

Medicham was so worked up about Jenrya’s nasty attitude that she subconsciously punched on the rocks quickly destroying them.

Though this surprised the Psychic/Fighting hybrid herself; it doesn’t stop her from acting proud.

“Ha, see that? That’s been raw talent. Something you’ll be able to obtain when you’re a little older.” she then runs off.

‘Sometimes you just have to trick ‘em…’ Jenrya thinks to himself as he sighs.

Jenrya ran through the remainder of the maze and was out of breath as he exited. When the baby elephant Pokemon reached the finish line Kadabra and Medicham was waiting for him.

“With Phanpy out of the maze and Haunter out of action I’d say the final event is over!” The Announcer proclaimed. “Now it’s time to tally up those lovely results-”

“There is no need.” The Verdanturf Head Judge cuts the woman off. “I already had the conclusions since the beginning. Shall all contestants come here?”

All four contestants walk up to the Judge. “You all should feel practically proud of yourselves. The crowd seems to love you and in my eyes you all seem…adequate. But only one shall be crowned victor here:”

Being true to his title, the Verdanturf Head Judge was painfully harsh but true on his result:

Due to his sloppiness and untimed teamwork, Evan and his Kadabra nicknamed Third-Eye claimed fourth.

Earning third was Mia and Jenrya the Phanpy on the charges of: destroying property! Reckless behavior, and even after all that still owning the nerve to continue to compete!
…And that was very commendable in his book. Moreover, the fandom the indigo-eyed 10-year-old and the unorthodox Intelligence Contest creature made for themselves more than won fan approval.

Monica and her Medicham nicknamed Medli earned second place. They were a solid team that needs a bit more polish in their actions.

Finally, Nick and his Haunter nicknamed Casper took home the crown. To the Judge, Evan seems to understand the ways of the world… he knows what a man must do to be on top.

Before handing him the ribbon the Judge suggests he go out power-up his Pokemon more.

---------------------------------------------
(In the audience)

“Oh Mia…” Mrs. Stone sadly mumbles.

“She did her best…” Wanda compliments. “I guess they just feel that the damages are Mia’s fault and it make the Contest House look bad if she won… But also they’d look dishonest if they were to just disqualify her for something she couldn‘t prevent.”

Drew considered Wanda’s words for a moment before giving a little shrug and goes about his business.

--------------------------------------------
(Where the Contestants are)

Mia‘s hair overlaps her eyes as she spoke…Oddly enough…she was smiling. “…It’s funny…I lost, but I don’t feel bad at all… I do feel a bit crossed but-”

“It’s a feeling you get when you know you gave it your all but still couldn’t make it.” Evan smiles. “You did your best and you should have no regrets.”

“Yup, There’s always a next time.” Monica agrees.

“Fortunately, my next time won‘t be in this stinkin‘ excuse for a Contest House.” Nick adds.

Monica and Evan give the victor with a bitter face.

“Man, do you always have to be such an ass about these things? Confriggingrats you actually won for a change!” Evan mock congratulates.

“Seriously, we don‘t need sore winners killing what little there‘s left of the word sportsmanship.” Monica agrees in disgust.

“I expected you slackers to say something so petty.” Nick grins.

The cool trainer reveals to the trio, his badge collection case which treats as a multi-layer Contest Ribbon holder. The only items within it so far were ribbons for Normal level Beauty, Coolness, Cute and Tough Contests respectively.

Along with the ribbon won today… well, the cards were on his table.

“You see this? Five symbols of psychical acknowledgement! The Intelligence Contest format took me a bit longer to grasp, but today’s end result proved I’m way above this kiddie corrals standards. Much more to be said than your two-won-by-a fluke ribbons Monica or that Contest failure’s Evan’s zilch!
Nick gives the boy a little sneer. “Hey Evan, news flash: You got surpassed by an utter green and this is what? Her first Contest?”

Kadabra moves in front of his trainer defensively. Haunter responds to this by also going in front of his trainer and levitates higher in the air to fully grasp the intimidating effect his looming. Jenrya irately uses Rock Tomb to summon a large boulder between the two.

The eyes of the contestants now shifted to Mia who held the same expression of a lesser extent to that of her Pokemon.

Seeing the baby elephant’s precise use of the move reminded them of that nasty incident which brought the hostility to how it is now.

“Why are you staring? It’s a Contest and tripping rivals up is apart of this event.” Mia replies calmly. “I relied too much on Jenrya’s strength and that was the reason to this end result. The real one who needs more training in the end is me…”

“To keep up with me newbie, that won’t be enough, but you have a better chance of leaving this dump than Evan does.” Nick scoffs.

“That’s what you may say, I’m a loser. I don’t care what you think of me, I hardly know you. I try not to allow the words of others bother me anymore…” The 10 year-old responds.

The cool trainer shrugs and with his Haunter named Casper, makes his leave.

“Ha, he won’t get far.” Monica tries to comfort Evan who shrugs it off. “Actually winning ribbons aren’t as easy as he makes it. You learn more from your losses than you’ll ever do a win.”

Evan then makes a joke of him only becoming a full-fledged Coordinator only three months ago.

Mia mostly plays the listening role as she slowly bust surely immersed herself within the duo’s conversation.

‘Way to go Mia! You took the matter a lot better than I would if I were in your position.’ Jenrya mentally confirms. ‘I guess it’s like they say: Great mind really do think for themselves.’

------------------------------------------
(Much later in the day)

The crowd cheers wildly as Drew and his Pokemon are announced victorious in today’s Coolness Contest. The 13-year-old flicks back his hair proudly, making his fangirls go into a greater frenzy.

-------------------------------------------
(In the audience)

“What a show stopper! That boy is definitely going places in the contest world!” Mrs. Stone proclaims. “I wonder if that young man would be interested in a sponsor?”

“Looks like that kid wasn’t just talk.” Wanda mutters. “And Daisuke couldn’t even make past the preliminaries…”

“Kinda saw it coming but we should rally our friends all the same.” Wally smiles. “Guess we’re all a bunch of losers.”

“Speak for yourself.” Wanda scoffs.

Mia steals a glance at Wally but he was too busy arguing with Wanda to notice. The 10-year-old then turns to her overly exuberant Mother with a small smile.

-------------------------------------------
(Later that evening)

The group consisting of Mia, Wally, Mrs. Stone and Wanda all stood outside of Wally’s Aunt and Uncle’s home.

Mrs. Stone gives Mia a tight hug. “You’re becoming even more confident and beautiful every time I see you!”

“Mum…” Mia mutters embarrassed. The girl then holds up the Safari Ball containing Jenrya. “I suppose you might want to take Jenrya back…Since I…”

Mrs. Stone looks at Mia blankly before smiling warmly at her. “Mia, Jenrya is your Pokemon partner now. Besides, you heard that Judge, there’s still a lot of contests open for you to enter. No matter what happens, I’ll always be proud of you. Like I am for you right now.”

“Mum…”

“But try to win at least one contest ‘kay?” Mrs. Stone winks.

Mia sweatdrops. That was her Mom all right.

“Oh right!” The cheerful woman realizes as she pulls out a Great Ball. “This is for Maymay. Inside is a well-trained Pokemon specifically meant to balance her team. She only has about three Pokemon right?”

Mia nods. “May-san will come back to us Mum.”

“That right! So I’m leaving you with another hefty task! Say “hi” for Maymay for me! Oh-” Mrs. Stone cuts herself off to address Wanda with a cat-like smile. “You can’t hide anything from me… Earlier today I caught a whiff of a very expensive men’s musk around you. You should’ve told me you were acquainted with a celebrity like the legendary Juan the Charming Deep rather than try to keep him all for yourself…”

He was just some very bizarre Contest-hyped Casanova. Sure, he was quite the gentleman, but was the reasons Mrs. Stone just gave the real reasons for the treatment he got from everyone around there?

And he, a massive celebrity in the Pokemon world…

Wanda turned completely red in the face much to Wally’s enjoyment. Mrs. Stone chuckles at this as well and gives her final goodbyes before fully entering her Limo and giving the word to her chauffeur to go.

As the dust cleared Wanda slaps the grinning Wally upside the head. “This doesn’t excuse you embarrassing yourself and Mia!” she snaps.

“You change moods quickly.” Wally mutters sourly. Forcing his cousin to give a content look. “Yeah, that’ll work. Wally, for your actions today you have to do my chores for the rest of the month.”

“Yeah right!”

“Quite showy now aren’t we? Ok, so I’ll just have to call your parents and tell them their son is becoming a delinquent.”

Wally paled when he heard this. Wanda quickly runs into the house, goading Wally to give chase.

The 11-year-old chases after Wanda to work some kind of deal. The boy stops himself as soon as he reaches the door to turn back to Mia and toss her a pair of keys, much to her confusion.

“Whenever your brother decides to show up, give him those.” Wally replies, trying to look cool while doing so. “I couldn‘t get anywhere in that place with his house keys.”

Wally now runs through the door and after Wanda leaving Mia to stand there in contemplation. It didn’t take the indigo-eyed 10-year-old to gather an understanding of what her friend-of-a-friend stated.

