Day 8
What a doozie of a day. We woke up - both Wingman and I - exceptionally early. It was about 7:30 in the morning, and we usually don't get up until 9:00. But an early start meant a more productive day.
We re-entered Viridian City and waited for the Gym to open, and Wingman started chatting with the other trainers in line behind us. I got together with their Pokémon and we talked about our journeys. Some of them were from way out of the region, places that I hadn't ever heard of. I felt like a local hick; in retrospect, I realize that I was a local hick, in a sense.
Finally, the Gym was opened, and the two people in front of us - apparently this was a very well known Gym, for both its mysterious Leader and his rumored level of extreme skill - took their turns in the Gym. Neither came out victorious.
That got me a little apprehensive, but Wingman reassured me and we entered when it came our turn.
The whole Gym was one room, dimly lit by a few hanging light bulbs. There was one elevated platform for Wingman to stand on and I took my place on the field. The Leader was shrouded in shadows and had his back to us.
He spoke. "Ah, I should have known I'd see you two again." His voice sent chills down my spine. I recognized it; even before he turned around and showed his face.
The Gym Leader was Giovanni.
That meant I'd have to see Doku again...
Luckily, Doku wasn't his first Pokémon. He was his last. He was just the same as he was last time. He didn't recognize me, he didn't say anything; he only attacked. And I still couldn't get through to him. I started to feel the tears building up...
I couldn't hurt him again. He was always there for me whenever I needed him. He's the one other Pokémon that ever cared for me. He and I are best friends...
No. He and I WERE best friends. But he's not him anymore. That Pokémon isn't Doku anymore. He may still have the name and the face, but the soul and mind inside is not Doku's.
I grew angry. Angry at Doku for letting himself become this, at Giovanni for turning him into it, and at myself for not being there to stop it. I roared out in rage and let myself loose. I pummeled Doku with the strongest Earthquake I could muster. He was out right there.
But I couldn't stop myself; the rage was too much. I looked at Giovanni, and he must have known he went too far because his silent look of defeat changed instantly to fear. I roared once more, giving in to the hatred, and charged straight for Giovanni's platform. I crashed into it, sending Giovanni flying back and reducing the platform to rubble.
I roared again, agony mixing with pain, and stared at Giovanni. He looked up and flushed white. The only thought running through my head was 'Giovanni did this.' I ran at him and lifted him up into the air by the collar of his shirt. His back was up against the wall; no amount of his flailing would make me drop him, as he soon realized.
Right as I pulled back my arm to smash Giovanni's head all over the wall, I heard Wingman shouting out my name. His voice echoed all over the room and caught my attention. Keeping Giovanni pinned against the wall, I looked back at Wingman. He was running at me at full speed. I dismissed him; my mind was too focused on Giovanni.
Returning my gaze to the man in my grasp, I pulled back my arm even further, preparing to give him all the justice he deserved. Suddenly, right as I started to swing, Wingman reached me and grabbed my arm shouting, "Titan, stop it! It's not worth it, let him go!" He was certainly not strong enough to keep me from hitting Giovanni, but my arm stopped none-the-less. Hearing the concern in his voice caused me to regain my senses.
I looked at Giovanni again, who was staring at me fearfully. I knew he was ruined; he was ruined from the moment I picked him up. In the corner of my eye, Wingman nodded, and I looked away from both of them. Depositing Giovanni roughly on the floor, I walked away slowly. Wingman followed shortly after, and we left the Gym.
As I walked through the crowd of curious people, they stepped aside. I could tell that they were brought here after hearing my roars, as they all looked at me timidly. Wingman was a few steps behind me, telling everyone that the Gym was closed for now. He protected Giovanni's identity; I would've exposed it in a heartbeat.
I walked out to my old home and sat on the log that Doku and I used to play on. Wingman joined me. He didn't keep his distance, instead choosing to sit right next to me. We sat in silence for a few moments, and then he spoke.
"That Nidoking... you knew him, didn't you." I nodded.
Wingman nodded as well, leaving it at that. No more words were spoken; that was all that needed to be said.
I don't know how many hours passed before Wingman said anything else. When he finally spoke again, he asked me, "Are you gonna be OK, Titan?" I didn't answer.
He suddenly stood up, and I looked up at him. "I understand if you want to be alone for a while. I know what you're going through. I don't tell anyone this, but you deserve to know." He turned away slightly. "I... I lost my dad when I was 7. He just up and left without any notice. But I survived." He walked away, never looking back at me.
I sat there on that log, thinking for a few more hours. Coming to a decision, I stood up and went to find Wingman. It wasn't that hard; luckily, he was still nearby, gathering firewood. He heard me approach and looked up. I smiled weakly, and he did too. He returned to the firewood, and I joined him.
Status:
Titan/Nidoking
Lvl. 76
Stats:
`Attack - 202
`Defense - 176
`Speed - 185
`Special - 181
Moves:
`Earthquake
`Rock Slide
`Surf
`Thunderbolt
Day 9
Might as well have been National Participate-in-Lots-of-Tough-Battles Day.
After I regained my senses yesterday and rejoined Wingman, we set up the rest of camp and stared up at the stars. He pointed out shapes that they made and I did some more thinking. We fell asleep like this.