Muffling a little giggle to herself, Mia counts her blessings to be around such interesting people before staring into the beautiful blue sky.

----------------------------------------------
(Dewford Island)
(Dewford Gym)

13-year-old Brendan Birch, who had bandages wrapped about his body, slowly awakened in a bed foreign to him. The first face he sees is that of Brawly’s assistant Emily.

Emily’s face brightens when she realizes the snow colored hair boy finally recovers.

“BRWALY, ROXANNE! GET IN HERE! HE’S FINALLY AWAKE!” The Battlegirl cries.

----------------------------------------------
(Sometime later)

“Sorry about the wait little dude.” Brawly grins, pointing to Roxanne. “But Roxanne has a thing about having her schoolmates see how hot she looks in a swimsuit.”

Emily irately smacks her friend upside the head for that comment while Roxanne rolls her eyes.

It seems like Brawly wasn’t lying. The 15-year-old prodigy was only wearing a long sleeve white school shirt that went down to her knees.

“Brendan, I never think I’d see the day when you’d act so recklessly.” Roxanne comments in an indifferent tone.

Brendan gives the Rustboro Gym Leader a hardened glare. “I’m surprised to see you outside school walls.”

“It was for oceanic study reasons, try doing the same.”

Emily started to get a weird vibe that the two didn’t really like each other. Either that, or this just how students at that stuck-up, high in the sky, I’m so much better than you school treat each other on a normal basis.

“In any case…” Brawly replies calmly. “We came to that Island to train. But instead we get a ravaged resort covered in a mist with those Aqua guys running about…”

“We were quite surprised when we heard them tell us in our faces about leaving a blacklist to meet his end.” Emily adds.

“This is why I think your actions are unacademy-like.” Roxanne points out. “Those two Aqua members almost seemed to pity you despite you getting yourself labeled an enemy.”

“She’s right kid.” Brawly agrees. “You and your Pokemon almost bought the farm if you know what I mean, hadn’t they warned us. Just goes to show the ways of the sea are always a forgiving mistress.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation the Dewford Gym Leader couldn’t help but crack a joke at his fellow Gym Leader’s expense. “Roxanne almost went livid when we found you and your Pokemon the way we did.”

“I just wanted to make sure someone who’s representing the superiority Rustboro Pokemon Academy students have over other trainers doesn’t do anything shameful to our name!” Roxanne snaps. “He still has to prove me wrong morally not just in battle.”

Brendan felt a bit guilty at the moment, but quickly forgot that feeling when he winced in pain.

“Hey, take it easy!” Emily panicked. “You’re going to be out of action for quite some time so I suggest you get comfy.”

“Just holler if you need anything.” Brawly cheerfully replies while walking out of the room. Emily and Roxanne shortly follow him.

“Roxanne.” Brendan calls out to the Gym Leader dejectedly.

The 15-year-old stops in her place and turns to the 13-year-old. She gestures to the others that she’ll catch up.

“Yes?”

Brendan grits his teeth but swallows his pride. “Are the Custom Tactics really a necessary factor in battle?”

Roxanne looked a bit surprised he asked such a question but knew the answer. “Not at all.” she answers earnestly. “The Custom Tactics are just a type of proof of the powerful talents within the trainer world. Most think of the Custom Tactics as a kind of gimmick and shun those who wield them.”

Roxanne takes note of the rather melancholy look on Brendan‘s face but finishes her words. “I believe they‘re just jealous though…”

Those last lines were what made the snow colored hair boy face the 15-year-old prodigy with a bewildered face.

“Let me guess?” Roxanne grins proudly. “You felt like that a bit when you saw Hiromi and others who you didn’t think much of wield this power huh? I wouldn’t be surprised…” The Gym Leader continued with a shrug. “The other students were insane with envy but still try to force themselves to harness that talent…”

“Not really.” Brendan admits. “It’s just…they seem so powerful…almost completely unstoppable…”

“Every fortress no matter how mighty has its weak spots Brendan.” Roxanne replies knowingly. “Though I believe you have talent to be able to do a Custom Tactic… I believe it’s even more impressive if you can use what you have in front of you to defeat them. That was the lesson I taught Hiromi when we fought. I may have lost my cool in the heat of it all but I believe I made my point… As she made hers…”

Brendan couldn’t argue that. After her loss to the prodigy, May took the whole aspect of Pokemon training more seriously. And after their rematch Roxanne’s attitude had changed quite a bit too when Brendan came back to the Rustboro Gym a few months back to battle for his badge.

Though taking her test was still of top priority; to Roxanne, every opponent who passes her exams regardless of whom you are, counts.

“I’ll be in Dewford for a while.” Roxanne announced. “Get better soon and we could probably go swimming together.”

“Maybe.” Brendan chuckles.

Roxanne grins warmly for her fellow academy student and tosses him his headband before turning to leave.

Brendan watched the Gym Leader go as her words ran on his thoughts.

“Right, I said I went out here to show myself what I can do…” The boy spoke aloud. “I should really start doing such! Ragnarok, MacSlasher, Ringo, Aero Adler, Roxx… it’s time to see where our true potential really lie!”

---------------------------------------------
(A couple of days later)
(Mossdeep City)

Steven Stone stood in front of his locked door in frustration.

Holding the rumored misplaced Verdanterf Contest House master key-set in his hands, the 19-year-old could only rub his temples, wondering how the most ugly of mistakes usually befall only the most mighty of men…

End Chapter 15
---------------------------------

11/27/05- Of all the Chapters I had to rewrite, this Chapter was by far one of the hardest and most time consuming… But none the less, we unleashed a potential that should’ve been so let us together unleash the true potential of Story Arc 3 and the story!

Next Chapter we get to see how much Story Arc 3 has really improved with new two chapters! (The one coming up after this one is a chapter I worked on halfway but stopped, as I couldn’t figure a way to squeeze it into the storyline. Until now.)

(Notes)
1. Again, much similar to chapter 13, the Pokemon are talking to each other in their tongue but since it’s just them I translated it into English beats silent gestures especially since I like Jenrya’s attitude.

2. “Jenrya picks up speed until he was able to build the momentum needed to curl himself into ball and perform the bane to Pokemon Gold, Silver and Crystal players everywhere known as Rollout.” -Remember this quote?: C’mon, the most difficult thing (if only defendable thing) about G/S/C was the fight with Whitney’s Miltank. This fight was especially vexing if you were like you’re truly and wings it through games.

Next- Chapter 16- Pretty Nurse!

Isaac Gravity January 26th, 2005 9:15 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.
------------

(Oldale Town)

Max quietly trudged out of his elementary school by his lonesome. Though all of his classmates had agreed on a boys vs. girls game of dodgeball in the playground he much rather…Err… well considering everything he really just didn’t want to be the human shield or sacrificial piece in the game.

The 8-year-old would much rather bide his time away watching old Pokemon tourney tapes and analyze every second of each glorious battle, or just criticize the more incompetent trainers lack of talent and openly commenting what they should be doing.

“OY Max!” The voice of Danielle calls out to the boy.

When Max hears the familiarity of the rather annoying voice he continues along his way completely forgetting the neon pink-haired 13-year-old’s speed.

Danielle runs in front of the 8-year-old and gives him a playful grin. “Is that anyway to treat friends?”

“Provided you were my friend.” Max scoffs. This forces the persistent girl to walk alongside him.

“How can you not want a super cute girl like me as your friend?”

Max ignores the 13-year-old and attempts to make a run for it. He noticed that Danielle wasn’t pursing him and shortly learned why after he crashed into Umi Furu.

The chestnut-haired 16-year-old moved back slightly watching Max fall on his back as his PokeNav rolled out from his pockets.

Danielle picks up the object and examines it mock-curiously.

“Give that back!” Max demands. “A really respectable person gave me that!”

Danielle begins to enjoy using her size to keep the small boy from reaching his precious item.

“Danielle give the kid his toy back.” Umi sighs. The neon pink-haired girl grumbles a bit as she uncaringly drops the item in Max’s hands.

“It’s not a toy!” Max growls.

“In any case…” The 16-year-old continues. “Since your Prof. Birch’s errand boy we’d like to ask you a favor.”

Max remembered the last time these two tried to ask a “favor” this is what forced the boy to pull away. Umi quickly grabs the retreating 8-year-old by the arms and pulls him closer to her.

“Why are you running?” The 16-year-old questions in a harsh tone. “This could be as beneficial to you as well.”

“LET ME GO!” Max yells loud enough to get the attention of nearby residents.

A few people, mostly parents witnessing the scene, angrily walk over to the trio. Danielle smirks muttering something about groundings needing to return to the earth and calls out her Sandslash.

The hedgehog Pokemon quickly tosses dirt at all the threats making them stop in their tracks to attend to their eyes.

Max figured as much; this was why he was glad he spent time around May.

Though he particularly didn’t like the girl, in situations like these, her erratic behavior made her quite wiry. She’d use everything and anything around her as a weapon.

With this as his mindset, Max grabbed onto Umi’s arm and bit her. With the older teen taken care of Max quickly swings his backpack at Danielle, knocking her to the ground.

The 8-year-old now makes a break for it. Danielle’s Sandslash follows suite.

Danielle sits up and rubs her nose. “That little…”

“Let it go and call back your Pokemon.” Umi replies. “He won’t get too far.”

---------------
(A few weeks later)
(Fallarbor Town Pokemon Center Second Floor)

“Ok, Pokemon status ok. Trainer conformation status, all green. Pokemon to be traded: Seviper. Ponyta.” A trainer’s relation receptionist confirms. “Will both parties please insert your Trainer I.Ds into the card slot.”

13-year-old Brendan Birch and a guy in a bizarre monster outfit both do as they are told, allowing the computer to successfully finalize any all needed information on either trainer and the swapped party members.

When the words: “Transfer Complete” appeared on the screen the receptionist clasps her hands together happily.

“And so, by the art of trading two seemly different people have come closer together.” The woman smiles. “Yet another big win for the Trainers relation club!”

“And an bigger win for me!” The guy in the bizarre monster outfit laughs.

“So, now that you got what you wanted…” Brendan replies to the fellow. “Are you going to hold your end of the bargain?”

“Eh? Oh right!” The fellow remembered before addressing Brendan more seriously. “Are you sure you want to know?”

Brendan nods.

When the receptionist heard that she paled; paled right before that emotion of anxiety turned into annoyance. “Don’t tell me you tricked another person to trade with you by telling them about that place! It’s only an urban legend in these parts!”

“THE WORDS THAT FALL FROM MY MOUTH ARE NEVER LIES!!!” The fellow shouts very seriously. “Chameleon Falls are very true! But it only takes the most vigilant of souls have been able to truly seek out this spring. Unfortunately I haven’t been dubious enough in my efforts to see this it for myself.”

“So it’s a spring now?” The receptionist scoffs. “Last time you said it was like a fountain of youth full of beautiful nymphs and even has a lady of lake who grabs foolish men to drown.”

The man narrows his eyes at the woman but gives his end of the bargain. “Chameleon Falls is a hidden spring situated within Mt. Meteor.” The fellow begins. “They say that the falls was once an average waterfall until the unknown properties of a meteorite that fell from the depths of outer space contaminated the earth’s properties making the water pressure within that area highly erratic.”

“Or a Solrock and Lunatone are having a turf war!” The woman laughs. “You never cease to amaze me! First you say Chameleon Falls has something to do with medieval ages now you compare it Star Trek and sci-fi geek stuff. Idiot.”

The two other receptionist in the room couldn’t help but giggle at their friend’s attitude. This only made the fellow in the monster outfit actually look like a monster when he blew his top.

GRAAAAAAGHHH!!! WHAT DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVEN’T BEEN THERE!!!”

“KYYAAAAAAAAA!!!!”

“Ok, I believe you.” Brendan attempts to calm the situation. “So is that all you know?”

The fellow shakes his head. “No, the main story behind Chameleon Falls is that it’s known to many who seek peace at mind and understanding in the ways of meditation.” The man admits. “The reason all the other speculations come up is because for those who ever truly were rumored to ever really find Chameleon Falls…”

The man cuts himself off for added reasons of the unknown.

“…Were never heard from again…”

--------------------
Chapter 16- Mission Start!: Unravel the mystery of Chameleon Falls!
------------------

The man’s words made Brendan freeze in his place. Even the receptionist didn’t dare make fun of the fellow.

Feeling content with the reaction he got, the fellow takes his new Pokeball and shrugs.

“But, any case you really are a bad trader. Allowing me to have your mighty Seviper for a wimpy Ponyta that I gained from my vast trade connections.”

“I-I suppose.” Brendan mutters. “But I couldn’t use Seviper in my team anyway, I have a Zangoose and they’d just fight one another rather than rivals.”

Brendan, getting a bit of his nerve back freely browses through his account. The fellow decides to take a peak at the 13-year-old’s Pokemon box only to see the good amount of Pokemon IDs. Many of them, from other regions… Many of them, he didn’t have…

The fellow in the monster outfit, best known as a Pokemaniac unconsciously wipes away the drool that seeps from his lips just enough to address the snow colored hair boy.

“s-So where did you get all those ravishingly exotic Pokemon?” The Pokemaniac gulps. “Namely that Cubone!”

“Oh, from all the other trainers I meet online through the Trainers relation club database.” Brendan replies with grin. “I met a lot of interesting people through this group and made pretty strong connections as far as items and the like are concerned.”

The Pokemaniac glares harshly at three receptionists who wave in mock see you soon fashion.

The fellow didn’t know why until he noticed that Brendan logged out and was making his leave.

“Hey why the rush? Did I say that was all I knew I was only jokin’! Really!” The Pokemaniac calls out to the 13-year-old. “Say, how about for another swap I tell you the some more interesting stories! The info will be worthwhile.”

The snow colored hair 13-year-old gives an exasperated expression as his eyes shift from that of the near pleading Pokemaniac to that of the receptionists who all gesture their hands to the boy to flee immediately.

Pretty much noticing that the 13-year-old’s eyes on them; the Pokemaniac faces them bitterly.

All three receptionists giggle and smile innocently. The Pokemaniac then turns his attention back to Brendan only to notice he was gone.

All the Pokemaniac could do was bellow out his loss. Much to the pleasure of the receptionists.

--------------
(Some time later)
(Meteor Falls)

“Beautiful…”

Most couldn’t find better words to describe the interior of Meteor Falls. The astounding color of the overall rock structure of the cave were only amplified in its entire splendor by the practically sky blue color of the waterfalls and puddles that lay about area.

The craters within this dream-like cavern gave truly made one the feel that they were actually apart of a lovely painting, or even better: within a gorgeously crafted level in a video game.

“Since no ordinary child wouldn’t have the slightest clue about the significance of this area, it’s safe to say you must be Brendan Birch.” A voice from behind the 13-year-old questioned.

Brendan quickly turns around to face the unfamiliar voice only to see a man with a white lab coat and thick glasses.

“Prof. Cosmo?”

“But of course.” The scientist grins. “Well, just don’t stand there staring at my beautiful face, we got work to do!”

Brendan was caught of guard by the Profs nitty-gritty attitude but quickly complies with the man by calling out Roxx the Swinub.

“Brendan,” Cosmo frowns. “I don’t think Swinubs can sniff out what were looking for…”

“That might be so,” Brendan counters. “But Swinubs are best known for their sixth sense to pick up hot springs. Roxx could easily sniff out any irregularities in water pressure that compares to hot spring temperature thus helping find Chameleon Falls.”

Prof. Cosmo looked at the 13-year-old peculiarly at the moment but laughs it off.

“Chameleon Falls? Nice one!” Prof. Cosmo laughs. “I know my foolish apprentice mentioned that fictional dreamland when she asked if you could accompany me in my trip here for meteorite fragments for actual scientific study, but be serious here! You didn’t really take Roxanne seriously did you?”

“Roxanne wasn’t joking when she told me all the stories of Chameleon Falls.” Brendan counters honestly. “She was very serious about the prospects of this place and so am I.”

Prof. Cosmo couldn’t believe what he was hearing! Were people, more humiliatingly, A STUDENT HE HANDPICKED TO STUDY UNDER HIS GREATNESS, THAT PITIFUL?!?

If there’s one thing Prof. Jay Cosmo can never stand are: Idealist. Pathetic, drooling fools that do nothing but waste their time dreaming and always comprehending the “what ifs” and claimed “miracles” in life.

People who lack the logical standards of common sense to ever take the true science behind anything work only use these things!

…Prof. Cosmo was sick of hearing these nonsensical things and very much tired of the kind of people who exploit them.

“I’m a scientist!” Prof. Cosmo shouts. “I’m not here to look for some make believe fountain dreamed up by my obviously over-imaginative student and a bunch of hippies who have their idiosyncrasies set up in the clouds!”

Brendan gives a bit of an insulted face about the manner but gives a defeated sigh on the manner.

“Exactly.” Prof. Cosmo replies in a: you’ll-thank-me-later tone. “Now, come on. I need someone to carry this bag its quite hefty and- BRENDAN! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?”

The self-proclaimed jack of all science trades watched Brendan and Roxx walk away from him in a slightly vexed manner.

“You seemed to misinformed.” Brendan answers while still walking away. “I came here to find Chameleon Falls and not a rumored meteorite spotting.”

“Swee!” Roxx agrees with a snort.

Prof. Cosmo was rather angry at the boy’s defiance. But, being a man who lives by hypothesis, you could say he knew how to strike a nerve.

“So it’s true what they say…” Prof. Cosmo smirks. “Brendan Birch of the Rustboro Pokemon Academy really is a worthless dropout.”

Hearing this, Brendan stops in his place. A look of frustration brimming on his features.

“What did you say?”

Prof. Cosmo holds his content look as he adjusts his glasses. “According to what I’ve been hearing from most of high status: They say Prof. Birch’s son is a coward who can never amount to his thunder. Also,” The man continued. “You left the academy under these same circumstances, that and you most likely couldn’t cut it…”

Brendan’s eyes downcast to floor miserably after hearing this.