The next morning started at its usual time with its usual routine. We were heading to Indigo Plateau after a long couple of days.
On the way to the gatehouse, that jerk Jack stopped us again and challenged us to another rematch. Because he didn't learn his lesson the first four times.
All of his Pokémon were the same as last time, and they were just as easy to beat. I think he actually got easier to beat. Or maybe I just got a lot stronger.
Anyways, even after the loss he still thought he had what it takes to beat the Elite Four. I scoffed silently, and Wingman just nodded. As he walked away, Wingman said, "Poor, poor fool." I chuckled.
We reached the gate quickly enough and passed through without a problem. On the other side was Victory Road, which was less of a road and more of a puzzle-filled maze.
After pushing around boulders and easily beating some trainers, Wingman and I exited Victory Road about an hour and a half after we entered it. The sun was high in the sky, and it was hot. The kind of burn an omelet on the sidewalk hot.
Luckily, we were heading inside. Indigo Plateau was right in front of us, and nothing was gonna stop us now.
In the building, a few trainers were sitting with their Pokémon, giving pep talks and relaxing before the final battles. But I didn't want to wait any longer; I was ready now, and Wingman could tell. We went straight to the registration counter and Wingman talked to the lady there. She was obviously uninterested, tired of the monotony of work. She surveyed us with her flat eyes and, when she had seen all she needed, dismissed our arrival with a pop of her gum.
Looking up and sighing, she asked, "Name please."
"Wingman."
"Age?"
"Seventeen."
"Number of Pokémon?"
"One."
A pause, followed by laughter. "Only one? This shouldn't take long." She turned to the group of trainers waiting and shouted out, "Hey, this kid's only got one Pokémon, do you guys mind if he cuts in front of you?"
All the trainers burst out in laughter and unanimously agreed. I felt my face burning and was about to roar, but Wingman put his hand on my shoulder. "Don't let 'em get to you. We'll prove 'em wrong later," he said. I calmed down, but I was still a little bothered by their reactions. As we were leaving the room, I hit a sprinkler with a mini-Thunderbolt, causing all the sprinklers to activate and drench the trainers and Pokémon.
I chuckled. Wingman smirked knowingly.
A pier on a little pool of water was the setting in the first room. Ice chunks floated here and there, and the temperature was pretty low. Here there was a woman, around her thirties I guessed, who called herself Lorelei and claimed to use Ice types. All but one of her Pokémon were part Water type, and one wasn't even part Ice type. Thunderbolt worked wonders during the whole battle, and Rock Slide took care of the final Pokémon, Jynx.
The next room was scattered with rocks and boulders of all sizes. An overly toned man waited there for us. He introduced himself as Bruno and gave some motivational speech that I didn't pay attention to. I was just eager for battle. He used the Fighting type, with two random Onix thrown in there. It was too easy, Surf on everything. Seriously, though, I still have to wonder where the hell I'm getting the water from.
Room number three was set up like a giant graveyard, with tombstones everywhere and a fog clouding the air. The person here was an old woman, and in the setting, I mistook her for a ghost. Ironically, she used Ghost type Pokémon, with a few Poison types mixed in. Thunderbolt didn't let me down, and this fight passed by smoothly.
The final room was simple; only a hall with a couple of dragon statues lining the sides. The Champion stood at the end of the hall, adorned in a black cape. He called himself Lance and talked about the legendary might of Dragon types. I suddenly understood the dragon statues everywhere; the poor guy had a dragon obsession. He even used Dragon types and dragon-like Pokémon. A Gyarados (down after Thunderbolt), two Dragonairs (both taken down by Earthquake), an Aerodactyl (Surf doused it easily), and a Dragonite (a Rock Slide right to the face put it down and out).
Lance was about to tell us that we were awesome and that we were the new League Champs, but then he mentioned that one more trainer waited who had beaten the Elite Four only minutes ago. I thought 'Oh great, more battling' until he told us his name: Jack. I laughed loudly. We beat him so easily before, what would make now any different?
Nothing, in fact, made this fight any different. The room was unadorned, and Jack stood in its center. He spoke useless junk about how he 'scoured the region' collecting the most powerful Pokémon. I guess he missed me.
I swear, this fight went easier than any of the previous ones. The only Pokémon that gave me any trouble was his Alakazam and Psychic, but I took the hit in stride, not faltering for one moment.
Jack started to whine and cry about losing when some old dude showed up. I recognized him to be that one guy Wingman got a video call from that one day. He scolded Jack and congratulated us. We were led back into a separate room and photographed for posterity.
And that was it! Wingman had reached his ultimate goal, and I had become stronger beyond words. I wonder what those jerks back in the main room will think of us now.
But for now, it's time we relaxed and unwound... or is it?
Status:
Titan/Nidoking
Lvl. 86
Stats:
`Attack - 230
`Defense - 201
`Speed - 212
`Special - 207
Moves:
`Earthquake
`Rock Slide
`Surf
`Thunderbolt
Also: I just feel like sharing this. Does anyone remember the old Golbat sprite? I do.
No joke. It has a serious baby addiction.