Whoever said a Pokemon can feel the emotions of their trainer wasn’t lying. While Brendan stood frozen in his place only able to clench his fist futilely, Roxx twitched with every word the scientist made about his falsely made theories on his human companion.

If Roxx could speak the tongue of man he’d defiantly tell the guy off. In fact, screw reason altogether!

The Ice Pig had all he could take of the man and angrily lunges at him. Brendan is able to grab his Pokemon before he could get the chance of making any contact though.

Roxx attempts to wriggle from his trainer’s grip but only calms down as he begins to cradle him in his arms.

“Roxx, it’s not worth it…. Lets just go.” Brendan hushed.

“wh-Where are you going?” Prof. Cosmo calls out to the boy.

Brendan continues walking but replies: “To look for what I came here to find. Good luck with your quest.”

“What? You mean to tell me you still wish to attempt foolish things?! Why?”

“Because…” Brendan responds. “I’m a worthless dropout who’d only get in your way…”

Brendan, with Roxx in his arms continues to walk away, leaving Prof. Cosmo to watch the boy with quizzical awe.

-------------
(Oldale Town)

“Not you two again!” Max shouts as he found himself cornered yet again by the familiar duo that is Umi Furu and Danielle.

“By now we’d think you’d get the drill.” Umi replies solemnly. “After all, you’re the one who keeps making this matter difficult.”

“We said you let you go to think didn’t we?” Danielle smirks at the boy. “Now fair is fair!”

Max shuddered with pure irritation at the whole matter.

For quite sometime now, this pink-haired menace and her older sister has been ambushing him left and right.

And what were they harassing him over you ask?: Well, uh… They say it’s important and were willing to cause a lot of damage within LittleRoot to prove their point.

“So? Are you going to talk to Prof. Birch for us or what?” Danielle urges the question. “WELL???”

“WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT PROF. BIRCH WOULD WANT TO TALK TO THE LIKES OF YOU FOR ANYWAY?” Max shouts back.

“Well, since you asked so nicely…” Umi smirks.

The chestnut-haired 16-year-old takes her time to carefully place the hefty suitcase she held on the ground to open and pull out the delicate piece of work.

Aside from the sleek design and the infrared ports located on opposites sides of the object; the item itself could compare to compare to those visors that many popular virtual reality online games used.

The only difference that could be seen was that there was a game controller already attached to the visor, pretty much leaving the use of a USB section of the computer. If a computer was even needed for this bizarre piece of work.

“A video game?” Max mutters a bit exasperatedly. Danielle nods. “It’s not just any video game.”

“This will the ultimate tool for trainers to be to prepare them for the tasks ahead of being a Pokemon trainer.” Umi proudly begins. “The first portable online game for those of ages and status far and wide to test their mettle in the world of Pokemon.”

“And you created this?” Max queried.

“This is big sis’ dream work come true!” Danielle sniffles. “She toiled for years on this and no one would sponsor us…”

“That was the past! And this is now!” Umi shouts. “Our portable is quite superior in more ways than one and our sponsors even started setting up café zones for players to play off the distance!”

“Hell yeah!” Danielle adds. “We only need to see that old man because we know how awesome big sis’ machine is, but now we just need to show how the higher-ups how useful it could be!”

Max didn’t want to admit it, but this seemed like a pretty good idea. These two really seemed to put a lot of thought in the entire set-up of the plan…

…But they missed one tiny little detail…

“You guys have a good plan…” Max admits. “But… Just because he’s Hoenn’s top authority on Pokemon research doesn’t mean Prof. Birch is who you should be turning to over this kind of matter…”

Danielle face faults after the 8-year-old transferred this important piece of knowledge.

Despite the fact she wore shades and that she struggled to keep a calm look, Umi’s eyebrow’s twitch slightly.

“Anything concerning Pokemon and any Pokemon related event that centers around the trainer community must always be taken this up with the officials in the Pokemon League in Ever Grande City!” Max then gives the girls a smug face while adjusting his glasses. “Guess your sponsor left that important piece of information out huh?”

“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL US THIS EARLIER?!” Danielle roars at the 8-year-old.

“WHAT WAS THERE TO TELL WHEN YOU WERE TOO BUSY FREAKING ME OUT!” Max shouts back.

Umi puts her hand over her raving younger sibling’s mouth and sighs a bit despondently.

“This is awkward.” The 16-year-old mutters. “Well, I guess no hard feelings then. Oh, right!” The chestnut-haired teen adds. “Calming Danielle down will take both my hands, so why don’t you keep the Pokemon Island Online?”

“Pokemon Island Online?”

“Have fun with it.” The chestnut-haired 16-year responds quickly. “Your name is Max Mitchellson right? I’ll add fifteen extra days to your free trial when you register. Think of it as an apology.”

Max watches Umi drag her younger sister off until they were no longer in sight. “That was easy.” The boy thought before taking note of his new problematic event of the day.

Though the situation itself seemed legit enough and they seemed pretty earnest about it…Max still had his doubts about the Furu sisters ambitions… And their machine…

“Pffft. Like I’d be gullible enough to believe they’re sorry after all the trouble they caused us.” Max snorts. “I better show Prof. Birch this item and really see what’s going on.”

Isaac Gravity January 26th, 2005 9:21 PM

Cont
----------------------
(Meanwhile…)
(Mt. Meteor)

The search for Chameleon Falls was a lot tougher than Brendan originally anticipated it to be. For hours now, the snow colored hair 13-year-old and his loyal band of Pokemon allies searched tirelessly through the cave.

The only thing they were rewarded with was Roxx constantly leading them into tons of dead ends, areas that rely on an expertise that none of Brendan’s Pokemon have any skill in handling, an increased number of foes who get stronger and stronger at every turn and a mistakenly taken along flare horse Pokemon who was far from lenient…

“Roxx Powder Snow!” Brendan orders his Ice Pig Pokemon.

Roxx sniffles a bit but launches his attack at the sun-shaped Pokemon known only as Solrock. The Solrock took a good bit of damage from the Ice-Type attack and from its hesitance in fighting back; it’s safe to say it must’ve reached its battle limits.

“Good job Roxx, now it’s my turn to contribute!” Brendan pulls out a spare Pokeball from his pockets and attempts to make a capture of the sun-shaped creature.

Solrock, though weakened, had no intentions of leaving its happy home! With that as its mindset, Solrock uses the powers of Confusion to rattle weaker the rock formations on the ceiling of the cave just enough to have the smaller rocks fall about the area; knocking away the Pokeball and encasing time for the sun-shaped creature to escape.

Shortly after the Solrock’s disappearing act a group of Zubats all scatter about the area to harass the rabble-rousers.

Ragnarok the Marshtomp, Aero Adler the Taillow and Ringo the Numel did as much as they could to keep the swarming number of bat Pokemon to a minimum with Water Gun, Quick Attack and Ember respectively, but quickly found themselves overwhelmed when the Golbats entered the fray.

MacSlasher the Zangoose did as much as he could to protect the fatigued Roxx but he too, began to see the significance of his foes growing number.

Though taken along in a hasty attempt to leave a crazed Pokemon fan, the Ponyta given to Brendan in trade named Ivy was a newcomer to the party none-the-less.

Too bad she didn’t act like it. Ivy wasn’t too thrilled about being traded off like she was some kind of piece on a board game and pretty much wasn’t too thrilled about the little winged rodents constantly nipping at her either.

A red X-shaped vein bulged on the right side of the flare horses head. The more it pulsated the shorter her patience.

“Brendan, the Pokemon here only range from Levels 13-24.” Brendan’s A.I. Travel companion Ciel states. “It looks as though whoever said strength in numbers wasn’t lying!”

“Augh! No kidding!” Brendan mutters while shooing away Zubats who got too close with his free hand.

“I’m sorry about all this Brendan…”

“Ciel, obtaining a Pokedex and completing its Pokemon pages is a goal that I aspired to accomplish for as long as I could remember.” The 13-year-old assures. “We just underestimated the odds of it all!”

“This wouldn’t be so hard if that Level 30 Ponyta would just cooperate with the Team.”

“Ciel, I wasn’t even suppose to take her along.” Brendan admits. “But that guy made me want to leave in a hurry.”

Ivy’s ears twitch slightly as her fiery mane expands in its length.

Having all she could take of the situation, the flare horse launches Fire Spin. This action forced everyone in the attacks path to quickly move away. Save for Ringo and some slower Zubat and Golbat who didn’t take too much damage anyway.

Brendan and his Pokemon allies took the attack as misplaced aim quickly corrected those assumptions when the flare horse started to throw Ember in Brendan direction.

“Ivy! Cut it out! We’re on your side!” Brendan yells. Ivy’s ears perk up slightly when she heard that liner.

‘On my side? Oh no no no.’ Ivy mentally chuckles. ‘My trainer is Honzo and I wish to be back with him! Or suffer like the last thieves who dare try to tame me!’

Ragnarok shot a warning Water Gun at the Ivy’s hooves forcing her back some.

The flare horse quickly notices the mudfish standing protectively in-front of his partner and also takes note of the snow colored haired boy’s other Pokemon who all surround her.

Ivy stands on her hind legs while whinnying loudly to show her open frustation on the matter.

With Ciel back in his pockets, Brendan swiftly recalls Roxx, MacSlasher, Aero Adler and Ringo. Good thing he did too, otherwise Roxx would’ve been victim to Stomp.

Before the 13-year-old could recall the enraged flare horse or before she could try to make another attack, the Golbats who didn’t flee the area decided to swoop down at the intruders with a strong Wing Attack while their attention was off them and on each other.

The continued assault was enough to deal hefty damage to both sides. Ivy was knocked to her sides, while Ragnarok leap in front of Brendan to take the bulk of the damage. The mudfish’s act of heroism not only K.Oed him but knocked him and Brendan off solid ground and into a stream.

Brendan held a tight grip on his defeated Pokemon while the streams heavy currents thrashed his body about in the most rough of manners. He could feel his body being rocked about in many different directions in no specific timing or pattern.

It was as if the pressure of the stream was actually pulling the 13-year-old to the bottom and with the strength of the currents fighting against it to swim to the top would prove a vain attempt to survive.

It wouldn’t have mattered one way or another. Brendan Birch was out of air and could literally see the light…

-------------
(Black screen. Brendan narrates)

When I was a little kid, I remember when my daycare teacher described heaven to the class. She said something about your body becoming as light as a feather when you rise into the light…

Well, I went into the light yet my body feels like a plummeting ton of bricks that just hit the canvas. Maybe I went to the other place…

Nah, guess going to heaven isn’t the same for everyone… but it didn’t have to hurt either…

-------------------
(Sometime later)

Brendan weakly awakens to the familiar voices of his Pokemon party. The only voice that wasn’t heard was Ragnarok’s.

The little mudfish Pokemon was in bad shape and could only give his trainer a weak grin confirming his safety.

A weak grin wasn’t good enough for Brendan. It wasn’t much, but he had to make due with feeding Ragnarok a Revive and a Potion to at least raise his spirits and will to move around, along with soothing any minor wounds.

Though Ragnarok felt a bit better and all his Pokemon allies, minus Ivy, weren’t separated from him; this place, though as beautiful as it appeared was no heaven.

From deeper investigation of his surroundings, the place was in-fact was some mostly likely underground portion of Mt. Meteor.

The most noticeable thing within the room was the waterfall that flowed with such pristine and clear water that it even to the illusions of the naked eye looked as though the entire scene looked as like a glittery pond that created an everlasting rainbow to symbolize eternal beauty.

“Beautiful…” The 13-year-old mouths upon closer inspection.

“Hey, are you just gonna stand there or do you enjoy staring at others.” A deep masculine voice asked from afar.

Brendan and his Pokemon were all dumbfounded by the whereabouts of the voice.

“You’re the one who has your eyes open. Use them and look in the opposite direction of up.” The voice says again.

From the high-up place where they stood, finding the voice was quite a task, especially for Brendan, who had to put on his glasses to heavily eye the contents of the mist created by the falls to see a figure, no, two figures within it.

“Hey, come on down here!” The voice invites. “You’re obviously no ordinary explorer to find this place…but that doesn’t make you special either…”

::BEEP BEEP BEEP::

Brendan goes into his damp pockets to pull out the mock-motherly Ciel. The 13-year-old hoped that his A.I. Travel companion wasn’t damaged in anyway.

Zzzt! Brendan! You know you can’t trust strangers!” Ciel warns. “Not like we have much of a choice.” Brendan reasons. “That guy might know a way out.”

“That may be so, but don’t be trusting!”

“Right,” Brendan agrees before addressing the voice again. “There’s no path, how do I get down there?”

“Simple kid,” The voice answers. “You jump.”

“Me? Jump that distance?”

“It’s not even that far of a jump.” The voice parries.

Brendan still wasn’t too convinced. MacSlasher nods at his trainer’s decision. It’s not that MacSlasher is worried about the distance of the jump; it’s just that on that small strip of land is a hefty amount of water.

As far as he could remember, MacSlasher hated the added weight that would pull down on him after his fur is completely drenched. Not only that, but he looked rather silly like that too.

Ragnarok tries to show Brendan its safe and jumps down first, following him were Roxx, Ringo and the smug Aero Adler who flew down. With all of them safely in the bottom, they all look up to their trainer with hopeful eyes.

“They did jump…” Brendan gulps.

“Yes they did, Zzzt but perhaps you should… climb down?” Ciel suggests.

Brendan agrees to that and carefully puts Ciel, along with his glasses back into his backpack for his vigilante climb down a five-foot wall while MacSlasher watched him.

Halfway down the climb Brendan lost his grip on a more slippery rock and spent the rest of his descent as a back-first fall with his arms and legs flailing about.

The landing wasn’t that bad from Brendan’s point of view it was when MacSlasher decided to use him as a pillow, which really knocked the wind out of him.

“I forgot to warn you about climbing.” The voice chuckles. “The environment here is pretty moist so you’ll mostly end up in the sorry position you’re in.”

It took Brendan awhile to get over his aches and pains, but when he did he was able to meet the voice face to face…

What the snow colored haired boy saw was a rather muscular man somewhere in his late twenties with long messy black spiked hair which he tied into a long ponytail and wore nothing but a pair of worn out khakis.

The man himself could be compared to one of those rugged laidback types who tend to keep their faces shaven lightly enough to show that hair was growing back. This is what Mrs. Birch and most old-fashioned women considered manly.

Next to the man was an Electabuzz who, despite its obvious high level and intimidating stature also held that lax nature.

“Never knew the day a kid of all people would find the hideout of Kyosuke the mighty.” The man, obviously named Kyosuke grins darkly.

“y-Your hideout?” Brendan nervously squeaks. Kyosuke couldn’t help but laugh at the boy’s simplicity.

Despite Kyosuke’s rather condensing laughter and Electabuzz’s intimidating smirk Ragnarok and the others were ready to fight. Brendan was also feeling that raised adrenaline rush.

Kyosuke stops laughing when he hears the low growls being made from the newcomers. The man sneezes a bit before he and Electabuzz exit their mediation spot in the falls.

“Geez, take it easy kid I was only joking.” Kyosuke comments between sneezes. “Tch, back in the day you could set a clock to Chameleon Falls temperature change…”

“Chameleon Falls?” Brendan mummers. The boy’s near disbelieving tone and expression forced Kyosuke to eye him oddly. “Yeah, this place is Chameleon Falls. If you don’t believe me then dip your hand into the water and see for yourself.”

It’s not that Brendan didn’t believe him... it was just… Chameleon Falls under his nose this whole time. Despite this, the 13-year-old ran his left hand into the water anyway. At first the water was a soothing lukewarm, however…

“ACK! THIS WATER IS SCALDING HOT!”

“Exactly.” Kyosuke grins. “The resonance of the space material from fallen meteor over the decades changed this areas entire fundamentals. Chameleon Falls is the ultimate place for those who seek peace at mind and understanding in the ways of meditation.”
Kyosuke looks at the glittery waterfall with a broadening smile. “The only way to truly open yourself is to endure extreme physical and mental strengthening.”

The man then takes a look at Brendan and his Pokemon. “Enough of that banter! You‘re up!”

Kyosuke and Electabuzz walks a few feet away from Brendan and his Pokemon to pick up his small belongings consisting of a duffel bag, sandals and a tattered beige t-shirt. Once he puts back on his sandals and shirt; the wildman picks his belongings and walks off until he was out of site.

With the rather interesting duo gone, Brendan turns to his Pokemon partners. “We almost drown to find this place, we might as well test our luck here.”

Ragnarok and the others quickly knew what that meant… They’ve been so busy lately they almost forgot…

“MARSH!” Ragnarok cries jovially.

The mudfish Pokemon with the nifty Mohawk quickly runs past Brendan and leaps into the sparkling water. Ragnarok, in all his joy swimming about, seemed completely unaffected by the falls erratic pressure.

MacSlasher and Aero Adler felt this was a good time to take a nap while Ringo and Roxx chased each other about.

Brendan felt relaxed enough himself and dresses down to nothing but his boxer shorts and his cherished headband while spreading out his wet clothing so they can at least dry a bit.
Ringo and Roxx trampled all over his clothes as soon as he placed it on the ground though…

The 13-year-old shakes his head a bit annoyed but just turns away to carefully walk on three flat boulders that made a convenient path to the meditation spot within the waterfall.

At the current moment the water was icy cold. Brendan gathered his nerve, shut his eyes and hastily stepped into the freezing liquid contents.

‘a-All I have to do is just stand like this and ignore everything.’ Brendan mentally confirms. ‘th-That’s all… That’s all…’

The temperature of the water dropped at an even lower degree. The sudden change of atmosphere was too much for Brendan’s body that was slowly adjusting to the current conditions.

This truth forced the snow colored hair boy to jump and fall into the lake full of lukewarm water that felt a heck of a lot better than the prior experience; however, just for a mere moment, Brendan could’ve sworn that pressure from the lake was deliberately pulling him down before he snapped back to his senses and swam for higher grounds.

Once he was safe, the 13-year-old turns to see Ragnarok laughing and playing about in the mediation spot happily.

“Are you trying to prove something?” Brendan asked sourly. Ragnarok shakes his head innocently.

“Your Pokemon has the right idea. He should join you balance out something’s.” Kyosuke’s voice trails from the distance.

Brendan follows his ears as best he could to see the wildman grinning from the ledge where Brendan first met him. Kyosuke’s Electabuzz was there as well, looking down at the scene cross-armed.

“What you never heard of perfect synch?” Kyosuke continues. “Chameleon Falls is pretty harsh to brave on your own, and you’re quite a scrawny kid for your age…”

Kyosuke ignores the annoyed look Brendan tossed at him and keeps his eyes tacked on his Pokemon allies. “Yeah that’ll work.” The wildman confirms aloud before pointing at MacSlasher. “You! Go give your allies a hand. Your fur should balance out the cold while the blue Pokemon looks like he could cover anything else.”

MacSlasher gave the complete stranger a: the hell are you talking about look before focusing back on his nap.

Ringo sneaks behind the Zangoose to burn his tail with Ember. The flash fire thrust MacSlasher from a cozy rest into a frantic leap into the lake.

MacSlasher quickly rises back to the surface and takes grasp of one of the nearby stones. He quickly shoots a harsh glare in the direction of Ringo and then towards Ragnarok, who was snickering.

Brendan carefully walks on the flat stones to approach his self-conscious ally.

“It’s not that we’re laughing at you.” The 13-year-old reason with a sympathetic look. “We just never seen you like this before…”

MacSlasher considers this for a while before just shrugging off the whole matter and just getting to work.

Isaac Gravity January 26th, 2005 9:24 PM

Cont 2
-----------------------
(At that moment in LittleRoot Town)
(Max’s house)

“So, this really is a game.” Max mutters. “Video Games are lame anyway, even if it is Pokemon centered…”

Max takes the game and places it back into the case Umi left for it. It took a little effort and a lot of balance, but the 8-year-old was able to stack up a few chairs together to be able to shove the suitcase in the highest place in his closet.

With that chore done Max climbed down and was ready to move onto his next great task…

------------------------------------------------
(15 minutes later)

“Let’s see… I’ll make his hair dark blue like and put it in ponytail style to make him look cool.” Max, who was registering his character for Pokemon Island Online, suggest aloud.

“He’s gotta have glasses like me and I’ll make him sixteen so I can make up some sob story on how he was a pure genius at Pokemon but he wasn’t allowed to own one as a pet so he had to sneak off to become a trainer in his character bio. OH!” The 8-year-old laughs sheepishly. “I almost forgot to name him… this is tricky…”

--------------------------------------------------
(An hour later)
(Meteor Falls)

“Oh man, this good soup!” Kyosuke laughs happily. “The variations that come with Tomato soup still never cease to amaze me! Hahahaha!”

Kyosuke’s boisterous laughter and endless prattle about the exotic taste of various soups has been going on for quite sometime now. Much to the disdain of Brendan, Ragnarok and MacSlasher.

It was bad enough that the Chameleon Falls was playing the morning shower game with them, but it was hard to focus with that guy’s loud voice none the less the smell of food that made their stomachs play a hand against them.

The flowing water changed from cold to piping hot as if to complement the trios growing frustration. Like the dozen of attempts before this one, they retreated into the lake full of cold water.

An X-shaped vein pulsates on the left side of Ragnarok’s head as he floats lazily in the water. MacSlasher laid on one of the flat stones, equally annoyed. Brendan looks up to Kyosuke with an exasperated look.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Kyosuke asked.

“Time.”

Kyosuke takes a moment to examine the nearby timer. “Congrats. You actually lasted more than two minutes.”

Not good enough, the boy thought. The 13-year-old hastily makes his way back to the falls, gesturing to his Pokemon to rest if they want.

“Hey, you aren’t really thinking about going back there?” Kyosuke questions the boy. “Your body is in bad enough shape. It takes months to get used to the water pressures of Chameleon Falls. What exactly are you trying to prove anyway.”

Ragnarok pops up in front of Brendan and looks at him with a sympathetic expression. In the corner of his eyes the 13-year-old could see MacSlasher staring at him passively. Not to mention Aero Alder, Ringo and Roxx who all looked down at their trainer from where they stood with Kyosuke and Electabuzz.

Brendan heaves a defeated sigh after realizing he obviously outnumbered on this matter. Kyosuke couldn’t help but say something about not being able to deny faces like that.

---------------
(A bit later)

“That’s quite an interesting reason to give all that up and go on Pokemon journey.” Kyosuke agrees. “And even more interesting is how you got here…No wonder why those stories say people never returned.” The man adds. “What kind of unprepared fool would be clumsy enough to slip into the streams here considering the type of water pressures Mt. Meteor has? There’s a warning sign in front of the cave!”

Kyosuke shuts up when he notices Brendan frowning. The man quickly modifies his words by saying that unlike the others Brendan has strong lungs.

“Nah, you don’t have to make excuses for me…” Brendan smiles weakly. “Sometimes I think I was better off in the Academy…”

“Where you were miserable and looked down upon regardless right?” Kyosuke confirms in a stern tone that made the 13-year-old flinch. “Now with you turning your back they’re only showing you the ultimate feelings they had that they kept latent till now?”

“Perhaps.”

“Never allow the pressures of anyone to ever steer your heart in the path you don’t believe in.” Kyosuke tells Brendan knowingly. “You’re a proud young man who fight for what he believes in and I bet there are people who are starting to see your efforts and are starting to acknowledge you for them.”

Kyosuke turns to Brendan with an enlightened look. “But the most significant are those who supported and believed in you from the very beginning. Their strength alone is enough to make you begin the run.”

The wildman was right. It took him sometime, but Roxanne, one of the greatest influences in the Rustboro Pokemon Academy no longer viewed the snow colored hair boy as a spineless quitter but perhaps as an example of the Academy’s real expanding influence and strength. She would even go to the points of scolding whoever would mock him in her presence.

Only by going on a Pokemon Journey could Brendan have met some of the most amazing people he’s ever laid eyes on.

Only by leaving that Academy’s cold data collecting walls could he have met and have the luck of befriending one of his biggest inspirations in life…

A warm smile crept up on the 13-year-old’s face when he realized how much he’s been able to accomplish so far.

“If you need an example of people who do what they know they should then look at me.” Kyosuke grins. “I was born into quite a wealthy family but threw it all away just to avoid human contact and live my life in obscurity in the mountainous Route 119.”

“You’re a bit of a hypocrite.” Brendan frowns. “For you to eat all those canned soups and crackers you pretty much go into town and buy them. That’s still human contact. Also.” The 13-year-old adds exasperatedly. “Route 119 is overrun with tourist can‘t see living in obscurity with that as a factor.”

Kyosuke and Electabuzz sweatdrop. They have to admit their location is quite a convenient one to harass tourist and trash-talking trainers who‘d wander too close to his hut. They’d then milk ‘em for everything their worth after wasting them in battle.

The wildman shakes off this truth with more of his loud laughter.

“You hear that! I told you we’re not alone!” A male voice echoes throughout the room.

“I don’t want to here it! Keep moving!” A female voice sounding quite familiar to that of Team Aqua Admin’s Shelly snaps.

“You people are bigger dreamers than I imagined!” A voice similar to Prof. Cosmo responds a bit defiantly. “Do you really your fantasy spring is truly derived from a huge chunk of meteorite.”

A heavy slapping sound echoes about the room as does the voice of Cosmo giving a bit of a pained yelp.

Emerging from an area much higher than where the group were resting were two Team Aqua Grunts who took the back position. The Aqua Admin Shelly taking the lead and the captive Prof. Cosmo who was sandwiched in the middle.

“The Chameleon Falls is a prime example of the infinite powers of the sea!” Shelly responds angrily.

The smaller, less muscular Grunt constantly kept his eyes locked on some particular item that he slowly pointed about the room. The machine started to make loud bleeping noises once he directed it in the direction of the sparkling waterfall that is Chameleon Falls.

“Ma’am, we got a lock.” The Grunt replies.

“So that’s Chameleon Falls…It has to be!” Shelly grins. The Aqua Admin then turns to Cosmo with a smug expression. “Can your ways of physics even amount a reason on the magnificence you see before you Professor?”

Having witnessed the mystifying beauty of this room for himself and Aqua’s nifty little do-dad to pin point the irregular properties that are held within meteorites. Prof. Cosmo had to admit that maybe meteorites are the leading factorial to the falls… Well, if they do what those silly rumors say anyway…

“Come on out my little mice,” Shelly smugly calls out to the air. “It’s quite untidy of you to leave your belongings out in the open in a public place just to hide from gorgeous ol’ me.”

The little mice- Err Brendan and Kyosuke and their Pokemon were all hiding under the ledge that the Aqua’s and the captive Cosmo stood on.

Brendan was a little uneasy about confronting either cult considering his last encounters with them.

“Cocky b*stards!” Kyosuke whispers angrily. “She doesn’t understand jack about the true meaning behind Chameleon Falls mysteries! Manipulative little sucks! Beings like that aren’t allowed here…”
The wildman then turns to Brendan with a bold grin. “Kid, I got a plan but it’s gonna take a lot of teamwork and a little guerilla warfare.”

Brendan snaps out of his own insecurities and nods blankly at the man.

“Remember when I told you how the environment here is moist?” Kyosuke reminds, while Electabuzz places his hands on the moist ground a few inches away from the ledge foundation. “Though that and the concept that electricity is useless against the properties of ground is true… The moisture here is pretty much shortening the half life span of the rocks here. Forcing them to deteriorate at a quicker rate. This could also be said about electricity; useless as it is against those that can act as an insolent to it, putting the voltage rate at a powerful enough charge can tear through any insolent.”

Electabuzz charges with all the electricity stored in his furry body to fully manipulate the weakened rock structures of the caves dampened environment.

Due to the height of where they stood, Electabuzz’s attack didn’t reach Shelly and her party; however that was never the goal of the attack. With his power at his peak Electabuzz unleashes all of his latent voltage into the strongest Thunderbolt he could manage to fully obliterate the foundations of the ledge.

Electabuzz collapses to the ground completely tapped. Kyosuke picks up his friend and turns to Brendan while running to the right. Saying something about keeping them busy for as long as he can.

The 13-year-old wanted to argue this but he along with his Pokemon had to perform the standard run and leap away to avoid getting crushed by the toppling boulders that once made up the ledge where Shelly and co. once stood strong.

No one was too hurt from the damage. A bit of groaning along with a few bruises here or there, but nothing that requires a cast of any caliber.

Shelly rubs her forehead while mumbling a little curse under her voice. The Aqua Admin stopped in this action when she notices Brendan doing the same thing.

Eventually the two fully agknowleged the others existence; while Brendan just stared at the woman warily Shelly smirks lightly.

“Hah, isn’t this a surprise.” She laughs. “I was looking for mice and instead, I find a ghost...”

Mission (Chapter 16) Pending…

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

Ahh, Prof. Cosmo… the selfish coward who does nothing but obsess over his research and allows Aqua/Magma to take his coveted meteorite from his pitiful being in the Ruby and Sapphire games.

I mean if the meteorite meant so much to him then he should’ve accompanied your character to Mt. Chimney or at least given you some kind of advice to what your up against. But what does he do? He whines and cries how he lost his precious meteorite not even taking into real consideration what either Cult had planned for it. (Which obviously wasn’t good)

Being a person absorbed around Zelda games I’m used to giving an item and expecting something in return…but when you give the man the blasted meteorite he just acts all giddy and gives you his thanks and a TM I'm not too into using period. (Thanks after risking your life over it) Had it been me I woulda chucked that rock into the Volcano.

(Notes)

1. “It was bad enough that the Chameleon Falls was playing the morning shower game with them, but it was hard to focus with that guy’s loud voice none the less the smell of food that made their stomachs play and hand against them.” -Remember this quote? - I kinda based Chameleon Falls around the whole idea of when one takes a shower and how the water temperatures suddenly change without (or with little) warning making you jump and pull away from the water.

Next- Chapter 17- War of the Elementals: The battle of Land and Sea

Isaac Gravity February 8th, 2005 6:49 PM

Disclaimer- I don’t own Pokemon or anything else.
----------------

Shelly takes one good look at Brendan and laughs proudly. This act left the 13-year-old and his Pokemon partners very insulted.

“My apologies if I offended you.” Shelly chuckles. “It’s just that it’s quite hard to feel threatened of one who wears Pichu-styled boxer shorts.”

An annoyed blush falls upon the 13-year-old’s face forcing Shelly to laugh more.

“I was planning on getting my little brother a pair of those! Mind telling me where you got yours?” The Aqua Admin laughs harder.

“Brendan, I haven’t the slightest clue how you got here…” Prof. Cosmo calls out to the annoyed 13-year-old. “But grab whatever meteorite fragments you can and flee! Team Aqua is undeserving and ignorant of the beauty of science!”

“What meteorite fragments?” Brendan bluffs. “Chameleon Falls is only a resonance of what used to be.”

“You’re pretty cheeky for a brat who that lost to the bottom-rung Swabbie ranks of Aqua twice.” Shelly smirks.

Brendan could hear the two Grunts chuckling and Prof. Cosmo muttering “figures.”

The smaller grunt pulls out a different device that could compare to a cross between Johto’s Pokegear and Prof. Birch’s Pokedex design. The only major difference was that within the contents of the machine was hacked trainer information from the recently exploited Hoenn Leagues database.

The Grunt takes his time to examine the machine before facing Brendan with a content look and openly explaining his findings.

“This is quite interesting.” The Grunt exclaims. “Despite your age, according to this information you’re a Badge Level 4 at the Rustboro Pokemon Academy, this gives you the official status and advantages of a trainer with four actual badges. Being son of Ivan Birch must have its benefits eh Brendan Birch?”
The Grunt gives the 13-year-old a hardened look before continuing. “Despite all this it says you also collected three official Hoenn League badges. But that’s meaningless since your status at the academy nulls those badges. What your doing is all in vain.”

“Uh-oh, Schneider’s old academy boarding days are kicking in.” The more muscular Grunt named Aldo laughs.

“Indeed.” Shelly agrees.

“Growing up, I too was a student at the Rustboro Pokemon Academy.” The Grunt named Schneider mummers ruefully. “But I doubt my time there was anything like yours. I always had it hard since the other students gave me a hard time. Not only that, but no matter how hard I studied the Professors always graded me so harshly…I was practically on the verge of getting kicked out while their good for nothing favorites simply got treated like kings when all they do is cheat! On top of all this my parents were poor and no longer could afford to pay for me there…”

Prof. Cosmo kept quiet. Before fully using Fallarbor Town as his place of research, he did remember hearing stories of a student who was quote unquote: “slipping through the cracks and humiliating the academy with poor grades and constant failures in major exams.”

He was also guilty of the heavily marking students from time to time.

Schneider looks at Brendan with a cold look. “I don’t really understand. I had no choice but to leave but you… You’re throwing everything given to you away as if going to the academy was some kind of whim to you!”

Brendan couldn’t help but sympathize with the man. He was very aware that a lot of students beside him had their fair share of hardships and personal battles in that so-called school of Pokemon prestige…

…But despite his sympathy for the fellow, he made one mistake in his words…

“The academy was no picnic for anyone really…” Brendan mutters in a low voice. “I believe that leaving a place where you feel uncomfortable in is the best choice anyone can ever make in life!”

Schneider was completely shocked at what the snow colored hair boy said. Shelly and Aldo really didn’t see that coming either. Prof. Cosmo simply rolled his eyes.

The only ones who seemed anywhere near supportive of Brendan at the moment were his Pokemon allies who all look to him and nod.

“Comfort? Is that what the Rustboro Pokemon Academy means to you?” Schneider growls.

“When people saw me they saw Prof. Birch’s son. Not the student who worked his butt off to earn what he obtained in that school!” Brendan counters. “No one spoon fed me in anything I’ve ever accomplished…”

“So if that’s so, why leave?”

“To each their own.” The 13-year-old simply replies. “You love the academy, I don’t have that same feeling… I feel a lot happier being able to work like a real trainer and not sit in a classroom learning the estimate of a win based on Pokemon type, status and movepool…”

::NEIGH!!!::

From the rockslide remains of what used to be the ledge. Ivy the Ponyta stood tall. Her fiery mane burned at a stronger rate to symbolize her dynamic entrance.

Brendan and his Pokemon were a bit surprised to even see that the flare horse somehow made it all this way. But weren’t too surprised what happened next.

Ivy’s fiery mane increases in its strength as an X-shaped vein appears on the left side of her head. ‘Return me to Honzo… NOW!!!’ The flare horse mentally roared, immediately throwing a strong Fire Spin aimed at Brendan and his Pokemon.

The 13-year-old and his loyal Pokemon partners all saw that coming… All they could do was jump away from the attack.

…And the few Ember assaults that followed.

Since one of the Ember attacks singed her favorite blue vest, Shelly irately calls out her Walrein and orders it to pound at that pesky pony with Ice Ball.

The first Ice Ball the high level walrus Pokemon was able to spit out was able to completely topple the rockslide, making Ivy lose her bearings on the already unbalanced environment.

The remaining four Ice Ball did a good job of trapping her with its icy contents. Walrein spits out three more Ice Balls on Ivy’s prison for good measure.

“Ivy!” Brendan calls out to his newly added ally. Not even she deserved that kind of beating especially considering the strength of the ice and her body temperature.

“This only proves my assumptions about you Brendan Birch,” Schneider grins. “You’re a quitter; a no talent dropout who can only survive through your Daddy’s shadow. Though you have your beliefs, a dropout is still a dropout and that’s what you’ll always remain.”

“That‘s not true!”

The Chameleon Falls begins to gush with a greater amount of water than usual, this made everyone break their attention from the current situation at hand and face this new predicament. The heaviness of the falls made the now overflowing lake slowly overlap the small strip of land and begin to rise to further expand.

“Psh, dropout this, dropout that. I never even knew brain-dead pirates even went to school.” A feminine voice comments playfully.

“I know that annoying voice…” Shelly mutters bitterly. “Come on out and face me Courtney!”

“Who’s hiding?” Courtney’s voice replies contently. “As always, Shelly I’m situated in a level all my own…”

The group takes a good look at the wall to the left of the overrunning waterfall and notice three figures all in Team Magma outfits standing in a opening which had a small leak of water dripping out from its dark contents.

From the way the two males were dressed they were only Team Magma Grunts. The only female of the group was in fact Team Magma’s newest Admin Courtney.

Courtney looked down on her foes with an unimpressed face as she contently chewed on her stick of bubblegum.

“Hmph, still eating candy like a stupid little child Courtney?” Shelly smirks.

Courtney blew a small bubble. “Gotta enjoy oneself before they have to rely on using hair-dye right grams?” The Magma Admin grins while showing off a nice chunk of meteorite. “While you’re busy chasing little boys Magma was hard at work locating a rather huge meteorite that made a home for itself.”

The Magma Grunt to the right of Courtney nods. “Too bad the sucker was all brittle and broke apart to what we hold otherwise we’d be carrying off more than you fishheads could ever dream of.”

Brendan’s eyebrows twitch slightly at what he heard.

“YOU BARBARIC MORONS! DO YOU HAVE THE SLIGHTEST CLUE WHAT YOU CAUSED?!” Prof. Cosmo shouts at the top of his lungs.

“Now, now Professor, that’s no way to treat those who made such an effort to talk to others.” Shelly grins before extending her hand in a gimme fashion. “Now Courtney, that isn’t rock candy so be a good little girl and hand over that meteorite to the invincible Team Aqua.”

“The invincible Team Aqua?” Everyone but Brendan and the Aqua’s themselves replied exasperatedly.

“Feh, within this month alone we foiled three of your plans.” The Magma Grunt to the left of Courtney responds.

“You? Invincible?” Courtney snorts in Shelly’s direction. “Yeah, so that’s why Aqua upped their training regime and Pokemon strategies just to compete with a bunch of little kids and their stupid Pokemon babies… And here I thought I was in need of an hearing-aid.”

Walrein looks straight at MacSlasher who gives him a low growl. The walrus Pokemon simply rolls his eyes in an unimpressed manner.

MacSlasher at the time was on all fours but quickly stood up on hind legs after Walrein made that blow. Ragnarok simply pats his ally on the back gesturing to him let it go.

“Spare me!” Shelly snaps. “Magma would rather rely on the same substance that is foiling them just so you won‘t sully those baby oiled hands of yours!”

Brendan quietly picks up his backpack and turns to his Pokemon with a nod. All of them return the gesture and quickly try to make run towards the trapped Ivy.

Walrein simply stands in front of them as Aldo and Schneider who held quite smug expressions at the moment.

All the 13-year-old could do was grit his teeth in frustration.

Courtney tries to blow an unimpressed bubble but her taunt literally blows up her face, leaving the sticky pink substance all over face.

Shelly breaks out laughing at the sight. “What a nice look on you Courtney! It suites you much more than watching you chew like a cow!”

Courtney is able to rip some of the gum off her face and shows the onlookers below a very scary face. “True, I look hot in anything. Not too much I can say for a prune like you. People must be tired of seeing those flabby hips of yours.”

“Excuse me?- Look here you little floozy!”

“I’m the floozy when you’re the one dressing like trash?”

A trade of insults ranging from childish name calling to derogatory slang between the two female Admins took place for a good long time while everyone else simply watched.

“THAT TEARS IT!” Shelly shouts at the top of her lungs. “PELIPPER HO!”

The Aqua Admin throws the ball containing the pelican Pokemon and orders it to attack!

Pelipper flies towards his trainer’s foes and sprays them all with Water Gun. The Water/Flying hybrid’s attack forced the meteorite out of Courtney’s hands and into its pouch-like beak.

A red X-shaped vein pulsates on the left side of Courtney’s head as she calls out her Swellow who hit Pelipper with Aerial Ace.

Pelipper shakes of the hit and angrily retaliates with Water Gun.

“NO! DON’T DO THAT!” Shelly shouts.

Too late, Pelipper launched his attack which his fellow winged opponent nimbly dodged. But the point wasn’t that Swellow dodged, actually had the bird been a little slower he could’ve got caught.

The problem was the meteorite was within the pelican Pokemon’s pouch-like beak already. The Water Gun usage only forced the space rock out of his beak and into the rapidly rising lake.

Prof. Cosmo went livid the moment his desired item fell into the lake while both land sea cults started to blame one another for their constant interference of their plans.

Pretty much having enough of verbal battles both sides decide to settle it Pokemon style.

While Courtney’s Swellow and Shelly’s Pelipper continued to do battle within the skies Courtney herself called out her Ninetales and the two Magma Grunts called out their Mightyena. Aldo calls out his Lombre while Schneider calls out his Lunatone.

Shelly’s Walrein made a loud battle cry to ignite the projectile attack using mini-war.

“Are you people brainless?” Cosmo shouts. “Fighting amongst each other won’t recover the meteorite fragment! Get it together- Awwp!”

The scientist words were cut abruptly when Roxx the Swinub irately lunges at him from behind and quickly begin to jump on him constantly.

With everyone pretty much too busy fighting the other Brendan, Ragnarok, MacSlasher, Ringo and Aero Adler all rushed over to the Ice Ball prison that kept Ivy securely trapped.

Since Brendan lacked the strength his allies possessed, he had to make due with using his first aid kit as a psuedo hammer. Within the ice Ivy’s flames began to lower as response to her lowering body temperature.

The weight of the Ice Balls she felt earlier began to lighten. Through the contents of the solid liquid she could vaguely see the white haired thief kid and his vertically challenged Pokemon working with all their might to break her free.

They must of spent a pretty penny on her to take this much effort to want her free she thought; even if those strained looks on their faces and the cleanness of honesty in the boy’s eyes seemed pretty visible…

“Ivy! It’d be a bit easier to help you if you helped yourself a bit!” The flare horse heard the boy yell from outside the ice. She also heard his Pokemon say similar things to her in their tongue, save for the furry white guy who was rather vulgar.

An X-shaped pulsates on the left side of the Ivy’s head when she heard them talk to her like this.

Talking to her all chummy-like. And that human! The way he called her name irritated her to no end: Eye-vee, so unlike her Honzo who called her… well yeah the same way, but the way it rolled of his tongue was much more exotic.

The whole matter of the situation made her fiery mane regain its usual thunder.

Ivy’s ears perk up the moment the feeling of danger invaded her proximity. Whinnying as loudly as she could, Ivy’s fiery mane grew brighter. Now ignited with the motivation needed to escape her tomb.

“Good, Ivy’s still up.” Brendan sighs in relief. “This should make freeing her easier!”

“YOU LITTLE FOOL MOVE NOW!” Shelly’s voice bellowed in Brendan’s direction.

One of the Magma Grunts Mightyena loses its footing after an attack from Walrein the moment it was about to launch Shadow Ball.

Though the Grunt was able to save his plummeting Pokemon from falling into the rising lake, he couldn’t prevent the wayward attack from careening towards Brendan and his Pokemon.

::CRASH::

There was no time for anyone to react; the attack had already hit its mark. Ivy, Ringo and Aero Alder all stumbled out of the dust cloud created by the Shadow Ball.

From the angle the Magma’s stood they could see Brendan, Ragnarok and MacSlasher all fall into the depths of the rapidly growing lake neither of them making an attempt to come back to surface.

-----------------
(In the water)

Brendan and his two Pokemon were a bit shaken up from the impact of the Shadow Ball but the aftershock wasn’t the problem…

It was that same bizarre pressure Brendan felt the very first time he got swept with the heavy currents of Mt. Meteors streams and again at a less aggressive but more wary feel every time he jumped into the lake after a failed attempt in Chameleon Falls.

This time, the lake wasn‘t playing sea monster it was forcefully pulling him into the depths of its every expanding mass and was pushing the pressure the lower he got.

The snow colored hair boy could also see MacSlasher and even Ragnarok started to feel the sting of what practically seemed like nothing to them…

It had to be! The 13-year-old realized. That meteorite fragment… Who knows how long that once huge chunk of space rock was controlling the area only for it to be destroyed like that!

Now there’s a chunk along with any left over fragments of it flowing into the lake…He could probably sink to the bottom and make a grab for it if its nearby… but the pressure would’ve probably killed him and his Pokemon by then…

This is not good…Not good at all…


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 3:45 AM.


Like our Facebook Page Follow us on Twitter © 2002 - 2018 The PokéCommunity™, pokecommunity.com.
Pokémon characters and images belong to The Pokémon Company International and Nintendo. This website is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK, The Pokémon Company or The Pokémon Company International. We just love Pokémon.
All forum styles, their images (unless noted otherwise) and site designs are © 2002 - 2016 The PokéCommunity / PokéCommunity.com.
PokéCommunity™ is a trademark of The PokéCommunity. All rights reserved. Sponsor advertisements do not imply our endorsement of that product or service. User generated content remains the property of its creator.

Acknowledgements
Use of PokéCommunity Assets
vB Optimise by DragonByte Technologies Ltd © 2023.